She has been carried off; you shall be carried off hence away from me, beyond a doubt, if you persist in abusing me, to whom I owe nothing but a punishing.THERAPONTIGONUS What, threaten me with a punishing?CAPPADOX Aye, and by my troth, I’ll not be threatening, but I’ll give it, if you persist in being impertinent to me.THERAPONTIGONUS A Procurer, forsooth, threatening me; and are my combats in battle, so many in number, lying trodden under foot? But so may my sabre and my shield trustily aid me when fighting in the field; unless the girl is restored to me, I’ll at once cause the ants to carry you away piecemeal from this spot.CAPPADOX And so may my tweezersSo may my tweezers: We might almost fancy that it was a barber speaking, from this mention of the implements of his trade. Probably Cappadox employed these articles himself, in putting the best appearance upon his commodities, that they might the more readily attract the public., my comb, my looking-glass, my crisping-iron, and my hair-scissors and scrubbing-towel love me well, I don’t value your high-sounding words, nor these big threats of yours, a bit the more than my servant-girl that washes out my sink. I’ve given her up to him who brought the money from you.THERAPONTIGONUS What person was that? CAPPADOX He said that he was Summanus, your freed-man.THERAPONTIGONUS Mine? You don’t say so; i’ faith, it’s that Curculio that has put a trick upon me, when I think upon it; he stole my ring from me.CAPPADOX(aside.) The Captain has been finely appointed to a cashiered companyAppointed to a cashiered company: He remarks that the Captain has been made a fool of, just in the same way as if he had received a commission in a disbanded maniple, or company..THERAPONTIGONUS Where now shall I find CurculioFind Curculio: He asks where he can find Curculio. That word signifying not only the Parasite’s name, but a weevil as well, Cappadox tells him that he may find hundreds of them in wheat.?CAPPADOX In some wheat with the greatest ease I’ll make you find even five hundred Curculios instead of one. Therefore I’m off; fare you well, and my service to you.(Exit.)THERAPONTIGONUS Fare you ill, a plague attend you. What shall I do? Shall I stop or go away? That I should have been imposed upon in this way! I’d like to give a reward to him who would point out that fellow to me.(Exit.)

(Enter CURCULIO, with a ring, from the house of PHAEDROMUS.)CURCULIO I’ve heard that an ancient PoetAn ancient Poet: Who this ancient Poet was, is not known. wrote in a Tragedy, that two women are worse than one; such is the fact. But a more crafty woman than is this mistress of Phaedromus, I never saw or heard of, nor, i’ faith, can one be spoken of or imagined; she, as soon as ever she saw that I had got this ring, asked me whence I got it. Why do you ask that? said I. Because I’ve need to know, said she. I said I wouldn’t tell her. To get it away, she seized hold of my hand with her teeth. With much ado I betook me out of doors, and made my escape. Away with this slutThis slut: Caniculam.Little bitch..

(Enter PLANESIUM, followed by PHAEDROMUS, from his house.)PLANESIUM My Phaedromus, make haste.