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667
(Enter DORIPPA.)
DORIPPA
(to herself.)
Since a messenger came to me in the country from my husband, that he couldn’t come into the country, I made up my mind, and came back to follow after him who fled from me.
But
(looking round) I don’t see our old woman Syra following. Aye, look, there she comes at last.
(Enter SYRA with a bundle of green sprigs.) Why don’t you go quicker?
670
Since a messenger came to me in the country from my husband, that he couldn’t come into the country, I made up my mind, and came back to follow after him who fled from me.
But
(looking round) I don’t see our old woman Syra following. Aye, look, there she comes at last.
(Enter SYRA with a bundle of green sprigs.) Why don’t you go quicker?
670
SYRA
By my troth, I cannot; so great is this burden that I’m carrying.
By my troth, I cannot; so great is this burden that I’m carrying.
DORIPPA
What burden?
What burden?
SYRA
Fourscore years and four, and to that are added servitude, sweat, and thirst;
these things as well which I am carrying weigh me down.
675
Fourscore years and four, and to that are added servitude, sweat, and thirst;
these things as well which I am carrying weigh me down.
675
DORIPPA
Give me something, Syra, with which to decorate this altar of our neighbour
1
.
Give me something, Syra, with which to decorate this altar of our neighbour
1
.
SYRA
(holding out a sprig.)
Present this sprig of laurel, then.
Present this sprig of laurel, then.
DORIPPA
Now do you go into the house.
2
Now do you go into the house.
2
SYRA
I’m going.
(Goes into the house of LYSIMACHUS.)
I’m going.
DORIPPA
(laying the sprig on the altar.)
Apollo, I pray thee that thou wilt propitiously grant peace, safety, and health, unto our household,
and that in thy propitiousness thou wilt show favour to my son.
680
(rushes out of the house, clapping her hands.)
Apollo, I pray thee that thou wilt propitiously grant peace, safety, and health, unto our household,
and that in thy propitiousness thou wilt show favour to my son.
680
SYRA
I’m utterly undone! Wretch that I am, I’m ruined! Ah! wretched me!
I’m utterly undone! Wretch that I am, I’m ruined! Ah! wretched me!
DORIPPA
Prithee, are you quite in your senses? What are you howling for?
Prithee, are you quite in your senses? What are you howling for?
SYRA
Dorippa, my dear Dorippa!
Dorippa, my dear Dorippa!
DORIPPA
Prithee, why are you crying out?
Prithee, why are you crying out?
SYRA
Some woman, I know not who, is here in-doors in the house.
Some woman, I know not who, is here in-doors in the house.
DORIPPA
What? A woman?
685
What? A woman?
685
SYRA
A harlot woman.
A harlot woman.
DORIPPA
Is it so, really?
Is it so, really?
SYRA
In serious truth. You know how to act very prudently, in not remaining in the country. A fool even could have found it out that she was the mistress of your very pretty husband.
In serious truth. You know how to act very prudently, in not remaining in the country. A fool even could have found it out that she was the mistress of your very pretty husband.
DORIPPA
By heavens, I believe it.
By heavens, I believe it.
SYRA
(taking her arm.)
Step this way with me, that you, my Juno, may see as well your rival Alcmena.
Step this way with me, that you, my Juno, may see as well your rival Alcmena.
DORIPPA
I’ troth, I certainly shall go there, as fast as I can.
(They go into the house of LYSIMACHUS.)
I’ troth, I certainly shall go there, as fast as I can.
Mercator. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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