husband had----

CHREM. (_starting._) Ha!

DEM. What's the matter?

PHOR. Another {wife} at Lemnos--

CHREM. (_aside._) I'm ruined!

PHOR. By whom he had a daughter; and her he is secretly bringing up.

CHREM. (_aside._) I'm {dead and} buried!

PHOR. This I shall assuredly now inform her of. (_Walks toward the
house._)

CHREM. (_running and catching hold of him._) I beg of you, don't do
so.

PHOR. (_with a careless air._) Oh, were you the person?

DEM. What a jest he's making {of us}.

CHREM. (_to PHORMIO._) We'll let you off.

PHOR. Nonsense.

CHREM. What would you have? We'll forgive you the money you've got.

PHOR. I hear you. Why the plague, then, do you {two} trifle with me in
this way, you silly men, with your childish speeches-- "I won't, {and}
I will; I will, {and} I won't," over again: "keep it, give it me back;
what has been said, is unsaid; what had been just a bargain, is {now}
no bargain."

CHREM. (_aside, to DEMIPHO._) In what manner, or from whom has he come
to know of this?

DEM. (_aside._) I don't know; but that I've told it to no one, I know
for certain.

CHREM. (_aside._) So may the Gods bless me, 'tis as good as a miracle.

PHOR. (_aside, to himself._) I've graveled them.

DEM. (_apart, to CHREMES._) Well now, is he to be carrying off[87]
from us such a sum of money as this, and so palpably to impose upon
us? By heavens, I'd sooner die. Manage to show yourself of resolute
and ready wit. You see that this slip of yours has got abroad, and
that you can not now possibly conceal it from your wife; it is then
more conducive to our quiet, Chremes, ourselves to disclose what she
will be hearing from others; {and} then, in our own fashion, we shall
be able to take vengeance upon this dirty fellow.

PHOR. (_aside, to himself._) Good lack-a-day, {now's} the
sticking-point, if I don't look out for myself. They are making toward
me with a gladiatorial air.

CHREM. (_apart, to DEMIPHO._) But I doubt whether it's possible for
her to be appeased.

DEM. (_apart, to CHREMES._) Be of good courage; I'll effect a
reconciliation between you; remembering this, Chremes, that she is
dead[88] and gone by whom you had this girl.

PHOR. (_in a loud voice._) Is this the way you are going to deal with
me? Very cleverly {done}. Come on with you. By heavens, Demipho, you
have provoked me, not to his advantage (_pointing at CHREMES_). How
say you? (_addressing CHREMES_). When you've been doing abroad