Don’t be afraid.(PERIPHANES binds his hands.)I’m submissive.When the job is done, then pronounce your judgmentPronounce your judgment: Arbitraminor seems a better reading than arbitramino..PERIPHIANESThere, that is good.Part of line 696 in the Latin. EPIDICUSNow then, to the point, with your enquiries of me; ask me what you please.PERIPHIANES In the first place, with what assurance did you presume to say that she who was bought the day before yesterday was my daughter?EPIDICUS I chose to; on that assurance.PERIPHIANES Do you say so? You chose to?EPIDICUS I do say so. Even lay me a wager that she is not the daughter—PERIPHIANES A woman whom the mother declares she doesn’t know?EPIDICUS Then, if she isn’t the daughter of her mother, make me a bet about it, my didrachm to your talentMy didrachm to your talent: The moderate odds of three thousand to one..PERIPHIANES Why, that’s a mere catch. But who is this woman? EPIDICUS The mistress of your son, that you may know the whole matter.PERIPHIANES Did I not give you the thirty minae for my daughter?EPIDICUS I confess that they were given, and that with that money I purchased this Music-girl, your son’s mistress,instead of your daughter. As to those thirty minae, in fact, I imposed upon you.PERIPHIANES For what reason did you play a trick upon me about that hired Music-girl?EPIDICUS I’ faith, I really did do it, and I think it was rightly done.PERIPHIANES In the last place, what has been done with the silver I gave you?EPIDICUS I’ll tell you; I gave it to a person neither bad nor yet goodNor yet good: Indigno is read here in some editions for benigno, and is, perhaps, a better reading; though Epidicus may, possibly, as Post suggests, intend to allude satirically to the undecided and versatile character of Stratippocles.—your son Stratippocles.PERIPHIANES Why did you dare to give it him?EPIDICUS Because it pleased me. PERIPHIANES(stamping.)Plague on it! what insolence is this?EPIDICUS Am I to be bawled at just as if I were a slave?PERIPHIANES(ironically.)As you are a free man, I rejoice.EPIDICUS I have deserved to become so.PERIPHIANES You—deserved? EPIDICUS Go look in-doors; I’ll let you know that this is the truth.PERIPHIANES What’s the matter? EPIDICUS The thing itself will tell you so at once. Only do go in-doors.