Perde 5
[Textpart 1]
(Giving him the cup.) This cup my hand presents to you, as it becomes a mistress to her love.
775
TOXILUS
Here’s luck to him who envies me, and to him who rejoices in this joy.
[Textpart 2]
Those who are, and those who shall be, and those who have been, and those who are to be hereafter, all of them I singly by far surpass, in being the most wretched of men alive.
DORDALUS
I’m undone, ruined quite! This day has shone upon me the most unfortunate of days; that ruiner Toxilus has so outmanœuvred me, and has so laid waste my property! A whole cartload of silver, to my misfortune, have I upset, and lost, and have not that for which I did upset it. May all the Deities utterly confound that Persian, and all Persians, and all persons besides! in such a way has Toxilus, the wretch, conjured this up against me.
Because I didn’t trust him for the money, for that reason has he contrived this plan against me,—a fellow, that, by my faith, if I only live, I’ll bring to torture and the fetters; if, indeed, his master ever returns here, as I trust he will. (Catching sight of the REVELLERS.) But what is it I see? Do look at that. What play is this? By my troth, they’re carousing here surely. I’ll accost them. (He goes up to them.) O worthy sir (to TOXILUS.) my greetings to you—you, too (to LEMNISELENE.) my worthy freed-woman.
785
TOXILUS
Why surely this is Dordalus.
SAGARISTIO
Invite him, then, to come.
TOXILUS
Come here, if you like.
(Aside.) Come, let’s sing his praises.
(Aloud.) Dordalus, most delightful fellow, welcome, here’s a place for you; take your place here (pointing to a couch.) Bring water for his feet (to the SLAVES.) Are you going to give it, lad?
DORDALUS
Don’t you, please, be touching me with a single finger, lest I should fell you to the ground, you villain.
PAEGNIUM
And I this very instant will be striking out your eye with this tankard.
DORDALUS
What do you say, gallows Gallows: Crux. Literally, cross; in allusion to it as peculiarly the instrument of the punishment of slaves., you wearer-away of the whip? How have you imposed upon me Imposed upon me: Manus adita est. Literally, your hand was gone to. This is probably an allusion to the practice of kissing the hand in irony to a person when he is loudly complaining of having been imposed upon. to-day? Into what embarrassments have you thrown me? How have I been baulked about the Persian?
795
TOXILUS
You’ll be off with your abuse from here, if you are wise.
DORDALUS
But, my worthy freed-woman, you knew of this, and concealed it from me.
for a person who can enjoy himself to turn to brawling in preference. ’Twere more proper for you to arrange about those matters another time.
DORDALUS
My heart’s in flames.
