So far as I’m concerned, he may have her. EUTYCHUS High time, i’ faith, since you haven’t the power of doing otherwise. DEMIPHO For this injury let him take what satisfaction he likes; only do you make peace, I beg of you, that he mayn’t be angry with me. I’ faith, if I had known it, or if, indeed, he had told me in the slightest way of joke that he was in love with her, I should never have proceeded to take her away from him so in love. Enitychus, you are his companion, preserve and rescue me, I beg of you. Make this old fellow your client. You shall say that I’m mindful of a kindness. LYSIMACHUS Entreat him that he’ll pardon his offences and his youthful age And his youthful age : Of course this is said in a tone of keen and well-merited satire. . DEMIPHO Heyday now, are you still persisting in inveighing against me with your airs? I trust that a like opportunity will befall me as well for returning you a similar compliment. LYSIMACHUS I’ve long made an end of those pursuits. DEMIPHO And really so shall I from this time forward. LYSIMACHUS Not a bit of it. Through usage your inclinations will be leading you to it again. DEMIPHO Prithee, do now be satisfied. Rather, scourge me with thongs even, if you like. LYSIMACHUS You say right. But that your wife will do, when she comes to know of this. DEMIPHO There’s no need for her to come to know of it. EUTYCHUS What’s that? She shan’t come to know of it; don’t be afraid. Let’s go in-doors; this place isn’t a suitable one for your practices, for there to be persons to overhear who are passing through the street, while we are talking. DEMIPHO Why, faith, you say what’s right; that way the story will be shorter. Let’s be off EUTYCHUS Your son is in-doors here at our house. DEMIPHO It’s very good. We’ll pass that way through the garden Through the garden : He means that he will be able to go home the back way, so that perhaps his wife may not see whence lie has come. This line shows that the houses of Lysimachus and Demipho are on the same side of the street, and not, as Cotter says, one on one side, the other on the other, with their doors opposite.—It may be here remarked, that it is not improbable that a considerable portion of this Play has perished. home. LYSIMACHUS Eutychus, I want this affair to be settled before I set my foot again within doors. EUTYCHUS What is it? LYSIMACHUS Each person thinks about his own concerns. Answer me this: do you know for certain that your mother isn’t angry with me? EUTYCHUS I do know it. LYSIMACHUS Take care. EUTYCHUS Trust me for it. Are you satisfied? LYSIMACHUS I am. But still, troth now, prithee, do take care. EUTYCHUS Don’t you believe me? LYSIMACHUS Yes, I do believe you; but still I’m dreadfully afraid. DEMIPHO Let’s go in-doors. EUTYCHUS Aye, but I think we must pronounce. the law for the old men before we depart, on what terms they are to keep check upon themselves and to be continent. Whoever shall be sixty years of age, if we know of any one, whether husband or, i’ faith, whether bachelor, in fact, who goes a wenching, upon these terms shall we deal with him; we shall deem him a fool. And, i’ faith, so far as we’re concerned, he shall be in want who has squandered away his property. And let no one hereafter forbid his youthful son to be in love and to keep a mistress, so it be done in a decent manner. If he shall forbid him, let him, unknown to himself, suffer more loss than if he had openly permitted him. Let this law, then, from this night forward, be binding upon the old men. (To the AUDIENCE.) Young men, kindly fare you well; and if this law, enacted for the sake of the old ones, pleases you, it is right that you should give us loud applause.