Perde 3
[Textpart 1]
One morning a short time since my father ordered me to go hence, to deal out the mast for food for the oxen. After I got there a person arrived at the farmhouse (so it pleased the Gods), who was owing money to my father, who had formerly purchased some Tarentine sheep of my father;
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STRABAX
he asked for my father; I said he was in the city; I enquired what he wanted with him. The fellow takes a purse from off his neck, and gives me twenty minae; with pleasure I receive them,
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and stow them in my purse; these bad sheepThese bad sheep: Perperas. Literally, worthless, as having no fleece on them. He is alluding to the common pun upon mina, the sum of money so denominated, and mina, the sheep that had no fleece on the belly and he calls the former by the latter appellation. See the Pseudolus, l. 329, and the Bacchides, l. 1129, and the Notes., the minae, have I brought in my purse hither to the city.
By my troth, Mars has proved very angry with my father; for his sheep are not very far away from the wolvesFar away from the wolves: Still calling the money oves, sheep, he says that they are not far off from the wolves—alluding to Phronesium, for whom they were destined by him. The pun is improved by the fact that Courtesans were frequently termed lupae, she-wolves. He not improbably mentions Mars, because he was the father of Romuius and Remus, and might be supposed to be indebted to the she-wolf for suckling his children, when exposed by the order of Amulius.. Now, with this one stroke shall I send adrift those finical town gallants, and be bundling them all out of doors.
My father, in the first place, I’m quite resolved to ruin, root and branch; then next in turn, my mother. Now to-day I’ll carry this money to her whom I love more than my own mother. (Goes towards the door of PHRONESIUM, and knocks.) Hillo there—is any one here? There’s not a woman. Is any one going to open this door?
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ASTAPHIUM
Why so a stranger, pray, my dear Strabax?
Why don’t you come in at once?
Ought you to have been doing so,
you, indeed, who are so intimate?
STRABAX
I’ll go in then, that you mayn’t think I’m loitering.
ASTAPHIUM
You act obligingly.
[Textpart 2]
It seems marvellous to me, that Strabax, my master’s son,
STRATILAX
hasn’t returned from the country, unless perchance he has slily slipt in here into this den of corruption of his.
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ASTAPHIUM
Now, faith, he’ll be roaring at me if he espies me.
STRATILAX
I’m much less savage now, Astaphium, than I was before; I’m not churlish now; don’t thee fear. (She runs to a distance.) What wouldst thee be at? What?
ASTAPHIUM
What, say you? Why, I’m waiting for your churlishness.
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STRATILAX
Say, command me what thee dost please, and in what way thee dost please. I’ve got all my manners anew: my old ones I’ve parted with. I can e’en fall in love, or take a mistress now.
ASTAPHIUM
Upon my faith, you do tell me fine news. But tell me,
STRATILAX
A mistressA mistress: Parasitum. This word, if the correct reading, cannot mean anything else than a mistress here, in which sense Lambinus asserts that it was sometimes used. If that is not the case, we must be content to agree with Schmieder, that the passage is corrupt., perhaps, thee means.
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