Perde 2
[Textpart 1]
All hail, land of my master! which I joyfully behold after the two years that I have been absent hence at Ephesus. I salute thee, neighbour ApolloNeighbour Apollo: He is supposed to refer to Apollo Prostitorus, whose statue was placed in the vestibule of the houses, and to whom the Athenians paid veneration as the tutelar God of their habitations., who dost have thy shrine close by our house, and to thee do I make my prayer, that thou wilt not let me meet our old gentleman, Nicobulus, before I have seen
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CHRYSALUS
Pistoclerus, the friend of Mnesilochus, him to whom Mnesilochus has sent the letter about his mistress, Bacchis.
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[Textpart 2]
’Tis strange that you are so earnestly begging me to return, who am able by no possible means to depart hence, if I were willing,
PISTOCLERUS
so bound downSo bound down: Vadatus was a term properly applied to a person bound under a penalty as surety for another., and so enchained with love do you hold me.
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CHRYSALUS
O, ye immortal Gods, I espy Pistoclerus! O, Pistoclerus, hail!
PISTOCLERUS
Hail, Chrysalus, to you!
CHRYSALUS
I will at present compress many speeches for you in a small space. You are glad that I am come; I give you credit for it.
You promise me lodging and an entertainment coming from my journey, as it is befitting, and I agree to come. I bring you the sincere greetings of your friend. Would you ask me where he is? He’s come.
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PISTOCLERUS
Is he alive and well?
CHRYSALUS
That I was wishful to enquire of yourself.
PISTOCLERUS
How can I know?
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CHRYSALUS
No one better.
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PISTOCLERUS
Why, in what way?
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CHRYSALUS
Because if she has been found whom he so loves, he is alive and well. If she is not found, he is not well, and is like to die. His mistress is the very life of a lover. If she is away, he is non-existent; if she is with him, his property is non-existent, and himself worthless and wretched.
But what have you done in respect of his commission?
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PISTOCLERUS
And ought I not to have his request complied with against his arrival, which his messenger brought to me from him? I’d sooner be dwelling in the realms of Acheron than not.
CHRYSALUS
How now, have you found out this Bacchis?
PISTOCLERUS
Yes, and a Samian one too.
CHRYSALUS
Prithee, do take care that no one handles her carelessly: you know how soon a Samian vesselA Samian vessel: He plays upon the word Samian, as the isle of Samos was celebrated for the quality of its earthenware, which, as he here says, was very brittle. is wont to break.
PISTOCLERUS
What now, your old habit?
