Mirum quin tua me causa faciat Iuppiter Philippum regem aut Dareum, trivenefica araneas mihi ego illas servari volo. pauper sum, fateor, patior, quod di dant fero.

It is surprising Providence wouldn’t make a King Philip or Darius of me for your benefit, you viper, you! (threateningly) I want those cobwebs watched!  I’m poor, poor; I admit it, I put up with it; I take what the gods give me.

abi intro, occlude ianuam. iam ego hic ero cave quemquam alienum in aedis intro miseris 90 quod quispiam ignem quaerat, extingui volo, ne causae quid sit quod te quisquam quaeritet nam si ignis vivet, ut extinguere extempulo.

In with you, bolt the door.  I shall be back soon.  No outsider is to be let in, mind you.  And in case anyone should be looking for a light, see you put the fire out so that no one will have any reason to come to you for it.  Mark my words, if that fire stays alive, I’ll extinguish you instantly.

tum aquam aufugisse dicito, si quis petet. cultrum, securim, pistillum, mortarium, quae utenda vasa semper vicini rogant, fures venisse atque abstulisse dicito profecto in aedis meas me absente neminem volo intro mitti. atque etiam hoc praedico tibi si Bona Fortuna veniat, ne intro miseris 100

And then water—­if anyone asks for water, tell him it’s all run out.  As for a knife, or an axe, or a pestle, or a mortar,—­things the neighbours are all the time wanting to borrow—­tell ’em burglars got in and stole the whole lot.  I won’t have a living soul let into my house while I’m agone—­there!  Yes, and what’s more, listen here, if Dame Fortune herself comes along, don’t you let her in.

Staph.

  Pol ea ipsa credo ne intro mittatur cavet,
  nam ad aedis nostras numquam adit, quamquam prope est.

      Goodness me, she won’t get in:  she’ll see to that herself,
      I fancy.  Why, she never comes to our house at all, no matter
      how near she is.

Eucl.

  Tace atque abi intro.

      Keep still and go inside. (advances on her)

Staph.

Taceo atque abeo.

(hurrying out of reach) I’m still, sir, I’m going!

Eucl.

Occlude sis
fores ambobus pessulis. iam ego hic ero.

Mind you lock the door, both bolts.  I’ll soon be back.
[EXIT Staphyla INTO HOUSE.

discrucior animi, quia ab domo abeundum est mihi. nimis hercle invitus abeo. sed quid agam scio. nam noster nostrae qui est magister curiae dividere argenti dixit nummos in viros, id si relinquo ac non peto, omnes ilico me suspicentur, credo habere aurum domi. 110 nam non est veri simile, hominem pauperem pauxillum parvi facere quin nummum petat.

It’s agony having to leave the