I’m come; I’ve brought her (pointing to the DAMSEL.) as I just now said I would. For yesterday at night the ship arrived in harbour: I want her to be sold, if she can; if she cannot, I intend to go away from here as soon as I can. DORDALUS Greetings to you, young man. SAGARISTIO If indeed I shall dispose of her at her own price— TOXILUS (pointing to DORDALUS.) Why, you’ll either sell her handsomely with him for your purchaser, or you can to no one. SAGARISTIO Are you a friend of his? TOXILUS In the same measure as all the Divinities who inhabit the heavens. DORDALUS Then you are an assured enemy to me; for to the race of procurers no God was ever so kind as to prove propitious. SAGARISTIO Attend to the business in hand. Have you any need to purchase her? DORDALUS If you have need for her to be sold, I, too, have need to purchase her; if you have no sudden occasion to sell, just in the same degree have I to buy. SAGARISTIO State a sum; name a price. DORDALUS The commodity is your own; it’s for you to name a sum. TOXILUS (to SAGARISTIO.) He asks what’s right. SAGARISTIO Do you wish to buy at a bargain? DORDALUS Do you wish to sell at a handsome profit? TOXILUS I’ faith, I’m sure that both of you would like to do so. DORDALUS Come, boldly name your price. SAGARISTIO I tell you beforehand; no one will dispose of her to you on warranty. Do you so understand it, then? DORDALUS I understand it. Declare what’s the lowest price at which you’ll offer her, for which she may be taken by the purchaser. TOXILUS Hold your tongue, hold your tongue. Really, upon my faith, you are a very simple man, with your childish ways. DORDALUS Why so? TOXILUS Why because I wish you first to make enquiries of the damsel which relate to your interest. DORDALUS And really, upon my faith, you’ve given me no bad advice. Look at that, will you. I, an experienced Procurer, had almost fallen into the pit, if you had not been here. How important a point it is to have a person your friend at hand when you are about anything. TOXILUS I want you to make enquiry of her, of what family or in what country she was born, or of what parents, so that you mayn’t say that you’ve bought her at hazard by my persuasion or suggestion. DORDALUS On the contrary, I approve of your counsel, I tell you. TOXILUS (to SAGARISTIO.) Unless it’s troublesome, he’s desirous to make a few enquiries of her. SAGARISTIO By all means; at his own pleasure.