Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
I’m quite enraged by the talk of this fellow;
CALIDORUS
that we should suffer the youth of Attica to encourage here To encourage here: As being the minister of their pleasures. this fellow! Where are they—where are they skulking, they of mature age, who have their amorous dealings with this procurer? Why don’t they meet? Why don’t they one and all deliver the public from this pestilence?
But I am very simple, and very ignorant; they would venture, of course, to do that to those, to whom their passions compel them, to their misfortune, to be subservient, and, at the same time, prevent them from doing that against them which they would rather wish to do.
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CALIDORUS
What’s the matter?
PSEUDOLUS
Pshaw! you are not very obliging. Why are you drowning his talk Drowning his talk: Calidorus will keep whispering to him, while he is wishful to listen to what the procurer is saying. by your noise?
CALIDORUS
I’ll be silent.
PSEUDOLUS
But I’d much rather you would be silent, than that you should say you will be silent.
Xystilis, take you care and give me your attention—you whose fanciers have large quantities of oil at home. If oil shall not be brought me here forthwith in leathern bags, I’ll to-morrow cause yourself to be carried off in a leathern bag to the prostitutes’ shambles Prostitutes’ shambles: It is not exactly known what the pergula was, but it is supposed that it was a booth or shed adjoining to a house, which was let out for persons who wished to expose their wares to the public view. It is not improbable that in these sheds the lower class of courtesans prostabant venales, or courted the public favour. No doubt the leno had one of these in his establishment, and he threatens the refractory females with it as a punishment, as it was probably tenanted by the refractory ones, and those whose charms had ceased to attract more wealthy customers..
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There a bed shall be given you, I warrant, where you can have no rest, but where, even to downright fainting— You understand what’s the tendency of that which I’m saying? Will you tell me, you viper you, you who have so many of your fanciers so right well laden with their oil,
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is now the head of any one of your fellow-slaves a bit the better anointed by your means, or do I, myself, get my dainty morsels a bit the better seasoned with oil Seasoned with oil: Unctiusculo. The Romans used a great deal of oil in the seasoning of their dishes. for it? But I understand— you don’t care much about oil; with wine you anoint yourself. Only wait a bit; by my troth I’ll punish you for all at one spell, unless indeed this day you contrive to manage all these things that I’ve been speaking of.
But as for you, Phœnicium, I tell you this, you pet of the mighty men—you who have been for so long a time always paying down to me your money for your liberty—you who only know how to promise, but don’t know how to pay what you have promised; unless this day all your keep is brought me here out of the stores of your customers, to-morrow, Phœnicium, with a true Phœnician hide True Phœnician hide: He puns upon her name; as phœnicium, or puniceum, was the name of the purple colour for which Tyre and Sidon, in Phœnicia, were so famous., you’ll pay a visit to the strumpets’ shambles.
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[Textpart 3]
Pseudolus, don’t you hear what he says?
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PSEUDOLUS
I hear it, master, and I give good heed.
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CALIDORUS
What do you advise me to send him, that he mayn’t devote my mistress to dishonor?
PSEUDOLUS
Don’t you trouble yourself about that; be of cheerful mind. I’ll manage for myself and for you. For some time past I’ve been on terms of goodwill with him, and he with me; and our friendship is of old standing. I’ll send him this day, on his birthday, a mischief heavy and well-matured.
CALIDORUS
What’s the plan?
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PSEUDOLUS
Can’t you attend to something else?
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