Perde 3
[Textpart 1]
I’m distractedly in suspense and worn to the heart with waiting how the fair promises of Epidicus will turn out for me. I’ve been tormented too long. Whether there is to be anything, or whether there is not, I wish to know.
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CHAERIBULUS
For all these resources you may still seek some other resources for yourself. For my part, I knew at the first, or the instant, that there was no help for you in him That there was no help for you in him: Nullam tibi esse in illo copiam..
STRATIPPOCLES
Upon my faith, I’m ruined!
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CHAERIBULUS
You act absurdly in tormenting yourself in mind. By my troth, if I should catch him, I would never allow that slave of a fellow to be laughing at us with impunity.
STRATIPPOCLES
What can you expect him to do, you, who have such great wealth at home, and have not a coin of it, as you say, and have in yourself no resources for your friend?
CHAERIBULUS
I’ faith, if I had had it, I should have proffered it with pleasure; but something in some manner Something in some manner: This admirably shows how hard up the stingy Chaeribulus is for an excuse., in some way, in some direction, from some person, some hope I have for you, that there’ll be some good fortune for you to share with me.
STRATIPPOCLES
Woe to you, you sneaking fellow You sneaking fellow: Murcide. Some editions have muricide, you mouse-killing fellow; a capital name for a sordid, miserable creature..
CHAERIBULUS
Why does it please you to abuse me?
STRATIPPOCLES
Why, because you are prating to me about something in some manner, from somewhere or other, from some persons,
that nowhere exists, and I won’t admit it to my ears. Of no more assistance are you unto me than he who never yet has been born.
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[Textpart 2]
You’ve done your duty then; it now befits me to do mine. Through this care of mine, you may be allowed to be at ease. (In a lower voice.) This, in fact, is now lost to you; don’t at all be setting your hopes on it. (Holding some of the coins in his hands.) How very shining it is! You only trust me for that.
EPIDICUS
This way I’m going to act, this way my forefathers have acted before me. O ye immortal Gods, what a brilliant day you have bestowed upon me in this how propitious and how favourable to my requests! But why do I delay to take my departure hence, that I may bear this supply with lucky auspices to the colony To the colony: He means the house of Chaeribulus, which has just been peopled by his master.. I’m delaying while I’m standing here. But what means this? Before the house I see the two companions,
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my master and Chaeribulus. (Accosting them.) What are you doing? Take this, will you.
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STRATIPPOCLES
How much is there in this?
EPIDICUS
As much as is enough, and more than enough; a superabundance; I’ve brought more by ten minae than you owe to the Banker. So long as I please and obey you, I value my own back at a straw.
STRATIPPOCLES
But why so?
EPIDICUS
Because I shall make your father a bag-murderer A bag- murderer: Perenticidam. A word coined by the author for the occasion, on account of its resemblance to parenticida, a parricide..
STRATIPPOCLES
What kind of expression is that?
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EPIDICUS
I don’t at all care for your old-fashioned and every-day words; you chouse by purses full Chouse by purses full: Echard gives a particular meaning te this passage, and Warner seems to adopt his notion, which certainly seems farfetched. The former says, in a Note, Epidicus here carries on the fancy of perenticida, and parenticide, and the Poet has luckily hit upon a line that exactly agrees with either. For the common punishment of parricides was to put them into a sack with a cock, a serpent, and an ape, and then throw them into the river. Now the ward ductare signifies equally to bring a man into punishment, or to cheat him; so that the phrase peratim ductare is the same thing; only follis was a much larger sack than pera. M. Guiet considers this passage to be spurious., but I’ll chouse by bags full. For the procurer took away a whole lot of money for the music-girl (I paid it; with these hands I counted it out), her whom your father supposes to be his own daughter. Now, again, that your father may be deceived, and assistance be provided for you,
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I’ve discovered a method. In such a way have I persuaded the old gentleman—and had a talk to this effect, that, when you returned, you might not have possession of her Possession of her: Madame Dacier is of opinion that some lines are wanting here. Echard and Warner are also of that opinion.—
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