Perde 4
[Textpart 10]
You have the whole matter.
LYCONIDES
He has now bade me announce to you his refusal of herHis refusal of her: Repudium. The rejection of a person after being betrothed was called repudium; while the putting-away of a marned woman by her husband was called divortium..
EUCLIO
A refusal, when the things are got ready, and the wedding’s prepared?
May all the immortal Gods and Goddesses confound him, so far as is possible, by reason of whom this day, unhappy wretch that I am, I have lost so much gold!
785
LYCONIDES
Be of good heart, and speak in kindly terms; now, a thing—may it turn out well and prosperously to you and your daughter.—May the Gods so grant—say.
EUCLIO
May the Gods so grant.
LYCONIDES
And for me, too, may the Gods so grant it. Now, then, do you listen.
The man that admits a fault is not so much to be despised, if he feels a sense of shame when he excuses himself. Now, Euclio, I do beseech you, that what unawares I have done wrong towards yourself or your daughter, you will grant me pardon for the same, and give her for a wife to me, as the laws demand. I confess that I did violence to your daughter
790
on the festival of Ceres, by reason of wine and the impulse of youth.
795
EUCLIO
Woe is me! What shocking deed do I hear of you?
LYCONIDES
Why do you exclaim? You whom I’ve made to be a grandfather now at the very wedding of your daughter. For your daughter has just been brought to bed in the ninth month after—calculate the numberCalculate the number: Numeram cape. He probably means by this, calculate the time since the festival of Ceres, when this misfortone happened.; for that reason, in my behalf, has my uncle sent his refusal.
Go in-doors; enquire whether it is so or not as I say.
800
EUCLIO
I’m undone utterly; so very many misfortunes unite themselves for my undoing. I’ll go in-doors, that I may know what of this is true.
800
LYCONIDES
I’ll follow you this instant. This matter seems now to be pretty nearly in the haven of safety. Now, where to say my servant Strobilus is, I don’t know,
but yet I’ll wait here still a little while; after that I’ll follow this man indoors; now, in the meantime, I’ll give him leisure to enquire of the nurse about my doings, the attendant of his daughter, whether she knows the truth.
805
