Sceledrus, you’ve lost the prey through your hands; as sure as possible she is the lady of our master. Do you intend to act in this matter with spirit?SCELEDRUS How am I to act? PALAESTRIO Bring me a sword out here from in-doors.SCELEDRUS What will you do with it?PALAESTRIO I’ll break right into the houseInto the house: The mock rage of Palaestrio here is admirably drawn.; and whatever man I see in-doors there caressing Philocomasium, I’ll behead him on the spot.SCELEDRUS And do you think that it was she?PALAESTRIO I’ faith, it was she, sure enough. SCELEDRUS But how she did dissemble.PALAESTRIO Go, bring me a sword out here.SCELEDRUS I’ll have it here this moment.(Goes into the CAPTAIN’S house.)

(PALAESTRIO alone.)PALAESTRIO Beyond a doubt, neither any horse nor foot has so great a degree of boldness in carrying out anything with as much confidence as some women. How cleverly and how skilfully she performed her part in both her characters!—how her wary keeper, my fellow-servant, is being gulled! ’Tis most fortunate that the passage communicates through the party-wall.

(Enter SCLEDRUS from the CAPTAIN’s house.)SCELEDRUS Hallo! Palaestrio, there’s no occasion for the sword.PALAESTRIO How so?—or what’s the matter now?SCELEDRUS Our master’s lady is there, at home.PALAESTRIO What? At home? SCELEDRUS She’s lying on the sofa.PALAESTRIO Faith, but you’ve certainly brought on yourself a disagreable affair, according to what you report.SCELEDRUS How so? PALAESTRIO Inasmuch as you have dared to touch that lady next door here.SCELEDRUS I’ faith, I fear it much. But no one shall ever make her to be any other than her own twin-sister.PALAESTRIO ’twas she, in troth, that you saw toying: and, in fact, ’tis plain that it is she, as you remark.SCELEDRUS What was there more likely than that I should have been undone, if I had spoken of it to my master.