listening.

_Par._

"Neque ullum verbum faciat perplexabile,
neque ulla lingua sciat loqui nisi Attica,
forte si tussire occepsit, ne sic tussiat,
ut cuiquam linguam in tussiendo proserat.
quod illa autem simulet, quasi gravedo profluat,
hoc ne sic faciat: tu labellum abstergeas
potius quam cuiquam savium faciat palam.

"She must use no phrase of double meaning, and must know how
to speak no language but the Attic. If she should happen to
cough, she is not to cough so, (_illustrating_) in such a
way as to extend her tongue toward anyone. Moreover, in case
she pretends to have a running cold, she must not do this:
(_purses his lips_) you are to wipe her little lip yourself
rather than let her pucker up her mouth for anyone so
obviously.

nec mater lena ad vinum accedat interim,
nec ulli verbo male dicat. si dixerit, 800
haec multa ei esto, vino viginti dies
ut careat."

"Nor shall the Madame, her mother, drop in while you are
having your wine, or say a single abusive word to anyone.
If such a word be said by her, the penalty shall be this--
no wine for her for twenty days."

_Diab._

Pulchre scripsti. scitum syngraphum.

Splendid document! Capital contract!

_Par._

"Tum si coronas, serta, unguenta iusserit
ancillam ferre Veneri aut Cupidini,
tuos servos servet, Venerine eas det an viro.
si forte pure velle habere dixerit, 800
tot noctes reddat spurcas quot pure habuerit."
haec sunt non nugae, non enim mortualia.

"Then if she bid her maid carry chaplets, wreaths, perfumes
to Venus or to Cupid, your servant shall observe whether she
gives them to Venus, or to a man. Should she happen to
express a wish for religious seclusion, she must give you
as many hours of love as she has of loneliness." These be
no trifles; these be no dirges for dead folk, I tell you.
The terms are highly satisfactory. Follow me in.

_Diab._

Placent profecto leges, sequere intro.

Very well.

_Par._

Sequor.

[EXEUNT INTO _Cleareta's_ HOUSE: SOUND OF WRANGLING WITHIN:
RE-ENTER _Diabolus_ AND _Parasite_ FROM HOUSE.

IV. 2.

Scene 2.

_Diab._

Sequere hac, egone haec patiar aut taceam? emori 810
me malim, quam haec non eius uxori indicem.
ain tu? apud amicam munus adulescentuli
fu