Perde 4
[Textpart 4]
The man to whom the Gods are propitious, they cannot, I think, be angered with him. After I ad finished my devotions, it then came into my mind, lest the banker should abscond, to go fetch the money,
CAPPADOX
that I may make good cheer rather than he.
560
THERAPONTIGONUS
I had left my compliments for you at your house.
560
CAPPADOX
Therapontigonus Platagidorus, save you; since you are come safe to Epidaurus this day, at my house—you won’t lick up one grain of salt Lick up one grain of salt: He pretends that he is going to invite him; but, stopping short, ends by saying that he shall not even taste salt with him. ἄλαλεχε to lick salt, Erasmus, in his Adagia, tells os was a proverbial expression, denoting to live sparingly..
THERAPONTIGONUS
You give me a kind invitation; things, however, are in a train for it to go badly with yourself. But how fares my purchase at your house?
CAPPADOX
Why, not at my house at all.
Don’t be bringing your witnesses—assuredly, I don’t owe you anything.
565
THERAPONTIGONUS
How’s that?
565
CAPPADOX
What I was bound on oath to do, I’ve done.
THERAPONTIGONUS
Will you give me up the girl or not, before I spit you with this sabre of mine, you whip-scoundrel?
CAPPADOX
I bid you go to perdition with all my heart; don’t you be terrifying me.
She has been carried off; you shall be carried off hence away from me, beyond a doubt, if you persist in abusing me, to whom I owe nothing but a punishing.
THERAPONTIGONUS
What, threaten me with a punishing?
CAPPADOX
Aye, and by my troth, I’ll not be threatening, but I’ll give it, if you persist in being impertinent to me.
THERAPONTIGONUS
A Procurer, forsooth, threatening me; and are my combats in battle, so many in number, lying trodden under foot? But so may my sabre and my shield
trustily aid me when fighting in the field; unless the girl is restored to me, I’ll at once cause the ants to carry you away piecemeal from this spot.
575
CAPPADOX
And so may my tweezers So may my tweezers: We might almost fancy that it was a barber speaking, from this mention of the implements of his trade. Probably Cappadox employed these articles himself, in putting the best appearance upon his commodities, that they might the more readily attract the public., my comb, my looking-glass, my crisping-iron, and my hair-scissors and scrubbing-towel love me well,
I don’t value your high-sounding words, nor these big threats of yours, a bit the more than my servant-girl that washes out my sink. I’ve given her up to him who brought the money from you.
580
THERAPONTIGONUS
What person was that?
CAPPADOX
He said that he was Summanus, your freed-man.
