Jupiter, who dost preserve and feed the race of men, through whom we pass this mortal life, in whose hands are the hopes of life in all men, prithee, do grant this day as a prosperous one for my fortunes! Those whom I’ve missed for many years, and whom when little I lost from their native land, to them restore their liberty, that I may be sure that for an indomitable sense of duty there is a reward. AGORASTOCLES (apart.) I’ll engage that Jove shall do it all; for to me he is indebted To me he is indebted : This impious expression is out of character with Agorastocles, and the latter portion of the line is supposed to be spurious. , and stands in awe of me. HANNO (apart.) Prithee, do hold your peace. (He weeps.) AGORASTOCLES (apart.) Kinsman, do not weep. ANTERASTYLIS (apart.) As it is a pleasure for a man, my sister, if he succeeds in anything, to have the credit of victory, just so did we this day among the rest excel them all in beauty. ADELPHASIUM Sister, you are more silly than I could wish. Prithee, do you really think yourself a beauty, if your face has not been besmeared with soot Besmeared with soot : Douza informs us that it was the custom of the young men to divert themselves at the expense of those courtesans who were not handsome, by daubing their faces with soot and dirt. ? AGORASTOCLES (apart.) O kinsman! O kinsman, dearest of all kinsmen Dearest of all kinsmen : Patruissime. A word coined by Plautus for the occasion. to me! HANNO (apart.) What is it, son of my cousin? My son, tell me, what is it you wish? AGORASTOCLES (apart.) Why, really, I do wish you to attend to this. HANNO (apart.) Why, really, I am attending to it. AGORASTOCLES (apart.) Kinsman, kinsman, dearest of all kinsmen to me! HANNO (apart.) What’s the matter? AGORASTOCLES (apart.) She’s a clever and a nice girl. How shrewd she is! HANNO (apart.) She has her father’s disposition in being shrewd. AGORASTOCLES (apart.) How’s that? This long time, i’ faith, she has surely used up your shrewdness. ’Tis from here (pointing to himself) she now derives her shrewdness; ’tis from here her sense; whatever she does shrewdly, through my love does she act so shrewdly. ADELPHASIUM We are not born of that rank, although we are slaves, sister, that it should befit us to do anything which any man may laugh at. Many are the faults of women; but of the many, this one is the greatest, to please themselves too much, and to give their attention too little to pleasing the men. ANTERASTYLIS It was a very great delight that was portended in our sacrifice of the entrails, sister, and what the soothsayer said about us both— AGORASTOCLES (apart.) I wish he had said something about me! ANTERASTYLIS That we should be free in a few days, in spite of our owner. I don’t know why I should hope for that, unless the Gods or our parents do something. AGORASTOCLES (apart.) ’Twas through confidence in me Through confidence in me : He surmises that the soothsayer (like most other successful prophets) had learnt the true state of the case beforehand. , kinsman, upon my faith, that the soothsayer promised them liberty, I’m sure of it, because he knows I’m in love with her. ADELPHASIUM Sister, follow me this way. (Moves as if going.) ANTERASTYLIS I follow. (Moves also.) HANNO (stepping forward.) Before you go away Before you go away : Warner, in his Note on this passage, suggests that Plautus has here forgotten the rules of nature. He says, It is unnatural to suppose a parent, who has so long been in search of his daughters, should be so near them as to see them, and hear them talk, and not immediately fly into their embraces. And when he does speak to them, he teases and torments them a long time, for no other reason than to divert the Spectators. , I want you both. Unless it’s inconvenient, stop. ADELPHASIUM Who’s calling us back? AGORASTOCLES One who wishes to do you a kindness.