When you’ve entrusted them with anything, they immediately run more quickly away from the Forum than a hare, when, at the games When, at the games : he probably alludes to the games in the Circus, at the Floralia, or Festival of Flora, when hares and deer were hunted. See the Fasti of Ovid, B. 5, l. 372. These animals were sometimes brought in nets, and sometimes in cages, the porta, or door, of which is here mentioned. Probably, one reason for hunting the hare was the fact that it is destructive to flowers (especially pinks and carnations), which were under the tutelage of Flora. , he’s let out of the entrance of his cage. TOXILUS (holding out the money.) Take this, will you. DORDALUS Why don’t you give it then? TOXILUS (giving it.) There will be here six hundred didrachms, full weight and counted; cause the damsel to be set at liberty, and bring her out here forthwith. DORDALUS I’ll have her here this moment. I’ faith, I don’t know to whom now to give this money to be tested To be tested : The argentarn were licensed to be probatores, triers or assayers of the goodness of the coin in circulation. . TOXILUS Perhaps you are afraid to entrust it to any one’s hands? DORDALUS Strange if I wasn’t. More quickly, now-a-days, do bankers abscond from the Forum, than a wheel spins round in a race. TOXILUS (pointing.) Do you go that way, through the alleys, the back way to the Forum Back way to the Forum : Dordalus is to go through his house (which adjoins that of the master of Toxilus) to the Forum, for the purpose of procuring the manumission of Lemniselene from the Praetor, who sits in court there. The reason for his being advised by Toxilus to go the back way probably is, that he does not wish, by their walking in the main street, to attract attention to the fact that he has purchased her freedom. The Procurer, too, having to carry the money to the assayers, probably would not like to attract too much attention to his precious burden. As they are to come back the same way, Lemniselene is to enter the house where Toxilus lives at the back entrance, which accounts for her coming thence, in the Fifth Act, without having appeared on the stage since she went back, after speaking with Sophoclidisca, into the house of Dordalus. ; let this damsel pass through the same way to our house, through the garden. DORDALUS I’ll have her here this moment. TOXILUS But not in public view. DORDALUS Very discreet. TOXILUS To-morrow she must go to return thanks Go to return thanks : It was the custom solemnly to return thanks to the Deities on liberation from servitude. . DORDALUS I’ faith, just so indeed. TOXILUS While you’ve been loitering, you might have got back. (Exit DORDALUS; TOXILUS goes into the house.) (Enter TOXILUS.) TOXILUS (to himself.) If you give attention to any matter with steadiness or with good management, that same is wont properly to thrive to your satisfaction. And, by my faith, pretty nearly according as each man gives attention to his business, in the same manner do the results The results : Postprincipia. Literally, the continuance of a thing after it is once begun. finally ensure him success. If he is knavish or a rogue, the business turns out badly which he has commenced; but if he uses good management, it results profitably. Cleverly and skilfully did I commence upon this business; for that reason do I trust that it will turn out well for me. Now, I’ll this day have the Procurer so hampered, that he shan’t know himself which way to extricate himself. (Goes to the door.) Sagaristio, hallo! Come forth, and bring out the young woman, and that letter which I sealed for you, which you brought me all the way from Persia, from my master. (Enter SAGARISTIO and the DAUGHTER of SATURIO, from the house, each dressed in Persian costume.) SAGARISTIO Have I delayed at all? TOXILUS Bravo! bravo! dressed out in splendid style. (To SAGARISTIO.) The tiara The tiara : The tiara was a head-dress with a large high crown, which covered the ears, and was worn especially by the Armenians, Parthians, and Persians. The King of Persia wore an erect tiara, while that of his subjects was soft and flexible, falling on one side. does finely set off your dress. Then, too, how beautifully does the slipper become this stranger damsel! But are you thoroughly up in your parts? SAGARISTIO Tragedians and Comedians have never been up so well. TOXILUS Troth, you are giving me kind assistance. Come, be off that way (pointing.) to a distance out of sight, and hold your tongue. When you see me conversing with the Procurer, that will be the time to accost us; now be off, you,—away with you. (SAGARISTIO and the DAMSEL go aside, out of sight.) (Enter DORDALUS.) DORDALUS (to himself.) The man to whom the Deities are propitious, in his way they throw some profit. For I this day have made a saving of two loaves daily; this way, she who this day was my slave is now her own; by his cash he has prevailed; this day then she’ll be dining at the expense of another, she’ll be tasting nothing of mine. Am I not a worthy man, am I not a courteous citizen, who this day have made the extensive state of Attica still larger, and increased it by a female citizen? But how obliging have I been to-day! To how many have I given credit, and have from no person taken surety; so readily did I give credit to all: and I don’t fear that of those whom I’ve trusted to-day any one will forswear himself against me upon trial. I wish from this day forth to be honest—a thing that never will be and never was. TOXILUS (apart.) This fellow, this very day, by clever contrivances, I’ll catch in a springe; and so the snare is cunningly laid for him; I’ll accost the fellow. (Aloud.) What are you about? DORDALUS Giving credit. TOXILUS Whence do you betake yourself, Dordalus?