Now as to this about which our old gentleman has sent me.SIMOFirst answer me this that I ask you. As yet, has your old gentleman discovered anything of these matters?TRANIONothing whatever.SIMOHas he censured his son at all? TRANIOHe is as calm as the calm weather is wont to be. Now he has requested me most earnestly to beg this of you, that leave may be given him to see over this house of yours.SIMOIt’s not for sale. TRANIOI know that indeed; but the old gentleman wishes to build a woman’s apartmentA woman’s apartment: Gynaeceum. This was a name borrowed from the Greeks, for the apartments in the house which were especially devoted to the use of the females. here in his own house, baths, too, and a piazza, and a porch.SIMOWhat has he been dreaming of?TRANIOI’ll tell you. He wishes to give his son a wife as soon as he can; for that purpose he wants a new apartment for the women. But he says that some builder, I don’t know who, has been praising up to him this house of yours, as being remarkably well built; now he’s desirous to take a model from it, if you don’t make any objection—SIMOIndeed, he is really choosing a plan for himself from a piece of poor workmanship.TRANIOIt was because he heard that here the summer heat was much modified; that this house was wont to be inhabited each day all day long.SIMOWhy really, upon my faith, on the contrary, while there’s shade in every direction, in spite of it, the sun is always here from morning till night: he stands, like a dun, continually at the door; and I have no shade anywhere, unless, perhaps, there may be some in the well.TRANIOWell now, have you one from Sarsina, if you have no woman of UmbriaNo woman of Umbria: This is a poor pun upon the different acceptations of the word umbra, which may signify, according to the context, shade, or a woman of Umbria. Simo means it in the former, while Tranio chooses to take it in the latter sense. Simo does not like this attempt at wit, and tells him not to be impertinent. We may here observe, that Plautus was born at Sarsina, a town of Umbria.?SIMODon’t be impertinent. It is just as I tell you.TRANIOStill, he wishes to look over it.SIMOHe may look over it, if he likes. If there is anything that takes his fancy, let him build after my plan.TRANIOAm I to go and call this person hither?SIMOGo and call him.TRANIO(to himself, as he goes to the other side of the stage to call THEUROPIDES.)They say that Alexander the Great and AgathoclesAgathocles: Agathocles rose from the station of a potter to be king of Sicily. achieved two very great exploits; what shall be the lot of myself, a third, who, unaided, am achieving deeds imperishable? This old fellow is carrying his pack-saddle, the other one, as well. I’ve hit upon a novel trade for myself, not a bad one;whereas muleteers have mules to carry pack-saddles; I’ve got men to carry the pack-saddles. They are able to carry heavy burdens; whatever you put upon them, they carry. Now, I don’t know whether I am to address him. I’ll accost him, however. (Calling aloud.) Hark you, Theuropides!THEUROPIDES(coming forward.)Well; who’s calling me?TRANIOA servant most attached to his master.Where you sent me, I got it all agreed to.THEUROPIDESPrithee, why did you stay there so long?TRANIOThe old gentleman hadn’t leisure; I was waiting until then.THEUROPIDESYou keep up that old way of yours, of being tardy.TRANIOHark you! if you please reflect upon this proverb: to blow and swallowTo blow and swallow: Or exhale and inhale. A proverbial expression, very similar to that in use with us, that a person cannot blow hot and cold at the same time. at the same moment isn’t easy to be done; I couldn’t be here and there at the same time.THEUROPIDESWhat now?