Why should I wait?BALLIOThat scarf, tell me for how much it has been lent.HARPAXWhat matters it?SIMOHow much is the sword hired for?HARPAXThese fellows surely stand in need of hellebore Have need of hellebore: Black hellebore was much esteemed in eases of madness. Harpax has really, from their way of proceeding, some reason to think that the persons in conversation with him are not in their right senses..BALLIOHow now—(Takes hold of him.)HARPAX(repulsing him.)Leave me alone.BALLIOWhat wages does that broad-brimmed hat hire to-day for its owner?HARPAXThe first part of line 1187 in the Latin.What owner?SIMOWhat do the shoes? HARPAX What are you dreaming about? Why, I’m the owner of all these things,The second part of line 1187 in the Latin. bought with my own savings.BALLIOThose, you mean, which the upper part of your thighs supports Your thighs supports: Unless a more gross allusion is intended, he means that his peculium is not his savings (which is the strict meaning of the word), but his back and flanks, which often receive on them the punishment of servitude, and which alone he can call his own..HARPAX(aside.)These old fellows have been anointed; they want themselves rubbed down Themselves rubbed down: After bathing, the Greeks and Romans were in the habit of being anointed, and then rubbed down with a flesh-brush. Probably the latter custom had gone out of fashion in the time of Plautus. Harpax says that the old men want to be rubbed down; but he means, as uncle Bowling expresses it in Roderick Random, with an oaken towel., after the old-fashioned custom.BALLIOI’ faith, prithee, answer me this truly and seriously, which I ask of you: What are you to earn? For how trifling a sum has Pseudolus hired you?HARPAXWho is this Pseudolus?BALLIOYour tutor, who has instructed you in this knavery, to take away the woman hence from me by stratagem.HARPAXWhat Pseudolus, and what stratagem are you talking to me about? A person that I know of no colour, black or white.BALLIOWill you not be off from here? There’s no profit here for swindlers to-day. Therefore you may tell Pseudolus that another person has carried off the prize-the first Harpax that came.HARPAXOn my word, I really am that Harpax.BALLIOAye, on my word, you want to be. This is nothing more nor less than a downright impostor.HARPAXI have given yourself the money, and a while ago, immediately on my arrival, the token to your servant; a letter sealed with the likeness of my master, here before the door.BALLIOYou gave a letter to my servant? What servant?HARPAXTo Syrus.BALLIO(to SIMO.)The wicked rogue has assurance enough Has assurance enough: The note of interrogation, in Ritschel’s edition, after nequam, seems to be out of place.. He hasn’t contrived his knavish scheme amiss.By my faith, that whipping-post of a fellow, Pseudolus, how cleverly he has managed his plans; just as much money as the Captain owed, he has given this man, and has dressed out the fellow that he might take away the woman (To HARPAX.) But the real Harpax himself brought that letter hither to me.HARPAXMy name is Harpax; I am the servant of the Macedonian Captain. I’m doing nothing roguishly or cheatingly, nor do I know or understand this Pseudolus, what mortal being he is.SIMOUnless it’s something wonderful, procurer, you’ve clearly lost the woman.BALLIOAssuredly, by my troth, I’m in dread of that more and more, when I come to hear his words. I’ faith, that Syrus, too, has already set my heart a-freezing, that received the token from him.End of sentence is part of line 1216 in the Latin.