if he himself has got nothing, let him, with a contented mind, make way for others who have. He’s a proper lover who, neglecting his affairs, squanders away his property. But among themselves the men declare that we act ill, and are greedy. Prithee, do we in fact at all act ill? For, by my troth, never did any lover whatever give enough to his mistress; nor, i’ faith, have we ever received enough, nor has any woman ever asked for enough. For when a gallant is barren with his gifts If he denies that he has anything to give, alone Nor do we receive enough, when a person has not enough to give us. It is ever our duty to look after fresh givers,who take from untouched treasures, and make presents to us. Just like this young man from the country, who dwells here (pointing to the house where STRABAX lives), i’ faith, a very pleasant creature, and a very bounteous giver. But he, without the knowledge of his father, even this very last night, leapt over the wall by way of the garden, and came to our house. I wish to meet with him. But one servant has he, a very great savage, who, when he sees any one of us near the door, if you approach that way, drives us off just as he scares the geese away with his noise from the corn; he’s such a bumpkin. But come what may, I’ll knock at the door.(Knocks at the door, and calls.) Who, I wonder, has the keeping of this door? Is anybody coming out from in-doors?

(Enter STRATILAX, from the house of the FATHER of STRABAX.)STRATILAXWho’s thisWho’s this: Except that in one or two instances he coins words, there is no proof, so far as the language of the original is concerned, that Stratilax, the churl or clodhopper, speaks in any peculiar manner. But from the fact of his being introduced as a perfect specimen of a rude clown, there can be little doubt that on the stage he speaks the Latin language with the burr or patois of a countryman. In the translation, an attempt has been made to denote this probable peculiarity of speech, by making him to substitute thee for thou, before verbs in the second person singular. Warner, in his version, represents him throughout as speaking in a sort of Somersetshire dialect., that’s so sturdily plying his batteringram against our door?ASTAPHIUMIt’s I. Look round at me. STRATILAXWho’s I?ASTAPHIUMAm I not seen by you?Part of line 257b in the Latin.STRATILAX(turning to her.)Woe worth thee! What mean you by this coming so near this door, or why’s this knocking?