that
circumstance should never be a cause of disgrace to him, as behooves a
man of principle; now that he must have a wife, he has set his mind
upon a wife.

SIM. He seemed to me to be somewhat melancholy in a slight degree.

DAV. Not at all on account of her, but there's something he blames you
for.

SIM. What is it, pray?

DAV. It's a childish thing.

SIM. What is it?

DAV. Nothing at all.

SIM. Nay but, tell me what it is.

DAV. He says that you are making too sparing preparations.

SIM. What, I?

DAV. You. --He says that there has hardly been fare provided to the
amount of ten drachmae.[59] --"Does he seem to be bestowing a wife on
his son? Which one now, in preference, of my companions shall I invite
to the dinner?" And, it must be owned, you really {are providing} too
parsimoniously-- I do not commend you.

SIM. Hold your tongue.

DAV. (_aside._) I've touched him up.

SIM. I'll see that these things are properly done. (_DAVUS goes into
the house._) What's the meaning of this? What does this old rogue
mean? But if there's any knavery here, why, he's sure to be the source
of the mischief. (_Goes into his house._)

ACT THE THIRD.

SCENE I.

_Enter SIMO and DAVUS from the house of the former. MYSIS and LESBIA
are coming toward the house of GLYCERIUM._

MYS. (_not seeing SIMO and DAVUS._) Upon my faith, the fact is really
as you mentioned, Lesbia, you can hardly find a man constant to a
woman.

SIM. (_apart to DAVUS._) This maid-servant comes from the Andrian.

DAV. (_apart to SIMO._) What do you say?

SIM. (_apart to DAVUS._) It is so.

MYS. But this Pamphilas----

SIM. (_apart to DAVUS._) What is she saying?

MYS. Has proved his constancy.

SIM. (_apart._) Hah!

DAV. (_apart to himself._) I wish that either he were deaf, or she
struck dumb.

MYS. For the child she brings forth, he has ordered to be brought up.

SIM. (_apart._) O Jupiter! What do I hear! It's all over, if indeed
this woman speaks the truth.

LES. You mention a good disposition on the part of the young man.

MYS. A most excellent one. But follow me in-doors, that you mayn't
keep her waiting.

LES. I'll follow. (_MYSIS and LESBIA go into GLYCERIUM'S house._)

SCENE II.

_SIMO and DAVUS._

DAV. (_aside._) What remedy now shall I find for this mishap?

SIM. (_to himself aloud._) What does this mean? Is he so infatuated?
{The child} of a foreign woman? Now I understand; ah! scarcely even at