Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
Did he seem to believe you in that?
ACANTHIO
Do you e’en ask me that? Why the rogue began to take liberties with her.
CHARINUS
Prithee, what, with her?
ACANTHIO
’Twere a wonder if he had taken liberties with myself.
CHARINUS
By heavens, my heart is saddened,
which, drop by drop is melting away, just as though you were to put salt in water. I’m undone.
205
ACANTHIO
Aye, aye, that one expression have you most truly uttered.
CHARINUS
This is mere folly.
What shall I do? I do think my father won’t believe me if I say that I bought her for my mother; and then, besides, it seems to me a shame that I should tell a lie to my parent.
He’ll neither believe, nor indeed is it credible, that I bought this woman of surpassing beauty as a maid-servant for my mother.
210
ACANTHIO
Won’t you be quiet, you most silly man? Troth, he will believe it, for he just now believed me.
CHARINUS
I’m dreadfully afraid that a suspicion will reach my father how the matter really stands. Prithee, answer me this that I ask you.
ACANTHIO
What do you ask?
CHARINUS
Did he seem to suspect that she was my mistress?
215
ACANTHIO
He did not seem. On the contrary, in everything, just as I said it, he believed me.
215
CHARINUS
As being true-as he seemed to yourself at least.
ACANTHIO
Not so; but he really did believe me.
CHARINUS
Ah! wretched man that I am! I’m ruined! But why do I kill myself here with repining, and don’t be off to the ship? Follow me.
ACANTHIO
If you go that way, you’ll conveniently come slap upon your father.
As soon as he shall see you, dismayed and out of spirits, at once he’ll be stopping you, and enquiring where you bought her, and for how much you bought her; he’ll be trying you in your dismay.
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