Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
This I’ll take myself. Do you sweep away there.
PINACIUM
Will some one bring here a pail and waterA pail and water: Nassiternam. A water-vessel with three spouts, which received its name from nasum, a spout, compounded with tres, three.?
GELASIMUS
Really, this fellow’s playing the AedilePlaying the Aedile: The writer here again refers, in a play the scene of which is at Athens, to Roman customs. The Aedile was a public officer at Rome, whose business it was to see that the streets, houses, and temples, were kept clean. They were chosen by the votes (suffragium) of the common people, to which fact Gelasimus alludes in the next line. without the vote of the public even.
PINACIUM
Come, do you quickly sweep the ground, and sprinkle before the house.
PINACIUM
It needs be done.
I’ll knock down the spider-webs there from the door and from the wall.
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GELASIMUS
I’ faith, a troublesome business, this.
PHILUMENA
Still, I don’t at all understand what it means; unless, perchance, some guests are about to come?
PINACIUM
Do you spread the couches.
GELASIMUS
The beginning pleases me, about the couches.
PINACIUM
Others, you chop the billets; others, you clean the fish which the fisherman has brought;
take you down the gammon of bacon and the collar of brawnCollar of brawn: Glandium. This really was the neck of the hag, which received its name from the kernels (glandes) which it contamea..
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GELASIMUS
I’ faith, this is a very sensible fellow.
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PHILUMENA
By my troth, as I imagine, you haven’t quite minded the directions of your mistress.
PINACIUM
Why, I’ve left all matters unattended to by reason of what you wished.
PHILUMENA
Then do you inform me upon that, on account of which you were sent to the harbour?
PINACIUM
I’ll tell you. After, with the daybreak, you had sent me to the harbour,
the sun with its beams opportunely arose from out of the sea. While I was enquiring of the revenue officers whether any ship had arrived from Asia, and they were saying none had come, I beheld, in the meantime, a bark, than which I think I never saw a greater one. With a favouring breeze, and in full sail, it came into harbour.
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