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1338
(Enter LYCUS.)
LYCUS
(to himself.)
No one, in my opinion at least, is deceived, who rightly states his case to his friends.
But by all my friends the one same thing is agreed upon, that I ought to hang myself, so as not to be adjudged to Agorastocles.
1340
No one, in my opinion at least, is deceived, who rightly states his case to his friends.
But by all my friends the one same thing is agreed upon, that I ought to hang myself, so as not to be adjudged to Agorastocles.
1340
AGORASTOCLES
(stepping forward.)
Procurer, let’s away to the court of justice.
Procurer, let’s away to the court of justice.
LYCUS
I do entreat you, Agorastocles, that I may be at liberty to hang myself.
I do entreat you, Agorastocles, that I may be at liberty to hang myself.
HANNO
I summon you to justice.
I summon you to justice.
LYCUS
But what have you to do with me?
But what have you to do with me?
HANNO
(pointing at his DAUGHTERS.)
Because I affirm that both of these are my daughters, free women, and free by birth,
who, when little, were kidnapped together with their nurse.
Because I affirm that both of these are my daughters, free women, and free by birth,
who, when little, were kidnapped together with their nurse.
LYCUS
Indeed, I knew that already, and I wondered that no one came to assert their freedom; they really are none of mine, indeed.
Indeed, I knew that already, and I wondered that no one came to assert their freedom; they really are none of mine, indeed.
ANTHEMONIDES
Procurer, you must come to justice.
Procurer, you must come to justice.
LYCUS
You are talking about the breakfast; it is owing to you; I’ll give it.
1350
You are talking about the breakfast; it is owing to you; I’ll give it.
1350
AGORASTOCLES
Twofold
compensation I must have for the theft.
Twofold
compensation I must have for the theft.
LYCUS
(pointing to his neck.)
Take it out of this, then.
Take it out of this, then.
HANNO
And I
require a full satisfaction.
And I
require a full satisfaction.
LYCUS
(pointing to his neck.)
Take out of this whatever you please.
Take out of this whatever you please.
ANTHEMONIDES
And I, indeed, a mina of silver.
And I, indeed, a mina of silver.
LYCUS
(pointing to his neck.)
Take out of this whatever you please. I’ll at once settle the matter for all with my neck, just like a porter.
Take out of this whatever you please. I’ll at once settle the matter for all with my neck, just like a porter.
AGORASTOCLES
Do you refuse me in any way?
1355
Do you refuse me in any way?
1355
LYCUS
Not a word, in fact.
Not a word, in fact.
AGORASTOCLES
Go in-doors, then, damsels. But
(to HANNO.) my kinsman, betroth me your daughter, as you promised.
Go in-doors, then, damsels. But
(to HANNO.) my kinsman, betroth me your daughter, as you promised.
HANNO
I should not venture
to do otherwise.
I should not venture
to do otherwise.
ANTHEMONIDES
Kindly farewell!
Kindly farewell!
AGORASTOCLES
And kindly farewell to you!
And kindly farewell to you!
ANTHEMONIDES
(holding up what he has got in his hand.)
Procurer, I take this as a pledge with me for my mina.
Procurer, I take this as a pledge with me for my mina.
LYCUS
By heavens, I am ruined!
1360
By heavens, I am ruined!
1360
AGORASTOCLES
Why yes, before very long, when you’ve come to justice.
Why yes, before very long, when you’ve come to justice.
LYCUS
Nay but, I own myself your slave. What need of the Praetor have we? But I beseech you that I may be allowed to pay the simple sum
1
, three hundred Philippeans. I think it can be scraped together; to-morrow I’ll have an auction.
Nay but, I own myself your slave. What need of the Praetor have we? But I beseech you that I may be allowed to pay the simple sum
1
, three hundred Philippeans. I think it can be scraped together; to-morrow I’ll have an auction.
AGORASTOCLES
On condition, then,
that you shall be in wooden custody at my house.
1365
On condition, then,
that you shall be in wooden custody at my house.
1365
LYCUS
So be it.
So be it.
AGORASTOCLES
Follow me in-doors, my kinsman, that we may keep this festive day in joyousness, upon his misfortune and our good fortune.
(To the AUDIENCE.) Heartily fare you well. To great length have we gone; at last all these misfortunes fall upon the Procurer.
Now—that which is the last seasoning for our Play—if it has pleased you, our Comedy asks applause.
1370
Follow me in-doors, my kinsman, that we may keep this festive day in joyousness, upon his misfortune and our good fortune.
(To the AUDIENCE.) Heartily fare you well. To great length have we gone; at last all these misfortunes fall upon the Procurer.
Now—that which is the last seasoning for our Play—if it has pleased you, our Comedy asks applause.
1370
Poenulus. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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