Em istuc ago, quo modo argento intervortam et adventorem et Sauream. iam hoc opus est exasciato[10]; nam si ille argentum prius 360 hospes huc affert, continuo nos ambo exclusi sumus. nam me hodie senex seduxit solum sorsum ab aedibus, mihi tibique interminatust nos futuros ulmeos, ni hodie Argyrippo essent viginti argenti minae;

(thinking) That’s the point!  Just what I’m casting about for—­some way to relieve newcomer and Saurea of the cash.  We must have our scheme roughed out at once; for let that stranger fetch his money before we’re ready and the next minute we’re both shut out of it.  You see, the old man took me aside out of the house to-day all by myself:  swore he’d made the pair of us perfectly elmy, if eighty pounds was not forthcoming for Argyrippus this very day.

iussit vel nos atriensem vel nos uxorem suam defraudare, dixit sese operam promiscam dare. nunc tu abi ad forum ad erum et narra haec ut nos acturi sumus:  te ex Leonida futurum esse atriensem Sauream, dum argentum afferat mercator pro asinis.

He gave us orders to do the steward out of it, or else his wife:  said he’d stand by us whichever it was.  Now you be off to the forum to master and tell him what our game will be:  that you are going to change from Leonida to steward Saurea when the trader brings the money for the asses.

Leon.

  Faciam ut iubes.

      I’ll do as you say. (moves off)

Lib.

  Ego illum interea hic oblectabo, prius si forte advenerit. 370

      I’ll entertain him here myself meanwhile, if he happens to
      come before you do.

Leon.

  Quid ais?

      (halting) I say.

Lib.

  Quid vis?

      What do you want?

Leon.

  Pugno malam si tibi percussero,
  mox cum Sauream imitabor, caveto ne suscenseas.

      (gravely) In case I punch your jaw for you later on when
      I’m imitating Saurea, take care you don’t get angry.

Lib.

  Hercle vero tu cavebis ne me attingas, si sapis,
  ne hodie malo cum auspicio nomen commutaveris.

      By gad, you’d just better take care yourself not to touch
      me, if you know what’s what, or you’ll find you’ve picked
      an unlucky day for changing your name.

Leon.

  Quaeso, aequo animo patitor.

      Come, come, put up with it patiently.

Lib.

  Patitor tu item, cum ego te referiam.

      Yes, and you put up with it when I hit you back.

Leon.

  Dico ut usust fieri.

      I’m telling how it’s got to be done.

Lib.

  Dico hercle ego quoque ut facturus sum.