T. Maccius Plautus Rudens 2.4

SCEPARNIO

Who is it so furiously making an attack upon our door?

AMPELISCA

It’s I.

415

SCEPARNIO

Well now, what good news is there? (Aside.) Dear me, a lass of comely appearance, i’ troth.

AMPELISCA

Greeting to you, young man.

SCEPARNIO

And many greetings to you, young woman.

AMPELISCA

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.)

AMPELISCA

Oh, you’re handling me too familiarly.

(Moves away.)

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.)

AMPELISCA

(struggling.)

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?

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.

SCEPARNIO

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.

SCEPARNIO

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

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.

AMPELISCA

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

AMPELISCA

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.

AMPELISCA

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.)

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

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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.)