Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
Why is she angry with you? Why should I trouble myself about that? For that is rather your own concern.
AGORASTOCLES
On my word, it’s all over with you this very instant, if you don’t make her as smooth for me as the sea is at the time when the halcyon when the halcyon: See the note to the Casina, l. 26. is rearing her young ones there.
355
AGORASTOCLES
Entreat her, soothe, and flatter her.
MILPHIO
I’ll do so with all diligence; but see, please, that you don’t afterwards be giving this ambassador of yours a dressing with your fists.
AGORASTOCLES
I’ll not do so.
ADELPHASIUM
Let’s now begone. (AGORASTOCLES stands before her.) Do you detain me still? You act badly;
you make me many fair promises Many fair promises: The semicolon seems to be more appropriately placed before than after ex multis.; of those many, the whole come to nothing at all. Not once, but a hundred times, have you sworn to give me my freedom. While depending on you, I have neither anywhere procured any other resources for myself, nor is this assistance of yours at all visible. And thus none the less am I still a slave. Move on, sister. (To AGORASTOCLES.) Get you gone from me!
360
AGORASTOCLES
Utterly undone! Come now, Milphio, what are you about?
MILPHIO
My joy, my delight, my life, my pleasure, apple of my eye, my little lip, my health, my sweet kiss, my honey, my heart, my biestings, my cream-cheese—
365
AGORASTOCLES
Am I to allow these things to be said in my presence? I’m quite distracted, wretch that I am, if I don’t order him at full speed to be hurried off to the executioner in a chariot and four!
MILPHIO
Prithee, for my sake, don’t be angry with my master. I’ll make—
370
ADELPHASIUM
Let me alone.
370
MILPHIO
You are too cross. He’ll pay the money for you, and make you a citizen of Attica A citizen of Attica: Plautus evidently makes a slip here, forgetting that Calydon was in Aetolia, and not in Attica., and a free woman.
ADELPHASIUM
But why don’t you let me go away? What is it you want? Just as he wishes me well, in like manner do you wish me well.
MILPHIO
If, indeed, he has deceived you before, from this time forward he shall be truthful to you.
ADELPHASIUM
Get you gone hence, will you, you trepanner.
MILPHIO
I’ll obey you. But on what terms—do you understand?
Do let me prevail upon you; do let me take you by those little ears By those little ears: It was a common practice to take hold of the ears of the person kissed. The Greeks called this practice χυτρὰ, because it resembled the mode of taking up a kind of jug, which was so called, by its ears.; do let me give you a kiss.
375
By my troth, I shall now set him a weeping, if I don’t make you kind; and (unless I do make you kind he certainly will do it) I’m dreadfully afraid lest he should beat me. I know the harsh manners of this crabbed man.
