In some wheat with the greatest ease I’ll make you find even five hundred Curculios instead of one. Therefore I’m off; fare you well, and my service to you.(Exit.)THERAPONTIGONUS Fare you ill, a plague attend you. What shall I do? Shall I stop or go away? That I should have been imposed upon in this way! I’d like to give a reward to him who would point out that fellow to me.(Exit.)

(Enter CURCULIO, with a ring, from the house of PHAEDROMUS.)CURCULIO I’ve heard that an ancient PoetAn ancient Poet: Who this ancient Poet was, is not known. wrote in a Tragedy, that two women are worse than one; such is the fact. But a more crafty woman than is this mistress of Phaedromus, I never saw or heard of, nor, i’ faith, can one be spoken of or imagined; she, as soon as ever she saw that I had got this ring, asked me whence I got it. Why do you ask that? said I. Because I’ve need to know, said she. I said I wouldn’t tell her. To get it away, she seized hold of my hand with her teeth. With much ado I betook me out of doors, and made my escape. Away with this slutThis slut: Caniculam.Little bitch..

(Enter PLANESIUM, followed by PHAEDROMUS, from his house.)PLANESIUM My Phaedromus, make haste.PHAEDROMUS Make haste for what? PLANESIUM That you mayn’t let the Parasite escape; the affair’s of consequence.PHAEDROMUS Nothing have INothing have I: Planesium says, res,the affair, is urgent. Phaedromus, understanding the word as meaning property, says, I’ve got none; what I had, I soon squandered. of consequence; for what I did have I quickly made away with?(Seizes CURCULIO.)I’ve got him; what’s the matter?PLANESIUM Ask him whence he got that ring: my father used to wear it. CURCULIO Why, troth, and so did my aunt.PLANESIUM My mother gave it him to wear.CURCULIO And your father, in his turn, to me.PLANESIUM You are talking nonsense.CURCULIO I’m in the habit; for by reason of it I make a livelihood the more easily. What is the matter now?PLANESIUM I entreat you, don’t be keeping me from finding my parents.CURCULIO How can I? Have I got your father and mother hidden beneath the stone? (Holding up the ring.) PLANESIUM I was born a free woman.CURCULIO And so were many others, who are now in servitude.PLANESIUM Really now, I’m vexed. CURCULIO For my part, I’ve told you how this came into my possession. How often must you be told? I cheated the Captain at dice, I tell you.(THERAPONTIGONUS.)THERAPONTIGONUS(eyeing CURCULIO.) I’m all right; see, here he is whom I was looking for. How do you do, good sir?CURCULIO I hear you; three casts of the dice, if you like, even for that scarf of yours.THERAPONTIGONUS Why don’t you go to very perdition, with your casts and catch-penniesCasts and catch-pennies: Cum bolis, cum bulbis. Literally with your casts of dice and your onions. He probably uses the word bulbis solely for its similarity to bolis, by way of alliteration. A little variation is made in the translation, to keep the spirit of the passage, which it is impossible to do by adhering to the letter.? Either give me back the money or the young woman?CURCULIO(with an air of surprise.) What money? what rubbish are you talking about to me? What young woman are you demanding back of me?THERAPONTIGONUSThe one that you took away this day from the Procurer, you scoundrelly fellow.CURCULIO I took none away.