Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
What was it I was saying?
ARTOTROGUS
O, I know what you were going to say just now. I’ faith ’twas bravely done; I remember its being done.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What was that?
ARTOTROGUS
Whatever it was you were going to say.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Have you got your tabletsGot your tablets: The tabulae, or tabellae, used by the ancients for the purpose of writing, were pieces of wood, mostly of an oblong shape, covered with wax, on which an impression was made with the stylus, or iron pen. They were sometimes made of ivory, but more frequently of citron-wood, beech, or fir The inside only of the tablet was covered with wax, the outer consisting of wood. The leaves were fastened at the back with wires, and opened and shut like the books of the present day. There was a raised margin to each leaf of the tablet, for the purpose of preventing the wax of the one from rubbing against the other. From two to five, six, or even more of these leaves were joined together, which were accordingly called diptycha, triptycha, and so on. Those tablets which contained legal documents were pierced through the outer edges with holes, through which a triple thread or string was passed, on which a seal was placed, in order to prevent forgery and to show that the deed was duly executed.?
ARTOTROGUS
Are you intending to enlistIntending to enlist: Rogare. Soldiers, when enlisted, were asked (regabantur) whether they would take the oath. Hence the word rogare means something tantamount to our word enlist, or recruit.The Parasite asks him if he is going to enlist, as the tablets would be wanted in the Forum, or Court of justice, for the purpose of taking down the oaths, and entering the names as the parties were sworn.? I have them, and a pen as well.
PYRGOPOLINICES
How cleverly you do suit your mind to my own mind.
ARTOTROGUS
’Tis fit that I should know your inclinations studiously, so that whatever you wish should first occurShould first occur: Praevolat mihi. Literally, should fly to me beforehand. to me.
40
PYRGOPOLINICES
What do you remember?
ARTOTROGUS
I do remember this. In Cilicia there were a hundred and fifty men, a hundred in Cryphiolathronia Cryphiolathronia: This word is mere gibberish: it is compounded of Greek words, which would make it to mean the place of hidden secrecy. The part of the flatterer seems to be a little overdone here., thirty at Sardis, sixty men of Macedon,
whom you slaughtered altogether in one day.
45
PYRGOPOLINICES
What is the sum total of those men?
ARTOTROGUS
Seven thousand.
PYRGOPOLINICES
It must be as much: you keep the reckoning well.
ARTOTROGUS
Yet I have none of them written down; still, so I remember it was.
PYRGOPOLINICES
By my troth, you have a right good memory.
ARTOTROGUS
’Tis the flesh-pots ’Tis the flesh-pots: Offae monent.Offa properly means a lump of flesh, from which it came to signify victuals in general. give it a fillip.
PYRGOPOLINICES
So long as you shall do such as you have done hitherto, you shall always have something to eat: I will always make you a partaker at my table.
50
ARTOTROGUS
Besides, in Cappadocia, you would have killed five hundred men altogether at one blow, had not your sabre been blunt.
PYRGOPOLINICES
I let them live, because I was quite sick of fighting.
