(_aside, frightened_) Oh, good Lord! The old woman has let
on to him about the gold! It's discovered, clear as can be!
I'll cut her tongue out, I'll tear her eyes out, the minute
I get at her in the house!

_Mega._

Quid tu solus tecum loquere?

What is that you're saying to yourself?

_Eucl._

Meam pauperiem conqueror. 190
virginem habeo grandem, dote cassam atque inlocabilem,
neque eam queo locare cuiquam.

(_startled_) Just ... how awful it is to be poor. And I with
a grown-up girl, without a penny of dowry, that I can't get
off my hands or find a husband for.

_Mega._

Tace, bonum habe animum, Euclio.
dabitur, adiuvabere a me. dic, si quid opust, impera.

(_clapping him on the back_) There, there, Euclio! Cheer up.
She shall be married: I'll help you out. Come now, call on
me, if you need anything.

_Eucl._

Nunc petit, cum pollicetur; inhiat aurum ut devoret.
altera manu fert lapidem, panem ostentat altera.
nemini credo qui large blandust dives pauperi
ubi manum inicit benigne, ibi onerat aliqua zamia
ego istos novi polypos, qui ubi quidquid tetigerunt tenent.

(_aside_) When he agrees to give he wants to grab! Mouth
wide open to gobble down my gold! Holds up a bit of bread in
one hand and has a stone in the other! I don't trust one of
these rich fellows when he's so monstrous civil to a poor
man. They give you a cordial handshake, and squeeze
something out of you at the same time. I know all about
those octopuses that touch a thing and then--stick.

_Mega._

Da mi operam parumper. paucis, Euclio, est quod te volo
de communi re appellare mea et tua.

I should be glad to have a moment of your time, Euclio.
I want to have a brief talk with you on a matter that
concerns us both.

_Eucl._

Ei misero mihi, 200
aurum mi intus harpagatum est. nunc hic eam rem volt scio,
mecum adire ad pactionem. verum intervisam domum.

(_aside_) Oh, God save us! My gold's been hooked, and now he
wants to make a deal with me! I see it all! But I'll go in
and look. (_hurries toward house_)

_Mega._

Quo abis?

Where are you off to?

_Eucl._

Iam ad te revortar. nunc est quod visam domum.

Just a moment!... I'll be back ... the