Pseudolus, or The Cheat (78-111)

Won’t you attempt to assist me at all?

What shall I do for you?

Alas!

Alas! do you say? Well, don’t be sparing of them, i’ faith; I’ll give you plenty.

I’m distracted. I nowhere can find any money to borrow.

Alas!

Nor is there a single coin in the house.

Alas!

He’s going to carry the damsel away to-morrow.

Alas!

Is it in that fashion that you help me?

I give you that which I have; for I’ve a perpetual supply of those treasures [*] in my house.

It’s all over with me this very day. But can you now lend me one drachma, which I’ll pay you back to-morrow

I’ faith, I hardly think I could, even though I should pawn myself for it. But what do you want to do with this drachma?

I want to purchase a halter for myself.

For what reason?

With which to hang myself.

I’m determined, ere ’tis dark, to take [*] a leap in the dark.

Who then shall pay me back my drachma * * * * ? Do you wish purposely to hang yourself for the very reason, that you may cheat mo out of my drachma if I lend it you?

At all events, I can in nowise survive

if she’s removed and carried off from me.

Why should I not weep, who have neither a coin of silver in ready money, nor have the hope of a groat [*] anywhere in the world?

As I understand the tenor of this letter,

unless you weep for her with tears of silver, the affection which you wish yourself by those tears to prove is of no more value than if you were to pour water into a sieve. But have no fear, I’ll not forsake you in your love. In troth, I do trust that this day, from some quarter or other, by my good aid

I shall find you help in the money line. But whence that is to come,—that whence I know not how to pronounce; except only that so it shall be; my eyebrow twitches [*] to that effect.

As to what you say, I trust that your deeds may be as good as your words.

I’ faith, you surely know, if I set my plans a-going [*],

after what fashion and how great is the bustle that I am in the habit of causing.

In you are now centred all the hopes of my existence.