Plautus Asinaria 5.2

Henry Thomas Riley (Translator)

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Asinaria. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.

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Current edition Perseus

Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer (English) (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.)

Editions (1)
Asinaria Perseus (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 1. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1895.) — 5.2 focus

Notes on the current edition

Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer

1. In the early part of this Scene, the wife and the Parasite do not see Demaenetus, who is carousing in the front of Cleaereta’s house, at the other side of the stage. We must remember that the Roman stage was of vast extent—as much, according to some writers, as 180 feet in width. Perhaps a wall extended a little forward by the side of the house, which would preclude the view of what was going on behind it and near to the door until Artemona and the Parasite had traversed the stage.
2. Since I drank first: They probably took the first draught each in his turn. Argyrippus tells his father that he is dry, and that it is a long time since he had the first draught.
3. From the top: We are to suppose that the three are reclining or one triclinium, or couch. Argyrippus lies at the top, his father below him, and Philenium the lowest, with her head reclining on the old man’s breast.
4. Of a bier: Capulus was another name of the lectica or feretrum, on which the corpse was carried to the funeral pile. In the case of rich people, the capuli were sometimes made of ivory, and covered with gold and purple.
5. Venus’s, cast: Venereus jactus was the best throw on the set of four tali, or knuckle-bone dice, used by the ancients. It is supposed to have been a combination of the numbers, the sum of which was fourteen. When trying to throw the Venereus jactus, it was usual to mention the name of the mistress of the thrower; and Demaenetus throws in death to his wife, by way of supplement. From the next line, he appears to have been successful in his throw.
6. Haven’t learned the fulling trade: He intends a pun here upon the word durare, which meant either to endure, bear, or hold out; as also to full, harden, or thicken cloth, by the fuller’s art. Artemona says that she cannot durare in the first sense; on which the Parasite quibbles, and says, Because you have not learnt the fulling art. In the next line also a ploy upon words is intended, as invadi in oculos may mean either present yourself before his eyes or attack his eyes, and claw them out. No doubt the Parasite would have relished the fun, if she had taken his advice in the latter sense.
7. The undertaker: The pollinctores were slaves, who belonged to the libitinarii, or undertakers, and whose duty it was to anoint the body with oil and perfumes before it was burnt.
8. My patron: Regem. Literally, my king; the name which Parasites bestowed upon their patrons.
9. Yes, you are: He says, nullus sum, in the sense of I’m undone; but she chooses to take it as though he had meant I am a worthless fellow, which meaning these words are capable of bearing.
10. Cuckoo’s still on his nest: The cuckoo takes possession of the nests of other birds. and lays its eggs there. Artemona probably alludes to that fact, on seeing her husband under such a disgraceful circumstances.
11. About the mantle: This she says by way of farewell banter to the old fellow, whom she is too happy to get rid of.