View:
By Line
251
(Enter a COOK, from the house of PHAEDROUMS.)
COOK
Palinurus, why do you delay? Why are not the things served out for me which are needed for the breakfast to be prepared for the Parasite when he comes.
Palinurus, why do you delay? Why are not the things served out for me which are needed for the breakfast to be prepared for the Parasite when he comes.
PALINURUS
Wait, please, until I interpret his dream.
(Pointing to CAPPADOX.)
Wait, please, until I interpret his dream.
(Pointing to CAPPADOX.)
COOK
Why, you your own self, if you’ve had any dream, always apply to me.
Why, you your own self, if you’ve had any dream, always apply to me.
PALINURUS
I confess it.
255
I confess it.
255
COOK
Be off, then, and serve out the things.
Be off, then, and serve out the things.
PALINURUS
(to CAPPADOX.)
Come now, do you in the meantime relate your dream to him. I give you a substitute better than I am myself; for what I do know, all of it I know from him.
(Pointing to the COOK.)
Come now, do you in the meantime relate your dream to him. I give you a substitute better than I am myself; for what I do know, all of it I know from him.
CAPPADOX
Let him give his attention then.
Let him give his attention then.
PALINURUS
He’ll give it.
He’ll give it.
CAPPADOX
He does what few do, in being attentive to their masters even.
(To the COOK.) Do you give me your attention then.
(PALINURUS goes into the house of PHAEDROMUS.)
He does what few do, in being attentive to their masters even.
(To the COOK.) Do you give me your attention then.
COOK
Although I don’t know you, I’ll give it you.
Although I don’t know you, I’ll give it you.
CAPPADOX
Last night I seemed in my sleep to behold Aesculapius, seated at a distance far away from me; and it seemed that he didn’t come near me, or set any value upon me.
260
Last night I seemed in my sleep to behold Aesculapius, seated at a distance far away from me; and it seemed that he didn’t come near me, or set any value upon me.
260
COOK
The other Gods will do the same, you must know; in fact, among themselves they agree with perfect unanimity.
It isn’t to be wondered at, if it fares no better with you. But it had been better for you to pass the night in Jove’s Temple, who has given you his assistance
1
in your oaths.
265
The other Gods will do the same, you must know; in fact, among themselves they agree with perfect unanimity.
It isn’t to be wondered at, if it fares no better with you. But it had been better for you to pass the night in Jove’s Temple, who has given you his assistance
1
in your oaths.
265
CAPPADOX
If, indeed, those should wish to sleep there who have been guilty of perjury, it were not possible for room to be found them in the Capitol
2
.
If, indeed, those should wish to sleep there who have been guilty of perjury, it were not possible for room to be found them in the Capitol
2
.
COOK
Give your attention to this; ask peace of Aesculapius, lest perchance some great mishap befall you, which has been portended to you in your rest.
270
Give your attention to this; ask peace of Aesculapius, lest perchance some great mishap befall you, which has been portended to you in your rest.
270
CAPPADOX
You do well in advising me; I’ll go and pray to him.
(Goes into the Temple.)
You do well in advising me; I’ll go and pray to him.
(Goes into the Temple.)
COOK
And ill speed you with it
(Goes into the house of PHAEDROMUS.)
And ill speed you with it
PALINURUS
(Enter PALINURUS, from the house.)
(looking in the distance, as he enters.)
O immortal Gods, whom do I behold? Who’s that yonder?
(Pointing.)
Isn’t that the Parasite, who was sent to Caria?
(Goes to the door.) Hallo, come out, Phaedromus, come out, come out, come out this instant, I say.
275
(from the house.)
O immortal Gods, whom do I behold? Who’s that yonder?
Isn’t that the Parasite, who was sent to Caria?
(Goes to the door.) Hallo, come out, Phaedromus, come out, come out, come out this instant, I say.
275
PHAEDROMUS
Why are you making this noise here?
Why are you making this noise here?
PALINURUS
I see your Parasite running; see, there he is
(pointing), down at the end of the street
3
. Let’s listen from here what he’s about.
I see your Parasite running; see, there he is
(pointing), down at the end of the street
3
. Let’s listen from here what he’s about.
PHAEDROMUS
I think it’s as well.
(They stand aside.)
I think it’s as well.
Curculio. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.