Perde 3
[Textpart 4]
Are you not a Cyrenian?
740
DAEMONES
No; born at Athens in Attica, bred and educated there.
TRACHALIO
Prithee, aged sir, do protect your countrywomen.
DAEMONES
O daughter, when I look on her, separated from me you remind me of my miseries: (aloud) she who was lost by me when three years old; now, if she is living, she’s just about as tall, I’m sure, as she.
LABRAX
I paid the money down for these two, to their owners, of whatever country they were. What matters it to me whether they were born at Athens or at Thebes, so long as they are rightfully in servitude as my slaves?
745
TRACHALIO
Is it so, you impudent fellow? What, are you, a cat prowling after maidens, to be keeping children here kidnapped from their parents and destroying them in your disgraceful calling?
But as for this other one, I really don’t know what her country is; I only know that she’s more deserving than yourself, you most abominable rascal.
750
LABRAX
Are these women your property?
TRACHALIO
Come to the trial, then, which of the two according to his back is the more truthful; if you don’t bear more compliments Compliments: Offerumenta, according to Festus, signified an offering to the Gods; and as these were fixed to the walls of the Temples, Trachalio calls the lashes of the scourge or rod, when applied to the back of the delinquent slave, by the same term. upon your back than any ship of war Ship of war: Longa navis. Literally, a long ship. Ships of war were thus called by the Greeks. has nails, then I’m the greatest of liars.
Afterwards, do you examine mine, when I’ve examined yours; if it shall not prove to be so untouched, that any leather flask maker Leather flask maker: Ampullarius. A maker of ampullae, or leather bottles. They were of a big-bellied form, with a narrow neck. will say that it is a hide most capital and most sound for the purposes of his business, what reason is there why I shouldn’t mangle you with stripes, even till you have your belly full? Why do you stare at them? If you touch them I’ll tear your eyes out.
755
LABRAX
Yet notwithstanding, although you forbid me to do so, I’ll at once carry them off both together with me.
760
DAEMONES
What will you do?
LABRAX
I’ll bring Vulcan; he is an enemy to Venus An enemy to Venus: In so saying, he alludes to the intrigue of Venus with Mars, which was discovered by the device of Vulcan, her injured husband. For the story, see the Metamorphoses of Ovid, B. 4, l. 73, and the Art of Love, B. 2, l. 562..
TRACHALIO
Whither is he going?
LABRAX
Hallo! Is there anybody here? Hallo! I say.
DAEMONES
If you touch the door, that very instant, upon my faith, you shall get a harvest upon your face with fists for your pitchforksFists for your pitchforks: Mergis pugneis. Echard, in his translation, explains this: As they lift up their pitchforks to heap corn, so will I lift up my fists, and heap a whole harvest of cuffs on your face. Merga means a pitchfork; and, according to Festus, it was so called from its resemblance when dipped into the hay to the action of the mergus, or didapper when dipping into the sea..
SERVANT
We keep no fire, we live upon dried figs.
DAEMONES
I’ll find the fire, if only I have the opportunity of kindling it upon your head.
765
LABRAX
Faith, I’ll go somewhere to look for some fire.
DAEMONES
What, when you’ve found it?
