Asinaria, or The Ass-Dealer

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 707 sections

2.2.346b
After that, what then?
2.2.347
He said that he was bringing the money for the asses to the chamberlain Saurea, twenty minae in amount; but that he himself didn’t know the individual, who he was, but that he knew Demaenetus quite well.
2.2.350
Since he spoke thus to this effect—
2.2.350b
What then?
2.2.350c
Listen then, and you’ll know. At once I made myself courteous, and a person of consequence. I said that I was the chamberlain. Thus, in these terms did he answer me: Upon my faith, I don’t know Saurea, nor yet of what appearance he is. It isn’t fair for you to blame me; but if you like, bring here Demaenetus, your master, whom I do know; I’ll not prevent you taking the money then.
2.2.356
I said that I would bring him, and that I should be at home immediately. He’s about to go to the baths, from there he’ll afterwards come here. What plan do you think, now, I ought to adopt? Tell me.
2.2.358b
Why, I’m thinking of this, how to get between the money, and the stranger, and Saurea.
2.2.360
At present this matter is rough-hewn; but if this stranger brings here the money first, then are we both at once shut out from it. But the old man to-day took me apart at a distance from the house, and threatened me and yourself that we should be tasters of the elm twigs, if Argyrippus didn’t this very day get twenty mine of silver.
2.2.365
He commanded that we should cheat either the chamberlain or his own wife, and said that he would give the aid he promised. Now, do you go to the Forum to our master, and tell him this, how we are going to manage; that you, from Leonida, are going to be the chamberlain Saurea, until the dealer has brought the money for the asses.
2.2.369b
I’ll do as you request me.
2.2.370
In the meantime, I’ll amuse him here, if by chance he should come first.
2.2.371
But what say you—?
2.2.371b
What do you want?
2.2.371c
If I give you a blow on the cheek with my fist, by-and-by, while I’m personating Saurea, don’t you be offended.
2.2.373
I’ faith, but you’ll have a care not to be touching me, if you are wise; you’ll surely have changed your name to day with a bad omen.
2.2.375
Prithee, do endure it with resolution.
2.2.375b
Do you endure the cuff that I, too, shall be giving you in return.
2.2.376
I speak as it’s in the habit of being done.
2.2.376b
I’ faith, and I speak, too, of how I’m likely to act.
2.2.377
Don’t refuse me.
2.2.377b
Why I promise, I tell you, to give you a like return, just as you deserve.
2.2.378
I’m off; I know that you’ll put up with it by-and-by. But who’s this? ’Tis he—’tis the very man himself. I’ll return here just now; in the meantime do you detain him here;
2.2.380
I want to inform the old gentleman.
2.2.380b
Well, do your duty, then, and fly.
2.3.381
According as it was pointed out to me, this must be the house where Demaenetus is said to live. (To the BOY.) Go, boy, and knock, and call Saurea the chamberlain out here, if he’s in-doors.
2.3.384
Who’s breaking in our door in this fashion? Enough there, I say, if you hear me at all.
2.3.385
No one has touched it as yet: are you out of your senses?
2.3.385b
Why I thought that you had touched it, because you were steering your course in that direction. I don’t want the door, my fellow-slave, to be thumped by you; I really am attached to our house.
2.3.388
I’ faith, there’s no fear of the hinges being broken off the doors, if you answer all who make enquiries in this fashion.
2.3.390
This door is of this habit; it cries out at once for tho porter, if it sees any door-kicker at a distance coming towards it. But what are you come for? What are you enquiring about?
2.3.392b
I wanted Demaenetus.
2.3.393
If he were at home, I would tell you so.
2.3.393b
Well, his chamberlain then?
2.3.394
No more is ne at home.
2.3.394b
Where is he?
2.3.394c
He said he was going to the barber’s.
2.3.395
Hasn’t he returned, since he went there?
2.3.395b
I’ faith, he hasn’t. What did you want?
2.3.396
He was to have received twenty mine of silver, if he had been in.
2.3.397
What was it for?
2.3.397b
He sold some asses at market to a dealer from Pella.
2.3.398b
I understand; you are bringing it now. I think that he’ll be here just now.
2.3.399
Of what appearance is your chamberlain Saurea? If it’s he, I shall be able to know at once.
2.3.400
Lantern-jawed, with reddish hair, a little pot-bellied, with glaring eyes, middling stature, sour aspect.
2.3.402
A painter couldn’t have more correctly described his appearance— And, i’ faith, I see the very man; he’s coming this way, wagging his head.
2.3.403
Whoever gets in his way when he’s in a passion, he’ll be for striking him.
2.3.405
By my faith, if, indeed, he were coming filled with the threats and the courage of the grandson ofAeacus, if he were to touch me in his wrath, in his wrath he would be getting a thrashing.
2.4.407
What’s this to do here? Not a person bares a bit about my orders! How did I order Libanus to come to the barber’s shop, and he didn’t come at all. I’ faith, for sure he hasn’t consulted well for his back and his legs.
2.4.410
This is a very overbearing fellow.
2.4.410b
Woe to me this day!
2.4.410c
I bid welcome to Libanus, the freed-man! Are you set at liberty now?
2.4.411b
I do implore you.
2.4.412
In good sooth, to your great misfortune surely have you fallen in my way. Why didn’t you come to the barber’s shop, as I ordered you?
2.4.413b
This person detained me.
2.4.414
I’ faith, if in fact you were now to say that supreme Jove had detained you,
2.4.415
and he were present to sue for you, you shouldn’t escape the evil consequences. Whip-knave, did you disobey my orders?
2.4.416b
Stranger, I’m done for.
2.4.417
Prithee, Saurea, for my sake, don’t beat him.
2.4.418
I wish, now, I had a whip in my hand—
2.4.418b
Prithee, do be appeased.
2.4.419
—With which to lash your sides, which have grown callous with blows.
2.4.420
Stand off this way; let me be the death of this fellow who is continually inflaming me with anger—a thief to whom I can never once enjoin a single thing, but that I must command the same things a hundred times, and din them in his ears. For that reason, now, by my troth, what with bawling and passion, I cannot endure the labour. Have you, you rascal, (pointing) ordered this dirt to be removed hence from the door?
2.4.425
Have you ordered the labours of the spiders to be swept down from the pillars? Have you ordered those bosses on our door to be brought to brightness? It’s of no use; I must walk about with a stick, as though I were a lame man. Because only for these single three days I have been giving my constant attendance at the Forum, in order to find some one who requires money upon interest, here,
2.4.430
in the meantime, are you sleeping at home, and my master is living in a pigstye, not in a house.(He strikes LIBANUS.) There now, take you that.
2.4.431b
Prithee, stranger, do take my part.
2.4.431c
Saurea, for my sake, I entreat you, do let him go.
2.4.432b
Hark you! has any one paid for the carriage of that olive oil?
2.4.433b
He has paid.
2.4.433c
To whom was it given?
2.4.433d
To Stichus himself, your deputy.
2.4.434b
Tut! you’re trying to mollify me. I know that he is my deputy,
2.4.435
and that there isn’t a servant in the house who is more valuable to his master than he is. But the wines that I sold yesterday to Exaerambus, the wine merchant, has he yet paid Stichus for them?
2.4.437b
I think he has, in full; for I saw Exaerambus himself bringing hither his banker.
2.4.439
On such terms would I always deal; before, what I’ve trusted, I’ve hardly been paid within a year after.
2.4.440
Now he’s quite in a hurry; even of his own accord he brings him to the house, and writes a transfer of the money. Has Dromo paid down the wages agreed upon?
2.4.441b
Less than half, I think.
2.4.442
What about the remainder?
2.4.442b
He said that he would pay it directly it was paid to him; for it was retained until he had finished the work that was agreed on to be done by him.
2.4.444
The cups that I lent to Philodamus, has he brought them back?
2.4.445
Not yet.
2.4.445b
What, not yet? If you wish to make a present, lend to a person that is a friend—
2.4.446
I’ faith, I’m quite undone; he’ll be just now driving me away with his ill-temper.
2.4.446b
Hallo! you, enough now. Do you hear what he’s saying?
2.4.447b
I hear, and I’ll have done.
2.4.447c
At last, I think, he has done: now it’s best to accost him before he commences again to prate. (To LEONIDA.) How soon, sir, will you give me your attention?
2.4.449b
Oh, by all means—have you been here any time?
2.4.450
Troth, I didn’t observe you; pray, don’t lay it to my charge: anger has so blinded my eyesight.
2.4.451b
’Tisn’t to be wondered at. But if he’s at home, I was wanting Demaenetus.
2.4.452b
Libanus says that he isn’t within. But still, if you like to pay that money over to me, I’ll give you an acquittance that the account is discharged as to that item.
2.4.455
This way rather, for me to pay you in the presence of your master, Demaenetus.
2.4.456
My master knows him, and he my master.
2.4.456b
In his master’s presence, I’ll pay him.
2.4.457
At my peril, so you only pay him, I’ll engage the matter’s safe. For if our old gentleman were to know that confidence wasn’t placed in him, to whom he himself always entrusts the management of all matters, he would be angry.
2.4.460
I don’t much care; don’t let him not pay it, if he don’t like; so let him stand here.
2.4.461
Give it him, I say. Oh dear, I’m sadly afraid that he’ll be thinking that I’ve persuaded you not to trust him; prithee, do give it and don’t be afraid. Upon my word, it will be safe.
2.4.463b
I think it will be—so long, indeed, as I myself keep it in my hand. I’m a stranger; I don’t know Saurea.
2.4.464b
Well, know him now then.
2.4.465
It may be he, it may not be he; i’ faith, I know not; if it’s he, why then it must be he. I know for sure that I shall give this up to no person that I don’t know.
2.4.467
Troth now, may all the Gods confound the fellow. (Aloud to LIBANUS.) Take care you don’t entreat him with a word. He’s arrogant, because he’s fingering my twenty minae. No one will take it. (To the ASS-DEALER.) Take yourself off home, be off from here, and don’t be troublesome.
2.4.470
You are in too angry mood: it isn’t right for a person who is a slave to give himself airs.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0119.phi002.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source.