_Pistoclerus has received a letter from his friend Mnesilochus at Ephesus asking for help in his love affair. He has been captivated by a girl there named Bacchis, who has been hired for a year by a certain Captain Cleomachus and taken by him to Athens. Mnesilochus wishes his friend to find Bacchis and obtain her release from the Captain. A servant of Bacchis of Athens has gone down to the harbour and comes back to her mistress with the report that her sister Bacchis has arrived. In charge of a slave of the Captain’s this sister appears. The sisters meet with Pistoclerus, who is in search of his friend’s sweetheart, and determine to make him useful._ FRAGMENTA FRAGMENTS quibus ingenium in animo utibilest, modicum et sine vernilitate I (IV G) Those with a mental make-up of the right sort, modest and civil. vincla, virgae, molae: saevitudo mala fit peior II (V) Shackles, whips, work in the mill: frightful cruelty gets to be more frightful. converrite[1] scopis, agite strenue III (VI) Sweep (it) up with your brooms: come, be lively. ecquis evocat IV (VII) cum nassiterna et cum aqua istum impurissimum? Some one call out that vile wretch with a big pail and some water. sicut lacte lactis similest V (VIII) As much alike as two drops of milk are. _Bacch._ illa mi cognominis fuit VI (III) She had the same name as myself latro suam qui auro vitam venditat VII (IX) A mercenary who sells his life for gold. scio spiritum eius maiorem esse multo VIII (X) quam folles taurini habent, cum liquescunt petrae, ferrum ubi fit. I’m sure his breathing’s much louder than the puffs from a bull’s-hide bellows when they’re melting rocks at the iron-works. Cuiatis tibi visust? IX (XI) Praenestinum opino esse, ita erat gloriosus. neque id haud subditiva gloria oppidum arbitror. Where does he come from, do you think? Praeneste, probably, to judge from his boasting. I don’t think the town’s fame is at all supposititious. _Puer._ ne a quoquam acciperes alio mercedem annuam, X (XVII) nisi ab sese, nec cum quiquam limares caput. _Page_ Not to let you take a yearly fee from anyone else but him, or rub heads with anyone. limaces viri XI (XVIII) Slugs of men. cor meum, spes mea, XII (XIII) mel meum, suavitudo, cibus, gaudium. My heart, my hope, my honey, sweetness, food delight. sine te amem XIII (XIV)