Perde 2
[Textpart 1]
I wish you to bring home a wife.Part of line 149 in the Latin.
MEGADORUS
Ha! I’m undone.
150
MEGADORUS
Because, sister, your words are knocking out the brains of unfortunate me; you are speaking stonesYou are speaking stones: So Shakspeare says, in Hamlet, Act III., sc. 2, I will speak daggers to her, but use none. Aristophanes says, in one of his plays, You have spoken roses to me..
EUNOMIA
Well, well, do this that your sister requests you.
MEGADORUS
If she requests me, I will do it.
EUNOMIA
’Tis for your own interest.
MEGADORUS
Yes, for me to die before I marry.
Let her who comes here to-morrow, be carried outBe carried out: Feratur, may be carried out to burial. Fero and effero have that especial signification. The body was carried out to burial on a bier, which resembled a bed or couch. of the house the day after, sister; on that condition, give me her whom you wish to give; get ready the nuptials.
155
EUNOMIA
I am able, brother, to provide you with a wife with a very large marriage-portion.
But she’s somewhat aged; she’s of the middle-age of woman. If you request me, brother, to ask her for you, I’ll ask her.
160
MEGADORUS
Would you like me to ask you a question?
EUNOMIA
Yes, if you like, ask it.
MEGADORUS
Suppose any old man, past mid-age, brings home a middle-aged wife, if by chance he should have a child by this old woman, do you doubt at all but that the name of that child is Posthumus Is Posthumus: Children, who were born after their father’s decease were called posthumi, a term which is still retained. By speaking of an old woman, anus, as the mother, he seems also to allude to the chance of the child losing its mother as well, at the moment of its birth, all prepared?
Now, sister, I’ll remove and lessen this labour for you. I, by the merits of the Gods and of my forefathers, am rich enough; these high families, haughty prideHaughty pride: He means to say, that these evils are attendant upon marrying a woman with a large dowry., bountiful portions, acclamations, imperiousness, vehicles inlaid with ivory, superb mantles and purple, I can’t abide, things that by their extravagance reduce men to slavery.
165
EUNOMIA
Tell me, pray, who is she whom you would like to take for a wife?
170
MEGADORUS
I’ll tell you. Do you know that Euclio, the poor old man close by?
170
EUNOMIA
I know him; not a bad sort of man, i’ faith.
MEGADORUS
I’d like his maiden daughter to be promised me in marriage. Don’t make any wordsDon’t make any words: Ben Jonson has imitated this passage in his Silent Woman, Act I., sc. 5: I know what thou wouldst say: She’s poor, and her friends deceased. She has brought a wealthy dowry in her silence. about it, sister; I know what you are going to say; that she’s poor. This poor girl pleases me.
EUNOMIA
May the Gods prosper it.
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