Publii Terentii Carthaginiensis Afris poëtae lepidissimi comoediae sex Anglo-Latinae in usum ludi-discipulorum, quo Feliciùs venustatem linguae Latinae ad sermonem quotidianum exercendum assequantur / a Carolo Hoole ... = Six comedies of that excellent poet Publius Terentius, an African of Carthage, in English and Latine : for the use of young scholars, that they may the more readily attain the purity of the Latine tongue for common discourse / by Charles Hoole ...

Act. II. Scen. I.

SANNIO. AESCHINUS.

S.

I Beseech you, neighbours, help a poor innocent man, Succour one that needeth help.

Aesch.

Leasurely, stand now here without any more adoe. Why do you look back? There is no danger. This fellow shall never med∣dle with you, Whilest I am here.

S.

I will keep her in despite of all your teeths.

Aesch.

[line 5] Though he be a mischievous fellow, yet will be not give oc∣casion to day to be beaten again.

S.

Aeschinus hear me, that you may not say you was ignorant of my condition of life. I am a bawd.

M.

I know it.

S.

But such a one, as any one of the best credit hath been in any place. That you should excuse your self hereafter, that you were loth this wrong should have been done

To me, I will not value it thus much. Believe me this, I will defend my own right; [line 10] Nor shall you ever undoe by words, what you have wronged me in by deeds. I know these words of yours, you were loth it should have been done. Oath will be given, that you do not deserve To have this wrong offered you, where as I my self am unworthily dealt withall.

Aesch.

Goe valerously on, and open the door.

S.

But, you had as good do nothing herein.

Aesch.

Goe you your wayes in even now.

S.

But I will not suffer him.

Aesch.

Come hither, Parmeno; [line 15] You are gone too far that way: stand here by this fellow; So, I would have it thus. Have a care, you do not turn your eyes any whither from mine, that there be no stay, if I wink to you, but your fist may be presently about his eares.

Sa.

I would have him To try that.

Aes.

Oh, save her. Let the woman goe.

Sa.

O wretched Act!

Aesch.

He shall give you as much more, unlesse you take heed.

S.

Oh the wretchednesse!

Aesch.

I had not winked to you [line 20] Yet rather trespass on that side. Go your ways now.

S.

What a thing is this? Aeschinus, have you the Kingly command here?

Aesch.

If I had, you should be rewarded According to your deserts.

S.

What have you to do with me?

Aesch.

Nothing.

S.

What? Do you know who I am?

Aesch.

I do not desire.

S.

Have I medled with any thing of yours?

Aesch.

If you had medled with any thing, You should have smarted for it.

S

How cometh it to be more lawfull for you to have mine, for whom▪ [line 25] I have paid my money? answer me.

Aesch.

It would have been bet∣ter for you not to have railed On me before the door. For if you go on to trouble me, you shall presently be haled in, And be there scourged with whip-thongs to death.

S

A free-man with whip-thongs?

Aesch.

It shall be so.

S.

O wicked fellow! Do men say that here is like freedom to all men?

Aesch.

If you have brawled enough, bawd, hear me now if you be dis∣posed.

S.

And I, have I brawled? [line 30] Or you against me?

Aesc.

Let those things pass, & return to the point▪

S.

What thing? Whither should I return?

Aesch.

Would you have me now tell you what may concern you?

S.

I desire it, so it be any thing honest.

Aesch.

Whoo, the bawd woud not have me speak dishonest things.

S.

I am a bawd, I confess, a common destruction of young-men, a per∣fidious fellow, a plague; Yet I have done you no wrong.

Aes.

For that truly remaineth yet to be done.

San.

[line 35] I pray you Aeschinus, go back thither, where you begun.

Aesch.

You bought her, For twenty pounds, (which thing may it never thrive with thee) so much money shall be paid you.

S.

What if I will not sell her? will you force me?

Aesch.

No.

S.

For I was afraid of that.

Aesch.

For I think she should not be offered to be sold who is a free-woman; For I by laying on my hand restore her to her libertie up••n an action of freedome. Now chuse you, [line 40] Whether you will take you your money, or try your iction. Consi∣sider of this, bawd, Till I return again.

S.

O mighty Iupiter! I do not wonder at them that begin. To run mad after they have done wrong. He hath pull'd me out of my house, he hath beaten me, He hath taken away my woman, whether I will or no; for these ill turnes he requires I should deliver her for so much as I bought her. Oh, he hath given me poor man above 500 [line 45] Boxes on the ear. And indeed, seeing he hath so well deserved, let it be so: he desireth but What is his own by right. Well, now I desire it were done, if so be he would but pay my money. But I guess this, when I shall say I will give him her for so much, he will presently take witness, That I have sold her; I do but dream of my money, by and by, come a∣gain tomorrow. I can Endure that, if he will but pay it: though it be a wrongfull business; but I consider, [line 50] As the matter is; when you begin that trade, you must take, and say nothing of the injurie Of young men. But no body will give it me; in vain Do I cast up these accounts with my self.