Perde 1
[Textpart 3]
I’ faith, I know it pretty nearly; that there may be something unfortunate for me.
PSEUDOLUS
Both to that and this for which we called you back, prithee do give your attention.
BALLIO
I am attending; but compress into a few words what you want, as I’m busy now.
PSEUDOLUS
He (pointing to CALIDORUS) is quite ashamed about what he promised you, and the day for which he promised it,
that he hasn’t even yet paid you those twenty minae for his mistress.
280
BALLIO
That which we are ashamed at is much more easily endured than that which we are vexed at. At not having paid the money, he is ashamed; I, because I have not received it, am vexed.
PSEUDOLUS
Still, he’ll pay it, he’ll procure it; do you only wait some days to come. But he has been afraid of this, that you’ll sell her on account of his embarrassment.
BALLIO
He had an opportunity, had he wished, of paying the money long ago.
285
CALIDORUS
What if I had it not?
BALLIO
If you had been in love, you would have found it on loan. You would have gone to the usurer To the usurer: Danista from the Greek δανίστης, an usurer.; you would have paid the interest; or else you would have pilfered it from your father.
PSEUDOLUS
Ought he to have pilfered it from his father, you most shameless villain? There is no fear that you’ll point out to him anything that’s right.
BALLIO
That’s not like a procurer.
CALIDORUS
And could I possibly pilfer anything from my father, an old man so much on his guard? And besides, if I could do so, filial affection forbids.
290
BALLIO
I understand you; do you then at night embrace filial affection in place of Phœnicium. But since I see you prefer your filial affection to your love—are all men your fathers? Is there no one for you to ask
to lend you some money?
295
CALIDORUS
Why, the very name of lending’s dead and gone by this.
295
PSEUDOLUS
Look you now; since, i’ faith Since, i’ faith: He alludes probably to the recent fraudulent failure of some well-known bankers., those fellows arose from the banker’s table, with a filled skin, who, when they called in their own, paid what they had borrowed to no born creature, since then, I say, all people have been more cautious not to trust another.
CALIDORUS
Most wretched am I; nowhere am I able to find a coin of silver;
so distractedly am I perishing both through love and want of money.
300
BALLIO
Buy oil on credit Buy oil on credit: Emito die caecâ—id vendito oculatâ die. By buying a commodity on a blind day, and selling it on one with eyes, is meant the system of credit for the purposes of business; where they who purchase on that principle have an eye only to the present time, but are blind as to the future consequences of their speculation. The intention of the procurer is to advise the young man to get oil on credit, and then sell it for anything it will fetch., and sell it for ready money; then, i’ faith, even two hundred minae ready money might be raised.
