Troth now, I’m undone; what is it I hear of you?EPIDICUS That which really took place. After this, I myself, when I heard them talking, began again to draw closer towards them little by little, as though the crowd of people was pushing me, whether I would or no.PERIPHIANES I understand. EPIDICUS Then the one asked the other, How do you know? Why, because a letter has been brought her to-day from Stratippocles; that he has borrowed money on interest from a banker at Thebes; that it is ready, and he himself has brought it for that purpose.PERIPHIANES Tell on—I’m undone!EPIDICUS She said that she had heard so from her and from the letter which she had seen.PERIPHIANES What am I to do now? I ask your advice, Apaecides.APAECIDES Let us find some clever, useful expedient; for he, indeed, will either be here just now, or is here already.EPIDICUS If it were right for me to be wiser than you, I could give you some good advice, which you will praise, I fancy, both of you—PERIPHIANES Then where is it, Epidicus?EPIDICUS Yes, and useful for this purpose,APAECIDES Why do you hesitate to mention it?EPIDICUS It’s proper for yourselves, who are the wiser, to be the first to speak, and for me to speak afterwards.PERIPHIANES Aye, aye, of course—come, say on.EPIDICUS But you’ll laugh at me.APAECIDES On my word, we will not do so. EPIDICUS Well then, if it pleases you, use my advice; if it doesn’t please you, find better. There’s neither sowing nor reapingNeither sowing nor reaping: Mihi istic nec seritur nec metitur. This proverbial saying (so well known to every student of the Eton Grammar) merely means, I have no interest whatever in the matter. for me in this matter; only that I do wish the same that you wish.PERIPHIANES I return you thanks. Make us partakers in your wisdom.EPIDICUS Let a wife at once be chosen for your son; and so take vengeance on this music-girl whom he wants to liberate, and who is corrupting him for you; and so let it be managed, that even until her dying day she may remain a slave.APAECIDES It ought to be so managed.PERIPHIANES I am ready to do anything, so long only as this may be brought aboutEPIDICUS Well then, now there’s an opportunity of doing so, before he comes into the city, as to-morrow he will be here; to-day he will not have come.PERIPHIANES How do you know?EPIDICUS I do know, because another person told me, who came from there, that he would be here in the morning.PERIPHIANES Then say you what we are to do.EPIDICUS I’m of opinion that you ought to do thus: you must pretend as though you were desirous to give her liberty to the music-girl for your own whim, and as though you were violently in love with her.PERIPHIANES To what advantage does that tend?EPIDICUS Do you ask that? Why, that you may purchase her beforehand with money, before your son comes, and may say that you bought her to set her at liberty—