Act IV, Scene VI

Enter CLITIPHO.

CLIT. (to himself.) There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it with reluctance. As this walk of mine, for instance, though not fatiguing, it has reduced me to weariness. And now I dread nothing more than that I should be packed off somewhere hence once again, that I may not have access to Bacchis. May then all the Gods and Goddesses, as many as exist, confound you, Syrus, with these stratagems and plots of yours. You are always devising something of this kind, by means of which to torture me.

SYR. Will you not away with you-- to where you deserve? How nearly had your forwardness proved my ruin!

CLIT. Upon my faith, I wish it had been so; just what you deserve.

SYR. Deserve? How so? Really, I’m glad that I’ve heard this from you before you had the money which I was just going to give you.

CLIT. What then would you have me to say to you? You’ve made a fool of me; brought my mistress hither, whom I’m not allowed to touch----

SYR. Well, I’m not angry then. But do you know where Bacchis is just now?

CLIT. At our house.

SYR. No.

CLIT. Where then?

SYR. At Clinia’s.

CLIT. I’m ruined!

SYR. Be of good heart; you shall presently carry to her the money that you promised her.

CLIT. You do prate away. --Where from?

SYR. From your own father.

CLIT. Perhaps you are joking with me.

SYR. The thing itself will prove it.

CLIT. Indeed, then, I am a lucky man. Syrus, I do love you from my heart.

SYR. But your father’s coming out. Take care not to express surprise at any thing, for what reason it is done; give way at the proper moment; do what he orders, and say but little.