Perde 5
[Textpart 1]
Hush! (pointing to his own house.)
SOPHRONA
Why are you afraid about that door?
CHREMES
I have got a shrew of a wife shut up there. For by that name I formerly
falsely called myself, in order that you might not chance indiscreetly to blab it out of doors, and then my wife, by some means or other, might come to know of it.
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SOPHRONA
I’ faith, that’s the very reason why we, wretched creatures, have never been able to find you out here.
CHREMES
Well, but tell me, what business have you with that family from whose house you were coming out? Where are the ladies?Where are the ladies?: Ubi illae? literally, Where are these women?
SOPHRONA
Ah, wretched me!
CHREMES
Hah! What’s the matter? Are they still alive?
SOPHRONA
Your daughter is alive.
Her poor mother died of grief.
750
CHREMES
An unfortunate thing!
SOPHRONA
As for me, being a lone old woman, in want, and unknown, I contrived, as well as I could, to get the young woman married to the young man who is master of this house (pointing).
CHREMES
What! to Antipho?
SOPHRONA
The very same, I say.
CHREMES
What? Has he got two wives?
SOPHRONA
Dear no, prithee, he has only got this one.
CHREMES
What about the other one that’s called his relative?
755
SOPHRONA
Why, this is she.
755
CHREMES
What is it you say?
755
SOPHRONA
It was done on purpose, in order that her lover might be enabled to marry her without a portion.
