Perde 2
[Textpart 4]
Go you away from there into the house, and shut the door. (They go in, and shut the door.) You now alone are left to be present at my communication; to you I’ve ever entrusted my designs. For my own part, I’ve neither had any child nor have I been pregnant;
PHRONESIUM
but I’ve pretended that I was pregnant; I wasn’t though.
390
DINARCHUS
For what reason, O my life?
PHRONESIUM
On account of a Babylonian Captain, who kept me as though his wife for a year, while he was here.
DINARCHUS
That I knew. But what means this? For what purpose was your design in pretending this?
PHRONESIUM
That there might be a certain bond and tieAnd tie: Redimiculum. The redimicula were, properly strings or ribbons which fell on the shoulders from the mitra or headdress of females, and were probably used for the purpose of tying it under the chin. They hung down on each side, over the breast. for him to be returning to me again. Now he has lately sent me a letter hither, that he’ll make trial how much I value him. If I should raise and bring up the child which I should bear,
395
that then I should have all his property.
400
DINARCHUS
I listen with pleasure. In fine, what is it you are contriving?
400
PHRONESIUM
My mother ordered the servant-maids, since now the tenth month is arriving close at hand, each to go in some different direction, to seek out and bespeak a boy or a girl, to be passed off as my own.
Why need I make many words? You know Syra, the female hair-dresserThe female hair-dresser: Tonstricem. Warner translates the word tonstrix, tire-woman; but the real meaning is, a female hair-dresser or barber. They were women who used to cut the hair and pare the nails of females., who now lives hard by our house?
405
PHRONESIUM
She, with the utmost care, went about among the families, and secretly found out a child, and brought it to me. She said it was given to her.
DINARCHUS
O shocking traffic!
She then hasn’t borne this child who at first did bear it, but you who come afterwards.
410
PHRONESIUM
You have the whole matter in its order. Now, as the Captain has sent a message before to me, he’ll be here no long time hence.
DINARCHUS
Now, in the mean time, you are treating yourself here as though one who had just lain in?
when, without trouble, the matter can be nicely managed? It’s proper that every one should be alive at his own trade.
415
DINARCHUS
What’s to become of me when the Captain comes? Forsaken, can I live without you?
PHRONESIUM
When I’ve got from him that which I want, I shall easily find a way how
