his own} wife. With this money the Music-girl is bought {for
Phaedria}. Antipho {then} keeps his wife, who has been recognized by
his uncle.

THE PROLOGUE.

Since the old Poet[17] can not withdraw {our} bard from his pursuits
and reduce him to indolence, he endeavors, by invectives, to deter him
from writing: for he is wont to say to this effect,-- that the Plays
which he has hitherto composed are poor in their language, and of
meagre style: because he has nowhere described a frantic youth as
seeing a hind in flight, and the hounds pursuing; while he
implores[18] {and} entreated that he would give her aid. But if he had
been aware that {his Play}, when formerly first represented, stood its
ground more through the merits of the performers than its own, he
would attack with much less boldness than he does. Now, if there is
any one who says or thinks to this effect, that if the old Poet had
not assailed him first, the young one could have devised no Prologue
for him to repeat, without having some one to abuse, let him receive
this for an answer: "that the prize is proposed in common to all who
apply to the Dramatic art." He has aimed at driving our Poet from his
studies to {absolute} want; he {then} has intended this for an answer,
not an attack. If he had opposed him with fair words, he would have
heard himself civilly addressed; what has been given by him, let him
consider as {now} returned. I will make an end of speaking about him,
when, of his own accord, he himself makes an end of offending. Now
give your attention to what I request. I present you a new play, which
they call "Epidicazomenos,"[19] in Greek: in the Latin, he calls it
"Phormio;" because the person that acts the principal part is Phormio,
a Parasite, through whom, principally, the plot will be carried on, if
your favor attends the Poet. Lend your attention; in silence give an
ear with impartial feelings, that we may not experience a like fortune
to what we did, when, through a tumult, our Company was driven from
the place;[20] which place, the merit of the actor, and your good-will
and candor seconding it, has {since} restored unto us.

ACT THE FIRST.

SCENE I.

_Enter DAVUS,[21] with a bag of money in his hand._

DAV. Geta, my very good friend and fellow-townsman, came to me
yesterday. There had been for some time a trifling balance of money of
his in my hands upon a small account; {he asked me} to make it up.
I have done so, {