Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
May the Deities ever preserve you,
ARGYRIPPUS
protector of your master, honor to the people, treasury of resources, preserver of my inner manOf my inner man: Interioris corporis. Literally, of my inner body. This is a periphrasis signifying life, the seat of which, the vital parts, are within the body., and commander of love; place it here, put down that bag, here on the spot, at onceOn the spot, at once: In loco plane. These words seem to imply not in a hanging position, but clean or pat upon the ground. Warner, however, renders the passage, Tye the bag around my neck. It was probably the intention of Argyrippus to take it after Leonida had fairly put it down..
655
LEONIDA
I don’t like you, who are my master, to carry this load.
ARGYRIPPUS
Still, do you rid yourself of the trouble, and fasten that bag to myself.
LEONIDA
I’ll carry it, porter-like; you, as befits my master, go, without any burden, before me.
660
Why don’t you give up the bagGive up the bag: Crumenam seems a better reading than crumena, which Richter adopts. here, for your master to feel its weight?
LEONIDA
Bid her to whom I’m about to give it, to beg and entreat it of me. For that’s a dangerous spot where you bid me put it down at once.
PHILENIUM
Apple of my eye, my rose, my life, my delight,
Leonida, do give me the money, and don’t sever us lovers asunder.
665
LEONIDA
Call me, then, your little sparrow, your chicken, your quail, your pet lamb: say that I’m your pet kid or your pet calf; take me by the ears, press your lips to my lips.
ARGYRIPPUS
She, kiss you, you whip-scoundrel?
LEONIDA
Really, how unbecoming it does seem!
But, by the powers, you shan’t get it this day, if my knees are not embraced.
670
ARGYRIPPUS
Necessity compels to anything. (To LEONIDA.) Let them be embraced (kneels down and embraces his knees): now give what I’m asking for.
PHILENIUM
Come, my Leonida, prithee do bring safety to your master thus in love. Redeem yourself from him by this service, and purchase him for yourself with this money.
LEONIDA
You are very pretty and amiable; and if this were mine, you should never this day
ask me for it, but I would give it you: ’tis better for you to ask it of him (pointing to LIBANUS), for ’twas he gave it me to keep for him. Approach him then prettily, my pretty one. (Delivers the bag to LIBANUS.) Take this, please, Libanus.
675
ARGYRIPPUS
Scoundrel, are you still trifling with me?
