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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
119b
119b
PHAEDROMUS
119b
See this light.
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PROCURESS
63
Then, prithee, do quicken your pace towards me.
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PHAEDROMUS
64
Health to you.
121b
121b
PROCURESS
121b
How can I have health, who am parched with thirst?
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PHAEDROMUS
121c
But you shall drink in a moment.
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121d
PROCURESS
121d
’Tis long a-coming.
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PHAEDROMUS
65
Here’s for you, jolly old dame.
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PROCURESS
122b
Health to you, gentleman dear as my very eyes.
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PALINURUS
66
Come, toss this off quickly into your abyss; scour out your sink right speedily.
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124b
PHAEDROMUS
124b
Hold your tongue; I won’t have her ill spoken to.
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PALINURUS
124c
In preference, then, I’ll do her ill.
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PROCURESS
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Venus, of this little, this very little will I give to thee Will I give to thee: As a libation. It was the custom to pour out wine or other liquors, as libations in honor of the Gods, either upon an altar, on the ground, into the sea, or on a table, according to the circumstances of the case.—sore against my will; for all the lovers, in their cups, to propitiate thee, expend their wine upon thee: not such windfalls often fall to me.
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PALINURUS
68
Do look at that, please, how greedily the filthy hag swills down the pure wine into herself with distended gullet.
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PROCURESS
69
Ha, ha, ha
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PALINURUS
131b
How is it? Do you like it?
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PROCURESS
131c
I do like it.
131d
131d
PALINURUS
131d
And I, too, should like to goad with a spur as well.
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PHAEDROMUS
70
Don’t you—do hold your tongue.
132b
132b
PALINURUS
132b
I’ll hold my tongue; (the old woman drinks) but see, the rainbow’s drinking The rainbow’s drinking: This is said in allusion to an absurd belief which prevailed among the ancients, that the rainbow drank up water from be surface of the earth.; I’ faith, I do believe it will rain to-day.
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PHAEDROMUS
71
Troth now, I’m quite undone; what first to say to her I know not.
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129b
PALINURUS
129b
Why, the same thing that you said to me.
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PHAEDROMUS
72
What’s that?
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130b
PALINURUS
130b
Say that you’re quite undone.
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PHAEDROMUS
130c
May the Gods confound you.
130d
130d
PALINURUS
130d
Say so to her.
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PHAEDROMUS
73
Am I to say then to her—?
133b
133b
PALINURUS
133b
Say what?
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PHAEDROMUS
133c
That I’m quite undone.
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PALINURUS
133d
Well then, say so.
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PHAEDROMUS
133e
Old lady, do listen. I wish you to know this; to my sorrow, I’m quite undone.
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PROCURESS
74
But, i’ faith, for my part, I’m altogether brought to life. But why is it that you are pleased to say you are quite undone?
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PHAEDROMUS
137b
Because I’m deprived of the object which I love. (Pretends to weep)
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PROCURESS
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My dear Phaedromus, prithee, do not weep; do you take care that I’m not thirsty, I’ll at once bring out here for you the object which you love. (Goes into the house.)
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PHAEDROMUS
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Assuredly, if you keep faith with me, in place of a golden statue, I’ll erect for you one of wine One of wine: Vineam. There is more humour in taking this to mean a statue of wine, than merely a vine-tree, as Warner has transated it., which shall be a memorial of your gullet Palinurus, who on earth will be so blest as myself, if she comes to me?
142b
142b
PALINURUS
142b
By my faith, he who is in love, if he is in want as well, is afflicted with a dreadful malady.
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PHAEDROMUS
77
Such is not the case with me; for I feel sure that this very day my Parasite will come hither to me with the money.
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144b
PALINURUS
144b
You attempt something mighty, if you expect that which nowhere exists.
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PHAEDROMUS
78
What if I approach the door, and trill a carol Trill a carol: Occentem. This word has probably much the time meaning here as our word serenade.?
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PALINURUS
145b
If you choose; I neither bid nor request you, since, my master, I see that you are of manners and disposition thus changed.
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PHAEDROMUS
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Bolts, O ye bolts, with pleasure do I salute you. I love you, I court you, I seek you, and you entreat; most kindly lend your aid to me in love;
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become, for my sake, as though play-actors Play-actors: The Lydians, or rather their descendants, the Etrurians, were the earliest actors at Rome; hence the term used here, barbari, foreigners. The metaphor is borrowed from the fact that dancing, leaping, and gestures, were the especial features of their performances. from foreign climes; leap upwards pray, and send out of doors this fair one, who drains my blood for me distractedly in love. (Addressing PALINURUS.) Look at that, how those most accursed bolts sleep on, and none the quicker for my sake do they bestir themselves.
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I see quite clearly that you don’t value my esteem at all. Hist! hush, hush!
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PALINURUS
156b
I’ troth, for my part I’m silent enough.
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PHAEDROMUS
156c
I hear a noise; at last, i’ faith, these bolts have become complaisant to me.
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PROCURESS
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Come softly out, and prevent the noise of the doors and the creaking of the hinges, my dear Planesium, that our master mayn’t perceive that that is going on which we are doing here.
83
Stay, I’ll pour a little water Pour a little water: To prevent their creaking, so that Cappadox may not hear them. on it.
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PALINURUS
160b
Do you see how the palsied hag is giving her dose? She herself has learnt right well to drink up the wine; to the door she’s giving water for it to drink.
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PLANESIUM
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Where are you—you who have summoned me on the recognizances of Venus Recognizances of Venus: Veneriis vadimoniis. She borrows a legal phrase here. Vadimonium legere was, to call a person on his bail or recognizances. When the Praetor had granted an action, the plaintiff required the defendant to give security for his appearance on the day named. The defendant, on finding a surety, was said vadem dare, or vadimonium facere; and the vas, or surety, was said spondere. The plaintiff, if satisfied with the surety, was said vadari reum, to let the defendant go on his sureties. Planesium probably means that she considers herself summoned on pain of forfeiting the love of Phaedromus.? To you do I present myself, and, in the same way do I call on you, on the other hand, to present yourself to me.
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PHAEDROMUS
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Here I am; for could I be absent, I wouldn’t repine for any misfortune to befall me, my honey.
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PLANESIUM
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My life, it is not becoming for one thus in love to be at a distance.
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PHAEDROMUS
87
Palinurus, Palinurus!
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PALINURUS
166b
Say on; why is it that you call upon Palinurus?
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PHAEDROMUS
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She is a charming one.
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PALINURUS
167b
Aye, too charming.
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PHAEDROMUS
167c
I am a God.
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PALINURUS
167d
Why, no—a mortal, of no great value.
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PHAEDROMUS
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What have you seen, or what will you see, more nearly to be compared with the Gods?
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PALINURUS
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You are not in your senses, master; a thing that’s grievous to me.
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PHAEDROMUS
169b
You are not sufficiently respectful to me: hold your tongue.
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PALINURUS
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The person that sees Person that sees: He is censuring his master for his backwardness in not embracing Planesium instantly on her appearance. the object which he loves, and enjoys not the opportunity while he may, is one who torments his own self.
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PHAEDROMUS
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Rightly does he rebuke me; really there’s nothing which for this long time past I have more eagerly desired.
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PLANESIUM
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Clasp me, embrace me then.
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PHAEDROMUS
172b
This, too, is a reason for which I could wish to live; because your master restrains, you, in secret do I court you.
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PLANESIUM
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Restrain me? He neither can restrain me, nor will he restrain me, unless death should separate my soul from you.
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PHAEDROMUS
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Let monarchs keep their kingdoms to themselves, the rich their riches to themselves, to themselves their honors, to themselves their prowess, to themselves their combats, to themselves their battles;
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so long as they abstain from envying me, let each one of them keep what is his own.
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PALINURUS
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Of a truth, I cannot refrain from giving a lecture to my master; for, really, it is good to love in a moderate degree; to distraction, it is not good; but to love to entire distraction, is the thing that my master’s doing.
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What say you, sir? Have you made a vow, Phaedromus, you’d watch the night through for Venus? For really, upon my faith, before very long hence the dawn will be breaking.
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PHAEDROMUS
182b
Do hold your tongue.
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PALINURUS
98
Why hold my tongue? What, are you going to sleep?
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PHAEDROMUS
183b
I am asleep; don’t you make a noise.
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PALINURUS
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Why, but you’re broad awake.
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PHAEDROMUS
184b
Aye, but after my own fashion I’m asleep; this is my slumber.
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PALINURUS
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A word with you, madam; ’tis thoughtlessness to treat amiss one who deserves it not.
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PLANESIUM
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You would be angry, if, when you are eating, he were to drive you away To drive you away: As Palinurus wishes his master to withdraw against the wish of Planesium, she asks him how he would like his victuals to be taken away from him—implying that Phaedromus is as dear to herself as her very sustenance. from your food.
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PALINURUS
186b
It’s all over with him. I see that these two are equally in love to distraction; and both of them are mad. D’ye see how intensely they hug each other? They cannot embrace enough. (Addressing them.) Are you going to part yet?
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PLANESIUM
189b
No human being has blessings that last Blessings that last: This is like the sentiment in Horace, Book iii., Ode 16: Nihil est ab omni Parte beatum. for ever. To this pleasure, then, is that plague added.
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PALINURUS
190b
What say you, you shocking hussy Shocking hussy: Propudium. This was a very harsh term of reproach; and it is not to be wondered at that Phaedromus is angry with Palinurus for using it.? What, you little tipsy ninny Tipsy ninny: Ebriola, and not ebriolae, seems to be the correct reading here. She has perhaps been taking her share of the wine, to which fact he alludes. Persolla means either a little mask or a diminutive person; much as we call a little interfering body a whipper-snapper., are even you with your owlish eyes Owlish eyes: Though grey eyes were admired among the Greeks Palinurus does not intend this as a compliment to Planesium. He perhaps alludes to her intended vocation, as having eyes peculiarly adapted for the night- time. to be calling me a plague, you whipper-snapper?
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PHAEDROMUS
192b
What, you abusing my own Venus? And really, is a slave well trounced with the rod to be commencing a discussion with myself? But, by the powers, you’ve surely said that to your own misfortune.
102
There, take that, by way of punishment for this abusive language, that you may be able to put a check upon your speech.
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PALINURUS
103
Your aid, I pray, you night-watching Venus.
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PHAEDROMUS
196b
What, do you still persist, whip-scoundrel? (Strikes hint.)
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PLANESIUM
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Don’t, there’s a dear, be beating a stone, lest you should hurt your hand.
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PALINURUS
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You perpetrate, Phaedromus, a flagitious and a shameful deed of great enormity; one who directs you aright, you pummel with your fists; her you are in love with, a mere nonentity.
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Is it right that you should behave yourself in this unreasonable manner?
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PHAEDROMUS
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Find me a reasonable lover against his weight in gold; here, take the gold of me.
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PALINURUS
108
Do you find me a person for me to serve in his sound senses against his weight in double-distilled gold.
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PLANESIUM
109
Kindly fare you well, apple of my eye, for I hear the sound and creaking of doors; I think the keeper The keeper: Aedituum. The aeditui were persons who took care of the Temples, and attended to the cleaning of them. They, however, partook in some measure of the priestly character, and are sometimes called priests by the Greek Grammarians. They lived in or near to the Temples, and showed them to those persons who wished to see them. is opening the temple. But, prithee, in this same manner
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shall we always enjoy our love by stealth?
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PHAEDROMUS
111
Far from it; for I sent my Parasite four days since to Caria to fetch some money; he’ll be here to-day.
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PLANESIUM
207b
You are very long in your contriving.
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PHAEDROMUS
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So may Venus love me, I’ll never allow you to be three days in this house here, before I procure your liberty.
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PLANESIUM
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Take care to remember it. Once more, before I go hence, take this kiss.
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PHAEDROMUS
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By heavens, really if a kingdom now were offered me, I should not obtain it with greater pleasure. When shall I see you again?
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PLANESIUM
212b
Why now, for that expression get ready the Praetor’s rod The Prœtor’s rod: Vindicta. This was the rod which was laid on the head of the person who received his freedom.; if you love me, purchase my freedom; don’t make any haggling. Take care to prevail with your offer. Kindly adieu! (Goes into the house of the PROCURER.)
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PHAEDROMUS
214b
And am I then left behind? Palinurus, I’m Lilled outright.
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PALINURUS
115
And I as well, who am dying with thumps and sleepiness.
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PHAEDROMUS
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Do you follow me.
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CAPPADOX
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I am resolved to depart from this Temple out of doors forthwith, since thus I find Since thus I find: It being near daybreak, Cappadox comes from the Temple, complaining that he has experienced no relief from his visit. the determination of Aesculapius, who sets me at nought, and chooses not that I should be healed. My health is declining, my weakness increases.
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For now I walk, girded with my spleen as though with a belt; in my stomach do I seem to be holding a twin offspring. I’m afraid of nothing, but that, in my misery, I should burst asunder in the middle.