Perde 4
[Textpart 7]
Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant.
CHRYSALUS
What have I done?
800
NICOBULUS
Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. (To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets.) What does this letter say?
800
CHRYSALUS
Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I’ve brought it sealed to you.
NICOBULUS
Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold,
and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick?
805
CHRYSALUS
Have I said so?
CHRYSALUS
What person is there, who says that I’ve said so?
NICOBULUS
Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, ’tis this that requests you to be chained.
CHRYSALUS
Ah! your son has been making a BellerophonA Bellerophon: He alludes to the hero Bellerophon, who, being accused by Sthenoboea of having made an attempt on her chastity, was sent by Proetus, King of Argos, with a letter to Iobates, in which he was desired to put the bearer to death. of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so.
810
NICOBULUS
This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.
CHRYSALUS
O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale;
and that you are standing on the very stoneOn the very stone: He alludes to the stone upon which the praeco, or auctioneer, stood with the slaves, when he sold them by auction. Only the cheapest and the least desirable of them were sold in this way. as the auctioneer puts you up.
815
NICOBULUS
Answer me; who is selling me?
CHRYSALUS
He whom the Gods favourWhom the Gods favour: Menander has a sentence to the effect—He whom the Gods love, dies young. Chrysalus tells Nicobulus that he is clearly no favorite of the Gods, or he would have died long since. dies in youth, while he is in his health, has his senses and judgment sound. This person (pointing to NICOBULUS), if any God had favoured him, ought to have been dead more than ten years—aye, more than twenty years ago.
’Tis for long, he has walked, a nuisance, on the earth; so devoid is he of either judgment or sense. He is of as much value as a rotten mushroom is.
820
NICOBULUS
Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.
CHRYSALUS
No, but you’ll soon be giving it me.
NICOBULUS
I, give it you?
825
