Perde 3
[Textpart 5]
Before other matters, Bacchis, will I give place to what you enjoin me, that I find out Mnesilochus, and bring him, together with myself, to you. But at this my mind is surprised, if my messenger has reached him, what it is that delays him. I’ll go into his house here, and see if perchance he’s at home.
[Textpart 6]
I’ve given up to my father all the gold. Now could I wish that she should meet me, after I am penniless, this fair one so scornful of me. Yet with what great difficulty did he grant me a pardon for Chrysalus. But I prevailed on him at last that he wouldn’t be at all angry with him.
530
PISTOCLERUS
Isn’t this my friend?
MNESILOCHUS
Isn’t this my foe that I see?
PISTOCLERUS
For sure ’tis he.
535
PISTOCLERUS
I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace. (Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!
535
PISTOCLERUS
As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.
MNESILOCHUS
A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.
PISTOCLERUS
Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?
MNESILOCHUS
Aye, and a very grievous one.
PISTOCLERUS
From what quarter?
MNESILOCHUS
From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend.
PISTOCLERUS
Many live after that manner and method, who, when you think them to be friends, are found false with their deceitfulness, strong in their talking, slothful in their doing, of faith infirm. Not one is there whom they don’t envy on their enjoying prosperity; through their own indolence do they themselves take right good care that no envy is directed against them.
540
MNESILOCHUS
By my troth, you surely understand their ways most thoroughly. But still this one misfortune do they find from their bad disposition; they are the friends of no one, while they themselves are all at enmity against themselves; and these, while they are deceiving themselves, in their foolishness imagine that others are deceived. Just so is he whom I supposed to be as much a friend to me as I am to my own self.
545
He, so far as in him lay, has taken all care to do whatever injury he could towards me, to turn all my own resources against me.
550
PISTOCLERUS
This same must me a bad man.
MNESILOCHUS
I judge that so he is.
PISTOCLERUS
Troth now, prithee, do tell me who it is.
