Poenulus, or The Young Carthaginian (1148b-1185b)

Do as he requests.

But who’s to point them out to you?

I will, right skilfully.

I’ll go away then.

I’d only rather that you would do so, than say so.

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,

that these will be discovered to-day to be his daughters.

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.

Lachananim[*] you! (aside to the SERVANTS.) whom I’ll just now be packing off to the mill-stones, and from there after that to the dungeon and the oaken log[*]. I’ll give you reason to praise your treatment here but slightly.

Do you hear, kinsman? I say, don’t you revoke what has been said; promise me your elder daughter in marriage.

Consider the thing as agreed on.

Do you promise her, then?

I do promise her.

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.

Why, really, this long time I’ve been longing for it, and I’ll follow you.

What if we go and meet them?

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!

I trust that my charmer will be my own. But look, I catch sight of them.

What, are these my daughters? How tall from being such little creatures have they now become!

Do you know how it is? These are Grecian columns[*]; they are wont to be erect.

’Twas worth the while, to-day, of him who has a taste for loveliness

to afford a feast to his eyes, in coming hither to the Temple this day to see the sights. Upon my faith, I was charmed there to-day with the most elegant offerings of the courtesans, worthy of Venus, the most handsome Goddess; nor did I despise her worship this day; so great an abundance of beauteous objects was there there, each nicely arranged in its own place.

The odours of Arabia and of myrrh filled everything. The festive day seemed to be affected with no gloom, Venus, nor did thy Temple; so great a throng of her dependants was there, who had come to Venus of Calydon.

But certainly, as far indeed as regarded us two, sister, we were all-powerful in our prayers, beauteous and gainers of her favour; neither were we there held in ridicule by the young men, which, i’ faith, sister, happened to all the rest.

I’d rather that it should so appear to other persons, than that you, sister, should praise yourself.

Indeed, I trust so.

Troth, and so do I, when I reflect of what breeding we and the others are. We were born in that station, that it befits us to be unblemished by faultiness.