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.