Follow me this way in-doors to bathe, that you may relieve your weariness.

(Enter PISTOCLERUS, accompanied by People with Provisions for the Entertainment, followed by LYDES.)LYDUS For some time, Pistoclerus, I’ve been following you in silenceFollowing you in silence: We must not be surprised to find Lydus a Lydian slave, as his name imports, acting as the paedagogus, or tutor, of Pistoclerus. Among the wealthy, the sons of the family were committed to the paedagogi at their sixth or seventh year, and of course that officer was selected from the most trustworthy and most learned among the slaves. The youths remained under the tutor till they reached the years of puberty. His duty was rather to watch and protect them and accompany them to their school and the gymnasium or palaestra, the place of exercise, than to instruct them himself; indeed; the praeceptores, or teachers, are expressly distinguished by Quintilian from the paedagogi, or conductors of the youths. Eunuchs were sometimes appointed to this office. Among the Romans, a tutor attended on both boys and girls very frequently, as they were not confined at home according to the Grecian custom. During the Empire, much care was taken in the training of the paedagogi.,watching what you were doing in this dressIn this dress: He has put on the malacum pallium,the soft garment, mentioned in l. 71, as being about to join the entertainment which he is providing.. For, so may the Gods favour me, even Lycurgus himselfLycurgus himself: He says that such company is enough to corrupt Lycurgus himself, a man of the most moral and strict habits. He was the lawgiver of Sparta. seems to me as if he could be led into debauchery here. Whither now are you betaking yourself hence in an opposite direction with such a train?PISTOCLERUS To this place (pointing to the house.) LYDUS Why to this place? Who lives there?PISTOCLERUS Love, Pleasure, Venus, Beauty, Joy, Jesting, Dalliance, Converse, and Sweet-kissing.LYDUS What intercourse have you with these most destructive Deities?PISTOCLERUS Bad are those men who speak evil of the good. You speak not well of even the Gods themselves; you do what is not right.LTD. Is Sweet-kissing, then, some God?PISTOCLERUS And do you not think she is? O Lydus, why, what a barbariansWhat a barbarian: He alludes to Lydia, the country of Lydus, which was barbara. you are, you, whom I had deemed to be far more wise than Thales hinselfThan Thales himself: Thales of Miletus was one of the seven wise men of Greece. He was the founder of the Ionic sect of philosophers.. Go to, you are more foolish than Potitius, the foreignerPotitius, the foreigner: Barbaro signifies Roman, the scene being in Attica. We learn from St. Augustine that the Potitii received the epithet of stulti, unwise, from the following circumstance. They were the hereditary priests of Hercules, at Rome. Wishing to lighten their duties, they instructed some slaves in their office, for which, by the wrath of the Divinity twelve families of them were destroyed in one night., who, at an age so advanced, knew not the names of the Divinities.LYDUS This dress of yours pleases me not.PISTOCLERUS But no one prepared it for you; it was prepared for myself, whom it pleases well.LYDUS And do you commence upon your repartees against myself even? You, who, if you had even ten tongues, ought to be silent.PISTOCLERUS Not every age, Lydus, is suited for schoolSuited for school: There is here a Paronomasia, or jingle upon the resemblance of the words Lyde, Lydus, and ludo, a school.. One thing especially is just now on my mind, how the cook may with due care attend to these things as befits the elegance of the entertainment.LYDUS Now have you undone yourself and me and all my labours, me who so oft have shown you what is right, all to no purpose.PISTOCLERUS In the same place have I lost my labour where you’ve lost yours: your instructions profit neither me nor yourself.LYDUS O obdurate heart! PISTOCLERUS You are troublesome to me. Hold your tongue, Lydus, and follow me.LYDUS Now, see that, please; he no longer callsHe no longer calls: He is shocked at the want of respect shown to him by his pupil. me tutor, but mere Lydus.PISTOCLERUS It seems not proper, nor can it be fit, that, when a person is in a house, and is reclining at the feast together with his mistress, and is kissing her, and the other guests are reclining too, the tutor should be there too in their presence.LYDUS Are these provisions purchased for such a purpose, pray?PISTOCLERUS My intentions, indeed, expect so; how it falls out, is in the hands of the Gods.LYDUS Will you be having a mistress?PISTOCLERUS When you see, then you’ll know.LYDUS Aye, but you shall not have one, and I won’t allow it. Go back again home.PISTOCLERUS Do leave me alone, Lydus, and beware of mischiefBeware of mischief: This is a threat of vengeance if Lydus presumes to interfere any further..LYDUS What? Beware of mischief?O yawning gulf, where art thou now? How gladly would I avail myself of thee!