 | The Brothers |  |
SCENE III.
Enter SYRUS.Syrus.
to Æsch. within.]
Say no more!
Let me alone to talk with him! I warrant
I'll make him take the money; ay, and own
That he's well treated too.
[coming forward.
Why how now, Sannio?
What's the dispute I overheard just now
'Twixt you and my young master?
San.
Never was
Any dispute conducted more unfairly,
Than that between us two to-day! Poor I
With being drubb'd, and he with drubbing me,
'Till we were both quite weary.
Syrus.
All your fault.
San.
What could I do?
Syrus.
Give a young man his way.
346
What could I give him more, who gave my face?
Syrus.
Nay, but d'ye know my meaning, Sannio?
To seem upon occasion to slight money,
Proves in the end, sometimes, the greatest gain.
Why prithee, blockhead, could you be afraid,
Had you abated somewhat of your right,
And humour'd the young gentleman, he would not
Have paid you back again with interest?
San.
I never purchase hope with ready money.
Syrus.
Away! you'll never thrive. You do not know
How to ensnare men, Sannio.
San.
Well, perhaps,
Your way were best: yet I was ne'er so crafty
But I had rather, when 'twas in my power,
Receive prompt payment.
Syrus.
Pshaw! I know your spirit:
As if you valued Twenty Minæ now,
So you might do a kindness to my master!
—Besides they say you're setting out for Cyprus.
[carelessly.
San.
Ha!
[alarm'd.
Syrus.
—And have bought up a large stock of goods
To carry over thither.—Hir'd a vessel.
That 'tis, I know, which keeps you in suspence:
When you return, I hope, you'll settle this.
347
I shall not budge a foot.—Undone, by heav'n!
Urg'd by these hopes they've undertaken this.
[aside.
Syrus.
He fears. I've thrown a small rub in his way.
[aside.
San.
to himself.]
Confusion! they have nick'd me to a hair!
I've bought up sev'ral slaves, and other wares,
For exportation; and to miss my time
At Cyprus-fair would be a heavy loss.
Then if I leave this business broken thus,
All's over with me; and at my return
'Twill come to nothing, grown quite cold and stale.
“—What! come at last?—Why did you stay so long?
“Where have you been?”—that it were better lose it,
Than wait for it so long, or sue for't then.
Syrus,
coming up to him.]
Well, have you calculated what's your due?
San.
Monstrous oppression! Is this honourable,
Or just in Æschinus, to take away
My property by force?
Syrus.
So, so! he comes.
[aside.
—I have but one word more to say to you.
348
Than run the risk to get or lose the whole,
E'en halve the matter: and he shall contrive
To scrape together by some means Ten Minæ.
San.
Alas, alas! am I in danger then
Of losing ev'n my very principal?
Shame on him! he has loosen'd all my teeth:
My head is swell'd all over like a mushroom:
And will he cheat me too?—I'm going no where.
Syrus.
Just as you please.—Have you ought else to say,
Before I go?
San.
Yes, one word, prithee Syrus!
However things have happen'd, rather than
I should be driven to commence a suit,
Let him return me my bare due at least;
The sum she cost me, Syrus.—I'm convinc'd
You've had no tokens of my friendship yet;
But you shall find I will not be ungrateful.
Syrus.
I'll do my best. But I see Ctesipho.
He is rejoic'd about his mistress.
San.
Say,
Will you remember me?
Syrus.
Hold, hold a little!
[Syrus and Sannio retire.
The merchants used to buy up slaves in all parts of Greece, to sell them at Cyprus, where a celebrated fair was kept for that purpose. Dacier.
Jamne enumerasti id, quod ad te rediturum putes? I have translated these words according to the interpretation of Donatus. Madam Dacier puts another sense upon them, and thinks they rather mean Sannio's calculation of his profits at Cyprus. The subsequent conversation between Syrus and Sannio inclined me rather to adopt the former opinion.
| The Brothers | |