But if you don’t carry it off?PSEUDOLUSThen flog me with rods. But what if I do carry it off?SIMOI give you Jupiter as your witness, that you shall pass your life free from punishment.PSEUDOLUSTake care and remember that.SIMOCould I possibly be unable to be on my guard, who am forewarned?PSEUDOLUSI forewarn you to be on your guard. I say you must be on your guard, I tell you. Keep watch. Look, now, with those same hands will you this day give me the moneySIMOBy my troth, ’tis a clever mortal if he keeps his word.PSEUDOLUSCarry me away to be your slave if I don’t do it.SIMOYou speak kindly and obligingly; for at present you are not mine, I suppose.PSEUDOLUSWould you like me to tell you, too, what you will still more wonder at?SIMOCome, then; i’ faith, I long to hear it; I listen to you with pleasure.PSEUDOLUSBefore I fight that battle, I shall firstfight another battle, famous and memorable.SIMOWhat battle?PSEUDOLUSWhy, with the procurer your neighbour; by means of stratagem and artful tricks, I’l cleverly bamboozle the procurer out of this music-girl, with whom your son is so desperately in love; and I surely will have both of these things effected this very day, before the evening.SIMOWell, if you accomplish these tasks as you say, you will surpass in might King Agathocles King Agathocles: Agathocles was famous for having risen, by his valour and merit, from being the son of a potter to be the King of Sicily.. But if you don’t do it, is there any reason why I shouldn’t forthwith put you in the treadmill?PSEUDOLUSNot for one day, but,i’ faith, for all, whatever the time. But if I effect it, will you not at once give me the money of your own free will for me to pay to the procurer?CALLIPHOPseudolus is making a fair claim; say I’ll give it.SIMOBut still, do you know what comes into my mind? Suppose they have made an arrangement, Callipho, among themselves, or are acting in concert, and on a preconcerted plan, to bamboozle me out of the money?PSEUDOLUSWho would be more audacious than myself, if I dared to do such an action? Well, Simo, if we are thus in collusion, or have ever arranged any plan, do you mark me quite all over with elm-tree stripes With elm-tree stripes: Stylis ulmeis,with elm-tree styli. He alludes to the weals produced by flogging with elm-tree rods, which, being long and fine, would resemble the iron stylus used for writing upon was tablets., just as when letters are written in a book with a reed.SIMONow then, proclaim the games as soon as you please.PSEUDOLUSGive me your attention, Callipho, I beg you, for this day, so that you may not any way employ yourself upon other business.CALLIPHOWhy, now, I had made up my mind yesterday to go into the country.PSEUDOLUSStill, do you now change the plan which you had resolved upon.CALLIPHOI am now resolved not to go away on account of this; I have an inclination to be a spectator of your games, Pseudolus; and if I shall find that he doesn’t give you the money which he has promised, rather than it shouldn’t be done, I’ll give it.SIMOI shall not change my purpose.