Enter SYRUS, from the house of MICIO. SYRUS speaking to AECHINUS within. Say no more; I myself will arrange with him; I'll make him glad to take the money at once, and say besides that he has been fairly dealt with. Addressing SANNIO. Sannio, how is this, that I hear you have been having some dispute or other with my master? SANNIO I never saw a dispute on more unequal terms 
 On more unequal terms : " Certationem comparatam ." This was a term taken from the combats of gladiators, where it was usual to choose as combatants such as seemed most nearly a match for each other. than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired. SYRUS Your own fault. SANNIO What could I do? SYRUS You ought to have yielded to the young man. SANNIO How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows? SYRUS Well—are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain. What!—were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so little 
 If you had parted with ever so little : This passage is probably alluded to by Cicero , in his work, De Officiis , B. ii. c. 18 : "For it is not only liberal sometimes to give up a little of one's rights, but it is also profitable." of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?
 SANNIO I do not pay ready money for hope. SYRUS Then you'll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don't know how to take in mankind. SANNIO I believe that to be the better plan—but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money. SYRUS Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minae were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus — SANNIO (aside.) Hah! SYRUS That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you'll settle the matter. SANNIO Not a foot do stir: Heavens! I'm undone! Aside. It was upon this hope they devised their project. SYRUS aside. He is alarmed. I've brought the fellow into a fix. SANNIO aside. Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint.
 
 In the very joint : " Ut in ipso articulo oppressit ." Colman translates this, "Nick'd me to a hair." Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus .
 
 To take to Cyprus 
 : He alludes to a famous slave-market held in the Isle of Cyprus , whither merchants carried slaves for sale, after buying them up in all parts of Greece . If I don't get there to the fair, my loss will, be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. "Come at last?" they'll say. "Why did you delay it? Where have you been?" So that I had better lose it altogether than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then. SYRUS Have you by this reckoned
 
 3 Have you by this reckoned : " Iamne enumerasti id quod ad te rediturum putes? " Colman renders this, "Well, have you calculated what's your due?" referring to the value of the Music-girl that has been taken away from him; and thinks that the following conversation between Sannio and Syrus supports that construction. Madame lacier puts another sense on the words, and understands them as alluding to Sannio's calculation of his expected profits at Cyprus . up what you calculate will be your profits?
 SANNIO Is this honorable of him? Ought Aeschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence? SYRUS aside. He gives ground. To SANNIO. I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it. Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minae 
 Scrape together ten minae : Donatus remarks, that Syrus knows very well that Aeschinus is ready to pay the whole, but offers Sannio half, that he may be glad to take the bare principal, and think himself well off into the bargain. from some quarter or other. SANNIO Ah me! unfortunate wretch, I am now in danger of even losing part of the principal. Has he no shame? He has loosened all my teeth; my head, too, is full of bumps with his cuffs; and would he defraud me as well? I shall go nowhere. SYRUS Just as you please. Have you any thing more to say before I go? SANNIO Why yes, Syrus, i' faith, I have this to request. Whatever the matters that are past, rather than go to law, let what is my own be returned me; at least, Syrus, the sum she cost me. I know that you have not hitherto made trial of my friendship; you will have no occasion to say that I am unmindful or ungrateful. SYRUS I'll do the best I can. But I see Ctesipho; he's in high spirits about his mistress. SANNIO What about what I was asking you? SYRUS Stay a little. Enter CTESIPHO, at the other side of the stage. CTESIPHO From any man, when you stand in need of it, you are glad to receive a service; but of a truth it is doubly acceptable, if he does you a kindness who ought to do so. O brother, brother, how can I sufficiently commend you? This I am quite sure of; I can never speak of you in such high terms but that your deserts will surpass it. For I am of opinion that I possess this one thing in especial beyond all others, a brother than whom no individual is more highly endowed with the highest qualities. SYRUS O Ctesipho! CTESIPHO O Syrus, where is Aeschinus? SYRUS Why, look—he's at home, waiting for you. CTESIPHO speaking joyously. Ha! SYRUS What's the matter? CTESIPHO What's the matter? 'Tis through him, Syrus, that I am now alive—generous creature! Has he not deemed every thing of secondary importance to himself in comparison with my happiness? The reproach, the discredit, my own amour and imprudence, he has taken upon himself. There can be nothing beyond this; but what means that noise at the door? SYRUS Stay, stay; 'tis Aeschinus himself coming out. Enter AESCHINUS, from the house of MICIO. AESCHINUS Where is that villain? SANNIO aside. He's looking for me. He's looking for me : Donatus remarks upon the readiness with which Sannio takes the appellation of " sacrilegus ," as adapted to no other person than himself. Is he bringing any thing with him? Confusion! I don't see any thing. AESCHINUS to CTESIPHO. Ha! well met; you are the very man I was looking for. How goes it, Ctesipho? All is safe: away then with your melancholy. CTESIPHO By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Aeschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face, lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude. AESCHINUS Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn't by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you. CTESIPHO I felt ashamed.
 AESCHINUS Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling matter to be almost flying the country!
 
 Flying the country : Donatus tells us, that in Menander the young man was on the point of killing himself. Terence has here softened it into leaving the country. Colman remarks: "We know that the circumstance of carrying off the Music-girl was borrowed from Diphilus; yet it is plain from Donatus that there was also an intrigue by Ctesipho in the Play of Menander; which gives another proof of the manner in which Terence used the Greek Comedies." 'Tis shocking to be mentioned; I pray the Gods may forbid it! CTESIPHO I did wrong. AESCHINUS in a lower voice. What says Sannio to us at last? SYRUS He is pacified at last. AESCHINUS I'll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her. SANNIO aside to SYRUS. Syrus, do urge the matter. SYRUS to AESCHINUS. Let us be off, for he is in haste foe' Cyprus .
 
 He is in haste for Cyprus 
 : Donatus remarks that this is a piece of malice on the part of Syrus, for the purpose of teasing Sannio. 
 SANNIO Not particularly so; although still, I'm stopping here doing nothing at all. SYRUS It shall be paid, don't fear. SANNIO But he is to pay it all. SYRUS He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way. SANNIO I'll follow. CTESIPHO as SYRUS is going. Harkye, harkye, Syrus. SYRUS turning back. Well now, what is it? CTESIPHO aside. Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever. SYRUS That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself in-doors with her, and order the couches
 
 Order the couches : Those used for the purpose of reclining on at the entertainment. to be spread for us, and the other things to be got ready. As soon as this business is settled, I shall come home with the provisions. CTESIPHO Pray do so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a cheerful day of it. CTESIPHO goes into the house of MICIO; and exeunt AESCHINUS and SYRUS, followed by SANNIO. 
 Enter SOSTRATA and CANTHARA, from the house of the former. SOSTRATA Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end? CANTHARA Like to end, do you ask? I' troth, right well, I trust. SOSTRATA Her pains are just beginning, my dear. CANTHARA You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion—never been in labor yourself. SOSTRATA Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Aeschinus. CANTHARA I' faith, he'll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us. SOSTRATA He is my sole comfort in my afflictions. CANTHARA Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,—such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family. SOSTRATA It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us. They stand apart, on seeing GETA.