Right heartily, farewell. (TYNDARUS goes into the house.)HEGIO(aside.) I’ faith, I compassed my design, when I purchased these men of the Quaestors out of the spoil. I have released my son from slavery, if so it pleases the Gods; and yet I hesitated a long time whether I should purchase or should not purchase these persons. Watch that man indoors, if you please, you servants, that he may nowhere move a foot without a guard. I shall soon make my appearance at home; now I’m going to my brother’s, to see my other captives; at the same time I’ll enquire whether any one knows this young man.(To PHILOCRATES.) Do you follow, that I may despatch you. I wish attention first to be paid to that matter.(Exeunt.)

(Enter ERGASILUS.)ERGASILUS Wretched is that man who is in search of something to eat, and finds that with difficulty; but more wretched is he who both seeks with difficulty, and finds nothing at all; most wretched is he, who, when he desires to eat, has not that which he may eat. But, by my faith, if I only could, I’d willingly tear out the eyes of this day;—with such enmity has it filled all people towards me. One more starved out I never did see, nor one more filled with hungerFilled with hunger: This paradoxical expression is similar to the one used in the Aulularia, l. 45, inaniis oppletae,filled with emptiness., nor one who prospers less in whatever he begins to do. So much do my stomach and my throat take rest on these fasting holidaysFasting holidays: He means to say, that as on feast days and holidays people abstain from work, so at present his teeth and stomach have no employment.. Away with the profession of a Parasite to very utter and extreme perdition!