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Enter PÆGNIUM, from the house of DORDALUS.
PÆG.
to himself . My task that was set me I've finished; now I'm hastening home. SAGARISTIO
Stop, although you are in haste--Pægnium, listen to me. PÆG.
You ought to buy a person, for you to desire to be obedient to you. Moves on. SAGARISTIO
Stop there, I say. PÆG.
You'd be giving some trouble, I fancy, if I were to be owing you anything, who are now so troublesome. SAGARISTIO
You rascal, will you look back then? PÆG.
I am aware of what age I am; for that reason you shall get off for this abuse with impunity. SAGARISTIO
Where is Toxilus, your master? PÆG.
Wherever he pleases, and he don't ask your advice. SAGARISTIO
Won't you tell me, then, where he is, you villain? PÆG.
I don't know, I say, you elm-twig spoiler1. SAGARISTIO
You are abusive to your senior. PÆG.
As you deserved it first, do you put up with it. My master bade me hold my labour at his bidding, my tongue in freedom. SAGARISTIO
Will you not tell me, where is Toxilus? PÆG.
I tell you that--you may go to perdition everlasting. SAGARISTIO
This day you shall be flogged with a rope's end. PÆG.
On your account, indeed, you cuckoo! I' faith, you carrion, if I were to give you a broken head, I shouldn't be afraid of that. SAGARISTIO
I understand you, you've been up to2 some bad work just now. PÆG.
So I have. What business is that to you? But I haven't, like yourself, all for nothing. SAGARISTIO
Assurance! PÆG.
I' faith, I certainly am; for I am assured that I shall be free; don't be hoping that you'll ever be so. SAGARISTIO
Can't you cease your impertinence? PÆG.
That which you are mentioning, you can't do yourself. SAGARISTIO
Away with you to utter perdition. PÆG.
And off home with you; for there it's all ready prepared for you. SAGARISTIO
He summons me3 on my recognizances. PÆG.
I only wish the sureties may be out of the way, so that you may get to prison. SAGARISTIO
Why's this? PÆG.
Aye, why is it? SAGARISTIO
Still abusing me, rascal? PÆG.
Why, inasmuch as you are a slave, it ought at least to be allowed a slave to abuse you. SAGARISTIO
And is it so? Just look holding up his fist what I shall give you. PÆG.
Nothing; for nothing have you. SAGARISTIO
May all the Gods and Goddesses confound me, if I don't this very day, if I lay hold of you, fell you to the ground with blows. PÆG.
I am your friend; I trust that what you wish may befall you, and that it may come to pass; if you fell me4, may others make you feel yourself fixed to the cross before long. SAGARISTIO
But you may the Gods and Goddesses----You understand what I was going to say after that, if I hadn't been able to restrain my tongue. Can't you be off? PÆG.
You drive me off with ease; for already my shadow's getting5 a whipping in-doors. Goes into the house. SAGARISTIO
to himself . May the Gods and Goddesses confound that fellow! just like a crawling serpent he has got a double tongue, and is a wicked one. Upon my faith, I'm glad he's gone. Going towards the door. Open, you door. But look! he's coming from within, the person that I most especially wished to meet with.
1 Elm twig spoiler: "Ulmitriba." This word is composed of the Latin "ulmus," "an elm," and the Greek τριβὼ, "to rub" or "wear;" and may mean either "one beaten" or "rubbed with elm-twigs," or "one that wears elm-twigs."
2 You've been up to: This passage is somewhat modified in the Translation.
3 He summons me: The meaning of this allusion is somewhat abscure; but it seems likely that when Pægnium uses the word "præsto," "ready," or "in preparation," Sagaristio understands him to speak of "præs," "a surety" or "bail;" on which he remarks that Pægnium is calling him as his surety.
4 If you fell me: "Tu ut me defigas, te cruci ipsum propediem alii affigant." Literally, "should you fix me down, may others before long be fixing yourself up to the cross;" the play being upon the verbs "defigo" and "affigo." An attempt has been made to give a somewhat similar pun in the Translation.
5 My shadow's getting: Being close to the house, and in a hurry to get home, he says that his shadow is in the house already, getting the beating which awaits its owner for having been so long on his errand.
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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