Metella was looking for Melissa (1) .
in the kitchen. The slave-girl cooked (8) ’
‘But I am not telling you off’, said Metella. ‘I am praising you. Look!
You (19) my hair very well. You arrange my dress very well.
Perhaps Grumio and Clemens are not praising you, but I am
Metella et Melissa – Stage 7: p91 TRANSLATION
Metella was looking for Melissa in the house.
Metella entered the kitchen, where Grumio was working.
Grumio was angry.
‘Why are you angry, Grumio? Why are you looking around fiercely?’ asked Metella.
‘Yesterday Melissa prepared an excellent dinner’, replied the cook.
‘Today I am preparing a very bad dinner, because there is no food here. Yesterday there was a lot of food in the kitchen. The slave-girl cooked all the food.’
Metella left the kitchen
and hurried to the study, where Clemens was working. Clemens was also angry.
‘Melissa is a pest!’ shouted the slave.
‘What did Melissa do?’ asked Metella.
‘Yesterday Melissa was working in the study.’ replied Clemens. ‘Today I am working in the study. Look! The wax tablets and pens are not here. Nothing is in the right place.’
Metella, after she left the study, entered the garden.
Metella saw Melissa in the garden. Oh dear! The slave-girl was crying.
‘Melissa, why are you crying?’ asked Metella.
‘I am crying because Grumio and Clemens are telling me off’, replied the slave-girl.
‘But I am not telling you off’, said Metella. ‘I am praising you. Look! You arrange my hair very well. You arrange my dress very well. Perhaps Grumio and Clemens are not praising you, but I am praising you, because you take care of me carefully.’