--I? What for?

_Erg._

Quia ego impero, age gaude modo.

Because I bid you to. Come now, rejoice!

_Hegio_

Pol maerores mi antevortunt gaudiis.[21] 840

Good Lord, man! grief takes precedence of joy in my case.

_Erg._

Iam ego ex corpore exigam omnis maculas maerorum tibi.
gaude audacter.

I will remove every grief spot from off your person for you
this minute. Rejoice, rejoice boldly!

_Hegio_

Gaudeo, etsi nil scio quod gaudeam.

Well, I am rejoicing, although I haven't the least idea why
I should.

_Erg._

Bene facis. iube--

Much obliged! Order--

_Hegio_

Quid iubeam?

(_suspiciously_) Order what?

_Erg._

Ignem ingentem fieri.

--a fire to be built, an enormous fire.

_Hegio_

Ignem ingentem?

An enormous fire?

_Erg._

Ita dico, magnus ut sit.

That's what I say--make it a big one.

_Hegio_

Quid? me, volturi,
tuan causa aedis incensurum censes?

(_angry_) How's that? Do you think I'm going to burn my
house down for your benefit, you vulture?

_Erg._

Noli irascier.
iuben an non iubes astitui aulas, patinas elui,
[22]laridum atque epulas foveri foculis ferventibus?
alium pisces praestinatum abire?

Calm yourself, sir. Will you order the pots to be set near
the oven, or won't you--and the platters washed--and bacon
and lovely things to eat to be warmed up in fire-pans piping
hot? And some one to go and lay in fish?

_Hegio_

Hic vigilans somniat.

Day dreams, poor fellow!

_Erg._

Alium porcinam atque agninam et pullos gallinaceos?

And some one else to get pork and lamb and spring chicken?

_Hegio_

Scis bene esse, si sit unde.

You know how to enjoy yourself--given the wherewithal.

_Erg._

[23]Pernam atque ophthalmiam, 850
horaeum, scombrum et trygonum et cetum, et mollem caseum?

And ham and river-lamprey and pickled fish, mackerel and
sting ray and tunny, and nice soft cheese?

_Hegio_

Nominandi istorum tibi erit magis quam edundi copia
his apud me, Ergasile.

You will have more of an opportunity to mention those
viands, Ergasilus, than to masticate them here at my house.

_Erg._

Mean me causa hoc censes dicere?

Do you suppose I'm saying this on my own account?

_Hegio_