Surely, just now you said you were in search of the daughter of her who has been talking here. LAMPADISCUS Her daughter I am in search of. MELAENIS In what way then, pray, is she a former woman, who is now his wife? LAMPADISCUS Woman, whoever you are, you weary me with your prating. The middle woman The middle woman : Medioxumam. The middle woman, although his first wife, and the mother of the daughter whom he had betrothed to Alcesimarchus; he having had Phanostrata the first, as a woman (when he ravished her), but not as a wife until after the death of his first wife. whom he had for a wife, of her this maiden was born that’s being given to Alcesimarchus. That wife is dead. Do you understand now? MELAENIS I understand that quite well; but it’s this knotty point I’m enquiring about, how the first can be the last, the last be the first. LAMPADISCUS The fact is this; this woman he ravished before he took her home as his wife; before that she was pregnant, and before that she gave birth to a daughter: after she gave birth to her, she ordered the infant to be exposed; I myself exposed her; another woman took her away; I was on the look-out; after that, my master married her. That girl, her daughter, we are now in search of. (MELAENIS turns aside her head.) Why now, with face upturned, are you looking up towards the heavens? MELAENIS Now, then, be off at once whither you were hastening; I won’t detain you; I understand it now.