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Enter EUCLIO, tearing his hair and wringing his hands.
EUCLIO
I'm ruined! I'm done for! I'm murdered! Whither shall I run? Whither not run? Stop him--stop him. Whom? who? I don't know. I see nothing! I'm going blindfold; and, in fact, whither I am going, or where I am, or who I am, I can't in my mind find out for certain. To the AUDIENCE. I beseech you, give me your aid (I beg and entreat of you), and point me out the person that has taken it away. What's the matter? Why do you laugh? I'm acquainted with you all; I know that there are many thieves here, who conceal themselves with white clothes and chalk1, and sit as though they were honest! To one of the SPECTATORS. What say you? You I'm resolved to believe; for I perceive, even by your looks, that you are honest. Well then, none of these has got it? You've been the death of me! Tell me, then, who has got it? You don't know? Oh,wretched, wretched me! I'm done for! wofully undone! In most sorry plight I go; so much groaning, and misfortune, and sorrow, has this day brought upon me, hunger and poverty, too. I'm the most utterly ruined of all men upon the earth! For what need of life have I, who have lost so much gold that I so carefully watched? I pinched myself, and my inclinations, and my very heart2! Now others are rejoicing at this, my loss and my misfortune! I cannot endure it. He runs about, crying and stamping. Enter LYCONIDES, from the house of MEGADORUS. LYCONIDES
What person, I wonder, is this before our house lamenting, and that utters complaints with his moaning? Why,surely, this is Euclio, as I imagine. I'm utterly undone! The thing's all out; he knows now, as I suppose, that his daughter is brought to bed. I'm in a state of uncertainty now what I shall do, whether go or remain, accost him or fly.
1 White clothes and chalk: The Romans were much in the habit of having their woollen "togæ" made extremely white by chalk, pipeclay, and the fuller's art. He alludes to white garments covering bad manners, much as in Scripture whited sepuichres are mentoned as being full of uncleanness.
2 And my very heart: "Geniumque meum." Literally, "and my Genius," i. e. "my social disposition" or "capacity for enjoyment.'
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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