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216
(Enter CAPPADOX, from the Temple of AESCULAPIUS.)
CAPPADOX
(to himself.)
I am resolved to depart from this Temple out of doors forthwith, since thus I find
1
the determination of Aesculapius, who sets me at nought, and chooses not that I should be healed. My health is declining, my weakness increases.
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.
220
(PHAEDROMUS.)
I am resolved to depart from this Temple out of doors forthwith, since thus I find
1
the determination of Aesculapius, who sets me at nought, and chooses not that I should be healed. My health is declining, my weakness increases.
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.
220
PALINURUS
(speaking to PHAEDROMUS within as he enters.)
If you do right, Phaedromus, you’ll listen to me, and banish this sorrow from your feelings.
You are anxious because your Parasite hasn’t returned from Caria. I think he’ll bring the money; but if he doesn’t bring it, by a chain of iron he couldn’t be withheld from betaking himself to eat at his manger
2
.
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If you do right, Phaedromus, you’ll listen to me, and banish this sorrow from your feelings.
You are anxious because your Parasite hasn’t returned from Caria. I think he’ll bring the money; but if he doesn’t bring it, by a chain of iron he couldn’t be withheld from betaking himself to eat at his manger
2
.
225
CAPPADOX
(turning round.)
What person is it that speaks?
What person is it that speaks?
PALINURUS
(to himself.)
Whose voice is it that I hear?
Whose voice is it that I hear?
CAPPADOX
Isn’t this Palinurus, the servant of Phaedromus?
230
Isn’t this Palinurus, the servant of Phaedromus?
230
PALINURUS
(aside.)
Who is this fellow with extended paunch, and eyes as green as grass? From his figure I know him; from his complexion I cannot recognize him. O, now I do know him: it’s the Procurer Cappadox. I’ll accost him.
Who is this fellow with extended paunch, and eyes as green as grass? From his figure I know him; from his complexion I cannot recognize him. O, now I do know him: it’s the Procurer Cappadox. I’ll accost him.
CAPPADOX
Save you, Palinurus.
Save you, Palinurus.
PALINURUS
O source of villanies, save you; how are you?
O source of villanies, save you; how are you?
CAPPADOX
I’m just alive.
I’m just alive.
PALINURUS
Just as you deserve, I suppose? But what’s the matter with you?
Just as you deserve, I suppose? But what’s the matter with you?
CAPPADOX
My spleen is killing me, my reins are in torment, my lungs are being torn asunder, my liver is being tortured, my heart-strings are giving way, all my intestines are in pain.
My spleen is killing me, my reins are in torment, my lungs are being torn asunder, my liver is being tortured, my heart-strings are giving way, all my intestines are in pain.
PALINURUS
The liver complaint is afflicting you, then.
The liver complaint is afflicting you, then.
CAPPADOX
My spleen is expanded.
My spleen is expanded.
PALINURUS
Take walking exercise
3
; that’s the best thing for the spleen.
Take walking exercise
3
; that’s the best thing for the spleen.
CAPPADOX
’Tis an easy matter to laugh at the afflicted.
240
’Tis an easy matter to laugh at the afflicted.
240
PALINURUS
Well, then, do you hold out
4
for some days until your intestines become putrid. Now, while the humours are pretty sound, if you do that, you yourself might sell for a worse price than those intestines of yours.
Well, then, do you hold out
4
for some days until your intestines become putrid. Now, while the humours are pretty sound, if you do that, you yourself might sell for a worse price than those intestines of yours.
CAPPADOX
Prithee, have done with this, and answer me this which I ask; can you possibly form a conjecture on it, if I relate to you what I dreamt last night in my sleep?
245
Prithee, have done with this, and answer me this which I ask; can you possibly form a conjecture on it, if I relate to you what I dreamt last night in my sleep?
245
PALINURUS
Psha, this—
(pointing to himself)—this is the sole person that is really skilled in divination; why, the interpreters of dreams ask advice of myself;
the answer that I have given them, by that opinion they all stand.
250
Psha, this—
(pointing to himself)—this is the sole person that is really skilled in divination; why, the interpreters of dreams ask advice of myself;
the answer that I have given them, by that opinion they all stand.
250
Curculio. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.
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