Oh, honey, there’s a dear, now!  Even if it’s all so, he’s your own boy:  where do you think he’s to get money, except from your own generous self?  Do let me persuade you to forgive them.

Nic.

  Ut terebrat! satin offirmatum
  quod mihi erat, id me exorat? 1200
  tua sum opera et propter te improbior.

(half aside) How she does drill through a man!  Is she actually persuading me against my fixed intention? (giving up the struggle and yielding to Bacchis’s caresses) I’m a reprobate now, and all because of you and your efforts.

Bacch.

  Ne tis[32] quam mea mavellem.
  satin ego istuc habeo firmatum?

      (softly and tenderly) Oh, I do wish it had been your
      efforts rather than (giving her sister a dreary smile)
      mine.  So I’m actually to take that as your fixed intention?

Nic.

  Quod semel dixi haud mutabo

      What I have once said I won’t change.

Bacch.

  It dies, ite intro accubitum,
  filii vos exspectant intus.

      The day is going:  go inside and take your places on the
      couches.  Your sons are within waiting for you.

Nic.

  Quam quidem actutum emoriamur.

      (dryly) Yes, waiting for us to breathe our last with
      celerity.

Soror

  Vesper hic est, sequimini.

      It’s evening:  come along.

Nic.

  Ducite nos quo lubet tamquam quidem addictos.

Take us where you please, just as if we were your veritable
bond servants.

Bacch.

Lepide ipsi hi sunt capti, suis qui filiis fecere insidias.

(aside to spectators) Here they are, prettily caught
themselves—­after laying traps for their sons.
[EXEUNT OMNES INTO HOUSE OF Bacchis.

GREX

EPILOGUE

SPOKEN BY THE COMPANY.

Hi senes nisi fuissent nihili iam inde ab adulescentia, non hodie hoc tantum flagitium facerent canis capitibus; neque adeo haec faceremus, ni antehac vidissemus fieri, ut apud lenones rivales filiis fierent patres. 1210 spectatores, vos valere volumus et clare adplaudere.

Unless these old men had been worthless from their very youth, they would not be guilty of such an enormity as this to-day when their heads are hoary; nor, indeed, would we have presented such a comedy, unless we had seen before now how fathers become their sons’ rivals at places of unsavoury repute.  Spectators, we wish you health and—­your loud applause.

* * * * *

    [Footnote 1:  Leo notes lacuna here:  aedis Ritschl.]