Perde 5
[Textpart 6]
that you shall be in wooden custody at my house.
1365
AGORASTOCLES
Follow me in-doors, my kinsman, that we may keep this festive day in joyousness, upon his misfortune and our good fortune. (To the AUDIENCE.) Heartily fare you well. To great length have we gone; at last all these misfortunes fall upon the Procurer.
Now—that which is the last seasoning for our Play—if it has pleased you, our Comedy asks applause.
1370
[Textpart 7]
What is it you are about, Captain? Why does it please you to speak rudely to my relative? Don’t be surprised that the damsels do follow after him; he has just now discovered that both of them are his own daughters.
LYCUS
Hah! what speech was it that reached my ears? Now I am undone!
1375
(To AGORASTOCLES.) From what house were these females lost?
AGORASTOCLES
They are Carthaginians.
LYCUS
Then I am ruined. I was always in dread of that, lest some one should recognize them, a thing which has now come to pass. Woe unto wretched me!
My eighteen minae are lost, I guess, which I paid for them.
1380
AGORASTOCLES
And you yourself are lost, Lycus.
AGORASTOCLES
Which you please, he’s either the Procurer or Lycus. He has been keeping your daughters in servitude, and from myself he has stolen some gold.
HANNO
A pretty fellow for you to be acquainted with!
AGORASTOCLES
Procurer, I always deemed you to be avaricious, but they know you to be a thief as well, who know more of you.
1385
LYCUS
I’ll approach him. (He falls on the ground before AGORASTOCLES.) By your knees I do beseech you, and by him (pointing to HANNO.) whom I understand to be your relative; since you are deserving persons, as it befits deserving persons to do,
do then come to the aid of your suppliant! Indeed, already did I know them to be free women, and was waiting for some one to claim their freedom, for really they are none of mine. Then besides, I’ll restore your gold that I’ve got in my house, and I’ll make oath
1390
that I have done nothing, Agorastocles, with ill intent.
1395
AGORASTOCLES
As it’s right for me to do, I shall still consult my own notions. Let go of my knees.
LYCUS
I’ll let them go, if such is your determination.
