Perde 1
BALLIO
Why, because I’ve got no Phœnicium to sell.
325
BALLIO
I’ faith, not I, indeed.
CALIDORUS
Pseudolus, go fetch the sacrifice, the victims, the sacrificers The sacrificers: Lanios. Literally, butchers. These were the popae, or servants of the priests, who slaughtered the cattle which were offered in sacrifice., that I may make offering to this supreme Jove. For this Jupiter is now much more mighty to me than is Jupiter himself.
BALLIO
I want no victims; with the entrails of minae Entrails of minœ: Mininis extis. He intends a pun by the use of the word mininis, Mina, as has been already observed, meant a kind of sheep without wool on its belly, and also the sum of money composed of a hundred drachmae. He does not want victims, he wants the entrails of the money for his propitiation. I wish to be appeased.
CALIDORUS
Make haste. Why do you hesitate? Go fetch the lambs; do you hear what Jupiter says?
330
PSEUDOLUS
I’ll be here this moment; but first I must run as far as beyond the gate Beyond the gate: The Metian Gate at Rome is supposed to be here referred to, where the butchers kept their slaughter-houses, and where the lanii were likely to be found. It is not improbable that the priests and sacrificers wore bells on their dress, to which reference is probably made in the next line. Perhaps they were employed for the purpose of drowning the cries of the victims. The ephod of the Jewish high priest was adorned with bells..
PSEUDOLUS
I’ll fetch two sacrificers thence, with their bells; at the same time I’ll fetch thence two bundles of elm twigs, that this day a sufficiency may be provided for the sacrifice to this Jove.
BALLIO
Away to utter perdition To utter perdition: In malam crucem. Literally, go to the dreadful cross, which answers to our expression, go to perdition; or, in unpolite parlance, go to the devil. It alludes to the cross, as the instrument of punishment for slaves and malefactors of the lower order..
335
PSEUDOLUS
Thither shall the pimping Jupiter go.
335
BALLIO
It isn’t for your interest that I should die.
BALLIO
This way; because, if I’m dead, there will be no one worse than yourself in Athens. For your interest (to CALIDORUS) it is that I should die.
BALLIO
I’ll tell you; because, i’ faith, so long as I shall be alive, you’ll never be a man well to do.
CALIDORUS
Troth now, prithee, in serious truth, tell me this that I ask you—have you not got my mistress, Phœnicium, on sale?
340
BALLIO
By my faith, I really have not; for I’ve now sold her already.
