Act 3 — Scene I.
W. R. Goodluck translation
Scene I.
Mysis. Indeed, Lesbia, what you say is very true: one scarcely ever meets with a constant lover.
[Simo to Davus.] This girl belongs to Glycera! Ha! Davus?
Davus. Yes.
Mysis. But as for Pamphilus——
Simo. [aside.] What’s that?
Mysis. He has kept his promise.
Simo. [aside.] Ha!
Davus. [aside.] Would to Heaven that he were deaf, or that she were dumb.
Mysis. For girl, or boy, he has given orders that the child shall be brought up[141].
Simo. O Jupiter! what do I hear? it is all over, if what she says be truth.
Lesbia. What you tell me, is a proof of a good disposition.
Mysis. His is most excellent; but now let us go, lest we should be wanted before we arrive.
Lesbia. I follow you.
[They go in.
Davus. [aside.] Here’s a pretty disaster! how shall I be able to remedy this evil?
[Simo to himself.] What’s this? Is he so mad? A foreigner too! [142]phoo! now I see through it all! how simple I must be not to discover it at first.
Davus. What does he say he has discovered?
Simo. Davus, that indefatigable contriver of mischief, is the chief mover of all this roguery. They pretend the birth of a child, that they may deter Chremes from the match.
[Glycera cries out from the house.] O Juno Lucina, help! save me! I beseech thee[143].
Simo. Hey day! what already! ha! ha! ha! how preposterous! the moment she finds out that I am within hearing, she begins to cry out. Why, Davus, your incidents are not well [144]timed at all, man.
Davus. Mine!
Simo. Have your actors forgotten their parts?
Davus. I don’t understand you really, Sir.
Simo. What an object of derision! what a laughing-stock [145]would this rascal have made of me, if he had played off this fine trick in a real marriage: but now he is shipwrecked whilst I am safe in port.