And ought I to carry these things concealed in secrecy? Ought I, Pistoclerus, to conceal from your father your excesses, or your misdeeds, or your places of resort? by which you are aiming to drive your father and myself, and your own self and all your friends, to disgrace, and shame, and ruin altogether, and to destroy us all. Within yourself you entertain no awe of either me or your own self on account of the deeds which you are doingby which you have made your own father and myself as well, your friends and your connexions, to be abettorsTo be abettors: Gerulifigulos — literally, carrier. or hawkers about of pottery. He probably alludes to the low esteem in which these higglers were held; and it is not impossible, that by his reference to the earthen-ware, he alludes to the frail companions of Pistoclerus (whom he has just found to have come from Samos, where earthenware was made), in carrying out whose schemes the young man was, in a degree, making both Lydus himself, and his father, Philoxenus, his abettors. in the disgrace of your excesses. Now, before you add this mischief to the rest, I am resolved at once to tell your parent. This instant from myself will I remove this blame, and shall disclose the matter to the old gentleman, that he may forthwith draw forth his son out from this loathsome pollution.(Exit.)

(Enter MNESILOCHUS.)MNESILOCHUS In many ways have I thought it over with myself, and thus I think it is; a man your friend, who is a friend such as the name imports—except the Gods—nothing does excel him. By fact have I experienced it so to be. For when I departed hence to Ephesus (’tis now almost two years ago it happened), from Ephesus I sent letters hither to my friend Pistoclerus, requesting that he would find out my mistress Bacchis for me. I hear that he has found her, as my servant Chrysalus has brought me word. How aptly, too, has he framed a device against my father about the gold, that I may have abundance in my amour. I see ’tis rightI see ’tis right: The whole of the passage, from the word aequom, in this line, to celabis, in 1. 403, is supposed by Ritschel not to have been the composition of Plautus, but of some other ancient poet. The passage is in a most confused state, and the reading suggested by Rost has been here adopted, the lines being read in the following order: 393, 396, 394, 397, 395, 398. that I should make a due return. ’Tis better for you to be styled extravagant than ungrateful; but, i’ faith, in my way of thinking at least, there’s nothing more extravagant than the ungrateful man. The former the good will praise, the latter even the bad will censure. ’Twere better for an ill-doer to escape than for a benefactor to be deserted. For this reason, then, it behoves me to take the greater care; I needs must be on the watch. Now, Mnesilochus, the sample is on view, now the contest is being decided,whether you are or are not such as you ought to be; good or bad, of whichever kind; just or unjust, penurious or liberal, fretful or complying. Take you care, if you please, lest you let your servant exce. you in doing well. Whatever you shall prove, I warn you, you shall not be concealed. But see, I perceive my friend’s father and his tutor coming this way. I’ll listen what matter ’tis they are upon.(He retires aside.)

(Enter LYDUS and PHILOXENUS.)Thornton suggests that Molière had in his eye this Scene when he wrote , which Otway translated under the title of The Cheats of Scapin.LYDUS I’ll now make trial, whether your heart is sharpened by wisdom in your breast. Follow me.PHILOXENUS Whither shall I follow? Whither are you now leading me?LYDUS To her who has undone, utterly destroyed your single, only son.PHILOXENUS How now, Lydus; those are the wiser who moderate their passion. ’Tis less to be’Tis less to be: After reading this, we shall be the less surprised at the conduct of Philoxenus in the last Scene. wondered at if this age does some of these things than if it does not do so; I, as well, did the same in my youth.LYDUS Ah me! ah me! this over-indulgence has proved his ruin. For had he been without you, I should have had him trained up to moral rectitude; now, by reason of you and your trusting disposition, Pistoclerus has become abandoned.