Perde 1
[Textpart 5]
to accost him with kind words and to make all enquiries, whether these things are true or not that they tell you of?
450
SIMO
I’ll take your advice.
PSEUDOLUS
They are making towards you, Pseudolus; prepare your speech to meet the old fellow.
Good courage in a bad case is half the evil got over. (Aloud, as he advances to meet them.) First, I salute my master, as is proper; and alter that, if anything is left, that I bestow upon his neighbour.
455
SIMO
Good day to you. What are you about?
PSEUDOLUS
About standing here in this fashion (assuming an attitude).
SIMO
See the attitude of the fellow, Callipho; how like that of a man of rank.
CALLIPHO
I consider that he is standing properly and with boldness.
PSEUDOLUS
It befits a servant innocent and guileless, as he is, to be bold, most especially before his master.
460
CALLIPHO
There are some things about which we wish to inquire of you, which we ourselves know and have heard of as though through a cloud of mist.
SIMO
He’ll manage you now with his speeches, so that you shall think
it isn’t Pseudolus but Socrates But Socrates: The most learned and virtuous of all the philosophers of ancien times. that’s talking to you. What do you say?
465
PSEUDOLUS
For a long time you have held me in contempt, I know. I see that you have but little confidence in me. You wish me to be a villain; still, I will be of strict honesty.
SIMO
Take care, please, and make the recesses of your ears free, Pseudolus,
that my words may be enabled to enter where I desire.
470
PSEUDOLUS
Come, say anything you please, although I am angry at you.
SIMO
What, you, a slave, angry at me your master?
PSEUDOLUS
And does that seem wonderful to you?
SIMO
Why, by my troth, according to what you say, I must be on my guard against you in your anger, and you are thinking of beating me in no other way than I am wont to beat yourself.
