Perde 2
[Textpart 4]
The banquet is set on table, one that they style a public one Style a public one: It is not certain what kind of public banquets are here referred to. Public entertainments were given to the people on the occasion of any public rejoicing: such, for instance, as a triumph, as we learn from Suetonius in his life of Julius Caesar. They were also given when the tenths were paid to Hercules. The clients, also, of the Patricians were in the habit of giving entertainments to their patrons on festival days, when each client contributed his share in kind; and numerous invitations were given, abundance and hospitality being the order of the day. Sometimes these feasts were held in a temple, and perhaps they are here referred to. There were also frequent entertainments in the Curiae, or Court-houses of Rome, at which the curiales, or men of the curia, or ward, met together.. Suppose that dainties were heaped up before him by his dependents, and suppose any-thing pleased you that was so heaped up before him, would you eat, or would you keep your place next to this wealthy man, going without your dinner?
470
LESBONICUS
I should eat, unless he were to forbid me doing so.
STASIMUS
But I, by my faith, even if he were to forbid me,
would eat and cram with both cheeks stuffed out; and what pleased him, that, in especial, would I lay hold of beforehand; nor would I yield to him one jot of my very existence. At table it befits no one to be bashful; for there the decision There the decision: Scaliger supposes that Stasimus is making a parody on the transaction of business by the Senate, who were said to give their decisions on matters sacred and human; and that he means to say that the feast is his Senate-house, and the food are the things sacred and human which he is bound to discuss, without respect for anybody. is about things both divine and human.
475
PHILTO
You say what is the fact.
480
STASIMUS
I will tell you without any subterfuge: I would make place for him on the highway, on the footpath, in the canvass for public honors; but as to what concerns the stomach—by my troth, not this much (shows the breadth of his finger-nail), unless he should first have thrashed me with his fists. With provisions at the present prices, a feast is a fortune without incumbrances Without incumbrances: Every Roman family of consequence was bound to perform particular sacrifices, which were not only ordained by the pontifical laws, but the obligation was also rendered hereditary by the civil law, and ordered to be observed by the law of the Twelve Tables: Sacra privata perpetua manento, Let private sacrifices remain perpetual. This law is quoted and commented upon by Cicero in his Second Book on the Laws. He there tells us that heirs are obliged to continue their sacrifices, be they ever so expensive; and for this reason, as by the above law these sacrifices were to be maintained, no one was presumed to be better able to supply the place of the deceased person than his heir. A property exempt from this necessity, might be truly said to be one without incumbrances..
480
PHILTO
Always, Lesbonicus, do you take care and think this, that that is the best, according as you yourself are the most deserving: if that you cannot attain to, at least be as near as possible to the most deserving. And now, Lesbonicus, I wish you to grant and accept these terms which I propose, and which I ask of you.
485
The Gods are rich; wealth and station befit the Gods: but we poor mortal beings are, as it were, the salt-cellar The salt-cellar: By this expression, Plautus seems to mean that life is to the body as salt is to flesh; it preserves it from corruption. for the salt of life. The moment that we have breathed forth this, the beggar is held of equal value at Acheron At Acheron : Acheron was a river of the Brutii in Campania. There was another river of this name in Epirus. The word usually denotes one of the rivers of Hell; here it means the Infernal regions themselves. with the most wealthy man when dead.
490
STASIMUS
It will be a wonder if you don’t carry your riches there with you. When you are dead, you may, perhaps, be as good as your name imports As your name imports: The meaning of Stasimus is—Perhaps when you are dead, in leaving your property to another, you may really prove yourself the amiable man your name would bespeak you to be; Philto being derived from the Greek θιλέω, to love..
495
PHILTO
Now, that you may understand that position and means have no place here, and that we do not undervalue your alliance; I ask for your sister without a marriage-portion.
May the matter turn out happily. Do I understand her to be promised? Why are you silent?
500
STASIMUS
O immortal Gods, what a proposal!
PHILTO
Why don’t you say, May the Gods prosper it, I agree I agree: Spondeo was a word in general use to denote that the person entered into a promise or engagement. Being the nearest male relation of the damsel, Philto wishes Lesbonicus to close the matter by saying spondeo, I agree to betroth her, which he hesitates to do; on which, Stasimus, alluding to his having been the security for the thousand drachmae, tells him that he had been ready enough to say spondeo when it was not to his advantage; namely, at the time when he aid spondeo, I promise, and became the security to the banker for his friend. See Note 1 in page 24.?
STASIMUS
Alas! when there was no advantage in the expression, he used to say, I agree; now, when there is advantage in it, he is not able to say so.
LESBONICUS
Since you think me, Philto, worthy of an alliance with you, I return you many thanks. But though this fortune of mine has sadly diminished through my folly, I have, Philto, a piece of land near the city here; that I will give as a portion to my sister: for, after all my follies,
505
that alone, besides my existence, is left me.
510
PHILTO
Really I care nothing at all about a portion.
LESBONICUS
I am determined to give her one.
STASIMUS
And are you ready, master, to sever that nurse from us which is supporting us? Take care how you do it. What are we ourselves to eat in future?
LESBONICUS
Once more, will you hold your tongue?
