My master, so far as I learn, has missed his wife.SIMONow, then, go in-doors, that you mayn’t be causing delay when you are wanted.PAMPHILUSI’ll go.(Goes into the house.)BYRRHIA(apart.)Is there, in no case, putting trust in any man? That is a true proverb which is wont to be commonly quoted, that all had rather it to be well for themselves than for another. I remember noticing, when I saw her, that she was a young woman of handsome figure; wherefore I am the more disposed to excuse Pamphilus, if he has preferred that he himself, rather than the other, should embrace her in his slumbers. I’ll carry back these tidings, that, in return for this evil he may inflict evil upon me.Inflict evil upon me: Malum. the usual name by which slaves spoke of the beatings they were in the habit of receiving at the hands or by the order of their irascible masters. Colman has the following remarks: Donatus observes on this Scene between Byrrhia, Simo, Pamphilus, and Davus, that the dialogue is sustained by four persons, who have little or no intercourse with each other; so that the Scene is not only in direct contradiction to the precept of Horace, excluding a fourth person, but is also otherwise vicious in its construction. Scenes of this kind are, I think, much too frequent in Terence, though, indeed, the form of the ancient Theatre was more adapted to the representation of them than the modern. The multiplicity of speeches aside is also the chief error in this dialogue; such speeches, though very common in dramatic writers, ancient and modern, being always more or less unnatural. (Exit.)

(SIMO and DAVUS.)DAVUS(aside, coming away from the door of the house.)He now supposes that I’m bringing some trick to bear against him, and that on that account I’ve remained here.SIMOWhat does he say, Davus?What does he say, Davus?: Quid, Dave, narrat? This reading Vollbehr suggests in place of the old one, Quid Davus narrat> and upon good grounds, as it appears. According to the latter reading we are to suppose that Davus is grumbling to himself, on which Simo says, What does Davus say? It seems, however, much more likely that Davus accompanies Pamphilus to the door, and speaks to him before he goes in, and then, on his return to Simo, the latter asks him, What does he say, Davus? DAVUSJust as much as nothing.Just as much as nothing: Aeque quidquam nunc quidem. This is a circumlocution for nothing at all: somewhat more literally perhaps, it might be rendered just as much as before. Perizonius supplies the ellipsis with a long string of Latin words, which translated would mean, Now, indeed, he says equally as much as he says then, when he says nothing at all. SIMOWhat, nothing? Eh?DAVUSNothing at all.SIMOAnd yet I certainly was expecting something.DAVUSIt has turned out contrary to your expectations. (Aside.) I perceive it; this vexes the man.SIMOAre you able to tell me the truth?DAVUSI? Nothing more easy.SIMOIs this marriage at all disagreeable to him, on account of his intimacy with this foreign woman?DAVUSNo, faith; or if at all, it is a two or three days’ annoyance this—you understand. It will then cease. Moreover, he himself has thought over this matter in a proper way.SIMOI commend him.DAVUSWhile it was allowed him, and while his years prompted him, he intrigued; even then it was secretly. He took precaution that that circumstance should never be a cause of disgrace to him, as behooves a man of principle; now that he must have a wife, he has set his mind upon a wife.SIMOHe seemed to me to be somewhat melancholy in a slight degree.DAVUSNot at all on account of her, but there’s something he blames you for.SIMOWhat is it, pray?DAVUSIt’s a childish thing.SIMOWhat is it?DAVUSNothing at all.SIMONay but, tell me what it is.DAVUSHe says that you are making too sparing preparations.SIMOWhat, I?DAVUSYou.—He says that there has hardly been fare provided to the amount of ten drachmae.Amount of ten drachmoe: The Attic drachma was a silver coin worth in value about 9¾d. of English money.—Does he seem to be bestowing a wife on his son? Which one now, in preference, of my companions shall I invite to the dinner? And, it must be owned,