[72.] Can find them now)—Ver. 726. His Lemnian wife and daughter. Colman remarks: “This is intended as a transition to the next Scene; but I think it would have been better if it had followed without this kind of introduction. The Scene itself is admirable, and is, in many places, both affecting and comic, and the discovery of the real character of Phanium is made at a very proper time.”
[73.] My daughter’s nurse)—Ver. 735. Among the ancients, it was the custom for nurses who had brought up children to remain with them in after-life.
[74.] Where are the ladies?)—Ver. 748. “Ubi illæ?” literally, “Where are these women?”
[75.] Run beyond the house)—Ver. 767. “Fugias ne præter casam.” This passage has given much trouble to the Commentators; but it is pretty clear that the explanation of Donatus is the correct one: “Don’t abandon your own home,” that being the safest place. Stallbaum agrees with Gronovius in thinking that it was first applied as a piece of advice to runaway slaves, as being likely to become worse off by the change; probably much in the same spirit as we say, “Out of the frying-pan into the fire.”
[76.] Paying by borrowing)—Ver. 779. “Versura solvere,” was “to pay a debt by borrowing money,” and consequently to be no better off than before. Geta having, by the money he has procured, freed Phædria from all danger of losing his mistress, but at the same time having brought Antipho into still greater danger of losing his wife.
[77.] Or his talking)—Ver. 782. “Ejus” here alludes, not to Nausistrata but to Phormio. Madame Dacier suggests that it should be “hujus.”
[78.] With your money)—Ver. 785. Colman observes: “Alluding to the money borrowed of her to pay Phormio; and as Donatus observes in another place, it is admirably contrived, in order to bring about a humorous catastrophe that Chremes should make use of his wife’s money on this occasion.”
[79.] Our friend’s)—Ver. 811. Chremes himself is so called, to deceive Nausistrata.
[80.] O good luck)—Ver. 840. “Fors fortuna,” “good fortune;” while “fortuna” merely means “chance.”
[81.] Throwing my cloak)—Ver. 843. When expedition was required, it was usual to throw the ends of the “pallium,” or “cloak,” over the shoulders.