Metuo, vocis ne vicem hodie hic vapulem, quae hunc verberat. (_aside_) I’m afraid he’ll soon pummel me instead of my voice for its striking him. (_steps forward timidly_) _Mer._ Optume eccum incedit ad me. Oho! Splendid! He moves this way. _Sos._ Timeo, totus torpeo. non edepol nunc ubi terrarum sim scio, si quis roget, neque miser me commovere possum prae formidine. ilicet, mandata eri perierunt una et Sosia. verum certum est confidenter hominem contra conloqui, qui possim videri huic fortis, a me ut abstineat manum. 340 (_aside_) I’m scared, I’m simply stiff! Good gracious, I don’t know where in the world I am, not if anyone asked me. Oh dear, I can’t move a step for fear! This ends me! Master’s orders are done for, and Sosia, too. But I’m resolved--I’m going to speak right up to him boldly, so that I can make him think I’m a dangerous character and let me be. (_tries to swagger_) _Mer._ Quo ambulas, tu qui Volcanum in cornu conclusum geris? Whither dost stroll, thou who conveyest (_pointing to lantern_) Vulcan pent within yon horn? _Sos._ Quid id exquiris tu, qui pugnis os exossas hominibus? What dost want to know for, thou who bonest folks’ faces for ’em with yon fists? _Mer._ Servosne es an liber? Art slave or free? _Sos._ Utcumque animo conlibitum est meo. Whichever I please. _Mer._ Ain vero? So? In sooth? _Sos._ Aio enim vero. Yes, so in sooth. _Mer._ Verbero. Thou whipped slave! _Sos._ Mentiris nunc. You lie: I’m none. _Mer._ At iam faciam ut verum dixas dicere. (_advancing_) But I shall soon make thee say ’tis true. _Sos._ Quid eo est opus? (_shrinking back_) Oh, what’s the use of that? _Mer._ Possum scire, quo profectus, cuius sis aut quid veneris? (_sternly_) May I be informed where thou art bound, who owns thee, or why thou camest? (_halts_) _Sos._ Huc eo, eri iussu, eius sum servos. numquid nunc es certior? (_encouraged_) I’m bound for here--master’s orders--and I’m his slave. Are you any wiser now? _Mer._ Ego tibi istam hodie, sceleste, comprimam linguam. I’ll soon make thee hold thy tongue, miscreant! _Sos._ Haud potes: bene pudiceque adservatur. No chance, she’s chaperoned in nice modest fashion. _Mer._ Pergin argutarier? quid apud hasce aedis negoti est tibi? Still at thy quips, eh? What business hast thou at this house? _Sos._ Immo quid tibi est? 350 Well, and what have you? _Mer._ Rex Creo vigiles nocturnos singulos semper locat. King Creon posts separate sentries about here every night. _Sos._ Bene facit: quia nos eramus peregre, tutatust domi; at nunc abi sane, advenisse familiares dicito.