Stichus
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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713b
STICHUS
713b
If you are not satisfied with what’s here, there’s nothing else. Take some waterTake some water: He probably tells him to take some water if he feels queer, or, in our vernacular, seedy, from taking too much wine; which he has some reason to suppose, from the other calling for a pulpamentum. Anchovy toast is an item of our favorite pulpamenta..
714b
714b
SAGARINUS
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You say right; I care for no dainties.
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Drink away, PiperDrink away, Piper: He thinks that the Piper is inclined to shirk his goblet, and to show that he himself is not flagging in spirit, tries to keep him up to the mark.; drink, if you do drink. I’ faith, this must be drunk—don’t shirk it. (Holds the goblet to the PIPER.) Why flinch at what you see must be done by you? Why don’t you drink? Do it, if you are to do it. Take it, I tell you, for the public pays for this. That’s not your way to shirk your drink. Take your pipesTake your pipes: The Tibicines, Pipers or flute-players, among the Greeks and Romans, were in the habit of playing upon two pipes at the same time. These were perfectly distinct, and were not even, as has been supposed by some, connected by a common mouth-piece. The Romans were particularly fond of this music, and it was introduced both at sacrifices, funerals, and entertainments. See a comical story about the Roman Tibicines in the Fasti of Ovid, B. 6, l. 670 et seq. From the present specimen they appear to have been merry souls, occupying much the same place as the country fiddlers of modern times. out of your mouth.
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STICHUS
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When he has drunk, either do you mind my rulesMind my rules: It is pretty clear, that in his zeal, and to show that there is no flagging in him, Sagarinus has been overdoing it, perhaps helping himself out of his turn; on this, the other threatens to resign his office of master of the ceremonies., or else I’ll give up.
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I don’t wish us to drink this straight out; we shall soon be about nothingSoon be about nothing: Nulli rei erimus posteà. This is the proper reading, which has been restored by the research of Ritschel. It is difficult to say precisely what he alludes to, but most probably he means, at this rate our supply will soon be exhausted.; for, by my faith, almost all in a moment, the cask might be turned head downwardsTurned head downwards: He says that the cadus, or earthenware cask, will soon at this rate be capable of being turned upside down without any risk of spilling the wine.
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SAGARINUS
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How now? Although you did make a fuss about it, still it didn’t hurt you. Come, Piper, when you’ve done drinking, put back your pipes to your lips; quickly puff out your cheeks, just like a reptile serpentA reptile serpent: The head of the serpent is said to swell, or puff out, when it infuriated..
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Come now, Stichus, whichever of the two breaks order, shall be fined a cup.
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STICHUS
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You propose a good regulation. You ought to have your way, who only ask what’s fair.
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SAGARINUS
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Mind it then; if you offend, I’ll forthwith take the forfeit on the spot.
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STICHUS
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You ask what’s quite right and just.
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SAGARINUS
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Here’s to you first of all.Part of line 728 in the Latin.
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STICHUS
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’Tis a droll thing this, for two persons, rivals of each other, to be courting,
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to be drinking from one goblet, and to be kissing one wench. ’Tis worthy of remark this: I am you, you are I; of one accord are we. With one mistress are we both in love; when she’s with me, still she’s with you; and when she’s with you, she’s with me as well; neither of us envies the other.
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SAGARINUS
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Come, come, there’s enough of it; I don’t want it overdone to weariness. I’d now like some other sport.
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STICHUS
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Drink on, if you are drinking.
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SAGARINUS
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There shall be no skulking in me.
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But, troth, I’ve had enough of the feast; would but our mistress come here. If she were here, nothing else would be away.
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STICHUS
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Should you like us to invite our mistress out? She shall give us a dance.
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SAGARINUS
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I agree.
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STICHUS
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My sweet one, my lovely one, my pleasing one, Stephanium, do come out of doors to your sweethearts; to me you are quite charming.
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SAGARINUS
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But to me, indeed, most charming.
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STICHUS
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Make us jovial fellows more jovial by your assistance and your company.
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Returning from abroad, we want you, dear little Stephanium, my honey, that is, if our lovingness is pleasing to you, if we are acceptable to you.
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STEPHANIUM
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I’ll indulge you, my dears; but, so may pretty Venus favour me, I should have already come out of doors here together with you, had I not been sprucing myself up for you. For such is the way of woman,
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when she is well washed, made clean, dressed and tricked out, still is she incomplete; and a female who is a courtesan much more quickly acquires dislike for herself by sluttishness than always keeps in favour through neatness.
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STICHUS
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That’s very cleverly said.
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SAGARINUS
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’Tis the genuine language of Venus.
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STICHUS
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Sagarinus.
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SAGARINUS
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What’s the matter?
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STICHUS
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I’m in pain all over.
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SAGARINUS
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All over? So much the more unfortunate you.
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STEPHANIUM
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Where do I take my place?
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SAGARINUS
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Wherever you please.
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STEPHANIUM
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I’d like with both of you, for I love you both.
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STICHUS
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Whack go my savingsWhack go my savings: It would appear at first sight, that he has some compunctions, and intends to say, this feast will prove so expensive that all my savings (peculium) will be wasted, and I shall never be able to buy my freedom. There can be little doubt, however, that an, indelicate pun is intended to be concealed under the expression, vapulat peculium.. I’m done for;
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freedom has abandoned this person of mine.
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STEPHANIUM
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Prithee, do give me room, where I may take my place, if, indeed, I am agreable. (She takes her place.)
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Now I do long to be cozy with you both.
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STICHUS
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I’m ruined utterly. What were you saying?
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SAGARINUS
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Heyday! What’s the matter?
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STICHUS
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So may the Gods favour me, it never shall be otherwise this day but that this girl shall have a dance somehow. Come, my love, my sweet, do dance; I’ll dance too.
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SAGARINUS
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I’ faith, you shan’t that way get the better of me, but what I’ll have a bit of enjoyment, too, that way.
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STEPHANIUM
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Well, if I must dance, do you then give the Piper something to drink.
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STICHUS
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Aye, and to me.
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SAGARINUS
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Piper, you take first: and after that, if you tipple this off, just as has been your wont before to-day, straightway
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strike up some merry and amorous tune to dance to, by which we may tingle all over from our very finger nails. Pour some water here.
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SAGARINUS
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Take this, you; toss it off. The drink didn’t please him just now; now at last he takes it with less difficulty. Take it, you. (To STEPHANIUM.) In the meantime, apple of my eye, give me a kiss while he’s drinking.
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STEPHANIUM
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Why, it’s the way of a common strumpet, for a damsel to give a kiss standing to her sweetheart as he stands.End of sentence is part of line 766 in the Latin.
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STICHUS
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Bravo! bravo! that’s the way it’s given to a thiefGiven to a thief: She turns away with affected modesty from Sagarinus, who only manages to steal a kiss. His rival is pleased at this, and cries out that she only gives it to him as if he was stealing it..
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SAGARINUS
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Come, blow out your cheeks now; something in the amorous wayIn the amorous way: It is difficult to say what was the exact difference between the lepida and the suavis cantio. The first was, perhaps, a merry, and the other an amorous tune. at once. Give us a new tune in return for the old wine.
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SAGARINUS
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What person in the IonianIn the Ionian: The Ionian mode of dancing was graceful and voluptuous. The Sicilians had a dance of this nature in honor of Diana, which they called the Ionic dance. or the ballet line is there that can do anything like that?
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STICHUS
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If you get the better of me this turnThis turn: It is difficult to say what is the exact meaning of vorsus or versus here. Possibly, it was the name of some particular dance, or it may have merely meant a turn or round, or as we say, a set, in dancing. Again, it may possibly mean some curious posture, in which Sagarinus was skilled, and in assuming which Stichus could not cope with him. Gesture and grimace formed the main features of the dance with the Romans., just challenge me to another.
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SAGARINUS
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Just you do it in this fashion.
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STICHUS
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And you in this fashion.
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SAGARINUS
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O grandO grand!: Babae, Tatae, and Papae, are merely exclamations of the dancers, while inspired with the spirit of the dance; not unlike the shrieks and noises which are frequently made by the dancers of our times, at fairt and other places of public resort, where uproarious enjoyment takes the place of sobriety, and, not unfrequently, of common decency.!
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STICHUS
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O fine!
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SAGARINUS
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O wonderful!
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STICHUS
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QuietQuiet!: Pax. This was the ordinary expression used to signify a pause—Stop.!
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SAGARINUS
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Now, then, both in the same step. (They dance quietly, in the same measure.) I challenge all the dancing-masters to dance against me. ’Tis no more possible for there to be enough of this for us than for there to be too much rain for a mushroom.
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STICHUS
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Let’s away hence in-doors at once now; we’ve danced long enough for the wineLong enough for the wine: They have fairly danced the wine out..
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You, Spectators, give us your applause, and then go home to enjoy yourselves.