Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
Then do you attend to something else, whatever you please.
DEMAENETUS
I’m off to the Forum, unless you wish for anything.
LIBANUS
Be off—why are you not walkingWhy are you not walking: Etiamne ambulas. Thornton, quoting from Limiers, says, in reference to this passage, This is a banter of the slave’s, who is rallying his master on the pain he is in, in walking supported by his crutch-stick. There is a distinction made between ire, which, the grammarians tell us, is used to express walking fast, and ambulare, to walk slowly, or step by step.?
DEMAENETUS
And do you hear, too—?
DEMAENETUS
If I want you for anything, where will you be?
LIBANUS
Wherever it shall be agreable to my feelings. Really, there’s not a person that I shall stand in dread of from this time forward, for fear he might be able to do me an injury, since in your discourse you have disclosed to me all your sentiments. Why, your own self even I don’t stand much in awe of, if I carry this out. I’ll go where I intended, and there I’ll commune upon my plans.
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DEMAENETUS
Do you hear me? I shall be with Archibulus, the banker.
LIBANUS
In the Forum, you mean?
DEMAENETUS
There, if there shall be any occasion for meAny occasion for me: Si quid opus fuerit. This expression equivalent to ours, if I am wanted, was made use of by the Romans when they had the intention of engaging in some occupation of importance..
LIBANUS
I’ll remember it.
DEMAENETUS
Not any servant can there be more artful than this fellow, nor yet more crafty, nor one that it is more difficult for you to be on your guard against.
If you want anything well managed, entrust it to this same fellow; he’d rather he should die in wretchedness, than not have that quite completed which he has promised. For I know that this money is as surely forthcoming for my son, as that I look upon this same walking-stick.
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But why am I delaying to go to the Forum where I had intended
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[Textpart 2]
Is’t thus it is,—me to be shut out of doors? Is this the reward that’s given to me who deserve so highly of you? To him who deserves well you are unkind, to him who deserves ill you are indulgent.
ARGYRIPPUS
But to your own misfortune, for now from this spot will I go to the TriumvirsTo the Triumvirs: The Tresviri, or Triumviri, were in duty bound to receive informations relative to public morals, and were empowered to inflict summary punishment on persons of the rank and occupation of Cleaereta. They have been more fully referred to in a previous Note. It will not be forgotten that, though the scene is in Athens, Plautus is making reference to Roman customs., and there I’ll take care your names shall be. I’ll punish capitally yourself and your daughter, you enticers, pests, and destruction of young men! For, compared with you, the sea is not the sea; you are a most dangerous sea.
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For on the sea did I find it, here have I been cleaned out of my wealth. What I have given, and what kindnesses I have done, I find them all valueless for good, and thrown away. But from hence-forth, whatever harm I shall be able to do you, I will do it, and do it at your deserts. I’ faith, I’ll reduce you to the verge of poverty, that state from which you have risen.
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By my troth, I’ll make you to know what you now are, and what you once were; what you were before I visited that daughter of yours, and, in my passion, bestowed upon her my affection; on coarse breadOn coarse bread: Sordido—pane. According to the Commentators, this means brown bread with the bran in it. Terence, in his Eunuchus, calls it panis ater, black bread Juvenal calls it dog’s bread. you were enjoying your life, in rags, and in want. And if these you had, especial thanks did you return to all the Divinities. Now, bad woman, you the same person, when ’tis better with you, don’t know me through whose means it is so.
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From a wild beast, I’ll make you tame through hunger, only trust me for thatTrust me for that: Me specta modo. Literally, only look to me.. But I have no reason to blame your daughter herself; she does not deserve it in the least. She acts by your command; she obeys your bidding; you are her mother, you too her mistress. I’ll revenge myself on you; I’ll ruin you; as you are deserving, and as you merit at my hands. But look now, the hag, how she really doesn’t think me worthy
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for her to come to and address and deprecate my resentment. But, see, the enticer’s coming out at last, I think. Here. before the door, I’ll address her in my own fashion, as I please, since I’m not allowed to do so within.
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