Perde 3
[Textpart 4]
I see that I’ve been imposed upon.
TYNDARUS
Why, fetters, do you delay to run towards me and to embrace my legs, that I may have you in custody?
HEGIO
And have these two rascally captives really deceived me this day with their tricks? The other one pretended that he was the servant, and this one that he himself was the master.
I’ve lost the kernel; for a security, I’ve left the shell. To such a degree have they imposed upon meHave they imposed upon me: Os sublevere offuciis. Literally painted my face with varnish. This expression is probably derived from the practice of persons concealing, their defects, by painting over spots or freckles in the face for the purpose of hiding them., both on this side and that, with their trickeries. Still, this fellow shall never have the laugh against me. Colaphus, Cordalio, CoraxColaphus, Cordalio, Corax: These are the names of slaves Colaphus means, also, a blow with the fist. Corax was the Greek name for a crow, and was probably given to a black slave. (to the SLAVES), go you away and bring out the thongs.
655
A SLAVE
Are we to be sent to gather faggotsTo gather faggots: He asks this question because cords, lora, were necessary for the purpose of binding up faggots.? (The SLAVES go and bring the thongs from the house.)
[Textpart 5]
Put the manacles on this whipp’d villain.
TYNDARUS
What’s the matter? What have I done wrong?
660
HEGIO
Do you ask the question? You weeder and sower of villanies, and in especial their reaper.
660
TYNDARUS
Ought you not to have ventured to say the harrower first? For countrymen always harrow before they weed.
HEGIO
Why, with what assurance he stands before me.
TYNDARUS
It’s proper for a servant, innocent and guiltless, to be full of confidence, most especially before his master.
665
HEGIO
Bind this fellow’s hands tightly, will you.
TYNDARUS
I am your own—do you command them to be cut off even. But what is the matter on account of which you blame me?
HEGIO
Because me and my fortunes, so far as in you singly lay, by your rascally and knavish stratagems you have rent in pieces, and have distracted my affairs and spoiled all my resources and my plans, in that you’ve thus robbed me of Philocrates by your devices,
670
I thought that he was the slave, you the free man. So did you say yourselves, and in this way did you change names between you.
675
TYNDARUS
I confess that all was done so, as you say, and that by a stratagem he has got away from you, through my aid and cleverness;
and prithee, now, do you blame me for that, i’ faith?
680
HEGIO
Why, it has been done with your extreme torture for the consequence.
TYNDARUS
So I don’t die by reason of my misdeeds, I care but little. If I do die here, then he returns not, as he said he would; but when I’m dead, this act will be remembered to my honor,
that I caused my captive master to return from slavery and the foe, a free man, to his father in his native land; and that I preferred rather to expose my own life to peril, than that he should be undone.
685
