Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
Say so to her.
130
PHAEDROMUS
Am I to say then to her—?
PHAEDROMUS
That I’m quite undone.
PALINURUS
Well then, say so.
PHAEDROMUS
Old lady, do listen. I wish you to know this; to my sorrow, I’m quite undone.
PROCURESS
But, i’ faith, for my part, I’m altogether brought to life. But why is it that you are pleased to say you are quite undone?
135
PHAEDROMUS
Because I’m deprived of the object which I love. (Pretends to weep)
PROCURESS
My dear Phaedromus, prithee, do not weep; do you take care that I’m not thirsty, I’ll at once bring out here for you the object which you love. (Goes into the house.)
PHAEDROMUS
Assuredly, if you keep faith with me, in place of a golden statue, I’ll erect for you one of wine One of wine: Vineam. There is more humour in taking this to mean a statue of wine, than merely a vine-tree, as Warner has transated it., which shall be a memorial of your gullet Palinurus, who on earth will be so blest as myself, if she comes to me?
140
PALINURUS
By my faith, he who is in love, if he is in want as well, is afflicted with a dreadful malady.
PHAEDROMUS
Such is not the case with me; for I feel sure that this very day my Parasite will come hither to me with the money.
PALINURUS
You attempt something mighty, if you expect that which nowhere exists.
PHAEDROMUS
What if I approach the door, and trill a carol Trill a carol: Occentem. This word has probably much the time meaning here as our word serenade.?
145
PALINURUS
If you choose; I neither bid nor request you, since, my master, I see that you are of manners and disposition thus changed.
145
PHAEDROMUS
Bolts, O ye bolts, with pleasure do I salute you. I love you, I court you, I seek you, and you entreat; most kindly lend your aid to me in love;
become, for my sake, as though play-actors Play-actors: The Lydians, or rather their descendants, the Etrurians, were the earliest actors at Rome; hence the term used here, barbari, foreigners. The metaphor is borrowed from the fact that dancing, leaping, and gestures, were the especial features of their performances. from foreign climes; leap upwards pray, and send out of doors this fair one, who drains my blood for me distractedly in love. (Addressing PALINURUS.) Look at that, how those most accursed bolts sleep on, and none the quicker for my sake do they bestir themselves.
150
I see quite clearly that you don’t value my esteem at all. Hist! hush, hush!
155
PALINURUS
I’ troth, for my part I’m silent enough.
PHAEDROMUS
I hear a noise; at last, i’ faith, these bolts have become complaisant to me.
