Perde 2
[Textpart 3]
Have you all along been well?
CHARINUS
Quite well all the time, so long, indeed, as I was there; but as soon as I had arrived here in harbour, I don’t know what faintness it was came over me.
DEMIPHO
I’ faith, I suppose it arose from sea-sickness; but it will be going off just now.
But how say you? What servant-maid is this that you have brought from Rhodes for your mother?
390
CHARINUS
I’ve brought one.
DEMIPHO
Well, what sort of a woman is she as to appearance?
CHARINUS
Not an ill-favored one, i’ faith.
DEMIPHO
How is she as to manners?
CHARINUS
In my way of thinking, I never saw one better.
DEMIPHO
So, indeed, i’ faith, she seemed to me when I saw her.
CHARINUS
How now, have you seen her, father?
DEMIPHO
I have seen her; but she doesn’t suit our ways, and so she doesn’t please me.
DEMIPHO
Because she hasn’t a figure suitable to our establishment; we stand in need of no female servant but one who can weave, grind, chop wood, make yarn, sweep out the house, stand a beating, and who can have every day’s victuals cooked for the household. This one will be able to do not any single one of these things.
395
for this reason I purchased her, to make a present of her to my mother.
400
DEMIPHO
Don’t you be giving her, nor mention that you have brought her.
CHARINUS
The Deities favour me.
DEMIPHO
I’m shaking him by slow degrees. (Aloud.) But, what I omitted to say,—she can neither with due propriety follow your mother as an attendant;
