What does Eunomia suggest to her brother in The Pot of Gold? What is his reaction?

In
act 2, scene 1 of The Pot of Gold by ,
Megadoruss sister, Eunomia, engages in conversation with him in order to persuade him into
getting married. She prefaces her main point with quite an extended remark about women. She says
that she is going to talk to him about something important, something which is going to benefit
him. And as his closest relative she thinks that she is entitled to discuss this matter with
him. This is a private matter, and so she suspects that he might have some apprehensions about
the subject.

Knowing Megadoruss character and his prejudice against women in
general, she refers to a popular opinion which considers women troublesome. She does that in
order to forestall her brothers possible objections. She grants that all women are deservedly
considered very talkative. However (and she may be using ahere), they say at the present day
that not a single woman has been found dumb in any age.

Eunomia wants her
brother to consider the issue of marriage, and she succeeds. As Megadorus responds to her
remark, he addresses his sister as best of women. Continuing with her game, Eunomia pretends
that she does not take this appellation as addressed to her and she wonders, Where is she?
Who, pray, is this best of women?

This innocent question prepares for the
crux of the matter. Eunomia announces that she has come to give her brother counsel, That you
may enjoy everlasting blessings in being the father of children. Here she uses a traditional
rhetorical formula to announce something auspicious, and Megadorus readily accepts this
statement as a wish of something good in general. But in the very next line, Eunomia suddenly
changes her tone and puts it bluntly, saying, "I wish you to bring home a
wife."

Megadorus is astounded. He says that he is undone. He says that
she is speaking stones. He is so prejudiced against women that he proclaims:

Yes, for me to die before I marry. Let her who comes here to-morrow,
be carried out of the house the day after, sister; on that condition, give me her whom you wish
to give; get ready the nuptials.

As Eunomia notes that
she knows a middle-aged woman with a large dowry who may be a fit to Megadorus, he responds by
providing reasons against such a union. If he, an older man, dies before his child is born, the
latter will bear the derogatory by-name Posthumus. In addition, he says that he is not really
interested in money and wants to avoid all evils that come with marrying a rich woman.

Eunomia asks him who is she whom he would want to marry. Megadorus respond
that he would consider proposing to Euclios daughter. That the family is not well-off is not an
obstacle to him.

Finally, the brother and sister part. Megadorus intends to
see Euclio. Eunomia is satisfied that she has reached her goal of moving Megadorus to
action.