Most excellent. But where’s your cloak? OLYMPIO (pointing to the house of ALCESIMUS.) I left it here in-doors. CLEOSTRATA Well now; hasn’t a very nice trick been played you? OLYMPIO Yes, and deservedly. Hush! the door makes a noise. What, is she following me, I wonder? (They go to a distance.) (Enter STALINO, in haste, from the house of ALCESIMUS.) STALINO (aloud to himself.) I’m branded with the greatest disgrace, nor what, under my circumstances to do, do I know. Nor yet how to look my wife in the face; so utterly undone am I! All my misdeeds are discovered. In every way, to my confusion, I am ruined! So clearly am I hooked fast by the jaws! nor know I in what way to clear myself before my wife; wretch that I am, to have been stripped of my cloak! These clandestine nuptials are all discovered. I judge it best for me She taught my wife the way But who is there, what person would be ready to undertake this office for me? What now to do I know not, except to imitate worthless slaves, and fly from the house; for there’s no safety for my shoulder-blades if I return home. I may tell lies there; i’ faith, I shall get a basting, though much against my will, although I have earned my punishment. I’ll at once betake myself in this direction in flight. (He begins to run.) OLYMPIO (coming forward with the others.) Hallo there! Stop, this instant, you amorous one! STALINO (to himself.) I’m utterly undone! I’m being called back. I’ll be off, as though I didn’t hear. (Runs on.] (Enter CHALINUS, from the house of ALCESIMUS, dressed in woman’s clothes.) CHALINUS Where are you, you who imitate the morals of the Massilians Of the Massilians : It is not at all settled by Commentators what is the meaning of this line. Massilia, now Marseilles, was a colony of the Phocaeans. Cicero, in his Speech for L. Flaccus, particularly alludes to the strictness of their morals. It is possible that this good character may have passed into a proverb, and that Chalinus banteringly calls Stalino one who cultivates Massilian or the strictest morals. Schmieder, however, thinks that a pun on the word Massilienses is intended, and that as Stalino has met with a mas, or male, where he had hoped to find a female, Chalinus comes forward and asks him what he thinks of the Mas-silians; just as we in a similar case might say (though perhaps rather tamely) the Man-chester people. ? Now, if you wish to be taking liberties with me, is a good opportunity [ at your risk. By my troth, you are undone. Come, only step this way. Now I fancy that when a witness out of I’ll find thus out of the street I order a murmur I STALINO Now am I in extreme danger, between the stone and the sacrifice, nor know I which way to fly The wolf-dogs it was CHALINUS I’ faith, I do think old there now like new.] STALINO (turning about.) I’ll go this way. I trust that the omen of a bitch’s barking will prove the better Will prove the better : It is somewhat difficult to say exactly what he means. In l. 927, he seems to be anneyed at being called back as he is running (probably down one of the streets that debouched on the stage). Revocamen, being called back, was particularly considered as a bad omen among the Romans. He, perhaps, now changes his mind, and says to himself, This is a bad omen; I’ll turn back; and bad as it is, the barking of my wife may prove a better one. . CLEOSTRATA What are you doing, my husband, my good man? Whence come you in this guise? What have you done with your walking-stick, or how disposed of the cloak you had? TWO MAID-SERVANTS While he was playing his loving pranks with Casina, he lost it, I fancy. STALINO (aside.) Utterly undone! CHALINUS (coming up to STALINO.) Shall we go to bed again? I am Casina. STALINO Away with you to utter perdition! CHALINUS Don’t you love me? CLEOSTRATA Nay, but answer me; what has become of your cloak? STALINO (running about, exclaiming.) [Upon my faith, wife, the Bacchantes! Bacchantes Bacchantes! Bacchantes! : He tries to make an excuse by implication: pretending to be in a fright, he shouts out, wishing them to believe that he has met a gang of Bacchanalian votaries (who were not very particular as to doing mischief to any one they met). Unfortunately for him, a servant-maid suggests that no feast of Bacchus is going on at that time of the year, and that consequently the Bacchantes are not out. ! Bacchantes! TWO MAID-SERVANTS He’s making pretence on purpose for, upon my word, no Bacchantes are exhibiting at the present time. STALINO I forgot that. But still, the Bacchantes!—