I’m delaying.(Looking in his hand.) I can now pretty nearly cater a breakfast for myself with this. (Raising his eyes.) But what’s this? How’s this? What’s this? What’s this I see? How now? What means this strange conjunction? What’s this coupling together? Who’s this fellow with the long skirts, just like a tavern-boy? Do I quite see with my eyes? Isn’t this my mistress, Anterastylis? Why, surely it is she. For some time past I’ve perceived that I’m set at nought. Isn’t the girl ashamed to be hugging a tawny fellow in the middle of the street? I faith, I shall give him up forthwith to the executioner to be tortured all over. Surely this is a womanish raceA womanish race: Muliersous generally means fond of women. It clearly however, in this passage means womanish, or womanlike., with their tunics hanging down to their heels. But I’m determined to accost this African female lover.(To HANNO.) Hallo! you woman, I say, are you not ashamed? What business have you with her, pray? Tell me.HANNOYoung man, greetings to you.ANTHEMONIDESI don’t want them; that’s nothing to you. What business have you to touch her with a finger?HANNOBecause I choose. ANTHEMONIDESYou choose?HANNOI say so.ANTHEMONIDESAway to utter perdition, you shoe-latchet! What, do you dare to be acting the lover here, you great toe of a manYou great toe of a man: From this expression it has been conjectured that Hanno was a man of diminutive stature, and that the Play took its name of Pœnulus, the little Carthaginian, from that circumstance., or to be meddling with an object which masculine men are fond of, you skinnea pilchard, you deformed image of SerapisOf Serapis: It is not fully known what the meaning of Sarapis is, as it occurs nowhere else. It has been conjectured, that, owing to the African features of Hanno, the Captain compares him to the little ugly images of Serapis, which were carried about in harvest-time by the priests of that God, for the purpose of collecting money., you half-apron, you sheepskin-jacketYou sheepskin-jacket: This garment, being worn with the wool on, was remarkable for its offensive smell. Halagoras hama is supposed to mean the pots of common sea-salt exposed for sale in the market-place., you pot of stinking sea-salt; more crammed, too, to boot, with leeks and garlick than the Roman rowers?AGORASTOCLESYoung man, do your jaws or your teeth itch, that you are annoying this person, or are you in search of a heavy mishap?ANTHEMONIDESWhy didn’t you use a drumUse a drum: The priests of Cybele, who were either eunuchs, or persons of effeminate and worthless character, walked in their processions beating a tympanum. a drum or tambourine. The Captain, by his question, contemptuously implies that Agorastocles is such a character. See the Truer lentus, l. 608, and the Note. while you were saying that? For I take you to be more of an effeminate wretch than a real man.AGORASTOCLESDo you understand what sort of effeminate wretch I am? (Calling aloud.) Servants, come out of doors, bring out some cudgels!ANTHEMONIDESHark you, if I have said anything in a joke, don’t you be for taking it seriously.ANTERASTYLISPrithee, what pleasure have you, Anthemonides, in speaking rudely to our kinsman and father? For this is our father; he has just now recognized us, and him as the son of his cousin.ANTHEMONIDESSo may Jupiter kindly bless me, I heartily rejoice that it is so, and I am delighted, if, in fact, any great misfortune befalls this Procurer, and since a fortune awaits you equal to your merits.ANTERASTYLISI’ faith, he says what’s worthy of belief; do believe him, my father. HANNOI do believe him.AGORASTOCLESAnd I believe him. But look (pointing.) I espy the Procurer Lycus, the worthy fellow; look, there he is—he’s betaking himself homeward.HANNOWho is this? AGORASTOCLESHe’s which you please, both the Procurer and Lycus. He has been keeping your daughters in servitude, and from myself he has stolen some gold.HANNOA pretty fellow for you to be acquainted with!AGORASTOCLESLet’s bring him to justice.HANNOBy no means. AGORASTOCLESFor what reason?