Perde 2
[Textpart 3]
Well, I wasn’t aware of the disposition of my avaricious entertainer.
CHRYSALUS
Afterwards, at last we had got the gold, and embarked on board ship, desirous for home. By chance, as I was sitting on the deck, while I was looking about me, at that moment I beheld
a long bark being fitted out by this cheating knave.
280
NICOBULUS
Troth, I’m undone; that bark breaks my heartBreaks my heart: Laedit latus — literally, hurts my sides, or in other words, gives me a twitch..
CHRYSALUS
This was held in partnership by your host and some pirates.
NICOBULUS
And that I should be such a blockhead as to trust him, when his very name of ArchidemidesName of Archidemides: He puns upon the name of Archidemides, which was really derived from the Greek ἄρχομαι, to govern, and δημὰς, the people, To adapt his pun, however, to the taste of a Roman audience he would make out that it was in part a compound of the Latin word demo, to filch or take away.
cried aloud to me that he would deprive me of it, if I should entrust anything to him.
285
CHRYSALUS
This bark was lying in wait for our ship. I began to watch them, to see what business they were about. Meanwhile, from harbour our ship set sail. When we had fully left the harbour, these fellows began to follow with their oars;
nor birds, nor winds more swiftly. As I discovered what scheme was being carried out, at once we dropped anchor. As they beheld us stopping, they began to keep their vessel back in harbour.
290
NICOBULUS
Wicked wretches, by my troth. What did you do at last?
CHRYSALUS
We returned again into harbour.
NICOBULUS
’Twas cleverly done by you. What after that?
295
CHRYSALUS
At nightfall they returned ashore.
NICOBULUS
Troth now, they intended to carry off the gold; they were attempting that plan, no doubt.
CHRYSALUS
It didn’t escape me; I discovered it: I was almost terrified to death by it. As I saw that a scheme was being laid against the gold,
forthwith on this we came to this determination; the next day we carried away all the gold thence in their presence, openly and publicly, that they might know it was done.
300
NICOBULUS
Skilfully managed, i’ faith. Tell me, what did they?
CHRYSALUS
Chopfallen at once,—soon as ever they saw us leaving the harbour with the gold,
shaking their heads, they hauled their bark ashore. We deposited all the gold with Theotimus, who is a priest thereA priest there: St. Paul, when he visited Ephesus, found Diana still enthroned there in the full blaze of her glory. Her temple was esteemed one of the wonders of the world. of Ephesian Diana.
305
NICOBULUS
Who is this Theotimus?
