Bravo!—bravo!EPIDICUS She’s now at your houseShe’s now at your house: That is, the first mistress of Stratippocles is at his father’s house personating the lost daughter. in place of her. STRATIPPOCLES I understand. EPIDICUS Now he has given me Apaecides by way of guarantee in this matter (he’s waiting for me at the Forum), as if to seem the purchaser.STRATIPPOCLES Not a bad precaution!EPIDICUS The cautious man’s now taken in himself;your own father himself placed this purse around my neckThis purse around my neck: Purses containing large sums of money were generally slung round the neck by a string. See the Aulularia, l. 258 Asinaria, l. 661; and Truculentus, l. 648.. He’s making preparation, that immediately on your arrival home you shall be married.STRATIPPOCLES In one way only will he persuade me; if Orcus takes her away from me, who has been brought with me.EPIDICUS Now I’ve hit upon this scheme: I’ll go by myself alone to the procurer’s house; I’ll instruct him, if any one comes to him, to say that the money has been paid him for the music-girl; inasmuch as, the day before yesterday, I paid it down with my own hands for this mistress of yours, whom your father takes to be his own daughter. Then the procurer, unknowingly, will be staking his accursed head, as though he had received the money for her who has now been brought here together with you.CHAERIBULUS You are more versatile than a potter’s-wheel.EPIDICUS Now I’ll get ready some artful music-girl, who’s hired at a didrachm, to pretend that she has been purchased, and cleverly to trick the two old fellows: Apaecides, together with her, will bring her to your father.STRATIPPOCLES How adroitly managed!EPIDICUS Her, prepared beforehand with my devices, and provided with my schemes, I shall send to him. But I’m talking at too great length; you have delayed me too long: you now know these things how they are to be; I’ll be off.STRATIPPOCLES Success attend you!(Exit EPIDICUS.)CHAERIBULUS He is very clever at artful tricks.STRATIPPOCLES Indeed, by his plans, he has saved me, that’s sure.CHAERIBULUS Let’s go hence into my house.STRATIPPOCLES Yes, and a little more joyfully than I came out of your house, by the courage and conduct of Epidicus, do I return into camp with the spoil.(They go into the house.)

(Enter PERIPHANES.)PERIPHIANES(to herself.)Not only for the sake of the face were it right for men to have a mirror for themselves wherein to look at their faces; but one with which they might be enabled to examine the heart of discretion, and therefore be able to examine the resources of the mind; when they had looked in that, they might afterwards consider how they had once passed their lives in youth. Just as myself, for instance, who, for the sake of my son, began to torment myself in mind, as though my son had been guilty of some offence against, me, or as though my own misdeeds had not been most heavy in my youth. In truth, we old fellows are out of our senses sometimes. This, in my own opinion at least, has proved advantageous. But my friend Apaecides is coming with the spoil.I’m glad that the negotiator has returned safe.(Enter APAECIDES, with a MUSIC-GIRL.)PERIPHIANES How goes it? APAECIDES The Gods and Goddesses are favouring you.PERIPHIANES The omen pleases me. APAECIDES A person with whom all things go on prosperously. But do you order her to be taken in-doors.PERIPHIANES(going to the door of his house, and calling.)Hallo there! come out of doors here, some one. (A SERVANT comes out.) Take that woman into the house!And, do you hear?