Quam ad probos propinquitate proxime te adiunxeris.
tam optumum est. tu condicionem hanc accipe, ausculta mihi,
atque eam desponde mi.

But honourable human beings--the more closely connected you
are with them, the better. Come, come, accept my offer:
listen to what I say and promise her to me.

_Eucl._

At nihil est dotis quod dem.

But not one penny of dowry can I give.

_Mega._

Ne duas.
dum modo morata recte veniat, dotata est satis.

Don't. Only let me have a girl that's good, and she has
dowry enough.

_Eucl._

Eo dico, ne me thensauros repperisse censeas. 240

(_forcing a laugh_) I mention this just so that you mayn't
think I've found some treasure.

_Mega._

Novi, ne doceas. desponde.

Yes, yes, I understand. Promise.

_Eucl._

Fiat. sed pro Iuppiter,
num ego disperii?

So be it. (_aside, starting at noise_) Oh, my God! Can it be
I'm ruined, ruined?

_Mega._

Quid tibi est?

What's the matter?

_Eucl._

Quid crepuit quasi ferrum modo?

That noise? What was it--a sort of clinking sound?
[EXIT INTO HOUSE HURRIEDLY.

_Mega._

Hic apud me hortum confodere iussi. sed ubi hic est homo?
abiit neque me certiorem fecit. fastidit mei,
quia videt me suam amicitiam velle. more hominum facit;
nam si opulentus it petitum pauperioris gratiam,
pauper metuit congrediri, per metum male rem gerit.
idem, quando occasio illaec periit, post sero cupit.

(_not noticing his departure_) I told them to do some
digging in my garden here. (_looking around_) But where
is the man? Gone away and left me--without a word! Scorns
me, now he sees I desire his friendship! Quite the usual
thing, that. Yes, let a wealthy man try to get the regard
of a poorer one, and the poor one is afraid to meet him
half-way: his timidity makes him injure his own interests.
Then when it's too late and the opportunity is gone he
longs to have it again.

RE-ENTER _Euclio._

_Eucl._

Si hercle ego te non elinguandam dedero usque ab radicibus, 250
impero auctorque ego sum, ut tu me cuivis castrandum loces.

(_to Staphyla within_) By heaven, if I don't have your
tongue torn out by the very roots, I give you orders, give
you full authority, to hand me over to anyone you pl