Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
Since a messenger came to me in the country from my husband, that he couldn’t come into the country, I made up my mind, and came back to follow after him who fled from me.
DORIPPA
But (looking round) I don’t see our old woman Syra following. Aye, look, there she comes at last. (Enter SYRA with a bundle of green sprigs.) Why don’t you go quicker?
670
SYRA
By my troth, I cannot; so great is this burden that I’m carrying.
SYRA
Fourscore years and four, and to that are added servitude, sweat, and thirst;
these things as well which I am carrying weigh me down.
675
DORIPPA
Give me something, Syra, with which to decorate this altar of our neighbour Altar of our neighbour: She alludes to Apollo Prostatorus: an altar or statue to whom was placed near the doors of most of the houses Athens; see the Notes to the Bacchides..
675
SYRA
Present this sprig of laurel, then.
DORIPPA
Now do you go into the house.Part of the first part of line 677 in the Latin.
DORIPPA
Apollo, I pray thee that thou wilt propitiously grant peace, safety, and health, unto our household,
and that in thy propitiousness thou wilt show favour to my son.
680
SYRA
I’m utterly undone! Wretch that I am, I’m ruined! Ah! wretched me!
DORIPPA
Prithee, are you quite in your senses? What are you howling for?
SYRA
Dorippa, my dear Dorippa!
DORIPPA
Prithee, why are you crying out?
SYRA
Some woman, I know not who, is here in-doors in the house.
DORIPPA
What? A woman?
685
DORIPPA
Is it so, really?
685
