Perde 5
[Textpart 2]
you bid me break in pieces his limbs, and bones, and members with that walking-stick which he himself is holding.
855
OLD MAN
Punishment shall be inflicted if you touch me indeed, or if you come nearer to me.
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
I will do what thou dost bid me; I will take a two-edged axe, and I will hew this old fellow to his very bones, and I will chop his entrails into mincemeat.
OLD MAN
Why really against that must I take care and precaution. As he threatens, I’m quite in dread of him, lest he should do me some mischief.
860
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Many things dost thou bid me do, Apollo. Now thou dost order me to take the yoked horses, unbroke and fierce, and to mount the chariot, that I may crush to pieces this aged, stinking, toothless lion.
Now have I mounted the chariot; now do I hold the reins; now is the whip in my hand. Speed onward, ye steeds, let the sound of your hoofs be heard; in your swift course let the rapid pace of your feet The rapia pace of your feet: Cursu celeri facite inflexa sit pedum pernicitas. Literally, in the swift course, make the swiftness of your feet to be bent inwards. The legs of good horses, when trotting fast, bend inwards before they throw them out. be redoubled.
865
OLD MAN
Are you threatening me with your yoked steeds?
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Lo! again, Apollo, thou dost bid me to make an onset against him who is standing here, and to murder him.
But what person is this that is tearing me hence by the hair down from the chariot? He revokes thy commands and the decree of Apollo.
870
OLD MAN
Alas! a severe and obstinate malady, i’ faith. By our trust in you, ye Gods even this person who is now mad, how well he was a little time since. All on a sudden has so great a distemper attacked him.
I’ll go now and fetch a physician as fast as I can.
875
MENAECHMUS SOSICLES
Prithee, are these persons gone now out of my sight, who are compelling me by force, while in my wits, to be mad? Why do I delay to be off to the ship, while I can in safety?
And all of you (to the SPECTATORS), if the old gentleman should return, I beg not to tell him, now, by what street I fled away hence.
[Textpart 3]
My bones ache with sitting, my eyes with watching, while waiting for the Doctor, till he returned from his business. At last the troublesome fellow has with difficulty got away from his patients.
OLD MAN
He says that he has set a broken leg for Aesculapius For Aesculapius: Apollo and Aesculapius were the two guardian Divinities of the medical art. The old man, perhaps, mentions their names instead of those of some persons of whose wonderful cures the Doctor has been bragging., and an arm for Apollo. I’m now thinking whether I’m to say that I’m bringing a doctor or a carpenter Or a carpenter: He says that, talking of mending legs, the Doctor may, for aught he knows, be some carpenter, who has been patching up the legs of statues.. But, see, here he comes.—Do get on with your ant’s pace.
885
[Textpart 4]
What did you say was his disorder? Tell me, respected sir.
DOCTOR.
Is he harassed by sprites Harassed by sprites: Larvatus aut cerritus. The larvati were mad persons, supposed to be afflicted with ghosts or spectres; while the cerriti were persons who were thought to be visited with madness by the Goddess Ceres., or is he frenzied? Let me know. Is it lethargy, or is it dropsy, that possesses him?
890
OLD MAN
Why, I’m bringing you for that reason, that you may tell me that, and make him convalescent.
DOCTOR.
That indeed is a very easy matter. Why, I shall heal innumerable times as many Innumerable times as many: The Doctor is bragging of his extersive practice. in the day.
OLD MAN
I wish him to be treated with great attention.
895
