Perde 4
[Textpart 3]
Let me go away from here; you quietly go your own way, and don’t you inform against me to any one, and I won’t give anything to you. You hold your tongue; I’ll be mum. This is the best and the fairest plan.
TRACHALIO
Well, what proposition do you venture to make?
1030
GRIPUS
I’ve made it already; for you to go away, to let go of the rope, and not to be a nuisance to me.
1030
TRACHALIO
Stop while I propose terms.
GRIPUS
I’ faith, do, prithee, dispose Propose—dispose: -2. He plays on the resemblance of the words refero, to make a proposal, and aufero, to betake one’s self away, of yourself forthwith.
TRACHALIO
Do you know any one in these parts?
GRIPUS
My own neighbours I must know.
TRACHALIO
Where do you live here?
GRIPUS
At a distance out away yonder, as far off as the farthest fields.
TRACHALIO
The person that lives in that cottage, should you like it to be decided by his arbitration?
1035
GRIPUS
Let go of the rope for a moment while I step aside and consider.
GRIPUS
Capital, the thing’s all right; the whole of this booty is my own. He’s inviting me here inside of my own abode to my own master as umpire. By my troth, he never this day will award three obols away from his own servant.
Assuredly, this fellow doesn’t know what proposal he has been making. (To TRACHALIO.) I’ll go to the arbitrator with you.
1040
GRIPUS
Although I know for sure that this is my own lawful right, let that be done rather than I should now be fighting with you.
TRACHALIO
Now you satisfy me.
GRIPUS
Although you are driving me before an arbitrator whom I don’t know, if he shall administer justice, although he is unknown, he is as good as known to me; if he doesn’t, though known, he is the same as though entirely unknown.
[Textpart 4]
Seriously, upon my faith, young women, although I wish what you desire, I’m afraid that on your account my wife will be turning me out of doors, who’ll be saying that I’ve brought harlots here before her very eyes. Do you take refuge at the altar rather than I Rather than I: Daemones here alludes to the disposition of his wife, and says that if the damsels do not quit his house, he shall be obliged to do so in self-defence..
1045
THE WOMEN
We, wretched creatures, are undone.
