give me a kiss in place of a piece of meat; present your lips in place of a bone Your lips in place of a bone : The original of this line is somewhat indelicate, and the translation of it has been modified. She expected assistance from Agorastocles, who appears to her to be taking the part of her enemy. : that way I’ll render this dog more smooth for you than oil. HANNO Come on, if you are coming. ADELPHASIUM What have we done to you? HANNO You are thieves, both of you. ADELPHASIUM What, we, as regards you? HANNO You, I say. AGORASTOCLES And I know it. ADELPHASIUM What theft is this? AGORASTOCLES Enquire of him. HANNO Because for many years you have been concealing my daughters from me, and, in fact, persons free-born, and free, and born of the highest rank. ADELPHASIUM I’ faith, you’ll never find that villany to have been committed by us. AGORASTOCLES Make a bet of a kiss now, if you are not forsworn, which is to give it to the other. ADELPHASIUM I’ve nothing to do with you; prithee, get you gone. AGORASTOCLES But, i’ faith, I’ve got something to do with you; for he is my kinsman; it’s necessary for me to be his advocate. And I’ll inform him how you are guilty of many a theft, and in what way you have got his daughters as slaves at your house, whom you know to be free women stolen from their native land. ADELPHASIUM Where are these, or who are they, prithee? AGORASTOCLES (aside to HANNO.) They have been teased sufficiently. HANNO (aside.) Why not speak out, then? AGORASTOCLES (aside.) I’ faith, I’m of that opinion, kinsman. ADELPHASIUM I’m dreadfully afraid what this business can mean, my sister; so astounded am I, I stand here without my senses. HANNO Damsels, give me your attention. In the first place, if it could possibly come to pass, for the Gods not to send upon the innocent what is undeserved, that could I have wished to happen; now for the good the Gods bestow upon me, upon yourselves and upon your nurse And upon your nurse : Matri. This may either mean their own mother, the wife of Hanno, if then living, or their nurse Giddeneme: as mater is used in the latter sense by Plautus in the Prologue to the Menaechmi. , ’tis due that we should give to the Deities our endless thanks, since the immortal Gods approve and reward our piety. You are my daughters, both of you, and this is your relation, Agorastocles, the son of my cousin. ADELPHASIUM Prithee, are they deluding us with imaginary joys? AGORASTOCLES Really, so may the Deities preserve me, this is your father. Give him your hands. ADELPHASIUM (embracing him.) Welcome, father! unhoped-for by us, allow us to embrace you! ANTERASTYLIS (embracing him.) Welcome, father! much wished and longed for! We are both your daughters; we both embrace you.