Perde 4
[Textpart 10]
Because I did it under the evil influence of wine and love.
745
EUCLIO
Most audacious man, that you should dare to come here to me with that speech, you impudent fellow! For if this is lawful, so that you may be able to excuse it—let us openly, in broad daylight, plunder their golden trinkets from ladies—after that, if we are caught, let us excuse ourselves, that we did it when intoxicated,
745
by reason of being in love. Too cheap are wine and love, if one in liquor and in love is allowed to do with impunity whatever he pleases.
750
LYCONIDES
But I come to you of my own accord to supplicate you on account of my folly.
EUCLIO
Persons don’t please me, who, when they’ve done wrong, excuse themselves. You knew that you had no right there; you oughtn’t to have touchedYou oughtn’t to have touched: Tn illam scibas non tuam esse: non attactam aportuit. This literally, speaking of the pot (aula) as of the feminine gender, would mean you knew that she was not your own; it was not fitting for her to be touched. This of course helps to confirm Lyconides in the impression that Euclio is speaking of his daughter..
LYCONIDES
Therefore, inasmuch as I did dare to touch, I make no objection to keep by all means.
755
EUCLIO
You, keep what is my own against my will?
LYCONIDES
Against your will, I do not ask; but I think that that which was yours ought to be mineOught to be mine: Lyconides here alludes to a law which prevailed at Rome, whereby, when a person had seduced a freeborn female, he was obliged either to marry her himself without a portion, or else to give her such a portion as was suitable to her station. Lyconides means to say that he shall exercise the former right.. Moreover, Euclio, you’ll find, I say, that mine it ought to be.
EUCLIO
Now really, on my word, I’ll drag you to the Praetor and take proceedingsAnd take proceedings: Scribam dicam. Dica was a name derived from the Greek, for an indictment, writ, or process, by which in action was commenced. against you,
unless you make restitution.
760
LYCONIDES
Make restitution of what to you?
760
EUCLIO
What you’ve stolen of mine.
760
LYCONIDES
I, stolen of yours? Whence, or what is it?
EUCLIO
So shall Jupiter love you, how ignorant you are about it!
LYCONIDES
Unless, indeed, you tell me what you are enquiring for.
EUCLIO
The pot of gold, I say, I’m asking back of you, which you confessed to me that you had taken away.
LYCONIDES
By my faith, I’ve neither said so, nor have I done it.
LYCONIDES
Yes, I do utterly deny it; for neither the gold nor yet this pot, what it means, do I know or understand.
765
EUCLIO
Give me up that pot which you took away from the wood of Sylvanus. Come, give it me back! I would rather give you the one-half of it. Although you are a thief to me, I’ll not be hard upon the thief. Give it me back.
