AESCHINUS. This is sheer torture! I never thought to receive such a cruel blow. I just can’t think what I’m to do with myself or what to do at all. I’m numb with terror, dazed with fear, robbed of reasoning power! How can I find a way out of this confusion? This awful suspicion – it all seemed so natural! Sostrata is convinced I bought this girl for myself – so I discovered from the old woman when I caught sight of her on her way to fetch the midwife; I ran up and asked her how Pamphila was, whether labour had started and the midwife had been sent for. ‘Get out!’ was all she said. ‘ Clear off, Aeschinus, we’ve had enough of your lying words and your broken promises!’ ‘What on earth do you mean by that?’ I said. ‘Good-bye, you can keep the girl you’ve chosen.’ I guessed at once what they suspected, but held my tongue – one word about my brother to that old gossip and all would be out.

Now what can I do? Say the girl is my brother’s? But this mustn’t get abroad at all costs. I can’t let it out if it’s still possible to keep the secret…. Besides, I doubt if they would believe me: it all hangs together and sounds likely enough. It was I who carried off the girl and I who paid the money, and our house she was brought to. This at least was all my doing, I admit. If only I’d told it all to my father however I’d managed it! I could have persuaded him to let me marry Pamphila…. [After a pause] Here I am, still putting things off! Now’s the time, Aeschinus, to pull yourself together! And first of all I’ll go to the women and clear myself. [He moves towards SOSTRATA’s house.] Here’s the door…. No, I can’t face it…. I’m a poor thing, I can never raise a hand to this door without a shudder…. [He makes a tremendous effort and knocks loudly] Anyone there? It’s Aeschinus. Open the door, somebody, at once! Someone’s coming out; I’ll stay over here.

[MICIO comes out of SOSTRATA’s house speaking back to her.]

MICIO. Do as I say, Sostrata, both of you, while I find Aeschinus and tell him our arrangements. [Coming forward] Someone knocked – who was it?

AESCHINUS. [Aside] Heavens, it’s my father; I’m done for!

MICIO. Aeschinus!

AESCHINUS. [Aside] What can he want?

MICIO. Was it you who knocked? [Aside] No reply; I think I must tease him a bit – he deserves it for never wanting to trust me over this. [Aloud] Can’t you answer me?

AESCHINUS. [In confusion] I didn’t knock – at least I don’t think I did.

MICIO. No? I was just wondering what you were doing here. [Aside] He’s blushing: all’s well.