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DORDALUS
to himself . The man to whom the Deities are propitious, in his way they throw some profit. For I this day have made a saving of two loaves daily; this way, she who this day was my slave is now her own; by his cash he has prevailed; this day then she'll be dining at the expense of another, she'll be tasting nothing of mine. Am I not a worthy man, am I not a courteous citizen, who this day have made the extensive state of Attica still larger, and increased it by a female citizen? But how obliging have I been to-day! To how many have I given credit, and have from no person taken surety; so readily did I give credit to all: and I don't fear that of those whom I've trusted to-day any one will forswear himself against me upon trial. I wish from this day forth to be honest--a thing that never will be and never was. TOXILUS
apart . This fellow, this very day, by clever contrivances, I'll catch in a springe; and so the snare is cunningly laid for him; I'll accost the fellow. Aloud. What are you about? DOR. Giving credit. TOXILUS
Whence do you betake yourself, Dordalus? DORDALUS
I'm going to give you credit1. TOXILUS
May the Gods grant whatever you may desire. How now, have you given the damsel her liberty by this? DORDALUS
I'm going to give you credit, i' faith, I'm going to give you credit, I repeat. TOXILUS
Are you now increased in number by one freed-woman? DORDALUS
You worry me to death. Why, I tell you that I'll give you credit. TOXILUS
Tell me in sober truth, is she now at liberty? DORDALUS
Go, go to the Forum, to the Prætor2; make all enquiries, since you don't choose to give me credit. She is at liberty, I say. Do you hear me at all? TOXILUS
May all the Deities bless you then. And never from this time forward, will I wish to you or yours what you don't wish. DORDALUS
Be off: don't be swearing that. I quite believe you. TOXILUS
Where is your freed-woman now? DORDALUS
At your house. TOXILUS
Do you say so? Is she at our house? DORDALUS
I do say so, I tell you; she is at your house, I say. TOXILUS
So may the Deities favour me, for this thing many blessings from me are in store for you: for there's a certain matter, which I refrained from mentioning to you; now I'll disclose it, and from it you can make a very large profit. I'll give you cause to remember me so long as you exist. DORDALUS
My ears are wanting some kind deeds by way of assistance to these kind words. TOXILUS
It's only your deserts, that I should do as you deserve. And that you may know that I will do so, take this letter showing him a letter ; read it over. DORDALUS
What has this got to do with me? TOXILUS
Why yes, it bears reference to yourself, and it does relate to you. But it has just now been brought me from Persia, from my master. DORDALUS
When? TOXILUS
Not long since. DORDALUS
What does it say? TOXILUS
Make enquiry of its own self: it will tell you itself. DORDALUS
Give it me, then. Taking it from TOXILUS. TOXILUS
But read it aloud. DORDALUS
Be silent while I read it over. TOXILUS
I'll not utter a word. DORDALUS
reading . "Timarchides sends health to Toxilus and all the family. If you are well, I am glad; I am quite well, and carrying on my business, and am making money; and I am not able to return home for these eight months, for there is some business which detains me here; the Persians have taken Chrysopolis3, a city of Arabia, full of good things, and an ancient town; there the booty is being collected, that a public auction may be made; this matter causes me to be absent from home. I wish attention and hospitality to be shown to the person who brings this letter to you. Attend to what he wants; for at his own house at home he has shown me the greatest attentions." What has it to do with me or my welfare, what matters the Persians are about, or what your master is doing? TOXILUS
Hold your tongue, silly babbler; you don't know what blessing awaits you. It's in vain that Fortune is ready to light for you her torch that leads to profit. DORDALUS
What Fortune is this that leads to profit? TOXILUS
pointing to the letter . Ask that which knows: I know about as much as yourself, except that I was the first to read it through. But as you've begun, learn the matter from the letter. DORDALUS
You counsel me aright. Keep silence. TOXILUS
Now you'll come to that which does relate to your interest. DORDALUS
reading on . "The person that brings this letter, has taken with him a well-bred female of engaging charms, who has been stolen, and brought from the inmost parts of Arabia; I wish you to take charge of her that she may be sold there; but he who makes purchase of her, must buy her at his own risk; nobody will promise or give a warranty. Take you care that he receives money full weight and counted. Pay attention to this, and give attention that the stranger is attended to. Farewell." TOXILUS
What then? After you have read over what has been committed to the wax, do you believe me now? DORDALUS
Where now is this stranger that brought this letter? TOXILUS
He'll be here just now, I believe; he has sent for her from the ship. DORDALUS
I don't want any lawsuits or quirks at all. Why should I be laying out so much money at such a distance? Unless I get her on warranty, what need have I of this purchase? TOXILUS
Will you, or will you not, hold your tongue? I never did believe you to be such a blockhead. What are you afraid of? DORDALUS
I' faith, I really am afraid; I've experienced it now so many times, and it will not befall me without having already experienced it, to be getting stuck in such a quagmire. TOXILUS
There seems to be no risk. DORDALUS
I know that; but I'm afraid about myself. TOXILUS
It matters nothing whatever to me, so far as I'm concerned; it's for your sake I mentioned it, that I might at the earliest moment give you an opportunity of advantageously purchasing her. DORDALUS
I return you thanks; but it's a nicer thing for you to become wise through others, than for others through yourself. TOXILUS
Surely no person can follow after her from the inmost parts of Arabia. Will you make purchase of her, then? DORDALUS
Only let me see the commodity. TOXILUS
You say what's fair. But look, most à propos, the stranger is coming himself, who brought this letter hither. DORDALUS
pointing down the side-scene . Is that he? TOXILUS
That's he. DORDALUS
And is that the girl that was stolen? TOXILUS
I know just about as well as yourself, except that I have seen her. Upon my faith, she certainly is genteel looking, whoever she is. DORDALUS
Faith, she has pretty regular features. TOXILUS
aside . With what contempt the hang-dog does speak of her. To DORDALUS. Let's examine her beauty in silence. DORDALUS
I approve of your advice. They stand aside.
1 To give you credit: He probably says this satirically, as Toxilus has really paid him the money. If so, we must suppose that his soliloquy is spoken in a bantering manner, on the absurdity of trusting people. Perhaps he has been just requested at the Forum to give credit to some intended customers. It is not improbable that a portion of this Play is lost here, or that it is in a very corrupt state.
2 To the Prætor: Who has just manumitted the damsel, by his lictor laying upon her the "vindicta," or "festuca," the rod of liberty, and then registering her name.
3 Chrysopolis: Chrysopolis (Golden City) would have peculiar charms for the ear of Dordalus; of course there was no such place in reality.
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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