Perde 3
[Textpart 1]
Utterly ruined!
PAMPHILUS
Parmeno, you are concealing from me some great misfortune to me unknown.
PARMENO
They said that your wife, Philumena, was in alarm aboutWas in alarm about: Pavitare. Casaubon has a curious suggestion here; he thinks it not improbable that he had heard the female servants whispering among themselves that Philumena paritare, was about to be brought to bed, which he took for pavitare, was in fear of something. something, I know not what; whether that may be it, perchance, I don’t know.
320
PAMPHILUS
I am undone! Why didn’t you tell me of this?
PARMENO
Because I couldn’t tell every thing at once.
PAMPHILUS
What is the malady?
PAMPHILUS
What! has no one brought a physician to see her?
PAMPHILUS
Why delay going in-doors, that I may know as soon as possible for certain what it is?
In what condition, Philumena, am I now to find you? But if you are in any peril, beyond a doubt I will perish with you. (Goes into the house of PHIDIPPUS.)
325
PARMENO
There is no need for me to follow him into the house at present, for I see that we are all disagreeable to them. Yesterday, no one would give Sostrata admittance.
If, perchance, the malady should become worse, which really I could far from wish, for my master’s sake especially, they would at once say that Sostrata’s servant had been in there; they would invent a story that I had brought some mischief against their lives and persons, in consequence of which the malady had been increased.
330
My mistress would be blamed, and I should incur heavy punishment.Heavy punishment: Probably meaning that he will be examined by torture, whether he has not, by drugs or other means, contributed to Philumena’s illness.
335
[Textpart 2]
In dreadful alarm, I have for some time heard, I know not what confusion going on here; I’m sadly afraid Philumena’s illness is getting worse. Aesculapius, I do entreat thee, and thee, Health,And thee, Health: She invokes Aesculapius, the God of Medicine, and Salus, or Health, because, in Greece, their statues were always placed near each other; so that to have offered prayers to one and not to the other, would have been deemed a high indignity. On the worship of Aesculapius, see the opening Scene of the Curculio of Plautus. that it may not be so. Now I’ll go visit her.
PARMENO
Hark you, Sostrata.
PARMENO
You will again be shut out there.
SOSTRATA
What, Parmeno, is it you? I’m undone! wretch that I am, what shall I do? Am I not to go see the wife of Pamphilus, when she is ill here next door?
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