Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
By my faith, Phaedromus has cleverly met with this clever rogue; but whether a salt-water rogue Salt-water rogue: Halophantam. The halophantae were those who informed against the exporters of salt contrary to law, as the sycophantae did against the exporters of figs. The Choregus is using a choice of names for the same thing, as he means to say, call him by what name you will, Curculio is a clever rogue. It is not possible to translate the passage literally and preserve the spirit of it at the same time. or a dry-land one I’m the rather to say he is, I really don’t know. The costume that I’ve lent I fear I shan’t get back.
THE CHOREGUS
Although I have nothing whatever to do with him (I trusted Phaedromus himself), still I’ll keep an eye upon him. But until he comes out of doors, I’ll point out in what place you may easily meet with each person, that he mayn’t lose his labour through too much trouble, if any one wishes to meet either a rascal or one without rascality, or an honest man or a dishonest one.
465
He who desires to meet with a perjured fellow, let him go into the courts of law Into the courts of law: The Comitium was a place in the Roman Forum, near the Curia, where trials were carried on before the Praetor. It was near the Puteal Libonis, or Scribonianum. where witnesses were sworn, and perjured people were to be found, ready to give false testimony.; he who wants a liar and a braggart, near the rites of Cloacina Rites of Cloacina: Venus is supposed to have been called by this name, from her statue having been once found in the Cloacae, or sewer of Rome. He alludes to the neighbourhood of her Temple, in which Plautus himself is said to have dwelt, The Basilica has been mentioned in a previous Note.. The rich and erring husbands seek you at the magisterial halls of the Basilica. There, too, will be the worn-out harlots, and those who are wont to haggle for them. Contributors to pic-nic dinners Pic-nic dinners: The symbolae, or pic-nic entertainments, have been referred to in the Notes to the Stichus. They were probably got up on a cheap scale. you’ll find in the fishmarket.
470
In the lower part of the Forum good men Good men: Boni is here used in the sense of opulent, men of substance. and opulent do walk; in the middle, near the canal Near the canal: The banks of this canal were much resorted to by walkers. It is not accurately known in what part of Rome it was situate., there are the mere puffers-off. Beyond the lake Beyond the lake: He probably alludes to the former site of the Curtian Lake, which, in his time, was dried up. Ovid says, in the Fasti, B. vi., l. 401, This place, where now are the markets, formerly fenny marshes covered; a ditch was here swimming with water from the overflowing of the river. That spot formed the Curtian Lake, which now supports the altars on dry ground: ’tis now dry ground, but once it was a lake. It is not a little amusing, that though the Scene is in Epidaurus, Plautus is here discussing Roman scenes and manners. of Curtius are impudent, talkative, and malevolent fellows, who boldly, without reason, utter calumnies about another, and who, themselves, have sufficient that might with truth be said against them.
475
There, at the old shops The old shops: He probably alludes to the old shops in the Forum, which were the property of the state, and were let out to the bankers and money-lenders., are these who lend and those who borrow at interest. Behind the Temple of Castor there are those to whom unguardedly you may be lending to your cost. There, in the Etrurian street, are those men who hold themselves Who hold themselves: Horace alludes to the turba impia, the impious throng, of the Etrurian street. on sale. In the Velabrum Velabrum: See the Captivi, l. 494 (Act III., Sc. 1). you’ll find either baker, or butcher, or soothsayer; either those who sell retail themselves, or supply to others things to be sold by retail.
480
Rich sinning husbands you’ll find at the house of Oppian Leucadia Oppian Leucadia: The best solution of the meaning of this passage seems to be, that he is alluding to a woman named Leueadia, a freed woman of the Oppian family, whose house was a rendezvous for riotous and debauched husbands.. But, meantime, the door makes a noise; I must curb my tongue.
485
[Textpart 2]
Maiden, do you go before; what is behind me I cannot keep my eye upon. Both the trinkets of gold, and all the clothing that she had, were his own, he said.
CAPPADOX
No one is going to deny it.
CURCULIO
Still, however, it’s somewhat better for me to remind you.
LYCO
Remember that you’ve undertaken, that, if any one should assert in course of law that she’s properly free, all the money is to be returned to me-thirty minae.
490
CAPPADOX
I shall remember; be easy about that; and now I say the same.
CURCULIO
But I wish you to remember this well.
CAPPADOX
I remember, and I shall deliver her to you on warranty On warranty: Dare mancupio meant, to sell a thing upon warranty, which, when formally done, was effected per aes et libram, by striking the balance with an as, in the presence of six witnesses, when the seller guaranteed the possession of it to the purchaser..
CURCULIO
And am I to take anything on warranty from a Procurer, people who have nothing of their own except a tongue only;
who, if anything’s entrusted them, deny it upon oath? You Procurers dispose of what belongs to others, you give liberty to what belongs to others, and what belongs to others your give your commands to; no guarantee of ownership is there in the transfer to yourselves, nor are you yourselves guarantees to another person. The race of Procurers, among mortals, in my way of thinking at least,
are just like flies, gnats, bugs, lice, and fleas—a plague, a mischief, and a nuisance; you are of no serviceable use, and no respectable person dares to stand with you in the Forum; he that does associate with you, they censure him, he’s spat upon and abused; they say that he has lost his property and his honor, although he has done nothing at all.
500
LYCO
Upon my faith, my clever one-eyed friend, in my way of thinking, you are well acquainted with the Procurers.
505
CURCULIO
You bankers, i’ faith, I put and place in the same rank; you are the very counterparts of them. They, at least, are on sale in dark corners, you in the very Forum In the very Forum: In allusion to the place where most of the bankers’ shops were situate.. You tear men to pieces with usury, they by persuading them amiss and by means of their dens. Full many a proposed statute Proposed statute: Rogitatio, or, more commonly, rogatio, was the term applied to a proposed law, or decree of the people, or plebiscitum. has the public confirmed on your account,
which when confirmed you break; some loophole you find out; just as boiling water becomes cold, so do you deem the laws.
510
LYCO
I’d rather I’d held my tongue.
