Perde 3
[Textpart 2]
If you attempt to do according as you are now showing signs Are now showing signs: The meaning of this passage is extremely obscure. Perhaps, however, it is this, If you persist in your extravagance, and are resolved to part with this land, the very last of your possessions, you will prove the conflagration and ruin of your family. Then you will be seeking a remedy—water with which to quench it. When you have got this remedy, as you cleverly suppose, in going abroad to fight and earn glory, you will ply it with such zeal, that you will overdo it, and, in getting killed yourself, will thereby quench the last spark on which the very existence of your house depended. Or this Lesbonicus says, though not carrying on the metaphor in the same sense, I will find means, even amid the enemy, to render my name illustrious, for there the fire may be found which is to keep my family from becoming extinguished., you will cause the conflagration of your family; and then, in consequence, you will have a desire for water with which to quench this conflagration of your family. And if you should obtain it, just as lovers are subtle in their devices, you will not leave even one spark with which your family may brighten up.
675
LESBONICUS
’Tis easy to be found: fire is granted, even though you should ask it of a foe.
But you, by your reproof, are urging me from my faults to a viler course. You are persuading me to give you my sister without a portion. But it does not become me, who have misused so great a patrimony, to be still in affluent circumstances, and to be possessing land, but her to be in want, so as with good reason to detest me. Never will he be respected by others who makes himself despised by his own relatives.
680
As I said, I will do; I do not wish you to be in doubt any longer.
685
LYSITELES
And is it so much preferable that for your sister’s sake you should incur poverty, and that I should possess that piece of land rather than yourself, who ought to be upholding your own walls?
LESBONICUS
I do not wish you so much to have regard to myself, in order that you may relieve my poverty, as that in my neediness I may not become disgraced: that people may not spread about this report of me,
that I gave my own sister without a portion to you, rather in concubinage Rather in concubinage: His pride is hurt at the idea of his sister being married without a portion, and thereby losing one of the distinctive marks between a wife and a mistress. It was considered a disgraceful thing for a female to be given in marriage without a portion, however small. than in marriage. Who would be said to be more dishonorable than I? The spreading of this report might do credit to you, but it would defile me, if you were to marry her without a portion. For you it would be a gain of reputation, for me it would be something for people to throw in my teeth.
690
LYSITELES
Why so? Do you suppose Do you suppose: Lysiteles says, satirically, and rather unkindly, it would seem, What, do you suppose that, if I accept this piece of land of you, you will attain the Dictatorship as the reward of your high spirit? The Dictatorshiip was the highest honour in the Roman Republic. that you will become Dictator if I accept the land of you?
695
LESBONICUS
I neither wish, nor require, nor do I think so; but still, to be mindful of his duty, is true honour to an upright man.
LYSITELES
For my part, I know you, how you are disposed in mind; I see it, I discover it, I apprehend. You are doing this, that when you have formed an alliance between us,
and when you have given up this piece of land, and have nothing here with which to support life, in beggary you may fly from the city, in exile you may desert your country, your kindred, your connexions, your friends,—the nuptials once over. People would suppose that you were frightened hence by my means, and through my cupidity. Do not fancy in your mind that I will act so as to allow that to happen.
700
STASIMUS
Well, I cannot but exclaim, Well done, well done, Lysiteles, encore Encore: Παλὶν. This Greek word was no doubt used by the Romans just as we employ the French word encore. In a similar manner it was probably used in the theatres, the usage of which is here figuratively referred to.. Easily do you win the victory; the other is conquered: your performance is superior. This one (pointing to LYSITELES) acts better in character, and composes better lines Composes better lines: In the line before, he alludes to the contest of the Comic poets for the prize of Comedy, to be decided according to the merits of their respective plays. As the poets were often the actors of their plays, he addresses them in this line in the latter capacity. Then, in the next line, he refers to the custom of the Romans in early times of training slaves as actors, where, if they did not please the spectators, they were taken off the stage and fined or beaten for their carelessness.. By reason of your folly do you still dispute it? Stand in awe of the fine.
705
LESBONICUS
What means this interruption of yours, or your intrusion here upon our conversation?
STASIMUS
The same way that I came here I’ll get me gone.
710
LESBONICUS
Step this way home with me, Lysiteles; there we will talk at length about these matters.
710
LYSITELES
I am not in the habit of doing anything in secret. Just as my feelings are I will speak out. If your sister, as I think it right, is thus given to me in marriage without a portion, and if you are not about to go away hence, that which shall be mine, the same shall be yours.
But if you are minded otherwise, may that which you do turn out for you for the best. I will never be your friend on any other terms; such is my determination.
715
STASIMUS
Faith, he’s off. D’ye hear—Lysiteles? I want you. He’s off as well. Stasimus, you remain alone. What am I now to do, but to buckle up my baggage and sling my buckler on my back On my back: When marching, the clypeus, or shield, was slung on the back of the soldier. The sarcina, or baggage, probably resembled our knapsack.,
and order soles to be fastened Soles to be fastened: The soccus was a slipper or low shoe, which did not fit closely, and was not fastened by a tie. These were worn both by men and women, and especially by Comic actors. His meaning probably is, that he will be obliged to have high heels and thick soles put to his shoes, so as to turn them into caligae, the heavy kind of shoes worn by the Roman soldiers. beneath my shoes? There is no staying now. I see that no long time hence I shall be a soldier’s drudge. And when my master has thrown himself into the pay Into the pay: In saginam, means for his food; as what we technically call the mess was provided for the soldier by those who hired him The term sagina is found especially applied to the victuals of the gladiators, who were trained up and dieted on all kinds of nourishing food for the purpose of adding to their strength, and thereby heightening interest attendant on their combats. of some potentate, I guess that among the greatest warriors he will prove a brave Prove a brave: In this line and the next he is witty upon the sorry figure which he fancies Lesbonicus will make in the field of battle.—hand at running away, and that there he will capture the spoil, who-shall come to attack my master.
720
I myself, the moment that I shall have assumed my bow and quiver and arrows, and the helmet on my head, shall-go to sleep very quietly in my tent. I’ll be off to the Forum; I’ll ask that talent Ask that talent: Many a truth is said in jest, and perhaps part of this talent is the fruit of the theft which he seems in joke only to admit in l. 414; as some Commentators have remarked, where was Stasimus, a slave, to get so much money as a talent, more than 200 £? As, however, in other respects, he seems to have been a faithful servant, let us in charity suppose that he cams honestly by his talent, and that it was his fairly acquired peculium back of the person to whom I lent it six days since, that I may have some provision for the journey to carry with me.
725
