a. 80
redi nunciam intro atque intus serva.

(_aside_) At last I can feel easy about leaving the house,
now I have made certain everything is all right inside.
(_to Staphyla_) Go back in there this instant, you, and keep
watch inside.

_Staph._

Quippini?
ego intus servem? an ne quis aedes auferat?
nam hic apud nos nihil est aliud quaesti furibus,
ita inaniis sunt oppletae atque araneis.

(_tartly_) I suppose so! So I'm to keep watch inside, am I?
You aren't afraid anyone'll walk away with the house, are
you? I vow we've got nothing else there for thieves to take--
all full of emptiness as it is, and cobwebs.

_Eucl._

Mirum quin tua me causa faciat Iuppiter
Philippum regem aut Dareum, trivenefica
araneas mihi ego illas servari volo.
pauper sum, fateor, patior, quod di dant fero.

It is surprising Providence wouldn't make a King Philip
or Darius of me for your benefit, you viper, you!
(_threateningly_) I want those cobwebs watched! I'm poor,
poor; I admit it, I put up with it; I take what the gods
give me.

abi intro, occlude ianuam. iam ego hic ero
cave quemquam alienum in aedis intro miseris 90
quod quispiam ignem quaerat, extingui volo,
ne causae quid sit quod te quisquam quaeritet
nam si ignis vivet, ut extinguere extempulo.

In with you, bolt the door. I shall be back soon. No
outsider is to be let in, mind you. And in case anyone
should be looking for a light, see you put the fire out
so that no one will have any reason to come to you for it.
Mark my words, if that fire stays alive, I'll extinguish
you instantly.

tum aquam aufugisse dicito, si quis petet.
cultrum, securim, pistillum, mortarium,
quae utenda vasa semper vicini rogant,
fures venisse atque abstulisse dicito
profecto in aedis meas me absente neminem
volo intro mitti. atque etiam hoc praedico tibi
si Bona Fortuna veniat, ne intro miseris 100

And then water--if anyone asks for water, tell him it's
all run out. As for a knife, or an axe, or a pestle, or a
mortar,--things the neighbours are all the time wanting to
borrow--tell 'em burglars got in and stole the whole lot.
I won't have a living soul let into my house while I'm
agone--there! Yes, and what's more, listen here, if