Perde 3
[Textpart 5]
You lie; for he has come to your house, and carried off some gold there. Word has been brought me to that effect, by persons I fully believe.
LYCUS
You are an artful fellow: you’ve come to entrap me with your witnesses. There’s no one of your people in my house, nor anything of yours.
765
AGORASTOCLES
Remember that, assistants.
ADVOCATI
We will remember it.
LYCUS
Ha, ha, ha! I now understand how it is, I’ve this instant seen through it.
These persons, who a short time since introduced that Spartan stranger to me, their brain is now fired at it,
because I’m going to make a gain of these three hundred Philippean pieces; now, because they knew that this person was an enemy of mine, they have set him on to say that his slave, together with his gold, is in my house. It’s a planned contrivance
for them to deprive me of it, and to divide it among themselves. They are wanting to get away the lamb from the wolf Lamb from the wolf: In allusion to his own name.. They are wasting their pains.
775
AGORASTOCLES
What, do you deny that either the gold or my slave is at your house?
LYCUS
I do deny it; and, if it’s of any use, I make myself hoarse with denying it.
ADVOCATI
You are undone, Procurer; for that person
whom we told you was a Spartan, is his bailiff; who brought you just now the three hundred Philippean pieces; and that same gold, too, is in his purse.
780
ADVOCATI
That, indeed, is close at hand for yourself.
AGORASTOCLES
Come, you hang-dog, give up the purse this instant.
You are clearly a thief; caught by me in the fact. (To the ADVOCATI.) By my troth, I do beg of you, lend me your aid, so as to see me bring my slave out of his house.
785
LYCUS
I’ faith, I’m now undone for certain, beyond a doubt! This has been done on purpose that a snare might be laid for me. But why do I hesitate to betake me hence to utter perdition,
before I’m dragged off to the Praetor by the throat? Alas! what soothsayers I’ve been having for my diviners, who, if they promise anything that’s fair, it comes to pass but slowly; that which they promise as unfortunate, comes directly. Now I’ll be off: I’ll consult my friends in what way—
790
they deem it best in especial for me to hang myself.
795
[Textpart 6]
Be off you, get out you, that the witnesses may see you coining out from here. Isn’t this my servant?
