ome person, I know not who, is coming out; I'll
step aside here. (_He stands apart._)

SCENE VI.

_Enter MICIO from the house of SOSTRATA._

MIC. (_speaking at the door to SOSTRATA._) Do as I told {you},
Sostrata; I'll go find AEschinus, that he may know how these matters
have been settled. (_Looking round._) But who was it knocking at the
door?

AESCH. (_apart._) Heavens, it is my father! --I am undone!

MIC. AEschinus!

AESCH. (_aside._) What can be his business here?

MIC. Was it you knocking at this door? (_Aside._) He is silent. Why
shouldn't I rally him a little? It would be as well, as he was never
willing to trust me with this {secret}. (_To AESCHINUS._) Don't you
answer me?

AESCH. (_confusedly._) It wasn't I {knocked} at that {door}, that I
know of.

MIC. Just so; for I wondered what business you could have here.
(_Apart._) He blushes; all's well.

AESCH. Pray tell me, father, what business have you there?

MIC. Why, none of my own; {but} a certain friend {of mine} just now
brought me hither from the Forum to give him some assistance.

AESCH. Why?

MIC. I'll tell you. There are some women living here; in impoverished
circumstances, as I suppose you don't know them; and, {in fact}, I'm
quite sure, for it is not long since they removed to this place.

AESCH. Well, what next?

MIC. There is a girl living with her mother.

AESCH. Go on.

MIC. This girl has lost her father; this friend of mine is her next of
kin; the law obliges him to marry her.[75]

AESCH. (_aside._) Undone!

MIC. What's the matter?

AESCH. Nothing. Very well: proceed.

MIC. He has come to take her with him; for he lives at Miletus.

AESCH. What! To take the girl away with him?

MIC. Such is the fact.

AESCH. All the way to Miletus, pray?[76]

MIC. Yes.

AESCH. (_aside._) I'm overwhelmed with grief. (_To MICIO._) {But} what
of them? What do they say?

MIC. What do you suppose they should? Why, nothing at all. The mother
has trumped up a tale, that there is a child by some other man, I know
not who, and she does not state the name; {she says} that he was the
first, {and} that she ought not to be given to the other.

AESCH. Well now, does not this seem just to you after all?

MIC. No.

AESCH. Why not, pray? Is {the other} to be carrying her away from here?

MIC. Why should he not take her?

AESCH. You have acted harshly and unfeelingly, and even, if, father,
I may speak my sentiments more plainly, un