Perde 2
[Textpart 2]
He smells the gold. (Aloud.) What do you want with me now?
MEGADORUS
Since you know me, and I know you, what sort of person you are—a thing, that may it bring a blessing on myself, and you and your daughter, I ask your daughter as my wife. Promise me that it shall be so.
EUCLIO
Heyday! Megadorus, you are doing a deed that’s not becoming to your usual actions, in laughing at me, a poor man, and guiltless towards yourself and towards your family. For neither in act, nor in words, have I ever deserved it of you, that you should do what you are now doing.
220
MEGADORUS
By my troth, I neither am come to laugh at you, nor am I laughing at you, nor do I think you deserving of it.
EUCLIO
Why then do you ask for my daughter for your self?
MEGADORUS
That through me it may be better for you, and through you and yours for me.
225
EUCLIO
This suggests itself to my mind, Megadorus, that you are a wealthy man, a man of rank; that I likewise am a person, the poorest of the poor; now, if I should give my daughter in marriage to you, it suggests itself to my mind that you are the ox, and that I am the ass; when I’m yoked to you,
and when I’m not able to bear the burden equally with yourself, I, the ass, must lie down in the mire; you, the ox, would regard me no more than if I had never been born; and I should both find you unjust, and my own class would laugh at me; in neither direction should I have a fixed stall, if there should be any separationBe any separation: Si quid divortii fuat. By the use of the word divortium, he means either an estrangement of himself from Megadorus, or a separation or divorce of the latter from his intended wife, which of course would lead to the same consequences. The facilities for divorce among the Romans have been remarked upon in a previous Note.; the asses would tear me with their teeth, the oxen would butt at me with their horns.
230
This is the great hazard, in my passing over from the asses to the oxen.
235
MEGADORUS
The nearer you can unite yourself in alliance with the virtuous, so much the better. Do you receive this proposal, listen to me, and promise her to me.
EUCLIO
But indeed there is no marriage-portion.
MEGADORUS
You are to give none; so long as she comes with good principles, she is sufficiently portioned.
EUCLIO
I say so for this reason, that you mayn’t be supposing that I have found any treasures.
240
MEGADORUS
I know that; don’t enlarge upon it. Promise her to me.
EUCLIO
So be it. (Starts and looks about.) But, O Jupiter, am I not utterly undone?
MEGADORUS
What’s the matter with you?
EUCLIO
What was it sounded just now as though it were iron?
MEGADORUS
Here at my place, I ordered them to dig up the garden. (EUCLIO runs off into his house.) But where is this man? He’s off, and he hasn’t fully answered me; he treats me with contempt.
Because he sees that I wish for his friendship, he acts after the manner of mankind. For if a wealthy person goes to ask a favour of a poorer one, the poor man is afraid to treat with him; through his apprehension he hurts his own interest. The same person, when this opportunity is lost, too late, then wishes for it.
EUCLIO
By the powers, if I don’t give you up to have your tongue cut out by the roots, I order and I authorize you to hand me over to any one you please to be incapacitated.
250
