I’ve made it already; for you to go away, to let go of the rope, and not to be a nuisance to me. TRACHALIO Stop while I propose terms. GRIPUS I’ faith, do, prithee, dispose Propose—dispose : -2. He plays on the resemblance of the words refero , to make a proposal, and aufero , to betake one’s self away, of yourself forthwith. TRACHALIO Do you know any one in these parts? GRIPUS My own neighbours I must know. TRACHALIO Where do you live here? GRIPUS (pointing.) At a distance out away yonder, as far off as the farthest fields. TRACHALIO (pointing to the cottage of DAEMONES.) The person that lives in that cottage, should you like it to be decided by his arbitration? GRIPUS Let go of the rope for a moment while I step aside and consider. TRACHALIO Be it so. (Lets go of the rope.) GRIPUS (aside.) Capital, the thing’s all right; the whole of this booty is my own. He’s inviting me here inside of my own abode to my own master as umpire. By my troth, he never this day will award three obols away from his own servant. Assuredly, this fellow doesn’t know what proposal he has been making. (To TRACHALIO.) I’ll go to the arbitrator with you. TRACHALIO What then? GRIPUS Although I know for sure that this is my own lawful right, let that be done rather than I should now be fighting with you. TRACHALIO Now you satisfy me. GRIPUS Although you are driving me before an arbitrator whom I don’t know, if he shall administer justice, although he is unknown, he is as good as known to me; if he doesn’t, though known, he is the same as though entirely unknown. (Enter DAEMONES, from his cottage, with PALAESTRA and AMPELISCA, and SERVANTS.) DAEMONES (to the WOMEN.) Seriously, upon my faith, young women, although I wish what you desire, I’m afraid that on your account my wife will be turning me out of doors, who’ll be saying that I’ve brought harlots here before her very eyes. Do you take refuge at the altar rather than I Rather than I : Daemones here alludes to the disposition of his wife, and says that if the damsels do not quit his house, he shall be obliged to do so in self-defence. . THE WOMEN We, wretched creatures, are undone. (They weep.) DAEMONES I’ll place you in safety; don’t you fear. But why (turning to the SERVANTS) are you following me out of doors? Since I’m here, no one shall do them harm. Now then, be off, I say, in-doors, both of you, you guards from off guard. (They go in.) GRIPUS O master, save you. DAEMONES Save you. How goes it? TRACHALIO (pointing to GRIPUS.) Is he your servant? GRIPUS I’m not ashamed to say yes. TRACHALIO I’ve nothing to do with you. GRIPUS Then get you gone hence, will you. TRACHALIO Prithee, do answer me, aged sir; is he your servant? DAEMONES He is mine. TRACHALIO Oh then, that is very good, since he is yours.