Perde 3
[Textpart 3]
If you bring anything that’s good, I give you thanks.
640
ADVOCATI
Of our own, we neither bring nor give you anything that’s good, nor do we promise you, nor, in fact, do we wish to give it.
LYCUS
I’ faith, I do believe yon; such is your kindly feeling. But what now do you wish?
ADVOCATI
This person in the scarf, whom you see,
with him Mars is angered.
645
COLLYBISCUS
May he be so indeed with your own heads!
645
ADVOCATI
We are now bringing him here, Lycus, to you, for tearing asunder For tearing asunder: Ad diripiendum. This expression is purposely used, as being susceptible of a double meaning. It may either mean for you to plunder, or to plunder you. In the use of the word diripio, to tear to pieces, allusion is made to the wolfish name of Lycus..
COLLYBISCUS
This huntsman, myself, will be going home to-day with some spoil; the dogs are cleverly driving Lycus into the toils.
LYCUS
Who is this person?
ADVOCATI
We really don’t know who he is, except that some time since, after daybreak, when we went down to the harbour,
at the same moment we saw him landing from a merchant-ship. Disembarking, he came up to us at once—he saluted us; we answered him.
650
COLLYBISCUS
The artful fellows! how cleverly they do enter upon the plot!
LYCUS
What after that?
655
ADVOCATI
Then he joined in discourse with us: he said that he was a foreigner, unacquainted with this city: that he wanted a convenient place to be found here, for him to indulge his appetite. We brought the man to you; if the Gods are favourable to you, it’s an opportunity for you to ply your trade.
655
LYCUS
Is he eager to that degree?
660
ADVOCATI
He has got gold.
660
LYCUS
That booty is mine.
660
ADVOCATI
He wishes to drink and wench.
LYCUS
I’ll find him a nice place.
ADVOCATI
But still he wants to be quite private, in a quiet way, that no persons may know it, and that there may be no overlookers; for he has been a soldier in Sparta, as, indeed, he himself has told us, with King Attalus With King Attalus: This is said merely for its absurdity; as Attalus was king, not of Sparta, but of Pergamus in Asia Minor;
