Why, that’s your old line of service. SAGARISTIO Have you been quite well all along? TOXILUS Not very. SAGARISTIO I’ faith, it’s with reason then you are so pale. TOXILUS I’ve been wounded in the battles of Venus; Cupid has pierced my heart with his arrow. SAGARISTIO Do servants then fall in love here? TOXILUS Why, what could I do? Was I to be struggling against the Gods? Was I, like the sons of Titan, to be waging war with the Deities, with whom I am not quite able to cope? SAGARISTIO Do you only take care that catapultae made of elm Made of elm : He means the elm-twigs, which were especially used for the punishment of slaves. don’t pierce your sides. TOXILUS In right royal manner I’m celebrating the feast of Freedom Feast of Freedom : Agito Eleutheria. He is speaking of his enjoying full range in the absence of his master, and for that purpose borrows a figure from the Eleutheria, or Feast of Liberty, a festival which the Greeks, after the battle of Plataea, instituted in honor of Jupiter or Zeus Eleutherius, The Deliverer. This festival was not only a mark of gratitude to the Deity, to whom they believed themselves indebted for their victory over the Persians, but employed as a bond of union among themselves. It was celebrated each year at Plataea, and every fifth year with additional solemnities, and contests No slaves were allowed to minister on the occasion of this festival. . SAGARISTIO How so? TOXILUS Because my master’s gone abroad. SAGARISTIO Do you say so? Is he gone abroad? TOXILUS If you can bear to be enjoying yourself, do you come: you shall live with me; you shall be treated with right royal entertainment. SAGARISTIO Out upon it (rubbing himself.) my shoulder-blades are quite itching now, because I’ve heard you mention these things. TOXILUS But this one thing is torturing me. SAGARISTIO Why, what is it? TOXILUS This day is the very last day, to determine whether my mistress is to be free, or whether she is to endure lasting servitude. SAGARISTIO What, then, do you now desire? TOXILUS You have it in your power to make me your friend for ever. SAGARISTIO In what way? TOXILUS In lending me six hundred didrachms, for me to pay the same for her freedom, which I will forthwith refund you in the next three or four days. Come, do be good-natured; give me your help. SAGARISTIO With what assurance, you impudent fellow, do you venture to ask so much money of me? Why, if I myself were to be sold all in one lot, it’s hardly possible for as much to be received as you are asking me for; for now you are asking for water from a pumice-stone, which is all a-dry itself. TOXILUS Ought you to be treating me in this fashion? SAGARISTIO What am I to do? TOXILUS Do you ask the question? Beg it on loan from somebody. SAGARISTIO You do the same as you are asking me. TOXILUS I’ve been trying; I’ve found it nowhere.