(Lycus enters from his house, with a few words for the soldier he's abandoned inside.)
LY: I'll be right back, soldier, when I find us some people
who'll be fun to party with. But what's with this mob coming along? What's
up? 335
And who's that guy in the cloak behind them?
ADV: We citizens of Aetolia greet you, Lycus, though our greeting's hardly gladly given--
LY: May you all be happy too, as I know for sure that Happiness will never let that happen. 340
ADV: It's just as bad to do a bad man good as a good man bad.
LY: Most eloquent. But what's it got to do with me?
ADV: It's in your honor that we've come to you, though our good will toward pimps is pretty puny. 345
LY: If you've got any good news for me, I'm grateful.
ADV: We've brought nothing good of ours for you, nor do we promise it nor want it given.
LY: Oh, I believe you--that's what your good will is worth. But what do you want? 350
ADV: This gir--guy you see in the cloak, war's made him mad.
CO: (aside to Adv.) The same to you!
ADV: We're offering him to you for the rip-off.
CO: (aside) The hunter will get his kill today-- The dogs are driving this wolf into our trap most beautifully.
LY: Who's this? 355 ADV: We don't know him ourselves--
but when we went to the harbor this morning we saw this guy disembarking
from
a merchant ship. He says he's a visitor, who doesn't
know his way around, and he wants to find himself a good place 360 to mess
around in.
We've brought the man to you.
LY: He's that turned on?
ADV: And he's got gold.
LY: That's loot for me!
ADV: It's booze and babes he's after.
LY: I'll provide the place.
ADV: And he wants it hush-hush, so no one knows, no witnesses--since he's an Army ranger from Ft. Bragg. 365
CO: (aside) That's great about the army, especially Ft. Bragg!
LY: God bless you every one, since you've given me a juicy tip by sending me this sucker.
ADV: He's got 300 bucks as his advance guard!
LY: I'm in heaven--if I can lure this man to me today! 370
ADV: We've led the lamb straight up to the slaughter: now it's best for you to get him, if you want him got.
CO: Are you going now? What about what I asked you?
ADV: This man's the one for you to talk to: he's good at getting what you're after. 375
CO: (aside to the Advocati) Make sure you see me giving him the gold.
ADV: (to Collybisca) We're right behind you--from a distance.
CO: (louder) You've treated me right.
LY: (aside) A fortune's coming my way!
CO: (aside) And it's going to kick you in the butt.
LY: (aside) I'll speak to him seductively. 380 Greetings, my guest, and welcome. It's splendid to see you safely arrived.
CO: I'm looking . . .
LY: For some hospitality, they say.
CO: That's right.
LY: And I can give you all the holiday you're after, if
you can handle holding it in a lovely locale, 385 lying in a lovely bed,
and
energetically embracing one lovely lady.
CO: Just show the way.
LY: There with Leucadian, Chian, Gallo, Martini and Rossi,
Riuniti, Andre-- all the very ancient vintages--you'll wine your life away.
But all these things I've mentioned are off on active
duty. 390
CO: What's this? LY: Because they want their wages now.
CO: Why, you're no more eager to receive than I to give!
ADV: (conferring among themselves) Why don't we call Agorastocles
outside? (aside to Ag. inside) Psst! you--if you want to catch the thief--
come out quick so you can catch the pimp gold-handed!
395
3.6 (lines 467-477)
(Agorastocles enters from Lycus' house, leading Collybisca, and expecting to see Lycus.)
AG: Go out, so the witnesses can see you leaving here. How now, pernicious pimp!
ADV: He took off.
AG: Off to hell, I hope.
CO: What about me?
AG: Take off all that stuff you're wearing. You've treated
me right, advocates. 470 Wait till tomorrow, and I'll see you in court.
Farewell to you.
(He exits.)
ADV: Farewell to you. That man seeks to injure us for
no reason. That's the way your rich man operates: if you do him a favor,
his thanks are
lighter than air; 475 if you wrong him, his anger is
forged in iron. So, if you please, let's go off home right now. (They exit.)
4.2 (lines 516-537)
MI. Scout's honor . . . tell me all -- this is a good time and place -- it's just you and me.
SY. Adelphasium, the girl your master loves, is freeborn.
MI. What?!?
SY. And so is her sister.
MI. I can't believe this! 520
SY. He bought them as little girls in Anactorium from
a Sicilian pirate, with their nurse Giddenis as part of the package. The
pirate said he was
unloading hot property and that they had been born free
in Carthage.
MI. Almighty gods, I can't believe what I'm hearing. My
Agorastocles was also born there, then kidnapped, and at last the one who
snatched him 525
brought him here and sold him to my old master.
SY. That will help. Since they're from they same country,
Agorastocles should free the girls. He'll certainly checkmate the pimp
if he stole those
girls away. May the gods put an end to my days of slaving
for this pimp!
MI. By Hercules, you'll be my fellow freedman, god willing. 530
SY. May the gods will it so. Is there anything else, Milphio?
MI. Just farewell and good luck.
SY. This is in your hands now. Goodbye--and be careful to keep this all hushhush (He exits.).
MI. Not a word. Bye. You've given us a break and just
in time. He's gone. The immortal gods want my master saved and this pimp
wrecked: 535
To speed his destruction along even faster I'll go inside
and tell my master all of this (He exits into Ag.'s house)
