Not to me, indeed, upon my faith; but still, if you do owe them, give them me. Faith must be kept. Don’t be attempting to deny it. THEUROPIDESAssuredly, I shall not deny that I owe them; and I shall pay them. Do you take care how you deny that you received the forty from him.SIMOTroth now, prithee, look this way at me, and answer me.He said that you were wishful to give a wife to your son; for that reason, he said that you intended building on your own premises.THEUROPIDESI, intended building here? SIMOSo he told me.THEUROPIDESAh me! I’m ruined outright! I’ve hardly any voice leftI’ve hardly any voice left: Vocis on habeo satis. Lietally I have not voice enough.. Neighbours, I’m undone, ruined quite!SIMOHas Tranio been causing any confusion?THEUROPIDESYes; he has thrown everything into confusion. He has made a fool of me to-day in a disgraceful manner.SIMOWhat is it you say?THEUROPIDESThis matter is just as I am telling you: he has this day made a fool of me in an outrageous manner. Now I beseech you that you’ll kindly aid me, and lend me your assistance.SIMOWhat would you have?THEUROPIDESI beg of you, come this way together with me.SIMOBe it so. THEUROPIDESLend me the assistance of your slaves and some scourges.SIMOTake them by all means.THEUROPIDESAt the same time I’ll tell you about this, in what a fashion he has this day imposed upon me.(They go into the house of SIMO.)

(Enter TRANIO.)TRANIO(to himself.)The man that shall prove timid in critical matters, will not be worth a nutshell. And, really, to say what that expression, worth a nutshell, means, I don’t know. But after my master sent me into the country to fetch his son hither, I went that way (pointing) slily through the lane to our garden. At the entrance to the garden that’s in the lane, I opened the door; and by that road I led out all the troop, both men and women. After, from being in a state of siege, I had led out my troops to a place of safety, I adopted the plan of convoking a senate of my comrades, and when I had convoked it, they forthwith banished me from the senate. When I myself perceived that the matter must be decided by my own judgment, as soon as ever I could, I did the same as many others do, whose affairs are in a critical or a perplexed state; they proceed to render them more perplexed, so that nothing can be settled. But I know full well, that now by no means can this be concealed from the old man.But how’s this, that our next neighbour’s door makes a noise? Why, surely this is my master: I’d like to have a taste of his talk.(Goes aside, out of sight of THEUROPIDES.)(Enter THEUROPIDES, from SIMO’s house.)THEUROPIDES(in the doorway, speaking to SIMO’s SLAVES.)Do you stand there, in that spot within the threshold; so that, the very instant I call, you may sally forth at once. Quickly fasten the handcuffs upon him. I’ll wait before the house for this fellow that makes a fool of me, whose hide I’ll make a fool of in fine style, if I live.TRANIO(apart.)The affair’s all out. Now it’s best for you, Tranio, to consider what you are to do.THEUROPIDES(to himself.)I must go to work to catch him cleverly and artfully when he comes here. I’ll not disclose to him my feelings all at once; I’ll throw out my line; I’ll conceal the fact that I know anything of these matters.