How so? THESPRIO Because it has been so to others before. EPIDICUS Mulciber, I suppose, made the arms which Stratippocles had; they flew over to the enemyFlew over to the enemy: Plautus seems here to fancy that the arms made by Mulciber or Vulcan, for Achilles, were taken by Hector from Patroclus, when, in fact, they were made at the request of Thetis, for the purpose of avenging his death. He probably did not care to represent a slave and A camp-follower as being particularly correct in their knowledge of Homer..THESPRIO Why, then, e’en let this son of Thetis lose them; the daughters of Nereus will bring him others.EPIDICUS Only this must be looked to, that material may be found for the armourers, if in each campaign he yields a spoil to the enemy.THESPRIO Have done now with these matters.EPIDICUS You yourself make an end of them when you please.THESPRIO Cease your enquiries then. EPIDICUS Say, where is Stratippocles himself?THESPRIO There is a reason, for which reason he has been afraid to come together with me.EPIDICUS Pray, what is it? THESPRIO He doesn’t wish to see his father as yet.EPIDICUS For what reason? THESPRIO You shall hear; because he has purchased out of the spoil a young female captive of charming and genteel figure.EPIDICUS What is it I hear from you?THESPRIO That which I’m telling you.EPIDICUS Why has he purchased her?THESPRIO To please his fancy.EPIDICUS How many fancies has this man? For assuredly, before he went away from home to the army, he himself commissioned me, that a music-girl whom he was in love with should be purchased of a Procurer for him. That I have managed to accomplish for him.THESPRIO Whichever way the wind is at sea, Epidicus, in that direction the sail is shifted.EPIDICUS Woe unto wretched me! He has utterly undone me!THESPRIO What’s the meaning of this? What’s the matter, pray?EPIDICUS Well now—she whom he has bought, at what sum has he purchased her?THESPRIO A very little. EPIDICUS That I don’t ask you.THESPRIO What then? EPIDICUS For how many minae?THESPRIO(holding up all his fingers four times.)For so many. EPIDICUSPart of line 52c in Latin attributed to the prior speaker. Forty minae?