MEN. (_to himself._) I am {quite} aware that I am not so overwise, or so very quick-sighted; but this assistant, prompter, and director[90] of mine, Chremes, outdoes me in that. Any one of those epithets which are applied to a fool is suited to myself, such as dolt, post, ass,[91] lump of lead; to him not one can {apply}; his stupidity surpasses them all. _Enter CHREMES, speaking to SOSTRATA within._ CHREM. Hold now, do, wife, leave off dinning the Gods with thanksgivings that your daughter has been discovered; unless you judge of them by your own disposition, and think that they understand nothing, unless the same thing has been told them a hundred times. But, in the mean time, why does my son linger there so long with Syrus? MEN. What persons do you say are lingering? CHREM. Ha! Menedemus, you have come opportunely. Tell me, have you told Clinia what I said? MEN. Every thing. CHREM. What did he say? MEN. He began to rejoice, just like people do who wish to be married. CHREM. (_laughing._) Ha! ha! ha! MEN. Why are you laughing? CHREM. The sly tricks of my servant, Syrus, {just} came into my mind. MEN. Did they? CHREM. The rogue can even mould the countenances of people.[92] MEN. That my son is pretending that he is overjoyed, is it that you mean? CHREM. Just so. (_Laughing._) MEN. The very same thing came into my mind. CHREM. A crafty knave! MEN. Still more would you think such to be the fact, if you knew more. CHREM. Do you say so? MEN. Do you give attention then? CHREM. Just stop-- first I want to know this, what {money} you have squandered; for when you told your son that she was promised, of course Dromo would at once throw in a word that golden jewels, clothes, {and} attendants would be needed for the bride, in order that you might give the money. MEN. No. CHREM. How, no? MEN. No, I tell you. CHREM. Nor yet your son himself? MEN. Not in the slightest, Chremes. He was only the more pressing on {this} one point, that the match might be concluded to-day. CHREM. You say what’s surprising. What did my {servant} Syrus do? Didn’t even he {say} any thing? MEN. Nothing at all. CHREM. For what reason, I don’t know. MEN. For my part, I wonder at {that}, when you know other things so well. But this same Syrus has moulded your son,[93] too, to such perfection, that there could not be even the slightest suspicion that she is {Clinia’s} mistress! CHREM. What do you say? MEN. Not to mention, then, their kissing and embracing; that I count nothing. CHREM. What more could be done to carry on the cheat? MEN. Pshaw! CHREM. What do you mean? MEN. Only listen. In the inner part of my house there is a certain room at the back; into this a bed was brought, {and} was made up with bed-clothes. CHREM. What took place after this? MEN. No sooner said than done, thither went Clitipho. CHREM. Alone? MEN. Alone. CHREM. I’m alarmed. MEN. Bacchis followed directly. CHREM. Alone? MEN. Alone. CHREM. I’m undone!