fact is ... I must
see to something at home. [EXIT INTO HOUSE.

_Mega._

Credo edepol, ubi mentionem ego fecero de filia
mi ut despondeat, sese a me derideri rebitur,
neque illo quisquam est alter hodie ex paupertate parcior.

By Jove! I suppose he'll think I'm making fun of him when I
speak about his giving me his daughter; poverty never made a
fellow closer-fisted.

RE-ENTER _Euclio_

_Eucl._

Di me servant, salva res est. salvom est si quid non perit
nimis male timui. prius quam intro redii, exanimatus fui.
redeo ad te, Megadore, si quid me vis.

(_aside_) Thank the Lord, I'm saved! It's safe--that is, if
it's all there. Ah, but that was a dreadful moment! I nearly
expired before I got in the house. (_to Megadorus_) Here I
am, Megadorus, if you want anything of me.

_Mega._

Habeo gratiam.
quaeso, quod te percontabor, ne id te pigeat pro loqui. 210

Thanks. Now I trust you won't mind answering the questions
I'm going to ask.

_Eucl._

Dum quidem ne quid perconteris quod non lubeat proloqui.

(_cautiously_) No-no--that is, if you don't ask any I don't
like to answer.

_Mega._

Dic mihi. quali me arbitrare genere prognatum?

Frankly now, what do you think of my family connections?

_Eucl._

Bono.

(_grudgingly_) Good.

_Mega._

Quid fide?

And my sense of honour?

_Eucl._

Bona.

Good.

_Mega._

Quid factis?

And my general conduct?

_Eucl._

Neque malis neque improbis.

Not bad, not disreputable.

_Mega._

Aetatem meam scis?

You know my age?

_Eucl._

Scio esse grandem, item ut pecuniam.

Getting on, getting on, I know that--(_aside_) financially, too.

_Mega._

Certe edepol equidem te civem sine mala omni malitia
semper sum arbitratus et nunc arbitror.

Now Euclio, I've always considered you a citizen of the
true, trusty type, by Jove, I certainly have, and I do
still.

_Eucl._

Aurum huic olet.
quid nunc me vis?

(_aside_) He's got a whiff of my gold. (_aloud_) Well, what
do you want?

_Mega._

Quoniam tu me et ego te qualis sis scio.
quae res recte vortat mihique tibique tuaeque filiae,
filiam tuam mi uxorem posco. promitte hoc fore.

Now that we appreciate each other, I'm going to ask you--and
may it