Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
’Tis very good; there will then be the less delay on that account. I shall be at your houseI shall be at your house: These words are given, in Ritschel’s edition, to Epignomus. but clearly erroneously, as it is Pamphilus who is promising that, after he has run home, he will be at the house of his brother immediately. this instant.
ANTIPHO
Before you go away, in your presence I wish to relate a single story to him.
ANTIPHO
There was once an old gentleman, just as I now am; he had two daughters, such as mine now are; they were married to two brothers,
just as mine now are to yourselves.
PAMPHILUS
I wonder how the story is to turn out?
ANTIPHO
One of these young men had, as you (to PAMPHILUS) now have, a damsel, a music-girl; he had brought her from abroad, as you have now done. Now, this old gentleman was a widower, just as I now am.
PAMPHILUS
Do proceed; this story is really à propos.
ANTIPHO
Then said this old gentleman to him to whom the music-girl belonged, just as I now say to you—
545
PAMPHILUS
I’m listeningI’m listening: Pamphilus says this, as the old man has probably touched him, to bespeak his attention., and carefully giving heed.
ANTIPHO
I gave you my daughter, to be a comfortable bedfellow for you; now, I think it fair that one should be given me in return by you, to be my bed-fellow.
PAMPHILUS
Who says that? Does he say itDoes he say it: He imitates the old man’s manner of adapting his story to the present company, and here jokes him upon it. just as though you were to say it?
ANTIPHO
Just as I now say it to you.
Aye, I’ll give you two of them, says this young man, if one’s too little; and if you are not satisfied with two, says he, two more shall be added.
550
PAMPHILUS
Prithee, who says that? Does he say it just as though I were to say it?
ANTIPHO
He says it just as though you were to say it. Then says this old gentleman, just as though I were to say it, Well, give me four, if you like, so long only as, i’ faith, you find them something to eat as well, that they mayn’t consume my victuals.
PAMPHILUS
Why surely it must have been a stingy old chap to say that, in asking food as well of him who promised them to him.
555
ANTIPHO
Why surely, this young man must have been a good-for-nothing fellow, who forthwith, when the other asked him, refused to give him a grain of wheat. But, i’ troth, the old gentleman asked what was fair, inasmuch as
the dowry which he had given to his daughter, he wished him to have as an equivalent for the music-girl.
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PAMPHILUS
I’ faith, for sure I really do think that the young man was well advised, who wouldn’t give a mistress to that old fellow in return for the dower.
