Mega.
Quo abis?
Where are you off to?
Eucl.
Iam ad te revortar. nunc est quod visam domum.
Just a moment!...
I’ll be back ... the fact is ... I must
see to something
at home. [EXIT INTO HOUSE.
Mega.
Credo edepol, ubi mentionem ego fecero
de filia
mi ut despondeat, sese a me derideri rebitur,
neque illo quisquam est alter hodie ex
paupertate parcior.
By Jove!
I suppose he’ll think I’m making fun of
him when I
speak about his
giving me his daughter; poverty never made a
fellow closer-fisted.
RE-ENTER Euclio
Eucl.
Di me servant, salva res est. salvom est
si quid non perit
nimis male timui. prius quam intro redii,
exanimatus fui.
redeo ad te, Megadore, si quid me vis.
(aside) Thank the Lord, I’m saved! It’s safe—that is, if it’s all there. Ah, but that was a dreadful moment! I nearly expired before I got in the house. (to Megadorus) Here I am, Megadorus, if you want anything of me.
Mega.
Habeo gratiam.
quaeso, quod te percontabor, ne id te
pigeat pro loqui. 210
Thanks. Now
I trust you won’t mind answering the questions
I’m going
to ask.
Eucl.
Dum quidem ne quid perconteris quod non lubeat proloqui.
(cautiously)
No-no—that is, if you don’t ask any
I don’t
like to answer.
Mega.
Dic mihi. quali me arbitrare genere prognatum?
Frankly now, what do you think of my family connections?
Eucl.
Bono.
(grudgingly) Good.
Mega.
Quid fide?
And my sense of honour?
Eucl.
Bona.
Good.
Mega.
Quid factis?
And my general conduct?
Eucl.
Neque malis neque improbis.
Not bad, not disreputable.
Mega.
Aetatem meam scis?
You know my age?
Eucl.
Scio esse grandem, item ut pecuniam.
Getting on, getting on, I know that—(aside) financially, too.
Mega.
Certe edepol equidem te civem sine mala
omni malitia
semper sum arbitratus et nunc arbitror.
Now Euclio, I’ve
always considered you a citizen of the
true, trusty type,
by Jove, I certainly have, and I do
still.
Eucl.
Aurum huic olet.
quid nunc me vis?
(aside)
He’s got a whiff of my gold. (aloud) Well,
what
do you want?