but I remember that there was once a time when between ourselves we were loathsomeWere 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?PHRONESIUMWhy, what is it? DINARCHUSIn 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.DINARCHUSFor what reason, O my life?PHRONESIUMOn account of a Babylonian Captain, who kept me as though his wife for a year, while he was here.DINARCHUSThat I knew. But what means this? For what purpose was your design in pretending this?PHRONESIUMThat there might be a certain bond and tieAnd 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.DINARCHUSI listen with pleasure. In fine, what is it you are contriving?PHRONESIUMMy 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-dresserThe 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?DINARCHUSI know her. PHRONESIUMShe, 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.DINARCHUSO shocking traffic!She then hasn’t borne this child who at first did bear it, but you who come afterwards.PHRONESIUMYou 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.DINARCHUSNow, in the mean time, you are treating yourself here as though one who had just lain in?PHRONESIUMWhy not,when, without trouble, the matter can be nicely managed? It’s proper that every one should be alive at his own trade.DINARCHUSWhat’s to become of me when the Captain comes? Forsaken, can I live without you?PHRONESIUMWhen 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.DINARCHUSAye, faith, but I’d rather it were at my couchAt my couch: Adcubuo. There is a play on the resemblance of this word to that used by her, adsiduo, at your side..PHRONESIUMMoreover, I wish to sacrifice to-day to the Deities for the child, on this the fifth dayOn 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.DINARCHUSI think you ought. PHRONESIUMCan’t you venture to give me some trifling present? DINARCHUSUpon my faith, my delight, I seem to be making a gain for myself when you ask anything of me.