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EUCLIO, alone.
EUCLIO
going to the door of his house, he opens it, and calls to STAPHYLA within . Where are you who have now been blabbing to all my neighbours that I'm going to give a portion to my daughter? Hallo! Staphyla, I'm calling you! Don't you hear? Make haste in-doors there, and wash the vessels clean. I've promised my daughter in marriage; to-day I shall give her to be married to Megadorus here. from the house. STAPHYLA
as she enters . May the Gods bestow their blessings on it! But, i' faith, it cannot be; 'tis too sudden. EUCLIO
Hold your tongue, and be off. Take care that things are ready when I return home from the Forum, and shut the house up. I shall be here directly. (Exit.) STAPHYLA
What now am I to do? Now is ruin near at hand for us, both for myself and my master's daughter; for her disgrace and her delivery are upon the very point of becoming known; that which even until now has been concealed and kept secret, cannot be so now. I'll go in-doors, that what my master ordered may be done when he comes. But, by my faith, I do fear that I shall have to drink of a mixture of bitterness1! (Exit.)
1 A mixture of bitterness: Hildyard suggests that Staphyla is fond of a drop, and likes her liquors neat ("merum"), wherefore it is a double misfortune to her, not only to endure misfortunes, but those of a "mixed" nature. "Mixtum" was the term applied to the wine, when mixed with its due proportion of water for drinking.
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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