Let them, just as long as they please.1st BACCHIS Don’t you think that these sheep are shorn three times a year?2nd BACCHIS I’ faith, to-day one of them has been already shorn twice, that’s sure.1st BACCHIS They are old and fleecelessOld and fleeceless: Mina ovis was a sheep that had no wool on its belly. It is hard to say why this name was given to it. If the word mina had signified a certain coin, and not a sum of money merely, we might have supposed it alluded to the smoothness of the coin., both of them.2nd BACCHIS But I think they have been in good plight once.1st BACCHIS Prithee, do you see how they are looking with a sheep’s eye at us?2nd BACCHIS By my troth, I really do believe they are without any ill design.PHILOXENUS This happens to us deservedly, for having come here.1st BACCHIS Well, let them be driven in-doors to foldBe driven in-doors to fold: Cogantur. Literally, let them be driven within. Cogor was the term applied to penning or folding sheep of cattle..2nd BACCHIS I don’t know what occasion there is for that, as they have neither milk nor wool. Let them stand as they are. Of whatever value they have been, they are now out of date; all their fruit has fallen off them by this. Don’t you see, how, straying unattended, they are ranging about at liberty? Why, I fancy that they must be dumb with age; they don’t bleat even, though they are absent from the rest of the flock. They seem both silly and worthless.1st BACCHIS Let’s return in-doors, sister.NICOBULUS Stay where you are, both of you; these sheep want you.2nd BACCHIS Why, surely this is a prodigy; sheep are addressing us with a human voice.PHILOXENUS These sheep will return you the heavy and great injury which they owe to you.1st BACCHIS If you owe me aught, I forgive it you; keep it to yourself; I’ll never demand it of you. But what is the reason that you are threatening mischief to us?PHILOXENUS Because they say that our two lambs are shut up here.(Pointing to the house.)NICOBULUS And besides those lambs, my dog is there concealed that bitesThat bites: He alludes to his having been bitten by Chrysalus.. If they are not now produced to us and sent out of the house, we shall be furious rams; we shall attack you forthwith.1st BACCHIS Sister, I have something to say to you in private.2nd BACCHIS How now, prithee?(They go apart.)NICOBULUS Whither are they going?FIRST BACCHIS Sister, I give to you that old fellow that’s farthest off, that you may have him cleverly smoothed down; I’ll now attack this other one that’s angry; if we can only entice them here indoors.2nd BACCHIS I’ll manage my task with cleverness, although ’tis to caress an old skeleton.1st BACCHIS Take care and do your best.2nd BACCHIS Be quiet; do you do yours; I’ll manage what I have said.NICOBULUS Why are these two women holding a council here in private?PHILOXENUS What say you, my good fellow—?NICOBULUS What would you with me? PHILOXENUS I really am ashamed to tell you a certain thing.