II. 4.

    Scene 4.

    ENTER Leonida, APPARENTLY IN A RAGE.

Leon.

  Quid hoc sit negoti, neminem meum dictum magni facere? 
  Libanum in tonstrinam ut iusseram venire, is nullus venit.
  ne ille edepol tergo et cruribus consuluit haud decore.

What does this mean?  Does no one mind what I say?  I told Libanus to come to the barber’s shop, and he never came at all.  By the Lord, he hasn’t given due thought to the welfare of his hide and shanks, that’s a fact!

Merc.
    Trader

  Nimis imperiosust.

      (aside) A precious domineering chap!

Lib.

  Vae mihi.

      (affecting terror) Oh, I’m in for it!

Leon.

  Hodie salvere iussi 410
  Libanum libertum? iam manu emissu’s?

      (to Libanus ironically) Ah, greetings to Libanus the
      freedman, is it, to-day?  Have you been manumitted now?
      (advancing)

Lib.

  Obsecro te.

      (cowering) Please, please, sir!

Leon.

  Ne tu hercle cum magno malo mihi obviam occessisti.
  cur non venisti, ut iusseram, in tonstrinam?

      By heaven, I’ll certainly give you good reason to regret
      crossing my path.  Why didn’t you come to the barber’s, as
      I ordered?

Lib.

  Hic me moratust.

      (pointing to trader) This gentleman delayed me.

Leon.

  Siquidem hercle nunc summum Iovem te dicas detinuisse
  atque is precator adsiet, malam rem effugies numquam.
  tu, verbero, imperium meum contempsisti?

(without looking at trader) Damme!  You can go on and say Jove Almighty detained you, yes, and he can come here and plead your case, but you shall never escape a flogging.  You scorned my authority, you whipping post?

Lib.

  Perii, hospes.

      (running behind trader) Oh kind stranger, I’m a dead man!

Merc.
    Trader

  Quaeso hercle noli, Saurea, mea causa hunc verberare.

      By Jove, Saurea!  Now, now, don’t flog him, for my sake!

Leon.

  Utinam nunc stimulus in manu mihi sit.

      (paying no attention) Oh, if I could only get hold of an
      ox goad now!

Merc.
    Trader

  Quiesce quaeso.

      Now, now, calm down.

Leon.