28–29
MICYLLUS
I didn’t realize, cock, that you yourself were a conjurer. Well, if you only let me have it, you shall see all Simon’s possessions brought over here in a jiffy: Pl slip in and bring them over, and he will once more eat his leather as he stretches it.The ancient shoemaker held one side of the leather in his teeth in stretching it. Cf. Dentibus antiquas solitus producere pelles et mordere luto putre vetusque solum—. Martial 9, 73.
COCK
That is impossible, for Hermes ordered me, if the man who had the feather did anything of that sort, to uplift my voice and expose him.
MICYLLUS
It is hard to believe what you say, that Hermes, himself a thief, begrudges others the same privilege. But let’s be off just the same; I'll keep my hands off the gold if I can.
COCK
First pluck the feather out, Micyllus . . . What's this? You have pulled them both out!
10
MICYLLUS
It is safer to do so, cock, and it will spoil your beauty less, preventing you from being crippled on one side of your tail.
COCK
All right. Shall we visit Simon first, or one of the other rich men?
MICYLLUS
No: Simon, who wants to have a name of four syllables instead of two, now that he is rich. Here we are at the door already. What shall I do next?
COCK
Put the feather to the lock.
MICYLLUS
Look at that now! Heracles! The door has opened just as it would toa key!
COCK
Lead on. Do you see him sitting up and figuring?
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