Perde 3
[Textpart 4]
He has taken a cup by stealth;Part of line 822 in the Latin. the butler has lately tapped a cask of nardineA cask of nardine: According to the reading here adopted, he guesses that Sceledrus has got drunk upon some nardine wine, that had been lately tapped. The Romans used many articles for flavouring their wines. Spikenard, an Eastern aromatic, is here referred to. Horehound, squills, wormwood, and myrtle-berries were used for making medical wines. Cornels, figs, medlars, roses, asparagus, parsley, radishes, laurels, junipers, cassia, cinnamon, and saffron, with many other particulars, were also used for flavouring wines..
PALAESTRIO
Oho! you rascal, you are his deputy-butlerHis deputy-butler: Some Commentators take this passage to mean, that Sceledrus really was the promus, or butler; but it seems more probable that Palaestrio says, by way of accusation, Sceledrus has not only been acting the butler on this occasion, but you have been acting as his deputy, in secretly helping him to draw it. Lucrio was the subcustos of Sceledrus, the deputy-keeper of Philocomasium, and the under-butler as well.. Oho!
PALAESTRIO
How has he thought fit to go to sleep?
LUCRIO
With his eyes, I suppose.
PALAESTRIO
I don’t ask you that, you vagabond. Step this way: you’re undone now, unless I know the truth. Did you draw the wine for him?
LUCRIO
I did not draw it.
PALAESTRIO
Do you deny it?
LUCRIO
I’ faith, I do deny it undoubtedly; for he charged me not to tell. I really didn’t justDidn’t just: He adheres to his promise by denying it in words, but m such a way as to make a full confession of what has happened. Hemina was a measure among the Greeks and Romans of nearly half a pint. draw for him eight half pints into a pitcher, and, when drawn, he didn’t just drink it hotDrink it hot: It has been already remarked, that the Romans were much in the habit of drinking wine, made warm and mixed with spices. The taking it at prandium, about twelve in the day, shows how Sceledrus presumed on the office of trust which had been conferred upon him., at his breakfast.
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PALAESTRIO
And you didn’t just drink as well?
LUCRIO
The Gods confound me if I did drink—if I could drink.
LUCRIO
Because, in fact, I only sipped;
for it was too hot; it burnt my throat.
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PALAESTRIO
Some are gloriously drunk, while others are drinking vinegar-waterVinegar-water: Posca was the name of the mixture of vinegar and water which constituted the drink of the Roman soldiers, the lower classes, and the slaves. Palaestrio grumbles on finding that while he is drinking vinegar and water his fellow-slave is enjoying himself on mulled wine.. The cellar’s trusted to an honest butler, as well as under-butler.
LUCRIO
I’ faith, you’d be doing the same, if it was entrusted to you.
Since you can’t follow our example, you are envious now.
PALAESTRIO
Come, now, did he ever draw any wine before this? Answer me, you rascal. And, that you may understand it, I give you this notice: if you purposely tell me an untruth, you shall be put to the torture.
LUCRIO
Indeed so? That you may inform, forsooth, that I told you;
and then I shall be turned out of my fattening post in the cellar, that you may find another under-butler to draw for your own self.
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