Persa, or The Persian (482d-505)

I’m going to give you credit[*].

May the Gods grant whatever you may desire.

How now, have you given the damsel her liberty by this?

I’m going to give you credit, i’ faith, I’m going to give you credit, I repeat.

Are you now increased in number by one freed-woman?

You worry me to death.

Why, I tell you that I’ll give you credit.

Tell me in sober truth, is she now at liberty?

Go, go to the Forum, to the Praetor[*]; make all enquiries, since you don’t choose to give me credit. She is at liberty, I say. Do you hear me at all?

May all the Deities bless you then. And never from this time forward, will I wish to you or yours what you don’t wish.

Be off: don’t be swearing that. I quite believe you.

Where is your freed-woman now?

At your house.

Do you say so? Is she at our house?

I do say so, I tell you; she is at your house, I say.

So may the Deities favour me, for this thing many blessings from me are in store for you: for there’s a certain matter, which I refrained from mentioning to you; now I’ll disclose it, and from it you can make a very large profit. I’ll give you cause to remember me so long as you exist.

My ears are wanting some kind deeds by way of assistance to these kind words.

It’s only your deserts, that I should do as you deserve. And that you may know that I will do so, take this letter (showing him a letter.) read it over.

What has this got to do with me?

Why yes, it bears reference to yourself, and it does relate to you. But it has just now been brought me from Persia, from my master.

When?

Not long since.

What does it say?

Make enquiry of its own self: it will tell you itself.

Give it me, then.

But read it aloud.

Be silent while I read it over.

I’ll not utter a word.

Timarchides sends health to Toxilus and all the family. If you are well, I am glad; I am quite well, and carrying on my business, and am making money; and I am not able to return home for these eight months,

for there is some business which detains me here; the Persians have taken Chrysopolis[*], a city of Arabia, full of good things, and an ancient town; there the booty is being collected, that a public auction may be made; this matter causes me to be absent from home.