Nothing at all, i’ faith; for tell me, how could I know, who was but six years old when I was stolen away from Carthage? HANNO (apart.) O ye immortal Gods! very many freeborn children have been lost from Carthage after this manner. MILPHIO How say you? AGORASTOCLES What do you want? MILPHIO Should you like me to address this person in the Punic tongue? AGORASTOCLES Do you understand it? MILPHIO No Punic man this day is a better Punic than I. AGORASTOCLES Go and address him, as to what he wants, why he’s come, who he is, of what country, and whence he comes. Don’t be sparing of your questions. MILPHIO (addressing HANNO and his SERVANTS.) Avo! Avo : Hail. Milphio’s knowledge of the Punic dialect was probably but limited, though in the sequel it appears that he does know something of it. The translation of these Punic expressions is from Warner’s Translation, where the Punic is given in a form somewhat different from that found in the modern editions of the text. Of what country are you, or from what city? HANNO Hanno Muthumballe bachaëdreanech. AGORASTOCLES What does he say? MILPHIO He says that he is Hanno from Carthage, a Carthaginian, son of Muthumbal. HANNO Avo! MILPHIO He salutes us. HANNO Donni Donni : My masters. Milphio says he is talking about gifts, from the resemblance of the word to the Latin doni, the genitive case of donum , a gift. . MILPHIO He intends to present you with some donation out of this; what, I don’t know. Don’t you hear him promise? AGORASTOCLES Salute him again in Punic, in my name. MILPHIO (to HANNO.) Avo donni he tells me to say to you in his name. (Pointing to AGORASTOCLES.) HANNO Mehar bocca Mehar bocca : This passage has been rendered, Oh! what a son of tears! Milphio says he is talking about his bucca, or cheek, being in pain. An attempt has been made in the Translation to preserve in some slight degree the resemblance. ! MILPHIO Be that for yourself rather than me! AGORASTOCLES What does he say? MILPHIO He declares that his box for his teeth is painful. Perhaps he takes us to be doctors. AGORASTOCLES If it is so, tell him that we are not; I don’t wish a stranger to be mistaken. MILPHIO (to HANNO.) Hear you. Rufen nuco istam Rufen nuco istam : We are no doctors. . AGORASTOCLES This is my wish, that in fact everything should be explained to him just as it is. Ask him whether he has need of anything. MILPHIO (to HANNO.) You who have got no girdle Got no girdle : The Carthaginian tunic flowed loose, and was not fastened with a girdle. Milphio perhaps alludes to his being without a purse, which was generally supported by the girdle, and without which he might think that a stranger had no business in such a wealthy city as Calydon. , why have you come to this city, or what is it you seek? HANNO Muphursa Muphursa : Open. . AGORASTOCLES What is it he says? HANNO Moin lechianna Moin lechianna : I beg an entrance for Saturn. Milphio plays upon the very slight resemblance of muphursa to mures, mice. Under the name of African mice, he probably alludes to panthers or leopards, which had perhaps been recently shown by the Aediles, for the first time. .