With all deference
: "Præfiscine." This word was generally used as being supposed to avert the evil eye, when persons spake in high terms of themselves. There is some drollery in Sceparnio using it, when speaking in lisparagement of himself.Of being in love
: Not for the pleasure of loving, but for the comparative ease of drawing the water, which was probably one of his employments.Playing bo-peep
: Both Horace and
Who were never wiling
: He probably alludes to some current proverb of the day, which may, with considerable truth, have said that liberty forsakes a man when he goes or board ship.
Where the plague are you hurrying to, Labrax? For really I cannot follow you so fast.
I only wish that you had perished by direful tornments in
I only wish that on the day on which you admitted me into your house, I had laid me down in a prison sooner. I pray the immortal Gods, that so long as you live, you may have all your guests just like your own self.
In your person I admitted misfortune into my house. What business had I to listen to a rogue like you, or what to depart hence? Or why to go on board ship, where I have lost even more wealthEven more wealth
: He means that he has not only lost his existing property by the shipwreck, but his hopes of profit as well on his arrival at
Troth, I'm far from being surprised if your ship has been wrecked, which was carrying yourself, a villain, and your property villanously acquired.
You've utterly ruined me with your wheedling speeches.
A more accursed dinner of yours have I been dining upon than the ones that were set before Thyestes and TereusThyestes and Tereus
: Atreus killed the children of his brother Thyestes, and served them up to their father. Progne slew her son Itys, and set him before his father Tereus, who had ravished and mutilated her sister Philomela.
I'm dying; I'm sick at heart. Prithee, do hold up my head.
By my troth, I could very much wish that you would vomit up your lungs.
Alas! Palæstra and Ampelisca, where are you now?
Supplying food for the fishes at the bottom, I suppose.
You have brought beggary upon me by your means, while I was listening to your bragging lies.
You have reason deservedly to give me many hearty thanks, who from an insipid morsel by my agency have made you saltHave made you salt
: " Ex insulso salsum." The humour in this passage depends on the double meaning of the word "salsus," which signifies "saited," and, figuratively, "sharp," "clever." "witty."
Nay, but do you get out from me to extreme and utter perdition.
You be off; I was just going to do that very thing.
Alas! what mortal being is there living more wretched than I?
I am by very far much more wretched, Labrax, than yourself.
How so?
Because I am not deserving of it, whereas you are deserving.
O bulrush, bulrush, I do praise your lot, who always maintain your credit for dryness.
For a skirmishing fight
:
By my troth, Neptune, you are a purveyor of chilly baths; since I got away from you with my clothes, I've been freezing. No hot liquor-shopHot-liquor shop
: See the Trinummus, l. 1013, and the Note.
How lucky are the blacksmiths who are always sitting among hot coals; they are always warm.
I only wish that I were now enjoying the lot of the duck, so as, although I had just come from out of the water, still to be dry.
What if I some way or other let myself out at the games for a hobgoblinFor a hobgoblin
: "Manducus" was a huge figure exhibited on the stage and at public shows, with huge teeth craunching, and a wide mouth—probably not unlike some of the idols of the South Sea Islanders.
For what reason?
Because, i' faith, I'm chattering aloud with my teeth. But I'm of opinion that, with very good reason, I've had this ducking.
How so?
Why, haven't I ventured to go on board ship with yourself, who have been stirring up the ocean for me from the very bottom?
I listened to you when advising me; you assured me that there in
Did you expect, then, you unclean beast, that you were going to gobble up the whole island of
What whale, I wonder, has gobbled up my wallet where all my gold and silver was packed up?
That same one, I suppose, that has swallowed my purse, which was full of silver in my travelling-bag.
Alas! I'm reduced even to this one poor tunic
Then you may even go into partnership with me; we have got equal shares.
If at least my damsels had been saved, there would have been some hope. Now, if the young man Plesidippus should be seeing me, from whom I received the earnest for Palæstra, he'll then be causing me some trouble in consequence.
Why cry, you fool? Really, by my troth, so long as your tongue shall exist, you have abundance with which to make payment to everybodyPayment to everybody
: He means, that his readiness to commit perjury will save him the trouble of finding money to pay with as he can always swear that he has paid already.
Here
How many are there?
Just as many as you and I make.
Surely, they are mine.
Surely, I know nothing about that.
Of what appearance are they?
Good-looking; I could even fall in love with either of them, if I were well liquored.
Surely, they are the damsels.
Surely, you are a nuisance; be off, go in and see, if you like.
These must be my wenches in here, my dear Charmides.
Jupiter confound you, both if they are and still if they are not.
I'll straightway burst into this Temple of Venus here.
Into the bottomless pit, I would rather.
Go to sleep there, wherever you please
See, here's my outer coat, which alone is dry; that, if you like, I'll lend you.
How now, are you afraid that, as I've been washed bareWashed bare
: The poor joke here turns on the double meaning of the word "eluo," which, in the passive, means "to be shipwrecked," and in the active, either "to bathe" or "to be ruined in one's fortunes." It is not very dissimilar to an expression common with us, and might be rendered, "I wasn't cleaned out enough at sea fast night, but you want to clean me out still more." Sceparnio takes the word in the sense of "to bathe," and says, "Bathe or anoint yourself; I don't care a fig." Anointing followed immediately after bathing,
Wash you bare, or anoint you well, I don't care one figOne fig
: "Ciccum." "Ciccum" was the thin skin in the pomegranate that divided the kernels.
What, are you off? For money
: His meaning is, "he is so inhuman, that surely he is a slave-dealer, and nothing less." Has no bowels
: "Non est misericors." Literally, "he is not merciful."Were Greek wines
: He uses this comparison because it was the custom of the ancients to mix sea-water with all the Greek wines, except the Chian, which Horace styles "maris expers," "unmixed with the sea."
In wondrous ways
: It is somewhat singular that the same three lines as this and the two following occur in the Mercator, at the beginning of Act II.Of Philomela
: The Poets generally represent Progne as changed into a swallow, and Philomela into a nightingale. Ovid, however, on one occasion, mentions Philomela as being changed into a swallow. They were the daughters of Pandion, king of
What's all this to-do?
Nay, but do you let go my knees, then, and tell me why it is that you are making a noise?
I do beg and entreat you, that if you hope this year that you will have abundance of laserwort and silphiumLaserwort and silphium
: "Sirpe" and "laserpitium" seem to be different names for the same plant, "laserwort," from which assafœtida is distilled. It grew abundantly in Cyrene, which region Catullus calls "Laserpitiferæ Cyrenæ." The juice of this plant seems to have been used in making certain perfumes, for which reason it was exported to
Are you in your senses?
—Or whether you trust that you will have plenty of juice of silphiumJuice of silphium
: "Magudaris" is the root or juice of the plant called "laserpicium."
And I, by your legs, and ancles, and back, do entreat you that, if you hope that you will have a crop of elm-twigs, and that a fruitful harvest of beatings will this year be your lot, you will tell me what's the matter here, by reason of which you are making this uproar.
Why do you choose to speak me ill? For my part, I wished you everything that's good.
And for my part, I'm speaking you well, in praying that things which you deserve may befall you.
Prithee, do prevent this.
What's the matter, then?
What person is there of effrontery so great as to dare to injure the Priestess? But these women, who are they? Or what injury is being done to them?
If you give me your attention, I'll tell you. They have clung to the statue of Venus; a most audacious fellow is now trying to tear them away. They ought, by rights, both of them to be free.
What fellow is it that so lightly holds the Gods? In a few words tell me.
One most full of fraud, villany, parricide, and perjury; a lawbreaker, an immodest, unclean, most shameless fellow; to sum up all in one word, he is a Procurer; why need I say more about him?
Troth now, you tell of a man that ought to be handed over to retribution.
A villain, to seize the Priestess by the throat.
By my troth, but he has done it at his own great peril.
Prithee, do go in, and hasten to their rescue.
Follow me this way.
Come on now this instant, bid them tear his eyes out, just in the way that cooks do cuttle-fishCooks do cuttle- fish
: This, probably, was a practice of ancient cookery, which, happily, has not come down to our times.
Drag the fellow out here by his legs, just like a slaughtered pig.
Now is that time arrived when destitution of all resources and aid, succour and defence, overtakes us. Neither hope nor means is there to bring us aid, nor know we in what direction we should commence to proceed. In exceeding terror now are we both, in this our wretchedness. Such cruelty and such outrage have been committed towards us just now in-doors here by our master, who, in his villany, pushed down the old lady, the Priestess, headlong, and struck her in a very disgraceful manner, and with his violence tore us away from the inner sideThe inner side
: "Signo intumo" may either mean the statue in the most distant and sacred recess, or the inner side of the statue, to which spot they had retired for safety.
Prithee, who is it that calls us?
Who is it that calls me by name?
If you turn round and look, you'll know.
Be silent and of good courage; trust meTrust me
: At the same time he is afraid to go in. Palæstra sees this, and taunts him with being brave—in words only.
If only it can be so, let not violence overwhelm us.
What violence?
That same which is driving me to commit violence on myself.
Oh, do leave off; you are very silly.
Then do you leave off at once your consoling me in my misery with words.
Unless you afford us protection in realityIn reality
: "Re," "in reality," in contradistinction to words.
I'm resolved to die sooner than suffer this Procurer to get me in his power. But still I am of woman's heart; when, in my misery, death comes into my mind, fear takes possession of my limbs.
By my troth, although this is a bitter affliction, do have a good heart.
Why where, pray, is a good heart to be found for me?
Don't you fear, I tell you; sit you down here by the altar.
What can this altar possibly avail us more than the statue here within the Temple of Venus, from which just now, embracing it, in our wretchedness, we were torn by force?
Only you be seated here; then I'll protect you in this spot. This altar you possess as though your bulwarksYour bulwarks
: "Mœnia." Madame Dacier supposes that these words refer to the walls of a court in front of the Temple, represented on the stage with an altar in the middle, the walls being breast high, which Trachalio compares to entrenchments.
We follow your instructions Not so well attended to
: "Bene lautum." There is a joke intended in the use of these words, which may signify either "quite tidy "or "properly arranged;" or, on the other hand, "well washed," neglect of which certainly could not be imputed to them, by reason of their recent shipwreck.
I think they ask what's just; it ought, Venus, by thee to be granted. Thou oughtst to pardon them; 'tis terror forces them to do this. They say that thou wast born from a shellBorn from a shell
: He alludes to the birth of Venus, who was said to have sprung from the sea in a shell. He also seems to joke upon the destitute state of the young women, and to call them mere shells. An indelicate construction has been, by some, put upon the use of the word "conchas," while others think it refers to the use made by women of shells, for holding their paints, perfumes, and cosmetics, and that he means thereby to reproach Venus for having allowed them to lose all their property. This, however, seems to be a rather far-fetched notion.
Come out of the Temple, you most sacrilegious of men, as many as have ever been born. Do you go
Look round here.
I wanted that
: He means that the women have done as he wished them to do, in flying to the altar for refuge.
I'm suffering these indignities at your own cost.
Why, the insolent fellow's threatening even.
I've been robbed of my rights; you are robbing me of my female slaves against my will.
Do you then find some wealthy man of the Senate of Cyrene as judge, whether these women ought to be yours, or whether they oughtn't to be free, or whether it isn't right that you should be clapped into prison, and there spend your life, until you have worn the whole gaol out with your feet.
I wasn't prepared to prophesy for this day that I should be talking with a hang-gallowsA hang-gallows
: "Furcifero." He sneeringly alludes to Trachalio's position as a slave, and his liability to have the punishment of the "furca" inflicted on him.
But it must be with myself.
They are.
Just come then, touch either of them with your little finger only.
What if I do touch them?
That very instant, upon my faith, I'll make a hand-ballA hand-ball
: -2. These lines are thus rendered in one version: "Instantly I will make you a prize-fighting pair of bellows, and while you are drawing breath, will belabour you with my fists." The allusion, however, is clearly to a ball blown up like our footballs, and struck with the clenched fist, the merit of the game being not to let it come to the ground.
Am I not to be allowed to take away my female slaves from the altar of Venus?
You may not; such is the law with us.
I've no concern with your laws; for my part, I shall at once carry them both away from hereAway from here
: "Foras." Probably in allusion to the court before the Temple
But these women have proved pleasing to Venus.
She may have them, if she pays the money.
A Goddess, pay you money? Now then, that you may understand my determination, only do you commence in mere joke to offer them the very slightest violence; I'll send you away from here with such a dressing, that you won't know your own self. You, therefore Beds of myrtle
: "Myrteta." This may allude to bundles of myrtle (which was sacred to Venus), bound with rushes and hung about the Temple, or else to beds of myrtle in front of the Temple, with small fences round them, made of rushes.
You are treating me with violence.
What, do you even upbraid us with violence, you flagrant specimen of flagitiousness?
You, you thrice-dotted villainThrice-dotted villain
: "Trifurcifer." Literally, "one punished with the 'furca' three times," meaning a "thief;" or "villain three times over." See the Aulularia, l. 281, and the Note (where read "punished with the 'furca'")
I am a thrice-dotted villain; I confess it; you are a strictly honorable man; ought these women a bit the less to be free?
What—free?
Aye, and your mistresses, too, i' faith, and from genuine Genuine
: Perhaps in contradistinction to
What is it I hear from you?
That she
Are you not a Cyrenian?
No; born at
Prithee, aged sir, do protect your countrywomen.
I paid the money down for these two, to their owners, of whatever country they were. What matters it to me whether they were born at
it so, you impudent fellow? What, are you, a cat prowling after maidens, to be keeping children here kidnapped from their parents and destroying them in your disgraceful calling? But as for this other one, I really don't know what her country is; I only know that she's more deserving than yourself, you most abominable rascal.
Are these women your property?
Come to the trial, then, which of the two according to his back is the more truthful; if you don't bear more complimentsCompliments
: "Offerumenta," according to Festus, signified an offering to the Gods; and as these were fixed to the walls of the Temples, Trachalio calls the lashes of the scourge or rod, when applied to the back of the delinquent slave, by the same term.Ship of war
: "Longa navis." Literally, "a long ship." Ships of war were thus called by the Greeks.Leather flask maker
: "Ampullarius." "A maker of ampullæ," or leather bottles. They were of a big-bellied form, with a narrow neck.
Yet notwithstanding, although you forbid me to do so, I'll at once carry them off both together with me.
What will you do?
I'll bring An enemy to Venus
: In so saying, he alludes to the intrigue of Venus with
Whither is he going?
If you touch the door, that very instant, upon my faith, you shall get a harvest upon your face with fists for your pitchforksFists for your pitchforks
: "Mergis pugneis." Echard, in his translation, explains this: "As they lift up their pitchforks to heap corn, so will I lift up my fists, and heap a whole harvest of cuffs on your face." "Merga' means 'a pitchfork;" and, according to
We keep no fire, we live upon dried figs.
I'll find the fire, if only I have the opportunity of kindling it upon your head.
Faith, I'll go somewhere to look for some fire.
What, when you've found it?
I'll be making a great fire here.
What, to be burningTo be burning
:
No, but I'll burn both of these alive here upon the altar.
I'd like that. For, by my troth, I'll forthwith seize you by the head and throw you into the fire, and, half-roasted, I'll throw you out as food for the great birds.
Aged sir, do you know what I request of you? That you will protect these females and defend them from violence, until I fetch my master.
Go look for your master, and fetch him here.
But don't let him—
At his own extreme peril, if he touches them, or if he attempts to do so.
Take care.
Due care is taken; do you be off.
And watch him too, that he doesn't go away anywhere. For we have promised either to give the executioner a great talent, or else to produce this fellow this very day.
Do you only be off. I'll not let him get away, while you are absent.
I'll be back here soon.
Old fellow, I don't care a straw for what you say. My own women, in fact, I shall drag away this instant from the altar by the hair, in spite of yourself, and
Just touch them.
Just come then; only approach this way.
Only bid both those fellows, then, to move away from there.
On the contrary, they shall move towards you.
I' faith, for my own part, I don't think so.
If they do move nearer to you, what will you do?
I'll retire. But, old fellow, if ever I catch you in the city, never again, upon my faith, shall any one call me a Procurer, if I don't give you some most disagreable sport.
Do what you threaten. But now, in the meantime, if you do touch them, a heavy punishment shall be inflicted on you.
How heavy, in fact?
Just as much as is sufficient for a Procurer.
These threats of yours I don't value one straw; I certainly shall seize them both this instant without your leave.
Just touch them.
By my troth, I surely will touch them.
You will touch them, but do you know with what result? Go then, Turbalio, with all haste, and bring hither from out of the house two cudgels.
Cudgels?
Aye, good ones; make haste speedily.
You may not * * * * *
Come, Sparax, do you take this other cudgel. Their inclination—a reception
: "Invitos—invitassitis." He here plays upon the resemblance of the words "invitos," signifying "against their will," and "invito," being a verb signifying "to invite," and admitting of much the same equivocal use as our expression, "to give a warm reception to."
Are they not even to allow me to go away from here?
I've said sufficient. And when that servant comes here with his master, he that has gone to fetch his master, do you at once go home. Attend to this with great diligence, will you.
O rare, by my troth, the Temple here is surely changed all of a sudden; this is now the Temple of Temple of
: Seeing the servants with their cudgels, he is reminded of Hercules, who was thus depicted, and was called by the Poets "Claviger."
What do you want?
Away with you, there is a misunderstanding between us; that, indeed, is not my PalæstraNot my Palæstra
: Echard, borrowing the notion from Madame Dacier, has the following Note on this passage: "This 'Palæstra' was a place of public exercise, over the gate of which was a statue of
Beware of a mishap, will you.
Why none at all to ourselves.
Will there be any harm to myself?
None at all, if you only take care.
What is it that I'm to take care against?
Why, look you, against a heavy mishap.
Troth now, prithee, do let me approach them.
Approach them, if you like.
I' faith, obligingly done; I return you thanks, I'll go nearer to them.
Do you stand there on the spot, where you are.
And did the Procurer attempt by force and violence to drag my mistress away from the altar of
Even so.
Why didn't you kill him on the instant?
I hadn't a sword.
You should have taken either a stick or a stone.
What! ought I to have pelted this most villanous fellow with stones like a dog? * * * * * * * * *
Were the damsels sitting on the altar even then when you set out to come to me?
Yes, and now they are sitting in the same place.
Who is now protecting them there?
Some old gentleman, I don't know who, a neighbour of the Temple of
Lead me straight to the Procurer. Where is this fellow?
Health to you.
I want none of your healths. Make your choice quickly, whether you lad rather be seized by your throat wrenchedSeized by your throat wrenched
: "Rapin te obtorto collo." Echard has the following Note: "When any person was brought before the Prætor, they always threw his gown or cloak about his neck, and led him that way; and this was called 'rapi obtorto collo."'
I wish for neither.
Be off then, Trachalio, with all speed to the sea-shore; bid those persons that I brought with me to hand over this rascal to the executioner, to come from the harbour to the city to meet me; afterwards return hither and keep guard here. I'll now drag this scoundrelly outcast to justice.
In what have I offended?
Do you ask? Didn't you receive an earnest of me for this woman
I didn't carry her off.
Why do you deny it?
Troth now, because I put her on board ship; carry her offCarry her off
: There is a play or quibble here upon the words "avehere" and "provehere," "to carry away," and "to put on board ship," for the purpose of being carried away.
Plead your cause in the court of justice; here a word is enough. Follow me.
Do you see me how I'm being seized?
I see, and view it with pleasure.
Don't you venture to assist me?
What person is seizing you?
Young Plesidippus.
What you've got, put up with; 'twere better for you, with a cheerful spirit, to slink to gaol; that has befallen you which many greatly wish for for themselves.
What's that?
To find for themselves that which they are seeking.
I entreat you, do follow me.
You try to persuade me, just like what you are: you are being taken off to gaol, for that reason is it you entreat me to follow you?
I'm undone.
I trust that may prove the truth. You, my dear Palæstra and Ampelisca, do you remain here in the meanwhile, until I return hither.
I would advise them rather to go to our house, until you return.
I'm quite agreable; you act obligingly.
You are thieves to me.
How, thieves?
Lead him along.
Follow, you hang-dog.
Guest, Charmides!
I am no guest of yours; I repudiate your hospitality.
What, do you slight me in this fashion?
I do so; I've been drinking with you once alreadyOnce already
: He alludes to the drenching he has had in the sea, by reason of his acquaintance with Labrax, and means to say that one such reception is quite sufficient for his life.
May the Deities confound you.
To that person of yours, say that. A stock-dove
: He puns upon the resemblance between the word "columbar," "a collar," into which the head was inserted by way of punishment, and "columbus," a "pigeon." The notion of preserving the pun, by using the word "stock-dove," is Echard's. The plural of the word "columbar" was also used to signify a dove-cot.