Page:Comedies of Publius Terentius Afer (1870).djvu/47

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Grossly and openly. Davus, learn your craft,

That at the least you may pretend to fear me.

Dav. [Aside.] Hercle! he cheats himself—It is not I.

Sim. Did I not bid you lay by trickery?

And have you done so? And with what result?

Think you I will believe this child is his?

Dav. I see his error, and I catch my cue.

Sim. Why are you silent?

Dav. Think you would believe?

Did not some one inform you of all this?

Sim. Inform me, who?

Dav. Eh, did you guess, yourself,

That this was all a mime?

Sim. They mock at me.

Dav. You were informed, else how could you have had

Such a suspicion?

Sim. How, because I know you.

Dav. You seem to think and say, it was my counsel.

Sim. Without a doubt it is.

Dav. There, Simo, let me say

You know me not.

Sim. How so, I know you not?

Dav. The instant I begin to tell the truth,

You think that I deceive.

Sim. Lies!

Dav. So, hercle! I

Dare not to open mouth.

Sim. I know full well

No one has brought forth here.

Dav. It may be so,

But that will not prevent them bringing here

An infant, and to lay it at your door.