Earthworm
: He thinks, that in the short space of time during which he has been absent in the Temple, he can only have sprung out of the earth, as he had not seen him a few minutes before; and taking him to be a sort of "præstigiator," or "juggler," he fancies that he has followed him into the Temple, and purloined the treasure.
What the curst plague does ail you? What business have you with me, old fellow? Why do you torment me? Why are you dragging me? For what reason are you beating me?
You out-and-out whipping-post, do you even ask that, you, not thief, but thrice-dotted thief.
What have I stolen from you?
Give me that back here, if you please.
What do you want me to give you back?
Do you ask me that?
As for me, I've taken nothing away from you.
But give up that which you have taken away for yourself. Are you going to do so?
Do what?
You can't carry it off.
What do you want?
Lay it down.
Troth, for my part, I think that you are in the habitIn the habit
: The real meaning of the author in this line is so indelicate, that it requires another turn to be given to the passage.
Put that down, please; cease your quibbling; I'm not trifling now.
What am I to put down? Why don't you mention it, whatever it is, by its own name? By my faith, I really have neither taken nor touched anything.
Show me your hands, here.
Well, I do show them; see, here they are.
I see them. Come, show me the third Show me your hand. Here 'tis. But where's the other? Why, here. But I mean, where's your other hand? Think you me the giant with an hundred hands? Give me your right. My right? Your left? My left? Now both. There's both, my dear AntonioShow me the third
: This passage has been considered as extravagant; but it really does not appear inconsistent with the ridiculous conduct of the wretched Euclio throughout.
A very great one, I confess, inasmuch as you are not strung up; and that too shall be done this moment, un less you do confess.
What am I to confess to you?
What it was you took away hence.
May the Gods confound me, if I've taken away anything of yours,
Come then, shake out your cloak.
At your pleasure.
You haven't it among your under-clothing?
Search where you please.
Pshaw! how civilly the rascal speaks, that I mayn't suppose he has taken it away! I know your tricks. Come, show me here again that right hand.
Here it is.
Well, then, I show you both, in fact.
Now I leave off searching. Give back that here.
Give back what?
Are you trifling with me? You certainly have got it.
I, got it? Got what?
I shan't say; you want to hear. Whatever you have of mine, give it back.
You are mad; you've searched me all over at your own pleasure, and yet you've found nothing of yours in my possession.
Who was the other
: This suspicion in Euclio is very natural; and he asks the question very artfully, for the purpose of catching a confession from him by inadvertence.
He returns his thanks not amissThanks not amiss
: He says this sarcastically. If he gets such thanks when he has not stolen the treasure, what would he have got supposing that he had?
I'll go in here now, and I'll at once throttle this accomplice of yours. Will you not fly hence from my sight? Will you away from here, or no?
I'm off.
Take you care, please, how I see you.
I would rather that I were dead outright, by a shocking death, than not lay an ambush this day for that old fellow. But he'll not venture now to hide his gold here; he'll now be carrying it with him, I guess, and be changing the spot. But hark! there's a noise at the door.
Played me a pretty trick
: "Sublevit os." "Sublinere os" means "to paint the face secretly," in allusion to the practical joke of so doing when a person is asleep, and thereby making a fool of him.Would as soon give
: That is, "not at all." He says "thank you" to the raven, but he would be as likely to give it a scrap of victuals as to throw it away, which was quite repugnant to his "jus et norma vivendi," his mode of life.Sylvanus
: Sylvanus was the tutelary Divinity of the woodlands field, and cattle. Pigs were usually offered in sacrifice to him.