I’ll go there even. EPIGNOMUS Immortal Gods! really, by my troth, this fellow might be induced by a dinner or a breakfast to bear extreme torture. GELASIMUS Such is my nature; with anything can I struggle much more easily than with hunger. EPIGNOMUS I know it: at my house full long enough has this facility of yours been experienced by me while you were the Parasite of myself and my brother, we ruined our fortunes. Now I don’t wish you to be made by me from a Gelasimus into a Catagelasimus Catagelasimus : He makes a poor joke on the name of Gelasimus, by way of an excuse for not inviting him. When helping me to spend my fortune, you were Gelasimus, one that amused us by your wit and drollery. I’ll not now be instrumental in making you henceforth a butt and a subject of ridicule to others: the word being the name of Gelasimus, compounded with the Greek preposition κατὰ. . (EPIGNOMUS and PAMPHILUS go into their houses.) GELASIMUS And are you gone now? Surely he is gone. Now have I need of a wise resolution. Both are gone; consider, Gelasimus, what plan you must adopt. What, I? Yes, you. What, for myself? Yes, for yourself. Don’t you see how dear provisions are? Don’t you see how the kindness and the heartiness of men have vanished? Don’t you see how drolls are set at nought, and how they themselves are sponged upon? By my troth, not a person shall ever behold me alive on the morrow; for, this instant, in-doors will I load my throat with a bulrush dose A bulrush dose : He means that he will go and hang himself with a rope made of bulrushes, which he calls a bulrush dose or draught. . And by this I shall not give cause for men to say that I died of hunger. (Exit.) (Enter STICHUS, and provisions, a table, and couches on the stage.) STICHUS Foolishly and unwisely is it done in my opinion, if people are in the habit, if they are expecting a person; of looking out for him; faith, ne doesn’t on that account come a bit the faster. I’m now doing that same thing, in looking out for Sagarinus; who, still, for that reason won’t come a jot the faster. Troth, I shall just now be taking my place alone, if he doesn’t come here. I’ll now fetch that cask of wine hither from home, and then I’ll take my place. The day, like snow, is melting away apace. (Goes into the house of EPIGNOMUS.) (Enter SAGARINUS.) SAGARINUS Hail! Athens , thou nurse of Greece ; country of my master, hail! How joyously do I behold thee. But I have a wish to see how my mistress and fellow-servant, Stephanium, is faring. For I bade Stichus to give her my regards, and to tell her that I should come to-day, so that she might cook a dinner in good time. But, surely, here’s Stichus. (with a cask of wine) STICHUS (to himself.) A clever thing you did, master, when you presented your servant, Stichus, with this gift. O ye immortal Gods! how many delights do I carry, how many smiles, how many jokes, how many a kiss, dancing, dalliance, and good-fellowship. SAGARINUS Stichus, how fare you? STICHUS Right well, Sagarinus, most delightfully; I’m bringing Dionysus Bringing Dionysus : Dionysus was the Greek name of Bacchus, the God of wine. He alludes to the cadus, or earthenware cask of wine which be is carrying. , as my guest and yours. For, i’ faith, the dinner’s cooked; free range has been given me and you at your house. For at our house there’s an entertainment; your master’s dining there with his wife, and Antipho as well; there, too, is my master. This was given me as a present. (Points to the cask.) SAGARINUS How? Are you dreaming? STICHUS I’ faith, I’m telling you the truth. SAGARINUS Who then gave you this? STICHUS What matters that to you? I wish us this day to wash away everything of foreign climes. Leave them alone; let’s now attend to Athens ; follow me. Do you at once make haste, and bathe. SAGARINUS I have bathed. STICHUS Very good follow me, then, this. way in-doors, Sagarinus. SAGARINUS Of course, I follow. By my troth, this beginning pleases me as I return home; a happy omen and augury A happy omen and augury : Bona scaeva strenaque. See the Note to l. 460. has met me in my path. (They go into the house of PAMPHILUS.) (Enter STEPHANIUM from the house of EPIGNOMUS.) STEPHANIUM (to the AUDIENCE.) I wish that it may appear wondrous to no one of you, Spectators,