You, afraid! As if it was not in your power to clear yourself at any time you like, and discover the whole matter. CLINIA Well, well; let Bacchis be brought over to our house. SYRUS Capital! she is coming out of doors. (Enter BACCHIS and PHRYGIA, from the house of CHREMES.) BACCHIS (pretending not to see CLINIA and SYRUS.) To a very fine purpose, To a very fine purpose : Satis pol proterve, etc. C. Laelius was said to have assisted Terence in the composition of his Plays, and in confirmation of this, the following story is told by Cornelius Nepos: C. Laelius, happening to pass the Matronalia [a Festival on the first of March, when the husband, for once in the year, was bound to obey the wife] at his villa near Puteoli , was told that dinner was waiting, but still neglected the summons. At last, when he made his appearance, he excused himself by saying that he had been in a particular vein of composition, and quoted certain lines which occur in the Heautontimorumenos, namely, those beginning Satis pol proterve me Syri promissa hue induxerunt. upon my faith, have the promises of Syrus brought me hither, who agreed to lend me ten minae. If now he deceives me, oft as he may entreat me to come, he shall come in vain. Or else, when I’ve promised to come, and fixed the time, when he has carried word back for certain, and Clitipho is on the stretch of expectation, I’ll disappoint him and not come. Syrus will make atonement to me with his back. CLINIA (apart, to SYRUS.) She promises you very fairly. SYRUS (to CLINIA.) But do you think she is in jest? She’ll do it, if I don’t take care. BACCHIS (aside.) They’re asleep They’re asleep : Dormiunt. This is clearly used figuratively, though Hedelin interprets it literally. —I’faith, I’ll rouse them. (Aloud.) My dear Phrygia, did you hear about the country-seat of Charinus, which that man was showing us just now ? PHRYGIA I heard of it. BACCHIS (aloud.) That it was the next to the farm here on the right-hand side. Farm here on the right-hand side : Cooke suggests that the Poet makes Bacchis call the house of Charinus villa, and that of Chremes fundus (which signifies a farm-house, or farm ), for the purpose of exalting the one and depreciating the other in the hearing of Syrus. PHRYGIA I remember. BACCHIS (aloud.) Run thither post-haste; the Captain is keeping the feast of Bacchus The feast of Bacchus : This passage goes far to prove that the Dionysia here mentioned as being celebrated, were those κάτ’ ἀγρούς or the rural Dionysia. at his house. SYRUS (apart.) What is she going to be at? BACCHIS (aloud.) Tell him I am here very much against my inclination, and am detained; but that by some means or other I’ll give them the slip and come to him. (PHRYGIA moves.) SYRUS (coming forward.) Upon my faith, I’m ruined! Bacchis, stay, stay; prithee, where are you sending her ? Order her to stop. BACCHIS (to PHRYGIA.) Be off. SYRUS Why, the money’s ready. BACCHIS Why, then I’ll stay. (PHRYGIA returns.) SYRUS And it will be given you presently. BACCHIS Just when you please; do I press you ? SYRUS But do you know what you are to do, pray? BACCHIS What ? SYRUS You must now go over to the house of Menedemus, and your equipage must be taken over thither. BACCHIS What scheme are you upon, you rascal? SYRUS What, I? Coining money to give you. BACCHIS Do you think me a proper person for you to play upon? SYRUS It’s not without a purpose.