Suppose 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?