Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
in the one hand he is carrying a stoneCarrying a stone: To ask for bread, and to receive a stone, was a proverbial expression with the ancients. Erasmus says that it was applied to those who pretended to be friendly to a person, and at the same time were doing him mischief; and that it was borrowed from persons enticing a dog with a piece of bread, and, when it had come sufficiently near, pelting it with a stone. The expression is used in the New Testament. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? St. Luke, c. xi., v. 11. The bread, as we learn from specimens found at Pompeii, was often made into cakes, which somewhat resembled large stones.. while he shows the bread in the other. I trust no person, who, rich himself, is exceedingly courteous to a poor man; when he extends his hand with a kind air, then is he loading you with some damage. I know these polypiThese polypi: Ovid says in his Halieuticon, or Treatise on Fishes: But, on the other hand, the sluggish polypus sticks to the rocks with its body provided with feelers, and by this stratagem it escapes the nets; and, according to the nature of the spot, it assumes and changes its colour, always resembling that place which it has lighted upon; and when it has greedily seized the prey hanging. from the fishing-line, it likewise deceives the angler on his raising the rod, when, on emerging into the air, it loosens its feelers, and spits forth the hook that it has despoiled of the bait., who, when they’ve touched a thing, hold it fast.
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MEGADORUS
Give me your attention, Euclio, for a little time: I wish to address you in a few words,
about a common concern of yours and mine.
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EUCLIO
Alas! woe is me! my gold has been grabbed from in-doors: now he’s wishing for this thing, I’m sure, to come to a compromise with me; but I’ll go look in my house.
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MEGADORUS
Where are you going?
EUCLIO
I’ll return to you directly, for there’s something I must go and see to at home.
MEGADORUS
By my troth, I do believe that when I make mention of his daughter,
for him to promise her to me, he’ll suppose that he’s being laughed at by me; nor is there out of the whole class of paupers one more beggarly than he.
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EUCLIO
The Gods do favour me; my property’s all safe. If nothing’s lost, it’s safe. I was very dreadfully afraid, before I went in-doors! I was almost dead! (Aloud.) I’m come back to you, Megadorus, if you wish to say anything tome.
MEGADORUS
I return you thanks; I beg that as to what I shall enquire of you, you’ll not hesitate to speak out boldly.
EUCLIO
So long, indeed, as you enquire nothing that I mayn’t choose to speak out upon.
MEGADORUS
Tell me, of what sort of family do you consider me to be sprung?
MEGADORUS
What think you as to my character?
MEGADORUS
What of my conduct?
EUCLIO
Neither bad nor dishonest.
MEGADORUS
Do you know my years?
EUCLIO
I know that they are plentiful, just like your money.
MEGADORUS
I’ faith, for sure I really did always take you to be a citizen without any evil guile, and now I think you so.
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