Perde 1
[Textpart 3]
Cold, distraction, and alarm, have taken possession of all my limbs. My parents, you know not of this, that I am now thus wretched; I that was born a woman entirely free, was so to no purpose. Am I at all the less in servitude now, than if I had been born a slave? And never in any way has it been a profit to those who for their own sakes reared me up.
215
[Textpart 4]
What is there better for me, what more to my advantage, than to shut out life from my body? So wretched am I in my existence, and so many deadening cares are there in my breast; so despicable is my lot; I care not for my life; I have lost the hope with which I used to comfort myself. All places have I now rambled about, and through each covert spot have I crawled along, to seek my fellow-slave with voice, eyes, ears, that I might trace her out.
220
AMPELISCA
And still I find her nowhere, nor have I yet determined whither to go, nor where to seek her, nor, in the meantime, do I find any person here to give me an answer, of whom I might make enquiry. No place, too, is there on earth more solitary than are these spots and this locality. And yet, if she lives, never while I exist will I cease before I discover her alive.
225
PALAESTRA
Whose voice is it that sounds close by me here?
AMPELISCA
I am alarmed. Who’s speaking near me?
230
PALAESTRA
Prithee, kind Hope, do come to my aid.
AMPELISCA
It’s a woman: a woman’s voice reaches my ears.
Will you not rescue wretched me from this alarm?
PALAESTRA
Surely a woman’s voice reached my ears.
Prithee is it Ampelisca?
235
AMPELISCA
Is it you, Palaestra, that I hear?
235
PALAESTRA
But why don’t I call her by her own name, that she may hear me? (With a loud voice.) Ampelisca!
AMPELISCA
Ha! who’s that?
AMPELISCA
Is it Palaestra?Part of line 237c in the Latin.
AMPELISCA
Tell me where Tell me where: It must be remembered that they are still separated by the crags upon the stage, though they are both visible to the Audience. you are.
PALAESTRA
Troth, I’m now in the midst of a multitude of woes.
AMPELISCA
I am your partner; and no less is my own share than yours.
But I long to see you.
240
