Why then, prithee, are you standing before the door as a stranger and an alien? Do go in-doors. Really you are no stranger; for, upon my faith, not one person this day does she more love in her heart and soul— (aside) if, indeed, you’ve got land and tenements. DINARCHUS Your tongues and talk are steeped in honey; your doings and dispositions are steeped in gall and sour vinegar. From your tongues you utter sweet words; you make your lovers of bitter heart if any don’t give you presents. ASTAPHIUM I’ve not learnt to say what’s false. DINARCHUS It was not this liberality of mine that taught you to say what’s false, but those niggardly fellows who are struggling against their appetites. You are a sly one, and the same artful coaxer that you used to be. ASTAPHIUM How ardently longed for have you returned from abroad! But, prithee, do come, my mistress wants to see you. DINARCHUS How so, pray? ASTAPHIUM You alone of all mankind does she love. DINARCHUS (aside.) Well done, lands and tenements; you have come to my aid in good time. (To ASTAPHIUM.) But how say you, Astaphium—? ASTAPHIUM What do you want? DINARCHUS Is Phronesium in-doors just now? ASTAPHIUM To you at all events she’s in-doors. DINARCHUS Is she well? ASTAPHIUM Aye, faith, and I do believe she’ll be still better when she sees you. DINARCHUS This is our greatest fault: when we’re in love, then we are undone; if that which we wish is told us, when manifestly they are telling lies, in our folly we believe it to be true; verily as though with a tide we fluctuate. ASTAPHIUM Heyday now—such is not the fact. DINARCHUS Do you say that she loves me? ASTAPHIUM Aye, you only, alone. DINARCHUS I heard that she was brought to bed. ASTAPHIUM Oh, prithee, Dinarchus, do hold your tongue. DIN, Why so? ASTAPHIUM I shudder in my alarm, as often as mention is made of childbirth, with such difficulty has Phronesium survived for you. Prithee, do come in-doors now; do go to see her and wait there a little. She’ll be out just now; for she was at the bath. DINARCHUS What do you say? She who was never pregnant, how could she be brought to bed? For really, I never, that I am aware of, perceived her to be in a breeding state. ASTAPHIUM She concealed it from you and was afraid, lest you should persuade her to have recourse to abortion Recourse to abortion : The practice of procuring abortion was not deemed criminal either at Rome or Athens ; though at the latter place there was a law which imposed a penalty on any person who administered a potion to a woman for that purpose. , and so destroy the child. DINARCHUS Troth then, who’s the father of this child? ASTAPHIUM A Babylonian Captain, The first part of this sentence is in line 202 in the Latin. whose arrival she is now expecting. So much so, indeed, that, according as was reported, they say that he’ll be here just now. I wonder he has not arrived by this. DINARCHUS Shall I go in, then?