Persa, or The Persian (766-801b)

Everything that you wish, the same do I desire.

It’s mutual. Come, come-come then. You, Sagaristio, recline in the upper place.

I don’t at all care for it. Give ne but equal shares in what I’ve earned.

All in good time.

For me that good time is too late.

Attend to the matter in hand. Take your place; this delightful day let’s keep as a joyous birthday of mine. (To the SLAVES.) Bring water for our hands; arrange the table.

(The SLAVES obey, and the GUESTS take their places.) To you, blooming one (addressing LEMNISELENE.) I give this blooming wreath. (Places a garland on her head.) You shall be our governess here.

Come, lad, commence these games from the top with a round of seven cups.

Bestir your hands; make haste. Paegnium, you are slow in giving me the cups; really, do give them. Here’s luck to me, luck to you, luck to my mistress, luck to us all. This much wished-for day has been sent me by the Gods this day, inasmuch as I am allowed to embrace you a free woman.

By your own agency it was effected.

(Giving him the cup.) This cup my hand presents to you, as it becomes a mistress to her love.

Give it me.

Take it.

Here’s luck to him who envies me, and to him who rejoices in this joy.

Those who are, and those who shall be, and those who have been, and those who are to be hereafter, all of them I singly by far surpass, in being the most wretched of men alive.

I’m undone, ruined quite! This day has shone upon me the most unfortunate of days; that ruiner Toxilus has so outmanœuvred me, and has so laid waste my property! A whole cartload of silver, to my misfortune, have I upset, and lost, and have not that for which I did upset it. May all the Deities utterly confound that Persian, and all Persians, and all persons besides! in such a way has Toxilus, the wretch, conjured this up against me.

Because I didn’t trust him for the money, for that reason has he contrived this plan against me,—a fellow, that, by my faith, if I only live, I’ll bring to torture and the fetters; if, indeed, his master ever returns here, as I trust he will. (Catching sight of the REVELLERS.) But what is it I see? Do look at that. What play is this? By my troth, they’re carousing here surely. I’ll accost them. (He goes up to them.) O worthy sir (to TOXILUS.) my greetings to you—you, too (to LEMNISELENE.) my worthy freed-woman.

Why surely this is Dordalus.

Invite him, then, to come.

Come here, if you like.

(Aside.) Come, let’s sing his praises.

(Aloud.) Dordalus, most delightful fellow, welcome, here’s a place for you; take your place here (pointing to a couch.) Bring water for his feet (to the SLAVES.) Are you going to give it, lad?

Don’t you, please, be touching me with a single finger, lest I should fell you to the ground, you villain.

And I this very instant will be striking out your eye with this tankard.

What do you say, gallows[*], you wearer-away of the whip? How have you imposed upon me [*] to-day? Into what embarrassments have you thrown me? How have I been baulked about the Persian?

You’ll be off with your abuse from here, if you are wise.

But, my worthy freed-woman, you knew of this, and concealed it from me.

It’s folly

for a person who can enjoy himself to turn to brawling in preference. ’Twere more proper for you to arrange about those matters another time.

My heart’s in flames.