Chapter 95

_Hegio_

Age tu illuc procede. bone vir, lepidum mancupium meum.

(_to Stalagmus_) Come now, you! Over there with you, (_pointing_) my good sir, my charming piece of property.

_Stal._

Quid me oportet facere, ubi tu talis vir falsum autumas? fui ego bellus, lepidus. bonus vir numquam, neque frugi bonae, neque ero umquam, ne erres: spem ponas me bonae frugi fore.

(_sullenly_) What can you look for from me, when a fine gentleman like you tells lies? I’ve had my day as a dandy, a charmer; a good sir, or good for anything, I never was, and I never will be, make no mistake, don’t you build up hopes I will be good for anything.

_Hegio_

Propemodum ubi loci fortunae tuae sint facile intellegis. si eris verax, tua ex re, facies ex mala meliusculam. recte et vera loquere, sed neque vere neque tu recte adhuc 960 fecisti umquam.

You have no difficulty in appreciating your position pretty fairly well. Now be truthful, and you’ll be acting to your own advantage and make a bad prospect somewhat better. Out with your story, make it straightforward and honest--virtues you have never displayed hitherto, however.

_Stal._

Quod ego fatear, credin pudeat cum autumes?

When I’m ready to admit a thing myself d’ye think I should be ashamed of it just because you say it’s so?

_Hegio_

At ego faciam ut pudeat, nam in ruborem te totum dabo.

I’ll make you ashamed, though: (_savagely_) I tell you what, I’ll make one big blush of you.

_Stal._

Eia, credo ego imperito plagas minitaris mihi. tandem ista aufer ac dic quid fers, ut feras hinc quod petis.

(_ironically_) La! La! I’m promised a whipping, it seems, and I such a novice at it--oh, yes I am! Look here, get done with that talk and say what you’ve got to propose, so as to get what you’re after.

_Hegio_

Satis facundu’s. sed iam fieri dicta compendi volo.

Quite a gift of tongue, sir! But oblige me by saving some of it for the moment.

_Stal._

Ut vis fiat.

Anything you like.

_Hegio_

Bene morigerus fuit puer, nunc non decet. hoc agamus. iam animum advorte ac mihi quae dicam edissere.[27] (967)

(_half aside_) That compliance he showed as a boy hardly becomes him at present. (_aloud_) To business! Now then, pay attention and answer me fully.

_Stal._

Nugae istaec sunt. non me censes scire quid dignus siem? (969)

Rot! Don’t you suppose I know what I deserve?

_Hegio_

At ea subterfugere potis es pauca, si non omnia. 970

Well, you have a chance to escape a little of it, if not all.

_Stal._

Pauca effugiam, scio; nam multa evenient, et merito meo, quia et fugi et tibi surripui filium et eum vendidi.

Little enough I’ll escape, I know that; for there’ll be plenty coming, and it serves me right, seeing I ran away and kidnapped your son and sold him.

_Hegio_

Cui homini?

To whom?

_Stal._

Theodoromedi in Alide Polyplusio, sex minis.

(_drawling_) Theodoromedes Goldfields, in Elis, for twenty-four pounds.

_Hegio_

Pro di immortales, is quidem huius est pater Philocrati.

God bless my soul! Why, he is the father of Philocrates here!

_Stal._

Quin melius novi quam tu et vidi saepius.

Well, I know him better than you, and I’ve seen him oftener.

_Hegio_

Serva, Iuppiter supreme, et me et meum gnatum mihi. Philocrates, per tuom te genium obsecro, exi, te volo.

God Almighty, save me and save my boy for me! (_running to door and shouting_) Philocrates! Here, here, come, on your life! I want you!

V. 3.