Ter. I hope that this roundabout way may not let you in for some lashes.
Cirr. Not at all. For we shall have plenty of time.
Ter. Let us go. I get so little chance of walks, wretched that I am, for my time is all taken up sitting at home.
Praet. What do you do? Do you merely sit idly at home?
Ter. Idly, indeed! Not at any rate that! I spin, I gather (wool) into a ball, wind, weave. Do you think our old woman would let me sit idle? She curses feast-days, on which there must be a stoppage of work.
Praet. Are not feast-days holy? How can she curse what is holy? Does she wish to curse what has been ordained as holy?
Ter. Do you think that I have learned geometry that I should be able to explain these things to you?
Cirr. What do you mean by geometry?
Ter. I don’t know. We had a neighbour who was called Geometria. She was always either in church with priests, or the priests were with her at her house. And so she was, as they said, very wise.—But we have come into the vegetable market. Where is now your old woman?
Cirr. I was looking round about for her. But buy of her only on the condition that she gives us something as a present. Ah! great-aunt (amita). This girl will buy cherries of you, if you will give us some.