Perde 1
[Textpart 3]
Should I not, should I not, if you effect this adroitly Effect this adroitly: Plautus designedly makes Agorastocles talk in this disjointed and unintelligible manner, both for the purpose of showing his own distraction and teasing Milphio. He does not, however, seem likely to hurt his own interest by his promises. Given connectedly, his words stand thus (as given in a Note to Warner’s Translation): Should I not give you your liberty to-day, if you do what you have promised—if you impose upon the pander, and deliver Adelphasium to me—I do not deserve so many Philippeans of gold as there are dead men in the shades, waves in the sea, or star in the sky.—
AGORASTOCLES
Ought I not this very day—
AGORASTOCLES
To give you freedom
MILPHIO
Only do begone.
430
AGORASTOCLES
By my troth, I should not deserve—
430
AGORASTOCLES
As many as are the dead in Acheron—
MILPHIO
Will you, then, move off?
AGORASTOCLES
Nor yet as many as there are waves in the sea—
MILPHIO
Are you going to move off?
AGORASTOCLES
Nor as many as there are clouds—
MILPHIO
Do you persist in going on this way?
AGORASTOCLES
Nor as there are stars in heaven—
MILPHIO
Do you persist in dinning my ears?
AGORASTOCLES
Neither this thing nor that; nor yet, indeed, seriously speaking—nor, by my faith, indeed. What need is there of words? And why not?—a thing that in one word—here we may say anything we please—and yet, i’ faith, not seriously in reality. D’ye see how ’tis? So may the Gods bless me!—do you wish me to tell you in honest truth?
435
A thing that here we may between ourselves—so help me Jupiter— Do you see how? Look you—do you believe what I tell you?
440
