The Captain’s now close at hand, my mistress Phronesium:Stratophanes is coming to you. (In a low voice.) Now is it requisite for you to pretend yourself an invalid.PHRONESIUM(in a low voice.)Hold your tongue. What, the plague, de I want you for as an adviser in this matter? Is it possible to excel myself in craftiness?STRATOPHANES(to himself.)Madam’s brought to bed, as I fancy.ASTAPHIUM(it a low voice.)Would you like me to accost the gentleman?PHRONESIUMI wish you.(ASTAPHIUM moves forward.)STRATOPHANESO delightful! Why, see, here’s Astaphium coming to meet me. ASTAPHIUM(affecting surprise.)By all the powers! welcome to you, Stratophanes, that you’re safe arrived—STRATOPHANESI know it all. But, prithee, has Phronesium been brought to bed?ASTAPHIUMShe has been delivered of a very fine boy.STRATOPHANESIs it like me at all?ASTAPHIUMDo you ask the question? Why, the moment it was born, it asked for a sabre and shield for itself.STRATOPHANESIt’s my own; I know it at once from the proofs.ASTAPHIUMIndeed it is extremely like you.STRATOPHANESYe Gods above! Is it of full growth already? Has it already chosen some army which it intends to plunder?ASTAPHIUMWhy really, it was only born five days ago.STRATOPHANESWhat then, after it was born? After so many days, i’ faith, something really ought by this time to have been done. What business had it to leave the womb before it could go forth to battle?ASTAPHIUMFollow me, and wish her joy, and congratulate her.STRATOPHANESI follow.(They move to the other side of the stage.)PHRONESIUM(in a faint voice.)Prithee, where is she who has left me here and forsaken me?ASTAPHIUMI’m here; I’m bringing you Stratophanes, so much longed for by you.PHRONESIUMPrithee, where is he?STRATOPHANES(going close to the couch.)Mars, on his arrival from abroad, salutes Neriene his spouseNerien his spouse: Aulus Gellius also mentions Neria, or Neriene as the wife of Mars.. Since you’ve well got over it, and since you’ve been blest with offspring, I congratulate you in that you have given birth to a great glory to me and to yourself.PHRONESIUMWelcome to you, you who have almost deprived me of life and light;and who have, for your own gratification, centred in my body the cause of great anguish, with the pangs of which I’m even now dreadfully afflicted.STRATOPHANESWell, well; not to your misfortune, my love, do these pains befall you. You’ve brought forth a son who’ll be filling your house with plunder.