If he does come, for very sure, i’ faith, I’ll do him to-day with some cunning tricks. (They go into the house.) (PHRONESIUM and ASTAPHIUM appear before the door of the house. Enter STRATOPHANES.) STRATOPHANES (to himself.) That I should love That I should love : Eo mi amare. It is much more easy to guess at the sense of this passage, than at what is really the proper reading of it as it is evidently corrupt. for this! I’m taking an atonement for my offences to my mistress! That that may be taken by her in kindly part which I’ve squandered before, I’ll add this as well. But what’s this? I see the mistress and her maid before the house. I must accost her. (Addressing them.) What are you doing here? PHRONESIUM Don’t speak to me. STRATOPHANES You are too angry. (Pats her on the shoulder.) PHRONESIUM Leave me alone. Can’t you possibly cease to be an annoyance to me? STRATOPHANES What is the matter, my dear little Astaphium? ASTAPHIUM I’ faith, she’s angry with you with good reason.
 PHRONESIUM What, I? I’m not even half spiteful enough to. wards that fellow. STRATOPHANES My love, if I have at all offended before, I present you with this mina of gold. If you smile upon me, deign me a look. PHRONESIUM My hand forbids me to believe anything, before it holds in its possession. We require food for the child; we require it for the dame For the dame : Matri. Literally, the mother. as well, that bathes the child; we require it for the nurse For the nurse : Even in those days, nurses were famed for their toping propensities. See the Andria of Terence, l. 229. , as well, that she may have a leather bottle full of old wine in ample style, that night and day she may tipple; we stand in need of fire; we want coals, too; we want swathes, napkins, the cradle, the cradle-bed; oil we want; the child requires flour, for pap; all day we are wanting something; never, in the same one day, can our task be performed, but what there’s always need of something; for the children of officers cannot be reared upon medlars Upon medlars : It is not known whether setanium or setanum here means medlars or onions. Some Commentators think it means an inferior kind of pulse, used as food for the children of the poor. . STRATOPHANES Look upon me then. Take this (presenting the money) , with which to satisfy these necessities. PHRONESIUM (taking it.) Give it me, although it’s very little. STRATOPHANES Whatever you shall order, shall be given at your demand. Give me a kiss now. (Tries to kiss her.) PHRONESIUM Leave me alone, I say! You are a nuisance! STRATOPHANES (aside.) It’s no use, I’m not loved by her; the day wears apace. More than ten pounds of silver have I lost in this short time by reason of my passion. PHRONESIUM (giving the money to ASTAPHIUM.) Take this, and carry it away in-doors. (ASTAPHIUM carries it in.) (Enter STRABAX, from the house.) STRABAX (to himself.) Where in the world is my mistress? I get on with no business, either in the country or here, at this rate; I’m spoiling with mouldiness, I’m grown so dreadfully numbed with lying waiting here upon the couch. But look, I perceive her. Hallo! sweetheart, what are you about? STRATOPHANES What fellow is that? PHRONESIUM One that, upon my honor, I love far more than yourself. STRATOPHANES Than myself? In what way? PHRONESIUM Why, this way, that you are not to be troublesome to me. (Moves as if going.) STRATOPHANES Are you going now, after you’ve got the gold? PHRONESIUM What you’ve given me, I’ve put away in-doors. STRABAX Come here, sweetheart; I’ve got something to say to you. PHRONESIUM Why, I was just coming to you. STRABAX To me, my charmer? Appears to be part of 921 in the Latin.