University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Ago.
Well, Milphio, what advice d'ye give me now?

Mil.
Why, scourge me first, and then proclaim an auction.
E'en sell your house over your head at once.

Ago.
How so?

Mil.
Because your dwelling's in my mouth.

Ago.
Truce with this prate.

Mil.
What now is't you would have?

Ago.
E'en now I gave my bailiff Collybiscus,
But just before you call'd me from the house,
Three hundred Philippæans—I adjure you
By this right hand, and by its sister here,
This left; by your own eyes, and by my loves,
And by my Adelphasium, and by
Your liberty—

Mil.
Now you adjure by nothing.

Ago.
My little Milphio, my friend, my guardian.
Do what you promis'd; and point out the way
How I may ruin this procuring rascal.

Mil.
An easy task!—Go bring your witnesses;
While I within, with wiles and with disguise
Equip your bailiff for my plot.—Be gone—

Ago.
I fly—

Mil.
More like to be my case than yours.

Ago.
And should I not, if you play well your part—

Mil.
Only be gone.

Ago.
Your freedom give you!

Mil.
Go.
And not to do't this very day—Depart—

Ago.
I would not take as many pieces, I—

Mil.
You—Only go—

Ago.
As there are ghosts in hell—

Mil.
Still here?—

Ago.
Or drops of water in the sea—

Mil.
Will you depart or not?—

Ago.
Or clouds i'th'air—

Mil.
What will you ne'er have done?

Ago.
Or stars in heaven—

Mil.
Still din my ears?—

Ago.
I'd take nor this nor that,
Nor—in good earnest now—No, not by Hercules!
What need of many words? Or why not shorten—
Since here we may in one word speak out freely,
And yet not mean it seriously—But how?
'Tis thus—Now may the gods so love me!—
Would you I speak in honest faith and truth?—
Which here in private you and I may do?
May Jupiter so deal with me—D'you know
My meaning?—Do you look to that. And don't you
Believe the story now which I've been telling.

Mil.
If I can't make you go, I'll go myself.
This speech of yours hath need of Oedipus,
And Sphynx's riddle right interpreted—
[Exit Milphio.

Ago.
He's gone, and in a rage—I must beware
Lest in the way of my amour, I lay
A rub by my own fault—I'll e'en be gone
And fetch the witnesses—Where love commands,
Free tho' I am, my slave I will obey—

[Exit.