LACH. Examine {her}; here she is; she herself will satisfy you. PHID. Why do you tell me these things? {Is it} because you have not already heard what my feelings are with regard to this matter, Laches? Do you only satisfy their minds. LACH. Troth now, Bacchis, I do entreat that what you have promised me you will do. BACCH. Would you wish me, then, to go in about this business? LACH. Go, and satisfy their minds, so as to make them believe it. BACCH. I’ll go: although, upon my word, I am quite sure that my presence will be disagreeable to them, for a married woman is the enemy of a mistress, when she has been separated from her husband. LACH. But they will be your friends, when they know the reason of your coming. PHID. And I promise that they shall be your friends, when they know the fact; for you will release them from their mistake, and yourself, at the same time, from suspicion. BACCH. Wretched me! I’m ashamed {to meet} Philumena. (_To her ATTENDANTS._) Do you both follow me into the house. (_Goes into the house with PHIDIPPUS and her ATTENDANTS._) LACH. (_to himself._) What is there that I could more wish for, than what I see has happened to this woman? To gain favor without loss to myself, and to benefit myself at {the same time}. For if now it is the fact that she has really withdrawn from Pamphilus, she knows that by that step she has acquired honor and reputation: she returns the favor to him, and, by the same means, attaches us as friends to herself. (_Goes into the house._) ACT THE FIFTH. SCENE I. _Enter PARMENO, moving along with difficulty._ PAR. (_to himself._) Upon my faith, my master does assuredly think my labor of little value; to have sent me for nothing, where I have been sitting the whole day to no purpose, waiting at the citadel for Callidemides, his landlord at Myconos. And so, while sitting there to-day, {like} a fool, as each person came by, I accosted him:-- “Young man, just tell me, pray, are you a Myconian?” “I am not.” “But is your name Callidemides?” “No.” “Have you any {former} guest here {named} Pamphilus?” All said. “No; and I don’t believe that there is any such person.” At last, i’ faith, I was quite ashamed, {and} went away. But how is it I see Bacchis coming out of our neighbor’s? What business can she have there? SCENE II. _Enter BACCHIS, from the house of PHIDIPPUS._ BACCH. Parmeno, you make your appearance opportunely; run with all speed[60] to Pamphilus. PAR. Why thither? BACCH. Say that I entreat him to come. PAR. To your house? BACCH. No; to Philumena. PAR. What’s the matter? BACCH. Nothing that concerns you; so cease to make inquiry. PAR. Am I to say nothing else? BACCH. Yes; that Myrrhina has recognized that ring as her daughter’s, which he formerly gave me. PAR. I understand-- is that all? BACCH. That’s all. He will be here directly he has heard this from you. But do you linger?