Perde 4
[Textpart 7]
’Tis a wonder if it isn’t Pseudolus.
SIMO
(To HARPAX.) How now, you! of what appearance was the person to whom you delivered the token?
HARPAX
A certain red-haired fellow Red-haired fellow: Some Commentators fancy that in these lines Plautus intends to give a description of himself. If so, he certainly was not so handsome as he was ingenious., pot-bellied, with thick calves, swarthy, with a big head, sharp eyes, red face,
and very large feet.
1220
BALLIO
You prove our undoing, when you mention the feet. It was Pseudolus himself. It’s all up with me. I’m dying now, Simo.
1220
HARPAX
By my troth, I shan’t let you die, unless the money’s returned me-twenty minae.
SIMO
And another twenty minae to me as well.
BALLIO
And is the sum to be taken of me that I promised by way of a joke?
SIMO
From unprincipled men it’s proper for both their money and their plunder to be taken.
1225
BALLIO
At least you might give up Pseudolus to me.
SIMO
I, give up Pseudolus to you? What has he done amiss? Did I not tell you a hundred times that you were to beware of him?
SIMO
And on me he has laid a fine of twenty fair minae.
BALLIO
What am I to do then?
HARPAX
When you have given me the money—go hang yourself.
BALLIO
The Gods confound you. (To HARPAX.) Follow me, then, this way, please, to the Forum, that I may pay you.
1230
HARPAX
I follow you.
1230
BALLIO
Strangers I’ll pay at once; to-morrow I’ll settle with fellow-citizens. Pseudolus has been holding a council-general A council-general: Centuriata habuit comitia. Literally, has held the comitia centuriata. These were the largest and most important meetings of the centuries or classes of all the Roman citizens, who there met together for the purpose of electing the superior magistrates by their votes, making laws, deciding upon war, and in later times, of concluding peace with foreign nations As these important things were done with due deliberation, Ballio borrows a figure thence, and means that Pseudolus has been giving all attention to the promotion of the success of the plot which he has laid against him. against my life, in sending that fellow to me to-day to carry off the woman. (To HARPAX.) Do you follow me, (To the AUDIENCE.) Now don’t you be expecting that I shall be returning home this way.
As matters stand, I’ve determined to go through the alleys.
1235
