Where in the world, then, does, she come from? For my part, i’ faith, I certainly paid the money for her. A CAPTAIN Foolishly paid, I guess, and a mighty mistake. PERIPHIANES Nay, but this is she; for I sent the servant who is in the habit of attending my son; he himself this moment purchased the Music-girl. A CAPTAIN Well then, this fellow has cut you up joint by joint, old gentleman, this servant of yours. PERIPHIANES How, cut me up? A CAPTAIN Such is my suspicion; for she has been palmed upon you for that Music-girl. Old gentleman, you’ve been bubbled clearly and cleverly. I shall now go seek her wherever she is. Warrior, farewell! (Exeunt the OFFICER and SERVANT.) PERIPHIANES (stamnping with rage.) Bravo, bravo! Epidicus You’re a clever fellow! You have fought well—you’re a man! you’ve wiped my nose when snivelling, worthless fellow that I am! (To the MUSIC-GIRL.) Did Apaecides purchase you to-day of the procurer? (A pause.) Come now, tell me. MUSIC-GIRL I never heard of that person before to-day, nor, indeed, was any one able to purchase me for any money; I’ve been free now for more than five years. PERIPHIANES What business have you, then, at my house? MUSIC-GIRL You shall hear; I came, being hired to perform for an old gentleman while he was sacrificing. PERIPHIANES I do confess that I am the most worthless of all men in Athens of Attica. But do you know Acropolistis the Music-girl? MUSIC-GIRL As well as my own self. PERIPHIANES Where does she live? MUSIC-GIRL Since she has been made free, I don’t know for certain. PERIPHIANES Well now, I should like to know who has made her free, if you know? MUSIC-GIRL That which I have heard, you shall hear; I heard that Stratippocles I heard that Stratippocles : She discloses to him what she has heard as the fact, and which is the real state of the case. Although Acropolistis is in his house, in the character of his daughter, he, not knowing who she really is, is alarmed at hearing that his son has procured her liberation, which he has just taken so much pains to prevent. , the son of Periphanes, had provided in his absence that she should be made free. PERIPHIANES By heavens, I’m undone I’m undone : Having now detected this piece of roguery of which Epidicus has been guilty. , most clearly, if these things are true. Epidicus has disembowelled my purse! MUSIC-GIRL I’ve heard to that effect. Do you want me for anything else? PERIPHIANES Away to perdition in the veriest torments, and off this instant! MUSIC-GIRL Won’t you give me back my harp? PERIPHANES Neither harp nor pipes. Make haste, then, and escape from here, if the Gods love you! MUSIC-GIRL I’ll be off. At a future time, however, you’ll restore it, with the greater disgrace With the greater disgrace : Probably by being sued, and obliged to give it up, whether he will or no. to yourself. (Exit.) PERIPHIANES (to himself.) What now? Shall I, who have been placed before so many edicts Before so many edicts : Qui in tantis positus sum sententiis. This passage has been explained various ways; but Madame Dacier seems justified in thinking that Gronovius has found the right meaning, and that the allusion is to the custom of placing the name of the proposer at the head of the ψηφίσματα, or public edicts of the Greeks; this of course implied that the proposer was a man of standing, and of some fair pretensions to a reputation for wisdom. , allow him to get with impunity? No; even though as much again should be required to be lost, I’ll lose it rather than allow myself to be held in derision with impunity and plundered by them. That I should have been thus cheated openly to my face, and that I should have been set at nought before this Apaecides, who is famed as being the framer and founder of all the laws and ordinances! He too declares that he is a wise man! that the hammer,