Mercator, or The Merchant (989b-1025)

So far as I’m concerned, he may have her.

High time, i’ faith, since you haven’t the power of doing otherwise.

For this injury let him take what satisfaction he likes; only do you make peace, I beg of you, that he mayn’t be angry with me. I’ faith, if I had known it, or if, indeed, he had told me in the slightest way of joke that he was in love with her, I should never have proceeded to take her away from him so in love.

Enitychus, you are his companion, preserve and rescue me, I beg of you. Make this old fellow your client. You shall say that I’m mindful of a kindness.

Entreat him that he’ll pardon his offences and his youthful age[*].

Heyday now, are you still persisting in inveighing against me with your airs? I trust that a like opportunity will befall me as well for returning you a similar compliment.

I’ve long made an end of those pursuits.

And really so shall I from this time forward.

Not a bit of it. Through usage your inclinations will be leading you to it again.

Prithee, do now be satisfied. Rather, scourge me with thongs even, if you like.

You say right. But that your wife will do, when she comes to know of this.

There’s no need for her to come to know of it.

What’s that? She shan’t come to know of it; don’t be afraid.

Let’s go in-doors; this place isn’t a suitable one for your practices, for there to be persons to overhear who are passing through the street, while we are talking.

Why, faith, you say what’s right; that way the story will be shorter. Let’s be off

Your son is in-doors here at our house.

It’s very good. We’ll pass that way through the garden[*] home.

Eutychus, I want this affair to be settled before I set my foot again within doors.

What is it?

Each person thinks about his own concerns. Answer me this: do you know for certain that your mother isn’t angry with me?

I do know it.

Take care.

Trust me for it. Are you satisfied?

I am. But still, troth now, prithee, do take care.

Don’t you believe me?

Yes, I do believe you; but still I’m dreadfully afraid.

Let’s go in-doors.

Aye, but I think we must pronounce. the law for the old men before we depart, on what terms they are to keep check upon themselves and to be continent. Whoever shall be sixty years of age, if we know of any one, whether husband or, i’ faith, whether bachelor, in fact, who goes a wenching, upon these terms shall we deal with him; we shall deem him a fool.

And, i’ faith, so far as we’re concerned, he shall be in want who has squandered away his property. And let no one hereafter forbid his youthful son to be in love and to keep a mistress, so it be done in a decent manner. If he shall forbid him, let him, unknown to himself, suffer more loss than if he had openly permitted him. Let this law, then, from this night forward, be binding upon the old men.

(To the AUDIENCE.) Young men, kindly fare you well; and if this law, enacted for the sake of the old ones, pleases you, it is right that you should give us loud applause.