Chapter 1

(Enter, from his house, AGORASTOCLES, followed by MILPHIO.)

AGORASTOCLES: Full oft have I entrusted many matters to you, Milphio, matters of doubt and necessity, and standing in need of good counsel, which you wisely, discreetly, cleverly, and skilfully have by your aid brought to completion for me. For which services I do confess that both your liberty and many kind thanks are due unto you.

MILPHIO: An old adage, if you timely introduce it, is a clever thing: but your compliments are to me what are wont to be called sheer nonsense, and, upon my faith, mere bagatelles. Just now, you are full of kind speeches towards me; yesterday, without hesitation, upon my back you wore out three bulls’ hides with flogging.

AGORASTOCLES: But if, being in love, I did anything by reason of my distraction, Milphio, it’s only reasonable that you should pardon me for it.

MILPHIO: I’ve seen nothing more reasonable. I, too, am now dying for love; allow me to thrash you just as you did me, for no fault at all; and then, after that, do you pardon me being thus in love.

AGORASTOCLES: If you have a mind for it, or it gives you pleasure, I do permit it; tie me up, bind me, scourge me; I recommend you, I give you my permission.

MILPHIO: If, hereafter, you should revoke your permission, when you are unloosed, I myself should be hung up for punishment.

AGORASTOCLES: And would I venture to do that, to yourself espercially?

On the contrary, if I see you but struck, it gives me pain immediately.

MILPHIO: To me, indeed, i’ faith.

AGORASTOCLES: No, to me.

MILPHIO: I could prefer that to be the case. But what now do you wish?

AGORASTOCLES: Why need I tell a lie to you? I am desperately in love.

MILPHIO: My shoulder-blades feel that.

AGORASTOCLES: But I mean with this damsel, my neighbour Adelphasium, the elder Courtesan that belongs to this Procurer.

MILPHIO: For my own part, I’ve heard that from yourself already.

AGORASTOCLES: I’m on the rack with love for her. But than this Procurer Lycus, her master, not dirt itself is more dirty.

MILPHIO: Do you wish now to present him with some mischief?

AGORASTOCLES: I should like it.

MILPHIO: Why look then, present him with me.

AGORASTOCLES: Go and be hanged!

MILPHIO: But tell me seriously, do you wish to present him with a plague?

AGORASTOCLES: I should like it.

MILPHIO: Well then, present him with this selfsame me; I’d cause him to be having both a mischief and a plague.

AGORASTOCLES: You are joking.

MILPHIO: Should you like this very day, without risk to yourself, to make her free?

AGORASTOCLES: I should like it, Milphio.

MILPHIO: I’ll manage for you to make her so. You have indoors three hundred golden Philippean pieces.

AGORASTOCLES: Six hundred even.

MILPHIO: Three hundred are enough.

AGORASTOCLES: To do what with them?

MILPHIO: Hold your peace. This day I’ll make you a present of the Procurer, whole, with all his household.

AGORASTOCLES: What to do?

MILPHIO: You shall soon know.

Collybiscus, your bailiff, is in the city just now. The Procurer doesn’t know him. Do you fully understand?

AGORASTOCLES: I’ faith, I understand that; but what you are driving at I know not.

MILPHIO: You don’t know?

AGORASTOCLES: Not I, faith.

MILPHIO: But I’ll soon let you know. The gold shall be given him, for him to take to the Procurer, and say that he’s a stranger from another city; that he’s amorously inclined, and wishes to gratify his inclinations; that he wants free range to be found him, where he may secretly indulge his appetite, so that there may be no overlooker. The Procurer, greedy for the gold, will at once take him into his house;

he’ll conceal the man and the gold.

AGORASTOCLES: The design pleases me.

MILPHIO: Do you then enquire of him whether your slave hasn’t come to him. He’ll think that I am being sought for; immediately he’ll say no to you. Have you any doubt but that the Procurer will at once have to double the gold for you, and be considered to have stolen the man?

Neither has he the means of raising it. When he comes to trial, the Praetor will award his whole household to you. Thus with a pitfall shall we deceive the Procurer Lycus.

AGORASTOCLES: The design pleases me.

MILPHIO: Aye, when I’ve polished it up, you’ll then say so still more even; now it’s but in the rough.

AGORASTOCLES: I’m going to the Temple of Venus, unless, Milphio, you wish for anything. It’s the Aphrodisia to-day.

MILPHIO: I know.

AGORASTOCLES: I wish to amuse my eyes with the harlot finery.

MILPHIO: Let’s first proceed to this, the plan we have resolved upon. Let’s go in-doors, that we may instruct Collybiscus, the bailiff, how to plant this cheatery.

AGORASTOCLES: Although Cupid has the sway in my heart, still I’ll listen to you.

MILPHIO: I’ll cause you to be glad it’s done. (AGORASTOCLES goes into his house.) There is a speck of love upon this man’s breast, which cannot by any means be washed out without great harm;

this Lycus, too, the Procurer, is such a wicked person, against whom the engine of mischief is now well aimed, which before long I shall discharge from my battery. But see, here’s Adelphasium coming out, and Anterastylis. The first is the one who renders my master distracted.

But I’ll call him out. (Goes to the door and calls.) Hallo! Agorastocles, come out of doors if you would see most joyous sports! (in haste, from the house.)

AGORASTOCLES: What’s this bustle, Milphio?

MILPHIO: (pointing to the door of LYCUS’S house.) Why, here’s your mistress, if you’d like to see her.

AGORASTOCLES: O may the Gods bestow many a blessing on you, for having presented to me a sight so charming as this! (They stand apart.)

(Enter ADELPHASIUM, ANTERASTYLIS, and an ATTENDANT.)

ADELPHASIUM: The man who wants to find abundance of employment for himself—a woman and a ship, these two things, let him procure; for no two things do produce more trouble, if, perchance, you begin to equip them; neither are these two things ever equipped enough, nor is the largest amount of equipment sufficient for them. And as I mention these things, from experience at home do I now say thus; for we two, even from daybreak up to the present hour of the day, have never ceased either washing, or scrubbing, or rubbing, or dressing, smoothing, polishing, painting, trimming, with all our might, and at the same time the two maid-servants, that have been provided for each of us, have been giving us their assistance in washing and cleaning; and in carrying water two men have become quite weary.

Fie upon it! how great a plague there is in one female. But if there are two, I know full well that they are able to give to any one, the mightiest nation whatsoever, more trouble than enough, in being night and day, always, at all hours, dressing, washing, rubbing, polishing.

In fine, there’s no moderation in women, nor do we understand how ever to set a limit to washing and scrubbing. But she who is washed clean, unless she is thoroughly dressed, in my notion at least, is just as though she were dirty.

ANTERASTYLIS: I really wonder, sister, that you talk in this fashion; you who are so knowing, and discreet, and clever;

for when with all care we have ourselves in trim, hardly and with difficulty do we find poor pitiful admirers.

ADELPHASIUM: Such is the fact; but still reflect upon this one thing; a limit is best to be observed in all things, sister; all things in excess give too much trouble to mortals of themselves.

ANTERASTYLIS: Sister, prithee, do reflect that we are accounted just in the same way as pickled salt-fish is thought of—without any relish and without sweetness; unless full oft and long it is soaked in water, it smells badly, and is salt, so that you cannot touch it.

Just so are we. Women of this class are utterly tasteless, and devoid of grace, without dress and expense.

MILPHIO: (apart.) She surely is a cook, Agorastocles, according to my notion; she knows how to soak pickled fish.

AGORASTOCLES: (pushing him away.) Why are you thus troublesome?

ADELPHASIUM: Sister, do, there’s a dear, forbear. It’s quite sufficient for others to say that to us, not to be ourselves as well proclaiming our foibles.

ANTERASTYLIS: I’ll have done, then.

ADELPHASIUM: I thank you: but now answer me this; are all things here which ought to be provided for propitiating the Gods?

ANTERASTYLIS: I’ve taken care of everything.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) How charming and joyous a day, and full of delight, worthy of Venus, by my troth, whose Aphrodisia are celebrated to-day!

MILPHIO: (apart.) Any thanks for me, for calling you out of doors? Oughtn’t I now to be presented with a cask of old wine? Say it shall be given. Don’t you answer me?

His tongue has fallen out, I imagine. What, plague on it, have you been struck with amazement standing here? (He shakes him.)

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Do let me love on; don’t disturb me, and do hold your peace.

MILPHIO: (apart.) I’ll hold my peace.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) If you had held your peace, why then that I’ll hold my peace would not have been in existence.

ANTERASTYLIS: Let’s go, my sister. (She moves.)

ADELPHASIUM: How now—why, prithee, are you now hastening that way?

ANTERASTYLIS: Do you ask me? Because our master is waiting for us at the Temple of Venus.

ADELPHASIUM: Let him wait, i’ faith. Do you stay;

there’s a crowd just now at the altar. Do you wish yourself to be pushed about among those common prostitutes, the doxies of bakers, the cast-offs of the spelt-bread sellers; wretched creatures, daubed over with grease, followers of poor slaves, who stink for you of their stable and stall, their seats and very sheds; whom, in fact, not a single freeman has ever touched or taken home with him, the twopenny strumpets of dirty trumpery slaves?

MILPHIO: (apart.) Away with you to utter perdition! Do you dare, then, to despise the slaves, you hussey? As if she was a beauty, as if kings were in the habit of making her their choice. A monstrosity of a woman! Diminutive as she is, she does spit out such mighty words—seven nights with whom I wouldn’t purchase at a cupful of vapour.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Immortal and omnipotent Divinities, what is there among you more beauteous? What have you that I should deem you more immortal than I am myself. in beholding with my eyes these delights so great? But Venus is not Venus; for my own part, her will I worship as Venus; that she may love me and prove propitious. Milphio!—hallo! Milphio, where are you?

MILPHIO: (apart.) See, here I am with you.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) But I want you boiled.

MILPHIO: (apart.) Why really, master, you are making merry.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Why, it was from yourself I learnt all this.

MILPHIO: (apart.) What, even to be in love with her whom you have never touched? Really, that is nonsense.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) I’ faith, the Gods as well do I love and fear from whom, nevertheless, I keep off my hands.

ANTERASTYLIS: Alas! upon my word, when I look at the dress of us both, I’m grieved at the way we are dressed out.

ADELPHASIUM: Why really, it’s quite in a proper style;

for our master’s gain and our own we are dressed quite well enough. For no profits can result, if the outlay exceeds them, sister; therefore, that is better to be had which is enough, than that which is more than enough.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) So may the Gods love me, may she love me (I had rather she than the Gods), Milphio;

why, this woman has it in her power to force a flint-stone to be in love with her.

MILPHIO: (apart.) Upon my faith, in that you certainly tell no lie, for you are more senseless than a flint-stone to be in love with her.<

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) But consider this, will you; I’ve never soiled her with a kiss.

MILPHIO: (apart.) I’ll run, then, somewhere to a fish-pond or a pool, and fetch some soil.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) What need is there of that?

MILPHIO: (apart.) I’ll tell you; to soil her lips and yours.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) To utter perdition with you!

MILPHIO: (apart.) For my part, I’m there already.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Do you persist?

MILPHIO: (apart.) I’ll hold my tongue.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) But I wish you to do so always.

MILPHIO: (apart.) Why really, master, you challenge me at my own game, and still you make fun of me.

ANTERASTYLIS: At present, sister, I suppose you think yourself quite well enough drest; but when the instances of other courtesans are compared, then you will be having the heartache, if perchance you should see any one more nicely drest.

ADELPHASIUM: Envy was never inbred in me, my sister, nor yet spitefulness: I had rather by far that I was adorned with a good disposition than with gold; gold is met with by luck, a good disposition is found by nature. I very much prefer for myself to be called good than fortunate. It more befits a courtesan to show modesty than purple;

and more does it become a courtesan to show modesty than golden jewels. Evil habits soil a fine dress more than mud; good manners, by their deeds, easily set off a lowly garb.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart to MILPHIO.) How now, you; would you like to play a merry and a frolicsome prank?

MILPHIO: (apart.) I should like.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Can you, then, give attention to me?

MILPHIO: (apart.) I can.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Be off home, and go hang yourself.

MILPHIO: (apart.) Why?

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Because you’ll never again hear so many words as sweet as these. What need have you to live? Only listen to me, and go hang yourself.

MILPHIO: (apart) Why yes, if, like grapes that are drying, you’ll hang together with me.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) But I do love her.

MILPHIO: (apart.) But I, to eat and drink.

ADELPHASIUM: (to her SISTER.) How now, you? How say you—?

ANTERASTYLIS: What is it you ask me?

ADELPHASIUM: Do you see? My eyes which were full of dirt, are they clear now?

ANTERASTYLIS: (looking close at her eyes.) Why, even still there’s a little dirt in the middle of the eye.

ADELPHASIUM: Lend me your right hand, please.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) And would you really touch or rub her eyes with unwashed hands?

ANTERASTYLIS: Too great indolence has taken possession of us to-day.

ADELPHASIUM: For what reason, prithee?

ANTERASTYLIS: Why, because we didn’t come long since, before daylight, to the Temple of Venus, to be the first to place fire upon her altar.

ADELPHASIUM: O, there’s no need for doing that;

those who have faces suited for the night only, make haste to go and sacrifice by night; before Venus is awake, they are already hurrying with all haste to sacrifice; for if they were to come when Venus is awake, so ugly are they, upon my faith, I do believe they would drive Venus herself away from the Temple.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Milphio!

MILPHIO: (apart.) Poor Milphio, i’ faith! What do you want with me now?

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Troth now, prithee, do mark how she speaks honied wine!

MILPHIO: (apart.) Nothing at all, except tile-cakes, sesamum, and poppies, wheat and parched nuts.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Do I seem at all to be in love?

MILPHIO: (apart.) In love to your loss, a thing that Mercury is by no means in love with.

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) Why, really, by my troth, it befits no lover to be in love with pelf.

ANTERASTYLIS: Let’s go, my sister.

ADELPHASIUM: Do, please, just as you like.

Follow me this way.

ANTERASTYLIS: I’ll follow. (They move.)

AGORASTOCLES: (apart.) They are going.

What if we accost them?

MILPHIO: (apart.) You accost them.

AGORASTOCLES: (going towards them.) In the first place, health to you, the elder; and you, the younger, health to you in the second degree of estimation; (to the ATTENDANT) you, the third, health to you, without any place in my estimation.

ATTENDANT: In that case, faith, I’ve wasted my oil and my labour.

AGORASTOCLES: (to ADELPHASIUM.) Whither are you betaking yourself?

ADELPHASIUM: What I? To the Temple of Venus.

AGORASTOCLES: Why thither?

ADELPHASIUM: To propitiate Venus.

AGORASTOCLES: How now? Is she angry, then? Upon my faith, she is propitious. I will even answer for her. (Stands before her.)

ADELPHASIUM: What are you about?

Prithee, why are you annoying me?

AGORASTOCLES: Thus cruel? Alas!

ADELPHASIUM: Let me go away, I beg of you.

AGORASTOCLES: Why in such a hurry? There’s a crowd there at present.

ADELPHASIUM: I know it; there are other females there whom I wish to see, and by whom to be seen.

AGORASTOCLES: How can it give you pleasure to look at ugly people, and to afford one so beauteous to be looked at?

ADELPHASIUM: Because to-day, at the Temple of Venus, there’s a fair for the courtesans;

there the dealers meet; there I wish myself to be shown.

AGORASTOCLES: To wares unsaleable, its right to entice the buyer of one’s own accord; good wares easily meet with a purchaser, although they may be placed in concealment. How say you? When, at my house here (pointing) will you lay your head and side by me?

ADELPHASIUM: On the day on which Orcus sends away the dead from Acheron.

AGORASTOCLES: I’ve got in-doors I know not how many golden coins in a state of madness.

ADELPHASIUM: Bring them to me; I’ll make their madness pretty soon come to an end.

MILPHIO: (with indignation.) A nice one, upon my word!

AGORASTOCLES: Away to utter and extreme perdition with you, and go and be hanged!

MILPHIO: (aside to AGORASTOCLES.) The more I look at her, the more insignificant she is, and a mere bauble.

AGORASTOCLES: Keep your prating to yourself; I’m tired of it.

(To ADELPHASIUM.) Come, do lift up this outer garment. (Raises it from the ground, and attempts to embrace her.)

ADELPHASIUM: I’m in a state of purity; prithee forbear to touch me, Agorastocles.

AGORASTOCLES: What am I to do, then?

ADELPHASIUM: If you are wise, you may be saving yourself your anxiety.

AGORASTOCLES: What? Me not be anxious on your account? What are you about, Milphio? (Beckons to him.)

MILPHIO: (aside.) See now, my aversion, this. (Aloud.) What is it you want with me?

AGORASTOCLES: (pointing to ADELPHASIUM.) Why is she angry with me?

MILPHIO: Why is she angry with you? Why should I trouble myself about that? For that is rather your own concern.

AGORASTOCLES: On my word, it’s all over with you this very instant, if you don’t make her as smooth for me as the sea is at the time when the halcyon is rearing her young ones there.

MILPHIO: What am I to do?

AGORASTOCLES: Entreat her, soothe, and flatter her.

MILPHIO: I’ll do so with all diligence; but see, please, that you don’t afterwards be giving this ambassador of yours a dressing with your fists.

AGORASTOCLES: I’ll not do so.

ADELPHASIUM: (to her SISTER.) Let’s now begone. (AGORASTOCLES stands before her.) Do you detain me still? You act badly;

you make me many fair promises; of those many, the whole come to nothing at all. Not once, but a hundred times, have you sworn to give me my freedom. While depending on you, I have neither anywhere procured any other resources for myself, nor is this assistance of yours at all visible. And thus none the less am I still a slave. Move on, sister. (To AGORASTOCLES.) Get you gone from me!

AGORASTOCLES: Utterly undone! Come now, Milphio, what are you about? (Points at ADELPHASIUM.)

MILPHIO: (addressing ADELPHASIUM.) My joy, my delight, my life, my pleasure, apple of my eye, my little lip, my health, my sweet kiss, my honey, my heart, my biestings, my cream-cheese—

AGORASTOCLES: (aside.) Am I to allow these things to be said in my presence? I’m quite distracted, wretch that I am, if I don’t order him at full speed to be hurried off to the executioner in a chariot and four!

MILPHIO: (to ADELPHASIUM.) Prithee, for my sake, don’t be angry with my master. I’ll make—

ADELPHASIUM: Let me alone.

MILPHIO: You are too cross. He’ll pay the money for you, and make you a citizen of Attica, and a free woman.

ADELPHASIUM: (to MILPHIO, who is standing before her.) But why don’t you let me go away? What is it you want? Just as he wishes me well, in like manner do you wish me well.

MILPHIO: If, indeed, he has deceived you before, from this time forward he shall be truthful to you.

ADELPHASIUM: Get you gone hence, will you, you trepanner.

MILPHIO: I’ll obey you. But on what terms—do you understand?

Do let me prevail upon you; do let me take you by those little ears; do let me give you a kiss.

By my troth, I shall now set him a weeping, if I don’t make you kind; and (unless I do make you kind he certainly will do it) I’m dreadfully afraid lest he should beat me. I know the harsh manners of this crabbed man.

Wherefore, my delight, pray do let me prevail upon you.

AGORASTOCLES: (aside.) I’m not a man worth threepence, if I don’t tear out the eyes and teeth of that whip-scoundrel. (He beats MILPHIO.) There’s your delight for you! There’s your honey! There’s your heart! There are your biestings! There’s your health! There’s your sweet kiss! (Giving him a blow at each sentence.)

MILPHIO: Master, you are rendering yourself guilty of impiety! You are beating an ambassador.

AGORASTOCLES: More than that even still.

(Beating him again.) I shall now add the apple of the eye, the little lip too, and the tongue.

MILPHIO: When will you be making an end?

AGORASTOCLES: Was it in that fashion I requested you to plead for me?

MILPHIO: How then was I to plead?

AGORASTOCLES: Do you ask me that? Why thus you should have said, you scoundrel: his delight, I do entreat of you, his honey, his heart, his little lip, his tongue, his sweet kiss, his biestings, his sweet cream-cheese, you whip-scoundrel.

All these things which you spoke of as yours, you should have mentioned as mine.

MILPHIO: (addressing ADELPHASIUM.) By my troth, I do entreat you, his delight and my own aversion; his full-bosomed mistress, my enemy and evil-wisher; his eye, my eyesore; his honey, my gall— don’t you be angry with him; or, if that cannot be, do take a rope and hang yourself, with your master and your household: for I see that henceforth, on your account, I shall have to live upon sighing; and as it is, I’ve already got my back about as hard with weals as an oyster-shell, by reason of your amours.

ADELPHASIUM: Prithee, do you wish me to hinder him from beating you, rather than that he should not prove untrue towards me?

ANTERASTYLIS: (to her SISTER.) Do answer him in somewhat kindly terms, there’s a dear, that he mayn’t be annoying to us; for he’s detaining us from our purpose.

ADELPHASIUM: That’s true. This one fault more will I pardon you for, Agorastocles. I am not angry.

AGORASTOCLES: You are not?

ADELPHASIUM: I am not.

AGORASTOCLES: That I may believe you, give me a kiss then.

ADELPHASIUM: I’ll give you one by-and-by, when I return from the sacrifice.

AGORASTOCLES: Be off, then, in all haste.

ADELPHASIUM: Follow me, sister.

AGORASTOCLES: And do you hear too? Pay all compliments to Venus in my name.

ADELPHASIUM: I’ll pay them.

AGORASTOCLES: Listen to this, too—

ADELPHASIUM: What is it?

AGORASTOCLES: Perform the ceremony in few words. And do you hear? Look back at me. (She looks back.) She did look back. By my troth, I trust that Venus will do the same for you. (ADELPHASIUM, ANTERASTYLIS, and ATTENDANT go into the Temple of Venus.)

(AGORASTOCLES and MILPHIO.)

AGORASTOCLES: What now do you advise me to do, Milphio?

MILPHIO: To give me a beating, and then have an auction; for (pointing to the house) really, upon my faith, with utter impunity you might put up this house for sale.

AGORASTOCLES: Why so?

MILPHIO: For the greater part you make your dwelling in my mouth.

AGORASTOCLES: Do have done with those expressions.

MILPHIO: What now do you wish?

AGORASTOCLES: I just now gave three hundred Philippeans to the bailiff Collybiscus, before you called me out of doors. I now adjure you, Milphio, by this right hand, and by this left hand its sister, and by your eyes, and by my passion, and by my own Adelphasium, and by your liberty —

MILPHIO: Why, now you adjure me by nothing at all.

AGORASTOCLES: My dear little Milphio, my kind occasion, my safeguard, do what you promised me you would do, that I may prove the ruin of this Procurer.

MILPHIO: Why, that’s very easy to be done. Be off, bring here with you your witnesses; meanwhile, in-doors I’ll forthwith provide your bailiff with my disguise and stratagems. Make haste and be off.

AGORASTOCLES: I fly.

MILPHIO: That’s more my part than yours.

AGORASTOCLES: Should I not, should I not, if you effect this adroitly —

MILPHIO: Only do begone.

AGORASTOCLES: Ought I not this very day—

MILPHIO: Only do be off.

AGORASTOCLES: To give you freedom

MILPHIO: Only do begone.

AGORASTOCLES: By my troth, I should not deserve— ah!

MILPHIO: Bah!

Only do be off.

AGORASTOCLES: As many as are the dead in Acheron—

MILPHIO: Will you, then, move off?

AGORASTOCLES: Nor yet as many as there are waves in the sea—

MILPHIO: Are you going to move off?

AGORASTOCLES: Nor as many as there are clouds—

MILPHIO: Do you persist in going on this way?

AGORASTOCLES: Nor as there are stars in heaven—

MILPHIO: Do you persist in dinning my ears?

AGORASTOCLES: Neither this thing nor that; nor yet, indeed, seriously speaking—nor, by my faith, indeed. What need is there of words? And why not?—a thing that in one word—here we may say anything we please—and yet, i’ faith, not seriously in reality. D’ye see how’tis? So may the Gods bless me!—do you wish me to tell you in honest truth?

A thing that here we may between ourselves—so help me Jupiter— Do you see how? Look you—do you believe what I tell you?

MILPHIO: If I cannot make you go away, I shall go away myself: for really, upon my faith, there’s need of an Oedipus as a diviner for this speech of yours, him who was the interpreter to the Sphinx. (He goes into the house of AGORASTOCLES.)

AGORASTOCLES: He has gone off in a passion; now must I beware, lest, through my own fault, I place an impediment in the way of my love. I’ll go and fetch the witnesses, since love commands me, a free man, to be obedient to my own slave. (Exit.)