18–20
Adimantus
Oh, the boy with the hair; yes, him too. And instead of the present cargo of wheat, I will have the same bulk of coined gold, all sovereigns.
Lycinus
Hullo! The ship will sink. Wheat and gold to the same bulk are not of the same weight.
Adimantus
Now, don’t make envious remarks, When your turn comes, you can have the whole of Parnes turned into a mass of gold if you like, and I shall say nothing.
Lycinus
Oh, I was only thinking of your safety. I don’t want all hands to go down with the golden cargo. It would not matter so much about us, but the poor boy would be drowned; he can’t swim.
Timolaus
Oh, that will be all right. The dolphins will pick him up and get him to shore. Shall a paltry musician be rescued by them for a song’s sake, a lifeless Melicertes be carried on their backs to the Isthmus, and Adimantus’s latest purchase find never an amorous dolphin at his need?
Adimantus
Timolaus, you are just as bad as Lycinus, with your superfluous sneers. You ought to know better; it was all your idea.
5
Timolaus
You should make it more plausible. Find a treasure under your bed; that would save unloading the gold, and getting it up to town.
