Clin. You require a thing that is fair and reasonable, and easy to be done. And I suppose, then, you would have me request my father to keep it a secret from your old man.
Syr. On the contrary; to tell him directly the matter just as it is.
Clin. What? Are you quite in your senses or sober? Why, you were for ruining him outright. For how could he be in a state of security? Tell me that.
Syr. For my part, I yield the palm to this device. Here I do pride myself exultingly, in having in myself such exquisite resources, and power of address so great, as to deceive them both by telling the truth: so that when your old man tells ours that she is his son’s mistress, he’ll still not believe him.
Clin. But yet, by these means you again cut off all hopes of my marriage; for as long as Chremes believes that she is my mistress, he’ll not give me his daughter. Perhaps you care little what becomes of me, so long as you provide for him.
Syr. What the plague, do you suppose I want this pretense to be kept up for an age? ’Tis but for a single day, only till I have secured the money: you be quiet; I ask no more.
Clin. Is that sufficient? If his father should come to know of it, pray, what then?
Syr. What if I have recourse to those who say, “What now if the sky were to fall?”[82]
Clin. I’m afraid to go about it.
Syr. You, afraid! As if it was not in your power to clear yourself at any time you like, and discover the whole matter.