You remember well on each returning Calends to ask for your allotment of provisionsAllotment of provisions: The Greeks, it must be borne in mind, had no Calends (whence the proverb ad Graecas Calendas,to-morrow come never); the Poet is here alluding to the Roman custom of distributing to the slaves their allowance of food on the Calends, or first day of every month.; why, then, do you less remember to do what is necessary to do about the house? Now, therefore, if, when I return, the furniture shall not be set for me, each piece in its proper place, I’ll be putting you in mind with a bull’s hide remembrancerBull’s hide remembrancer: Monumentis bubulis. Literally, with memorials of oxen. The thongs of the scutica and of the flagellum were generally made of bull’s hide.. Not human beings seem to be living with me, but pigs. Take care, if you please, that my house is clean, when I return home. I shall soon be back home; I’m going to her house, to see my eldest daughter. If any one should enquire for me, call me thence, some of you; or—I shall be here soon myself.PHILUMENA(aside.)What are we to do, sister, if our father shall resolve against us?PAMPHILA It befits us to submit to what he does whose power is the stronger. By entreating, not by opposing, I think we must use our endeavours. If with mildness we ask for favour, I trust to obtain it of him. Oppose him we cannot, without disgrace and extreme criminality; I will neither do that myself, nor will I give you the advice to do it, but rather that we should entreat him. I know our familyI know our family: Nostros. Literally, ours, meaning our people, our family.; he will yield to entreaty.ANTIPHO(speaking to himself.)In the first place, in what manner I should make a beginning with them, about that I am in doubt; whether I should accost them in language couched in ambiguous terms, after this fashion, as though I had never pretendedAs though I had never pretended: Despite the ingenuity of Ritschel, this line seems to be in a corrupt state. anything at all against them, or whether as though I had heard that they were deserving of some censure against them; whether I should rather try them gently or with threats. I know that there will be opposition; I know my daughters right well. If they should prefer to remain here rather than to marry afresh, why, let them do so. What need is there for me, the term of my life run out, to be waging war with my children, when I think that they don’t at all deserve that I should do so? By no means; I’ll have no disturbances. But I think that this is the best thing to be done by me; I’ll do thus; I’ll pretend as though they had themselves been guilty of some fault; I’ll terribly terrify their minds this day by some ambiguous expressions; ana then, after that, as I shall feel disposed, I’ll disclose myself. I know that many words will be spoken; I’ll go in. (Goes to the door of PHILUMENA’S house.) But the door’s open.PHILUMENA Why, surely the sound of my father’s voice reached my ears.PAMPHILA I’ troth, ’tis he; let’s hasten to meet him with a kiss.(They both run to kiss him.)PHILUMENA My father, my respects.ANTIPHO And to you the same. Away this instant, and be off from me,(Removes her.)PHILUMENA One kiss. ANTIPHO I’ve had enough of your kissing.PHILUMENA Prithee, father, why so?ANTIPHO Because, as it is, the seasoning of your affection has reached my soulHas reached my soul: Meae animae salsura evenit. Literally, the salting has come forth to my soul. This phrase is rendered in Leverett’s Lexicon, I am dejected or I am in an ill humour. That, however, does not appear to be the meaning. The father has had kissing enough from his daughters, but he intends, as it would seem, to compliment them by comparing their kisses to salt, with its refreshing and vivifying powers; and when Philumena asks for one kiss more, he says, No, as it is (ita) their refreshing power has reached my soul. Rost seems to be of this opinion, but he suggests that animae meae are vocatives plural; in that case the passage would mean, as it is, my loves, or my delights, the refreshing salt of your affection has reached me..PAMPHILA Sit down here, father.(Points to a chair.)ANTIPHO I’ll not sit there; do you sit down; I’ll sit on the benchOn the bench: Subsellium generally means a footstool, used by persons when sitting on a high seat. Here, however, it probably signifies a bench, perhaps placed against the wall in the front of Philumena’s house, where he was about to make a call..(Sits on a bench.)PAMPHILA Wait till I fetch a cushion.ANTIPHO You take kind care of me; I’m nicely seated now as I amNicely seated now as I am: Sat sic fultum est. Literally enough is it thus supported. She has brought out the cushion, and has placed it upon or at the back of the hard bench, which was perhaps something like our garden chair..PAMPHILA Do let me, father.(Goes into the house.)ANTIPHOWhat need is there?PAMPHILA There is need.(Coming out, and bringing a cushion.)ANTIPHO I’ll submit to you. (Arranging the cushion.) Yes, this does very well.PAMPHILA Why, daughters can never take too much care of their parent. Whom is it proper that we should esteem more dear than yourself? And then, in the next place, father, our husbands, for whom you have chosen that we should be the mothers of families.ANTIPHO You do as it is proper for good wives to do, in esteeming your husbands,though absent, just as though they were present.PAMPHILA ’Tis propriety, father, for us to highly honor those who have chosen us as companions for themselves.ANTIPHO Is there any other person here to listen with his earsTo listen with his ears: Nostris dictis auceps auribus Literacy a fowler for our words; in allusion to the stealthy manner in which the fowler lies in wait for his prey. to our conversation?PHILUMENA There’s no one except us and yourself.