2nd BACCH. What a dear man you are.

PHILO. But do you know on what condition you are to show me in-doors ?

2nd BACCH. That you are to be with me. PHILO. You mention all that I desire.

2nd BACCH. *

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NICO. I have seen wicked men; but not one worse than yourself.

PHILO. I am as I am. 1st BACCH. (to NICOBULUS). Step this way in-doors with me, where you may be elegantly received with viands, wine, and unguents.

NICO. Enough, enough now of your banquets; it matters not to me how I'm received. My son and Chrysalus have choused me out of four hundred Philippeans. If I don't surely this day put him to the torture, may I never receive as large a sum again.

1st BACCH. What, pray, if half the gold is paid you back? Will you go in-doors here with me, and so control your feelings as to forgive them their faults?

PHILO. He'll do it. (Takes his arm.) Nico. Certainly not -I won't-I don't care-let me alone, now. (Shakes him off) I had rather punish them both.

PHILO. Take you care, you good-for-nothing man, that through your own fault you don't lose even that which the favouring Gods offer you. One half of the gold is offered; take it, and carouse, and enjoy yourself with your partner.

NICO. What, am I to carouse in that very place where my son is being corrupted?

PHILO. You must carouse there. Nico. Am I to be the witness of it when she is reclining with him at table?

1st BACCH. Nay, so far as I'm concerned, i' faith, I'll recline at table with your own self.

NICO. My head does itch so1. (Aside.) I'm a ruined man--I can scarce deny her.

PHILO. And has it not before this come into your mind, that if, while you live, you enjoy yourself, that, i' faith, is for no very long time; and that, if you lose the present day, it can never return to you after you are dead?

1 Does itch so)-Ver. 1192. Being in doubt what to do, he scratches his head, and then tries to turn it off by saying, "Bless me, how my head does itch."

Do

NICO. What am I to do? you even ask it?

PHILO. What are you to do?

NICO. I should like, and yet I'm afraid.

1st BACCH. What are you afraid of?

NICO. Lest I should be exposed before my son and my

servant.

1st BACCH. Pray now, my honey; such things do happen. He's your own son; whence do you suppose that he is to have money, except that only which you give him yourself? Let me obtain pardon of you for them both.

NICO. (aside). How she does work her way. She's now prevailing on me against that which I was quite resolved upon. 1st BACCH. I will love you, and embrace you.

NICO. Through your doing, and for your sake am I corrupted.

1st BACCH. I certainly had rather 'twere for your own than for mine.

NICO. Come then, however that may be, although it is to my disgrace, I'll submit; I'll induce my feelings to do so. 1st BACCH. Have I that solemnly promised?

*

**

NICO. What I have once said, I will not alter. 1st BACCH. The day wears apace. Come into the house, to take your places at table: your sons are expecting within

NICO. How soon, in fact, we may be dead, d'ye mean? 1st BACCH. 'Tis evening, already; come, follow us.

PHILO. Lead us in like bondsmen1. (They go into the house.) 1st BACCH. (to the SPECTATORS). Right cleverly are these persons entrapped themselves, who for their sons had laid a snare. (Goes in.)

The COMPANY of COMEDIANS.

Had not these old men been worthless from their youth

1 Like bondsmen-Ver. 1205. “Addicti" were those who were made the slaves of their creditors; being thus by law deprived of their liberty until they had paid their debts.

2 These persons entrapped)-Ver. 1206. The two old men, at this moment, would form a good companion picture to the Elders, who solicited the chastity of Susanna.

3 The company) The whole company of actors (Caterva) now comes forward, and chant or repeat the moral of the Play which has just been acted.

Р

upwards, they would not, with their hoary heads, have this day done an action so disgraceful; nor, indeed, should we have represented this, if we had not, before this, seen it happen that fathers became the rivals of their sons in the houses of procurers. Spectators, we wish you Farewell! and that you will grant us loud applause.

PHILUMENA3, the wife of Epignomus.

PAMPHILA1, the wife of Pamphilus, and sister of Philumena.

CROCOTIUM, a female servant of Philumena.

STEPHANIUM, a female kitchen servant of Pamphila.

Scene.-Athens: a Street before the house of ANTIPHO and those of EPIGNOMUS and PAMPHILUS; the two latter being next door to each other.

In the former Editions he is called Pamphilippus. Ritschel clearly shows that this is incorrect.

2 In the former Editions he is called Dinacium. In the former Editions she is called Panegyris. In the former Editions she is called Pinacium.

THE SUBJECT.

THE plot of this Play (which is supposed by some Commentators not to have been written by Plautus) is extremely meagre. Antipho, a wealthy and jovial old gentleman of Athens, has two daughters, Philumena and Pamphila. They are married to two brothers, Epignomus and Pamphilus, who, having run through their property in the company of idlers and Parasites, have, with the view of retrieving their fortunes, taken to merchandize. Having been absent three years from home, and no tidings being heard of them whether they are alive or not, Antipho assumes the prerogative of a father, and requests his daughters to marry again; who resolve, however, to maintain their fidelity to their absent husbands. Philumena sends the Parasite, Gelasimus, to the harbour to see if any ships have arrived. In the meantime, the boy, Pinacium, brings her word that her husband has returned to Athens. He and his brother meet the Parasite, and resist all his attempts to fasten himself upon them; they then go home, and become reconciled to Antipho, from whom, in their poverty, they had become estranged; and who now requests them to make him a present of a female slave. Stichus, the servant, obtains a day's holiday, together with a present from his master of a cask of wine. He makes an entertainment for himself, his friend Sagarinus, and their mistress Stephanium. The Play concludes with a dance, to the music of the Piper.