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1120
(Enter GIDDENEME and a BOY, from the house.)
GIDDENEME
Who is it that knocks?
1120
Who is it that knocks?
1120
MILPHIO
One that’s a near acquaintance of yours.
One that’s a near acquaintance of yours.
GIDDENEME
What do you want?
What do you want?
MILPHIO
Come now
(pointing to HANNO.) do you know that person in the tunic, who it is?
Come now
(pointing to HANNO.) do you know that person in the tunic, who it is?
GIDDENEME
Why, whom do I behold? O supreme Jupiter! this sure is my master, the father of my foster-children, Hanno, the Carthaginian!
Why, whom do I behold? O supreme Jupiter! this sure is my master, the father of my foster-children, Hanno, the Carthaginian!
MILPHIO
Now, do see the cunning
hussey this Carthaginian is really a clever juggler; he has brought all over to his own opinion.
Now, do see the cunning
hussey this Carthaginian is really a clever juggler; he has brought all over to his own opinion.
GIDDENEME
(running up to HANNO.)
O my master! welcome to you, Hanno! most unhoped for by myself and your daughters, welcome to you! But look you, don’t be wondering, or gazing
so intently upon me.
Don’t you know Giddeneme, your female slave?
1130
O my master! welcome to you, Hanno! most unhoped for by myself and your daughters, welcome to you! But look you, don’t be wondering, or gazing
so intently upon me.
Don’t you know Giddeneme, your female slave?
1130
HANNO
I know
her. But where are my daughters? That I’m longing to know.
I know
her. But where are my daughters? That I’m longing to know.
GIDDENEME
At the Temple of Venus
1
.
At the Temple of Venus
1
.
HANNO
What are they doing there? Tell me.
What are they doing there? Tell me.
GIDDENEME
To-day is the Aphrodisia, the festive day of Venus! they have gone
there to entreat the Goddess to be propitious to them.
To-day is the Aphrodisia, the festive day of Venus! they have gone
there to entreat the Goddess to be propitious to them.
MILPHIO
I’ faith, they’ve fully prevailed, I’m sure, inasmuch as he has arrived here.
1135
I’ faith, they’ve fully prevailed, I’m sure, inasmuch as he has arrived here.
1135
AGORASTOCLES
(aside to GIDDENEME.)
How now, are these his daughters?
How now, are these his daughters?
GIDDENEME
Just as you say.
(To HANNO.) Your kindness has clearly come to our rescue, in your having arrived here to-day at the very time; for this day their names were to have been changed
2
,
and they were to have made a livelihood, disgraceful to their station, by their persons.
1140
Just as you say.
(To HANNO.) Your kindness has clearly come to our rescue, in your having arrived here to-day at the very time; for this day their names were to have been changed
2
,
and they were to have made a livelihood, disgraceful to their station, by their persons.
1140
A BOY
Haudones illi
3
.
Haudones illi
3
.
GIDDENEME
Havon bene si illi, in mustine.
Me ipsi et eneste dum et alamna cestinum
4
.
Havon bene si illi, in mustine.
Me ipsi et eneste dum et alamna cestinum
4
.
AGORASTOCLES
What is it they are saying among themselves? Tell me.
What is it they are saying among themselves? Tell me.
MILPHIO
He’s saluting his mother, and she this her son.
He’s saluting his mother, and she this her son.
HANNO
Hold your peace, and let alone the woman’s gear.
1145
Hold your peace, and let alone the woman’s gear.
1145
MILPHIO
What gear is that?
What gear is that?
HANNO
Loud talking
without limit.
(To MILPHIO.) Do you lead these people in-doors
(pointing to his SERVANTS.) and bid this nurse to come away together with you to your house.
Loud talking
without limit.
(To MILPHIO.) Do you lead these people in-doors
(pointing to his SERVANTS.) and bid this nurse to come away together with you to your house.
AGORASTOCLES
(to MILPHIO.)
Do as he requests.
Do as he requests.
GIDDENEME
(to HANNO.)
But who’s to point them out to you?
But who’s to point them out to you?
AGORASTOCLES
I
will, right skilfully.
I
will, right skilfully.
GIDDENEME
I’ll go away then.
1150
I’ll go away then.
1150
AGORASTOCLES
I’d only rather that you would do
so, than say
so.
(She goes into the house of AGORASTOCLES.)
I’d only rather that you would do
so, than say
so.
MILPHIO
Upon my faith, I do think that this day the very thing that I said by way of joke
will be coming to pass both soberly and seriously,
1170
that these will be discovered to-day to be his daughters.
Upon my faith, I do think that this day the very thing that I said by way of joke
will be coming to pass both soberly and seriously,
1170
that these will be discovered to-day to be his daughters.
AGORASTOCLES
Troth, that very thing is quite certain now. Do you, Milphio, take them
(pointing to the SERVANTS) in-doors; we’ll wait here for these damsels.
I wish a dinner to be got ready for my kinsman on his arrival.
Troth, that very thing is quite certain now. Do you, Milphio, take them
(pointing to the SERVANTS) in-doors; we’ll wait here for these damsels.
I wish a dinner to be got ready for my kinsman on his arrival.
MILPHIO
AGORASTOCLES
(to HANNO.)
Do you hear, kinsman? I say, don’t you revoke what has been said; promise me your elder daughter in marriage.
1155
Do you hear, kinsman? I say, don’t you revoke what has been said; promise me your elder daughter in marriage.
1155
HANNO
Consider the thing as agreed on.
Consider the thing as agreed on.
AGORASTOCLES
Do you promise her, then?
Do you promise her, then?
HANNO
I do promise her.
I do promise her.
AGORASTOCLES
My kinsman, blessings on you! for now you are mine beyond a doubt; now at length shall I converse with her without restraint.
Now, kinsman, if you wish to see your daughters, follow me.
1160
My kinsman, blessings on you! for now you are mine beyond a doubt; now at length shall I converse with her without restraint.
Now, kinsman, if you wish to see your daughters, follow me.
1160
HANNO
Why, really, this long time I’ve been longing for it, and I’ll follow you.
Why, really, this long time I’ve been longing for it, and I’ll follow you.
AGORASTOCLES
What if we go and meet them?
What if we go and meet them?
HANNO
But I’m afraid lest we should pass them on the road. Great Jupiter, do now reinstate my fortunes for me as being certain instead of uncertain!
But I’m afraid lest we should pass them on the road. Great Jupiter, do now reinstate my fortunes for me as being certain instead of uncertain!
AGORASTOCLES
I trust that my charmer will be my own. But look, I catch sight of them.
1165
I trust that my charmer will be my own. But look, I catch sight of them.
1165
HANNO
What, are these my daughters? How tall from being such little creatures have they now become!
What, are these my daughters? How tall from being such little creatures have they now become!
AGORASTOCLES
Do you know how it is? These are Grecian columns
7
; they are wont to be erect.
(They stand aside.)
Do you know how it is? These are Grecian columns
7
; they are wont to be erect.
Poenulus. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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