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[Textpart 1]
Whither away must I say that you are going out of doors at this time o’ night, Phaedromus, with that dress and with this train And with this train: As it is supposed to be before daybreak, he is holding a lighted torch, and is attended by a train of slaves, who are carrying wine and other provisions for the entertainment, or early breakfast, which he is about to give. He has also a gay dress on for the occasion.?
PHAEDROMUS
Whither Venus and Cupid summon me, and Love persuades me; whether ’tis the midnight or whether the earliest twilight,
if the day is fixed If the day is fixed: Status condictus dies. This term properly applies to a day appointed for pleading a cause. for pleading your cause with your antagonist, still must you go where they command you, whether you will or no.
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PALINURUS
But pray, pray—
PHAEDROMUS
Pray — you are annoying to me.
PALINURUS
Really that is neither pretty nor befitting you to say. You are your own servant Your own servant: Puer may signify either servant or boy in this passage. In the former case, Palinurus would mean, you are acting as your own servant, in carrying the torch; in the latter, the allusion would probably be to the fact that boys, handsomely drest, used, at the nuptial ceremony, to carry lighted torches before the bride and bridegroom.; in your fine garb you are showing the light with your waxen torch Your waxen torch: It is not improbable that the flambeaux, or torches, used by the higher classes, were of wax; while those in more common use were made of pine-wood, tow, and other inflammable substances..
PHAEDROMUS
And ought I not to carry that which is gathered by the labour of the little bees—which has its birth in sweets—to my own sweet one, my little honey?
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PALINURUS
But whither must I say that you are going?
PHAEDROMUS
If you ask me that, I’ll tell, so that you may know.
PALINURUS
If I make the enquiry, what would you answer me?
PHAEDROMUS
This is the Temple (pointing to it) of Aesculapius.
PALINURUS
That I have known for more than a twelvemonth past.
PHAEDROMUS
Close to it is that door, dear as my very eyes. (Points to the door of CAPPADOX.) Hail to you! door, dear as my very eyes; have you been quite well of late?
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PALINURUS
Did a fever leave you A fever leave you: He asks his master this, as he is in doubt whether he is in his senses or not. It was a notion among the ancients that fasting was very apt to produce delirium. but yesterday, or the day before, and did you take your dinner yesterday?
PHAEDROMUS
Are you laughing at me?
PALINURUS
Why then, madman, are you enquiring whether the door is well or not?
PHAEDROMUS
I’ faith, I’ve known it as a door most comely and most discreet: never one word does it whisper; when it is opened, it is silent; and when, by night, she secretly comes out to me, it holds its peace.
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PALINURUS
And are you not, Phaedromus, doing, or contemplating the doing of, some deed which is unworthy of yourself or of your family?
Are you not laying a snare for some modest fair one, or for one that should be modest?
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PHAEDROMUS
For no one; and may Jupiter not permit me to do so.
