Now I'll have to use my voice. Nausistrata! Come out here! _Chr._ Stop his mouth. _Dem._ [_trying to do so, without success_]. See how strong the rascal is. _Pho._ I say, Nausistrata! _Chr._ Won't you keep still? _Pho._ Not much. Nausistrata now appears at the door of her house; Phormio, seeing her, says, panting but gleeful: Here's where my revenge comes in. _Naus._ Who's calling me? [_Seeing the disordered and excited condition of the men_]. Why, what's all this row about, husband? Who is this man? [_Chremes remains tongue-tied_]. Won't you answer me? _Pho._ How can he answer you, when, by George, he doesn't know where he is? _Chr._ [_trembling with fear_]. Don't you believe a word he says. _Pho._ Go, touch him; if he isn't frozen stiff, you may strike me dead. _Chr._ It isn't so. _Naus._ What is this man talking about, then? _Pho._ You shall hear; just listen. _Chr._ You aren't going to believe him? _Naus._ Good gracious, how can I believe one who hasn't said anything yet? _Pho._ The poor fellow is crazy with fear. _Naus._ Surely it's not for nothing that you are so afraid. _Chr._ [_with chattering teeth_]. Wh-wh-who's afraid? _Pho._ Well then, since you're not afraid, and what I say is nothing, you tell the story yourself. _Dem._ Scoundrel! Shall he speak at your bidding? _Pho._ [_contemptuously_]. O you! you've done a fine thing for your brother. _Naus._ Husband, won't you speak to me? _Chr._ Well--_Naus._ Well? _Chr._ There's no need of my talking. _Pho._ You're right; but there's need of her knowing. In Lemnos-- _Chr._ O don't! _Pho._ unbeknown to you-- _Chr._ O me! _Pho._ he took another wife. _Naus._ [_screaming_]. My husband! Heaven forbid. _Pho._ But it's so, just the same. _Naus._ O wretched me! _Pho._ And by her he had a daughter--also unbeknown to you. _Naus._ By all the gods, a shameful and evil deed! _Pho._ But it's so, just the same. _Naus._ It's the most outrageous thing I ever heard of. [_Turning her back on Chremes_]. Demipho, I appeal to you; for I am too disgusted to speak to him again. Was _this_ the meaning of those frequent journeys and long stays at Lemnos? Was _this_ why my rents ran down so? _Dem._ Nausistrata, I don't deny that he has been very much to blame in this matter; but is that any reason why you should not forgive him? _Pho._ He's talking for the dead. _Dem._ For it wasn't through any scorn or dislike of you that he did it. And besides, the other woman is dead who was the cause of all this trouble. So I beg you to bear this with equanimity as you do other things. _Naus._ Why should I bear it with equanimity? I wish this were the end of the wretched business; but why should I hope it will be? Am I to think that he will be better now he's old? But he was old before, if that makes any difference. Or am I any more beautiful and attractive now than I was, Demipho? What assurance can you give me that this won't happen again?