Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
O ye immortal Gods, what a dreadful tempest has Neptune sent us this last night!
SCEPARNIO
The storm has unroofed the cottage. What need of words is there? It was no storm, but what Alcmena met with in Euripides In Euridpides: He alludes to a Tragedy of Euripides so named, where a dreadful storm was so accurately represented that at length the Play became a proverbial expression for tempestuous weather. Madame Dacier observes, that it was not strange for Sceparnio to mention this, as he might often have seen it represented at Athens upon the stage. This notion is somewhat far-fetched, as it is not likely that Plautns troubled himself about such a fine point, or that the Audience was gifted with any such nicety of perception as to note his accuracy, even if he had. It has been suggested, and not at all improbably, that Plautus borrowed the Scene of the thunder and lightning in his Amphitryon from this Play of Euripides.; it has so knocked all the tiles from off the roof; more light has it given us, and has added to our windows.
85
[Textpart 2]
I have both withdrawn you from your avocations,
PLESIDIPPUS
and that has not succeeded on account of which I’ve brought you; I could not catch the Procurer down at the harbour. But I have been unwilling to abandon all hope by reason of my remissness; on that account, my friends, have I the longer detained you. Now hither to the Temple of Venus am I come to see,
90
where he was saying that he was about to perform a sacrifice.
95
SCEPARNIO
If I am wise, I shall be getting ready this clay that is awaiting me.
PLESIDIPPUS
Some one, I know not who, is speaking near to me.
DAEMONES
Hallo! Sceparnio!
SCEPARNIO
Who’s calling me by name?
DAEMONES
He who paid his money for you.
SCEPARNIO
As though you would say, Daemones, that I am your slave.
DAEMONES
There’s occasion for plenty of clayPlenty of clay: He probably means clay for the purpose of drying and making tiles with it., therefore dig up plenty of earth. I find that the whole of my cottage must be covered; for now it’s shining through it, more full of holes than a sieve.
100
PLESIDIPPUS
Health to you, good father, and to both of you, indeed.
SCEPARNIO
But whether are you male or female, who are calling him father?
PLESIDIPPUS
Why really, I’m a man.
105
DAEMONES
Then, man, go seek a father elsewhere.
105
I once had an only daughter, that only one I lost. Of the male sex I never had a child.
PLESIDIPPUS
But the Gods will give—
SCEPARNIO
A heavy mischance to you indeed, I’ faith, whoever you are, who are occupying us, already occupied, with your prating.
