Perde 3
[Textpart 5]
She has; but two of them.
PARDALISCA
She says that this very day she’ll murder you with the one, the bailiff with the other.
STALINO
I am now the most utterly murdered of all people that do exist.
I’ll put on me a coat of mail; I think that’s the best. What did my wife do? Didn’t she go and take them away from her?
695
PARDALISCA
No person dares go near her.
STALINO
She should have prevailed on her.
PARDALISCA
She is entreating her. She declares that assuredly she will lay them down on no other terms, unless she understands that she shall not be given to the bailiff.
STALINO
But whether she likes it or no, because she refuses, she shall marry him this day. For why shouldn’t I carry this out that I’ve begun, for her to marry me?—that, indeed, I didn’t intend to say—but, our bailiff?
700
PARDALISCA
You’re making your mistakes pretty often.
STALINO
It’s alarm that impedes my words. But, prithee,
do tell my wife, that I entreat her to prevail upon her to put down the sword, and allow me to return in-doors.
705
PARDALISCA
I’ll tell her.
STALINO
And do you entreat her.
PARDALISCA
And I’ll entreat her.
STALINO
And in soft language, in your usual way. But do you hear me? If you manage this, I’ll give you a pair of shoesA pair of shoes: Perhaps these would prove very acceptable to Pardalisca, who, as a slave, was probably condemned to wear the heavy sculponeae before mentioned, in l. 478. and a gold ringAnd a gold ring: Slaves were not in general allowed to wear other than iron rings, called condalia. See the Notes to the Trinummus, l. 1014, Meursius, as quoted by Limiers, goes so far as to suppose that this is an implied promise of her liberty to Pardalisca, because of this inability of the slaves to wear gold rings. That seems, however, to be a very far-fetched notion. for your finger, and plenty of nice things.
PARDALISCA
I’ll do my best.
710
STALINO
Take care and prevail.
710
PARDALISCA
Now then I’ll be off; unless you detain me for anything.
STALINO
Be off, and take care.
