et vita prohibeant,
is diem dicam, inrogabo multam. ut mihi cenas decem
meo arbitratu dent, cum cara annona sit. sic egero.
nunc ibo ad portum hinc: est illic mi una spes cenatica;
si ea decolabit, redibo huc ad senem ad cenam asperam.

Now I'm going to have the foreign law on those chaps and
demand my full rights, I certainly am: it's conspiracy,
conspiracy to deprive us of sustenance and life, and I'm
going to summon 'em, fine 'em-- make 'em give me ten
dinners, at my discretion, and that will be when food
is dear. That's how I'll catch them. (_turning to go_)
Well, now for the harbour. That's where my one hope is,
gastronomically speaking, if that oozes away, I'll come
back here to the old man's terror of a meal.

[EXIT _Ergasilus_, LOOKING IN ALL DIRECTIONS FOR A POSSIBLE
HOST.

III. 2.

Scene 2.

ENTER _Hegio_ WITH _Aristophontes_ AND _Slaves_.

_Hegio_

Quid est suavius, quam bene rem gerere,
bono publico, sic ut ego feci heri,
cum emi hosce homines: ubi quisque vident, 500
eunt obviam gratulanturque eam rem,
ita me miserum restitando
retinendoque lassum reddiderunt:
vix ex gratulando miser iam eminebam.

(_highly pleased with himself_) Now what makes you feel
better than managing your affairs properly and contributing
to the common good, just as I did yesterday in buying
these prisoners? Whenever anyone sees me up he comes and
congratulates me on it! Dear, dear! I was so worn out
with all their stopping and detaining me, it got to be
frightfully hard work emerging from the flood of
felicitations.

tandem abii ad praetorem; ibi vix requievi:
rogo syngraphum, datur mi ilico; dedi Tyndaro: ille abiit domum.
inde ilico praevortor domum, postquam id actum est;
eo protinus ad fratrem, mei ubi sunt alii captivi.

At last I escaped to the praetor's. Barely waiting to catch
my breath, I asked for a passport, got it on the spot, gave
it to Tyndarus: he's off for home. After seeing to that, I
first start straight for home. Then I go on to my brother's
where the rest of my prisoners are.

rogo, Philocratem ex Alide ecquis hominum
noverit: tandem his exclamat, eum sibi esse sodalem; 510
dico eum esse apud me; hic extemplo orat obsecratque,
eum sibi ut liceat videre:
iussi ilico hu