Persa, or The Persian (738-765)

If I don’t prove the destruction of that fellow—

I’m undone.[*]

And most luckily[*] there he is, himself, before the door.

Most welcome, my dear father.

Welcome, my child.

That Persian has utterly ruined me!

This is my father.

Ha!—what?—father? I’m utterly undone! Why then, in my misery, do I delay to bewail my sixty minae?

By my faith, you scoundrel, I’ll give you cause to bewail your own self as well.

I’m undone!

Come, walk before a magistrate, Procurer.

Why do you summon me before a magistrate?

I’ll tell you there, before the Praetor. But before the magistrate I summon you.

Don’t you summon[*] a witness?

What, for your sake, hangdog, am I to be touching the ear of any being that’s free—you, who are here trading in persons, free citizens?

Let me but speak—

I won’t.

Hear me.

I’m deaf. Walk on—follow me this way (dragging him.) you villanous mouser after maidens! Follow after me this way, my daughter, to the Praetor.

I’ll follow.

The foe subdued, the citizens safe, the state in tranquillity, peace fully ratified, the war finished, our affairs prospering, the army and the garrisons untouched;

inasmuch, Jupiter, and all you other Deities potent in the heavens, you have kindly aided us, for that reason do I return and give you thanks; because I have been fully revenged upon my foe. Now, for this reason, among my partners will I divide and allot the spoil.

(To the SLAVES in the house, who obey his orders.) Come out of doors; here, before the entrance and the door, I wish to entertain my commates with hospitality. Lay down the couches here; place here the things that are usual.

Here am I determined that my eagle[*] shall be first pitched;

from which spot I’ll cause all to become merry, joyous, and delighted, by the aid of whom those things which I wished to be effected have been rendered for me easy to be done; for worthless is the man who knows how to receive a kindness, and knows not how to return it.

My Toxilus, why am I without you? And why are you without me?

Come then, my own one, approach me, and embrace me, please.

Indeed I will.

O, nothing is there more sweet than this.

But, there’s a dear, apple of my eye, why don’t we at once betake us to the couches?