Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
Prithee, do let me go.
PHILENIUM
Whither are you going now? Why don’t you stay here?
ARGYRIPPUS
This night, if you choose, I’ll stay.
LIBANUS
Don’t you hear him? How profuse he is of his attentions by night. But now, in the daytime, he’s engaged; surely he’s a SolonHe’s a Solon: Solon was one of the wise men of Greece, and the great lawgiver of the Athenians. He was remarkable for he severity of his morals.
to write laws whereby the public may regulate itself. Psha! those who would be in readiness for themselves to pay obedience to his laws, would decidedly never do any good; they would be drinking night and day.
600
LEONIDA
Troth now, for sure, he wouldn’t budge a foot from her if she would let him, who is now in such haste, and is threatening that he’s going away from her.
LIBANUS
Now make an end of your talk, that I may catch his discourse.
605
PHILENIUM
Whither are you hastening?
ARGYRIPPUS
Kindly fare you well! I shall see you in the other worldIn the other world: Apud Orcum. Orcus was a name of the Shades below, and was also an epithet of the God Pluto.. For indeed now, so soon as I can, I shall sever myself from life.
PHILENIUM
Prithee, why, while I do not deserve it, do you wish to consign me to death?
ARGYRIPPUS
I—you? whom, if I were to hear that you were in want of life, at once would I
present you my own life, and from my own would add to yours.
610
PHILENIUM
Why, then, do you threaten that you will quit life? For what do you suppose that I shall do, if you do that which you are talking of? I’m determined to do everything exactly the same to myself that you do to yourself.
ARGYRIPPUS
O! sweeter than honey are you to me.
PHILENIUM
And surely you are my life. Embrace me.
ARGYRIPPUS
I do so with pleasure.
615
PHILENIUM
Would that thus we might be carried to the tomb.
615
LEONIDA
O Libanus, how wretched is the man that loves.
LIBANUS
Aye, but surely, faith, the man that’s hanging upThe man that’s hanging up: He alludes to the punishment of the thieves, which has been before referred to. is much more wretched.
