Assuredly, Pamphilus.PAMPHILUSAs you have just done, I suppose.DAVUSWhy no, better, I trust.PAMPHILUSWhat, am I to believe you, you scoundrel? You scoundrel: Furcifer; literally, wearer of the furca, or wooden collar. This method of punishment has been referred to in the Notes to the Translation of Plautus.You, indeed, make good a matter that’s all embarrassment and ruin! Just see, in whom I’ve been placing reliance—you who this day from a most happy state have been and plunged me into a marriage. Didn’t I say that this would be the case?DAVUSYou did say so.PAMPHILUSWhat do you deserve? What do you deserve?: Madame Dacier remarks that this question is taken from the custom of the Athenians, who never condemned a criminal without first asking him what punishment he thought he deserved; and according to the nature of his answer they mitigated or increased his punishment. The Commentators quote a similar passage from the Frogs of Aristophanes. DAVUSThe cross. The cross: The cross,crux as a punishment for refractory slaves has been remarked upon in the Notes to the Translation of Plautus. But allow me a little time to recover myself; I’ll soon hit upon something.PAMPHILUSAh me! not to have the leisure to inflict punishment upon you as I desire! for the present conjuncture warns me to take precautions for myself, not to be taking vengeance on you.(Exeunt.)

(Enter CHARINUS, wringing his hands.)CHARINUS(to himself.)Is this to be believed or spoken of; that malice so great could be inborn in any one as to exult at misfortunes, and to derive advantage from the distresses of another! Oh, is this true? Assuredly, that is the most dangerous class of men, in whom there is only a slight degree of hesitation at refusing; afterward, when the time arrives for fulfilling their promises, then, obliged, of necessity they discover themselves. They are afraid, and yet the circumstances The circumstances: Res. According, however, to Donatus, this word has the meaning here of malice or spitefulness. compel them to refuse. Then, in that case, their very insolent remark is, Who are you? What are you to me? What should I give up to you what’s my own? Look you, I am the most concerned in my own interests.Concerned in my own interests: Equivalent to our sayings, Charity begins at home;Take care of number one. But if you inquire where is honor, they are not ashamed. They are not ashamed: Terence has probably borrowed this remark from the Epidicus of Plautus, 1. 165-6: Generally all men are ashamed when it is of no use; when they ought to be ashamed, then does shame forsake them, when occasion is for them to be ashamed. Here, where there is occasion, they are not afraid; there, where there is no occasion, they are afraid. But what am I to do? Ought I not to go to him, and reason with him upon this outrage, and heap many an invective upon him? Yet some one may say, you will avail nothing. Nothing? At least I shall have vexed him, and have given vent to my own feelings.(Enter PAMPHILUS and DAVUS.)PAMPHILUSCharinus, unintentionally I have ruined both myself and you, unless the Gods in some way befriend us.CHARINUSUnintentionally, is it! An excuse has been discovered at last. You have broken your word.PAMPHILUSHow so, pray?CHARINUSDo you expect to deceive me a second time by these speeches?PAMPHILUSWhat does this mean?CHARINUSSince I told you that I loved her, she has become quite pleasing to you. Ah wretched me! to have judged of your disposition from my own.PAMPHILUSYou are mistaken.CHARINUSDid this pleasure appear to you not to be quite complete, unless you tantalized me in my passion, and lured me on by groundless hopes?—You may take her.PAMPHILUSI, take her? Alas! you know not in what perplexities, to my sorrow, I am involved, and what vast anxieties this executioner of mine (pointing to DAVUS.) has contrived for me by his devices.CHARINUSWhat is it so wonderful, if he takes example from yourself?PAMPHILUSYou would not say that if you understood either myself or my affection.CHARINUSI’m quite aware (ironically.); you have just now had a dispute with your father, and he is now angry with you in consequence, and has not been able to-day to prevail upon you to marry her.PAMPHILUSNo, not at all,—as you are not acquainted with my sorrows, these nuptials were not in preparation for me; and no one was thinking at present of giving me a wife.CHARINUSI am aware; you have been influenced by your own inclination.PAMPHILUSHold; you do not yet know all.CHARINUSFor my part, I certainly do know that you are about to marry her.