That you may enjoyThat you may enjoy: Quod tibi sempiternum salutare sit. This was a formula frequently introduced in announcing intelligence, or in making a proposition, and was considered to be significant of a good omen. everlasting blessings in being the father of children.MEGADORUSMay the Gods so grant it.EUNOMIA I wish you to bring home a wife.Part of line 149 in the Latin.MEGADORUSHa! I’m undone. EUNOMIAHow so?MEGADORUSBecause, sister, your words are knocking out the brains of unfortunate me; you are speaking stonesYou are speaking stones: So Shakspeare says, in Hamlet, Act III., sc. 2,I will speak daggers to her, but use none. Aristophanes says, in one of his plays, You have spoken roses to me..EUNOMIAWell, well, do this that your sister requests you.MEGADORUSIf she requests me, I will do it.EUNOMIA’Tis for your own interest. MEGADORUSYes, for me to die before I marry. Let her who comes here to-morrow, be carried outBe carried out: Feratur,may be carried out to burial.Fero and effero have that especial signification. The body was carried out to burial on a bier, which resembled a bed or couch. of the house the day after, sister; on that condition, give me her whom you wish to give; get ready the nuptials.EUNOMIAI am able, brother, to provide you with a wife with a very large marriage-portion. But she’s somewhat aged; she’s of the middle-age of woman. If you request me, brother, to ask her for you, I’ll ask her.MEGADORUSWould you like me to ask you a question?EUNOMIAYes, if you like, ask it.MEGADORUSSuppose any old man, past mid-age, brings home a middle-aged wife, if by chance he should have a child by this old woman, do you doubt at all but that the name of that child is Posthumus Is Posthumus: Children, who were born after their father’s decease were called posthumi, a term which is still retained. By speaking of an old woman, anus, as the mother, he seems also to allude to the chance of the child losing its mother as well, at the moment of its birth, all prepared?Now, sister, I’ll remove and lessen this labour for you. I, by the merits of the Gods and of my forefathers, am rich enough; these high families, haughty prideHaughty pride: He means to say, that these evils are attendant upon marrying a woman with a large dowry., bountiful portions, acclamations, imperiousness, vehicles inlaid with ivory, superb mantles and purple, I can’t abide, things that by their extravagance reduce men to slavery.EUNOMIATell me, pray, who is she whom you would like to take for a wife?MEGADORUSI’ll tell you. Do you know that Euclio, the poor old man close by?EUNOMIAI know him; not a bad sort of man, i’ faith.MEGADORUSI’d like his maiden daughter to be promised me in marriage. Don’t make any wordsDon’t make any words: Ben Jonson has imitated this passage in his Silent Woman, Act I., sc. 5: I know what thou wouldst say:She’s poor, and her friends deceased.She has brought a wealthy dowry in her silence. about it, sister; I know what you are going to say; that she’s poor. This poor girl pleases me.EUNOMIAMay the Gods prosper it. MEGADORUSI hope the same.EUNOMIAWhat do you want me now for? Do you wish for anything?MEGADORUSFarewell. EUNOMIAAnd you the same, brother.(Goes into the house.)MEGADORUSI’ll go meet Euclio, if he’s at home. But, see! the very person is betaking himself home, whence, I know not.

(Enter EUCLIO.)EUCLIO(to himself.)My mind had a presentiment that I was going to no purpose when I left my house; and therefore I went unwillingly; for neither did any one of the wardsmen come, nor yet the master of the ward, who ought to have distributed the money. Now I’m making all haste to hasten home; for I myself am here, my mind’s at home.MEGADORUS(accosting him.)May you be well, and ever fortunate, Euclio!