Pseudolus, or The Cheat (254-279)

Am I allowed to go away, pray, or am I not?

Pshaw!

Stop.

Let me go.

Ballio, listen.

I’m deaf.

[*]Really, you are uncivil.

You are a chatterer of nonsense.[*]

I gave you money so long as I had it.

I’m not asking what you gave.

I’ll give you some when I have it.

When you have it, bring it to me [*].

Alas, alas! In what a foolish fashion have I lavished what I brought to you, and what I gave you.

Your wealth defunct,

you now are talking about it; you are a simpleton, a cause that has been tried you are trying over again.

At least consider him, who he is.

I’ve known for a long time now who he was; who he now is, let him know himself. Do you walk on (to the BOY).

And can’t you, Ballio, only once give a look this way for your own profit?

At that price I’ll give a look; for if I were sacrificing to supreme Jupiter, and were presenting [*] the entrails in my hands to lay them on the altar, if in the meanwhile anything in the way of profit were offered, I should in preference forsake the sacrifice. There’s no being able to resist that sort of piety, however other things go.

The very Gods, whom it is especially our duty to reverence—them he esteems of little value.

I’ll speak to him. Hail to you, right heartily, the very vilest slave in Athens.

May the Gods and Goddesses favour you, Ballio, both at his wish and at my own; or, if you are deserving of other terms, let them neither favour nor bless you.

What’s the matter, Calidorus?

Love and pinching want [*] are the matter.

I would pity you, if, upon pity I could support my establishment.

Aye, aye, we know you quite well, what sort of character you are; don’t be proclaiming it. But do you know what we want?

I’ faith, I know it pretty nearly; that there may be something unfortunate for me.

Both to that and this for which we called you back, prithee do give your attention.

I am attending; but compress into a few words what you want, as I’m busy now.

He (pointing to CALIDORUS) is quite ashamed about what he promised you, and the day for which he promised it,