Perde 4
[Textpart 4]
If the inhabitants have good morals, I think it’s properly fortified.
DAUGHTER
If Perfidiousness, and Peculation, and Avarice are exiled from the city, Envy in the fourth place, Ambition in the fifth, Scandal in the sixth, Perjury in the seventh.
555
DAUGHTER
Idleness in the eighth, Injustice in the ninth, Immorality, which is the very worst in its attack, in the tenth.
If these things shall not be away from it, a wall a hundred-fold were too little for preserving its interests.
560
DORDALUS
What do you mean?
TOXILUS
You are among those ten companions; you must depart in banishment from here.
TOXILUS
Because you are perjured.
DORDALUS
Really she has spoken not without some cleverness.
TOXILUS
That’s to your advantage, I say; you buy her.
DORDALUS
Upon my faith, the more I look at her, the more she pleases me.
TOXILUS
If you do buy her,
immortal Gods, no other Procurer will be more wealthy than yourself; at your will you’ll be turning people out of their estates and households; you’ll be transacting business with men of the highest rank; they’ll be longing for your favour; they’ll be coming to make merry at your house.
565
DORDALUS
But I shan’t allow them to be admitted.
TOXILUS
But then at night they’ll be singing They’ll be singing: Occento seems to have a twofold meaning —to sing to or serenade, or to sing against, to defame in abusive songs. Perhaps the latter is the meaning in the present passage. before your threshold, and be burning down your door;
do you at once order your house to be fastened with a door of iron With a door of iron: De l’Œuvre suggests that Plautus here alludes to the story of Jupiter and Danaë., change for a house of iron, fix in thresholds of iron, a bar of iron and a ring; if you don’t prove sparing of the iron, do you order thick fetters of iron to be rivetted upon yourself.
570
DORDALUS
Away to utter perdition!
TOXILUS
Go then, make purchase of her, and follow my advice.
