Away with you, if you please. What have youWhat have you: This passage is somewhat modified above. to do with him? You have your hands quite full enough with the women. Attend to this for the present.PYRGOPOLINICES As to that advice you were giving me, I wish you to have a few words with her upon that subject. For, really, a conversation on that subject with her is more becomingIs more becoming: He thinks it not suitable to his dignity to speak on the subject himself, and therefore wishes to put the task upon Palaestrio. for you.PALAESTRIO What is more advisable than for you to go yourself, and transact your own concerns? You must say that it is absolutely necessary for you to marry: that your relations are persuading, your friends are urging, you.PYRGOPOLINICES And do you think so? PALAESTRIO Why shouldn’t I think so?PYRGOPOLINICES I’ll go in, then. Do you, in the mean time, keep watch here before the house, that when the other woman comes out you may call me out.PALAESTRIO Do you only mind the business that you are upon.PYRGOPOLINICES That, indeed, is resolved upon. For if she will not go out of her own accord, I’ll turn her out by force.PALAESTRIO Do you take care how you do that; but rather let her go from your house with a good graceWith a good grace: Per gratiam bonam.Bonâ gratiâ was a legal term used in the case of amicable divorces with the consent of both parties., and give her those things that I mentioned. The gold trinkets and apparel, with which you furnished her, let her take away.PYRGOPOLINICES By my troth, I wish she would.PALAESTRIO I think you’ll easily prevail upon her. But go indoors; don’t linger here.PYRGOPOLINICES I obey you.(Goes into his house.)PALAESTRIO(to the AUDIENCE.)Now, does he really appear to be anything different from what, awhile ago, I told you he was, this wenching Captain? Now it is requisite that Acroteleutium should come to me, her maid too, and Pleusicles. O Jupiter! and does not opportunity favour me in every respect? For those whom I especially wished to see, I perceive at this moment coming out here from our neighbour’s.

(Enter ACROTELEUTIUM, MILPHIDIPPA, and PLEUSICLES from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.)ACROTELEUTIUM Follow me; at the same time look around, that there may be no overlooker.MILPHIDIPPA Faith, I see no one, only him whom we want to meet.PALAESTRIO Just as I want you.MILPHIDIPPA How do you do, our master-plotter?PALAESTRIO I, the master-plotter? Nonsense.MILPHIDIPPA How so? PALAESTRIO Because, in comparison with yourself, I am not worthy to fix a beam in a wall.ACROTELEUTIUM Aye, indeed so. PALAESTRIO She’s a very fluent and a very clever hand at mischief. How charmingly she did polish off the Captain.MILPHIDIPPA But still, not enough. PALAESTRIO Be of good courage all the business is now prospering under our hands. Only do you, as you have begun, still give a helping hand; for the Captain himself has gone in-doors, to entreat his mistress to leave his house, with her mother and sister, for Athens.PLEUSICLES Very good—well done. PALAESTRIO Besides, all the gold trinkets and apparel which he himself has provided for the damsel, he gives her to keep as a present for herself—so have I recommended him.PLEUSICLES Really, it’s easily done, if both she wishes it, and he desires it as well.