Perde 1
[Textpart 3]
Why, what need of ceruse have you?
PHILEMATIUM
To paint my cheeks with it.
SCAPHA
On the same principle, you would want to be making ivory white with ink.
PHILOLACHES
Cleverly said that, about the ink and the ivory! Bravo! I applaud you, Scapha.
260
PHILEMATIUM
Well then, do you give me the rouge.
SCAPHA
I shan’t give it. You really are a clever one. Do you wish to patch up a most clever piece with new daubing? It’s not right that any paint should touch that person, neither ceruse, nor quince-ointment, nor any other wash.
Take the mirror, then. (Hands her the glass.)
265
PHILOLACHES
Ah wretched me!—she gave the glass a kiss. I could much wish for a stone, with which to break the head of that glass.
265
SCAPHA
Take the towel and wipe your hands.
PHILEMATIUM
Why so, prithee?
SCAPHA
As you’ve been holding the mirror, I’m afraid that your hands may smell of silver; lest Philolaches should suspect you’ve been receiving silver somewhere.
PHILOLACHES
I don’t think that I ever did see any one procuress more cunning. How cleverly and artfully did it occur to the jade’s imagination about the mirror!
270
PHILEMATIUM
Do you think I ought to be perfumed with unguents as well?
SCAPHA
By no means do so.
PHILEMATIUM
For what reason?
SCAPHA
Because, i’ faith, a woman smells best A woman smells best: Cicero and Martial have a similar sentiment; their opinion has been followed by many modern writers and other persons as well. when she smells of nothing at all. For those old women who are in the habit of anointing themselves with unguents, vampt up creatures,
old hags, and toothless, who hide the blemishes of the person with paint, when the sweat has blended itself with the unguents, forthwith they stink just like when a cook has poured together a variety of broths; what they smell of, you don’t know, except this only, that you understand that badly they do smell.
275
PHILOLACHES
How very cleverly she does understand everything! There’s nothing more knowing than this knowing woman!
(To the AUDIENCE.) This is the truth, and a very great portion, in fact, of you know it, who have old women for wives at home who purchased you with their portions.
280
PHILEMATIUM
Come now, examine my golden trinkets and my mantle; does this quite become me, Scapha?
