Rudens, or The Fisherman's Rope (777-810)

And watch him too, that he doesn’t go away anywhere. For we have promised either to give the executioner a great talent, or else to produce this fellow this very day.

Do you only be off. I’ll not let him get away, while you are absent.

I’ll be back here soon.

Which, you Procurer, had you rather do, be quiet with a thrashing, or e’en as it is, without the thrashing, if you had the choice?

Old fellow, I don’t care a straw for what you say. My own women, in fact, I shall drag away this instant from the altar by the hair, in spite of yourself, and Venus, and supreme Jove.

Just touch them.

I’ troth, I surely will touch them.

Just come then; only approach this way.

Only bid both those fellows, then, to move away from there.

On the contrary, they shall move towards you.

I’ faith, for my own part, I don’t think so.

If they do move nearer to you, what will you do?

I’ll retire. But, old fellow, if ever I catch you in the city,

never again, upon my faith, shall any one call me a Procurer, if I don’t give you some most disagreable sport.

Do what you threaten. But now, in the meantime, if you do touch them, a heavy punishment shall be inflicted on you.

How heavy, in fact?

Just as much as is sufficient for a Procurer.

These threats of yours I don’t value one straw; I certainly shall seize them both this instant without your leave.

Just touch them.

By my troth, I surely will touch them.

You will touch them, but do you know with what result? Go then, Turbalio, with all haste, and bring hither from out of the house two cudgels.

Cudgels?

Aye, good ones; make haste speedily. (TURBALIO goes in.)

I’ll let you have a reception this day in proper style, as you are deserving of.

Alas! cursedly unfortunate. I lost my headpiece in the ship; it would now have been handy for me, if it had been saved. (To DAEMONES.) May I at least address these women?

You may not ⋯

(TURBALIO enters bringing two cudgels.) Well now, by my faith, look, the cudgel-man is coming very opportunely here.

By my troth, this surely is a tingling for my ears.

Come, Sparax, do you take this other cudgel. (Giving him one.) Come, take your stand, one on one side, the other on one other. Take your stations both of you. (They stand with lifted cudgels on each side of he altar.) Just so. Now then attend to me:

if, I’ faith, that fellow there should this day touch these women with his finger against their inclination, if you don’t give him a reception[*] with these cudgels even to that degree that he shan’t know which way he is to get home, you are undone, both of you. If he shall call for any one, do you make answer to this fellow in their stead.