No; born at Athens in Attica, bred and educated there.TRACHALIOPrithee, aged sir, do protect your countrywomen.DAEMONES(aside.)O daughter, when I look on her, separated from me you remind me of my miseries: (aloud) she who was lost by me when three years old; now, if she is living, she’s just about as tall, I’m sure, as she.(Pointing to PALAESTRA.)LABRAXI paid the money down for these two, to their owners, of whatever country they were. What matters it to me whether they were born at Athens or at Thebes, so long as they are rightfully in servitude as my slaves?TRACHALIOIs it so, you impudent fellow? What, are you, a cat prowling after maidens, to be keeping children here kidnapped from their parents and destroying them in your disgraceful calling? But as for this other one, I really don’t know what her country is; I only know that she’s more deserving than yourself, you most abominable rascal.LABRAXAre these women your property?TRACHALIOCome to the trial, then, which of the two according to his back is the more truthful; if you don’t bear more complimentsCompliments: Offerumenta, according to Festus, signified an offering to the Gods; and as these were fixed to the walls of the Temples, Trachalio calls the lashes of the scourge or rod, when applied to the back of the delinquent slave, by the same term. upon your back than any ship of warShip of war: Longa navis. Literally, a long ship. Ships of war were thus called by the Greeks. has nails, then I’m the greatest of liars.Afterwards, do you examine mine, when I’ve examined yours; if it shall not prove to be so untouched, that any leather flask makerLeather flask maker: Ampullarius.A maker of ampullae, or leather bottles. They were of a big-bellied form, with a narrow neck. will say that it is a hide most capital and most sound for the purposes of his business, what reason is there why I shouldn’t mangle you with stripes, even till you have your belly full? Why do you stare at them? If you touch them I’ll tear your eyes out.LABRAXYet notwithstanding, although you forbid me to do so, I’ll at once carry them off both together with me.DAEMONESWhat will you do? LABRAXI’ll bring Vulcan; he is an enemy to VenusAn enemy to Venus: In so saying, he alludes to the intrigue of Venus with Mars, which was discovered by the device of Vulcan, her injured husband. For the story, see the Metamorphoses of Ovid, B. 4, l. 73, and the Art of Love, B. 2, l. 562..(Goes towards DAEMONES’ cottage.)TRACHALIOWhither is he going?LABRAX(calling at the door.)Hallo! Is there anybody here? Hallo! I say.DAEMONESIf you touch the door, that very instant, upon my faith, you shall get a harvest upon your face with fists for your pitchforksFists for your pitchforks: Mergis pugneis. Echard, in his translation, explains this: As they lift up their pitchforks to heap corn, so will I lift up my fists, and heap a whole harvest of cuffs on your face. Merga means a pitchfork; and, according to Festus, it was so called from its resemblance when dipped into the hay to the action of the mergus, or didapper when dipping into the sea..SERVANTWe keep no fire, we live upon dried figs. DAEMONESI’ll find the fire, if only I have the opportunity of kindling it upon your head.LABRAXFaith, I’ll go somewhere to look for some fire.DAEMONESWhat, when you’ve found it?LABRAXI’ll be making a great fire here.DAEMONESWhat, to be burningTo be burning: Festus tells us that humanum was a mortuary sacrifice, or offering to the dead. In his question, therefore, Daemones inplies a wish to know whether Labrax is about to put an end to himself. It was allowable to drive away those who fled to the altar by the agency of fire. a mortuary sacrifice for yourself? LABRAXNo, but I’ll burn both of these alive here upon the altar.DAEMONESI’d like that. For, by my troth, I’ll forthwith seize you by the head and throw you into the fire, and, half-roasted, I’ll throw you out as food for the great birds. (Aside.) When I come to a consideration of it with myself, this is that ape, that wanted to take away those swallows from the nest against my will, as I was dreaming in my sleep.TRACHALIOAged sir, do you know what I request of you? That you will protect these females and defend them from violence, until I fetch my master.DAEMONESGo look for your master, and fetch him here.TRACHALIOBut don’t let him— DAEMONESAt his own extreme peril, if he touches them, or if he attempts to do so.TRACHALIOTake care. DAEMONESDue care is taken; do you be off.