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EUCLIO, alone.
EUCLIO
He's gone. Immortal Gods! A poor man, who begins to have dealings or business with an opulent one, commences upon a rash undertaking! Thus, for instance, Megadorus who has pretended that, for the sake of honoring me, he sends these cooks hither, is plaguing unfortunate me in every way; for this reason has he sent them, that they might purloin this putting his hand on the pot from unfortunate me. Just as I might expect, even my dunghill-cock in-doors, that was bought with the old woman's savings1, had well nigh been the ruin of me; where this was buried, he began to scratch there all round about with his claws. What need of more words? So exasperated were my feelings, I took a stick, and knocked off the head of the cock--a thief caught in the act. I' faith, I do believe that the cooks had promised a reward to the cock, if he should discover it; I took the opportunity2 out of their hands, however. What need of many words? I had a regular battle3 with the dunghill- cock. But see, my neighbour Megadorus is coming from the Forum. I can't, then, venture to pass by him, but I must stop and speak to him. He retires close to his door.
1 With the old woman's savings: "Ani peculiaris." Bought ont of the "peculium," or "savings," of the old woman.
2 Took the opportunity: "Eximere ex manu manubrium," literally means, "to take the handle out of the hand," and its figurative application is derived from the act of taking a sword out of the hand of a person who is about to use it.
3 A regular battle: Hildyard suggests that, in these words, there is probably a reference to some current saying or proverb. If such is the case, the saying so referred to has not come down to us.
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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