Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (402-455)

Therefore a patient mind is the best remedy for affliction. I’ll go in, unless you wish for anything.

Go. (To herself.) I’ll do that which the Priestess requested me, and I’ll ask for some water here at the neighbour’s;

for she said that if I asked for it in her name, they would give it directly. And I do think that I never saw a more worthy old lady, one to whom I should think that it is more befitting for Gods and men to show kindness. How courteously, how heartily, how kindly, how, without the least difficulty, she received us into her home, trembling, in want, drenched, shipwrecked, half dead;

not otherwise, in fact, than if we had been her own offspring. How kindly did she herself, just now, tucking up her garments, make the water warm for us to bathe. Now, that I mayn’t keep her waiting, I’ll fetch some water from the place where she requested me. (Knocking at the door of DAEMONES.) Hallo, there, is there any one in the cottage? is any one going to open this door? Will any one come out?

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

It’s I.

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

Greeting to you, young man.

And many greetings to you, young woman.

I’m come to you—

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[*] to receive you, a damsel, thus early in the morning ⋯ But what have you to say, my smiling, pretty one.

Oh, you’re handling me too familiarly.

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[*],—rather, the eagle’s, indeed, I meant to say. Her breasts, too, how beautiful; and then what expression on her lips!

I’m no common commodity for the whole township[*]; can’t you keep your hands off me?

Won’t you let me touch you, gentle one, in this manner, gently and lovingly? ⋯

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.

What now is it that you wish?

To a shrewd person, my equipment would give indications of what it is I want.

To a shrewd woman, this equipment, too, of mine, would give indication of what it is I want.

The Priestess there of Venus, requested me to fetch some water from your house here. ⋯

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.

Prithee, why do you make so much fuss about the water—a thing that even enemy affords to enemy?

Why do you make so much fuss about granting a favour to me, that citizen grants to citizen?

On the contrary, my sweet one, I’ll even do everything for you that you wish.

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.

Take it (gives it to him): make haste and bring it out, there’s a dear.

Stay a moment; I’ll be here this instant, my sweet one. (Goes into the cottage.) ⋯

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.)

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

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.