Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
Get out of the kitchen, will you; out of it, you whip-scoundrel, who are giving me your cavilling talk amid the platters; march out of the house, you ruin of your master. Upon my faith, if I only live, I’ll be soundly revenged upon you in the country. Get out, I say, you steam of the kitchen.
GRUMIO
Why are you skulking thus?
5
TRANIO
Why the plague are you making this noise here before the house? Do you fancy yourself to be in the country In the country: Grumio appears to have been cook and herdsman combined, and perhaps generally employed at the country farm of Theuropides. On this occasion he seems to have been summoned to town to cook for the entertainment which Philolaches is giving to his friends.? Get out of the house; be off into the country. Go and hang yourself. Get away from the door.
(Striking him.) There now, was it that you wanted?
GRUMIO
I’m undone! Why are you beating me?
TRANIO
Because you want it.
GRUMIO
I must endure it. Only let the old gentleman return home; only let him come safe home, whom you are devouring in his absence.
TRANIO
You don’t say what’s either likely or true, you blockhead, as to any one devouring a person in his absence.
GRUMIO
Indeed, you town wit, you minion of the mob, do you throw the country in my teeth? Really, Tranio, I do believe that you feel sure that before long you’ll be handed over to the mill. Within a short period, i’ faith, Tranio, you’ll full soon be adding to the iron-bound race The iron-bound race: The gang of slaves, who, for their malpractices, are working in the country in chains. in the country.
15
While you choose to, and have the opportunity, drink on, squander his property, corrupt my master’s son, a most worthy young man, drink night and day, live like Greeks Live like Greeks: Pergraecamini. Though the Scene is at Athens, Plautus consults the taste of a Roman Audience, as on many other occasions, in making the Greeks the patterns of riotous livers. Asconius Pedianus says that at these entertainments the Greeks drank off a cup of wine every tune they named a Divinity or mentioned a friend., make purchase of mistresses, give them their freedom, feed parasites, feast yourselves sumptuously.
20
Was it thus that the old gentleman enjoined you when he went hence abroad? Is it after this fashion that he will find his property well husbanded? Do you suppose that this is the duty of a good servant, to be ruining both the estate and the son of his master? For I do consider him as ruined, when he devotes himself to these goings on.
25
A person, with whom not one of all the young men of Attica was before deemed equally frugal or more steady, the same is now carrying off the palm in the opposite direction. Through your management and your tutoring has that been done.
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TRANIO
What the plague business have you with me or with what I do?
Prithee, haven’t you got your cattle in the country for you to look to? I choose to drink, to intrigue, to keep my wenches; this I do at the peril of my own back, and not of yours
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GRUMIO
Then with what assurance he does talk! (Turning away in disgust.) Faugh!
TRANIO
But may Jupiter and all the Deities confound you; you stink of garlick,
you filth unmistakeable, you clod, you he-goat, you pig-sty, you mixture of dog and she-goat.
40
GRUMIO
What would you have to be done? It isn’t all that can smell of foreign perfumes, if you smell of them; or that can take their places at table above their master,
or live on such exquisite dainties as you live upon. Do you keep to yourself those turtle-doves, that fish, and poultry; let me enjoy my lot upon garlick diet. You are fortunate; I unlucky. It must be endured.
Let my good fortune be awaiting me, your bad yourself.
