“Neque ullum verbum faciat perplexabile, neque ulla lingua sciat loqui nisi Attica, forte si tussire occepsit, ne sic tussiat, ut cuiquam linguam in tussiendo proserat. quod illa autem simulet, quasi gravedo profluat, hoc ne sic faciat:  tu labellum abstergeas potius quam cuiquam savium faciat palam.

“She must use no phrase of double meaning, and must know how to speak no language but the Attic.  If she should happen to cough, she is not to cough so, (illustrating) in such a way as to extend her tongue toward anyone.  Moreover, in case she pretends to have a running cold, she must not do this:  (purses his lips) you are to wipe her little lip yourself rather than let her pucker up her mouth for anyone so obviously.

nec mater lena ad vinum accedat interim, nec ulli verbo male dicat. si dixerit, 800 haec multa ei esto, vino viginti dies ut careat.”

“Nor shall the Madame, her mother, drop in while you are having your wine, or say a single abusive word to anyone.  If such a word be said by her, the penalty shall be this—­ no wine for her for twenty days.”

Diab.

  Pulchre scripsti. scitum syngraphum.

      Splendid document!  Capital contract!

Par.

“Tum si coronas, serta, unguenta iusserit ancillam ferre Veneri aut Cupidini, tuos servos servet, Venerine eas det an viro. si forte pure velle habere dixerit, 800 tot noctes reddat spurcas quot pure habuerit.” haec sunt non nugae, non enim mortualia.

“Then if she bid her maid carry chaplets, wreaths, perfumes to Venus or to Cupid, your servant shall observe whether she gives them to Venus, or to a man.  Should she happen to express a wish for religious seclusion, she must give you as many hours of love as she has of loneliness.”  These be no trifles; these be no dirges for dead folk, I tell you.  The terms are highly satisfactory.  Follow me in.

Diab.

  Placent profecto leges, sequere intro.

      Very well.

Par.

  Sequor.

      [EXEUNT INTO Cleareta’s HOUSE:  SOUND OF WRANGLING WITHIN: 
      RE-ENTER Diabolus AND Parasite FROM HOUSE.

IV. 2.

    Scene 2.

Diab.

Sequere hac, egone haec patiar aut taceam? emori 810 me malim, quam haec non eius uxori indicem. ain tu? apud amicam munus adulescentuli fungare, uxori excuses te et dicas senem? praeripias scortum amanti atque argentum obicias lenae? suppiles clam domi uxorem tuam?

(incensed) Come along!  I put up with this?  I hold my tongue?  I’d rather perish from the earth than not let it out to his wife! (shouting to Demaenetus within) You will, will you?  You will