Perde 2
[Textpart 3]
Has he rot received the gold from his entertainer, Archidemides?
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CHRYSALUS
Alas! my heart and my brain are cleft, Nicobulus, whenever mention is made of that fellow. Why don’t you call that entertainer of his your enemy?
NICOBULUS
Troth now, prithee, why so?
CHRYSALUS
Because, i’ faith, I know for sure,
that Vulcan, the Moon, the Sun, the Day, those four Divinities, never shone upon another more wicked.
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NICOBULUS
What, than Archidemides? Dear me!
CHRYSALUS
Than Archidemides, I say.
NICOBULUS
What has he done?
CHRYSALUS
What has he not done? Why don’t you ask me that? In the first place, then, he began to make denials to your son,
and to assert that he didn’t owe three obolsThree obols: The obolus was a very small Greek silver coin. Its value was something more than three-halfpence of our money. to you. Forthwith, Mnesilochus summoned to himself there our ancient host, the old gentleman, Pelago; in his presence, he at once showed the fellow the tokenThe token: Symbolum was some object which a person delivered to another, in order to serve as a mark, sign, or token to a third person, that he was to do something which had been previously agreed upon., which you yourself had given to your son to deliver to him.
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NICOBULUS
Well—when he showed him the token?
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CHRYSALUS
He began to say that it was counterfeit, and that it was not a true token; and how many reproaches he did utter against him so undeserving of them! and he said that in other matters he had committed forgery.
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NICOBULUS
Have you not the gold? In the first place, I want that to be told me.
CHRYSALUS
Yes, after the Praetor had appointed delegatesAppointed delegates: Recuperatores were certain commissioners or judges-delegate, who were usually named by the Praetor, at Rome and in the provinces, to decide matters in dispute, such as disagreements about money and property; also to assess the damages where a wrong had been done; to enquire whether a man was freeborn or not; or, to which of two claimants civic honours properly belonged.; being cast, at length compelled by force he paid down twelve hundred Philippeans.
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NICOBULUS
He owed that much.
CHRYSALUS
Besides, listen to another struggle of his, as well, which he was desirous to enter on.
NICOBULUS
What, besides, as well?
Oho! this will turn out now a regular hawk’s nestRegular hawk’s nest: Accipitrina. This word is given by Ritschel, in place of the old reading accipe trina, which made nonsense. The word does not seem to occur elsewhere..
I’ve been deceived. I’ve entrusted my gold to an AutolycusAn Autolycus: Autolycus was the son of Mercury and the grand-father of Ulysses. He was noted for his thievish propensities, and was in the habit of painting the cattle which he had stolen of another colour, in order that they might not be recognized. for my host!
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CHRYSALUS
Nay, but do you listen—
