I’ troth, to the Deities I do give thanks; for if you hadn’t understood me, I do think you would never have let me go. (Exit.) MELAENIS (to herself.) Now it’s necessary for me to be honest, whether I will or no, although I had rather not; I find the thing is discovered. Now will I myself lay them under an obligation to me, rather than she shall peach upon me. I’ll go home, and I’ll bring Silenium to her parents. (Exit.) (Enter MELAenis, SILENIUM, and HALISCA.) MELAENIS I’ve disclosed the whole matter to you; follow, my Silenium, that you may rather belong to those to whom you ought to belong, than be mine. Although against my will I shall part with you, still I’ll reconcile my mind to consult that which in especial conduces to your benefit. (Giving her a casket.) For here in this are the trinkets Are the trinkets : The discovery in the Rudens depends on a similar circumstance. This custom of attaching trinkets to the persons of children when exposed, will be more fully remarked upon in the Notes to the Translation of Terence. , together with which she who gave you to me formerly brought you to me; that your parents may recognize you the more easily. Take this casket, Halisca, and then go and knock at that door (pointing to the house of DEMIPHO) : say that I request that some one will come from within. Make haste, quickly. ALCESIMARCHUS (Enter ALCESIMARCHUS, from his FATHER’S house, with his sword drawn.) (calling aloud.) Death, receive me unto thyself, a friend and well-wisher to me! SILENIUM My mother, to our sorrow, we are undone! ALCESIMARCHUS (aloud, to himself.) Whether shall I pierce my side here (striking his right side) or on the left. MELAENIS (to SILENIUM.) What’s the matter with you? SILENIUM (pointing.) Don’t you see Alcesimarchus? He’s grasping a sword. ALCESIMARCHUS (aloud, in a frantic manner.) What art about? Thou art delaying. Quit the light of day. SILENIUM Do run and aid him, pray, that he mayn’t kill himself. (They run to assist him, on which HALISCA drops the casket.) ALCESIMARCHUS O Safety more healthful than my own safety, you now, whether I wish or don’t wish, alone do cause me to live. MELAENIS Fie on it! Were you ready to commit such violence? ALCESIMARCHUS I’ve nought to do with you—to you I’m dead. (Clasping SILENIUM in his arms.) Her, as I hold her, I’m determined not to lose. For, by heaven, I am resolved henceforth to have her entirely rivetted fast unto me. (Goes to the door of the house, and calls.) Where are you, servants? Shut the door with bolts, with bars, when I shall have carried her within the threshold! (He carries SILENIUM into the house, followed by HALISCA.) MELAENIS (exclaiming, while wringing her hands.) He’s gone off: he has carried the damsel away. I’ll go—I’ll at once follow him in-doors, that he may know of me these same things, if from being angered with me I can render him pleased. (Goes into the house.) (Enter LAMPADISCUS.) LAMPADISCUS I do believe I never saw a more tormenting old nag than this is. What she just now confessed to me, is she to be denying it? But look, I see my mistress. Why (seeing the casket on the ground) , how’s this, that this casket is lying here with these trinkets, and that I see no other person in the street? I must act the child’s part Act the child’s part : He alludes to his taking up the toys or trinkets, which were made for children to play with. Conquiniscam, very unnecessarily it would seem, has an indelicate meaning given to it by Lambinus. ; I’ll stoop to pick up the casket. (Picks it up.) PHANOSTRATA (from her house.) What are you about, Lampadio? LAMPADISCUS (giving the casket to PHANOSTRATA.) Is this casket from out of our house here, I wonder. For I picked it up, lying here near the door. PHANOSTRATA What news do you bring about the old woman? LAMPADISCUS That there’s not one other on earth more wicked. She denies all those things which she just now confessed to me. But, i’ faith, for me to allow that old jade to be laughing at me, it’s preferable for me to die by any kind of death. PHANOSTRATA Ye Gods, I do adjure you by our trust in you! (Opening the casket.) LAMPADISCUS Why do you call upon the Gods? PHANOSTRATA Save us! LAMPADISCUS What’s the matter? PHANOSTRATA These are the trinkets with which you exposed my little daughter to death. LAMPADISCUS Are you in your senses?