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.