Perde 3
[Textpart 2]
She’s waiting in-doors for you to send for her; for your husband requested me to send her to help you. Do you wish me to call her?
CLEOSTRATA
Let it alone; I don’t care; if she’s busy.
ALCESIMUS
She’s at leisure.
CLEOSTRATA
I don’t care about it; I don’t want to be troublesome to her; I’ll see her at a future time.
545
ALCESIMUS
Are you not getting ready for a wedding there at your house?
CLEOSTRATA
I am getting ready and making preparations.
ALCESIMUS
Don’t you require an assistant then?
CLEOSTRATA
We have enough at home. When the marriage has taken place, then I’ll call upon her; for the present, farewell, and bid her the same from me. (Goes into her house.)
ALCESIMUS
What am I to do now? To my sorrow. I’ve done a most disgraceful action
for the sake of that vile and toothless goat, who has engaged me in this. I’ve promised the aid of my wife out of doors, as though to go lick dishesTo go lick dishes: He alludes to the habit of puppies, and grown-up dogs as well, of being very ready to find their way to the cupboards of their neighbours. like a dog. A worthless fellow, to tell me that his wife was going to send for her, whereas she herself declares that she does not want her. And upon my faith, it’s a wonder if this female neighbour of mine hasn’t already her suspicions of this.
550
But yet, on the other hand, when I reflect with myself on this notion, if there were anything of that, there would have been enquiries of me. I’ll go in-doors, that I may lay up the shipLay up the ship: He means his wife, who is all dressed out ready for her voyage to her neighbours, and whom he will now order to be unrigged and towed into dock. again in the dockyard.
555
CLEOSTRATA
Now he has been finely made a fool of. In what a bustle are these unfortunate old fellows. Now I do wish that that good-for-nothing decrepit husband of mine would come,
that I might make a fool of him in his turn, after I have thus fooled the other one. For I long to make a bit of a quarrel between these two. But look, he’s coming. Why, when you see him so serious, you’d think him a decent person. (She stands on one side, unseen.)
560
[Textpart 3]
It’s a great folly, to my notion at least, for any man that’s in love to go to the Forum
STALINO
on that day on which the object which he loves is close at handIs close at hand: In mundo. There is some doubt what is the meaning of this expression here. Warner renders it in all her trim.; as I in my folly have been doing; I’ve spent the day, standing pleadingStanding pleading: It was the custom at Rome, as with us for the advocate to stand while pleading the cause of his client. for a certain relative of mine, who, faith, I’m very delighted has lost his cause; so that he hasn’t for nothing chosen me as his advocate to-day.
565
He ought first to ask and make enquiry, whether his mind is at home or not at home, whom he’s choosing for his advocate; if he says it isn’t, without his mind he should send him off home. (Catches sight of his wife.) But look, there’s my wife before the house! Alas! wretch that I am!
570
I’m afraid that she isn’t deaf, and has heard this.
575
CLEOSTRATA
By my troth, I have heard it to your great cost.
STALINO
I’ll go nearer to her. (Goes up to CLEOSTRATA.) What are you about, my delight?
CLEOSTRATA
I’ faith, I was waiting for you.
