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885
(Enter a SERVANT.)
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Hold you and stop this instant. Phaniscus! look round, I say!
885
Hold you and stop this instant. Phaniscus! look round, I say!
885
PHANISCUS
(not turning round.)
Don’t be annoying to me.
Don’t be annoying to me.
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Do see how scornful the monkey is!
Do see how scornful the monkey is!
PHANISCUS
I am so for myself; I choose to be. Why do you trouble yourself about it?
(Walking on.)
I am so for myself; I choose to be. Why do you trouble yourself about it?
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Are you going to stop this instant, you dirty parasite?
Are you going to stop this instant, you dirty parasite?
PHANISCUS
(turning round.)
How am I a parasite?
How am I a parasite?
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Why, I’ll tell you: you can be drawn anywhere by victuals.
Do you give yourself airs, because your master’s so fond of you?
890
Why, I’ll tell you: you can be drawn anywhere by victuals.
Do you give yourself airs, because your master’s so fond of you?
890
PHANISCUS
(rubbing his eyes.)
O dear, my eyes do ache
1
.
O dear, my eyes do ache
1
.
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Why so?
Why so?
PHANISCUS
Because the smoke’s so troublesome.
Because the smoke’s so troublesome.
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Hold your tongue, will you, you clever workman, who are in the habit of coining money out of lead
2
.
Hold your tongue, will you, you clever workman, who are in the habit of coining money out of lead
2
.
PHANISCUS
You cannot compel me to be abusive to you. My master knows me.
You cannot compel me to be abusive to you. My master knows me.
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Why, really, his own pillow
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he ought to know, for resting on when drunk.
Why, really, his own pillow
3
he ought to know, for resting on when drunk.
PHANISCUS
If you were sober, you wouldn’t be abusive.
If you were sober, you wouldn’t be abusive.
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Am I to give heed to you, when you won’t to me.
Am I to give heed to you, when you won’t to me.
PHANISCUS
But, you rascal, you come along with me to fetch him.
But, you rascal, you come along with me to fetch him.
ANOTHER SERVANT of Callidamates
Troth now, Phaniscus, prithee, do leave off
4
talking about these matters.
Troth now, Phaniscus, prithee, do leave off
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talking about these matters.
PHANISCUS
I’ll do so, and knock at the door.
(Knocks at the door of the house of THEUROPIDES.) Hallo there! is there any person here to protect this door from a most serious injury?
(Knocking again.) Is any one, is any one, I say, coming out here and going to open it?
Why, really, no one comes out here. Just as befits such worthless fellows, so they are. But on that account, I’ve the more need to be cautious that no one may come out and use me ill.
900
(They stand aside.)
I’ll do so, and knock at the door.
(Knocks at the door of the house of THEUROPIDES.) Hallo there! is there any person here to protect this door from a most serious injury?
(Knocking again.) Is any one, is any one, I say, coming out here and going to open it?
Why, really, no one comes out here. Just as befits such worthless fellows, so they are. But on that account, I’ve the more need to be cautious that no one may come out and use me ill.
900
Mostellaria. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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