Well, because here you are, the pair of you, after one lone pigeon. (_aside_) Damnation! The limed twigs are brushing my wings! (_aloud, stiffly_) Madam, I consider this an unprofitable business for me to be in.
Quia, Bacchis, bacchas metuo et bacchanal tuom.
Well, Bacchis, I’m afraid of Bacchantes and your Bacchante resort.
Quid est? quid metuis? ne tibi lectus malitiam apud me suadeat?
How’s that? What are you afraid of? The couch’s tempting you to be naughty with me?
Magis illectum tuom quam lectum metuo. mala tu es bestia. nam huic aetati non conducit, mulier, latebrosus locus.
It’s not so much the couch as the couch’s alluring occupant I’m afraid of. You’re a dangerous animal. Why, dens of darkness don’t become a young fellow like me.
Egomet, apud me si quid stulte facere cupias, prohibeam. sed ego apud me te esse ob eam rem, miles cum veniat, volo, quia, cum tu aderis, huic mihique haud faciet quisquam iniuriam: tu prohibebis, et eadem opera tuo sodali operam dabis; 60 et ille adveniens tuam med esse amicam suspicabitur. quid, amabo, opticuisti?
(_quite artless_) If you felt like doing anything silly there with me, I’d stop you my own self. But this is why I want you to be at my house when the Captain comes--because no one will do her (_pointing to sister_) or me any harm when you’re by. You’ll prevent it, and be helping along your chum at the same time; and when that military man arrives, he’ll take me for your sweetheart. Now, now, my dearie,-- why so silent?
Quia istaec lepida sunt memoratui: eadem in usu atque ubi periclum facias, aculeata sunt, animum fodicant, bona distimulant, facta et famam sauciant.
Because those words of yours have a pretty sound: but when a fellow takes ’em up and tries ’em they’re barbed--they pink a heart, run a fortune through, disable a character and reputation.
Quid ego metuam rogitas? adulescens homo penetrem me huius modi in palaestram, ubi damnis desudascitur?[4] (66)
Why am I afraid of her, eh? A young fellow like me to enter a physical training school of this sort (_pointing to Bacchis’s house_) where a man only sweats himself to insolvency?
(_with pretended admiration_) You do say such clever things!
Ubi ego capiam pro machaera turturem,[5] (68) pro galea scaphium, pro insigni sit corolla plectilis, 70 pro hasta talos, pro lorica malacum capiam pallium, ubi mihi pro equo lectus detur, scortum pro scuto accubet? apage a me, apage.