_Mysis._ Why? _Davus._ It must be so. _Mysis._ Make haste then. _Davus._ I’ll return directly, I tell you. [_Goes into the house._ SCENE VI. MYSIS (_alone._) Is there no reliance to be placed in any thing in this world? Heaven preserve me, I thought Pamphilus my mistress’s chief blessing: a friend, a lover, a husband, always ready to cherish and protect her: but, alas! what misery does she now endure on his account: hitherto he has been to her a source of more evil than good[170]. But here comes Davus! bless me, man, what are you about? where are you going to carry the child? SCENE VII. MYSIS, DAVUS, (_with Glycera’s child._) _Davus._ Now, Mysis, I want you to assist me in this affair with all your ready wit, artifice, and dexterity. _Mysis._ What are you going to do? _Davus._ Take the child from me directly, and lay him down at our door[171]. _Mysis._ Mercy on me! what, upon the bare ground? _Davus._ You may take some of the herbs from that altar, and strew them under him[172]. _Mysis._ But why don’t you lay him there yourself? _Davus._ That if my master should require me to swear that I did not do it; I may take the oath with a safe conscience[173]. _Mysis._ I understand you. But tell me, Davus, how long has your conscience been so scrupulously nice? _Davus._ Make haste, that I may tell you further what I mean to do. Oh, Jupiter! _Mysis._ What? _Davus._ (_to himself._) The father of the bride is coming this way: I abandon my first design. _Mysis._ I don’t understand this[174]. _Davus._ I will pretend to come from the right: do you take care to second what I say, as you see occasion. [_he retires_ _Mysis._ I can’t make out a syllable of all this: but, if I can be of any use, (which you know better than I,) I will stay; lest, otherwise, I should be any hinderance to your plans. SCENE VIII. CHREMES, MYSIS, DAVUS. _Chremes._ (_to himself._) Well, having prepared every thing for the marriage of my daughter, I am returned to inform them that they may now send for her. But what do I see? by Hercules, ’tis a child! Woman, did you lay it there? _Mysis._ Where can Davus be? _Chremes._ Why don’t you answer me? _Mysis._ (_aside._) Ah! he is not here. Mercy on me, the fellow has left me here, and gone away. _Davus._ (_speaking loud, and pretending not to see Chremes._) Heavens! what a crowd there is in the Forum! what a wrangling! provisions too are very dear. (_Aside._) What else to say I know not. _Mysis._ (_aside to Davus._) In Heaven’s name, how could you think of leaving me here alone? _Davus._ (_aloud._) Ha! what plot is this? Mysis, whose child is this? who brought it here? _Mysis._ (_aside to Davus._) Are you mad to ask me such a question?