He who paid his money for you.SCEPARNIO(turning round.)As though you would say, Daemones, that I am your slave.DAEMONESThere’s occasion for plenty of clayPlenty of clay: He probably means clay for the purpose of drying and making tiles with it., therefore dig up plenty of earth. I find that the whole of my cottage must be covered; for now it’s shining through it, more full of holes than a sieve.PLESIDIPPUS(advancing.)Health to you, good father, and to both of you, indeed.DAEMONESHealth to you.SCEPARNIO(to PLESIDIPPUS, who is muffled up in a coat.)But whether are you male or female, who are calling him father?PLESIDIPPUSWhy really, I’m a man.DAEMONESThen, man, go seek a father elsewhere.I once had an only daughter, that only one I lost. Of the male sex I never had a child.PLESIDIPPUSBut the Gods will give—SCEPARNIO(going on digging.)A heavy mischance to you indeed, I’ faith, whoever you are, who are occupying us, already occupied, with your prating.PLESIDIPPUS(pointing to the cottage.)Pray are you dwelling there?SCEPARNIOWhy do you ask that? Are you reconnoitring the place for you to come and rob there?PLESIDIPPUSIt befits a slave to be right rich in his savings, whom, in the presence of his master, the conversation cannot escape, or who is to speak rudely to a free man.SCEPARNIOAnd it befits a man to be shameless and impudent, for him to whom there’s nothing owing, of his own accord to come to the house of another person annoying people.DAEMONESSceparnio, hold your tongue.(To PLESIDIPPUS.) What do you want, young man?PLESIDIPPUSA mishap to that fellow, who is in a hurry to be the first to speak when his master’s present. But, unless it’s troublesome, I wish to make enquiry of you in a few words.DAEMONESMy attention shall be given you, even though in the midst of business.SCEPARNIO(to PLESIDIPPUS.)Rather, be off with you to the marsh, and cut down some reedsSome reeds: From this we learn that the cottage of Daemones was covered with a kind of thatch. This and l. 18 of the Miles Gloriosus are probably the earliest instances in which thatched roofs are mentioned., with which we may cover the cottage, while it is fine weather.DAEMONESHold your tongue. Do you tell me (to PLESIDIPPUS) if you have need of anything.PLESIDIPPUSInform me on what I ask you;whether you have seen here any frizzle-headed fellow, with grey hair, a worthless, perjured, fawning knave.DAEMONESFull many a one; for by reason of fellows of that stamp am I living in misery.PLESIDIPPUSHim, I mean, who brought with him to the Temple of Venus here two young women, and who was to make preparations for himself to perform a sacrifice either to-day or yesterday.DAEMONESBy my faith, young man, for these very many days past I haven’t seen any one sacrificing there; and yet it can’t be unknown to me if any one does sacrifice there. They are always asking here for water, or for fire, or for vessels, or for a knife, or for a spit, or for a pot for cookingA pot for cooking: Aula extaris. Literally, a pot for holding the entrails of the animals sacrificed., or something or other. What need is there of words? I procured my vessels and my well, for the use of Venus, and not my own. There has now been a cessation of it for these many days past.PLESIDIPPUSAccording to the words you utter, you tell me I’m undone.