has shrunk very
considerably since Plautus's day.]

_Lib._

Unde gentium? 90

Where in the world from?

_Dem._

Me defraudato.

Cheat me out of it.

_Lib._

Maxumas nugas agis:
nudo detrahere vestimenta me iubes.
defraudem te ego? age sis, tu sine pennis vola.
tene ego defraudem, cui ipsi nihil est in manu,
nisi quid tu porro uxorem defraudaveris?

What awful nonsense you do talk! You're telling me to strip
the clothes off a naked man. I cheat you out of it? Come,
sir, will you kindly fly without wings! I cheat you out of
it, when you don't own a thing, unless you've played the
same game and cheated your wife out of something?

_Dem._

Qua me, qua uxorem, qua tu servom Sauream
potes, circumduce, aufer; promitto tibi
non offuturum, si id hodie effeceris.

Well, me, or my wife, or servant Saurea--do your best,
swindle us, rook us, I promise you your interests won't
suffer, if you accomplish this to-day.

_Lib._

Iubeas una opera me piscari in aere,
venari autem rete iaculo in medio mari.[5] 100

You might as well order me to go a-fishing in the air, yes,
and to take my casting net and do some deep sea--hunting.

_Dem._

Tibi optionem sumito Leonidam,
fabricare quidvis, quidvis comminiscere:
perficito, argentum hodie ut habeat filius,
amicae quod det.

Have Leonida for your adjutant: manufacture something,
devise something--anything: see you get the money to-day
for my son to give his girl.

_Lib._

Quid ais tu, Demaenete?

Look here.

_Dem._

Quid vis?

Well?

_Lib._

Si forte in insidias devenero,
tun redimes me, si me hostes interceperint?

Suppose I happen to fall into an ambuscade, ransom me, will
you, if I'm intercepted by the enemy?

_Dem._

Redimam.

I will.

_Lib._

Tum tu igitur aliud cura quid lubet.
ego eo ad forum, nisi quid vis.

(_after a pause, airily_) Well then, in that case you
may dismiss the matter from your mind. I'm off to the forum,
unless you want me further.

_Dem._

Ei, bene ambula.
atque audin etiam?

Go ahead! A pleasant stroll to you! (_Libanus walks away_)
And I say,--listening still, are you?

_Lib._

Ecce.

(_pertly, without turning_) Beho