And he promises that he will give this gold to me, for me to give away to naughty women, and to consume it and live like a GreekLive like a Greek: It has been before remarked, that the Greek mode of free living had passed into a proverb with the Romans, among whom a person of a licentious mode of life was said congraecare,to live like a Greek. Plautus forgets that the scene is at Athens. in dens of infamy. But, father, do you take care that he does not impose on you this day; I entreat you, do beware.MNESILOCHUS Only say on. CHRYSALUS Just write on, then.MNESILOCHUS Only say what I am to writeCHRYSALUS(MNESILOCHUS writing.)But, father, what you promised me I beg that you will remember, that you will not beat him, but keep him in chains at your house at home. Do you give me the wax and cord forthwith. Come, fasten it, and seal it in an instant.MNESILOCHUS(sealing the tablets.)Prithee, what use is there in this writing after such a fashion, that he is to give no credence to you, and to keep you in chains at home?CHRYSALUS Because it pleases me so. Can’t you possibly take care of your own self, and have no thought about me? In confidence in myself I undertook the task, and at my own peril do I carry on the matter.MNESILOCHUS You say what’s true. CHRYSALUS Give me the tablets.MNESILOCHUS(giving them.)Take them.CHRYSALUS Give attention now; Mnesilochus, and you, Pistoclerus, do you take care that each of you goes at once and reclines on his couch with his mistress; so ’tis requisite; and on that same spot where the couches are now laid, do you forthwith commence to carouse.PISTOCLERUS Anything else? CHRYSALUS This, and this especially: when you shall have once taken your places together, don’t you arise anyhow, until the signal shall be given by me.PISTOCLERUS O skilful commander! CHRYSALUS You ought by this time to have taken your second draught.MNESILOCHUS Capital; let’s go. CHRYSALUS Do you take care of your duty, and I’ll do mine.(MNESILOCHUS and PISTOCLERUS go into the house.)

(CHRYSALUS, alone.)CHRYSALUS A tremendously great business am I undertaking, and I have my fears how in this one day I may accomplish it. But now I have occasion for the old blade to be fierce and savage at me. For it suits not this plan of mine that the old fellow should be calm when he has beheld me in his presence. I’ll turn him aboutTurn him about: It is not improbable that this figure is borrowed from frying fish in the kitchen—When he is done on one side, I’ll turn him on the Other. this day, finely, if I live. I’ll have him parched as well as ever pea was parchedPea was parched: Frictum cicer,parched vetches. Horace mentions these dainties. They were mostly purchased by the lower orders, and by slaves.. I’ll walk before the door, that when he comes out, at once as he comes up, I may put the lettersPut the letter: His object is to entrap old Nicobulus in such a way that he must of necessity see his son in the company of the damsels, on which he will be inclined the more readily to believe the story that he has formed an intrigue with the wife of the Captain. in his hand.(Stands near the door of BACCHIS.)

(Enter NICOBULUS, at a distance.)NICOBULUS This is a matter of great vexation to me, that Chrysalus has thus escaped me this day.CHRYSALUS(aside.)I’m all right: the old fellow is in a passion. Now’s my time for me to accost my man.NICOBULUS Who speaks hard by? (Looking round.) Why surely this is Chrysalus, I think.CHRYSALUS(aside.)I’ll accost him.NICOBULUSMy honest servant, hail to you. What’s doing now? How soon do I set sail for Ephesus, to bring back the gold home from Theotimus? What—silent? I swear by all the Gods, if I didn’t love my son so much as to wish everything done for him that he desires that your sides should be wealed now right well with rods, and that in irons at the mill you should be lingering out your life. I’ve learnt of Mnesilochus all your wicked pranks.CHRYSALUS Has he accused me? ’Tis very good; I am a bad one, I am a cursed one—a wicked one. Only reflect upon the matter. I’ll utter not one word.NICOBULUS What? Hangdog, do you even threaten meEven threaten me: Nicobulus takes it for a threat, when he tells him specta rem modoonly reflect upon the matter.?CHRYSALUS You’ll find out before long what sort of man he is. He ordered me just now to carry this letter to you. He requested that that which is there written may be done.