88 SPECIMENS OF LATIN COMEDY. 



Would have it so : if not, it had not been. 



EUCL. I believe the Gods would have me hang myself 

 Before your face. 



LYC. Ah ! say not so. 



EUCL. But why 



Would you lay hands, I pray, on what was mine 

 Against my inclination ? 



LYC. Love and wine 



Did prompt me. 



EUCL. What consummate impudence ! 



How dare you come to me with such a speech r 

 If this is right; if this excuse will hold, 

 Why we may strip a lady of her jewels 

 In open day light, then, if we are taken, 

 Plead in excuse, forsooth, that love and wine, 

 Led us to it. Oh, this love and wine 

 Is of great value, if it can empower , 



The lover and the drunkard to indulge 

 In whatsoever likes him with impunity. 



LYC. I come to beg you to forgive my folly. 



EUCL. I relish not these fellows, who commit 

 A misdemeanor, and then dare defend it. 

 You know you had no right, not being yours, 

 You should have kept hands off. 



LYC. But as I dar'd 



Make the attempt, I shall have no objection 

 To have and hold. 



EUCL. To have and hold what's mine, 



At my disposal ? and against my will ? 



LYC. Against your will I ask not ; but I think, 

 It is my right, and you yourself will find 

 I have a just claim. 



EUCL. If you don't return me 



LYC. Return you what ? 



EUCL. What you have stol'n of mine, 



I'll have you 'fore the praetor, and commence 

 A suit against you. 



LYC. Stol'n of your's ! how ? where ? 



What is't you mean ? 



EUCL. " As if you did not know ! 



LYC. Not I, except you tell me what it is. 



EUCL. The pot of gold, I say, which you confess'd 

 You stole, restore it to me. 



LYC. I ne'er said 



A syllable about it, nor have taken it. 



EUCL. Will you deny it ? 



LYC. Yes, deny it wholly : 



Nor do I know what gold, what pot you mean, 



EUCL. That which you stole out of Sylvanus' grove. 

 Come, give it me : I'll rather halve it with you. 

 Though you have robbed me, I'll not trouble youj 

 Come, then, restore it to me. 



LYC. Are you mad, 



To call me thief ? I thought that you had got 

 Scent of another matter, that concerns me : 

 Tis of importance, and if leisure serves, 

 I should be glad to talk with you upon it. 



