I stopped there. In the mean time I saw no one going in, no one going out; no matron at the house, No matron at thehouse : By the use of the word matrona. he probably alludes to the pronuba. among the Romans, whose duties were somewhat similar to those of our bride’s-maids. At the completion of the bridal repast, the bride was conducted to the bridal chamber by matrons who had not had more than one husband. no preparation, no bustle. I drew near; looked in— PAMPHILUS I understand; a considerable indication. DAVUS Do these things seem to accord with a wedding? PAMPHILUS I think not, Davus. DAVUS Think, do you say? You don’t view it rightly; the thing is certain. Besides, coming away from there I saw the servant-boy of Chremes carrying some vegetables and little fishes, an obol’s worth, An obol’s worth : The obolus was the smallest Greek silver coin, and was equal in value to about three halfpence of our money. Pisciculi minuti. little fish, were much used for food among the poorer classes; mena, a fish resembling our pilchard, was a common article of food with the Romans. The larger kinds of fish went under the general name of cetum, for the old man’s dinner. CHARINUS This day, Davus, have I been delivered by your means. DAVUS And yet not at all. CHARINUS Why so? Surely he will not give her to him, after all this. (Pointing to PAMPHILUS.) DAVUS You silly fellow! as though it were a necessary consequence that if he doesn’t give her to him you should marry her: unless, indeed, you look about you; unless you entreat and make court to the old man’s friends. CHARINUS You advise well. I’ll go; although, upon my faith, this hope has often eluded me already. Farewell! (Exit.) (PAMPHILUS and DAVUS.) PAMPHILUS What then does my father mean? Why does he thus make pretense? DAVUS I’ll tell you. If now he were angry with you, because Chremes will not give you a wife, he would seem to himself to be unjust, and that not without reason, before he has ascertained your feelings as to the marriage, how they are disposed. But if you refuse to marry her, in that case he will transfer the blame to you; then such disturbances will arise. PAMPHILUS I will submit to any thing from him. DAVUS He is your father, Pamphilus. It is a difficult matter. Besides, this woman is defenseless. No sooner said than done; he will find some pretext for driving her away from the city. PAMPHILUS Driving her away? DAVUS Aye, and quickly too. PAMPHILUS Tell me then, Davus, what am I to do? DAVUS Say that you will marry her. PAMPHILUS (starting.) Ha! DAVUS What’s the matter? PAMPHILUS What, am I to say so? DAVUS Why not? PAMPHILUS Never will I do it. DAVUS Don’t say so. PAMPHILUS Don’t attempt to persuade me. DAVUS Consider what will be the result of it. PAMPHILUS That I shall be deprived of the one, and fixed with the other. DAVUS Not so. In fact, I think it will be thus: Your father will say: I wish you to marry a wife to-day. You reply: I’ll marry her. Tell me, how can he raise a quarrel with you? Thus you will cause all the plans