Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
he is placing his hand upon the bosom of Bacchis, or never withdraws his lips from hers? But I’m ashamed to make mention of other things which I have seen him do; when, in my presence, I saw him take most unbecoming liberties with the person of Bacchis, and yet not be at all ashamed. What need of words is there? My pupil, your friend, his son (pointing to PHILOXENUS), is ruined.
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LYDUS
For I say that he is ruined, whose modesty in fact is lost. What need of words is there? Had I been willing to wait only a little time, that I might have had a better opportunity of viewing him, I then should, I think, have seen more than would have been proper for me to see, and for him to do.
485
MNESILOCHUS
Friend, you have undone me. And ought I not to punish this woman with death? I should prefer that I should perish after some dreadful fashion.
Isn’t it the fact, you know not whom to deem faithful to yourself, or in whom to put your trust?
LYDUS
Don’t you see how much he grieves that your son, his friend, has been corrupted? and how he is afflicting himself with sorrow?
PHILOXENUS
Mnesilochus, I beg this of you, that you will influence his feelings and his disposition.
Preserve for yourself a friend as well as a son for me.
495
MNESILOCHUS
I fain would do so.
495
LYDUS
Much better, too, would you leave me here together with him.
PHILOXENUS
Mnesilochus has cares,
LYDUS
Rate the man soundly,Part of line 497b in the Latin. who disgraces me, yourself his friend, and others, by his excesses.
PHILOXENUS
Upon you do I impose all this responsibility. Lydus, follow me this way.
[Textpart 4]
Which of the two now I should think to be my greater enemy, my companion or Bacchis, is extremely doubtful. Has she chosen him in preference? Let her keep him, that’s the best. Surely, by my troth, she has done this to her own loss. For never letFor never let: This passage is a circumlocution for May I be prepared to commit a sacrilege, if, &c. any one entrust to me aught that is sacred,
500
MNESILOCHUS
if I don’t by an abundant exampleExample: This is an instance of Aposiopesis. He stops short in his indignation, and owns that, despite of her supposed inconstancy, he loves her still., and—assuredly love her. I’ll make her not to say that she has got hold of a person to make a fool of. But I’ll go home now and pilfer something from my father. Even to such straits will I force her, that beggary shall be the lot ofShall be the lot of: This is another instance of Aposiopesis. He threatens his vengeance on her, even to making his father a beggar for her sake.—my father. But do I really now possess my wits with a mind unimpaired,
505
who am in this fashion prating here of these things that are to come to pass? I’ faith, I’m of opinion that I’m in love, inasmuch as I know for sure I am. But still, than that she, from my abundance, should, by the scraping of a single feather, grow the richer, I’d rather outvie a beggar in begging.
510
Never, by Heaven, while I live, shall she make a laughing-stock of me. For I have made up my mind to pay down all the gold at once to my father. Upon me, therefore, needy and penniless, shall she fawn, at the time, when it shall be for her advantage not a whit the more than if she were saying her pretty things to a dead man at his tomb.
515
Beyond a doubt, ’tis my fixed determination to give the gold up to my father. Likewise, I’ll entreat that, for my sake, my father won’t hurt Chrysalus, nor censure him at all on my account with respect to the gold which he has deceived him about. For ’tis right that I should have a care for him, who, for my sake,
520
has told this falsehood. (To some ATTENDANTS) Do you follow me.
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