Hush, hush! (He starts.) THEUROPIDES Troth now, what has happened, prithee? TRANIO The door made a noise. Was it he that was knocking? THEUROPIDES (turning pale.) I have not one drop of blood! Dead men are come to fetch me to Acheron, while alive! TRANIO (aside.) I’m undone! those people there will mar my plot. (A noise is heard from within.) How much I dread, lest he should catch me in the fact. THEUROPIDES What are you talking about to yourself? (Goes near the door.) TRANIO Do get away from the door. By heavens, fly, I do beseech you. THEUROPIDES Fly where? Fly yourself, as well. TRANIO I am not afraid: I am at peace with the dead. A VOICE (from within.) Hallo! Tranio Hallo! Tranio : Weise’s Edition gives these words to Theuropides, Rost, no doubt rightly, suggests that these words are spoken by Philolaches from inside (perhaps in a low voice, to ask Tranio how matters are going on). On this, Tranio turns it to good account, by pretending that the Ghost is calling out to him for his supposed impiety in daring to knock at the door. . TRANIO (in a low voice, near the door.) You won’t be calling me, if you are wise. (Aloud, as if speaking to the APPARITION.) ’Tis not I that’s guilty; I did not knock at the door. THEUROPIDES Pray, what is it that’s wrong? What matter is agitating you, Tranio? To whom are you saying these things? TRANIO Prithee, was it you that called me? So may the Gods bless me, I fancied it was this dead man expostulating because you had knocked at the door. But are you still standing there, and not doing what I advise you? THEUROPIDES What am I to do? TRANIO Take care not to look back. Fly; cover up your head! THEUROPIDES Why don’t you fly? TRANIO I am at peace with the dead. THEUROPIDES I recollect. Why then were you so dreadfully alarmed just now? TRANIO Have no care for me, I tell you; I’ll see to myself. You, as you have begun to do, fly as quick as ever you can; Hercules, too Hercules, too : Hercules having slain so many monsters, was naturally regarded as a Deity likely to give aid in extreme danger. , you will invoke. THEUROPIDES Hercules, I do invoke thee! (Runs off.) TRANIO (to himself.) And I, as well, old fellow, that; this day he’ll send some heavy mishap upon you. O ye immortal Gods, I do implore your aid. Plague on it! what a mess I have got into to-day. (Exit.) (Enter a BANKER, at the end of the stage.) A BANKER (to himself.) I never knew any year worse for money upon interest, than this year has turned out to me. From morning even until night, I spend my time in the Forum; I cannot lend out a coin of silver to any one. (Enter TRANIO.) TRANIO (apart.) Now, faith, I am clearly undone in an everlasting way! The Banker’s here who found the money with which his mistress was bought. The matter’s all out, unless I meet him a bit beforehand, so that the old man may not at present come to know of this. I’ll go meet him. But (seeing THEUROPIDES) I wonder why he has so soon betaken himself homeward again. I’m afraid that he has heard something about this affair. I’ll meet him, and accost him. But how dreadfully frightened I am! Nothing is more wretched than the mind of a man with a guilty conscience, such as possesses myself. But however this matter turns out, I’ll proceed to perplex it still further: so does this affair require.