Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
The old gentleman wished, indeed, if he could, to bargain for their maintenance; because he couldn’t, he said he wished it to be done on what terms it might.
ANTIPHO
Done, said this young man. You do me a kindness, said the old gentleman. Have I the thing agreed upon? said he. I’ll do even as you wish it to be done, said the other. But I’ll be off in-doors, and congratulate my daughters on your arrival. Then I’ll go wash me at the bathAt the bath: Pyelum. Pyelus is a Greek word Latinised it signifies a vessel used in bathing, which was sufficiently large to hold the bathe in a sitting posture.; there will I take all care of my old age; after that, when I’ve bathed, lying down, I’ll await you at my leisure.
565
PAMPHILUS
A funny mortal, Antipho; how cleverly he did make up his story.
570
Even yet the rogue considers himself a young man. A mistress shall be given to the fellow, to sing to the old chap at night in bed; for, i’ faith, indeed, I know not of what other use a mistress can be to him.
But how fares our Parasite, Gelasimus? Is he well, too?
EPIGNOMUS
I’ faith, I saw the fellow not so very long ago.
575
PAMPHILUS
How fares he?
575
EPIGNOMUS
Like one half-starved.
575
PAMPHILUS
Why didn’t you invite the fellow to your house to dinner?
EPIGNOMUS
That on my arrival I mightn’t be wasting anything. But see, here’s the wolf in the FableWolf in the Fable: Lupus in Fabulâ was a common expression among the Romans, answering exactly to our very elegart Proverb, Talk of the devil, he is sure to appear. It either alludes to the Fable where the nurse threatens that the wolf shall take the naughty child, on which he makes his appearance, but is disappointed in his expectations; or else to the well-known one of the Shepherd-boy and the Wolf.; here he is in person with his ravenous fit.
PAMPHILUS
We’ll have some sport with the fellow.
EPIGNOMUS
You put me in mind of a plan I had already resolved on.
[Textpart 2]
But as I had begun to tell you; while I have been absent hence,
GELASIMUS
I’ve now been consulting with my friends and with my relatives. They have been my advisers to the effect that I should this very day kill myself with starvation. But don’t I see Pamphilus with his brother Epignomus? Yes, ’tis he. I’ll accost the man. (Goes up to PAMPHILUS.) O longed-for Pamphilus! O my salvation! O my life! O my delight! right welcome. I rejoice that
580
you’ve returned safe from abroad to your native land. Welcome.
585
PAMPHILUS
Welcome, Gelasimus.
585
GELASIMUS
Have you been quite well?
PAMPHILUS
I have taken good care of my health.
GELASIMUS
I’ troth, I’m glad of it. I’ faith, I confoundedly wish I had now a thousand measures of silver.
EPIGNOMUS
What need have you of it?
