AESCHINUS. Excuse me, father, but what took you there? [pointing to SOSTRATA’s house].

MICIO. No business of mine. A friend brought me here just now – to act as a witness.

AESCHINUS. Witness for what?

MICIO. [Watching him closely] I’ll tell you. There are some women living here, in a poor way. I don’t think you know them, in fact I am sure you can’t, for they have not been here long.

AESCHINUS. Well, what then?

MICIO. There is a girl with her mother –

AESCHINUS. Go on –

MICIO. The girl has lost her father, and this friend of mine is her next-of-kin; so he must marry her. That’s the law.

AESCHINUS. [Aside] No – I can’t bear it.

MICIO. What was that?

AESCHINUS. Nothing: it’s all right: go on.

MICIO. He has come to take her away to Miletus – where he lives.

AESCHINUS. What, to take the girl away with him ?

MICIO. That’s right.

AESCHINUS. All the way to Miletus did you say?

MICIO. I did.

AESCHINUS. [Aside] Oh my head reels! [Aloud] But the women – what do they say?

MICIO. What do you expect? Nothing, in fact. The mother has a trumped-up story about the girl having a baby by another man, whom she won’t name. He came first, she says, so the girl ought not to be married to my friend.

AESCHINUS. Then don’t you think that’s right?

MICIO. No, I don’t.

AESCHINUS. You don’t? And will he really take her away, father?

MICIO. Why on earth shouldn’t he?

AESCHINUS. [In a passionate outburst] It was cruel of you both, it was heartless, and if I must speak plainly, father, it was – it was – downright dishonourable!

MICIO. But why?

AESCHINUS. You ask me why? What about the unhappy man who first loved her and for all I know, poor wretch, still loves her desperately? What do you suppose he will feel when he sees her torn from his arms and carried off before his very eyes? I tell you, father, it’s a sin and a scandal!

MICIO. How do you make that out? Who promised this girl in marriage and who gave her away? Who was the bridegroom and when was the wedding? Who witnessed it? She was meant for another – why did this man take her?

AESCHINUS. Then was this girl to sit at home, at her age, waiting for a relative to turn up from heaven knows where? You could have said that, father, and stuck to it.

MICIO. Nonsense! I had come to help a friend; was I to turn against him? In any case, Aeschinus, the girl is no concern of ours. Why should we bother about them? Let us go… But what’s the matter? Why are you crying?

AESCHINUS. Father, please listen…

MICIO. [Gently] My son, I have heard the whole story; I understand, for I love you, so all you do touches my heart.