In how delightful a manner I shall receive you this day, when you have completed this matter.SIMOHa, ha, ha!(Laughing.)PSEUDOLUSWith nice viands, wine, perfumes, and titbits between our cups. There, too, shall be a charming damsel, who shall give you kiss upon kiss.SIMOYou will be receiving me in a delightful manner.PSEUDOLUSAye, and if you effect it, then I’ll make you say so still more.SIMOIf I don’t effect it, do you, the executioner, take me off to torture. But make haste and point out to me where is the door of the procurer’s house.PSEUDOLUS’Tis the third hence.SIMOHist! hush! the door’s opening.PSEUDOLUSIn my mind, I believe that the house is poorly.SIMOWhy so?PSEUDOLUSBecause, i’ faith, it is vomiting forth the procurer.(BALLIO is coming out of his house.)SIMOIs this he?PSEUDOLUSThis is his own self.SIMO’Tis a worthless commodity.PSEUDOLUSDo see that: he doesn’t go straight, but sideways, just as a crab is wont.(They conceal themselves from BALLIO.)

(Enter BALLIO from his house.)BALLIOI do believe that this fellow is not so bad a cook as I thought he was; for he has clawed off nothing as yet except a cup and a tankard.PSEUDOLUS(apart to SIMMIA.)Hallo you! now’s your opportunity and your time.SIMOI agree with you.PSEUDOLUSStep slily out into the street; I’ll be here in ambush.(SIMMIA steps forward, and then walks along the middle of the street to meet BALLIO.)SIMO(talking aloud to himself.)I took the number carefully; this is the sixth lane from the city gate; down that lane he bade me turn; how many houses down he told me, that I don’t quite know for certain.BALLIO(eyeing SIMMIA.)Who’s this fellow in the scarf, or whence does he come, or whom is he looking for? The appearance of the fellow seems outlandish and shabby.SIMOBut see, here’s a person, who, from uncertainty, will make the thing more certain for me that I wish to know.BALLIOHe’s coming straight towards me. Where in the world am I to say this fellow comes from?SIMOHarkye! you who are standing there with a goat’s beard, answer me this that I ask you.BALLIOHow now! Don’t you salute me first?SIMO(with a surly voice.)I have no salutations to give away.BALLIOWell, troth, you shall get just as much from here then.PSEUDOLUS(from behind.)Well done, at the very beginning.SIMODo you know any person in this lane, I ask you?BALLIOI know myself.