secret, I'll tell you.

PHIL. You are {now} returning to your {natural} disposition. I give
you my word; say on.

PAR. Listen.

PHIL. I'm all attention.

PAR. Pamphilus was in the height of his passion for Bacchis here, when
his father began to importune him to take a wife, and to urge those
points which are usual with all fathers, that he {himself} was {now}
in years, and that he was his only son, that he wished for a support
for his declining years. He refused at first. But on his father
pressing more urgently, he caused him to become wavering in his mind,
whether to yield rather to duty or to love. By hammering on and
teazing him, at last the old man gained his point; and betrothed him
to the daughter of our next-door neighbor here (_pointing to the house
of PHIDIPPUS_). This did not seem so very disagreeable to Pamphilus,
until on the very point of marriage, when he saw that all was ready,
and that no respite was granted, but marry he must; then, at last, he
took it so much to heart, that I do believe if Bacchis had been
present, {even} she would have pitied him. Whenever opportunity was
afforded for us being alone, so that he could converse with me, {he
used to say}: "Parmeno, I am ruined! What have I done! Into what
misery have I plunged myself! Parmeno, I shall never be able to endure
this. To my misery, I am undone!"

PHIL. (_vehemently exclaiming._) May the Gods and Goddesses confound
you, Laches, for vexing him so!

PAR. To cut the matter short, he took home his wife. On the first
night, he did not touch the girl; the night that followed that, not a
bit the more.

PHIL. What is it you tell me? A young man go to bed with a virgin,
intoxicated to boot, {and} able to restrain himself from touching her!
You do not say what's likely; nor do I believe it to be the truth.

PAR. I suppose it does seem so to you, for no one comes to you unless
he is eager for you; {but} he had married her against his will.

PHIL. After this, what followed?

PAR. In a very few days after, Pamphilus took me aside, away from the
house, and told me how that the young woman was still untouched by
him; and {how} that before he had taken her home as his wife, he had
hoped to be able to endure this marriage: "But, Parmeno, as I can not
resolve to live with her any longer, it is neither honorable in me,
nor of advantage to the young woman herself, for her to be turned to
ridicule, but rather I ought to return her to her relations