Why shouldn’t I touch it? Why, with kicking it, I tell you, I’ve almost broken down the door.TRANIOWhat, you touched it? THEUROPIDESI touched it, I tell you, and knocked at it.TRANIOOut upon you! THEUROPIDESWhy so?TRANIOBy heavens! ’twas ill done.THEUROPIDESWhat is the matter? TRANIOIt cannot be expressed, how shocking and dreadful a mischief you’ve been guilty of.THEUROPIDESHow so?TRANIOTake to flight, I beseech you, and get away from the house. Fly in this direction, fly closer to me. (He runs to wards TRANIO.) What, did you touch the door?THEUROPIDESHow could I knock, if I didn’t touch it?TRANIOBy all that’s holy, you’ve been the death—THEUROPIDESOf what person? TRANIOOf all your family.THEUROPIDESMay the Gods and Goddesses confound you with that omen.TRANIOI’m afraid that you can’t make satisfaction for yourself and them.THEUROPIDESFor what reason, or what new affair is this that you thus suddenly bring me news of?TRANIOAnd (whispering) hark you, prithee, do bid those people to move away from here.(Pointing to the ATTENDANTS of THEUROPIDES.)THEUROPIDES(to the ATTENDANTS.)Move away from here.TRANIODon’t you touch the house. Touch you the groundTouch you the ground: The ancients were in the habit of reverentially touching the earth, when engaged in any affairs that related to the dead or the infernal Deities. as well. (Exeunt the ATTENDANTS.) THEUROPIDESI’ faith, prithee, do speak out now.TRANIOBecause it is now seven months that not a person has set foot within this house, and since we once for all left it.THEUROPIDESTell me, why so?TRANIOJust look around, whether there’s any person to overhear our discourse.THEUROPIDES(looking around.)All’s quite safe.TRANIOLook around once more.THEUROPIDES(looking around.)There’s nobody; now then, speak out.TRANIO(in a loud whisper.)The house has been guilty of a capital offenceGuilty of a capital offence: Capitalis aedes facta eat; meaning that a murder had been committed in it..THEUROPIDESI don’t understand you. TRANIOA crime, I tell you, has been committed there, a long while ago, one of olden time and ancient date.