Perde 5
[Textpart 4]
But, troth, I’ve had enough of the feast; would but our mistress come here. If she were here, nothing else would be away.
710
STICHUS
Should you like us to invite our mistress out? She shall give us a dance.
735
STICHUS
My sweet one, my lovely one, my pleasing one, Stephanium, do come out of doors to your sweethearts; to me you are quite charming.
SAGARINUS
But to me, indeed, most charming.
STICHUS
Make us jovial fellows more jovial by your assistance and your company.
Returning from abroad, we want you, dear little Stephanium, my honey, that is, if our lovingness is pleasing to you, if we are acceptable to you.
[Textpart 5]
I’ll indulge you, my dears; but, so may pretty Venus favour me, I should have already come out of doors here together with you, had I not been sprucing myself up for you. For such is the way of woman,
STEPHANIUM
when she is well washed, made clean, dressed and tricked out, still is she incomplete; and a female who is a courtesan much more quickly acquires dislike for herself by sluttishness than always keeps in favour through neatness.
745
STICHUS
That’s very cleverly said.
SAGARINUS
’Tis the genuine language of Venus.
SAGARINUS
What’s the matter?
STICHUS
I’m in pain all over.
SAGARINUS
All over? So much the more unfortunate you.
STEPHANIUM
Where do I take my place?
750
SAGARINUS
Wherever you please.
750
STEPHANIUM
I’d like with both of you, for I love you both.
750
STICHUS
Whack go my savingsWhack go my savings: It would appear at first sight, that he has some compunctions, and intends to say, this feast will prove so expensive that all my savings (peculium) will be wasted, and I shall never be able to buy my freedom. There can be little doubt, however, that an, indelicate pun is intended to be concealed under the expression, vapulat peculium.. I’m done for;
freedom has abandoned this person of mine.
