Prithee, Leonida, run, and beg my father to come here. LIBANUSHe has been in the house some time.ARGYRIPPUSHe hasn’t come this way, at all events.LIBANUS(pointing to the back way.)He came round that wayCame round that way: Well he might! by the lane, through the garden, lest any one of his friends should see him coming here; he’s afraid that his wife may come to know of it. If your mother knew about the money, how it was obtained—ARGYRIPPUSWell, well—do use words of good omensUse words of good omen: Benedicite. This was a form made use of for the purpose of averting bad omens.;go in-doors quickly, farewell.LEONIDAAnd you two, love on.(He and LIBANUS go into the house of DEMAENETUS; ARGYRIPPUS and PHILENIUM into that of CLEAERETA.)

(Enter DIABOLUS and a PARASITE, with a scroll in his hand.)DIABOLUSCome now, show me this agreement that you’ve written out between myself and the procuress. Read over the conditions; for you are a quite unique composerA quite unique composer: Poeta is here used in the primary sense of the word, from the Greek ποιητὴς, a maker, artist, or contriver. in such matters.A PARASITEI’ll make the procuress be terrified when she hears the conditions.DIABOLUSTroth now, prithee, proceed and read them over to me.A PARASITEAre you attending? DIABOLUSI’m all attention.A PARASITE(reads the agreement.)Diabolus, the son of Glaucus, has made a present to Cleaereta, the procuress, of twenty silver minae, that Philenium may be with him night and day for this whole year.DIABOLUSYes, and not with any other person.A PARASITEAm I to add that?