That 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.!