to himself. With your utmost power and might always try and endeavour that your younger masterYour younger master: "Herus minor." One version renders these words, "your master when thrown down." That surely cannot be the meaning of the passage. may by your aid be preserved. Come then, Acanthio, away with weariness from you; take care and be on your guard against sloth. At the same time put an end to this panting; troth, I can hardly fetch my breath; at the same time, too, drive right full against all those persons who come in the way, shove them aside, and push them into the road. This custom here is a very bad one; no one thinks it proper for him to give way to one who is running and in haste; and thus three things must be done at the same moment, when you have commenced upon but one; you must both run and fight, and squabble as well, upon the road.

apart. What's the reason of this, that he's requiring speed for himself at a rate so rapid? I have some anxiety, what the business is, or what news he brings.

to himself. I'm trifling about it. The more I stop, the greater the risk that's run.

apart. He brings news of some misfortune, I know not what.

to himself. His knees are failing this runner. I'm undone, my spleen is in rebellionSpleen is in rebellion: He alludes to the expansion of the spleen by the act of running fast., it's taking possession of my breast. I'm done up, I can't draw my breath. A very worthless piper should I be. I' faith, not all the baths will ever remove this lassitude from me. Am I to say that my master Charinus is at home or abroad?

apart. I'm doubtful in my mind what the matter is; I'd like for myself to learn of him, that I may become acquainted with it.

to himself. But why still standing here? Why still hesitating to make splinters of this door? Knocks at the door of DEMIPHO'S house, and calls. Open the door, some one. Where's my master, Charinus? Is he at home or abroad? Does any one think fit to come to the door?

presenting himself. Why, here am I, whom you're looking for, Acanthio.

not seeing him. There is nowhere a more lazy management than in his house.

What matter is afflicting you so terribly?

turning round. Many, master, both yourself and me.

What's the matter?

We are undone.

That beginning do you present unto our foes.

But your own self it has befallen, as fate would have it.

Tell me this matter, whatever it is.

Quietly—I want to take a rest. He pants.

But, i' faith, do take the skirt of your coat Skirt of your coat: "Laciniam." The "laciniæ" were the angular extremities of the "pallium," and the "toga," one of which was brought round over the left shoulder. It was generally tucked into the girdle, but was sometimes allowed to hang loose. From the present passage, we may conclude that it was sometimes devoted to the purposes of a pocket-handkerchief., and wipe the sweat from off you.

For your sake, I've burst the veins of my lungs; I'm spitting blood already. He spits.

Swallow Ægyptian resin with honey; you'll make it all right.

Then, i' faith, do you drink hot pitch Drink hot pitch: Commentators have been at a loss to know why Acanthio should be so annoyed at the recommendation of Charinus, and why he should answer him in these terms. The ingenious Rost seems in a great measure to have hit upon the true meaning of the passage. Charinus tells him that a mixture of resin and honey is good for the lungs. Now, from what Pliny says, B. 24, ch. 6, we should have reason to suppose that some kinds of resin were used in diseases of the lungs. But, on the other hand, Aristotle, in his History of Animals, B. 8, ch. 24, mentions a certain resin called "sandonache," which was of a poisonous nature. Acanthio, then, may have been frightened from a previous knowledge of the doubtful nature of resins as a remedy; he may also have heard that the Egyptians preserved their mummies with honey and resin, and his stomach may have revolted at swallowing such a mixture; and, thinking that his master is trifling with him, he answers him in anger. The latter explanation will appear the more probable when we remember, that as honey and resin were used for the embalming of the higher classes, the bodies of the poorer persons in Egypt were preserved by being dipped in pitch; and though this did not suggest itself to Rost, it is not improbable that the servant intends by his answer to repay his master in the same coin. Perhaps he may have imagined that his master intended him to swallow the mixture in a hot, melted state, just as when it was injected into the mummies. Persons convicted of blasphemy were sometimes condemned to swallow melted pitch; then your troubles will vanish.

I know no one a more tetchy fellow than yourself.

And I know no one more abusive than yourself

But what if I'm persuading you to that which I take to be for your benefit?

Away with benefit of that sort, that's accompanied with pain.

Tell me, is there any good at all that any one can enjoy entirely without evil; or where you mustn't endure labour when you wish to enjoy it?

I don't understand these things; I never learnt to philosophize, and don't know how. I don't want any good to be given me, to which evil is an accompaniment.

extending his hand. Come now, Acanthio, give me your right hand.

It shall be given; there then, take it. Gives his hand.

Do you intend yourself to be obedient to me, or don't you intend it?

You may judge by experience, as I've ruptured myself with running for your sake, in order that what I knew, you might have the means of knowing directly.

I'll make you a free man within a few months.

You are smoothing me down.

What, should I presume ever to make mention of an untrue thing to you? On the contrary, before I said so, you knew already whether I intend to utter an untruth.

Ah! your words, upon my faith, are increasing my weakness. You are worrying me to death!

What, is this the way you're obedient to me?

What do you want me to do?

What, you? What I want is this—

What is it then that you do want?

I'll tell you.

Tell me, then.

But still, I'd like to do it in a quiet way.

Are you afraid lest you should wake the drowsy Spectators The drowsy Spectators: No wonder if this most tiresome dialogue has sent them to sleep. from their nap?

Woe be to you!

For my part, that same am I bringing to you from the harbour.

What are you bringing? Tell me.

Violence, alarm, torture, care, strife, and beggary.

I'm undone! You really are bringing me hither a store of evils. I'm ruined outright.

Why, yes, you are—

I know it already; you'll be saying I'm wretched.

'Tis you have said so; I'm mum.

What mishap is this?

Don't enquire. It is a very great calamity.

Prithee, do relieve me at once. Too long a time have I been in suspense.

Softly; I still wish to make many enquiries before I'm beaten.

By my troth, you assuredly will be beaten, unless you say at once, or get away from here.

Do look at that, please, how he does coax me; there's no one more flattering when he sets about it.

By heavens, I do entreat and beseech you to disclose to me at once what it is; inasmuch as I see that I must be the suppliant of my own servant.

And do I seem so unworthy of it?

Oh no, quite worthy.

Well, so I thought.

Prithee, is the ship lost?

The ship's all right; don't fear about that.

Well then, the rest of the cargo?

That's right and tight.

Why then don't you tell me what it is, for which, just now, running through the city, you were seeking me?

Really, you are taking the words out of my mouth.

I'll hold my tongue.

Do hold your tongue. I doubt, if I brought you any good news, you'd be dreadfully pressing, who are now insisting upon my speaking out, when you must hear bad news.

Troth then, prithee do you let me know what this misfortune is.

Since you beg of me, I'll tell you. Your father—

My father did what?

Your mistress—

What about her?

He has seen her.

Seen her? Ah wretch that I am! What I ask you, answer me.

Nay, but do you ask me, if you want anything.

How could he see her?

With his eyes.

In what way?

Wide open.

Away hence and be hanged. You are trifling, when my life's at stake.

How the plague am I trifling, if I answer you what you ask me?

Did he see her for certain?

Aye, troth, as certainly as I see you and you see me.

Where did he see her?

Down on board the ship, as he stood near the prow and chatted with her.

Father, you have undone me. Come now, you, come now, you sir? Why, you whip-rascal, didn't you take care that he mightn't see her? Why, villain, didn't you stow her away, that my father mightn't perceive her?

Because we were busily employed about our business; we were engaged in packing up and arranging the cargo. While these things were being done, your father was brought alongside in a very small boat; and not an individual beheld the man until he was aboard the ship.

In vain have I escaped the sea with its dreadful tempests! Just now I really did suppose that I was both ashore and in a place of safety; but I see that by the raging waves I am being hurried towards the rocks. Say on; what took place?

After he espied the woman, he began to ask her to whom she belonged.

What did she answer?

That instant I ran up and interposed, saying that you had bought her as a maid-servant for your mother.

Did he seem to believe you in that?

Do you e'en ask me that? Why the rogue began to take liberties with her.

Prithee, what, with her?

'Twere a wonder if he had taken liberties with myself.

By heavens, my heart is saddened, which, drop by drop is melting away, just as though you were to put salt in water. I'm undone.

Aye, aye, that one expression have you most truly uttered.

This is mere folly. What shall I do? I do think. my father won't believe me if I say that I bought her for my mother; and then, besides, it seems to me a shame that I should tell a lie to my parent. He'll neither believe, nor indeed is it credible, that I bought this woman of surpassing beauty as a maid-servant for my mother.

Won't you be quiet, you most silly man? Troth, he will believe it, for he just now believed me.

I'm dreadfully afraid that a suspicion will reach my father how the matter really stands. Prithee, answer me this that I ask you.

What do you ask?

Did he seem to suspect that she was my mistress?

He did not seem. On the contrary, in everything, just as I said it, he believed me.

As being true-as he seemed to yourself at least.

Not so; but he really did believe me.

Ah! wretched man that I am! I'm ruined! But why do I kill myself here with repining, and don't be off to the ship? Follow me. Hastening along.

If you go that way, you'll conveniently come slap upon your father. As soon as he shall see you, dismayed and out of spirits, at once he'll be stopping you, and enquiring where you bought her, and for how much you bought her; he'll be trying you in your dismay.

turning about. I'll go this way in preference. Do you think that by this my father has left the harbour?

Why, it was for that reason I ran before him hither, that he mightn't come upon you unawares and fish it out of you.

Very properly done. (Exeunt.)