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272
(Enter PAEGNIUM, from the house of DORDALUS.)
PAEGNIUM
(to himself.)
My task that was set me I’ve finished; now I’m hastening home.
My task that was set me I’ve finished; now I’m hastening home.
SAGARISTIO
Stop, although you are in haste—Paegnium, listen to me.
Stop, although you are in haste—Paegnium, listen to me.
PAEGNIUM
You ought to buy a person, for you to desire to be obedient to you.
(Moves on.)
You ought to buy a person, for you to desire to be obedient to you.
SAGARISTIO
Stop there, I say.
Stop there, I say.
PAEGNIUM
You’d be giving some trouble, I fancy, if I were to be owing you anything,
who are now so troublesome.
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You’d be giving some trouble, I fancy, if I were to be owing you anything,
who are now so troublesome.
275
SAGARISTIO
You rascal, will you look back then?
You rascal, will you look back then?
PAEGNIUM
I am aware of what age I am; for that reason you shall get off for this abuse with impunity.
I am aware of what age I am; for that reason you shall get off for this abuse with impunity.
SAGARISTIO
Where is Toxilus, your master?
Where is Toxilus, your master?
PAEGNIUM
Wherever he pleases, and he don’t ask your advice.
Wherever he pleases, and he don’t ask your advice.
SAGARISTIO
Won’t you tell me, then, where he is, you villain?
Won’t you tell me, then, where he is, you villain?
PAEGNIUM
I don’t know, I say, you elm-twig spoiler
1
.
I don’t know, I say, you elm-twig spoiler
1
.
SAGARISTIO
You are abusive to your senior.
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You are abusive to your senior.
280
PAEGNIUM
As you deserved it first, do you put up with it. My master bade me hold my labour at his bidding, my tongue in freedom.
As you deserved it first, do you put up with it. My master bade me hold my labour at his bidding, my tongue in freedom.
SAGARISTIO
Will you not tell me, where is Toxilus?
Will you not tell me, where is Toxilus?
PAEGNIUM
I tell you that—you may go to perdition everlasting.
I tell you that—you may go to perdition everlasting.
SAGARISTIO
This day you shall be flogged with a rope’s end.
This day you shall be flogged with a rope’s end.
PAEGNIUM
On your account, indeed, you cuckoo! I’ faith, you carrion, if I were to give you a broken head, I shouldn’t be afraid of that.
On your account, indeed, you cuckoo! I’ faith, you carrion, if I were to give you a broken head, I shouldn’t be afraid of that.
SAGARISTIO
I understand you, you’ve been up to
2
some bad work just now.
I understand you, you’ve been up to
2
some bad work just now.
PAEGNIUM
So I have. What business is that to you?
But I haven’t, like yourself, all for nothing.
285
So I have. What business is that to you?
But I haven’t, like yourself, all for nothing.
285
SAGARISTIO
Assurance!
Assurance!
PAEGNIUM
I’ faith, I certainly am; for I am assured that I shall be free; don’t be hoping that you’ll ever be so.
I’ faith, I certainly am; for I am assured that I shall be free; don’t be hoping that you’ll ever be so.
SAGARISTIO
Can’t you cease your impertinence?
Can’t you cease your impertinence?
PAEGNIUM
That which you are mentioning, you can’t do yourself.
That which you are mentioning, you can’t do yourself.
SAGARISTIO
Away with you to utter perdition.
Away with you to utter perdition.
PAEGNIUM
And off home with you; for there it’s all ready prepared for you.
And off home with you; for there it’s all ready prepared for you.
SAGARISTIO
He summons me
3
on my recognizances.
He summons me
3
on my recognizances.
PAEGNIUM
I only wish the sureties may be out of the way, so that you may get to prison.
I only wish the sureties may be out of the way, so that you may get to prison.
SAGARISTIO
Why’s this?
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Why’s this?
290
PAEGNIUM
Aye, why is it?
Aye, why is it?
SAGARISTIO
Still abusing me, rascal?
Still abusing me, rascal?
PAEGNIUM
Why, inasmuch as you are a slave, it ought at least to be allowed a slave to abuse you.
Why, inasmuch as you are a slave, it ought at least to be allowed a slave to abuse you.
SAGARISTIO
And is it so? Just look
(holding up his fist.) what I shall give you.
And is it so? Just look
(holding up his fist.) what I shall give you.
PAEGNIUM
Nothing; for nothing have you.
Nothing; for nothing have you.
SAGARISTIO
May all the Gods and Goddesses confound me,
if I don’t this very day, if I lay hold of you, fell you to the ground with blows.
May all the Gods and Goddesses confound me,
if I don’t this very day, if I lay hold of you, fell you to the ground with blows.
PAEGNIUM
I am your friend; I trust that what you wish may befall you,
and that it may come to pass;
if you fell me
4
, may others make you feel yourself fixed to the cross before long.
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I am your friend; I trust that what you wish may befall you,
and that it may come to pass;
if you fell me
4
, may others make you feel yourself fixed to the cross before long.
295
SAGARISTIO
But you may the Gods and Goddesses—You understand what I was going to say after that, if I hadn’t been able to restrain my tongue. Can’t you be off?
But you may the Gods and Goddesses—You understand what I was going to say after that, if I hadn’t been able to restrain my tongue. Can’t you be off?
PAEGNIUM
You drive me off with ease; for already my shadow’s getting
5
a whipping in-doors.
(Goes into the house.)
You drive me off with ease; for already my shadow’s getting
5
a whipping in-doors.
SAGARISTIO
(to himself.)
May the Gods and Goddesses confound that fellow! just like a crawling serpent he has got a double tongue, and is a wicked one.
Upon my faith, I’m glad he’s gone.
(Going towards the door.) Open, you door. But look! he’s coming from within, the person that I most especially wished to meet with.
300
May the Gods and Goddesses confound that fellow! just like a crawling serpent he has got a double tongue, and is a wicked one.
Upon my faith, I’m glad he’s gone.
(Going towards the door.) Open, you door. But look! he’s coming from within, the person that I most especially wished to meet with.
300
Persa. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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