Specimens of the Poets and Poetry of Greece and Rome

Scep. What good d'ye bring us?—-By my troth, | And his Sicilian guest, whom I believed A likely wench.

Amp.

Good day to you, young man.
Scep. The same to you, young woman.
Amp.

Both drown'd!-More evil still survives to plague

Than we imagin'd.—Why do I not run
Into the temple to inform Palæstra,

I am come to you,
Scep. I'll entertain you, if you come anon,
As you could wish: at present I have nothing
To satisfy your wants.-Ah ha, my pretty one!
My smirking, smiling rogue! (offering to embrace And suddenly inspires the thought.

That we may fly to the altar ere he come
And seize us?-I'll be gone:-the occasion

Amp.

her.)

Fye, now you are too rude.

Scep.

Let me alone :—

By heavens, the very
Image of Venus! What a sparkling eye
The jade has! what a shape!—what a com-
plexion!-

A walnut, a nut brown I meant to say!-
What breasts!-what pretty pouting lips!-
(lays hold of her.)
Be quiet!

Amp. (struggling.)

I am not for your turn-d'ye think me com

mon?

What! can't you keep your hands off?—
Scep.

May I not toy a little?

Amp.

Prithee, sweet,

By-and-by,

When I'm at leisure, I'll then trifle with you:-
Now let me have your answer, aye or no,
To that which I was sent to ask.
Scep.

What would you?
Amp. Can you not guess by this?
(pointing to the pitcher.)
And can't you guess
The priestess sent me

Scep.
What I would have of you?
Amp.

To beg some water.
Scep.
I am proud and lordly:
Unless you sue to me with low petition,
You will not get a drop.-Our well we dug,
At our own hazard, with our proper tools.—
Unless you woo me with much blandishment,
You will not get a drop.

Amp.

presses,

[Runs into the temple.

SCENE VIII.
Enter SCEPARNIO.

Good heavens!

I ne'er believ'd such pleasure was in water;
I drew it with such heartiness!-The well
Methought too was less deep than heretofore;
With so much ease I drew it!-Verily
I am an oaf, that I should fall in love now
For the first time. Here, take your water, pre-

cious!

I would that you might carry it with that pleasure
Which I myself do; so shall I adore you.
Where are you, dainty dear?-Here, take your

water.

Where are you?-Verily I think she loves me : The wanton plays at bo-peep.-Ho! where are you?

A pleasant joke i'faith :—but come, be serious.
Why won't you take it? Where in the world
are you?-

I see her nowhere:-she's upon the fun.-
I'll leave it on the ground.—But softly—what
If some one take the pitcher ?-It belongs
To Venus; and 'twould bring me into trouble.
'Gad I'm afraid, the jilt has some design
To trap me by its being found upon me:
The magistrate would have a fair pretence
To clap me into chains, if any one
Should chance to see me with it: for 'tis letter'd,—
Tells of itself whose property it is.

I'll call the priestess out, that she may take it.
Why should you grudge I'll to the door then of the temple. (calling.) Ho

To give me water, which an enemy
Will give an enemy?

Scep.

Why should you grudge To grant me that same favour, which a friend

there, Ptolemocratia!-Come, and take your pitcher.I'll carry it in.-Troth I've enough to do, If I'm to fetch them water, all that ask for't. [Goes into the temple.

SCENE IX.

Enter LABRAX, followed by CHARMIDES, from
among the cliffs at the further end of the stage.
Labr. He that would be a beggar and a wretch,
Let him trust Neptune with his life and fortune:
Whoe'er has any dealings with that god,
He'll send him home again in this sweet trim.-
Ah, Liberty, 'twas wisely done of you,
That thou would'st ne'er set foot on board a ship
With Hercules.-But where's this friend of mine,
Who has undone me? (looking back.) Oh, see
where he crawls.

Charm. What a plague, Labrax, whither in
such hurry?

I can't keep up with you, you walk so fast.
Labr. Would thou hadst died in Sicily on a

gallows,

E'er I set eyes on thee, on whose account,
Ah me! this vile disaster has befallen us.

Charm. Because I chatter with my teeth so terribly.

Charm. Would thou hadst lain in prison, on Yes, yes, I own I have deserved this ducking.

the day

Thou first admitted me within thy doors!
And I beseech the gods, that all thy life
Thou may'st for ever have such guests as I.
Labr. When I let thee in, I let in Misfortune.-
Why did I hearken to thee, thou vile rogue?
Why did I thence depart? why go on ship-
board?

Where I have lost e'en more than I was worth.*
Charm. I marvel not our ship was cast away,
When it had such a rogue as thee on board,
And thy ill-gotten pelf.

With thy cajoling speeches.

Charm.

Labr. Why so?

Charm. Because I dared embark with thee, Whose crimes have stirr'd up ocean from its

bottom.

Labr. Fool! to have listen'd to thy vain pre

tences,

That in thy country I from girls should draw
Huge profit, and amass a world of riches!
Charm. Why, thou unclean, unhallow'd beast,
didst think

To gobble up all Sicily at a mouthful?

Labr. I wonder what sea-beast has gobbled up
My wallet, with the treasure pack'd within it.
Charm. The same, I fancy, that has got my
pouch,

With all its silver, which was in the wallet.
Labr. Alas! I am reduced to this one waistcoat,

Thou hast given me A more atrocious supper, than which erst Was set before or Tereus or Thyestes.t Labr. I die! I'm sick at heart! pray, hold my And this poor shabby cloak.-Undone for ever! head. Charm. We may set up in partnership together;

Charm. Would thou couldst bring thy lungs Our means are equal.

up, for my part.

Labr.
Were the damsels saved,
Some hope were left me.-Now, if Pleusidippus,
Who gave me earnest for Palæstra, see me,
'Twill cause me much vexation. (he cries.)

Charm.

Prithee, oaf, Why dost thou blubber thus?-Thou'lt never want,

While thou canst wag a tongue; thy perjury
Will quit all payments.

SCENE X.

Enter SCEPARNIO, from the temple.

What can be the matter,

That these two damsels here in Venus' temple Should so bewail them, and embrace her image? Yes, I, They have I know not what strange fears:-they

How?

Because I don't

Ye bulrushes!

I know not that.

Labr.

Undoubtedly

Of what appearance are they? Scep. Good likely wenches.-Were I in my

cups,

Charm. How happy are the blacksmiths, who I could make shift to toy with either of them.

SCENE XI.

CHARMIDES and SCEPARNIO.
Charm. Prithee now show me some place,
Where I may sleep, good friend.

Scep.
Sleep where you will;
There's no one hinders; the highway is common.
Charm. D'ye see? my clothes here are wet
through then take me

So! is it not enough

Into thy house, lend me some fresh apparel,
While mine is drying: thou shalt have my thanks.
Scep. Here, you may take this coarse frock, if
you will,
It's all that I have dry: it serves to shelter me
In rainy weather. Come, give me your clothes;
I'll get them dried.
Charm.
The sea has made a broken merchant of me,
But thou wouldst take me in, too, on the land?
Scep. Broken or whole, I value not a straw:
I shall not trust a rag without a pawn.
Whether you sweat or freeze, are sick or well,
I will not let a stranger in the house:
No, no, I've had enough of rogues already.
[Exit SCEPARNIO.

How many ways the gods make sport of men!
How strangely do they fool us in our dreams!
Even in sleep they will not let us rest.
As for example, I myself last night
Dreamt a most strange, and an unheard-of dream.
Methought an ape made an attempt to climb
Up to a swallow's nest, nor could he take
The young ones out; on which he came to me,
And asked me for a ladder: I replied,

That swallows sprang from Philomel and Progne,
And charged him not to hurt my country folks.
At this the ape grew much enraged, and seem'd
To threaten me with vengeance, summon'd me
Before a judge: at last, I know not how,
Highly provok'd, I caught him by the middle,
And clapp'd the mischievous vile beast in chains.
I have in vain endeavour'd to find out

This worst of villainies: let not the power
To impotent distress, and crush at once
Of wicked men oppress the innocent,
Who glory not in crimes: let punishment
Wait on bold vice, reward on modest virtue:
O let us live by law, and not oppression!
Run, run into the temple: I again
Implore your help, all that are near me, all
That hear my cry! O haste to bring them succour,
Who (as allow'd by custom) have here fled
To Venus and her priestess for protection.-
Break, break the neck of this vile injury,
Ere it may reach yourselves.

Dæm.
Now what's the matter?
Trach. O good old gentleman, whoe'er you are,
I do beseech you by these knees,-

Dæm.

Nay, prithee Let go my knees, and tell me, what's the matter? What mean you by this uproar? Trach. I beseech you, As you would hope a fair and prosperous vintage, As you would make your exportations safe To Capua, as you would wish to keep your eyesight

Clear and exempt from running,

Dæm.

Are you mad? Be not averse to hear what I request. Trach. As you expect, I say, a plenteous crop,

Dam. And I beseech you by your legs and

The meaning of this dream.-But hark! what That pays so little reverence to the gods?

noise

Trach. A cheat, a profligate, a parricide,

Trach. A rascal!-he had the insolence to take Than did the statue, which we late embrac'd, The priestess by the throat. 'Till dragg'd from it by force? Trach.

Dæm.

And he shall pay for't. Turbalio! Sparax! ho, come forth! where are you?

Trach. Pray, sir, go in, and take their part. Dæm. I warrant you I need not call twice: they'll be here directly. Enter TURBALIO and SPARAX.

Dam. Come, follow me. (goes with his servants into the temple.)

Trach.
Bid them to tear his eyes out.
Dam. (within.) Seize him, drag him along with
his feet foremost,

Like a stuck pig.*

Trach. (listening.) I hear a rout within. They're currying him, I fancy, with their fists: I wish they'd knock his teeth out, a vile rascal! But see, here come the damsels sadly frighten'd.

SCENE III.

Do but sit down, I'll guard you: let this altar be your fortress, I will defend the work: with Venus' help I'll stand against the attacks of this procurer. Pal. We'll follow your instructions.-(The women advance towards the altar, and kneel.) -Gentle Venus! Thus lowly on our knees, and bathed in tears, Embracing this your altar, we beseech you, Guard and receive us into your protection: Avenge you on those miscreants, who dare slight Your temple, and permit us to approach Your altar, who last night by Neptune's power Were cast away: O hold us not in scorn, Nor think it done amiss, that thus we come Less seemingly accoutred than we ought.

Trach. They ask but what is right, and you should grant it:

You must forgive them: their sad apprehensions Force them to what they do. Yourself, they say,

PALESTRA and AMPELISCA appear in the temple Sprung from the ocean, slight not then these out

court.

Pal. Now are we destitute of every power, Of every succour and defence, no hope Of safety left us, neither do we know Which way to turn, or whither to betake us. Dire apprehensions compass us around, Such outrage have we suffer'd here within From the base rogue our master, who most rudely Push'd down the good old priestess, treated her With the most vile indignities, and dragg'd us With violence from the statue.-Seeing then Our state is desperate, it were best to die. Death is the only refuge in affliction.

Trach. What do I hear? what sad complaints are these?

Why don't I go and comfort them?-Palæstra! Pal. Who calls there?

But
Turn, and you will know.
Pal. (turning.) O my best hopes of safety!
Trach.
No more wailings:
Be of good heart: have faith in me.
Pal.
O save and shelter us from impious violence,
Lest it should force me to do violence

To my own self. Trach.

If possible,

No more you are a fool.

Amp. Seek not to comfort us with words alone. Pal. Except you find a real safeguard for us, We are undone; and I'm resolv'd to die Sooner than fall into this villain's power Yet have I but a woman's heart; for when I think on death, I tremble.

Trach.

Is hard, have a good heart.

Though your case

* Quasi occisam suem.

Dæm. Make your appeal To any of the great ones of the senate; And let him try the cause, whether they are

Trach.

Your suit must be with me. Wouldst kidnap free-born children from their

Are these your property?

Labr.

They are. Trach. Come on then, Do but touch either with your little finger. Labr. What if I do? Trach. I'll make a football of you, Swing you about in air, and with my fists Bandy you to and fro, you perjur'd villain! Labr. May I not take my own girls from the altar?

Dam. You may not; that's our law.
Labr.
I've no concern,
Nothing to do, no business with your laws:
I'll take them both away.---Lookye, old gentleman,
If you've a liking to them, you must down
With the hard money.

Dæm.
Venus does approve them.
Labr. And she may have them, if she'll pay
the money.

Dæm. I'll pay the money! Now then know
my mind:

If you dare offer them the smallest violence,
Though but in jest, I'll give you such a dressing,
You will not know yourself.—
(to his servants.)
And you, ye rascals,
If, when I give the signal, you don't tear
His eyes out of his head, I'll have you bound
With rods lash'd round you, like those sprigs of
myrtle.

Labr. Nay, this is violence.
Trach.

You burning shame! A plenteous crop of blows shall be your por

Dam. (aside.) O my dear daughter!-when I look on her,

The want of you reminds me of my troubles. I lost her when but three years old, and now, If she yet live, her size must be the same.

Labr. I bought them both, paid down the money for them

To him, that own'd them.-What is it to me,
If they were born at Athens or at Thebes,
So they are properly my slaves?

Trach.
Thou impudence,
Thou cat o'mountain, thou vile girl-catcher,*

Dæm.

By heavens I'll catch you by the beard, and throw

you

Into the fire, then hang you up half-roasted
For birds to peck at.- -(aside.) Now I think on't,

this

Must be the ape I dreamt of, who would needs Have taken these young swallows from their

nests

The original is Felis Virginalis.

[Exit TRACHALIO.

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