T. Maccius Plautus, Asinaria, ed. Friedrich Leo, 2.4

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407

Leonida

Quid hoc sít negoti, neminem meum dictum magni facere?

Libanum in tonstrinam ut iusseram venire, is nullus venit.

ne ille edepol tergo et cruribus consuluit haud decore.

Mercator

Nimis imperiosust.
410

Libanvs

Vae mihi.

Leonida

Hodie salvere iussi

Libanum libertum? iam manu emíssu's emissu s es?

Libanvs

Obsecro te.

Leonida

Ne tu hercle cum magno malo mihi obviam occessisti.

cur non venisti, ut iusseram, in tonstrinam?

Libanvs

Hic me moratust.

Leonida

Siquidem hércle nunc summum Iovem te dicas detinuisse

atque is precator adsiet, malam rem effugies numquam.
415

tu, verbero, imperium meum contempsisti?

Libanvs

Perii, hospes.

Mercator

Quaeso hercle noli, Saurea, mea causa hunc verberare.

Leonida

Vtinam nunc stimulus in manu mihi sit.

Mercator

Quiesce quaeso.

Leonida

Qui latera conteram tua, quae occalluere plagis.

abscede ac sine me hunc perdere, qui semper me ira incendit,
420

cui numquam unam rem me licet semel praecipere furi,

quin centiens eadem imperem atque ogganniam, itaque iam hercle

clamore ac stomacho non queo labori suppeditare.

iussin, sceleste, ab ianua hoc stercus hinc auferri?

iussin columnis deici operas araneorum?
425

iussin in splendorem dari bullas has foribus nostris?

nihil est: tamquam si claudus sim, cum fustist ambulandum.

quia triduom hoc unum modo foro operam adsiduam dedo,

dum reperiam qui quaeritet argentum in faenus, hic vos

dormitis interea domi, atque erus in hara, haud aedibus, habitat.
430

em ergo hóc tibi.

Libanvs

Hospes, te obsecro, defende.

Mercator

Saurea, oro,

mea causa ut mittás.

Leonida

Eho, ecquis pro vectura olivi

rem solvit?

Libanvs

Solvit.

Leonida

Cui datumst?

Libanvs

Sticho vicario ipsi

tuo.

Leonida

Váh, delenire apparas, scio mihi vicarium esse,

neque eo esse servom in aedibus eri quí sit pluris quam illest.
435

sed vina quaé heri vendidi vinario Exaerambo,

iam pró eis satis fecit Sticho?

Libanvs

Fecisse satis opinor,

nam vidi huc ipsum adducere trapezitam Exaerambum.

Leonida

Sic dedero. prius quae credidi vix anno post exegi;

nunc satagit: adducit domum etiam ultro et scribit nummos.
440

Dromo mercedem rettulit?

Libanvs

Dimidio minus opinor.

Leonida

Quid relicuom?

Libanvs

Aibat reddere quom extemplo redditum esset;

nam retineri, ut quod sit sibi operis locatum efficeret.

Leonida

Scyphos quos utendos dedi Philodamo, rettulitne?

Libanvs

Non etiam.
445

Leonida

Hem non? si velis da , commoda homini amico.

Mercator

Perii hercle, iam hic me abegerit suo odio.

Libanvs

Heús iam satis tu.

audin quae loquitur?

Leonida

Audio et quiesco.

Mercator

Tandem, opinor,

conticuit. nunc adeam optimum est, prius quam incipit tinnire.

quam mox mi operam das?

Leonida

Ehem, óptume. quam dudum tu advenisti?

non hercle te provideram (quaeso, ne vitio vortas),
450

ita iracundia obstitit oculis.

Mercator

Non mirum factum est.

sed si domi est, Demaenetum volebam.

Leonida

Negat esse intus.

verum istuc argentum tamen mihi si vis denumerare,

repromittam istoc nomine solutam rem futuram.

Mercator

Sic potius, ut Demaeneto tibi ero praesente reddam.
455

Libanvs

Erus istunc novit atque erum hic.

Mercator

Ero huic praesente reddam.

Libanvs

Da modo meo periculo, rem salvam ego exhibebo;

nam si sciat noster senex fidem non esse huic habitam,

suscenseat, quoi ómnium rerum ipsus semper credit.

Leonida

Non magni pendo. ne duit, si non volt. sic sine astet.
460

Libanvs

Da, inquam. vah, formido miser, ne hic me tibi arbitretur

suasisse, sibi ne crederes. da, quaeso, ac ne formida:

salvom hercle erit.

Mercator

Credam fore, dum quidem ipse in mánu habebo.

peregrinus ego sum, Sauream non novi.

Libanvs

At nosce sane.

Mercator

Sit, non sit, non edepol scio. si is est, eum esse oportet.
465

ego certe me incerto scio hoc daturum nemini homini.

Leonida

Hercle istum di omnes perduint. verbo cave supplicassis.

ferox est viginti minas meas tractare sese.

nemo accipit, aufer te domum, abscede hinc, molestus ne sis.

Mercator

Nimis iracunde. non decet superbum esse hominem servom.
470

Leonida

Malo hercle iam magno tuo, ni isti nec recte dicis.

Libanvs

Impure, nihili. non vides irasci?

Leonida

Perge porro.

Libanvs

Flagitium hominis. da, óbsecro, argentum huic, ne male loquatur.

Mercator

Malum hercle vobis quaeritis.

Leonida

Crura hercle diffringentur,

ni istum impudicum percies.
475

Libanvs

Perii hercle. age impudice,

sceleste, non audes mihi scelesto subvenire?

Leonida

Pergin precari pessimo?

Mercator

Quae res? tun libero homini

male servos loquere?

Leonida

Vapula.

Mercator

Id quidém tibi hercle fiet,

ut vapules, Demaenetum simul ac conspexero hodie.

in ius voco te.
480

Leonida

Non eo.

Mercator

Non is? memento.

Leonida

Memini.

Mercator

Dabitur pol supplicium mihi de tergo vostro.

Leonida

Vae te.

tibi quidem supplicium, carnufex, de nobis detur?†

Mercator

Atque etiam

pro dictis vostris maledicis poenae pendentur mi hodie.

Leonida

Quid, verbero? ain tu, furcifer? erum nos fugitare censes?
484485

ei nunciam ad erum, quo vocas, iam dudum quo volebas.

Mercator

Nunc demum? tamen numquam hinc feres argenti nummum, nisi me

dare iusserit Demaenetus.

Leonida

Ita facito, age ambula ergo.

tu contumeliam alteri facias, tibi non dicatur?

tam ego homo sum quam tu.
490

Mercator

Scilicet. ita res est.

Leonida

Sequere hac ergo.

praefiscini hoc nunc dixerim: nemo etiam me accusavit

merito meo, neque me alter est Athenis hodie quisquam,

cui credi recte aeque putent.

Mercator

Fortassis. sed tamen me

numquam hodie induces, ut tibi credam hoc argentum ignoto.

lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non novit.
495

Leonida

Iam nunc secunda mihi facis. scibam huic te capitulo hodie

facturum satis pro iniuria; quamquam ego sum sordidatus,

frugi tamen sum, nec potest peculium enumerari.

Mercator

Fortasse.

Leonida

Etiam † nunc dico Periphanes Rhodo mercator dives

absente ero solus mihi talentum argenti soli
500

adnumeravit et mihi crédidit, nequest deceptus in eo.

Mercator

Fortasse.

Leonida

Atque etiam tu quoque ipse, si esses percontatus

me ex aliis, scio pol crederes nunc quod fers.

Mercator

Haud negassim.—

Asinaria. T. Maccius Plautus. ed. Friedrich Leo. Berlin. 1895.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Asinaria (Latin) (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 1. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1895.)

Translations (1)

Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.) — 2.4 focus

407 (Enter LEONIDA, counterfeiting SAUREA.)

LEONIDA

(to himself.)

What’s this to do here? Not a person bares a bit about my orders! How did I order Libanus to come to the barber’s shop, and he didn’t come at all. I’ faith, for sure he hasn’t consulted well for his back and his legs.

THE ASS-DEALER

(to himself.)

This is a very overbearing fellow.
410

LIBANUS

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Woe to me this day!

LEONIDA

I bid welcome to Libanus, the freed-man! Are you set at liberty now?

LIBANUS

I do implore you.

LEONIDA

In good sooth, to your great misfortune surely have you fallen in my way. Why didn’t you come to the barber’s shop, as I ordered you?

LIBANUS

(pointing to the ASS-DEALER.)

This person detained me.

LEONIDA

I’ faith, if in fact you were now to say that supreme Jove had detained you,

and he were present to sue for you, you shouldn’t escape the evil consequences. Whip-knave, did you disobey my orders?
415
(Offers to strike him.)

LIBANUS

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Stranger, I’m done for.

THE ASS-DEALER

Prithee, Saurea, for my sake, don’t beat him.

LEONIDA

I wish, now, I had a whip in my hand—

THE ASS-DEALER

Prithee, do be appeased.

LEONIDA

—With which to lash your sides, which have grown callous with blows.

(To the ASS-DEALER, who interposes.)

Stand off this way; let me be the death of this fellow who is continually inflaming me with anger—a thief to whom I can never once enjoin a single thing, but that I must command the same things a hundred times, and din them in his ears¹. For that reason, now, by my troth, what with bawling and passion, I cannot endure the labour. Have you, you rascal, (pointing) ordered this dirt to be removed hence from the door?
420

Have you ordered the labours of the spiders to be swept down from the pillars? Have you ordered those bosses on our door² to be brought to brightness? It’s of no use; I must walk about with a stick, as though I were a lame man. Because only for these single three days I have been giving my constant attendance at the Forum, in order to find some one who requires money upon interest, here,
425

in the meantime, are you sleeping at home, and my master is living in a pigstye, not in a house. (He strikes LIBANUS.) There now, take you that.
430

LIBANUS

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Prithee, stranger, do take my part.

THE ASS-DEALER

Saurea, for my sake, I entreat you, do let him go.

LEONIDA

Hark you! has any one paid for the carriage of that olive oil?

LIBANUS

He has paid.

LEONIDA

To whom was it given?

LIBANUS

To Stichus himself, your deputy.

LEONIDA

Tut! you’re trying to mollify me³. I know that he is my deputy,

and that there isn’t a servant in the house who is more valuable to his master than he is. But the wines that I sold yesterday to Exaerambus, the wine merchant, has he yet paid Stichus for them?
435

LIBANUS

I think he has, in full; for I saw Exaerambus himself bringing hither his banker.

LEONIDA

On such terms would I always deal⁴; before, what I’ve trusted, I’ve hardly been paid within a year after.

Now he’s quite in a hurry; even of his own accord he brings him to the house, and writes a transfer of the money⁵. Has Dromo paid down the wages agreed upon?
440

LIBANUS

Less than half, I think.

LEONIDA

What about the remainder?

LIBANUS

He said that he would pay it directly it was paid⁶ to him; for it was retained until he had finished the work that was agreed on to be done by him.

LEONIDA

The cups that I lent to Philodamus, has he brought them back?

LIBANUS

Not yet.
445

LEONIDA

What, not yet? If you wish to make a present⁷, lend to a person that is a friend—

THE ASS-DEALER

(aside.)

I’ faith, I’m quite undone; he’ll be just now driving me away with his ill-temper.

LIBANUS

(in a low voice to LEONIDA.)

Hallo! you, enough now. Do you hear what he’s saying?

LEONIDA

(in the same way to LIBANUS.)

I hear, and I’ll have done.

THE ASS-DEALER

(aside.)

At last, I think, he has done: now it’s best to accost him before he commences again to prate. (To LEONIDA.) How soon, sir, will you give me your attention?

LEONIDA

Oh, by all means—have you been here any time?

Troth, I didn’t observe you; pray, don’t lay it to my charge: anger has so blinded my eyesight.
450

THE ASS-DEALER

’Tisn’t to be wondered at. But if he’s at home, I was wanting Demaenetus.

LEONIDA

Libanus says that he isn’t within. But still, if you like to pay that money over to me, I’ll give you an acquittance that the account is discharged as to that item.

THE ASS-DEALER

This way rather, for me to pay you in the presence of your master, Demaenetus.
455

LIBANUS

My master knows him, and he my master.

THE ASS-DEALER

In his master’s presence, I’ll pay him.

LIBANUS

At my peril, so you only pay him, I’ll engage the matter’s safe. For if our old gentleman were to know that confidence wasn’t placed in him, to whom he himself always entrusts the management of all matters, he would be angry.

LEONIDA

I don’t much care; don’t let him not pay it, if he don’t like; so let him stand here.
460

LIBANUS

Give it him, I say. Oh dear, I’m sadly afraid that he’ll be thinking that I’ve persuaded you not to trust him; prithee, do give it and don’t be afraid. Upon my word, it will be safe.

THE ASS-DEALER

I think it will be—so long, indeed, as I myself keep it in my hand. I’m a stranger; I don’t know Saurea.

LIBANUS

Well, know him now then.

THE ASS-DEALER

It may be he, it may not be he; i’ faith, I know not; if it’s he, why then it must be he. I know for sure that I shall give this up to no person that I don’t know.
465

LEONIDA

(aside.)

Troth now, may all the Gods confound the fellow. (Aloud to LIBANUS.) Take care you don’t entreat him with a word. He’s arrogant, because he’s fingering my twenty minae. No one will take it. (To the ASS-DEALER.) Take yourself off home, be off from here, and don’t be troublesome.

THE ASS-DEALER

You are in too angry mood: it isn’t right for a person who is a slave to give himself airs.
470

LIBANUS

By my faith, to your own great misfortune now are you talking uncivilly to him.

Dirty, worthless fellow, don’t you see he’s angry?

LEONIDA

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Be off then.

LIBANUS

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Scoundrelly fellow. (Aside to him.) Prithee, do give him the money lest he should abuse you.

THE ASS-DEALER

On my word, you are seeking evil for yourselves.

LEONIDA

(to LIBANUS.)

By the powers, your legs shall be broken⁸,

if you don’t proclaim this shameless fellow.
475

LIBANUS

Troth, I’m undone. Be off, you shameless fellow.

LEONIDA

You rascal.

LIBANUS

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Won’t you venture to assist me, you rascal?

LEONIDA

Do you persist in soliciting the scamp?

THE ASS-DEALER

How’s this? (To LEONIDA.) Do you, rascal, who are a slave, speak abusively to a free man?

LEONIDA

Give him a beating.

THE ASS-DEALER

By my faith, that surely shall befall yourself to get a beating as soon as ever I shall see Demaenetus this day.

I summon you to judgments⁹.
480

LEONIDA

I shan’t go.

THE ASS-DEALER

You won’t go? Remember—

LEONIDA

I do remember.

THE ASS-DEALER

I’ faith, I’ll have satisfaction out of your back.

LEONIDA

Woe unto you? What, villain—satisfaction to be given by us to you indeed?

THE ASS-DEALER

Aye, and even this very day satisfaction shall be given me for your abusive language.

LEONIDA

How now, whip-knave? How say you, hang-dog? Do you suppose that we shall run away from our master? Go this instant then to our master, where you were citing us just now, and where you were wishing to go.
484485

THE ASS-DEALER

What, now at last? Still, you shall never get a coin of money away from me, unless Demaenetus shall order me to give it.

LEONIDA

Do so. Come, move on then. Are you to offer insults to another person, and are they not to be repeated to yourself?

I’m a man as much as you are.
490

THE ASS-DEALER

No doubt such is the fact.

LEONIDA

Follow me this way, then. With your good leave¹⁰ I would now say this: not a person has ever accused me by reason of my deserving it, nor is there in Athens one other individual, this day, whom they would think they could as safely trust.

THE ASS-DEALER

Perhaps so: but still, you shall never this day persuade me to entrust to you, whom I don’t know, this money.

A man to a man is a wolf¹¹, not a man, when the other doesn’t know of what character he is.
495

LEONIDA

Now at last you are appeasing me¹²: I was sure that this day you would give satisfaction to this poor head of mine; although I’m in mean garb, still, I’m well to do, nor can an estimate of my means be formed from it.

THE ASS-DEALER

Perhaps so.

LEONIDA

Still more then I tell you: Periphanes, a merchant of Rhodes , a rich man,

in the absence of my master, himself alone paid over to me, in private, a talent of silver, and trusted me, nor was he deceived in it.
500

THE ASS-DEALER

Perhaps so.

LEONIDA

And you, too, yourself, as well, if you had enquired about me of other people, would, i’ faith, I’m quite sure, have entrusted to me what you now have with you.

THE ASS-DEALER

I don’t deny it.

(Exeunt.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Leonida Quid hoc sít negoti, neminem meum dictum magni facere? Libanum in tonstrinam ut iusseram venire, is nullus venit. ne ille edepol tergo et cruribus consuluit haud decore.

Mercator Nimis imperiosust. 410

Libanvs Vae mihi.

Leonida Hodie salvere iussi Libanum libertum? iam manu emíssu's emissu s es?

Libanvs Obsecro te.

Leonida Ne tu hercle cum magno malo mihi obviam occessisti. cur non venisti, ut iusseram, in tonstrinam?

Libanvs Hic me moratust.

Leonida Siquidem hércle nunc summum Iovem te dicas detinuisse atque is precator adsiet, malam rem effugies numquam. 415 tu, verbero, imperium meum contempsisti?

Libanvs Perii, hospes.

Mercator Quaeso hercle noli, Saurea, mea causa hunc verberare.

Leonida Vtinam nunc stimulus in manu mihi sit.

Mercator Quiesce quaeso.

Libanvs Hospes, te obsecro, defende.

Mercator Saurea, oro, mea causa ut mittás.

Leonida Eho, ecquis pro vectura olivi rem solvit?

Libanvs Solvit.

Leonida Cui datumst?

Libanvs Sticho vicario ipsi tuo.

Leonida Váh, delenire apparas, scio mihi vicarium esse, neque eo esse servom in aedibus eri quí sit pluris quam illest. 435 sed vina quaé heri vendidi vinario Exaerambo, iam pró eis satis fecit Sticho?

Libanvs Fecisse satis opinor, nam vidi huc ipsum adducere trapezitam Exaerambum.

Leonida Sic dedero. prius quae credidi vix anno post exegi; nunc satagit: adducit domum etiam ultro et scribit nummos. 440 Dromo mercedem rettulit?

Libanvs Dimidio minus opinor.

Leonida Quid relicuom?

Libanvs Aibat reddere quom extemplo redditum esset; nam retineri, ut quod sit sibi operis locatum efficeret.

Leonida Scyphos quos utendos dedi Philodamo, rettulitne?

Libanvs Non etiam. 445

Leonida Hem non? si velis da , commoda homini amico.

Mercator Perii hercle, iam hic me abegerit suo odio.

Libanvs Heús iam satis tu. audin quae loquitur?

Leonida Audio et quiesco.

Mercator Tandem, opinor, conticuit. nunc adeam optimum est, prius quam incipit tinnire. quam mox mi operam das?

Leonida Ehem, óptume. quam dudum tu advenisti? non hercle te provideram (quaeso, ne vitio vortas), 450 ita iracundia obstitit oculis.

Mercator Non mirum factum est. sed si domi est, Demaenetum volebam.

Leonida Negat esse intus. verum istuc argentum tamen mihi si vis denumerare, repromittam istoc nomine solutam rem futuram.

Mercator Sic potius, ut Demaeneto tibi ero praesente reddam. 455

Libanvs Erus istunc novit atque erum hic.

Mercator Ero huic praesente reddam.

Libanvs Da modo meo periculo, rem salvam ego exhibebo; nam si sciat noster senex fidem non esse huic habitam, suscenseat, quoi ómnium rerum ipsus semper credit.

Leonida Non magni pendo. ne duit, si non volt. sic sine astet. 460

Libanvs Da, inquam. vah, formido miser, ne hic me tibi arbitretur suasisse, sibi ne crederes. da, quaeso, ac ne formida: salvom hercle erit.

Mercator Credam fore, dum quidem ipse in mánu habebo. peregrinus ego sum, Sauream non novi.

Libanvs At nosce sane.

Mercator Sit, non sit, non edepol scio. si is est, eum esse oportet. 465 ego certe me incerto scio hoc daturum nemini homini.

Leonida Hercle istum di omnes perduint. verbo cave supplicassis. ferox est viginti minas meas tractare sese. nemo accipit, aufer te domum, abscede hinc, molestus ne sis.

Mercator Nimis iracunde. non decet superbum esse hominem servom. 470

Leonida Malo hercle iam magno tuo, ni isti nec recte dicis.

Libanvs Impure, nihili. non vides irasci?

Leonida Perge porro.

Libanvs Flagitium hominis. da, óbsecro, argentum huic, ne male loquatur.

Mercator Malum hercle vobis quaeritis.

Leonida Crura hercle diffringentur, ni istum impudicum percies. 475

Libanvs Perii hercle. age impudice, sceleste, non audes mihi scelesto subvenire?

Leonida Pergin precari pessimo?

Mercator Quae res? tun libero homini male servos loquere?

Leonida Vapula.

Mercator Id quidém tibi hercle fiet, ut vapules, Demaenetum simul ac conspexero hodie. in ius voco te. 480

Leonida Non eo.

Mercator Non is? memento.

Leonida Memini.

Mercator Dabitur pol supplicium mihi de tergo vostro.

Leonida Vae te. tibi quidem supplicium, carnufex, de nobis detur?†

Mercator Atque etiam pro dictis vostris maledicis poenae pendentur mi hodie.

Leonida Quid, verbero? ain tu, furcifer? erum nos fugitare censes? 484485 ei nunciam ad erum, quo vocas, iam dudum quo volebas.

Mercator Nunc demum? tamen numquam hinc feres argenti nummum, nisi me dare iusserit Demaenetus.

Leonida Ita facito, age ambula ergo. tu contumeliam alteri facias, tibi non dicatur? tam ego homo sum quam tu. 490

Mercator Scilicet. ita res est.

Leonida Sequere hac ergo. praefiscini hoc nunc dixerim: nemo etiam me accusavit merito meo, neque me alter est Athenis hodie quisquam, cui credi recte aeque putent.

Mercator Fortassis. sed tamen me numquam hodie induces, ut tibi credam hoc argentum ignoto. lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non novit. 495

Leonida Iam nunc secunda mihi facis. scibam huic te capitulo hodie facturum satis pro iniuria; quamquam ego sum sordidatus, frugi tamen sum, nec potest peculium enumerari.

Mercator Fortasse.

Leonida Etiam † nunc dico Periphanes Rhodo mercator dives absente ero solus mihi talentum argenti soli 500 adnumeravit et mihi crédidit, nequest deceptus in eo.

Mercator Fortasse.

Leonida Atque etiam tu quoque ipse, si esses percontatus me ex aliis, scio pol crederes nunc quod fers.

Mercator Haud negassim.—

Current edition Perseus

LEONIDA (to himself.) What’s this to do here? Not a person bares a bit about my orders! How did I order Libanus to come to the barber’s shop, and he didn’t come at all. I’ faith, for sure he hasn’t consulted well for his back and his legs.

THE ASS-DEALER (to himself.) This is a very overbearing fellow. 410

LIBANUS (to the ASS-DEALER.) Woe to me this day!

Leonida

Quid hoc sít negoti, neminem meum dictum magni facere?

Libanum in tonstrinam ut iusseram venire, is nullus venit.

ne ille edepol tergo et cruribus consuluit haud decore.

Mercator

Nimis imperiosust.
410

Libanvs

Vae mihi.

Leonida

Hodie salvere iussi

Libanum libertum? iam manu emíssu's emissu s es?

Libanvs

Obsecro te.

Leonida

Ne tu hercle cum magno malo mihi obviam occessisti.

cur non venisti, ut iusseram, in tonstrinam?

Libanvs

Hic me moratust.

Leonida

Siquidem hércle nunc summum Iovem te dicas detinuisse

atque is precator adsiet, malam rem effugies numquam.
415

tu, verbero, imperium meum contempsisti?

Libanvs

Perii, hospes.

Mercator

Quaeso hercle noli, Saurea, mea causa hunc verberare.

Leonida

Vtinam nunc stimulus in manu mihi sit.

Mercator

Quiesce quaeso.

Libanvs

Hospes, te obsecro, defende.

Mercator

Saurea, oro,

mea causa ut mittás.

Leonida

Eho, ecquis pro vectura olivi

rem solvit?

Libanvs

Solvit.

Leonida

Cui datumst?

Libanvs

Sticho vicario ipsi

tuo.

Leonida

Váh, delenire apparas, scio mihi vicarium esse,

neque eo esse servom in aedibus eri quí sit pluris quam illest.
435

sed vina quaé heri vendidi vinario Exaerambo,

iam pró eis satis fecit Sticho?

Libanvs

Fecisse satis opinor,

nam vidi huc ipsum adducere trapezitam Exaerambum.

Leonida

Sic dedero. prius quae credidi vix anno post exegi;

nunc satagit: adducit domum etiam ultro et scribit nummos.
440

Dromo mercedem rettulit?

Libanvs

Dimidio minus opinor.

Leonida

Quid relicuom?

Libanvs

Aibat reddere quom extemplo redditum esset;

nam retineri, ut quod sit sibi operis locatum efficeret.

Leonida

Scyphos quos utendos dedi Philodamo, rettulitne?

Libanvs

Non etiam.
445

Leonida

Hem non? si velis da , commoda homini amico.

Mercator

Perii hercle, iam hic me abegerit suo odio.

Libanvs

Heús iam satis tu.

audin quae loquitur?

Leonida

Audio et quiesco.

Mercator

Tandem, opinor,

conticuit. nunc adeam optimum est, prius quam incipit tinnire.

quam mox mi operam das?

Leonida

Ehem, óptume. quam dudum tu advenisti?

non hercle te provideram (quaeso, ne vitio vortas),
450

ita iracundia obstitit oculis.

Mercator

Non mirum factum est.

sed si domi est, Demaenetum volebam.

Leonida

Negat esse intus.

verum istuc argentum tamen mihi si vis denumerare,

repromittam istoc nomine solutam rem futuram.

Mercator

Sic potius, ut Demaeneto tibi ero praesente reddam.
455

Libanvs

Erus istunc novit atque erum hic.

Mercator

Ero huic praesente reddam.

Libanvs

Da modo meo periculo, rem salvam ego exhibebo;

nam si sciat noster senex fidem non esse huic habitam,

suscenseat, quoi ómnium rerum ipsus semper credit.

Leonida

Non magni pendo. ne duit, si non volt. sic sine astet.
460

Libanvs

Da, inquam. vah, formido miser, ne hic me tibi arbitretur

suasisse, sibi ne crederes. da, quaeso, ac ne formida:

salvom hercle erit.

Mercator

Credam fore, dum quidem ipse in mánu habebo.

peregrinus ego sum, Sauream non novi.

Libanvs

At nosce sane.

Mercator

Sit, non sit, non edepol scio. si is est, eum esse oportet.
465

ego certe me incerto scio hoc daturum nemini homini.

Leonida

Hercle istum di omnes perduint. verbo cave supplicassis.

ferox est viginti minas meas tractare sese.

nemo accipit, aufer te domum, abscede hinc, molestus ne sis.

Mercator

Nimis iracunde. non decet superbum esse hominem servom.
470

Leonida

Malo hercle iam magno tuo, ni isti nec recte dicis.

Libanvs

Impure, nihili. non vides irasci?

Leonida

Perge porro.

Libanvs

Flagitium hominis. da, óbsecro, argentum huic, ne male loquatur.

Mercator

Malum hercle vobis quaeritis.

Leonida

Crura hercle diffringentur,

ni istum impudicum percies.
475

Libanvs

Perii hercle. age impudice,

sceleste, non audes mihi scelesto subvenire?

Leonida

Pergin precari pessimo?

Mercator

Quae res? tun libero homini

male servos loquere?

Leonida

Vapula.

Mercator

Id quidém tibi hercle fiet,

ut vapules, Demaenetum simul ac conspexero hodie.

in ius voco te.
480

Leonida

Non eo.

Mercator

Non is? memento.

Leonida

Memini.

Mercator

Dabitur pol supplicium mihi de tergo vostro.

Leonida

Vae te.

tibi quidem supplicium, carnufex, de nobis detur?†

Mercator

Atque etiam

pro dictis vostris maledicis poenae pendentur mi hodie.

Leonida

Quid, verbero? ain tu, furcifer? erum nos fugitare censes?
484485

ei nunciam ad erum, quo vocas, iam dudum quo volebas.

Mercator

Nunc demum? tamen numquam hinc feres argenti nummum, nisi me

dare iusserit Demaenetus.

Leonida

Ita facito, age ambula ergo.

tu contumeliam alteri facias, tibi non dicatur?

tam ego homo sum quam tu.
490

Mercator

Scilicet. ita res est.

Leonida

Sequere hac ergo.

praefiscini hoc nunc dixerim: nemo etiam me accusavit

merito meo, neque me alter est Athenis hodie quisquam,

cui credi recte aeque putent.

Mercator

Fortassis. sed tamen me

numquam hodie induces, ut tibi credam hoc argentum ignoto.

lupus est homo homini, non homo, quom qualis sit non novit.
495

Leonida

Iam nunc secunda mihi facis. scibam huic te capitulo hodie

facturum satis pro iniuria; quamquam ego sum sordidatus,

frugi tamen sum, nec potest peculium enumerari.

Mercator

Fortasse.

Leonida

Etiam † nunc dico Periphanes Rhodo mercator dives

absente ero solus mihi talentum argenti soli
500

adnumeravit et mihi crédidit, nequest deceptus in eo.

Mercator

Fortasse.

Leonida

Atque etiam tu quoque ipse, si esses percontatus

me ex aliis, scio pol crederes nunc quod fers.

Mercator

Haud negassim.—

LEONIDA

(to himself.)

What’s this to do here? Not a person bares a bit about my orders! How did I order Libanus to come to the barber’s shop, and he didn’t come at all. I’ faith, for sure he hasn’t consulted well for his back and his legs.

THE ASS-DEALER

(to himself.)

This is a very overbearing fellow.
410

LIBANUS

(to the ASS-DEALER.)

Woe to me this day!

LEONIDA

I bid welcome to Libanus, the freed-man! Are you set at liberty now?

LIBANUS

I do implore you.

LEONIDA

In good sooth, to your great misfortune surely have you fallen in my way. Why didn’t you come to the barber’s shop, as I ordered you?