Perde 4
[Textpart 2]
Be sure to come hither (pointing in the direction of his house.) to my house, if you can effect any thing.
DAVUS
Why should I come? I can do nothing for you.
CHARINUS
But still, if any thing—
DAVUS
Well, well, I’ll come.
CHARINUS
If you can; I shall be at home.
DAVUS
Do you, Mysis, remain here a little while, until I come out.
MYSIS
For what reason?
715
DAVUS
There’s a necessity for so doing.
715
DAVUS
I’ll be here this moment, I tell you.
715
[Textpart 3]
That nothing can be secure to any one! Ye Gods, by our trust in you! I used to make sure that this Pamphilus was a supreme blessing for my mistress; a friend, a protector, a husband secured under every circumstance; yet what anguish is she, poor thing, now suffering through him?
MYSIS
Clearly there’s more trouble for her now than there was happiness formerly. But Davus is coming out. (Enter DAVUS from the house of GLYCERIUM with the child.) My good sir, prithee, what is that? Whither are you carrying the child?
720
DAVUS
Mysis, I now stand in need of your cunning being brought into play in this matter, and of your address.
MYSIS
Why, what are you going to do?
DAVUS
Take it from me directly, and lay it down before our door.
MYSIS
Prithee, on the ground?
725
DAVUS
Take some sacred herbs Take some sacred herbs: Verbena appears to have been a general term applied to any kind of herb used in honor of the Deities, or to the boughs and leaves of any tree gathered from a pure or sacred place. Fresh verbenae were placed upon the altars every day. See the Mercator of Plautus, 1. 672. from the altar here, From the altar here: It was usual to have altars on the stage; when Comedy was performed, one on the left hand in honor of Apollo, and on the representation of Tragedy, one on the right in honor of Bacchus. It has been suggested that Terence here alludes to the former of these. As, however, at Athens almost every house had its own altar in honor of Apollo Prostaterius just outside of the street door, it is most probable that to one of these altars reference is here made. They are frequently alluded to in the Plays of Plautus. and strew them under it.
MYSIS
Why don’t you do it yourself?
DAVUS
That if perchance I should have to swear to my master that I did not place it there, I may be enabled to do so with a clear conscience.
