More smooth than the sea, on which you have both been borne. EPIGNOMUS You do as you are wont to do other things. Do we unlade the ship to-day, brother? PAMPHILUS I would rather go quietly to work. Let’s rather lade ourselves with delights in their turn. How soon will the dinner be cooked? I haven’t breakfasted to-day. EPIGNOMUS Go in-doors to my house and bathe. PAMPHILUS I’ll only step home to my own house, to salute the Gods To salute the Gods : To thank his household Gods for his escape from the perils of the sea, and his success in his speculations. and my wife. If I do that as I wish, I’ll forthwith return to your house. EPIGNOMUS But your wife is hastening to come here with her sister. PAMPHILUS ’Tis very good; there will then be the less delay on that account. I shall be at your house I shall be at your house : These words are given, in Ritschel’s edition, to Epignomus. but clearly erroneously, as it is Pamphilus who is promising that, after he has run home, he will be at the house of his brother immediately. this instant. ANTIPHO (to PAMPHILUS.) Before you go away, in your presence I wish to relate a single story to him. EPIGNOMUS By all means. ANTIPHO There was once an old gentleman, just as I now am; he had two daughters, such as mine now are; they were married to two brothers, just as mine now are to yourselves. PAMPHILUS I wonder how the story is to turn out? ANTIPHO One of these young men had, as you (to PAMPHILUS) now have, a damsel, a music-girl; he had brought her from abroad, as you have now done. Now, this old gentleman was a widower, just as I now am. PAMPHILUS Do proceed; this story is really à propos. ANTIPHO Then said this old gentleman to him to whom the music-girl belonged, just as I now say to you— PAMPHILUS I’m listening I’m listening : Pamphilus says this, as the old man has probably touched him, to bespeak his attention. , and carefully giving heed. ANTIPHO I gave you my daughter, to be a comfortable bedfellow for you; now, I think it fair that one should be given me in return by you, to be my bed-fellow. PAMPHILUS Who says that? Does he say it Does he say it : He imitates the old man’s manner of adapting his story to the present company, and here jokes him upon it. just as though you were to say it? ANTIPHO Just as I now say it to you. Aye, I’ll give you two of them, says this young man, if one’s too little; and if you are not satisfied with two, says he, two more shall be added. PAMPHILUS Prithee, who says that? Does he say it just as though I were to say it? ANTIPHO He says it just as though you were to say it. Then says this old gentleman, just as though I were to say it, Well, give me four, if you like, so long only as, i’ faith, you find them something to eat as well, that they mayn’t consume my victuals. PAMPHILUS Why surely it must have been a stingy old chap to say that, in asking food as well of him who promised them to him.