A calm has come, as though to a ship at sea. Just as the wind is, to that quarter is the sail shifted.AGORASTOCLESMay those ladies be well in your house, to whom I wish it, but to yourself I do not wish it.LYCUSThey are well, as you desire; not for you, though.AGORASTOCLESSend your Adelphasium to my house, to-day, please, upon this celebrated and famous festival, the Aphrodisia.LYCUSHave you been breakfasting on a hot breakfast today? Tell me.AGORASTOCLESWhy so? LYCUSBecause now you are only cooling your mouthCooling your mouth: Because in opening the mouth, the air tends to cool it, when you ask me. AGORASTOCLESAttend to this, Procurer, will you; I’ve heard that my slave is at your house.LYCUSAt my house? You’ll find that has never been the fact.AGORASTOCLESYou lie; for he has come to your house, and carried off some gold there. Word has been brought me to that effect, by persons I fully believe.(Pointing to the ASSISTANTS.)LYCUSYou are an artful fellow: you’ve come to entrap me with your witnesses. There’s no one of your people in my house, nor anything of yours.AGORASTOCLES(turning round to the ASSISTANTS.)Remember that, assistants.ADVOCATIWe will remember it.LYCUS(laughing.)Ha, ha, ha! I now understand how it is, I’ve this instant seen through it.These persons, who a short time since introduced that Spartan stranger to me, their brain is now fired at it, because I’m going to make a gain of these three hundred Philippean pieces; now, because they knew that this person was an enemy of mine, they have set him on to say that his slave, together with his gold, is in my house. It’s a planned contrivance for them to deprive me of it, and to divide it among themselves. They are wanting to get away the lamb from the wolfLamb from the wolf: In allusion to his own name.. They are wasting their pains.AGORASTOCLESWhat, do you deny that either the gold or my slave is at your house?LYCUSI do deny it; and, if it’s of any use, I make myself hoarse with denying it.ADVOCATIYou are undone, Procurer; for that person whom we told you was a Spartan, is his bailiff; who brought you just now the three hundred Philippean pieces; and that same gold, too, is in his purse.LYCUS(shaking his fist at them.)Woe unto you!ADVOCATIThat, indeed, is close at hand for yourself.AGORASTOCLESCome, you hang-dog, give up the purse this instant. You are clearly a thief; caught by me in the fact. (To the ADVOCATI.) By my troth, I do beg of you, lend me your aid, so as to see me bring my slave out of his house.(He goes into the PROCURER’S house. LYCUSI’ faith, I’m now undone for certain, beyond a doubt! This has been done on purpose that a snare might be laid for me. But why do I hesitate to betake me hence to utter perdition, before I’m dragged off to the Praetor by the throat? Alas! what soothsayers I’ve been having for my diviners, who, if they promise anything that’s fair, it comes to pass but slowly; that which they promise as unfortunate, comes directly. Now I’ll be off: I’ll consult my friends in what way—they deem it best in especial for me to hang myself.(Exit.)

(Enter AGORASTOCLES, from the house of LYCUS, driving out COLLYBISCUS.)AGORASTOCLESBe off you, get out you, that the witnesses may see you coining out from here. Isn’t this my servant?(To the ASSISTANTS.)COLLYBISCUSI’ faith, I really am, Agorastocles.