Perde 3
[Textpart 1]
This piece of knavery is being now for the first time palmed upon me by this fellow; they are pretending that she’s in labor, in order that they may alarm Chremes.
GLYCERIUM
Juno Lucina,Juno Lucina: Juno Lucina had the care of women in childbed. Under this name some suppose Diana to have been worshiped. A similar incident to the present is found in the Adelphi, l. 486; and in the Aulularia of Plautus, l. 646. grant me thine aid, save me, I do entreat thee!
SIMO
Whew! so sudden? What nonsense! As soon as
she has heard that I’m standing before the door, she makes all haste. These incidents, Davus, have not been quite happily adapted by you as to the points of time.
475
SIMO
Are your scholars forgetful? Are your scholars forqetful?: He alludes under this term to Mysis, Lesbia, and Pamphilus, whom he supposes Davus to have been training to act their parts in the plot against him.
DAY.
I don’t know what you are talking about.
SIMO
If he at the real marriage of my son had taken me off my guard, what sport he would have made of me.
Now it is at his own risk; I’m sailing in harbor.
480
[Textpart 2]
As yet, Archylis, all the customary symptoms which ought to exist toward recovery, I perceive in her. Now, in the first place, take care and let her bathe;Let her bathe: It was the custom for women to bathe immediately after childbirth. See the Amphitryon of Plautus, 1. 669, and the Note to the passage in Bohn’s Translation. then, after that, what I ordered to be given her to drink, and as much as I prescribed,
LESBIA
do you administer: presently I will return hither. (To herself aloud.) By all that’s holy, a fine boy has been born to Pamphilus. I pray the Gods that he may survive, since the father himself is of a good disposition, and since he has hesitated to do an injustice to this most excellent young woman.
485
SIMO
Even this, who is there that knows you that would not believe that it originated in you?
SIMO
She didn’t order in their presence what was requisite to be done for the woman lying in; but after she has come out, she bawls from the street to those who are in the house. O Davus, am I thus trifled with by you? Or pray, do I seem to you so very well suited to be thus openly imposed upon by your tricks? At all events it should have been with pre-caution; that at least I might have seemed to be feared, if I should detect it.
490
DAVUS
Assuredly, upon my faith, it’s he that’s, now deceiving himself, not I.
495
SIMO
I gave you warning, I forbade you with threats to do it. Have you been awed? What has it availed? Am I to believe you now in this, that this woman has had a child by Pamphilus?
495
DAVUS
I understand where he’s mistaken; and I see what I must do.
DAVUS
What would you believe? As though word had not been brought you that thus it would happen.
SIMO
Any word brought to me?
500
