T. Maccius Plautus, Persa, ed. Friedrich Leo, 4.3

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Scene

← Previous Next →

470

Dordalvs

Quoí homini di própitii sunt, áliquid obiciúnt lucri;
470

nam égo hodie compendi feci binos panes in dies.

íta ancillá mea quae fuit hodie, sua nunc est: argento vicit;

iám hodie alienum cenabit, nil gustabit de meo.

sumne probus, sum lepidus civis, qui Atticam hodie civitatem

maximam maiorem feci atque auxi civi femina?
475

sed ut ego hodie fui benignus, ut ego multis credidi,

nec satis a quiquam homine accepi: ita prosum credebam omnibus;

nec metuo, quibus credidi hodie, ne quis mi in iure abiurassit:

bonus volo iam ex hoc die esse—quod neque fiet neque fuit.

Toxilvs

Hunc hominem ego hodie in trasennam doctis deducam dolis,
480

itaque huic insidiae paratae sunt probe. adgrediar virum.

quid agis?

Dordalvs

Credo.

Toxilvs

Únde agis te, Dordale?

Dordalvs

Credo tibi.

di dent, quae velis.

Toxilvs

Eho, an iám manu emisisti mulierem?

Dordalvs

Crédo edepol, credo, inquam, tibi.

Toxilvs

Iam liberta auctu's auctus es?

Dordalvs

Enicas.

quin tíbi me dico crédere.

Toxilvs

Dic bona fíde: iam liberast?

Dordalvs

Ólim.

i, i ád forum ad praetorem, éxquire, siquidém mihi credere nón vis.

líbera, inquam, est: ecquid audis?

Toxilvs

At tibi di bene faciant omnes.

númquam enim pósthac tibi nec tuorum quoiquam quod nolis volam.

Dordalvs

Abi, né iura, satis crédo.
490

Toxilvs

Vbi núnc tua libertást?

Dordalvs

Apud te.

Toxilvs

Ain, apud mést?

Dordalvs

Aio, inquam, apud te ést, inquam.

Toxilvs

Ita mé di ament, ut ob ístam rem tibi múlta bona instant á me.

nam est rés quaedam, quam occúltabam tibi dícere: nunc eam nárrabo,

unde tú pergrande lucrúm facias: faciam, út mei memineris, dúm vitam

vivás.
495

Dordalvs

Bene dictis tuís bene facta aurés meae auxilium expóscunt.

Toxilvs

Tuom prómeritumst, merito út faciam. et ut mé scias esse ita fácturum,

tabellás tene has, péllege.

Dordalvs

Istaé quid ad mé?

Toxilvs

Immo ád te attinént et tuá refert.

nam ex Pérsia sunt haec állatae mihi a méo ero.

Dordalvs

Quando?

Toxilvs

Haud dúdum.

Dordalvs

Quid istaé narrant?

Toxilvs

Percóntare ex ipsís. ipsae tibi nárrabunt.

Dordalvs

Cedo sáne mihi.
500

Toxilvs

At clare récitato.

Dordalvs

Tace, dúm pellego.

Toxilvs

Hau verbúm faciam

Dordalvs

Salutem dicit Toxilo Timarchides

et familiae omni. si valetis, gaudeo.

ego valeo recte et rem gero et facio lucrum,

neque istóc redire his octo possum mensibus,

itaque hic est quod me detinet negotium.
505

Chrysopolim Persae cepere urbem in Arabia,

plenam bonarum rerum atque antiquom oppidum:

ea comportatur praeda, ut fiat auctio

publicitus; ea res me domo expertem facit.

operam atque hospitium ego isti praehiberi volo,
510

qui tibi tabellas adfert. cura quae is volet,

nam is mihi honores suae domi habuit maxumos.

Dordalvs

Quíd id ad me aut ad meam rem refert, Persae quid rerum gerant

aut quid erus tuos?

Toxilvs

Tace, stultiloque; nescis quid te instet boni

neque quam tibi Fortuna faculam lucrifera adlucere volt.
515

Dordalvs

Quae istaec lucrifera est Fortuna?

Toxilvs

Istas, quae norunt, roga.

ego tantumdem scio quantum tu, nisi quod pellegi prior.

sed, ut occepisti, ex tabellis nosce rem.

Dordalvs

Bene me mones.

fac silentium.

Toxilvs

Nunc ad illud venies quod refert tua.

Dordalvs

Iste quí tabellas adfert adduxit simul
520

forma expetenda liberalem virginem,

furtivam, abductam ex Arabia penitissuma;

eam te volo accurare ut istic veneat.

ac suo periclo is emat qui eam mercabitur:

mancipio neque promittet neque quisquam dabit.
525

probum et numeratum argentum ut accipiat face.

haec cura, et hospes cura ut curetur. vale.

Toxilvs

Quíd igitur? postquam recitasti quod erat cerae creditum,

iam mihi credis?

Dordalvs

Vbi nunc illest hospes, qui hasce huc attulit?

Toxilvs

Iam hic credo aderit: arcessivit illam a navi.
530

Dordalvs

Nil mi opust

litibus neque tricis. quam ob rem ego argentum enumerem foras?

nisi mancipio accipio, quid eo mi opus est mercimonio?

Toxilvs

Tacen an non taces? numquam ego te tam esse matulam credidi.

quid metuis?

Dordalvs

Metuo hercle vero. sensi ego iam compluriens,

neque mi haud imperito eveniet, tali ut in luto haeream.
535

Toxilvs

Nil pericli mihi videtur.

Dordalvs

Scio istuc, sed metuo mihi.

Toxilvs

Mea quidem istuc nil refert: tua ego hoc facio gratia,

ut tibi recte conciliandi primo facerem copiam.

Dordalvs

Gratiam habeo. sed te de aliis, quam alios de te suaviust
539540

fieri doctos.

Toxilvs

Ne quis vero ex Arabia penitissuma

persequatur. etiam tu illam destinas?

Dordalvs

Videam modo

mercimonium.

Toxilvs

Aequa dicis. séd optume eccum ipse advenit

hospes ille, qui has tabellas attulit.

Dordalvs

Hicinest?

Toxilvs

Hic est.

Dordalvs

Haecine illást furtiva virgo?
545

Toxilvs

Iuxta tecum aeque scio,

nisi quia specie quidem edepol liberalist, quisquis est.

Dordalvs

Sat edepol concinnast facie.

Toxilvs

Vt contemptim carnufex.

taciti contemplemur formam.

Dordalvs

Laudo consilium tuom.

Persa. T. Maccius Plautus. ed. Friedrich Leo. Berlin. 1896.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Persa (Latin) (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 2. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1896.)

Translations (1)

Persa, or The Persian Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 4.3 focus

470 (Enter DORDALUS.)

DORDALUS

(to himself.)

The man to whom the Deities are propitious, in his way they throw some profit. For I this day have made a saving of two loaves daily; this way, she who this day was my slave is now her own; by his cash he has prevailed; this day then she’ll be dining at the expense of another, she’ll be tasting nothing of mine. Am I not a worthy man, am I not a courteous citizen, who this day have made the extensive state of Attica
470

still larger, and increased it by a female citizen? But how obliging have I been to-day! To how many have I given credit, and have from no person taken surety; so readily did I give credit to all: and I don’t fear that of those whom I’ve trusted to-day any one will forswear himself against me upon trial. I wish from this day forth to be honest—a thing that never will be and never was.
475

TOXILUS

(apart.)

This fellow, this very day, by clever contrivances, I’ll catch in a springe; and so the snare is cunningly laid for him; I’ll accost the fellow. (Aloud.) What are you about?
480

DORDALUS

Giving credit.

TOXILUS

Whence do you betake yourself, Dordalus?

DORDALUS

I’m going to give you credit¹.

TOXILUS

May the Gods grant whatever you may desire.

How now, have you given the damsel her liberty by this?

DORDALUS

I’m going to give you credit, i’ faith, I’m going to give you credit, I repeat.

TOXILUS

Are you now increased in number by one freed-woman?

DORDALUS

You worry me to death.

Why, I tell you that I’ll give you credit.

TOXILUS

Tell me in sober truth, is she now at liberty?

DORDALUS

Go, go to the Forum, to the Praetor²; make all enquiries, since you don’t choose to give me credit. She is at liberty, I say. Do you hear me at all?

TOXILUS

May all the Deities bless you then. And never from this time forward, will I wish to you or yours what you don’t wish.

DORDALUS

Be off: don’t be swearing that. I quite believe you.
490

TOXILUS

Where is your freed-woman now?

DORDALUS

At your house.

TOXILUS

Do you say so? Is she at our house?

DORDALUS

I do say so, I tell you; she is at your house, I say.

TOXILUS

So may the Deities favour me, for this thing many blessings from me are in store for you: for there’s a certain matter, which I refrained from mentioning to you; now I’ll disclose it, and from it you can make a very large profit. I’ll give you cause to remember me so long as you exist.

DORDALUS

My ears are wanting some kind deeds by way of assistance to these kind words.

TOXILUS

It’s only your deserts, that I should do as you deserve. And that you may know that I will do so, take this letter (showing him a letter.) read it over.

DORDALUS

What has this got to do with me?

TOXILUS

Why yes, it bears reference to yourself, and it does relate to you. But it has just now been brought me from Persia, from my master.

DORDALUS

When?

TOXILUS

Not long since.

DORDALUS

What does it say?

TOXILUS

Make enquiry of its own self: it will tell you itself.

DORDALUS

Give it me, then.
500
(Taking it from TOXILUS.)

TOXILUS

But read it aloud.

DORDALUS

Be silent while I read it over.

TOXILUS

I’ll not utter a word.

DORDALUS

(reading.)

Timarchides sends health to Toxilus and all the family. If you are well, I am glad; I am quite well, and carrying on my business, and am making money; and I am not able to return home for these eight months,

for there is some business which detains me here; the Persians have taken Chrysopolis³, a city of Arabia, full of good things, and an ancient town; there the booty is being collected, that a public auction may be made; this matter causes me to be absent from home.
505

I wish attention and hospitality to be shown to the person who brings this letter to you. Attend to what he wants; for at his own house at home he has shown me the greatest attentions.
510

What has it to do with me or my welfare, what matters the Persians are about, or what your master is doing?

TOXILUS

Hold your tongue, silly babbler; you don’t know what blessing awaits you.

It’s in vain that Fortune is ready to light for you her torch that leads to profit.
515

DORDALUS

What Fortune is this that leads to profit?

TOXILUS

(pointing to the letter.)

Ask that which knows: I know about as much as yourself, except that I was the first to read it through. But as you’ve begun, learn the matter from the letter.

DORDALUS

You counsel me aright. Keep silence.

TOXILUS

Now you’ll come to that which does relate to your interest.

DORDALUS

(reading on.)

The person that brings this letter, has taken with him a well-bred female of engaging charms, who has been stolen, and brought from the inmost parts of Arabia; I wish you to take charge of her that she may be sold there; but he who makes purchase of her, must buy her at his own risk;
520

nobody will promise or give a warranty. Take you care that he receives money full weight and counted. Pay attention to this, and give attention that the stranger is attended to. Farewell.
525

TOXILUS

What then? After you have read over what has been committed to the wax, do you believe me now?

DORDALUS

Where now is this stranger that brought this letter?

TOXILUS

He’ll be here just now, I believe; he has sent for her from the ship.
530

DORDALUS

I don’t want any lawsuits or quirks at all. Why should I be laying out so much money at such a distance? Unless I get her on warranty, what need have I of this purchase?

TOXILUS

Will you, or will you not, hold your tongue? I never did believe you to be such a blockhead. What are you afraid of?

DORDALUS

I’ faith, I really am afraid; I’ve experienced it now so many times,

and it will not befall me without having already experienced it, to be getting stuck in such a quagmire.
535

TOXILUS

There seems to be no risk.

DORDALUS

I know that; but I’m afraid about myself.

TOXILUS

It matters nothing whatever to me, so far as I’m concerned; it’s for your sake I mentioned it, that I might at the earliest moment give you an opportunity of advantageously purchasing her.

DORDALUS

I return you thanks; but it’s a nicer thing for you to become wise through others, than for others through yourself.
539540

TOXILUS

Surely no person can follow after her from the inmost parts of Arabia. Will you make purchase of her, then?

DORDALUS

Only let me see the commodity.

TOXILUS

You say what’s fair. But look, most à propos, the stranger is coming himself, who brought this letter hither.

DORDALUS

(pointing down the side-scene.)

Is that he?

TOXILUS

That’s he.

DORDALUS

And is that the girl that was stolen?
545

TOXILUS

I know just about as well as yourself, except that I have seen her. Upon my faith, she certainly is genteel looking, whoever she is.

DORDALUS

Faith, she has pretty regular features.

TOXILUS

(aside.)

With what contempt the hang-dog does speak of her. (To DORDALUS.) Let’s examine her beauty in silence.

DORDALUS

I approve of your advice.

(They stand aside.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Toxilvs Hunc hominem ego hodie in trasennam doctis deducam dolis, 480 itaque huic insidiae paratae sunt probe. adgrediar virum. quid agis?

Dordalvs Credo.

Toxilvs Únde agis te, Dordale?

Dordalvs Credo tibi. di dent, quae velis.

Toxilvs Eho, an iám manu emisisti mulierem?

Dordalvs Crédo edepol, credo, inquam, tibi.

Toxilvs Iam liberta auctu's auctus es?

Dordalvs Enicas. quin tíbi me dico crédere.

Toxilvs Dic bona fíde: iam liberast?

Dordalvs Ólim. i, i ád forum ad praetorem, éxquire, siquidém mihi credere nón vis. líbera, inquam, est: ecquid audis?

Toxilvs At tibi di bene faciant omnes. númquam enim pósthac tibi nec tuorum quoiquam quod nolis volam.

Dordalvs Abi, né iura, satis crédo. 490

Toxilvs Vbi núnc tua libertást?

Dordalvs Apud te.

Toxilvs Ain, apud mést?

Dordalvs Aio, inquam, apud te ést, inquam.

Toxilvs Ita mé di ament, ut ob ístam rem tibi múlta bona instant á me. nam est rés quaedam, quam occúltabam tibi dícere: nunc eam nárrabo, unde tú pergrande lucrúm facias: faciam, út mei memineris, dúm vitam vivás. 495

Dordalvs Bene dictis tuís bene facta aurés meae auxilium expóscunt.

Toxilvs Tuom prómeritumst, merito út faciam. et ut mé scias esse ita fácturum, tabellás tene has, péllege.

Dordalvs Istaé quid ad mé?

Toxilvs Immo ád te attinént et tuá refert. nam ex Pérsia sunt haec állatae mihi a méo ero.

Dordalvs Quando?

Toxilvs Haud dúdum.

Dordalvs Quid istaé narrant?

Toxilvs Percóntare ex ipsís. ipsae tibi nárrabunt.

Dordalvs Cedo sáne mihi. 500

Toxilvs At clare récitato.

Dordalvs Tace, dúm pellego.

Toxilvs Hau verbúm faciam

Dordalvs Quíd id ad me aut ad meam rem refert, Persae quid rerum gerant aut quid erus tuos?

Toxilvs Tace, stultiloque; nescis quid te instet boni neque quam tibi Fortuna faculam lucrifera adlucere volt. 515

Dordalvs Quae istaec lucrifera est Fortuna?

Toxilvs Istas, quae norunt, roga. ego tantumdem scio quantum tu, nisi quod pellegi prior. sed, ut occepisti, ex tabellis nosce rem.

Dordalvs Bene me mones. fac silentium.

Toxilvs Nunc ad illud venies quod refert tua.

Toxilvs Quíd igitur? postquam recitasti quod erat cerae creditum, iam mihi credis?

Dordalvs Vbi nunc illest hospes, qui hasce huc attulit?

Toxilvs Iam hic credo aderit: arcessivit illam a navi. 530

Dordalvs Nil mi opust litibus neque tricis. quam ob rem ego argentum enumerem foras? nisi mancipio accipio, quid eo mi opus est mercimonio?

Toxilvs Tacen an non taces? numquam ego te tam esse matulam credidi. quid metuis?

Dordalvs Metuo hercle vero. sensi ego iam compluriens, neque mi haud imperito eveniet, tali ut in luto haeream. 535

Toxilvs Nil pericli mihi videtur.

Dordalvs Scio istuc, sed metuo mihi.

Toxilvs Mea quidem istuc nil refert: tua ego hoc facio gratia, ut tibi recte conciliandi primo facerem copiam.

Dordalvs Gratiam habeo. sed te de aliis, quam alios de te suaviust 539540 fieri doctos.

Toxilvs Ne quis vero ex Arabia penitissuma persequatur. etiam tu illam destinas?

Dordalvs Videam modo mercimonium.

Toxilvs Aequa dicis. séd optume eccum ipse advenit hospes ille, qui has tabellas attulit.

Dordalvs Hicinest?

Toxilvs Hic est.

Dordalvs Haecine illást furtiva virgo? 545

Toxilvs Iuxta tecum aeque scio, nisi quia specie quidem edepol liberalist, quisquis est.

Dordalvs Sat edepol concinnast facie.

Toxilvs Vt contemptim carnufex. taciti contemplemur formam.

Dordalvs Laudo consilium tuom.

Current edition Perseus

TOXILUS (apart.) This fellow, this very day, by clever contrivances, I’ll catch in a springe; and so the snare is cunningly laid for him; I’ll accost the fellow. (Aloud.) What are you about? 480

DORDALUS Giving credit.

TOXILUS Whence do you betake yourself, Dordalus?

DORDALUS I’m going to give you credit 1 .

TOXILUS May the Gods grant whatever you may desire. How now, have you given the damsel her liberty by this?

DORDALUS I’m going to give you credit, i’ faith, I’m going to give you credit, I repeat.

TOXILUS Are you now increased in number by one freed-woman?

DORDALUS You worry me to death. Why, I tell you that I’ll give you credit.

TOXILUS Tell me in sober truth, is she now at liberty?

DORDALUS Go, go to the Forum, to the Praetor 2 ; make all enquiries, since you don’t choose to give me credit. She is at liberty, I say. Do you hear me at all?

TOXILUS May all the Deities bless you then. And never from this time forward, will I wish to you or yours what you don’t wish.

DORDALUS Be off: don’t be swearing that. I quite believe you. 490

TOXILUS Where is your freed-woman now?

DORDALUS At your house.

TOXILUS Do you say so? Is she at our house?

DORDALUS I do say so, I tell you; she is at your house, I say.

DORDALUS My ears are wanting some kind deeds by way of assistance to these kind words.

TOXILUS It’s only your deserts, that I should do as you deserve. And that you may know that I will do so, take this letter (showing him a letter.) read it over.

DORDALUS What has this got to do with me?

TOXILUS Why yes, it bears reference to yourself, and it does relate to you. But it has just now been brought me from Persia, from my master.

DORDALUS When?

TOXILUS Not long since.

Toxilvs

Hunc hominem ego hodie in trasennam doctis deducam dolis,
480

itaque huic insidiae paratae sunt probe. adgrediar virum.

quid agis?

Dordalvs

Credo.

Toxilvs

Únde agis te, Dordale?

Dordalvs

Credo tibi.

di dent, quae velis.

Toxilvs

Eho, an iám manu emisisti mulierem?

Dordalvs

Crédo edepol, credo, inquam, tibi.

Toxilvs

Iam liberta auctu's auctus es?

Dordalvs

Enicas.

quin tíbi me dico crédere.

Toxilvs

Dic bona fíde: iam liberast?

Dordalvs

Ólim.

i, i ád forum ad praetorem, éxquire, siquidém mihi credere nón vis.

líbera, inquam, est: ecquid audis?

Toxilvs

At tibi di bene faciant omnes.

númquam enim pósthac tibi nec tuorum quoiquam quod nolis volam.

Dordalvs

Abi, né iura, satis crédo.
490

Toxilvs

Vbi núnc tua libertást?

Dordalvs

Apud te.

Toxilvs

Ain, apud mést?

Dordalvs

Aio, inquam, apud te ést, inquam.

Toxilvs

Ita mé di ament, ut ob ístam rem tibi múlta bona instant á me.

nam est rés quaedam, quam occúltabam tibi dícere: nunc eam nárrabo,

unde tú pergrande lucrúm facias: faciam, út mei memineris, dúm vitam

vivás.
495

Dordalvs

Bene dictis tuís bene facta aurés meae auxilium expóscunt.

Toxilvs

Tuom prómeritumst, merito út faciam. et ut mé scias esse ita fácturum,

tabellás tene has, péllege.

Dordalvs

Istaé quid ad mé?

Toxilvs

Immo ád te attinént et tuá refert.

nam ex Pérsia sunt haec állatae mihi a méo ero.

Dordalvs

Quando?

Toxilvs

Haud dúdum.

Dordalvs

Quid istaé narrant?

Toxilvs

Percóntare ex ipsís. ipsae tibi nárrabunt.

Dordalvs

Cedo sáne mihi.
500

Toxilvs

At clare récitato.

Dordalvs

Tace, dúm pellego.

Toxilvs

Hau verbúm faciam

Dordalvs

Quíd id ad me aut ad meam rem refert, Persae quid rerum gerant

aut quid erus tuos?

Toxilvs

Tace, stultiloque; nescis quid te instet boni

neque quam tibi Fortuna faculam lucrifera adlucere volt.
515

Dordalvs

Quae istaec lucrifera est Fortuna?

Toxilvs

Istas, quae norunt, roga.

ego tantumdem scio quantum tu, nisi quod pellegi prior.

sed, ut occepisti, ex tabellis nosce rem.

Dordalvs

Bene me mones.

fac silentium.

Toxilvs

Nunc ad illud venies quod refert tua.

Toxilvs

Quíd igitur? postquam recitasti quod erat cerae creditum,

iam mihi credis?

Dordalvs

Vbi nunc illest hospes, qui hasce huc attulit?

Toxilvs

Iam hic credo aderit: arcessivit illam a navi.
530

Dordalvs

Nil mi opust

litibus neque tricis. quam ob rem ego argentum enumerem foras?

nisi mancipio accipio, quid eo mi opus est mercimonio?

Toxilvs

Tacen an non taces? numquam ego te tam esse matulam credidi.

quid metuis?

Dordalvs

Metuo hercle vero. sensi ego iam compluriens,

neque mi haud imperito eveniet, tali ut in luto haeream.
535

Toxilvs

Nil pericli mihi videtur.

Dordalvs

Scio istuc, sed metuo mihi.

Toxilvs

Mea quidem istuc nil refert: tua ego hoc facio gratia,

ut tibi recte conciliandi primo facerem copiam.

Dordalvs

Gratiam habeo. sed te de aliis, quam alios de te suaviust
539540

fieri doctos.

Toxilvs

Ne quis vero ex Arabia penitissuma

persequatur. etiam tu illam destinas?

Dordalvs

Videam modo

mercimonium.

Toxilvs

Aequa dicis. séd optume eccum ipse advenit

hospes ille, qui has tabellas attulit.

Dordalvs

Hicinest?

Toxilvs

Hic est.

Dordalvs

Haecine illást furtiva virgo?
545

Toxilvs

Iuxta tecum aeque scio,

nisi quia specie quidem edepol liberalist, quisquis est.

Dordalvs

Sat edepol concinnast facie.

Toxilvs

Vt contemptim carnufex.

taciti contemplemur formam.

Dordalvs

Laudo consilium tuom.

TOXILUS

(apart.)

This fellow, this very day, by clever contrivances, I’ll catch in a springe; and so the snare is cunningly laid for him; I’ll accost the fellow. (Aloud.) What are you about?
480

DORDALUS

Giving credit.

TOXILUS

Whence do you betake yourself, Dordalus?

DORDALUS

I’m going to give you credit¹.

TOXILUS

May the Gods grant whatever you may desire.

How now, have you given the damsel her liberty by this?

DORDALUS

I’m going to give you credit, i’ faith, I’m going to give you credit, I repeat.

TOXILUS

Are you now increased in number by one freed-woman?

DORDALUS

You worry me to death.

Why, I tell you that I’ll give you credit.

TOXILUS

Tell me in sober truth, is she now at liberty?

DORDALUS

Go, go to the Forum, to the Praetor²; make all enquiries, since you don’t choose to give me credit. She is at liberty, I say. Do you hear me at all?

TOXILUS

May all the Deities bless you then. And never from this time forward, will I wish to you or yours what you don’t wish.

DORDALUS

Be off: don’t be swearing that. I quite believe you.
490

TOXILUS

Where is your freed-woman now?

DORDALUS

At your house.

TOXILUS

Do you say so? Is she at our house?

DORDALUS

I do say so, I tell you; she is at your house, I say.

DORDALUS

My ears are wanting some kind deeds by way of assistance to these kind words.

TOXILUS

It’s only your deserts, that I should do as you deserve. And that you may know that I will do so, take this letter (showing him a letter.) read it over.

DORDALUS

What has this got to do with me?

TOXILUS

Why yes, it bears reference to yourself, and it does relate to you. But it has just now been brought me from Persia, from my master.

DORDALUS

When?

TOXILUS

Not long since.

DORDALUS

What does it say?

TOXILUS

Make enquiry of its own self: it will tell you itself.

DORDALUS

Give it me, then.
500
(Taking it from TOXILUS.)