STRATIPPOCLES
I’m distractedly in suspense and worn to the heart with waiting how the fair promises of Epidicus will turn out for me. I’ve been tormented too long. Whether there is to be anything, or whether there is not, I wish to know.
320
CHAERIBULUS
For all these resources you may still seek some other resources for yourself. For my part, I knew at the first, or the instant, that there was no help for you in him
1
.
STRATIPPOCLES
Upon my faith, I’m ruined!
CHAERIBULUS
You act absurdly in tormenting yourself in mind. By my troth, if I should catch him, I would never allow that slave of a fellow to be laughing at us with impunity.
STRATIPPOCLES
What can you expect him to do, you, who have such great wealth at home, and have not a coin of it, as you say, and have in yourself no resources for your friend?
CHAERIBULUS
I’ faith, if I had had it, I should have proffered it with pleasure; but something in some manner
2
, in some way, in some direction, from some person, some hope I have for you, that there’ll be some good fortune for you to share with me.
STRATIPPOCLES
Woe to you, you sneaking fellow
3
.
CHAERIBULUS
Why does it please you to abuse me?
STRATIPPOCLES
Why, because you are prating to me about something in some manner, from somewhere or other, from some persons,
that nowhere exists, and I won’t admit it to my ears. Of no more assistance are you unto me than he who never yet has been born.
335
(They stand near the door of the house of CHAERIBULUS.)
Epidicus. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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