Perde 1
[Textpart 3]
There I’m done; the twenty-five year old law The twenty-five year old law: The Quinavicenarian, which was also called the Laetorian Law, forbade credit to be given to persons under the age of twenty-five years, and deprived the creditor of all right to recover his money or goods. As usual, Plautus does not scruple to refer to Roman customs, though the scene is at Athens. founders me. All are afraid to trust me.
BALLIO
The same law The same law: By using the word lex, he probably means that the law also applies to him, as it forbids him to give credit; or he may simply mean that it is his rule and custom not to give credit. have I. I’m afraid to trust you.
PSEUDOLUS
To trust him, indeed! How now, do you repent of the great profit he has been to you?
305
BALLIO
No lover is a profitable one, except him who keeps continually making presents. Either let him be always giving, or when he has nothing, let him at the same time cease to be in love.
CALIDORUS
And don’t you pity me at all?
BALLIO
You come empty-handed; words don’t chink. But I wish you life and health.
PSEUDOLUS
Heyday! Is he dead already?
BALLIO
However he is, to me indeed, at all events, with these speeches, he is dead. Then, does a lover really live, when he comes begging to a procurer? Do you always come to me with a complaint that brings Complaim that brings: Cum argentatâ querimomâ. Literally, with a silvery complaint. He probably alludes to the chinking of silver. its money. As for that, which you are now lamenting about, that you have got no money, complain of it to your stepmother To your stepmother: Stepmothers, in ancient times, were proverbially notorious for their unfeeling conduct to their step-children. Ballio ironically tells him to go and look for sympathy from his stepmother, on which Pseudolus retorts by implying that Ballio is as unfeeling as any stepmother can be..
310
PSEUDOLUS
Why, have you ever been married to his father, pray?
BALLIO
May the Gods grant better things.
315
PSEUDOLUS
Do what we ask you, Ballio, on my credit, if you are afraid to trust him. Within the next three days, from some quarter, in some way, either by land or sea, I’ll rout up this money for you.
315
BALLIO
Because, i’ faith, on the same principle that I trust you, on that principle I should tie a run-away dog to a lamb’s fry.
CALIDORUS
Is the obligation thus ungratefully returned by you to me, who have deserved so well of you?
320
BALLIO
What do you want now?
CALIDORUS
That you will only wait these six days of the Feast, and will not sell her or prove the death of the person who loves her.
BALLIO
Be of good courage; I’ll wait six months even.
CALIDORUS
Capital—most delightful man!
BALLIO
Aye; and do you wish, too, that from joyful I should make you even more joyous?
