| [II. 6.] | Scene 6. |
| Pyth. | Pyth. |
|
Heus, Staphyla, prodi atque ostium aperi.
|
(knocking at door) Hey! Staphyla! Come here and open
the door.
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
350
Qui vocat?
|
(within) Who is it?
|
| Pyth. | Pyth. |
|
Pythodicus.
|
Pythodicus.
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Quid vis?
|
(sticking her head out) What do you want?
|
| Pyth. | Pyth. |
|
Hos ut accipias coquos
tibicinamque obsoniumque in nuptias.
Megadorus iussit Euclioni haec mittere.
|
Take these cooks and the music girl and the supplies for the
wedding festival. Megadorus told us to take 'em over to
Euclio's.
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Cererin, Pythodice, has sunt facturi nuptias?
|
(examining the provisions disappointedly) Whose
festival are they going to celebrate, Pythodicus? Ceres'?
|
| Pyth. | Pyth. |
|
Qui?
|
Why hers?
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Quia temeti nihil allatum intellego.
|
Well, no tipple's[B]
been brought, as I notice.
|
| Pyth. | Pyth. |
|
At iam afferetur, si a foro ipsus redierit.
|
But there'll be some all right when the old gent gets back
from the forum.
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Ligna hic apud nos nulla sunt.
|
We haven't got any firewood in the house.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Sunt asseres?
|
Any rafters in it?
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Sunt pol.
|
Mercy, yes.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Sunt igitur ligna, ne quaeras foris.
|
There's firewood in it, then: never mind going for any.
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Quid, impurate? quamquam Volcano studes,
360
cenaene causa aut tuae mercedis gratia
nos nostras aedis postulas comburere?
|
Hey? You godless thing! even though you are a devotee of
Vulcan, do you want us to burn our house down, all for your
dinner or your pay? (advances on him)
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Haud postulo.
|
(shrinking back) I don't, I don't!
|
| Pyth. | Pyth. |
|
Duc istos intro.
|
Take 'em inside.
|
| Staph. | Staph. |
|
Sequimini.
|
(brusquely) This way with you.
[exeunt Congrio and others into
Euclio's house.
|
| [II. 8.] | Scene 8. |
|
enter Euclio from forum carrying
a small package and a few forlorn flowers.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Volui animum tandem confirmare hodie meum,
ut bene me haberem filiai nuptiis.
venio ad macellum, rogito pisces: indicant
caros; agninam caram, caram bubulam,
vitulinam, cetum, porcinam: cara omnia.
atque eo fuerunt cariora, aes non erat.
abeo iratus illinc, quoniam nihil est qui emam.
|
Now I did want to be hearty to-day, and do the handsome
thing for daughter's wedding, yes I did. Off I go to
the market—ask for fish! Very dear! And lamb dear... and
beef dear... and veal and tunny and pork... everything dear,
everything! Yes, and all the dearer for my not having any
money! It just made me furious, and seeing I couldn't buy
anything, I up and left.
|
|
ita illis impuris omnibus adii manum.
deinde egomet mecum cogitare intervias
380
occepi: festo die si quid prodegeris,
profesto egere liceat, nisi peperceris.
postquam, hanc rationem ventri cordique edidi,
accessit animus ad meam sententiam,
quam minimo sumptu filiam ut nuptum darem.
|
That's how I circumvented 'em, the
whole dirty pack of 'em. Then I began to reason things out
with myself as I walked along. "Holiday feasting makes
everyday fasting," says I to myself, "unless you economize."
After I'd put the case this way to my stomach and heart, my
mind supported my motion to cut down daughter's wedding
expenses just as much as possible.
|
|
nunc tusculum emi hoc et coronas floreas:
haec imponentur in foco nostro Lari,
ut fortunatas faciat gnatae nuptias.
sed quid ego apertas aedis nostras conspicor?
et strepitust intus. numnam ego compilor miser?
|
Now I've bought a little
frankincense here and some wreaths of flowers: we'll put 'em
on the hearth in honour of our Household God, so that he may
bless daughter's marriage. (looking toward house) Eh!
What's my door open for? A clattering inside, too! Oh. mercy
on us! It can't be burglars, can it?
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
390
Aulam maiorem, si pote, ex vicinia
pete: haec est parva, capere non quit.
|
(within, to an attendant) See if you can't get a
bigger pot from one of the neighbours: this here's a little
one: it won't hold it all.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Ei mihi,
perii hercle. aurum rapitur, aula quaeritur.[5]
(392)
(394)
Apollo, quaeso, subveni mi atque adiuva,
confige sagittis fures thensaurarios,
si cui in re tali iam subvenisti antidhac.
sed cesso prius quam prorsus perii currere?
|
Oh, my God! my God! I'm ruined! They're taking my gold!
They're after my pot! Oh, oh, Apollo, help me, save me!
Shoot your arrows through them, the treasure thieves, if
you've ever helped a man in such a pinch before! But I must
rush in before they ruin me entirely!
[exit Euclio.
|
| [III. 2.] | Scene 2. |
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Redi. quo fugis nunc? tene, tene.
|
(going into street) Come back! Where are you running
to now? Stop him, stop him!
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Quid, stolide, clamas?
|
What are you yelling for, stupid?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quia ad tris viros iam ego deferam nomen tuom.
|
Because I am going to report your name to the police this
instant.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Quam ob rem?
|
Why?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quia cultrum habes.
|
Well, you carry a knife.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Cocum decet.
|
And so a cook should.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quid comminatu's
mihi?
|
And how about your threatening me?
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Istud male factum arbitror, quia non latus fodi.
|
It's a pity I didn't jab it through you, I'm thinking.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Homo nullust te scelestior qui vivat hodie
420
neque quoi ego de industria amplius male plus libens faxim.
|
There isn't a more abandoned villain than you on the face of
the earth, or one I'd be gladder to go out of my way to
punish more, either.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Pol etsi taceas, palam id quidem est: res ipsa testist;
ita fustibus sum mollior magis quam ullus cinaedus.
sed quid tibi nos tactiost, mendice homo?
|
Good Lord! That's evident enough, even if you didn't say so:
the facts speak for themselves. I've been clubbed till I'm
looser than any fancy dancer. Now what did you mean by
laying hands on me, you beggar?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quae res?
etiam rogitas? an quia minus quam aequom erat feci?
|
What's that? You dare ask me? Didn't I do my duty by you—is
that it? (lifts cudgel)
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Sine, at hercle cum magno malo tuo, si hoc caput sentit.
|
(backing away) All right: but by gad, you'll pay
heavy for it, or I'm a numskull.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Pol ego haud scio quid post fuat: tuom nunc caput sentit.
sed in aedibus quid tibi meis nam erat negoti
me absente, nisi ego iusseram? volo scire.
|
Hm! I don't know anything about the future of your skull,
but (chuckling and tapping his cudgel) it must be
numb now. (savagely) See here, what the devil were
you doing in my house without my orders while I was gone?
That's what I want to know.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Tace ergo.
quia venimus coctum ad nuptias.
|
Well then, shut up. We came to cook for the wedding, that's all.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quid tu, malum, curas,
430
utrum crudum an coctum ego edim, nisi tu mi es tutor?
|
And how does it concern you, curse you, whether I eat my
food cooked or take it raw—unless you are my guardian?
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Volo scire, sinas an non sinas nos coquere his cenam?
|
Are you going to let us cook dinner here or not? That's what
I want to know.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Volo scire ego item, meae domi mean salva futura?
|
Yes, and I want to know whether my things at home will be safe?
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Utinam mea mihi modo auferam, quae adtuli, salva:
me haud paenitet, tua ne expetam.
|
All I hope is I can get safe away with my own things that I
brought there. That'll do for me: don't worry about my
hankering for anything you own.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Scio, ne doce, novi.
|
(incredulous) I know. You needn't go on. I quite
understand.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Quid est qua prohibes nunc gratia nos coquere hic cenam?
quid fecimus, quid diximus tibi secus quam velles?
|
Why won't you let us cook dinner here now? What have we
done? What have we said that you didn't like?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Etiam rogitas, sceleste homo, qui angulos in omnis
mearum aedium et conclavium mihi pervium facitis?
ibi ubi tibi erat negotium, ad focum si adesses,
440
non fissile auferres caput: merito id tibi factum est.
|
A pretty question, you villainous rascal, with
your making a public highway of every nook and cranny in my
whole house! If you had stayed by the oven where your
business lay, you wouldn't be carrying that cloven pate: it
serves you right.
|
|
adeo ut tu meam sententiam iam noscere possis
si ad ianuam huc accesseris, nisi iussero, propius,
ego te faciam miserrimus mortalis uti sis.
scis iam meam sententiam.
|
(with forced composure) Now
further, just to acquaint you with my sentiments in the
matter,—you come any nearer this door without my
permission, and I will make you the most forlorn creature in
God's world. Now you know my sentiments.
[exit into house.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Quo abis? redi rursum.
ita me bene amet Laverna, uti te iam, nisi reddi
mihi vasa iubes, pipulo te his differam ante aedis.
quid ego nunc agam? ne ego edepol veni huc auspicio malo.
nummo sum conductus: plus iam medico merce dest opus.
|
(calling after him) Where are you off to? Come back!
So help me holy Mother of Thieves, but I'll soon make it
warm for you, the way I'll rip up your reputation in front
of the house here, if you don't have my dishes brought back!
(as Euclio closes the door) Now what? Oh, hell! It
certainly was an unlucky day when I came here! Two shillings
for the job, and now it'll take more than that to pay the
doctor's bill.
|
| [III. 3.] | Scene 3. |
|
re-enter Euclio from house with object under his cloak.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Hoc quidem hercle, quoquo ibo, mecum erit, mecum feram,
450
neque isti id in tantis periclis umquam committam ut siet.
ite sane nunciam omnes, et coqui et tibicinae,
etiam intro duce, si vis, vel gregem venalium,
coquite, facite, festinate nunciam, quantum libet.
|
(aside) By heaven, wherever I go this goes
(peering under cloak) too: I won't leave it there to
run such risks, never. (to Congrio and others)
Very well, come now, in with you, cooks, music girls, every
one! (to Congrio) Go on, take your under-strappers
inside if you like, the whole hireling herd of 'em. Cook
away, work away, scurry around to your hearts' content now.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Temperi, postquam implevisti fusti fissorum caput.
|
A nice time for it, after you've clubbed my head till it's
all cracks!
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Intro abite, opera huc conducta est vostra, non oratio.
|
In with you. You were engaged to get up a dinner here, not a
declamation.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Heus, senex, pro vapulando hercle ego abs te mercedem petam.
coctum ego, non vapulatum, dudum conductus fui.
|
I say, old boy, I'll come to you with my bill for that
basting, by the Lord I will. I was hired a while ago to be
cook, not to be thumped.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Lege agito mecum. molestus ne sis. i et cenam coque,
aut abi in malum cruciatum ab aedibus.
|
Well, go to law about it. Don't bother me. Away with you:
get dinner, or else get to the devil out of here.
|
| Cong. | Cong. |
|
Abi tu modo.
|
You just get to—(mildly, as he pushes in past him)
one side, then.
[exeunt Congrio
and his associates into house.
|
| [III. 4.] | Scene 4. |
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
460
Illic hinc abiit. di immortales, facinus audax incipit
qui cum opulento pauper homine coepit rem habere aut
negotium.[7]
veluti Megadorus temptat me omnibus miserum modis,
qui simulavit mei honoris mittere huc causa coquos:
is ea causa misit, hoc qui surriperent misero mihi.
|
(looking after them) He's disappeared. My Lord, my
Lord! It's an awful chance a poor man takes when he begins
to have dealings or business with a wealthy man. Here's
Megadorus now, trying to catch me—oh, dear, dear!—in all
sorts of ways. Sending cooks over here and pretending it's
because of regard for me! Sent 'em to steal this (looking
under cloak) from a poor old man—that's what his
sending 'em was because of!
|
|
condigne etiam meus med intus gallus gallinacius,
qui erat anu peculiaris, perdidit paenissume.
ubi erat haec defossa, occepit ibi scalpurrire ungulis
circum circa. quid opust verbis? ita mihi pectus peracuit:
capio fustem, obtrunco gallum, furem manufestarium.
|
And then of course that dunghill
cock of mine in there, that used to belong to the old woman,
had to come within an inch of ruining me, beginning to
scratch and claw around where this (looking under
cloak) was buried. Enough said. It just got me so
worked up I took a club and annihilated that cock, the
thief, the redhanded thief!
|
|
470
credo edepol ego illi mercedem gallo pollicitos coquos,
si id palam fecisset. exemi ex manu[8] manubrium.[9]
(473)
sed Megadorus meus affinis eccum incedit a foro.
iam hunc non ausim praeterire, quin consistam et conloquar.
|
By heaven, I do believe the
cooks offered that cock a reward to show them where this
(looking under cloak) was. I took the handle
(looking under cloak) out of their hands! (looking
down street) Ah, but there is son-in-law Megadorus
swaggering back from the forum. I suppose it would hardly do
for me to pass him without stopping for a word or two, now.
|
| [III. 5.] | Scene 5. |
|
enter Megadorus.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Narravi amicis multis consilium meum
de condicione hac. Euclionis filiam
laudant. sapienter factum et consilio bono.
|
(not seeing Euclio) Well, I've told a number of
friends of my intentions regarding this match. They were
full of praise for Euclio's daughter. Say it's the sensible
thing to do, a fine idea.
|
|
nam meo quidem animo si idem faciant ceteri
opulentiores, pauperiorum filias
480
ut indotatas ducant uxores domum,
et multo fiat civitas concordior,
et invidia nos minore utamur quam utimur,
et illae malam rem metuant quam metuont magis,
et nos minore sumptu simus quam sumus.
|
Yes, for my part I'm convinced
that if the rest of our well-to-do citizens would follow my
example and marry poor men's daughters and let the dowries
go, there would be a great deal more unity in our city, and
people would be less bitter against us men of means than
they are, and our wives would stand in greater awe of
marital authority than they do, and the cost of living would
be lower for us than it is.
|
|
in maximam illuc populi partem est optimum;
in pauciores avidos altercatio est,
quorum animis avidis atque insatietatibus
neque lex neque sutor capere est qui possit modum.
namque hoc qui dicat "quo illae nubent divites
490
dotatae, si istud ius pauperibus ponitur?"
|
It's just the thing for the vast
majority of the people; the fight comes with a handful of
greedy fellows so stingy and grasping that neither law nor
cobbler can take their measure. And now supposing some one
should ask: "Who are the rich girls with dowries going to
marry, if you make this rule for the poor ones?"
|
|
quo lubeant, nubant, dum dos ne fiat comes.
hoc si ita fiat, mores meliores sibi
parent, pro dote quos ferant, quam nunc ferunt,
ego faxim muli, pretio qui superant equos,
sint viliores Gallicis cantheriis.
|
Why, anyone
they please, let 'em marry, provided their dowry doesn't go
along with 'em. In that case, instead of bringing their
husbands money, they'd bring them better behaved wives than
they do at present. Those mules of theirs that cost
more than horses do now—they'd be cheaper than Gallic
geldings by the time I got through.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Ita me di amabunt ut ego hunc ausculto lubens.
nimis lepide fecit verba ad parsimoniam.
|
(aside) God bless my soul, how I do love to hear him
talk! Those thoughts of his about economizing—beautiful,
beautiful!
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Nulla igitur dicat "equidem dotem ad te adtuli
maiorem multo quam tibi erat pecunia;
500
enim mihi quidem aequomst purpuram atque aurum dari,
ancillas, mulos, muliones, pedisequos,
salutigerulos pueros, vehicla qui vehar."
|
Then you wouldn't hear them saying: "Well, sir, you never
had anything like the money I brought you, and you know it.
Fine clothes and jewellery, indeed! And maids and mules and
coachmen and footmen and pages and private carriages—well,
if I haven't a right to them!"
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Ut matronarum hic facta pernovit probe.
moribus praefectum mulierum hunc factum velim.
|
(aside) Ah, he knows 'em, knows 'em through and
through, these society dames! Oh, if he could only be
appointed supervisor of public morals—the women's!
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Nunc quoquo venias plus plaustrorum in aedibus
videas quam ruri, quando ad villam veneris.
sed hoc etiam pulchrum est praequam ubi sumptus petunt.
|
Wherever you go nowadays you see more wagons in front of a
city mansion than you can find around a farmyard. That's a
perfectly glorious sight, though, compared with the time
when the tradesmen come for their money.
|
|
stat fullo, phyrgio, aurifex, lanarius;
caupones patagiarii, indusiarii,
510
flammarii, volarii, carinarii;
stant manulearii, stant[10] murobatharii,
propolae linteones, calceolarii;
sedentarii sutores diabathrarii,
solearii astant, astant molocinarii;[11]
(514)
(516)
strophiarii astant, astant semul sonarii.
|
The cleanser, the
ladies' tailor, the jeweller, the woollen worker—they're
all hanging round. And there are the dealers in flounces and
underclothes and bridal veils, in violet dyes and yellow
dyes, or muffs, or balsam scented foot-gear; and then the
lingerie people drop in on you, along with shoemakers and
squatting cobblers and slipper and sandal merchants and
dealers in mallow dyes; and the belt makers flock around,
and the girdle makers along with 'em.
|
|
iam hosce absolutes censeas: cedunt, petunt
treceni, cum stant thylacistae in atriis
textores limbularii, arcularii.
520
ducuntur, datur aes. iam absolutos censeas,
cum incedunt infectores corcotarii,
aut aliqua mala crux semper est, quae aliquid petat.
|
And now you may think
you've got them all paid off. Then up come weavers and lace
men and cabinet-makers—hundreds of 'em—who plant
themselves like jailers in your halls and want you to
settle up. You bring 'em in and square accounts. "All paid
off now, anyway," you may be thinking, when in march the
fellows who do the saffron dyeing—some damned pest or
other, anyhow, eternally after something.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Compellarem ego illum, ni metuam ne desinat
memorare mores mulierum: nunc sic sinam.
|
(aside) I'd hail him, only I'm afraid he'd stop
talking about how the women go on. No, no, I'll let him be.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Ubi nugivendis res soluta est omnibus,
ibi ad postremum cedit miles, aes petit.
itur, putatur ratio cum argentario,
miles inpransus astat, aes censet dari.
ubi disputata est ratio cum argentario,
530
etiam ipsus ultro debet argentario.
spes prorogatur militi in alium diem.
|
When you've got all these fellows of fluff and ruffles
satisfied, along comes a military man, bringing up the rear,
and wants to collect the army tax. You go and have a
reckoning with your banker, your military gentleman standing
by and missing his lunch in the expectation of getting some
cash. After you and the banker have done figuring, you find
you owe him money too, and the military man has his hopes
postponed till another day.
|
|
haec sunt atque aliae multae in magnis dotibus.
incommoditates sumptusque intolerabiles
nam quae indotata est, ea in potestate est viri;
dotatae mactant et malo et damno viros
sed eccum adfinem ante aedes. quid agis, Euclio?
|
These are some of the nuisances
and intolerable expenses that big dowries let you in for,
and there are plenty more. Now a wife that doesn't bring you
a penny—a husband has some control over her; it's the
dowered ones that pester the life out of their husbands with
the way they cut up and squander. (seeing Euclio) But
there's my new relative in front of the house! How are you,
Euclio?
|
|
[III. 6.]
| Scene 6. |
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Nimium lubenter edi sermonem tuom.
|
Gratified, highly gratified with your discourse—I devoured
it.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
An audivisti?
|
Eh? you heard?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Usque a principio omnia.
|
Every word of it.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Tamen meo quidem animo aliquanto facias rectius,
540
si nitidior sis filiai nuptus.
|
(looking him over) But I say, though, I
do think it would be a little more in keeping, if you were
to spruce up a bit for your daughter's wedding.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Pro re nitorem et gloriam pro copia
qui habent, meminerunt sese unde oriundi sient.
neque pol, Megadore, mihi neque quoiquam pauperi
opinione melius res structa est domi.
|
(whining) Folks with the wherewithal and means to let
'em spruce up and look smart remember who they are. My
goodness, Megadorus! I haven't got a fortune piled up at
home (peers slyly under cloak) any more than people
think, and no other poor man has, either.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Immo est quod satis est, et di faciant ut siet
plus plusque et istuc sospitent quod nunc habes.
|
(genially) Ah well, you've got enough, and heaven
make it more and more, and bless you in what you have now.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Illud mihi verbum non placet "quod nunc habes."
tam hoc scit me habere quam egomet. anus fecit palam.
|
(turning away with a start) "What you have now!" I
don't like that phrase! He knows I have this money just as
well as I do! The old hag's been blabbing!
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Quid tu te solus e senatu sevocas?
|
(pleasantly) Why that secret session over there?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Pol ego ut te accusem merito meditabar.
|
(taken aback) I was—damme sir,—I was framing the
complaint against you that you deserve.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
550
Quid est?
|
What for?
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quid sit me rogitas? qui mihi omnis angulos
furum implevisti in aedibus misero mihi,
qui mi intro misti in aedis quingentos coquos,
cum senis manibus, genere Geryonaceo;
|
What for, eh? When you've filled every corner of my house
with thieves, confound it! When you've sent cooks into my
house by the hundred and every one of 'em a
Geryonian[C]
with six hands apiece!
|
|
quos si Argus servet qui oculeus totus fuit,
quem quondam Ioni Iuno custodem addidit,
is numquam servet. praeterea tibicinam,
quae mi interbibere sola, si vino scatat,
Corinthiensem fontem Pirenam potest.
tum obsonium autem—
|
Why, Argus, who had eyes all over him and
was set to guarding Io once by Juno, couldn't ever keep
watch on those fellows, not if he tried. And that music girl
besides! She could take the fountain of Pirene at Corinth
and drink it dry, all by herself, she could,—if it ran
wine. Then as for the provisions—
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
560
Pol vel legioni sat est.
etiam agnum misi.
|
Bless my soul! Why, there's enough for a regiment. I sent
you a lamb, too.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quo quidem agno sat scio
magis curiosam[12]
nusquam esse ullam beluam.
|
Yes, and a more shearable beast than that same lamb doesn't
exist, I know that.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Volo ego ex te scire qui sit agnus curio.
|
I wish you would tell me how the lamb is shearable.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Quia ossa ac pellis totust, ita cura macet.
quin exta inspicere in sole ei vivo licet:
ita is pellucet quasi lanterna Punica.
|
Because it's mere skin and bones, wasted away till it's
perfectly—(tittering) sheer. Why, why, you put that
lamb in the sun and you can watch its inwards work: it's as
transparent as a Punic[D] lantern.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Caedundum conduxi ego illum.
|
(protestingly) I got that lamb in myself
to be slaughtered.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Tum tu idem optumumst
loces efferendum; nam iam, credo, mortuost.
|
(dryly) Then you'd best put it out yourself to be
buried, for I do believe it's dead already.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Potare ego hodie, Euclio, tecum volo.
|
(laughing and clapping him on the shoulder) Euclio,
we must have a little carouse to-day, you and I.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Non potem ego quidem hercle.
|
(frightened) None for me, sir, none for me! Carouse!
Oh my Lord!
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
570
At ego iussero
cadum unum vini veteris a me adferrier.
|
But see here, I'll just have a cask of good old wine brought
over from my cellars.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Nolo hercle, nam mihi bibere decretum est aquam.
|
No, no! I don't care for any! The fact is I am resolved to
drink nothing but water.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Ego te hodie reddam madidum, si vivo, probe,
tibi cui decretum est bibere aquam.
|
(digging him in the ribs) I'll get you properly
soaked to-day, on my life I will, you with your "resolved to
drink nothing but water."
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
Scio quam rem agat:
ut me deponat vino, eam adfectat viam,
post hoc quod habeo ut commutet coloniam.
ego id cavebo, nam alicubi abstrudam foris.
ego faxo et operam et vinum perdiderit simul.
|
(aside) I see his game! Trying to fuddle me with his
wine, that's it, and then give this (looking under
cloak) a new domicile! (pauses) I'll take
measures against that: yes. I'll secrete it somewhere
outside the house. I'll make him throw away his time and
wine together.
|
| Mega. | Mega. |
|
Ego, nisi quid me vis, eo lavatum, ut sacruficem.
|
(turning to go) Well, unless I can do something for
you, I'll go take a bath and get ready to offer sacrifice.
[exit into house.
|
| Eucl. | Eucl. |
|
580
Edepol, ne tu, aula, multos inimicos habes
atque istuc aurum quod tibi concreditum est.
nunc hoc mihi factu est optumum, ut ted auferam,
aula, in Fidei fanum: ibi abstrudam probe.
Fides, novisti me et ego te: cave sis tibi,
ne in me mutassis nomen, si hoc concreduo.
ibo ad te fretus tua, Fides, fiducia.
|
(paternally to object under cloak) God bless us both,
pot, you do have enemies, ah yes, many enemies, you and the
gold entrusted to you! As matters stand, pot, the
best thing I can do for you is to carry you off to the
shrine of Faith: I'll hide you away there, just as cosy! You
know me, Faith, and I know you: don't change your name,
mind, if I trust this to you. Yes, I'll go to you, Faith,
relying on your faithfulness.
[exit Euclio.
|