(_without seeing Megadorus_) I knew it! Something told me I was going on a fool’s errand when I left the house; that’s why I hated to go. Why, there wasn’t a single man of our ward there, or the director either, who ought to have distributed the money. Now I’ll hurry up and hurry home: I’m here in the body, but that’s where my mind is. _Mega._ Salvos atque fortunatus, Euclio, semper sies. (_advancing with outstretched hand_) Good day to you, Euclio, yes, and the best of everything to you always! _Eucl._ Di te ament, Megadore. (_taking hand gingerly_) God bless you, Megadorus. _Mega._ Quid tu? recten atque ut vis vales? How goes it? All right, are you? Feeling as well as you could wish? _Eucl._ Non temerarium est, ubi dives blande appellat pauperem. iam illic homo aurum scit me habere, eo me salutat blandius. (_aside_) There’s something behind it when a rich man puts on that smooth air with a poor one. Now that fellow knows I’ve got gold: that’s why he’s so uncommon smooth with his salutations. _Mega._ Ain tu te valere? You say you are well? _Eucl._ Pol ego haud perbene a pecunia. Heavens, no: I feel low, very low--in funds. _Mega._ Pol si est animus aequos tibi. sat habes qui bene vitam colas. (_cheerily_) Well, well, man, if you have a contented mind, you’ve got enough to enjoy life with. _Eucl._ Anus hercle huic indicium fecit de auro, perspicue palam est. cui ego iam linguam praecidam atque oculos effodiam domi. (_aside, frightened_) Oh, good Lord! The old woman has let on to him about the gold! It’s discovered, clear as can be! I’ll cut her tongue out, I’ll tear her eyes out, the minute I get at her in the house! _Mega._ Quid tu solus tecum loquere? What is that you’re saying to yourself? _Eucl._ Meam pauperiem conqueror. 190 virginem habeo grandem, dote cassam atque inlocabilem, neque eam queo locare cuiquam. (_startled_) Just ... how awful it is to be poor. And I with a grown-up girl, without a penny of dowry, that I can’t get off my hands or find a husband for. _Mega._ Tace, bonum habe animum, Euclio. dabitur, adiuvabere a me. dic, si quid opust, impera. (_clapping him on the back_) There, there, Euclio! Cheer up. She shall be married: I’ll help you out. Come now, call on me, if you need anything. _Eucl._ Nunc petit, cum pollicetur; inhiat aurum ut devoret. altera manu fert lapidem, panem ostentat altera. nemini credo qui large blandust dives pauperi ubi manum inicit benigne, ibi onerat aliqua zamia ego istos novi polypos, qui ubi quidquid tetigerunt tenent.