Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
You ought to have yielded to the young man.
SANNIO
How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows?
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SYRUS
Well—are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain.
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What!—Assigned to Sannio in the Latin.
were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so littleIf you had parted with ever so little: This passage is probably alluded to by Cicero, in his work, De Officiis, B. ii. c. 18: For it is not only liberal sometimes to give up a little of one’s rights, but it is also profitable. of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?
SANNIO
I do not pay ready money for hope.
SYRUS
Then you’ll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don’t know how to take in mankind.
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SANNIO
I believe that to be the better plan—but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money.
SYRUS
Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minae were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus—
SYRUS
That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you’ll settle the matter.
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SANNIO
Not a foot do stir: Heavens! I’m undone! (Aside.) It was upon this hope they devised their project.
SYRUS
He is alarmed. I’ve brought the fellow into a fix.
SANNIO
Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint.In the very joint: Ut in ipso articulo oppressit. Colman translates this, Nick’d me to a hair. Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus.To take to Cyprus : He alludes to a famous slave-market held in the Isle of Cyprus, whither merchants carried slaves for sale, after buying them up in all parts of Greece.
If I don’t get there to the fair, my loss will, be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. Come at last? they’ll say. Why did you delay it? Where have you been? So that I had better lose it altogether
than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then.
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SYRUS
Have you by this reckonedHave you by this reckoned: Iamne enumerasti id quod ad te rediturum putes? Colman renders this, Well, have you calculated what’s your due? referring to the value of the Music-girl that has been taken away from him; and thinks that the following conversation between Sannio and Syrus supports that construction. Madame Dacier puts another sense on the words, and understands them as alluding to Sannio’s calculation of his expected profits at Cyprus. up what you calculate will be your profits?
SANNIO
Is this honorable of him? Ought Aeschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence?
SYRUS
He gives ground. (To SANNIO.) I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it.
Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minaeScrape together ten minae: Donatus remarks, that Syrus knows very well that Aeschinus is ready to pay the whole, but offers Sannio half, that he may be glad to take the bare principal, and think himself well off into the bargain. from some quarter or other.
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