Perde 1
[Textpart 3]
An auction of no great value, by my troth. Hunger has taken hold of the very deepest recess of the fellow’s stomach. I’ll accost the man.
GELASIMUS
Who’s this that’s coming towards me? Why, surely this is Crocotium, the maid-servant of Epignomus.
CROCOTIUM
My respects, Gelasimus.
GELASIMUS
That’s not my name.
CROCOTIUM
I’ faith, for sure that used to be your name.
240
GELASIMUS
Distinctly it was so, but I’ve lost it by use. Now I’m called MiccotrogusMiccotrogus: This is a Greek compound word, which signifies crumb-eater; in it he alludes to his short commons. from what is fact.
CROCOTIUM
O dear! I’ve laughed a good deal at you to-day.
GELASIMUS
When? or in what place?
CROCOTIUM
Here, when you were carrying on a most worthless auction.
GELASIMUS
How now; did you really hear it?
CROCOTIUM
Aye, and one really right worthy of yourself.
GELASIMUS
Where are you bound for now?
GELASIMUS
Why have you come?
CROCOTIUM
Philumena bade me ask you by all means to come to visit her at her house this instant, together with me.
GELASIMUS
I’ faith, but I’ll surely come there as fast as I can. Are the entrails cookedAre the entrails cooked: It has been already remarked, that after the sacrifice, the Gods having received their portion, the devotee took home the remainder, and invited his friends to come to his house and partake of it. The Parasite was not, perhaps, much in the wrong when he deemed a lamb’s fry no bad dish. St. Paul alludes to this custom when he tells the converts to keep themselves from things offered to idols.—Acts, ch. xv., v. 20; and ch. xxi. v. 25. by this? With how many lambs has she been sacrificing?
250
CROCOTIUM
Indeed, she hasn’t been sacrificing at all.
GELASIMUS
How? What does she want with me, then?
CROCOTIUM
I think that she’s going to ask you for ten measures of wheat.
GELASIMUS
Or me rather ask it of her?
