Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
Only you be seated here; then I’ll protect you in this spot. This altar you possess as though your bulwarks Your bulwarks: Moenia. Madame Dacier supposes that these words refer to the walls of a court in front of the Temple, represented on the stage with an altar in the middle, the walls being breast high, which Trachalio compares to entrenchments.; these your fortifications; from this spot will I defend you. With the aid of Venus, I’ll march against the wickedness of the Procurer.
PALAESTRA
We follow your instructions (they advance to the altar and kneel); and genial Venus, we both of us, in tears, implore thee,
embracing this thy altar, bending upon our knees, that thou wilt receive us into thy guardianship, and be our protector; that thou wilt punish those wretches who have set at nought thy Temple, and that thou wilt suffer us to occupy this thy altar with thy permission, we who last night were by the might of Neptune cast away;
695
hold us not in scorn, and do not for that reason impute it to us as a fault, if there is anything that thou shouldst think is not so well attended to Not so well attended to: Bene lautum. There is a joke intended in the use of these words, which may signify either quite tidy or properly arranged; or, on the other hand, well washed, neglect of which certainly could not be imputed to them, by reason of their recent shipwreck. by us as it ought to have been.
700
TRACHALIO
I think they ask what’s just; it ought, Venus, by thee to be granted. Thou oughtst to pardon them; ’tis terror forces them to do this. They say that thou wast born from a shell Born from a shell: He alludes to the birth of Venus, who was said to have sprung from the sea in a shell. He also seems to joke upon the destitute state of the young women, and to call them mere shells. An indelicate construction has been, by some, put upon the use of the word conchas, while others think it refers to the use made by women of shells, for holding their paints, perfumes, and cosmetics, and that he means thereby to reproach Venus for having allowed them to lose all their property. This, however, seems to be a rather far-fetched notion.; take thou care that thou dost not despise the shells of these.
But see, most opportunely the old gentleman is coming out, both my protector and your own.
705
[Textpart 4]
Come out of the Temple, you most sacrilegious of men, as many as have ever been born. Do you go (calling to the WOMEN) and sit by the altar. (Not seeing them near the door.) But where are they?
TRACHALIO
Look round here.
DAEMONES
Very good; I wanted that I wanted that: He means that the women have done as he wished them to do, in flying to the altar for refuge.. Now bid him come this way. (To LABRAX.) Are you attempting here among us to commit a violation of the laws against the Deities?
(To the SERVANTS, who obey with alacrity.) Punch his face with your fists.
710
LABRAX
I’m suffering these indignities at your own cost.
710
DAEMONES
Why, the insolent fellow’s threatening even.
LABRAX
I’ve been robbed of my rights; you are robbing me of my female slaves against my will.
TRACHALIO
Do you then find some wealthy man of the Senate of Cyrene as judge, whether these women ought to be yours, or whether they oughtn’t to be free,
or whether it isn’t right that you should be clapped into prison, and there spend your life, until you have worn the whole gaol out with your feet.
715
LABRAX
I wasn’t prepared to prophesy for this day that I should be talking with a hang-gallows A hang-gallows: Furcifero. He sneeringly alludes to Trachalio’s position as a slave, and his liability to have the punishment of the furca inflicted on him. like yourself. (Turning to DAEMONES.) You do I summon to judgment.
DAEMONES
In the first place, try it with him who knows you.
LABRAX
My suit is with yourself.
TRACHALIO
But it must be with myself. (Pointing to the WOMEN.) Are these your female slaves?
