Mercator, or The Merchant (766b-803)

This is she. Why are you annoying me?

Because you say that you don’t know me. Are you afraid of her?

I’m wise in being so; for she’s my only companion.

Do you wish to use my services?

I don’t wish.

Give me my pay.

Ask for it to-morrow; it shall be given you; for the present, be off.

(Aside.) Alas, wretch that I am!

I now find that that old saying is a true one, that some bad comes through a bad neighbour.

Why are we standing here?

Why don’t you be gone?[*]

If any inconvenience happens to you, that’s not my fault.

Why, you are utterly ruining wretched me

I understand now what you want. You mean, you wish me to go away from here.

I do wish it, I say.

I’ll be off. Pay me a drachma.

It shall be paid.

Then order it to be paid me, please. It can be paid in the meantime, while they are putting down the provisions.

Why don’t you be off? Can’t you cease being troublesome?

Come, do you set down

those provisions before the feet of that old gentleman. These baskets I’ll order to be fetched from your house either by-and-by or else to-morrow. (To the SCULLIONS.) Do you follow me.

Perhaps you are surprised at that Cook, that he came and brought these things. I’ll tell you why it is.

I’m not surprised if you do anything wrongful or criminal;

and, by heavens, I’ll not put up with it, that I am married thus unfortunately, and that harlots are brought into my house in this way. Syra, go ask my father, in my name, to come here directly together with you.

I’ll go.

Prithee, wife, you don’t know what the matter is.

In set form now will I make oath, that I have never had anything to do with her. (Exit SYRA.) What, is Syra gone now? By heaven, I’m undone! (DORIPPA goes into the house.) (to himself.) But, see, she’s off as well! Woe to wretched me! Then, neighbour Demipho, may the Gods and Goddesses confound you, together with your mistress and your intriguings!

He has most unjustly loaded me with suspicions; he has stirred up enemies against me. At home my wife is most infuriated. I’ll be off to the Forum, and tell this to Demipho, that I’ll drag this woman by the hair into the street, unless he takes her hence out of this house wherever he chooses.

(Goes to the door and calls.) Hark you! wife, wife! although you’re angry at me, you’ll order, if you are wise, these things to be carried hence indoors. We shall be able by-and-by to dine all the better upon the same.

Whither my mistress sent me, to her father —, he’s not at home; they said that he has gone off into the country. Now, I’ll take home this answer.