but I remember that there was once a time when between ourselves we were loathsome Were loathsome : Sorderemus unus alteri; he to her because he had spent all his money, she to him for her covetousness and ill-nature. , the one to the other. But what doing of yours is this I’ve heard upon my arrival? What new matter have you been scheming here in my absence? PHRONESIUM Why, what is it? DINARCHUS In the first place, that you’ve been blessed with children, and that you’ve safely got over it, I’m delighted. PHRONESIUM (to some ATTENDANTS near the door.) Go you away from there into the house, and shut the door. (They go in, and shut the door.) You now alone are left to be present at my communication; to you I’ve ever entrusted my designs. For my own part, I’ve neither had any child nor have I been pregnant; but I’ve pretended that I was pregnant; I wasn’t though. DINARCHUS For what reason, O my life? PHRONESIUM On account of a Babylonian Captain, who kept me as though his wife for a year, while he was here. DINARCHUS That I knew. But what means this? For what purpose was your design in pretending this? PHRONESIUM That there might be a certain bond and tie And tie : Redimiculum. The redimicula were, properly strings or ribbons which fell on the shoulders from the mitra or headdress of females, and were probably used for the purpose of tying it under the chin. They hung down on each side, over the breast. for him to be returning to me again. Now he has lately sent me a letter hither, that he’ll make trial how much I value him. If I should raise and bring up the child which I should bear, that then I should have all his property. DINARCHUS I listen with pleasure. In fine, what is it you are contriving? PHRONESIUM My mother ordered the servant-maids, since now the tenth month is arriving close at hand, each to go in some different direction, to seek out and bespeak a boy or a girl, to be passed off as my own. Why need I make many words? You know Syra , the female hair-dresser The female hair-dresser : Tonstricem. Warner translates the word tonstrix, tire-woman; but the real meaning is, a female hair-dresser or barber. They were women who used to cut the hair and pare the nails of females. , who now lives hard by our house? DINARCHUS I know her. PHRONESIUM She, with the utmost care, went about among the families, and secretly found out a child, and brought it to me. She said it was given to her. DINARCHUS O shocking traffic! She then hasn’t borne this child who at first did bear it, but you who come afterwards. PHRONESIUM You have the whole matter in its order. Now, as the Captain has sent a message before to me, he’ll be here no long time hence. DINARCHUS Now, in the mean time, you are treating yourself here as though one who had just lain in? PHRONESIUM Why not, when, without trouble, the matter can be nicely managed? It’s proper that every one should be alive at his own trade. DINARCHUS What’s to become of me when the Captain comes? Forsaken, can I live without you? PHRONESIUM When I’ve got from him that which I want, I shall easily find a way how to create discord and a separation between us; after that, my delight, I shall be always at your side. DINARCHUS Aye, faith, but I’d rather it were at my couch At my couch : Adcubuo. There is a play on the resemblance of this word to that used by her, adsiduo, at your side. . PHRONESIUM Moreover, I wish to sacrifice to-day to the Deities for the child, on this the fifth day On this the fifth day : The Greeks sacrificed to the Gods and named their children on the fifth day after their birth; the Romans on the ninth, if a male, on the eighth, if a female. , as is proper to be done. DINARCHUS I think you ought. PHRONESIUM Can’t you venture to give me some trifling present? DINARCHUS Upon my faith, my delight, I seem to be making a gain for myself when you ask anything of me.