Truculentus, or The Churl (330-350)

that I’m here. Do go at once, and persuade her that she has bathed long enough by this.

Very well.

And do you hear as well?

What do you want?

May the Gods confound me for calling you back. I had nothing to say to you, only do be off.

Why did you call me back then, you worthless and good-for-nothing fellow? A delay to me which has produced fully a mile’s delay to you.

But yet why was she standing here so long before the house? Some one, I don’t know who, she certainly was waiting for; the Captain, I suppose. That’s it; see now, how, just like vultures[*], a whole three days beforehand they foresee on what day they are to have a feast. They’re all agape for him; on him are all their minds fixed.

No one will be giving any more attention to myself, when he comes, than if I had been dead two hundred years ago. How delightful a thing it is to keep one’s money! Ah wretched me! after it’s done I’m punished, who lost what I once had.

But now, if any great and splendid fortune should chance to fall to my lot, now, after I know it, what sweets and what bitters come of money, by my troth, I’d so keep it, I’d live in a manner so sparing, that—in a few days I’d make there to be none at all. I’d then confute those who now censure me.

But I perceive that this tide-like door is opening (the door of PHRONESIUM’S house is opened), which sucks up whatever comes within its bolts.