me a great talent of silver. LABRAX Find me a person with whom I may go to the judge, to decide whether you did not make the bargain with wicked fraudulence, and whether I am yet five-and-twenty years old Five-and-twenty years old : By the Laetorian law (which is also referred to in the Notes to the Pseudolus), persons under the age of five-and-twenty were deemed minors, and free from all pecuniary obligations. As usual, in this allusion Plautus consults the usages of his Audience, and not of the place where the Scene is laid. Labrax is ready to say or swear anything; and Madame Dacier justly remarks, that it is amusing enough that he should call himself not five-and-twenty, when he is described, in the Second Scene of the First Act, as a person having grey hair. Gripus being a slave, could not try the question at law with Labrax. . GRIPUS (pointing to DAEMONES.) Go to the judge with him. LABRAX No; I must have some other person. DAEMONES (to LABRAX.) Then I shan’t allow you to take it away from him, unless I shall have found him guilty. Did you promise him the money? LABRAX I confess it. DAEMONES What you promised my slave must needs be my own. Don’t you be supposing, Procurer, that you are to be using your pimping honesty here. That can’t be. GRIPUS (to LABRAX.) Did you fancy now that you had got hold of a person whom you might cheat? It must be paid down here (holding his hand) , good silver coin; I shall, at once, pay it to him (pointing to DAEMONES) , so that he may give me my liberty. DAEMONES Inasmuch, therefore, as I have acted courteously towards you, and by my means these things (pointing to the wallet) have been saved for you— GRIPUS I’ faith, by my means, rather; don’t say by yours. DAEMONES (to GRIPUS.) If you are prudent you’ll hold your tongue. (To LABRAX.) Then it befits you in a like courteous manner kindly to return the obligation to myself, who so well merit the same. LABRAX You are pleading, of course, for my right? DAEMONES (ironically.) It would be a wonder if I didn’t, at a loss to myself, ask you to forego your right. GRIPUS (aside.) I’m all right; the Procurer’s giving way; my freedom is at hand. DAEMONES (pointing to GRIPUS.) He found this wallet; he is my slave. I therefore have preserved this for you, together with a large sum of money. LABRAX I return you thanks, and with regard to the talent that I promised on oath to him, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t receive it. GRIPUS Hark you, give it me then, if you are wise. DAEMONES (to GRIPUS.) Will you hold your tongue, or not? GRIPUS You pretend to be acting on my side: I tell you by my troth, you shan’t do me out of that, if I did lose the other booty The other booty : By this he means the wallet and its contents. . DAEMONES You shall have a beating if you add a single word. GRIPUS Troth now, do you kill me even; I’ll never be silent on any terms, unless my mouth is shut with the talent. LABRAX For yourself, in fact, is he using his exertions; do hold your tongue. DAEMONES Step this way, Procurer. LABRAX Very well. (They walk on one side.) GRIPUS Proceed openly; I don’t want any whisperings or mumblings to be going on. DAEMONES Tell me, at what price did you buy that other young woman, Ampelisca? LABRAX I paid down a thousand didrachms. DAEMONES Should you like me to make you a handsome offer?