Perde 1
[Textpart 2]
Be off, then, in all haste.
405
ADELPHASIUM
Follow me, sister.
AGORASTOCLES
And do you hear too? Pay all compliments to Venus in my name.
ADELPHASIUM
I’ll pay them.
AGORASTOCLES
Listen to this, too—
AGORASTOCLES
Perform the ceremony in few words. And do you hear? Look back at me. (She looks back.) She did look back. By my troth, I trust that Venus will do the same for you.
[Textpart 3]
What now do you advise me to do, Milphio?
410
MILPHIO
To give me a beating, and then have an auction Have an auction: Some Commentators have fancied that a play is intended upon the resemblance of the word auctio in this line and anctor in the preceding one.; for (pointing to the house) really, upon my faith, with utter impunity you might put up this house for sale.
410
MILPHIO
For the greater part you make your dwelling in my mouth Dwelling in my mouth: He says that his master may sell his own house, for he seems to have taken up his abode in his (Milphio’s) mouth in reference to his having continually to speak of him or to him..
AGORASTOCLES
Do have done with those expressions.
MILPHIO
What now do you wish?
AGORASTOCLES
I just now gave three hundred Philippeans to the bailiff Collybiscus, before you called me out of doors. I now adjure you, Milphio, by this right hand, and by this left hand its sister, and by your eyes, and by my passion, and by my own Adelphasium,
415
and by your liberty By your liberty: His liberty being a thing non-existent.—
420
MILPHIO
Why, now you adjure me by nothing at all.
420
AGORASTOCLES
My dear little Milphio, my kind occasion, my safeguard, do what you promised me you would do, that I may prove the ruin of this Procurer.
MILPHIO
Why, that’s very easy to be done. Be off, bring here with you your witnesses; meanwhile, in-doors I’ll forthwith provide your bailiff with my disguise and stratagems. Make haste and be off.
MILPHIO
That’s more my part More my part: He alludes to the common trick of slaves taking to flight. than yours.
