to himself. That slave's a base and worthless fellow, who values his master's commands at nought; and he, too, is good for nothing who is forgetful to do his duty unless he's put in mind. But those who forthwith deem themselves to be at liberty, when they have hidden themselves from the sight of their master, who riot, wench, devour what they have,—aye, what they have not,—long do those same endure the name of servitude. Nor is there any good disposition in them, except only that they may uphold themselves by their dishonest contrivances. With these, neither their company nor their conversation suits me, nor by these persons have I been ever known. Although he is away, I consider my master as being here; I fear him when he isn't here, that I may not have to fear him when he is here. Therefore, as I have been ordered, to this business will I give my attention. But that Syrus, to whom I gave the token, would have been letting me stay even yet in the shop. As he bade me, I stayed there; he said that he would send for me when the procurer was at home. But since he hasn't come, or called me while staying there, I'm come hither of my own accord, that I may know what is the fact, that that fellow mayn't be playing tricks with me. And there is nothing better than that I should knock at this door, and call some out here from indoors. I want this procurer to take this money of me, and to send off this woman with me. Goes towards BALLIO'S door.

from behind, to SIMO. Hark you!

apart. What do you want?

apart. This fellow's my own. SIMO. apart. How so?

apart, pointing to the purse in the hand of HARPAX. Because that booty's mine. He's in search of a mistress he has got money. I already long to fix my teeth in him.

apart. Are you going to devour him already?

apart. While he's fresh, while he's in the habit of giving away, while he's warm upon it, 'tis proper for him to be gobbled up. The good men keep me poor, the bad ones support me; the virtuous are a benefit to the public, the debauched to myself.

aside. A mischief may the Gods send you; such a villain are you.

apart. Venus bestows upon me these blessings, when she drives hither these haters of money, these who quite long for losses, who carefully pamper themselves and their youthful age, eat, drink, and wench. Of quite different dispositions are they and you.

to himself. I'm now delaying myself, in not knocking at this door, that I may know whether or no Ballio is at home now. Calls out, going up to the door. Hallo! where are you? Hallo! where are you?

apart. Why, he's going straight up towards my house. I shall come off finely loaded with plunder from this fellow; I know it's a lucky omen for me.

knocking violently at the door. Does any one come to open this door?

calling out to him. Hallo! you in the scarf, what's owing you at that house?

I'm enquiring for Ballio, the procurer, the master of the house.

Whoever you are, young man, make short work of your enquiries.

Why so?

Because he himself in person sees you in his presence before him.

What, are you he?

You in the scarf, take you care, please, of some crooked misfortune, and point your finger Point your finger: Simo thinks that Harpax has come to be a customer of the procurer, and tells him to beware of misfortune, and rather to point the finger of scorn at such a worthless character. The middle finger was used for that purpose. at him; this fellow is a procurer.

pointing to SIMO. And this is an honest man. To SIMO. But you, worthy fellow, are many a time being hunted after in the Forum with noise enough, when you haven't a groat in the world, unless this procurer here comes to help you a bit.

But why don't you address yourself to me?

I do address you. What is it you want?

You to take this money. He holds out the five minæ.

holding out his hand. Already have I extended my hand, if you are going to give it.

Take it; here are five picked minæ of silver counted out. Gives him the money. This did my master, Polymachæroplagides. order me to deliver to you, the sum which he was owing, and that you were to send Phœnicium with me.

Your master?

I say to that effect.

The Captain?

I speak to that effect.

The Macedonian?

Such is the fact, I say.

Polymachæroplagides sent you to me?

You say what's fact.

To give me this money?

If you really are the procurer Ballio.

And for you to take away the woman from me?

Even so.

Did he say that it was Phœnicium?

You remember it exactly.

Wait there; I'll return to you this instant.

Make haste, then, with all speed, for I'm in a hurry. 'Tis now late in the day, d'ye see?

I see; still I wish to call this person aside. Do you only wait there; I'll return to you this instant. He takes SIMO on one side. What's to be done now, Simo? What are we to do? I've detected this fellow that has brought the money in the fact.

How so?

And don't you understand what this plan is?

About as much as the most ignorant do.

Your servant, Pseudolus, has sent this fellow on the message, as though he was from the Macedonian Captain.

Have you got the money from the fellow?

Do you ask about that which you see? Shows the purse in his hand.

Harkye, remember to give me one half of that plunder. It's right that that should be in common.

Why, plague on't, 'tis all your own Your own: Meaning that, no doubt, Pseudolus had stolen it from him..

coming forward a step. How soon are you going to attend to me?

I'll attend to you, indeed. Aside. What now do you advise me to do, Simo?

aside. Let's make some fun of this counterfeit spy, even until he himself shall be sensible that he is being made a fool of.

Follow me. To HARPAX. What have you to say? You are his servant, I suppose?

Most certainly.

At what price did he purchase you?

With the victory of his prowess in battle; for I was a very great general at home in my own country.

Why, did he ever capture a gaol in your country?

If you utter affronting speeches, you'll be hearing them.

In what time did you come from Sicyon hither?

In one day, by noon.

Bravo! By my troth, you did come quickly; how very swift of foot this man is.

When you look at his calves, you might know that he can wear heavy fetters. How say you—were you also, when a child, in the habit of sleeping in a cradle?

Of course.

And were you, too, in the habit of doing The habit of doing: An indecent allusion is most probably here intended. An attempt has been made in the translation to turn it into another channel.—you know what I mean?

Of course he was in the habit of doing as other children did?

Are you men in your senses?

What, because I asked you that? At night, when the Captain was going on guard, and when you were going with him, did the sword of the officer fit your scabbard?

Go to utter perdition.

You, indeed, shall have the opportunity of going there in good time to-day.

But do you bring out the woman to me, or else give me back the money.

Wait a bit.

Why should I wait?

That scarf, tell me for how much it has been lent.

What matters it?

How much is the sword hired for?

These fellows surely stand in need of hellebore Have need of hellebore: Black hellebore was much esteemed in eases of madness. Harpax has really, from their way of proceeding, some reason to think that the persons in conversation with him are not in their right senses..

How now—Takes hold of him. HAR. repulsing him. Leave me alone.

What wages does that broad-brimmed hat hire to-day for its owner?

What owner?

What do the shoes? * * * * * * *

What are you dreaming about? Why, I'm the owner of all these things, bought with my own savings.

Those, you mean, which the upper part of your thighs supports Your thighs supports: Unless a more gross allusion is intended, he means that his "peculium" is not his "savings" (which is the strict meaning of the word), but his back and flanks, which often receive on them the punishment of servitude, ana which alone he can call his own..

aside. These old fellows have been anointed; they want themselves rubbed downThemselves rubbed down: After bathing, the Greeks and Romans were in the habit of being anointed, and then rubbed down with a flesh-brush. Probably the latter custom had gone out of fashion in the time of Plautus. Harpax says that the old men want to be rubbed down; but he means, as uncle Bowling expresses it in Roderick Random, "with an oaken towel.", after the old-fashioned custom.

I' faith, prithee, answer me this truly and seriously, which I ask of you: What are you to earn? For how trifling a sum has Pseudolus hired you?

Who is this Pseudolus?

Your tutor, who has instructed you in this knavery, to take away the woman hence from me by stratagem.

What Pseudolus, and what stratagem are you talking to me about? A person that I know of no colour, black or white.

Will you not be off from here? There's no profit here for swindlers to-day. Therefore you may tell Pseudolus that another person has carried off the prize-the first Harpax that came.

On my word, I really am that Harpax.

Aye, on my word, you want to be. This is nothing more nor less than a downright impostor.

I have given yourself the money, and a while ago, immediately on my arrival, the token to your servant; a letter sealed with the likeness of my master, here before the door.

You gave a letter to my servant? What servant?

To Syrus.

to SIMO. The wicked rogue has assurance enoughHas assurance enough: The note of interrogation, in Ritschel's edition, after "nequam," seems to be out of place.. He hasn't contrived his knavish scheme amiss. By my faith, that whipping-post of a fellow, Pseudolus, how cleverly he has managed his plans; just as much money as the Captain owed, he has given this man, and has dressed out the fellow that he might take away the woman * * * * * * * * To HARPAX. But the real Harpax himself brought that letter hither to me.

My name is Harpax; I am the servant of the Macedonian Captain. I'm doing nothing roguishly or cheatingly, nor do I know or understand this Pseudolus, what mortal being he is.

Unless it's something wonderful, procurer, you've clearly lost the woman.

Assuredly, by my troth, I'm in dread of that more and more, when I come to hear his words. I' faith, that Syrus, too, has already set my heart a-freezing, that received the token from him.

'Tis a wonder if it isn't Pseudolus. To HARPAX. How now, you! of what appearance was the person to whom you delivered the token?

A certain red-haired fellow Red-haired fellow: Some Commentators fancy that in these lines Plautus intends to give a description of himself. If so, he certainly was not so handsome as he was ingenious., pot-bellied, with thick calves, swarthy, with a big head, sharp eyes, red face, and very large feet.

You prove our undoing, when you mention the feet. It was Pseudolus himself. It's all up with me. I'm dying now, Simo.

By my troth, I shan't let you die, unless the money's returned me-twenty minæ.

And another twenty minæ to me as well.

to SIMO. And is the sum to be taken of me that I promised by way of a joke?

From unprincipled men it's proper for both their money and their plunder to be taken.

At least you might give up Pseudolus to me.

I, give up Pseudolus to you? What has he done amiss? Did I not tell you a hundred times that you were to beware of him?

He has ruined me.

And on me he has laid a fine of twenty fair minæ.

What am I to do then?

When you have given me the money—go hang yourself.

The Gods confound you. To HARPAX. Follow me, then, this way, please, to the Forum, that I may pay you.

I follow you.

What am I to do?

Strangers I'll pay at once; to-morrow I'll settle with fellow-citizens. Pseudolus has been holding a councilgeneral A council-general: "Centuriata habuit comitia." Literally, "has held the comitia centuriata." These were the largest and most important meetings of the centuries or classes of all the Roman citizens, who there met together for the purpose of electing the superior magistrates by their votes, making laws, deciding upon war, and in later times, of concluding peace with foreign nations As these important things were done with due deliberation, Ballio borrows a figure thence, and means that Pseudolus has been giving all attention to the promotion of the success of the plot which he has laid against him. against my life, in sending that fellow to me to-day to carry off the woman. To HARPAX. Do you follow me, To the AUDIENCE. Now don't you be expecting that I shall be returning home this way. As matters stand, I've determined to go through the alleys.

If you had walked at the rate you talk, you'd by this have been at the Forum.

I'm determined to make this, instead of my birthday, my dying day. (Exit BALLIO, HARPAX following.)