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414
(Enter SCEPARNIO, from the cottage of DAEMONES.)
SCEPARNIO
Who is it so furiously making an attack upon our door?
Who is it so furiously making an attack upon our door?
AMPELISCA
It’s I.
415
It’s I.
415
SCEPARNIO
Well now, what good news is there?
(Aside.) Dear me, a lass of comely appearance, i’ troth.
Well now, what good news is there?
(Aside.) Dear me, a lass of comely appearance, i’ troth.
AMPELISCA
Greeting to you, young man.
Greeting to you, young man.
SCEPARNIO
And many greetings to you, young woman.
And many greetings to you, young woman.
AMPELISCA
I’m come to you—
I’m come to you—
SCEPARNIO
I’ll receive you with a welcome, if you come in the evening, by-and-by, just such as I could like; for just now I’ve no means
1
to receive you, a damsel, thus early in the morning
But what have you to say, my smiling, pretty one.
(Chucks her under the chin.)
I’ll receive you with a welcome, if you come in the evening, by-and-by, just such as I could like; for just now I’ve no means
1
to receive you, a damsel, thus early in the morning
But what have you to say, my smiling, pretty one.
AMPELISCA
Oh, you’re handling me too familiarly.
(Moves away.)
Oh, you’re handling me too familiarly.
SCEPARNIO
O ye immortal Gods! she’s the very image of Venus. What joyousness there is in her eyes, and, only do see, what a skin ’tis of the vulture’s tint
2
,—rather, the eagle’s, indeed, I meant to say. Her breasts, too, how beautiful; and then what expression on her lips!
(Takes hold of her.)
O ye immortal Gods! she’s the very image of Venus. What joyousness there is in her eyes, and, only do see, what a skin ’tis of the vulture’s tint
2
,—rather, the eagle’s, indeed, I meant to say. Her breasts, too, how beautiful; and then what expression on her lips!
AMPELISCA
(struggling.)
I’m no common commodity for the whole township
3
; can’t you keep your hands off me?
I’m no common commodity for the whole township
3
; can’t you keep your hands off me?
SCEPARNIO
(patting her.)
Won’t you let me touch you, gentle one, in this manner, gently and lovingly?
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Won’t you let me touch you, gentle one, in this manner, gently and lovingly?
425
AMPELISCA
When I have leisure, then I’ll be giving my attention to toying and dalliance to please you; for the present, prithee, do either say me
Yes or
No to the matter for which I was sent hither.
When I have leisure, then I’ll be giving my attention to toying and dalliance to please you; for the present, prithee, do either say me
Yes or
No to the matter for which I was sent hither.
SCEPARNIO
What now is it that you wish?
What now is it that you wish?
AMPELISCA
(pointing to her pitcher.)
To a shrewd person, my equipment would give indications of what it is I want.
To a shrewd person, my equipment would give indications of what it is I want.
SCEPARNIO
To a shrewd woman, this equipment, too, of mine, would give indication of what it is I want.
To a shrewd woman, this equipment, too, of mine, would give indication of what it is I want.
AMPELISCA
(pointing to the Temple.)
The Priestess there of Venus, requested me to fetch some water from your house here.
430
The Priestess there of Venus, requested me to fetch some water from your house here.
430
SCEPARNIO
But I’m a lordly sort of person; unless you entreat me, you shan’t have a drop. We dug this well with danger to ourselves, and with tools of iron. Not a drop can be got out of me except by means of plenty of blandishments.
But I’m a lordly sort of person; unless you entreat me, you shan’t have a drop. We dug this well with danger to ourselves, and with tools of iron. Not a drop can be got out of me except by means of plenty of blandishments.
AMPELISCA
Prithee, why do you make so much fuss about the water—a thing that even enemy affords to enemy?
Prithee, why do you make so much fuss about the water—a thing that even enemy affords to enemy?
SCEPARNIO
Why do you make so much fuss about granting a favour to me, that citizen grants to citizen?
435
Why do you make so much fuss about granting a favour to me, that citizen grants to citizen?
435
AMPELISCA
On the contrary, my sweet one, I’ll even do everything for you that you wish.
On the contrary, my sweet one, I’ll even do everything for you that you wish.
SCEPARNIO
O charming! I am favoured; she’s now calling me her sweet one. The water shall be given you, so that you mayn’t be coaxing me in vain. Give me the pitcher.
O charming! I am favoured; she’s now calling me her sweet one. The water shall be given you, so that you mayn’t be coaxing me in vain. Give me the pitcher.
AMPELISCA
Take it
(gives it to him): make haste and bring it out, there’s a dear.
Take it
(gives it to him): make haste and bring it out, there’s a dear.
SCEPARNIO
Stay a moment; I’ll be here this instant, my sweet one.
(Goes into the cottage.)
Stay a moment; I’ll be here this instant, my sweet one.
(Goes into the cottage.)
AMPELISCA
What shall I say to the Priestess for having delayed here so long a time?
How, even still, in my wretchedness do I tremble, when with my eyes I look upon the sea.
(She looks towards the shore.)
440
But what, to my sorrow, do I see afar upon the shore? My master, the Procurer, and his Sicilian guest. both of whom wretched I supposed to have perished in the deep. Still does thus much more of evil survive for us than we had imagined. But why do I delay to run off into the Temple, and to tell
442450
Palaestra this, that we may take refuge at the altar before this scoundrel of a Procurer can come hither and seize us here? I’ll betake myself away from this spot; for the necessity suddenly arises for me to do so.
455
(Runs into the Temple.)
What shall I say to the Priestess for having delayed here so long a time?
How, even still, in my wretchedness do I tremble, when with my eyes I look upon the sea.
(She looks towards the shore.)
440
But what, to my sorrow, do I see afar upon the shore? My master, the Procurer, and his Sicilian guest. both of whom wretched I supposed to have perished in the deep. Still does thus much more of evil survive for us than we had imagined. But why do I delay to run off into the Temple, and to tell
442450
Palaestra this, that we may take refuge at the altar before this scoundrel of a Procurer can come hither and seize us here? I’ll betake myself away from this spot; for the necessity suddenly arises for me to do so.
455
Rudens. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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