University of Virginia Library

SCENE V.

Enter DINARCHUS, from Phronesium's house.
Din.
Fishes, I believe,
Who spend their lives in water, do not bathe
As this girl does—Were women to be lov'd
Proportionably to the time they spend
In bathing, why all lovers would keep bagnios—

Ast.
What, can't you bear to wait a little then?

Din.
By Hercules! I'm tir'd to death with waiting.

Ast.
Why, I'm so tir'd, I want to bathe myself.

Din.
Go in, Astaphium; tell her I am here—
Make hast; persuade her she has bath'd enough.

Ast.
I will—

Din.
But hark ye?

Ast.
Say, what is your pleasure?

Din.
Confound me, Gods! how could I call you back!
I said nought to you—Go—

Ast.
You foolish simpleton—
Why call me back? I might have been from hence
A mile—

[Exit.
Din.
Why stood she at the door so long?
Some one she must have waited for, I fancy.
The captain—Ay, as sure as I'm alive.
They're just the same as vulturs; they foresee
Three days beforehand, where will fall a carcase;
They all gape for him; towards him is the mind
Of all; and when he's come, they'll pay no more
Regard to me, than if I had been dead
Two hundred years—Ah me! how sweet it is
To keep one's money—I am punish'd now,
Because I've wasted what I had before.
Should fortune send an ample fair estate,
As long as I the bitter and the sweet
Of riches know, I would so hoard it, and
Would live so frugally, there should not be
In a few days, a single sesterce lost.
I would confute to purpose those who blame me.
But hold! I prate too much—Those greedy doors,
Which suck up all that comes within their bolts,
I do perceive are opening.—