Request her, then, to approach.PYRGOPOLINICES Since you have entreated it, I have prevailed upon my mind not to detest her just like other women.MILPHIDIPPA I’ faith she wouldn’t be able to utter a word if she were to come near you; while she was looking at you, her eyes have in the meantime tied her tongue.PYRGOPOLINICES I see that this woman’s disorder must be cured.MILPHIDIPPA See how terrified she is since she beheld you.PYRGOPOLINICES Even armed men are the same; don’t wonder at a woman being so. But what does she wish me to do?MILPHIDIPPA You to come to her house; she wishes to live and to pass her life with you.PYRGOPOLINICES What!—I come home to her, when she is a married woman? Her husband is to be stood in fear of.MILPHIDIPPA Why,—for your sake, she has turned her husband out of her house.PYRGOPOLINICES How? How could she do so?MILPHIDIPPA The house was her marriage-portion.PYRGOPOLINICES Was it so? MILPHIDIPPA It was so, on my word.PYRGOPOLINICES Bid her go home; I’ll be there just now.MILPHIDIPPA Take care, and don’t keep her in expectation; don’t torment her feelings.PYRGOPOLINICES Not I, indeed. Do you go then. MILPHIDIPPA We are going. (ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA go into the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.) PYRGOPOLINICES But what do I see? PALAESTRIO What do you see? PYRGOPOLINICES See there, some one is coming, I know not who, but in a sailor’s dress.PALAESTRIO He is surely wanting us, now; really, it is the shipmaster.PYRGOPOLINICES He’s come, I suppose, to fetch her.PALAESTRIO I fancy so.

(Enter PLEUSICLES, at a distance, in a Sailor’s dress.)PLEUSICLES(to himself.)Did I not know that another man in other ways has done many a thing unbecomingly on account of love, I should be more ashamed by reason of love for me to be going in this garb. But since I have learned that many persons by reason of love have committed many actions, disgraceful and estranged from what is good, for I pass by how Achilles sufferedAchilles suffered: This was when he withdrew from the warfare on being deprived of Briseis by Agamemnon, on which occasion Hector made great havoc among the Grecian forces. his comrades to be slain—But there’s Palaestrio, he’s standing with the Captain. My talk must now be changed for another kind. Woman is surely born of tardiness itself. For every other delay, which is a delay just as much, seems a less delay than that which is on account of a woman. I really think that this is done merely from habit. But I shall call for this Philocomasium. I’ll knock at the door then. Hallo! is there any one here?(Knocks at the CAPTAIN’S door.)PALAESTRIO Young man—what is it? What do you want? Why are you knocking?PLEUSICLES I’m come to inquire for Philocomasium; I’m come from her mother. If she’s for going, let her set off. She is delaying us all; we wish to weigh anchor.