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155
(Enter AESCHINUS and PARMENO with the MUSIC-GIRL, followed by SANNIO and a crowd of people.)
(Enter AESCHINUS and PARMENO with the MUSIC-GIRL, followed by SANNIO and a crowd of people.)
SANNIO
I beseech you, fellow-citizens, do give aid to a miserable and innocent man; do assist the distressed.
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I beseech you, fellow-citizens, do give aid to a miserable and innocent man; do assist the distressed.
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AESCHINUS
(to the GIRL.)
Be quiet, and now then stand here just where you are. Why do you look back? There’s no danger; he shall never touch you while I am here.
Be quiet, and now then stand here just where you are. Why do you look back? There’s no danger; he shall never touch you while I am here.
SANNIO
I’ll have her, in spite of all.
I’ll have her, in spite of all.
AESCHINUS
Though he is a villain, he’ll not risk, to-day, getting a second beating.
Though he is a villain, he’ll not risk, to-day, getting a second beating.
SANNIO
Hear me, Aeschinus, that you may not say that you were in ignorance of my calling; I am a Procurer.
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Hear me, Aeschinus, that you may not say that you were in ignorance of my calling; I am a Procurer.
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AESCHINUS
I know it.
I know it.
SANNIO
And of as high a character as any one ever was. When you shall be excusing yourself by-and-by, how that you wish this injury had not been done me, I shall not value it this
(snapping his fingers). Depend upon it, I’ll prosecute my rights; and you shall never pay with words for the evil that you have done me in deed.
I know those ways of yours:
I wish it hadn’t happened; I’ll take my oath that you did not deserve this injustice; while I myself have been treated in a disgraceful manner.
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And of as high a character as any one ever was. When you shall be excusing yourself by-and-by, how that you wish this injury had not been done me, I shall not value it this
(snapping his fingers). Depend upon it, I’ll prosecute my rights; and you shall never pay with words for the evil that you have done me in deed.
I know those ways of yours:
I wish it hadn’t happened; I’ll take my oath that you did not deserve this injustice; while I myself have been treated in a disgraceful manner.
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AESCHINUS
(to PARMENO.)
Go first with all dispatch and open the door.
(PARMENO opens the door.)
Go first with all dispatch and open the door.
SANNIO
But you will avail nothing by this.
But you will avail nothing by this.
AESCHINUS
(To the GIRL.)
Now then, step in.
Now then, step in.
SANNIO
(coming between.)
But I’ll not let her.
But I’ll not let her.
AESCHINUS
Step this way, Parmeno; you are gone too far that way; here
(pointing), stand close by him; there, that’s what I want.
Now then, take care you don’t move your eyes in any direction from mine, that there may be no delay if I give you the sign, to your fist being instantly planted in his jaws.
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Step this way, Parmeno; you are gone too far that way; here
(pointing), stand close by him; there, that’s what I want.
Now then, take care you don’t move your eyes in any direction from mine, that there may be no delay if I give you the sign, to your fist being instantly planted in his jaws.
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SANNIO
I’d have him then try that.
I’d have him then try that.
AESCHINUS
(to PARMENO.)
Now then, observe me.
2
Now then, observe me.
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PARMENO
(to SANNIO.)
Let go the woman.
(Strikes him.)
Let go the woman.
SANNIO
Oh! scandalous deed!
Oh! scandalous deed!
AESCHINUS
He shall repeat it, if you don’t take care.
(PARMENO strikes him again.)
He shall repeat it, if you don’t take care.
SANNIO
Oh shocking!
Oh shocking!
AESCHINUS
(to PARMENO.)
I didn’t give the sign; but still make your mistakes on that side in preference.
Now then, go.
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(PARMENO goes with the MUSIC-GIRL into MICIO’S house.)
I didn’t give the sign; but still make your mistakes on that side in preference.
Now then, go.
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SANNIO
What is the meaning of this? Have you the sway here, Aeschinus?
What is the meaning of this? Have you the sway here, Aeschinus?
AESCHINUS
If I had it, you should be exalted for your deserts.
If I had it, you should be exalted for your deserts.
SANNIO
What business have you with me?
What business have you with me?
AESCHINUS
None.
None.
SANNIO
How then, do you know who I am?
How then, do you know who I am?
AESCHINUS
I don’t want to.
I don’t want to.
SANNIO
Have I touched any thing of yours?
Have I touched any thing of yours?
AESCHINUS
If you had touched it, you’d have got a drubbing.
If you had touched it, you’d have got a drubbing.
SANNIO
What greater right then have you to take my property, for which I paid my money?
Answer me that.
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What greater right then have you to take my property, for which I paid my money?
Answer me that.
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AESCHINUS
It were better for you not to be making a disturbance here before the house; for if you persist in being impertinent, you shall be dragged in at once, and there you shall be lashed to death with whips.
It were better for you not to be making a disturbance here before the house; for if you persist in being impertinent, you shall be dragged in at once, and there you shall be lashed to death with whips.
SANNIO
A free man, with whips?
A free man, with whips?
AESCHINUS
So it shall be.
So it shall be.
SANNIO
Oh, you shameless fellow! Is this the place where they say there is equal liberty for all?
Oh, you shameless fellow! Is this the place where they say there is equal liberty for all?
AESCHINUS
If you have now raved enough, Procurer, now then listen, if you please.
If you have now raved enough, Procurer, now then listen, if you please.
SANNIO
Why, is it I that have been raving, or you against me?
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Why, is it I that have been raving, or you against me?
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AESCHINUS
Leave alone all that, and come to the point.
Leave alone all that, and come to the point.
SANNIO
What point? Where am I to come to?
What point? Where am I to come to?
AESCHINUS
Are you willing now that I should say something that concerns you?
Are you willing now that I should say something that concerns you?
SANNIO
With all my heart, only so it be something that’s fair.
With all my heart, only so it be something that’s fair.
AESCHINUS
Very fine! a Procurer wishing me not to say what’s unfair.
Very fine! a Procurer wishing me not to say what’s unfair.
SANNIO
I am a Procurer,
3
I confess it—the common bane of youth—a perjurer, a public nuisance; still, no injury has befallen you from me.
I am a Procurer,
3
I confess it—the common bane of youth—a perjurer, a public nuisance; still, no injury has befallen you from me.
AESCHINUS
Why, faith, that remains to come—
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Why, faith, that remains to come—
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SANNIO
Pray, Aeschinus, do come back to the point at which you set out.
Pray, Aeschinus, do come back to the point at which you set out.
AESCHINUS
You bought her for twenty nine; and may your bargain never thrive! That sum shall be given for her.
You bought her for twenty nine; and may your bargain never thrive! That sum shall be given for her.
SANNIO
What if I don’t choose to sell her to you? Will you compel me?
What if I don’t choose to sell her to you? Will you compel me?
AESCHINUS
By no means.
By no means.
SANNIO
I was afraid you would.
I was afraid you would.
AESCHINUS
Neither do I think that a woman can be sold who is free; for I claim her by action of freedom.
4
Now consider which you choose; take the money, or prepare yourself for the action. Think of it, Procurer, till I return.
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(He goes into the house of MICIO.)
Neither do I think that a woman can be sold who is free; for I claim her by action of freedom.
4
Now consider which you choose; take the money, or prepare yourself for the action. Think of it, Procurer, till I return.
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SANNIO
(to himself.)
O supreme
Jupiter! I do by no means wonder that men run mad through ill usage. He has dragged me out of my house, beaten me, taken my property away against my will, and has given me, unfortunate wretch, more than five hundred blows.
In return for all this ill usage he demands the girl to be made over to him for just the same price at which she was bought. But however, since he has so well deserved of me, be it so: he demands what is his due. Very well, I consent then, provided he only gives the money. But I suspect this; when I have said that I will sell her for so much, he’ll be getting witnesses forthwith that I have sold her.
6
As to getting the money, it’s all a dream. Call again by and by; come back to-morrow.
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I could bear with that too, hard as it is, if he would only pay it. But I consider this to be the fact; when you take up this trade, you must brook and bear in silence the affronts of these young fellows. However, no one will pay me; it’s in vain for me to be reckoning upon that.
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O supreme
Jupiter! I do by no means wonder that men run mad through ill usage. He has dragged me out of my house, beaten me, taken my property away against my will, and has given me, unfortunate wretch, more than five hundred blows.
In return for all this ill usage he demands the girl to be made over to him for just the same price at which she was bought. But however, since he has so well deserved of me, be it so: he demands what is his due. Very well, I consent then, provided he only gives the money. But I suspect this; when I have said that I will sell her for so much, he’ll be getting witnesses forthwith that I have sold her.
6
As to getting the money, it’s all a dream. Call again by and by; come back to-morrow.
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I could bear with that too, hard as it is, if he would only pay it. But I consider this to be the fact; when you take up this trade, you must brook and bear in silence the affronts of these young fellows. However, no one will pay me; it’s in vain for me to be reckoning upon that.
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Adelphi. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). New York. 1874.
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