What you requested me, I’ve done for your sake, that I mightn’t slight the messenger who had brought your seal’s impression.THERAPONTIGONUS More fool than fool were you to give credit to this letter.LYCO To that by which matters both public and private are carried on ought I not to have given credit? I’ll be off; the money has been properly paid you. Warrior, farewell.THERAPONTIGONUS How—farewell? LYCO Fare you ill then, if you choose,—aye, all your life, so far as I’m concerned. (Exit.) THERAPONTIGONUS What shall I do now? Of what use is it that I have caused kings to obey me, if this obscure fellowObscure fellow: Umbraticus, a low fellow, a haunter of obscure places. is this day to laugh at me?

(Enter CAPPADOX, from the Temple.)CAPPADOX(to himself.) The man to whom the Gods are propitious, they cannot, I think, be angered with him. After I ad finished my devotions, it then came into my mind, lest the banker should abscond, to go fetch the money, that I may make good cheer rather than he.THERAPONTIGONUS I had left my compliments for you at your house.CAPPADOX Therapontigonus Platagidorus, save you; since you are come safe to Epidaurus this day, at my house—you won’t lick up one grain of saltLick up one grain of salt: He pretends that he is going to invite him; but, stopping short, ends by saying that he shall not even taste salt with him. ἄλαλεχεto lick salt, Erasmus, in his Adagia, tells os was a proverbial expression, denoting to live sparingly..THERAPONTIGONUS You give me a kind invitation; things, however, are in a train for it to go badly with yourself. But how fares my purchase at your house?CAPPADOX Why, not at my house at all. Don’t be bringing your witnesses—assuredly, I don’t owe you anything.THERAPONTIGONUS How’s that?CAPPADOX What I was bound on oath to do, I’ve done.THERAPONTIGONUS Will you give me up the girl or not, before I spit you with this sabre of mine, you whip-scoundrel?CAPPADOX I bid you go to perdition with all my heart; don’t you be terrifying me.