I remember it. EUCLIOBut I understand in what fashion you, of your class, are wont to equivocate; an agreement is no agreement, no agreement is an agreement, just as it pleases you.MEGADORUSI’ll have no misunderstanding with you. But what reason is there why we shouldn’t have the nuptials this day?EUCLIOWhy, by my troth, there is very good reason for them.MEGADORUSI’ll go, then, and prepare matters. Do you want me in any way?EUCLIOThat shall be done. Fare you well.MEGADORUS(going to the door of his house and calling out.)Hallo! Strobilus, follow me quickly, in all haste, to the fleshmarket.(Exit MEGADORUS.)EUCLIOHe has gone hence. Immortal Gods, I do beseech you! How powerful is gold! I do believe, now, that he has had some intimation that I’ve got a treasure at home; he’s gaping for that; for the sake of that has he persisted in this alliance.

(EUCLIO, alone.)EUCLIO(going to the door of his house, he opens it, and calls to STAPHYLA within.)Where are you who have now been blabbing to all my neighbours that I’m going to give a portion to my daughter? Hallo! Staphyla, I’m calling you! Don’t you hear? Make haste in-doors there, and wash the vessels clean. I’ve promised my daughter in marriage; to-day I shall give her to be married to Megadorus here.(from the house.)STAPHYLA(as she enters.)May the Gods bestow their blessings on it! But, i’ faith, it cannot be; ’tis too sudden.EUCLIOHold your tongue, and be off. Take care that things are ready when I return home from the Forum, and shut the house up. I shall be here directly.(Exit.)STAPHYLAWhat now am I to do? Now is ruin near at hand for us, both for myself and my master’s daughter; for her disgrace and her delivery are upon the very point of becoming known; that which even until now has been concealed and kept secret, cannot be so now. I’ll go in-doors, that what my master ordered may be done when he comes. But, by my faith, I do fear that I shall have to drink of a mixture of bitterness A mixture of bitterness: Hildyard suggests that Staphyla is fond of a drop, and likes her liquors neat (merum), wherefore it is a double misfortune to her, not only to endure misfortunes, but those of a mixed nature. Mixtum was the term applied to the wine, when mixed with its due proportion of water for drinking.!(Exit.)

(Enter STROBIOUS, ANTHRAX, and CONGRIO, with MUSIC GIRLS and PERSONS carrying provisions.)STROBILUSAfter my master had bought the provisions, and hired the cooks Hired the cooks: Allusion has been made, in the Notes to the Pseudolus, to the custom of hiring cooks in the markets on any special occasion. These were frequently slaves; and in such case, the greater portion of their earnings would go into the pockets of their masters. From the remark made in l. 265, we find that Congrio and Anthrax are slaves. and these music- girls in the market-place, he ordered me to divide these provisions into two parts.LYCONIDESBy my troth, but you really shan’t be dividing me You really shan’t be dividing me: He alludes to his own name, Congrio,a conger eel, which was cut up before it was cooked; and he means to say, that spite of his name, he will not stand being divided by Strobilus., I tell you plainly. If you wish me to go anywhere whole, I’ll do my best.ANTHRAX A very pretty and modest fellow, indeedModest fellow, indeed: Anthrax gives a very indelicate turn to the remark of Congrio; and the liberty has been taken of giving a more harmless form to the gross witticism of Anthrax. It may be here remarked, that he takes his name from the Greek word, signifying a coal, a commodity, of course much in request with cooks.. As if, when you are a conger by name, you wouldn’t like to be cut into pieces.LYCONIDESBut, Anthrax, I said that in another sense, and not in the one which you are pretending.STROBILUSNow my master’s going to be married to-day.Part of line 288 in the Latin.ANTHRAX Whose daughter is he to marry? STROBILUSThe daughter of this Euclio, his near neighbour here. For that reason he has ordered half of these provisions here to be presented to him—one cook, and one music-girl likewise.ANTHRAX That is, you take one half to him, the other half home? STROBILUS’Tis just as you say. ANTHRAX How’s that? Couldn’t this old fellow provide from his own resources for the wedding of his daughter.STROBILUSPshaw! ANTHRAX What’s the matter?STROBILUSWhat’s the matter, do you ask? A pumice stone isn’t so dry as is this old fellow.ANTHRAX Do you really say that it is as you affirm?STROBILUSDo be judge yourself. Why, he’s for ever crying out for aid from Gods and men, that his property has gone, and that he is ruined root and branch,