t you--fell into--as a
child.

_Hegio_

Iuppiter te dique perdant.

(_disgusted_) Oh, you be damned, sir!

_Erg._

Te hercle--mi aequom est gratias
agere ob nuntium; tantum ego nunc porto a portu tibi boni:
nunc tu mihi places.

And by Jove, you be--grateful to me, as you ought, for my
news. The glorious news from the port I'm just reporting!
Now your dinner begins to tempt me.

_Hegio_

Abi, stultu's, sero post tempus venis. 870

Be off, you idiot: you're behind time, you have come too
late.

_Erg._

Igitur olim si advenissem, magis tu tum istuc diceres;
nunc hanc laetitiam accipe a me, quam fero. nam filium
tuom modo in portu Philopolemum vivom, salvom et sospitem
vidi in publica celoce, ibidemque illum adulescentulum
Aleum una et tuom Stalagmum servom, qui aufugit domo,
qui tibi surripuit quadrimum puerum filiolum tuom.

Well, if I had come before, then you'd have had more reason
to say that. (_slowly and portentously_) Now, sir,
prepare for the ecstasy of which I am the vehicle. A few
minutes ago at the harbour your son, your son Philopolemus,
alive, safe and sound,--I saw him, saw him in a despatch
boat, and along with him that young Elean and your slave
Stalagmus that stole your little four year old boy.

_Hegio_

Abi in malam rem, ludis me.

To the devil with you! You're making fun of me.

_Erg._

Ita me amabit sancta Saturitas,
Hegio, itaque suo me semper condecoret cognomine,
ut ego vidi.

So help me Holy Stuffing, so may she grace me with her name
for evermore--I did see them, Hegio!

_Hegio_

Meum gnatum?

(_sceptically_) My son?

_Erg._

Tuom gnatum et genium meum.

Your son and my guardian angel.

_Hegio_

Et captivom illum Alidensem?

And that Elean prisoner?

_Erg._

+Ma ton Apollo:.+

_Oui, par_ Hercules!

_Hegio_

Et servolum 880
meum Stalagmum, meum qui gnatum surripuit?

And that miserable slave of mine, Stalagmus, that kidnapped
my son?

_Erg._

+Nai tan Koran.+

_Oui, par_ Hercul-aneum!

_Hegio_

Iam credo?

I'm to believe that?

_Erg._

+Nai tan Praineste:n.+

_Oui, par_ Pompeii!

_Hegio._

Venit?

He's come?

_Erg._

+Nai tan Signia