My hands are dirty, then. SCELEDRUS How so?PALAESTRIO Because I am playing with dirt.SCELEDRUS A mischief on your head. PALAESTRIO Nay rather, Sceledrus, it shall be on yours, I promise you, unless you change for fresh your eyes and your talk. But our door made a noise.SCELEDRUSWell, I shall watch here out of doors, for there is no way by which she can pass hence in-doors, except through the front door. PALAESTRIOBut there she is, at home. I don’t know, Scledrus, what mischief is possessing you.SCELEDRUSI see for my own self, I judge for my own self, I have especial faith in my own self: no man shall frighten me out of it, but that she is in that house. (Points to the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.) Here I’ll take my stand, that she may not steal out home without my knowledge.PALAESTRIO(aside)This fellow is in my hands; now will I drive him from his strong hold.(To SCLEDRUS) Do you wish me now to make you own that you don’t see correctly?SCELEDRUSCome, do it then.PALAESTRIOAnd that you neither think aright in your mind, nor yet make use of your eyes?SCELEDRUSI’d have you do it.PALAESTRIODo you say, then that the lady of your master is there in that house?SCELEDRUSI assert, as well, that I saw here here in this house (points to the house of PERIPLECOMENUS), toying with a strange man.PALAESTRIOdon’t you know that there is no communication between our house here and that one?SCELEDRUSI know it.PALAESTRIONeither by the terraceBy the terrace: Solarium was either a balcony or terrace before a house, or on the top of it, which was exposed to the sun. People walked there in the cool of the evening. It was from a solarium that David first saw Bathsheba., nor by the garden, only through the skylight?SCELEDRUSI know it.PALAESTRIOWhat then, if she is now at home? If I shall make her, so as you may see her,come out hence from our house, are you not deserving of many a lashing?SCELEDRUSI am so deserving.PALAESTRIOWatch that door, then, that she may not privily betake herself out thence without your knowledge and pass here into our house.SCELEDRUS’Tis my intention to do so.PALAESTRIOUpon her feetUpon her feet: Lindemann thinks that pede here means upon her feet, as much as to say I’ll bring her to you on her feet and not standing on her head. The true meaning of the passage seems to be, I’ll bring her to you standing upon terra firma, and not flying with wings as you seem to expect. will I place her this moment here before you in the street.SCELEDRUSCome, then, and do so.(PALAESTRIO goes into the CAPTAIN’s house.)

(SCLEDRUS, alone.)SCELEDRUSI wish to know whether I did see that which I did see,Part of line 345 in the Latin. or whether he can do that which he says he can do — make her to be at home. For, really, I have eyes of my own, and I don’t ever ask to borrow them out of doors. But this fellow is forever fawning about her; he is always near her; he is called first to meat; his mess is givenHis mess is given: The pulmentum, or food of the slaves, usually consisted of salt, fish, oil, vinegar, and the olives that were windfalls. This food received its name from being eaten with a kind of porridge made from meal or pulse, which was generally eaten before bread was used, and probably continued to be the food of the slaves. to him first. For this fellow has been, perhaps, about three years with us; nor fares it better with any other servant in our family than with him. But it is necessary for me to mind what I am about; to keep my eye upon this door. If I take my station here, this way, in faith, I warrant they will never impose on me.

(Enter PALAESTRIO and PHILOCOMASIUM from the CAPTAIN’s house.)PALAESTRIO(speaking to her in a low voice as he enters)Be sure to remember my instructions.PHILOCOMASIUM(aside) It’s strange you should so often remind me.PALAESTRIO(aside) But I fear you may not prove cunning enough.PHILOCOMASIUM(aside) Give me even ten scholars, though far from artful, I could instruct them so as to prove artful; in me alone is there a superabundance of artfulness; come, then, now put your plans in force; I’ll step aside here. (Steps aside.)PALAESTRIOWhat have you to say, Scledrus?SCELEDRUS(not lifting up his eyes)I’m about this business of mine; I have got ears, say what you please. PALAESTRIO I think that in that self-same positionIn that self-same position: Sceledrus is standing before the door with both arms stretched out that Philocomasium may not come out without his knowing. Palaestrio tells him, that when he comes to be fastened on the cross for his negligence, he will have to assume that attitude. The gate here alluded to is supposed to have been the Esquiline, or Metian gate at Rome, a place near which was devoted to the punishment of slaves. Athens and other Greek cities had the gate of Charon, through which malefactors passed to punishment. you will have to die outside the gates, when, with hands outstretched, you will be carrying your cross.