Hallo! Astaphium, do stop a moment, before you go away. ASTAPHIUM Who’s calling me back? DINARCHUS You shall know; look back this way. ASTAPHIUM Who is it? DINARCHUS One who wishes many a blessing to yourselves. ASTAPHIUM Give them then, if you wish us to have them. DINARCHUS I’ll let you have them. Only do look back this way. ASTAPHIUM O dear, you’re teazing wretched me to death, whoever you are. (Runs on.) DINARCHUS Worst of women, stop. ASTAPHIUM Best of men, go on; you are troublesome. (Turns round.) Is that Dinarchus? Why, it is he. DINARCHUS He’s going to your house; and do you give me your hand (holding out his) in return, and walk together with me. ASTAPHIUM I am your servant, and am obedient to your command. (Gives her hand.) DINARCHUS Yourself, how are you? ASTAPHIUM I’m well, and am holding by the hand one who’s well. Since you’ve arrived from abroad, a dinner must be given A dinner must be given : Allusion is here made to the custom of providing an entertainment of welcome, caena viatica, for a friend on his arrival from abroad See the Bacchides, l. 94 . DINARCHUS You speak obligingly. ASTAPHIUM But, prithee, do let me go whither she ordered me. (Withdrawing her hand.) DINARCHUS (lets go her hand.) Be off then. But how say you—? ASTAPHIUM What do you want? DINARCHUS He, that you are on your road to, who is it that you’re going to fetch? ASTAPHIUM Achiva, the midwife. DINARCHUS You are an artful damsel. ASTAPHIUM I’m as usual then; that’s my practice. Part of line 131b in the Latin. DINARCHUS You deceitful hussy, I’ve caught you detected in a lie. ASTAPHIUM How so, pray? DINARCHUS Because you said that you were going to bring his own self, and not herself. A woman, then, has been made out of a man. You are an artful one. ASTAPHIUM A conjurer! DINARCHUS But, pray, tell me, Astaphium who is this person? A new lover? ASTAPHIUM I think that you are a gentleman too much at his ease. DINARCHUS Why now do you think so?