Non omnino iam perii, est relicuom quo peream magis. habeo unde istuc tibi quod poscis dem; sed in leges meas dabo, uti scire possis, perpetuom annum hunc mihi uti serviat nec quemquam interea alium admittat prorsus quam me ad se virum.

I’m not entirely ruined yet:  there is a balance left for further ruin.  I can give you what you ask.  But I’ll give it to you on my own terms, and here they are—­she’s to be at my disposal this whole next year through, and all that time not a single man but me is to come near her.

Cle.

Quin, si tu voles, domi servi qui sunt castrabo viros. postremo ut voles nos esse, syngraphum facito adferas; ut voles, ut tibi lubebit, nobis legem imponito:  modo tecum una argentum adferto, facile patiar cetera. 240 portitorum simillumae sunt ianuae lenoniae:  si adfers, tum patent, si non est quod des, aedes non patent.

(cheerfully ironical) Why, if you choose, I’ll change all the men servants in the house to maids.  In short, bring along a contract stating how you wish us to behave.  All you desire, all you like,—­impose your own terms on us:  only bring along the money, too; the rest is easy for me.  Our doors are much like those of a custom house:  pay your fee, and they are open:  if you can’t, they are—­(going into house and closing the door in his face with a provoking laugh) not open.

Argyr.

Interii, si non invenio ego illas viginti minas, et profecto, nisi illud perdo argentum, pereundum est mihi. nunc pergam ad forum atque experiar opibus, omni copia, supplicabo, exobsecrabo ut quemque amicum videro, dignos indignos adire atque experiri certumst mihi,[7] nam si mutuas non potero, certumst sumam faenore.

(drearily) It’s all over with me, if I don’t get hold of
that eighty pounds:  yes, one thing is sure, that money
goes to pot, or else my life must. (a pause, then with
animation) I’ll off to the forum this moment and try
to raise it by every means in my power:  I’ll entreat,
ex-supplicate every friend I see.  Good and bad—­I’ll up
and try them all, I’m resolved on that:  and if I can’t get
it as a friendly loan, I’m resolved to borrow it at usury.

          
                                                                        [EXIT Argyrippus.

ACTVS II

ACT II

(A couple of hours have elapsed.)

    ENTER Libanus WITH WORRIED AIR.

Lib.

  Hercle vero, Libane, nunc te meliust expergiscier
  atque argento comparando fingere fallaciam. 250
  iam diu est factum
        quom discesti ab ero atque abiisti ad forum,[8] (251)
  ibi tu ad hoc diei tempus dormitasti in otio. (253)