He challenged me to play with him a game of hazard. I staked my cloak, he staked his ring against it; he called on the nameCalled on the name: On the custom of invoking their mistresses, when playing at dice, see a Note to the Captivi, Act I., Sc. 1. We are, perhaps, to suppose that the Captain takes off his ring for the purpose of staking it, which would enable Curculio to steal it the more easily. of Planesium.PHAEDROMUS What, my mistress? CURCULIO Be silent a while. He threw a most losing castMost losing cast: When playing with the tali, or knucklebone dice, with only four marked sides, they used sets of four. Volturii quatuor (literally, the four vultures) was the most unlucky throw of all, and is supposed to have been four aces.. I took up the dice, and invoked Hercules as my genial patronMy genial patron: Nutricem; literally, nurse. It has been suggested that the Parasite intended to compliment his entertainer, the Captain, under the name of Hercules, whom he invokes for luck. The Delphin Commentator says that Parasites invoked Hercules because the tenths of entertainments were offered to him, and these were distributed among the needy, in the number of whom they ranked.; I threw a first-rate castA first-rate cast: The best throw with the tali was called Venus or Venereus jactus, when the dice turned up 2, 3, 4, and 5. As it war by this throw that the Romans chose the King of the Feast, it received the name of Basilicus, the king’s throw. See the last Scene in the Asinaria., and pledged him in a bumping cup; in return he drank it off, reclined his head, and fell fast asleep. I slily took away from him the ring, and took my legs quietly from off the couch, so that the Captain mightn’t perceive it. The servants enquired whither I was going; I said that I was going whither persons when full are wont to go. When I beheld the door, at once on the instant I betook myself away from the place.PHAEDROMUS I commend you. CURCULIO Commend me when I’ve brought this thing about which you desire. Now let’s go indoors, that we may seal the letter.PHAEDROMUS Do I delay you? CURCULIO But let’s cram down something first, the gammon, the udder, and the kernels; these are the foundations for the stomach, with bread and roast beef, a good-sized cup and a capacious pot, that counsel enough may be forthcoming. Do you, yourself, seal the letter; he’ll do the honors (pointing to PALINURUS) while I am eating.I’ll dictate after what fashion you’re to write. Follow me this way, in-doors.PHAEDROMUS I follow.(They go into the house of PHAEDROMUS.)

(Enter LYCO.)LYCOI seem to be in opulence; I’ve struck my balance, how much money I have, and how much I owe. I’m rich, if I don’t payIf I don’t pay: He probably alludes to some shuffling and cheating methods by which the bankers of the day had recently distinguished themselves. See the Pseudolus, l. 296 (Act I., Sc. 3). those to whom I’m in debt. If I do pay those to whom I’m in debt, my debts are the greatest. But really, upon my faith, when I carefully consider, if they press me hard, I’ll resort to the PraetorResort to the Praetor: This was probably a method with bankers and traders, by which, for the purpose of defrauding their creditors, they surrendered their effects to the Praetor, and by doing so, contrived to make a purse, as is too often done by bankrupts and insolvents at the present day. In l. 684 (Act V., Sc. 3), we find Cappadox expressing himself as apprehensive that Lyco will be taking the benefit of the Act.. Most bankers have this habit, for one to borrow of the other, and to pay nobody, and to discharge the debt with their fists, if any one duns in a loudish tone.The person that hasThe person that has: Gueudeville, in his translation, informs us that this maxim was much repeated by Louis XII. of France, who was a great admirer of Plautus. in a short time acquired wealth, unless in good time he saves it, in good time comes to starvation. I’d like to buy a servant for myself, who now, however, must be sought by me on hireSought by me on hire: This passage has been much commented on, as containing some indelicate meaning. After all, it seems clearly to mean that he has occasion for all his ready cash; and, though he would like to buy a slave, he must content himself with hiring one.: there’s occasion for my ready money.(within.)CURCULIODon’t you be reminding me now I’m full; I recollect and understand. I’ll render up to you all this cleverly carried out; do hold your peace. I’ faith, I’ve surely filled myself in-doors right well, and still in my stomach I’ve left room for one corner, in which to stow away the remnants of these remnants.(Seeing LYCO.)Who’s this that with covered head is saluting Aesculapius? Heyday, the very man I wanted. (To an ATTENDANT.) Follow me.I’ll make pretence as though I didn’t know him. (Aloud.) Hark you; I want you.LYCO(turning round.) One-eyed manOne-eyed man: It appears from this that Curculio has but one eye. The occasion of his losing it is hinted at in l. 396., save you.