Perde 4
[Textpart 7]
What are you dreaming about? Why, I’m the owner of all these things,The second part of line 1187 in the Latin. bought with my own savings.
BALLIO
Those, you mean, which the upper part of your thighs supports Your thighs supports: Unless a more gross allusion is intended, he means that his peculium is not his savings (which is the strict meaning of the word), but his back and flanks, which often receive on them the punishment of servitude, and which alone he can call his own..
HARPAX
These old fellows have been anointed; they want themselves rubbed down Themselves rubbed down: After bathing, the Greeks and Romans were in the habit of being anointed, and then rubbed down with a flesh-brush. Probably the latter custom had gone out of fashion in the time of Plautus. Harpax says that the old men want to be rubbed down; but he means, as uncle Bowling expresses it in Roderick Random, with an oaken towel., after the old-fashioned custom.
BALLIO
I’ faith, prithee, answer me this truly and seriously, which I ask of you: What are you to earn? For how trifling a sum has Pseudolus hired you?
HARPAX
Who is this Pseudolus?
BALLIO
Your tutor, who has instructed you in this knavery, to take away the woman hence from me by stratagem.
HARPAX
What Pseudolus, and what stratagem are you talking to me about? A person that I know of no colour, black or white.
1195
BALLIO
Will you not be off from here? There’s no profit here for swindlers to-day. Therefore you may tell Pseudolus that another person has carried off the prize-the first Harpax that came.
HARPAX
On my word, I really am that Harpax.
BALLIO
Aye, on my word, you want to be.
This is nothing more nor less than a downright impostor.
1200
HARPAX
I have given yourself the money, and a while ago, immediately on my arrival, the token to your servant; a letter sealed with the likeness of my master, here before the door.
1200
BALLIO
You gave a letter to my servant? What servant?
BALLIO
The wicked rogue has assurance enough Has assurance enough: The note of interrogation, in Ritschel’s edition, after nequam, seems to be out of place.. He hasn’t contrived his knavish scheme amiss.
By my faith, that whipping-post of a fellow, Pseudolus, how cleverly he has managed his plans; just as much money as the Captain owed, he has given this man, and has dressed out the fellow that he might take away the woman (To HARPAX.) But the real Harpax himself brought that letter hither to me.
1205
HARPAX
My name is Harpax; I am the servant of the Macedonian Captain. I’m doing nothing roguishly or cheatingly, nor do I know or understand this Pseudolus, what mortal being he is.
SIMO
Unless it’s something wonderful, procurer, you’ve clearly lost the woman.
BALLIO
Assuredly, by my troth, I’m in dread of that more and more, when I come to hear his words.
I’ faith, that Syrus, too, has already set my heart a-freezing, that received the token from him.End of sentence is part of line 1216 in the Latin.
1215
