Perde 4
[Textpart 6]
I had thought that there was the very greatest dependence upon Faith; very nearly had she played me a pretty trickPlayed me a pretty trick: Sublevit os. Sublinere os means to paint the face secretly, in allusion to the practical joke of so doing when a person is asleep, and thereby making a fool of him.. If the raven hadn’t come to my assistance, to my sorrow I should have been undone.
EUCLIO
Troth, I very much wish that raven would come to me which gave me the warning, that I might say something kind to him; for I would as soon giveWould as soon give: That is, not at all. He says thank you to the raven, but he would be as likely to give it a scrap of victuals as to throw it away, which was quite repugnant to his jus et norma vivendi, his mode of life. him something to eat as lose it. Now I’m thinking of a lonely spot where I shall hide this. The grove of Sylvanus, outside of the wall, is unfrequented,
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and planted with many a willow; there will I choose a spot. I’m determined to trust Sylvanus Sylvanus: Sylvanus was the tutelary Divinity of the woodlands field, and cattle. Pigs were usually offered in sacrifice to him., rather than Faith.
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STROBILUS
Capital! capital! the Gods will me to be safe and preserved! Now will I run before to that place, and climb up into some tree, and thence will I watch where the old fellow hides the gold.
Although my master bade me remain here, I’m resolved rather to risk a mishap along with emolument.
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[Textpart 7]
I’ve told you all, mother; as well as I do myself, you understand all about the daughter of Euclio. Now, I do entreat you, my mother, make mention of it to my uncle, and I now unask of you, mother, that which before I entreated of you, to conceal this from Megadorus.
EUNOMIA
You know, yourself, that what you desire to be done, I desire, and I trust that I shall obtain this of my brother; and the reason is good, if ’tis so as you say, that in a drunken fit you debauched this damsel.
LYCONIDES
Could I, my mother, tell a falsehood in your presence?
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PHAEDRA
I die, my nurse; my pangs are coming on! I entreat thee for thy protection, Juno LucinaJuno Lucina: Juno Lucina was the Goddess who presided over childbirth. Some suppose that the Goddess Diana was called by that name; but (although Diana was also addressed by parturient females) it is more likely that Juno was addressed under the title. A similar circumstance to this takes place in the Andria and the Adelphi of Terence.!
LYCONIDES
Ah! my mother, I see a more convincing proof for you; she’s crying aloud—she’s in the pangs of labour.
EUNOMIA
Come in-doors here, with me, my son, to my brother,
that I may obtain a grant from him of that which you beg of me.
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LYCONIDES
Go; I’ll follow you this instant, mother. (EUNOMIA goes into the house.) But my servant, Strobilus, I wonder where he is, whom I ordered to wait here for me. Now I reflect with myself, if he’s lending me his assistance, it isn’t fair that I should be angry with him.
I’ll go in-doors, where they are sitting in judgmentThey are sitting in judgnment: Ubi de capite meo sunt Comitia. Literally, where, then, are the Comitia about my life. Trials were held before the Comitia centuriata, or assemblies of the people, at Rome, to which reference is here made. He alludes to the discussion between Eunomia and Megadorus, on the marriage of the latter with Phaedra. upon my life.
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[Textpart 8]
I, by myself, exceed the riches of the GriffinsRiches of the Griffins: Pici. Picis would be a better reading here, and ought to be adopted unless we agree with some of the Commentators, who think that Strobilus begins a sentence, and then, in the exuberance of his joy, breaks out into an expression of a different construction from that originally intended. It may, however, possibly be, as Hildyard suggests, the nominativus pendens, which is not unfrequently used by Plautus. The Pici here alluded to, were Griffins, or fabulous monsters, who were said to watch the treasures of the Arimaspi, a people of the north of Scythia, mentioned by Herodotus, who were said to possess mountains of gold; in which story, no doubt, the Uralian mountians were alluded to., who inhabit the golden mountains, For I’m unwilling to make mention of those other kings, beggarly fellows—I am the king Philip. O charming day!
STROBILUS
for when I went from here, just now, I arrived there much the first, and, long before, I placed myself in a tree, and thence observed where the old fellow hid the gold. When he departed thence, I let myself down from the tree, and dug up the pot full of gold. Thence, from that spot,
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I saw the old fellow betaking himself back again; he didn’t see me, for I turned a little on one side, out of the path. Heyday! here he comes himself. I’ll go and hide this away, at home.
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[Textpart 9]
I’m ruined! I’m done for! I’m murdered! Whither shall I run? Whither not run? Stop him—stop him. Whom? who? I don’t know. I see nothing! I’m going blindfold; and, in fact, whither I am going, or where I am, or who I am,
EUCLIO
I can’t in my mind find out for certain. (To the AUDIENCE.) I beseech you, give me your aid (I beg and entreat of you), and point me out the person that has taken it away. What’s the matter? Why do you laugh? I’m acquainted with you all; I know that there are many thieves here, who conceal themselves with white clothes and chalkWhite clothes and chalk: The Romans were much in the habit of having their woollen togae made extremely white by chalk, pipeclay, and the fuller’s art. He alludes to white garments covering bad manners, much as in Scripture whited sepuichres are mentoned as being full of uncleanness., and sit as though they were honest! (To one of the SPECTATORS.) What say you? You I’m resolved to believe; for I perceive, even by your looks, that you are honest.
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Well then, none of these has got it? You’ve been the death of me! Tell me, then, who has got it? You don’t know? Oh,wretched, wretched me! I’m done for! wofully undone! In most sorry plight I go; so much groaning, and misfortune, and sorrow, has this day brought upon me, hunger and poverty, too. I’m the most utterly ruined of all men upon the earth! For what need of life have I, who have
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