 | The Andrian |  |
SCENE VII.
Re-enter DAVUS with the child.Mysis.
Prithee, man, what now?
Where are you carrying the child?
Davus.
Oh, Mysis,
Now have I need of all your ready wit,
And all your cunning.
Mysis.
What are you about?
Quick, take the boy, and lay him at our door.
Mysis.
What on the bare ground?
Davus.
From the altar then
Take herbs and strew them underneath.
Mysis.
And why
Can't you do that yourself?
Davus.
Because, that if
My master chance to put me to my oath
That 'twas not I who laid it there, I may
With a safe conscience swear.
[gives her the child.
Mysis.
I understand.
But pray how came this sudden qualm upon you?
Davus.
Nay, but be quick, that you may comprehend
What I propose.— [Mysis lays the child at Simo's door.]
Oh Jupiter!
[looking out.
Mysis.
What now?
Davus.
Here comes the father of the bride!—I change
Mysis.
What you mean
I can't imagine.
Davus.
This way from the right,
I'll counterfeit to come:—And be't your care
To throw in aptly now and then a word,
To help out the discourse as need requires.
Mysis.
Still what you're at, I cannot comprehend.
But if I can assist, as you know best,
Not to obstruct your purposes, I'll stay.
[Davus retires.
Donatus and Scaliger the father have written that the Altar mentioned here, was the altar usually placed on the stage. When a Tragedy was acted, the altar was dedicated to Bacchus; when a Comedy, to Apollo. But in my opinion the Stage-Altar has no connection with this passage: This adventure is not to be considered as an incident in a Comedy, but as a thing which passes in the street. Probability therefore must be preserved; which it cannot be, if one of the Stage-Altars is employed in this place. At Athens every house had an altar at the street door: [which street-altars are also often mentioned in Plautus.] These altars were covered with fresh herbs every day, and it is one of these altars, to which Terence here alludes.
Dacier.It was a custom among the Romans to have an altar sacred to Vesta in the entrance of their houses, whence it was called The Vestibule.
Eugraphius. | The Andrian | |