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700
(Enter DORIPPA, from the house of LYSIMACHUS.)
DORIPPA
(weeping.)
No woman ever will be, or ever has been, more wretched than myself in being married to such a husband. Alas! unhappy that I am! Just see, to what a husband have you committed yourself and the property you have! Just see, to what a person I brought ten talents for a portion; that I should see these things, that I should endure these insults.
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No woman ever will be, or ever has been, more wretched than myself in being married to such a husband. Alas! unhappy that I am! Just see, to what a husband have you committed yourself and the property you have! Just see, to what a person I brought ten talents for a portion; that I should see these things, that I should endure these insults.
700
LYSIMACHUS
(behind.)
I’ troth, I’m undone; my wife’s returned from the country already. I do believe she has seen the damsel in the house. But what she says I cannot distinctly hear from hence; I’ll go nearer to her.
705
(Approaches her.)
I’ troth, I’m undone; my wife’s returned from the country already. I do believe she has seen the damsel in the house. But what she says I cannot distinctly hear from hence; I’ll go nearer to her.
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DORIPPA
Ah! woe to wretched me!
Ah! woe to wretched me!
LYSIMACHUS
(behind.)
Aye, and to me as well.
Aye, and to me as well.
DORIPPA
I’m utterly undone!
I’m utterly undone!
LYSIMACHUS
(behind.)
As for me, i’ faith, to my sorrow I’m downright undone! she has seen her. May all the Gods confound you, Demipho!
As for me, i’ faith, to my sorrow I’m downright undone! she has seen her. May all the Gods confound you, Demipho!
DORIPPA
I’ troth, this was it, why my husband wouldn’t go into the country.
I’ troth, this was it, why my husband wouldn’t go into the country.
LYSIMACHUS
(behind.)
What shall I do now, but go up and speak to her?
(Goes up to her.) The husband bids health to his wife. Are the country people
1
becoming townsfolk?
What shall I do now, but go up and speak to her?
(Goes up to her.) The husband bids health to his wife. Are the country people
1
becoming townsfolk?
DORIPPA
They are acting more decently than those who are not become country people.
They are acting more decently than those who are not become country people.
LYSIMACHUS
Are the people in the country at all in fault?
Are the people in the country at all in fault?
DORIPPA
I’ faith, less so than the townsfolk, and much less mischief do they meet with for themselves.
I’ faith, less so than the townsfolk, and much less mischief do they meet with for themselves.
LYSIMACHUS
But in what have the townsfolk done wrong? Tell me that.
But in what have the townsfolk done wrong? Tell me that.
DORIPPA
Whose woman is that in the house?
Whose woman is that in the house?
LYSIMACHUS
What, have you seen her?
What, have you seen her?
DORIPPA
I have seen her.
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I have seen her.
720
LYSIMACHUS
Whose is she, do you ask?
Whose is she, do you ask?
DORIPPA
I shall find out, in spite of you;
i’ faith, I long to know.
But you are trying me on purpose.
I shall find out, in spite of you;
i’ faith, I long to know.
But you are trying me on purpose.
LYSIMACHUS
Do you wish me to tell you whose she is? She, she—
(Aside.) Ah me! upon my faith, I don’t know what to say.
Do you wish me to tell you whose she is? She, she—
(Aside.) Ah me! upon my faith, I don’t know what to say.
DORIPPA
Do you hesitate?
Do you hesitate?
LYSIMACHUS
(aside.)
I never saw one who did it more.
I never saw one who did it more.
DORIPPA
But why don’t you tell me?
But why don’t you tell me?
LYSIMACHUS
Nay, but if I may—
Nay, but if I may—
DORIPPA
You ought to tell me.
You ought to tell me.
LYSIMACHUS
I cannot, you hurry me so; you press me as though were guilty.
725
I cannot, you hurry me so; you press me as though were guilty.
725
DORIPPA
(ironically.)
I know you are free from all guilt.
I know you are free from all guilt.
LYSIMACHUS
Speak out as boldly as you please.
Speak out as boldly as you please.
DORIPPA
Tell me, then.
Tell me, then.
LYSIMACHUS
I, tell you?
I, tell you?
DORIPPA
Why, it must be told, in spite of everything.
Why, it must be told, in spite of everything.
LYSIMACHUS
She is— Do you wish me tell her name as well?
She is— Do you wish me tell her name as well?
DORIPPA
You are trifling. I’ve caught you in the fact; you are guilty.
You are trifling. I’ve caught you in the fact; you are guilty.
LYSIMACHUS
Guilty of what?
If now I had no occasion for silence, now I shouldn’t tell you
2
.
Why, this same woman is —
730
Guilty of what?
If now I had no occasion for silence, now I shouldn’t tell you
2
.
Why, this same woman is —
730
DORIPPA
Who is she?
Who is she?
LYSIMACHUS
She—
She—
DORIPPA
Marry, come up! don’t you know who she is?
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Marry, come up! don’t you know who she is?
732735
LYSIMACHUS
Why, yes, I do know. I’ve been chosen as an arbitrator with respect to her.
Why, yes, I do know. I’ve been chosen as an arbitrator with respect to her.
DORIPPA
An arbitrator? Now I know; you have invited her here to consult with you.
An arbitrator? Now I know; you have invited her here to consult with you.
LYSIMACHUS
Why no; she has been given me as a deposit.
Why no; she has been given me as a deposit.
DORIPPA
(ironically.)
I understand.
I understand.
LYSIMACHUS
By my troth, it’s not anything of that sort.
By my troth, it’s not anything of that sort.
DORIPPA
You are clearing yourself too soon
3
.
You are clearing yourself too soon
3
.
LYSIMACHUS
(aside.)
Too much of a business have I met with; really I’m stuck fast.
740
Too much of a business have I met with; really I’m stuck fast.
740
Mercator. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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