master, Charmides, had arrived here from abroad. Now he must be forthwith waited upon by me, that the father may prove a more sure foundation in that matter on which I have treated with his son. I'll go. But this door, with its creaking, inopportunely causes me delay. (He retires to a distance.)

SCENE II.

Enter CHARMIDES and CALLICLES.

CHARM. There never was, nor will there be, nor yet do I think that there is a person upon the earth, whose fidelity and constancy towards his friend equals yours. For without you, it would have been that he would have ousted me out of this house.

CALL. If I have in any way acted well towards my friend, or have faithfully consulted his advantage, I seem not to be deserving of praise, but I think I am free from fault. For a benefit which is conferred on a man for his own, at once is lost to the giver; what is given only as a loan, the same there is a right to ask back, whenever you please.

CHARM. 'Tis so as you say. But I cannot sufficiently wonder at this, that he has betrothed his sister into a family so influential.

CALL. Aye; to Lysiteles, the son of Philto.

LYS. (behind). Why, he is mentioning my name.
CHARM. He has got into a most worthy family.

LYS. (behind). Why do I hesitate to address these persons? But still, I think, I may wait awhile; for something is going to be said to the purpose about this matter.

CHARM. O— CALL. What's the matter?

CHARM. I forgot just now to tell you of it in-doors. As I was coming hither, a while ago, a certain swindling fellow met me a very finished sharper. He told me that he was carrying a thousand gold pieces, of my giving, to you and my son Lesbonicus; a fellow, that I know not who he was, nor have I ever seen him anywhere before. But why do you laugh?

CALL. He came by my directions, as though he was one bringing the gold from you to me, to give as a portion to your

daughter; that your son, when I should give it to her from my own hands, might suppose that it had been brought from you, and that he might not anyhow be enabled to discover the fact itself that your treasure was in my possession, and demand it of me1, as having belonged to his father, by the public laws.

CHARM. Cleverly contrived, i' troth. CALL. Megaronides, a common well-wisher of yours and mine, planned this. CHARM. Well, I applaud his device, and approve of it.

Lys. (behind). Why, in my foolishness, while I fear to interrupt their discourse, am I standing here alone, and am not forwarding the business that I was intending to transact? I will accost these persons. (He advances.)

CHARM. Who is this person that is coming this way towards us?

LYS. (going up to CHARMIDES). Lysiteles salutes his father-in-law Charmides.

CHARM. May the Gods grant you, Lysiteles, whatever you may desire.

CALL. Am I not worthy of a salutation?

Lys. Yes; health to you, Callicles. It is right that I should give him the preference: the tunic is nearer2 the skin than the cloak.

CALL. I trust that the Gods may direct your plans aright.

CHARM. I hear that my daughter has been betrothed to you?

Lys. Unless you are unwilling. CHARM. Nay, I am not unwilling.

Lys. Do you, then, promise your daughter for my wife? CHARM. I promise a thousand gold Philippean pieces, as well, for a portion.

Lys. I care nothing about a portion.

CHARM. If she pleases you, the portion which she presents to you must be pleased as well. In fine, the object which

1 And demand it of me)-Ver. 1146. On the supposition of his father's death, the laws would probably have decreed it to him as his father's heir.

2 The tunic is nearer)—Ver. 1154. This was, perhaps, a proverbial saying, used when a preference was expressed. Of course he would pay more respect to his anticipated father-in-law than to an ordinary friend. The "tunica" supplied the place of the shirt of modern times.

you desire you shall not have, unless you shall take that which you do not desire.

CALL. (to LYSITELES). He asks but justice.

Lys. He shall obtain it, you the advocate and the judge. On these conditions, do you engage that your daughter shall be given to me as my wife?

CHARM. I do promise her.

likewise.

CALL. And I promise her

Lys. O save you, my connexions by marriage. (He embraces them.)

CHARM. But, in good sooth, there are some matters on account of which I stili am angry with

you.

Lys. What have I done? CHARM. Because you have allowed my son to become dissolute.

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Lys. Had that been done by my consent, there would have been cause for you to blame me. But allow me to obtain of you this one thing which I entreat? CHARM. What is it? Lys. You shall know. If he has done anything imprudently, that you will dismiss it all from your mind. Why do you shake your head?

CHARM. My heart is tortured, and I fear

LYS. What is it now? CHARM. Because he is such as I would that he was not,—by that am I tortured. I fear that if I refuse you what you ask of me, you may suppose that I am indifferent towards you. I won't make difficulties, however; I will do as you wish.

Lys. You are a worthy man. I am going to call him out. (He goes to the door of the house of CHARMIDES.)

CHARM. 'Tis a shocking thing if one is not allowed to punish bad deserts just as they merit.

LYS. (knocking at the door). Open the door, open quickly, and call Lesbonicus out of doors, if he is at home. The occasion is very sudden, therefore I wish him to come to me with all haste.

SCENE III.

Enter LESBONICUS from the house.

LESB. What person has been calling me out of doors with so loud a knocking?

Lys. 'Tis your well-wisher and friend.

LESB. Is all quite right ?-tell me.

F

Lys. All's well. I am glad to say that your father has returned from abroad.

LESB. Who says so? LYS. I.

LESB. Have you seen him? Lys. Aye, and you yourself may see him too. (He points to CHARMIDES.)

LESB. O my father, my father, blessings on you.

CHARM. Many blessings on you, my son.
LESB. If, father, any trouble

CHARM. Have no

fear, nothing has happened. My affairs prosperously managed, I have returned safe. If you are only wishful to be steady, that daughter of Callicles has been promised you.

LESB. I will marry both her, father, and any one else besides that you shall bid me.

CHARM. Although I have been angry with you, one misery2, in fact, is more than enough for one man.

CALL. Nay, rather, 'twere too little for him; for if he were to marry a hundred wives for his sins, it were too little.

LESB. But henceforth, in future, I will be steady.

CHARM. So you say; if you will only do it.

LESB. Is there any reason why I should not bring my wife home to-morrow?

CHARM. 'Tis very good. And you, Lysiteles, be ready to be married the day after to-morrow.

Give your applause3.

A COMEDIAN.

1 If, father, any trouble)-Ver. 1181. Lesbonicus seems to be about to apologise to Charmides for any trouble he may have given him, but, as the old man has already agreed to forgive him at the intercession of Lysiteles, he will not allow a word more to be said about it.

2 One misery)—Ver. 1185. The old gentleman tells his son that he will be quite sufficiently punished for his faults by having one wife. It is either said as a joke in a bantering way, or else it means, that, what will be a great punishment to him, he must now reform his mode of life, for common decency sake and out of respect to his wife.

3 Give your applause)-Ver. 1189. "Plaudite." Literally, "clap your hands." Ritschel, on a full examination of the MSS., comes to the conclusion that this was said, not, as is generally thought by one of the characters in the play, but by one of the actors or singers, probably, of the Chorus, who commenced their song the moment the play was finished. All the applause bestowed on the writer and the actors seems to have been usually reserved for the end of the play.

MILES GLORIOSUS;

THE BRAGGART CAPTAIN.

Dramatis Personæ.

PYRGOPOLINICES, the Braggart Captain.

ARTOTROGUS, a Parasite.

PERIPLECOMENUS, an old gentleman, the friend of Pleusicles.

PLEUSICLES, a young Athenian.

PALÆSTRIO, servant of Pyrgopolinices.

SCELEDRUS, another servant of Pyrgopolinices.

LUCRIO, a lad, an under-servant of Pyrgopolinices.
CARIO, cook to Periplecomenus.

A Boy.

PHILOCOMASIUM, the mistress of Pyrgopolinices.
ACROTELEUTIUM, a Courtesan.

MILPHIDIPPA, her maid.

SLAVES.

Scene.-Ephesus: a Street before the houses of PERIPLECOMENUS and PYRGO

POLINICES, which adjoin each other.