Or, in other words, for four times five minae, whichever you please, to a Macedonian Captain; and I’ve already got fifteen of the minae at home. CALIDORUS What is it that I hear of you? BALLIO That your mistress has been turned into money. CALIDORUS Why did you dare to do so? BALLIO ’Twas my pleasure; she was my own. CALIDORUS Hallo! Pseudolus. Run, fetch me a sword. PSEUDOLUS What need is there of a sword? CALIDORUS With which to kill this fellow this instant, and then myself. PSEUDOLUS But why not kill yourself only rather? For famine will soon be killing him. CALIDORUS What do you say, most perjured of men as many as are living upon the earth? Did you not take an oath that you would sell her to no person besides myself? BALLIO I confess it. CALIDORUS In solemn form In solemn form : To take an oath in solemn form, or, concepts verbis, was when the oath was repeated by another person, and the party swearing him followed in his words. The Roman formula for swearing was Ex animi mei sententiâ iuro . , to wit. BALLIO Aye, and well considered too. CALIDORUS You have proved perjured, you villain. BALLIO I sacked the money at home, however. Villain as I am, I am now able to draw upon a stock of silver in my house; whereas you who are so dutiful, and born of that grand family, haven’t a single coin. CALIDORUS Pseudolus, stand by him on the other side and load this fellow with imprecations. PSEUDOLUS Very well. Never would I run to the Praetor Run to the Praetor : The Praetor was the public officer at Rome who liberated slaves at the request of their owners. The ceremony was performed by his lictor laying a rod called vindicta on the head of the person manumitted. with equal speed that I might be made free. (Stands on the other side of BALLIO.) CALIDORUS Heap on him a multitude of curses. PSEUDOLUS Now will I publish you with my rebukes. Thou lackshame! BALLIO ’Tis the fact. PSEUDOLUS Villain! BALLIO You say the truth. PSEUDOLUS Whipping-post! BALLIO Why not? PSEUDOLUS Robber of tombs! BALLIO No doubt. PSEUDOLUS Gallows-bird! BALLIO Very well done.