Perde 4
[Textpart 4]
Eh! by that speech you have this day consigned Chrysalus to the torture; for, when he shall set eyes on me, the old gentleman will carry me off that instant to the executioner.
MNESILOCHUS
I’ve besought my father.
CERYS.
I suppose, to do, in fact, the thing that I was speaking of?
MNESILOCHUS
Nay, not to punish you, or to blame you at all on account of this business. And with some difficulty I’ve prevailed. Now, Chrysalus, this must be your care.
690
CHRYSALUS
What do you wish should be my care?
MNESILOCHUS
That once again you should make a second inroad upon the old gentleman. Contrive, devise, invent whatever you please; frame your plansFrame your plans: Conglutina. Literally, glue the pieces together., so that this day you may cleverly deceive the old man unawares, and carry off the gold.
CHRYSALUS
It scarcely seems possible to be done.
695
MNESILOCHUS
Set about it, and you’ll easily effect it.
695
CHRYSALUS
How the plague easily, for me, whom he has this moment caught out in a lie? Should I entreat him not to believe me at all, he would not venture even to believe me in that.
MNESILOCHUS
Aye, and if you were to hear what things he said about you in my presence.
CHRYSALUS
What did he say?
MNESILOCHUS
That if you were to say that this sun was the sun,
he would believe it was the moon, and that that is the night which is now the day.
700
CHRYSALUS
By my troth, I’ll bamboozle the old chap right well this very day, so that he shan’t have said that for nothing.
PISTOCLERUS
Now, what would you have us do?
CHRYSALUS
Why, nothing, except that I beg you’ll still love on. As for the rest, ask of me as much gold as you please; I’ll find it you. Of what use is it for me to have the name of ChrysalusName of Chrysalus: He alludes to his name as derived from the Greek χρυσὸς, gold., unless I give proofs by fact?
But now, tell me, Mnesilochus, how much gold is requisite for you.
705
MNESILOCHUS
There’s occasion for two hundred pieces at once, to pay the Captain for Bacchis.
CHRYSALUS
I’ll find it you.
MNESILOCHUS
Then we have need of some for current expenses.
