Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
In serious truth. You know how to act very prudently, in not remaining in the country. A fool even could have found it out that she was the mistress of your very pretty husband.
DORIPPA
By heavens, I believe it.
SYRA
Step this way with me, that you, my Juno, may see as well your rival Alcmena.
DORIPPA
I’ troth, I certainly shall go there, as fast as I can.
[Textpart 2]
Is this too little of a misfortune that Demipho’s in love, that he must be extravagant as well? If he had been inviting ten men of highest rank to dinner,
LYSIMACHUS
he has provided too much. But the cooks he directed in such a way just as at sea the time-keeper The time-keeper: The time was given to the rowers by the pausarius, who is here called hortator. The directions he gave were called celeusma, from the Greek κελεύω, to order. Lysimachus probably means that Demipho has hired whole ranks of them is wont to direct the rowers. I hired a Cook myself, but I’m surprised that he hasn’t come as I directed him. But who’s this, I wonder, that’s coming out of my house? The door’s opening.
695
[Textpart 3]
No woman ever will be, or ever has been, more wretched than myself in being married to such a husband. Alas! unhappy that I am! Just see, to what a husband have you committed yourself and the property you have! Just see, to what a person I brought ten talents for a portion; that I should see these things, that I should endure these insults.
700
LYSIMACHUS
I’ troth, I’m undone; my wife’s returned from the country already. I do believe she has seen the damsel in the house. But what she says I cannot distinctly hear from hence; I’ll go nearer to her.
705
DORIPPA
Ah! woe to wretched me!
LYSIMACHUS
Aye, and to me as well.
DORIPPA
I’m utterly undone!
LYSIMACHUS
As for me, i’ faith, to my sorrow I’m downright undone! she has seen her. May all the Gods confound you, Demipho!
DORIPPA
I’ troth, this was it, why my husband wouldn’t go into the country.
LYSIMACHUS
What shall I do now, but go up and speak to her? (Goes up to her.) The husband bids health to his wife. Are the country people Are the country people: There has been much discussion as to the meaning of this passage; it seems, however, pretty clear that it is only an indirect way of asking Dorippa why she has so suddenly left the country for town. Colman thinks, with some of the older Commentators, that Dorippa pouts, and makes no return to her husband’s salutation, on which he observes that the town gentry are grown as unmannerly as the country bumpkins. The context will admit of this explanation, but it seems rather far-fetched. becoming townsfolk?
DORIPPA
They are acting more decently than those who are not become country people.
LYSIMACHUS
Are the people in the country at all in fault?
DORIPPA
I’ faith, less so than the townsfolk, and much less mischief do they meet with for themselves.
LYSIMACHUS
But in what have the townsfolk done wrong? Tell me that.
DORIPPA
Whose woman is that in the house?
LYSIMACHUS
What, have you seen her?
