weeping. No woman ever will be, or ever has been, more wretched than myself in being married to such a husband. Alas! unhappy that I am! Just see, to what a husband have you committed yourself and the property you have! Just see, to what a person I brought ten talents for a portion; that I should see these things, that I should endure these insults.

behind. I' troth, I'm undone; my wife's returned from the country already. I do believe she has seen the damsel in the house. But what she says I cannot distinctly hear from hence; I'll go nearer to her. Approaches her.

Ah! woe to wretched me!

behind. Aye, and to me as well.

I'm utterly undone!

behind. As for me, i' faith, to my sorrow I'm downright undone! she has seen her. May all the Gods confound you, Demipho!

I' troth, this was it, why my husband wouldn't go into the country.

behind. What shall I do now, but go up and speak to her? Goes up to her. The husband bids health to his wife. Are the country people Are the country people: There has been much discussion as to the meaning of this passage; it seems, however, pretty clear that it is only an indirect way of asking Dorippa why she has so suddenly left the country for town. Colman thinks, with some of the older Commentators, that Dorippa pouts, and makes no return to her husband's salutation, on which he observes that the town gentry are grown as unmannerly as the country bumpkins. The context will admit of this explanation, but it seems rather far-fetched. becoming townsfolk?

They are acting more decently than those who are not become country people.

Are the people in the country at all in fault?

I' faith, less so than the townsfolk, and much less mischief do they meet with for themselves.

But in what have the townsfolk done wrong? Tell me that.

Whose woman is that in the house?

What, have you seen her?

I have seen her.

Whose is she, do you ask?

I shall find out, in spite of you; i' faith, I long to know. But you are trying me on purpose.

Do you wish me to tell you whose she is? She, she— Aside. Ah me! upon my faith, I don't know what to say.

Do you hesitate?

aside. I never saw one who did it more.

But why don't you tell me?

Nay, but if I may—

You ought to tell me.

I cannot, you hurry me so; you press me as though were guilty.

ironically. I know you are free from all guilt.

Speak out as boldly as you please.

Tell me, then.

I, tell you?

Why, it must be told, in spite of everything.

She is— Do you wish me tell her name as well?

You are trifling. I've caught you in the fact; you are guilty.

Guilty of what? If now I had no occasion for silence, now I shouldn't tell you I shouldn't tell you: This he says, in his confusion, by mistake for "I should tell you.". Why, this same woman is —

Who is she?

She—

Marry, come up! don't you know who she is?

Why, yes, I do know. I've been chosen as an arbitrator with respect to her.

An arbitrator? Now I know; you have invited her here to consult with you.

Why no; she has been given me as a deposit.

ironically. I understand.

By my troth, it's not anything of that sort.

You are clearing yourself too soon Clearing yourself too soon: "Numero." Rost thinks that this means "you have quite," or "satisfactorily cleared yourself;" Dorippa, of course, saying so in an ironical manner. She seems, however, rather to allude to his defending himself before he is accused. Lysimachus pretends that some persons have disputed the possession of Pasicompsa, and that she has been left in his hands by mutual consent, till he has given his decision..

aside. Too much of a business have I met with; really I'm stuck fast.