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645
(Enter STRABAX.)
STRABAX
(to himself.)
One morning a short time since my father ordered me to go hence, to deal out the mast for food for the oxen. After I got there a person arrived at the farmhouse (so it pleased the Gods), who was owing money to my father, who had formerly purchased some Tarentine sheep of my father;
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he asked for my father; I said he was in the city; I enquired what he wanted with him. The fellow takes a purse from off his neck, and gives me twenty minae; with pleasure I receive them,
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and stow them in my purse; these bad sheep
1
, the minae, have I brought in my purse hither to the city.
By my troth, Mars has proved very angry with my father; for his sheep are not very far away from the wolves
2
. Now, with this one stroke shall I send adrift those finical town gallants, and be bundling them all out of doors.
My father, in the first place, I’m quite resolved to ruin, root and branch; then next in turn, my mother. Now to-day I’ll carry this money to her whom I love more than my own mother.
(Goes towards the door of PHRONESIUM, and knocks.) Hillo there—is any one here? There’s not a woman. Is any one going to open this door?
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(opens the door.)
One morning a short time since my father ordered me to go hence, to deal out the mast for food for the oxen. After I got there a person arrived at the farmhouse (so it pleased the Gods), who was owing money to my father, who had formerly purchased some Tarentine sheep of my father;
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he asked for my father; I said he was in the city; I enquired what he wanted with him. The fellow takes a purse from off his neck, and gives me twenty minae; with pleasure I receive them,
650
and stow them in my purse; these bad sheep
1
, the minae, have I brought in my purse hither to the city.
By my troth, Mars has proved very angry with my father; for his sheep are not very far away from the wolves
2
. Now, with this one stroke shall I send adrift those finical town gallants, and be bundling them all out of doors.
My father, in the first place, I’m quite resolved to ruin, root and branch; then next in turn, my mother. Now to-day I’ll carry this money to her whom I love more than my own mother.
(Goes towards the door of PHRONESIUM, and knocks.) Hillo there—is any one here? There’s not a woman. Is any one going to open this door?
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ASTAPHIUM
Why so a stranger, pray, my dear Strabax?
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Why don’t you come in at once?
Ought you to have been doing so,
you, indeed, who are so intimate?
Why so a stranger, pray, my dear Strabax?
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Why don’t you come in at once?
Ought you to have been doing so,
you, indeed, who are so intimate?
STRABAX
I’ll go in then, that you mayn’t think I’m loitering.
(Goes into the house.)
I’ll go in then, that you mayn’t think I’m loitering.
ASTAPHIUM
You act obligingly.
You act obligingly.
Truculentus. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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