Eucl.
Novi genus. nunc quid vis? id volo
780
noscere.
I know who you
are. Now what do you want? That’s what
I wish
to know.
Lyc.
Filiam ex te tu habes.
You have a daughter.
Eucl.
Immo eccillam domi.
Yes, yes, at home there!
Lyc.
Eam tu despondisti, opinor, meo avonculo?
You have betrothed her to my uncle, I understand.
Eucl.
Omnem rem tenes.
Precisely, precisely.
Lyc.
Is me nunc renuntiare repudium iussit tibi.
He has asked me
to inform you now that he breaks the
engagement.
Eucl.
Repudium rebus paratis, exornatis nuptiis?
ut illum di immortales omnes deaeque quantum
est perduint,
quem propter hodie auri tantum perdidi
infelix, miser.
(furious) Breaks the engagement, with everything ready, the wedding prepared for? May all the everlasting powers above consume that villain that’s to blame for my losing my gold, all that gold, poor God forsaken creature that I am!
Lyc.
Bono animo es, bene dice. nunc quae res
tibi et gnatae tuae
bene feliciterque vortat—ita
di faxint, inquito.
Brace up, sir:
don’t curse. And now for some thing that
I
pray will turn
out well and happily for yourself and your
daughter—“God
grant it may!” Say that.
Eucl.
Ita di faciant.
(doubtfully) God grant it may!
Lyc.
Et mihi ita di faciant. audi nunciam. qui homo culpam admisit in se, nullust tam parvi preti, 790 quom pudeat, quin purget sese. nunc te obtestor, Euclio, ut si quid ego erga te imprudens peccavi aut gnatam tuam, ut mi ignoscas eamque uxorem mihi des, ut leges iubent. ego me iniuriam fecisse filiae fateor tuae, Cereris vigiliis, per vinum atque impulsu adulescentiae.
And God grant it may for me, too! Now listen, sir. There isn’t a man alive so worthless but what he wants to clear himself when he’s done wrong and is ashamed. Now, sir, if I’ve injured you or your daughter without realizing what I was doing, I implore you to forgive me and let me marry her as I’m legally bound to. (nervously) It was the night of Ceres’ festival ... and what with wine and ... a young fellow’s natural impulses together ... I wronged her, I confess it.
Eucl.
Ei mihi, quod ego facinus ex te audio?
Oh, oh, my God! What villainy am I hearing of?
Lyc.