[Footnote 99: _A morning entertainment_)--Ver. 969. A banquet in the early part or middle of the day was considered by the Greeks a debauch.] [Footnote 100: _Be a free man_)--Ver. 974. He touches Syrus on the ear, and makes him free. The same occurs in the Epidicus of Plautus, Act V., Sc. 2, l. 65.] [Footnote 101: _My wife, Phrygia_)--Ver. 977. The so-called marriage, or rather cohabitation, of the Roman slaves will be found treated upon in the Notes to Plautus. Syrus calls Phrygia his wife on anticipation that she will become a free woman.] [Footnote 102: _Receive the amount from me_)--Ver. 981. The only sign of generosity he has yet shown.] [Footnote 103: _This sudden liberality_)--Ver. 989. “Quid prolubium? Quae istæc subita est largitas?” Madame Dacier tells us that this passage was borrowed from Coecilius, the Comic Poet.] [Footnote 104: _Let him have his mistress_)--Ver. 1001. It must be remembered that he has the notions of a Greek parent, and sees no such criminality in this sanction as a parent would be sensible of at the present day.] * * * * * * * * * HECYRA; THE MOTHER-IN-LAW DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. LACHES,[1] an aged Athenian, father of Pamphilus. PHIDIPPUS,[2] an aged Athenian, father of Philumena. PAMPHILUS,[3] son of Laches. SOSIA,[4] servant of Pamphilus. PARMENO,[5] servant of Sostrata. SOSTRATA,[6] wife of Laches. MYRRHINA,[7] wife of Phidippus. BACCRIS,[8] a Courtesan. PHILOTIS,[9] a Courtesan. SYRA,[10] a Procuress. _Scene._--Athens; before the houses of LACHES, PHIDIPPUS, and BACCHIS. THE SUBJECT.