I’ve now been consulting with my friends and with my relatives. They have been my advisers to the effect that I should this very day kill myself with starvation. But don’t I see Pamphilus with his brother Epignomus? Yes, ’tis he. I’ll accost the man. (Goes up to PAMPHILUS.) O longed-for Pamphilus! O my salvation! O my life! O my delight! right welcome. I rejoice that you’ve returned safe from abroad to your native land. Welcome.PAMPHILUS Welcome, Gelasimus. GELASIMUS Have you been quite well?PAMPHILUS I have taken good care of my health.GELASIMUS I’ troth, I’m glad of it. I’ faith, I confoundedly wish I had now a thousand measures of silver.EPIGNOMUS What need have you of it?GELASIMUS I’ faith, that I might invite him to dinner, and not invite you.EPIGNOMUS You are talking against your own interest.GELASIMUS This, then, that I might invite you both for my part I should not avoidI should not avoid: The meaning of this fragment seems to be, I really would invite you both, if it were in my power; but as I have nothing to offer you, you might as well give me an invitation. there is nothing so as this EPIGNOMUS Troth, now, I’d ask you with pleasure, if there were room left.GELASIMUS Well, standing, then, I’ll gobble down a bit in the scramble.EPIGNOMUS No, only this one thing can be done.GELASIMUS What? EPIGNOMUS When the guests have gone, that then you may come—GELASIMUS Hurra! capital! EPIGNOMUS To wash the pots, I mean; not to dinner.GELASIMUS The Gods confound you! What say you, Pamphilus?PAMPHILUS I’ troth, this day I’m engaged to dine elsewhere abroad.GELASIMUS How, abroad? PAMPHILUS Really abroad, on my word.GELASIMUS How the plague do you like, thus wearied, to be supping abroad?PAMPHILUS Which do you advise me? GELASIMUS Order a dinner to be cooked at home, and word to be sent to him who invited you.PAMPHILUS Shall I dine at home, alone?GELASIMUS Why, not alone; invite me. PAMPHILUS But I’m afraid lest he should scold me, who has been to this expense for my sake.GELASIMUS It may easily be excused—only listen to me; do order a dinner to be cooked at home.EPIGNOMUS Not by my advice, indeed, will he act so as to disappoint that person this day.