Perde 2
[Textpart 6]
I know it all. But, prithee, has Phronesium been brought to bed?
ASTAPHIUM
She has been delivered of a very fine boy.
505
STRATOPHANES
Is it like me at all?
505
ASTAPHIUM
Do you ask the question? Why, the moment it was born, it asked for a sabre and shield for itself.
505
STRATOPHANES
It’s my own; I know it at once from the proofs.
ASTAPHIUM
Indeed it is extremely like you.
STRATOPHANES
Ye Gods above! Is it of full growth already? Has it already chosen some army which it intends to plunder?
ASTAPHIUM
Why really, it was only born five days ago.
STRATOPHANES
What then, after it was born? After so many days, i’ faith, something really ought by this time to have been done. What business had it to leave the womb before it could go forth to battle?
ASTAPHIUM
Follow me, and wish her joy, and congratulate her.
PHRONESIUM
Prithee, where is she who has left me here and forsaken me?
ASTAPHIUM
I’m here; I’m bringing you Stratophanes, so much longed for by you.
PHRONESIUM
Prithee, where is he?
STRATOPHANES
Mars, on his arrival from abroad, salutes Neriene his spouseNerien his spouse: Aulus Gellius also mentions Neria, or Neriene as the wife of Mars.. Since you’ve well got over it, and since you’ve been blest with offspring, I congratulate you in that you have given birth to a great glory to me and to yourself.
515
PHRONESIUM
Welcome to you, you who have almost deprived me of life and light;
and who have, for your own gratification, centred in my body the cause of great anguish, with the pangs of which I’m even now dreadfully afflicted.
STRATOPHANES
Well, well; not to your misfortune, my love, do these pains befall you. You’ve brought forth a son who’ll be filling your house with plunder.
PHRONESIUM
By the powers, there’s very much greater need to have our granaries well filled with wheat; lest, before he takes the plunder, hunger should be putting an end to us here.
STRATOPHANES
Be of good heart.
525
