Perde 4
[Textpart 3]
What if he’s in debt to the amount of his life?Amount of his life: Quid si animam debet? Erasmus tells us that this was a proverb among the Greeks applied to those who ran so deeply in debt, that their persons, and consequently, in one sense, their very existence, came into the power of their creditors.
GETA
His land is mortgaged,—for ten minae he said.
DEMIPHO
Well, well, let him take her then; I’ll give it.
GETA
He has a house besides, mortgaged for another ten.
DEMIPHO
Huy, huy! that’s too much.
CHREMES
Don’t be crying out; you may have those ten of me.
GETA
A lady’s maid must be brought for his wife; and then too, a little more is wanted for some furniture, and some is wanted for the wedding expenses. Well then, said he, for these items, put down ten more.
665
DEMIPHO
Then let him at once bring six hundred actionsSix hundred actions: Sescentos; literally, six hundred. The Romans used this term as we do the words ten thousand, to signify a large, but indefinite number. against me; I shall give nothing at all; is this dirty fellow to be laughing at me as well?
CHREMES
Pray do be quiet; I’ll give it: do you only bring your son to marry the woman we want him to have.
670
ANTIPHO
Ah me! Geta, you have ruined me by your treachery.
CHREMES
’Tis on my account she’s turned off; it’s right that I should bear the loss.
GETA
Take care and let me know, said he, as soon as possible,
if they are going to let me have her, that I may get rid of the other, so that I mayn’t be in doubt; for the others have agreed to.pay me down the portion directly.
675
CHREMES
Let him have her at once; let him give notice to them that he breaks off the match with the other, and let him marry this woman.
DEMIPHO
Yes, and little joy to him of the bargain!
CHREMES
Luckily, too, I’ve now brought home some money with me,
the rents which my wife’s farms at Lemnos produce. I’ll take it out of that, and tell my wife that you had occasion for it.
680
ANTIPHO
What have you been doing?
