Perde 5
[Textpart 3]
I wish that it may appear wondrous to no one of you, Spectators,
STEPHANIUM
why I who live there (pointing to the house of PAMPHILUS) am come out hither from this other house: I’ll inform you thereon. Just now was I sent for to this house by the back way. For as soon as news was brought that the husbands of these ladies were about to come, we all hurried thither. We attended to laying the couches, and setting all in order. Still, amid these duties, I had a care for my friends,
Stichus and my fellow-servant Sagarinus, that their dinner should be cooked. Stichus has been caterer; but for cooking it, I’ve appointed one my deputy. Now, I’ll be off hence, and attend to my friends, who, I see, are coming here.
680
[Textpart 4]
Come, out of doors with you; lead on the processionLead on the procession: They are about to have their carousal in front of the house. Sagarinus puts on an air of importance, as if mustering all of a large company; whereas the only guests, besides himself, are Stichus and the Piper. Stephanium has gone to dress herself for the occasion.. Stichus, I appoint you commander of the cask. I’m resolved to prove our banquet in every fashion this day.
SAGARINUS
So may the Gods love me, we are well entertained in being feasted in this place. I will that each person that passes by shall be invited to join the banquet.
685
STICHUS
Agreed, so long only as, i’ faith, each man comes with his own wineWith his own wine: It has been before remarked, that the symbola, or pic-nic was made on these terms.; for of this, a mouthful shall be given to no person but ourselves, this day. Eating aloneEating alone: Monotrophi. From the Greek word μονοτροφοὶ, eaters alone., let’s wait upon ourselves.
for our means, is quite sufficient, with its nuts, beans, figsNuts, beans, figs: These articles formed the usual food of the Roman slaves., a dish of olives, pounded lupines, and a cake.
690
STICHUS
It better becomes a man who is a slave to bring his expenses within moderation than beyond. Each one to his own station; they, who have wealth at home, drink from cups, goblets, and bowls; we, if we are now
drinking from our Samian jugSamian jug: A plain earthenware goblet, or cup. Reference has been already made to the Samian pottery. The Proverb in this line is similar to ours, of each cutting his cloth according to his measure., still build our walls according to our means.
695
SAGARINUS
But while she who is your mistress and mine is arranging her hair, and bedecking herself, I wish us to have some diversion among ourselves. I appoint you the commanderThe commander: Strategum. This is a Greek word, signifying the commander of an army. It was usual with the Greeks, Romans, and Jews, to appoint a master of the feast, who probably gave the toasts, looked to the comforts of the guests, and took care that the quality of the wine was satisfactory. See the second Chapter of St. John, v. 8. of this feast.
STICHUS
Very aptly does it suggest itself to your mind.
SAGARINUS
Wouldn’t we be more suitablyPart of line 703 in the Latin. entertained like CynicsEntertained like Cynics: The absurdities consequent on the unity of place in the Roman Comedy could not possibly be better illustrated than in the present instance. The servants not only carouse in front of their master’s house, but absolutely bring out couches to recline upon. Persons of rigid manners, and especially the Cynic philosophers, persisted in retaining the old posture of sitting at meals; to that circumstance reference is here made. on benches here, than upon couches?
STICHUS
Aye, but this is far the most pleasant.
SAGARINUS
On which side is each of us to recline by our mistress?
STICHUS
Of course you go to the upper place. And, so that you may understand it, I make a division with you on these terms: consider, and take which province you would even like now to take.
SAGARINUS
But what’s your meaning about this province?
STICHUS
Whether you would choose to hold the command over the water or over Bacchus.
SAGARINUS
Over Bacchus, most distinctly.
700
But, in the meantime, general of ours, why stands this goblet here? See how many cupsHow many cups: Cyathos. The cyathus was a cup which contained a fixed and definite measure. It contained but a small quantity, one- twelfth part of a sextarius, which was not quite an English pint. It seems most probable that the cyathus was used for the purpose of ladling the wine out of the bowl, or cratera, in which it was mixed with water, into the goblets or cups. The question of Sagarinus here seems to apply to the number of cyathi of the pure wine which they had been drinking at each goblet-full that they took, as otherwise they would be making but slow inroads on the cadus, five cyathi holding, perhaps, about as much as three of our ordinary wine-glasses. It is not improbable that a portion of the Play is lost here. we have drunk.
705
