Enter MICIO and HEGIO. MICIO I can see no reason here, Hegio, that I should be so greatly commended. I do my duty; the wrong that has originated with us I redress. Unless, perhaps, you thought me one of that class of men who think that an injury is purposely done them if you expostulate about any thing they have done; and yet are themselves the first to accuse. Because I have not acted thus, do you return me thanks? HEGIO Oh, far from it; I never led myself to believe you to be otherwise than you are; but I beg, Micio, that you will go with me to the mother of the young woman, and repeat to her the same; what you have told me, do you yourself tell the woman, that this suspicion of Aeschinus's fidelity was incurred on his brother's account, and that this Music-girl was for him. MICIO If you think I ought, or if there is a necessity for doing so, let us go. HEGIO You act with kindness; for you'll then both have relieved her mind who is now languishing in sorrow and affliction, and have discharged your duty. But if you think otherwise, I will tell her myself what you have been saying to me. MICIO Nay, I'll go as well. HEGIO You act with kindness; all who are in distressed circumstances are suspicious,
 
 Are suspicious : These lines are supposed to be founded on some verses of Menander which are still extant. to I know not what degree; they take every thing too readily as an affront; they fancy themselves trifled with on account of their helpless condition; therefore it will be more satisfactory for you to justify him to them yourself. They go into the house of SOSTRATA. 
 Enter AESCHINUS. I am quite distracted in mind! for this misfortune so unexpectedly to befall me, that I neither know what to do with myself, or how to act! My limbs are enfeebled through fear, my faculties bewildered with apprehension; no counsel is able to find a place within my breast. Alas! how to extricate myself from this perplexity I know not; so strong a suspicion has taken possession of them about me; not without some reason too: Sostrata believes that I have purchased this Music-girl for myself: the old woman informed me of that. For by accident, when she was sent for the midwife, I saw her, and at once went up to her. "How is Pamphila?" I inquired; "is her delivery at hand? Is it for that she is sending for the midwife?" "Away, away, Aeschinus," cries she; "you have deceived us long enough; already have your promises disappointed us sufficiently." "Ha !" said I; "pray what is the meaning of this?" "Farewell," she cries; "keep to her who is your choice." I instantly guessed what it was they suspected, but still I checked myself, that I might not be telling that gossip any thing about my brother, whereby it might be divulged. Now what am I to do? Shall I say she is for my brother, a thing that ought:by no means to be repeated any where? However, let that pass. It is possible it might go no further. I am afraid they would not believe it, so many probabilities concur against it; 'twas I myself carried her off; 'twas I, my own self, that paid the money for her; 'twas my own house she was carried to. This I confess has been entirely my own fault. Ought I not to have disclosed this affair, just as it happened, to my father? I might have obtained his consent to marry her. I have been too negligent hitherto; henceforth, then, arouse yourself, Aeschinus. This then is the first thing; to go to them and clear myself. I'll approach the door. Advances to the door of SOSTRATA'S house. Confusion! I always tremble most dreadfully when I go to knock at that door. Knocking and calling to them within. Ho there, ho there! it is Aeschinus; open the door immediately, some one. The door opens. Some person, I know not who, is coming out; I'll step aside here. He stands apart. 
 Enter MICIO from the house of SOSTRATA. MICIO speaking at the door to SOSTRATA. Do as I told you, Sostrata; I'll go find Aeschinus, that lie may know how these matters have been settled. Looking round. But who was it knocking at the door? AESCHINUS apart. Heavens, it is my father!—I am undone ! MICIO Aeschinus ! AESCHINUS aside. What can be his business here? MICIO Was it you knocking at this door? Aside. He is silent. Why shouldn't I rally him a little? It would be as well, as he was never willing to trust me with this secret. To AESCHINUS. Don't you answer me? AESCHINUS confusedly. It wasn't I knocked at that door, that I know of. MICIO Just so; for I wondered what business you could have here. Apart. He blushes; all's well. AESCHINUS Pray tell me, father, what business have you there? MICIO Why, none of my own; but a certain friend of mine just now brought me hither from the Forum to give him some assistance. AESCHINUS Why? MICIO I'll tell you. There are some women living here; in impoverished circumstances, as I suppose you don't know them; and, in fact, I'm quite sure, for it is not long since they removed to this place. AESCHINUS Well, what next? MICIO There is a girl living with her mother. AESCHINUS Go on. MICIO This girl has lost her father; this friend of mine is her next of kin; the law obliges him to marry her.
 
 Obliges him to marry her : It appears to have been a law given by Solon to the Athenians that the next male relative of suitable age should marry a female orphan himself, or find her a suitable portion. Madame Dacier suggests that the custom was derived from the Phoenicians, who had received it from the Jews, and quotes the Book of Numbers, xxxvi. 8. This law forms the basis of the plot of the Phormio. 
 AESCHINUS aside. Undone! MICIO What's the matter? AESCHINUS Nothing. Very well: proceed. MICIO He has come to take her with him; for he lives at Miletus .
 AESCHINUS What ! To take the girl away with him? MICIO Such is the act. AESCHINUS All the way to Miletus , pray?
 
 To Miletus , pray? : A colony of Athens , on the coast of Asia Minor . 
 MICIO Yes. AESCHINUS aside. I'm overwhelmed with grief To MICIO. But what of them? What do they say? MICIO What do you suppose they should? Why, nothing at all. The mother has trumped up a tale, that there is a child by some other man, I know not who, and she does not state the name; she says that he was the first, and that she ought not to be given to the other. AESCHINUS Well now, does not this seem just to you after all? MICIO No. AESCHINUS Why not, pray? Is the other to be carrying her away from here? MICIO Why should he not take her? AESCHINUS You have acted harshly and unfeelingly, and even, if, father, I may speak my sentiments more plainly, unhandsomely. MICIO Why so? AESCHINUS Do you ask me? Pray, what do you think must be the state of mind of the man who was first connected with her, who, to his misfortune, may perhaps still love her to distraction, when he sees her torn away from before his face, and borne off from his sight forever? An unworthy action, father! MICIO On what grounds is it so? Who betrothed her?
 
 Who betrothed her? : Donatus observes that these questions, which enumerate all the proofs requisite for a marriage, are an indirect and very delicate reproof of Aeschinus for the irregular and clandestine nature of his proceedings. Who gave her away? When and to whom was she married? Who was the author of all this? Why did he connect himself with a woman who belonged to another? AESCHINUS Was it to be expected that a young woman of her age should sit at home, waiting till a kinsman of hers should come from a distance? This, my father, you ought to have represented, and have insisted on it.
 MICIO Ridiculous! Was I to have pleaded against him whom I was to, support But what's all this, Aeschinus, to us? What have we to do with them? Let us begone:— What's the matter? Why these tears? AESCHINUS weeping. Father, I beseech you, listen to me. MICIO Aeschinus, I have heard and know it all; for I love you, and therefore every thing you do is the more a care to me. AESCHINUS So do I wish you to find me deserving of your love, as long as you live, my dear father, as I am sincerely sorry for the offense I have committed, and am ashamed to see you. MICIO Upon my word 1 believe it, for I know your ingenuous disposition: but I am afraid that you are too inconsiderate. In what city, pray, do you suppose you live? You have debauched a virgin, whom it was not lawful for you to touch. In the first place then that was a great offense; great, but still natural. Others, and even men of worth, have frequently done the same. But after it happened, pray, did you show any circumspection? Or did you use any foresight as to what was to be done, or how it was to be done? If you were ashamed to tell me of it, by what means was I to come to know it? While you were at a loss upon these points, ten months have been lost. So far indeed as lay in your power, you have periled both yourself and this poor girl, and the child. What did you imagine—that the Gods would set these matters to rights for you while you were asleep, and that she would be brought home to your chamber without any exertions of your own? I would not have you to be equally negligent in other affairs. Be of good heart, you shall have her for your wife. AESCHINUS Hah! MICIO Be of good heart, I tell you. AESCHINUS Father, are you now jesting with me, pray? MICIO I, jesting with you! For what reason? AESCHINUS I don't know; but so anxiously do I wish this to be true, that I am the more afraid it may not be. MICIO Go home, and pray to the Gods that you may have your wife; be off. AESCHINUS What! have my wife now?
 MICIO Now. AESCHINUS Now? MICIO Now, as soon as possible. AESCHINUS May all the Gods detest me, father, if I do not love you better than even my very eyes! MICIO What! better than her? AESCHINUS Quite as well. MICIO Very kind of you ! AESCHINUS Well, where is this Milesian? MICIO Departed, vanished, gone on board ship; but why do you delay? AESCHINUS Father, do you rather go and pray to the Gods; for I know, for certain, that they will rather be propitious to you,
 
 Propitious to you : Donatus remarks that there is great delicacy in this compliment of Aeschinus to Micio, which, though made in his presence, does not bear the semblance of flattery. Madame Dacier thinks that Terence here alludes to a line of Hesiod, which says that it is the duty of the aged to pray. Colman suggests that the passage is borrowed from some lines of Menander still in existence. as being a much better man than I am. MICIO I'll go in-doors, that what is requisite may be prepared. You do as I said, if you are wise. Goes into his house. 
 AESCHINUS alone. 
 AESCHINUS What can be the meaning of this? Is this being a father, or this being a son? If he had been a brother or familiar companion, how could he have been more complaisant ! Is he not worthy to be beloved? Is he not to be imprinted in my very bosom? Well then, the more does he impose an obligation on me by his kindness, to take due precaution not inconsiderately to do any thing that he may not wish. But why do I delay going in-doors this instant, that I may not myself delay my own nuptials? Goes into the house of MICIO. 
 Enter DEMEA. I am quite tired with walking: May the great Jupiter confound you, Syrus, together with your directions! I have crawled the whole city over; to the gate, to the pond—where not? There was no joiner's shop there; not a soul could say he had seen my brother; but now I'm determined to sit and wait at his house till he returns. Enter MICIO from his house. MICIO speaking to the people within. I'll go and tell them there's no delay on our part. DEMEA But see here's the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time. MICIO Why, what's the matter? DEMEA I'm bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth. MICIO Just look at that! DEMEA Fresh ones, of blackest dye. MICIO There now—at it again. DEMEA Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is. MICIO I do. DEMEA O simpleton! you are dreaming that I'm talking about the Music-girl; this crime is against a virgin and a citizen. MICIO I know it. DEMEA So then, you know it, and put up with it! MICIO Why not put up with it? DEMEA Tell me, pray, don't you exclaim about it? Don't you go distracted? MICIO Not I: certainly I had rather
 
 Certainly I had rather : He pauses after " quidem ," but he means to say that if he had his choice, he would rather it had not been so. —
 DEMEA There has been a child born. MICIO May the Gods be propitious to it. DEMEA The girl has no fortune. MICIO So I have heard. DEMEA And he—must he marry her without one? MICIO Of course. DEMEA What is to be done then? MICIO Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither. DEMEA O Jupiter! must that be the way then? MICIO What can I do else? DEMEA What can you do?: If in reality this causes you no concern, to pretend it were surely the duty of a man. MICIO But I have already betrothed the young woman to him; the matter is settled: the marriage takes place to-day. I have removed all apprehensions. This is rather the duty of a man. DEMEA But does the affair please you, Micio? MICIO If I were able to alter it, no; now, as I can not, I bear it with patience. The life of man is just like playing with dice:
 
 Playing with dice : The " tesserae " of the ancients were cubes, or what we call "dice;" while the " tali " were in imitation of the knuckle-bones of animals, and were marked on four sides only. For some account of the mode of playing with the " tali ," see the last Scene of the Asinaria, and the Curculio of Plautus, l. 257-9 . Madame Dacier suggests that Menander may possibly have borrowed this passage from the Republic of Plato, B. X. , where he says, "'We should take counsel from accidents, and, as in a game at dice, act according to what has fallen, in the manner which reason tells us to be the best." if that which you most want to throw does not turn up, what turns up by chance you must correct by art. DEMEA O rare corrector! of course it is by your art that twenty minae have been thrown away for a Music-girl; who, as soon as possible, must be got rid of at any price; and if not for money, why then for nothing. MICIO Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her. DEMEA What will you do with her then? MICIO She shall be at my house. DEMEA For heaven's sake, a courtesan and a matron in the same house!
 MICIO Why not? DEMEA Do you imagine you are in your senses MICIO Really I do think so. DEMEA So may the Gods prosper me, I now see your folly; I believe you are going to do so that you may have somebody to practice music with. MICIO Why not? DEMEA And the new-made bride to be learning too? MICIO Of course. DEMEA Having hold of the rope,
 
 Hold of the rope : " Restim ductans saltabis ." Donatus and Madame Dacier think that this is only a figurative expression for a dance in which all joined hands; according to some, however, a dance is alluded to where the person who led off drew a rope or cord after him, which the rest of the company took hold of as they danced; which was invented in resemblance of the manner in which the wooden horse was dragged by ropes into the city of Troy . you will be dancing with them. MICIO Like enough; and you too along with us, if there's need. DEMEA Ah me! are you not ashamed of this? MICIO Demea, do, for once, lay aside this anger of yours, and show yourself as you ought at your son's wedding, cheerful and good-humored. I'll just step over to them, and return immediately. Goes into SOSTRATA'S house. 
 DEMEA O Jupiter ! here's a life! here are manners! here's madness! A wife to be coming without a fortune! A musicwench in the house! A house full of wastefulness! A young man ruined by extravagance! An:old man in his dotage!—Should Salvation herself
 
 Salvation herself: : See an observation relative to the translation of the word " Salus ," in the Notes to Plautus, vol. i. pages 193. 450. desire it, she certainly could not save this family. (Exit.) 

 Enter SYRUS, drunk, and DEMEA, on the opposite side of the stage. SYRUS Upon my faith, my dear little Syrus, you have taken delicate care of yourself, and have done your duty 
 Have done your duty : His duty of providing the viands and drink for the entertainment. So Ergasilus says in the Captivi of Plautus, l. 912 "Now I will go off to my government ( praefecturam ), to give laws to the bacon." with exquisite taste; be off with you. But since I've had my fill of every thing in-doors, I have felt disposed to take a walk. DEMEA apart. Just look at that—there's an instance of their good training! SYRUS to himself. But see, here comes our old man. Addressing him. What's the matter ? Why out of spirits? DEMEA Oh you rascal! SYRUS Hold now; are you spouting your sage maxims here? DEMEA If you were my servant— SYRUS Why, you would be a rich man, Demea, and improve your estate. DEMEA I would take care that you should be an example to all the rest. SYRUS For what reason ? What have I done ? DEMEA Do you ask me ? in the midst of this confusion, and during the greatest mischief, which is hardly yet set right, you have been getting drunk, you villain, as though things had been going on well. SYRUS aside. Really, I wish I hadn't come out.