 | The Discovery |  |
SCENE III.
Enter a Captain of Rhodes.Capt.
See that you pass no house, but ask at all
[to a servant.]
Where old Periphanes of Platea lives.
And take good care you come not back to me,
Before you've found him out.
153
Suppose, my youth,
I should inform you of the man you seek,
What thanks should I deserve?
Capt.
Brave as I've been
In war, my merits there have giv'n me right
To expect that every man should give me thanks.
Per.
Young man, you've not found out a proper place,
To brag of your atchievements. An inferior,
When he attempts to publish his exploits
Before his betters, does but foul his mouth.
But if you seek Periphanes of Platea,
I am the man, if you want ought with me.
Capt.
Are you the man, that in his youth, 'tis said,
Was spoke of before kings; and by his arms,
And soldier-like accomplishments, acquir'd
An ample fortune?
Per.
I, Sir, am the man;
And if you was to hear all my atchievements,
You'd drop your hands, and hie you home with speed—
154
By Pollux! I had rather find the man
To tell my own atchievements to, than one
To tell me his.
Per.
This is no proper place.
Find some one else to tell your nonsense to.
Capt.
List to me then, and you shall know my errand—
I hear you've made a purchase of my mistress.
Per.
[aside.]
O ho! I now begin to know my spark!
The very captain that Epidicus
Had told me of. 'Tis very true, young man, [to him.]
I made the purchase.
Capt.
I'd have a word or two,
If't be not troublesome—
Per.
I can't tell that.
Speak as you will, it shall not trouble me.
Capt.
Then let me have her; I'll pay down the money.
Per.
Take her.—
Capt.
No need with you to mince the matter.
155
And take her for my bed-fellow.—
Per.
In short,
I purchas'd her at fifty silver minæ;
Count me down sixty, and the girl is yours
Long as your furlow lasts—On this condition
You rid the country of her.
Capt.
Is she mine?
Per.
Upon those terms she is.
Capt.
You sell a bargain.
Per.
[to his servants.]
Who's there?—send out to us the musick-girl,
You carried in but now.— [to him.]
I'll give you too,
Her lute into the bargain—and her trumpery.
Enter Servants with a Musick-Girl.
There, take her, friend.—
[giving her to the captain.]
Capt.
What madness has possess'd you?
156
Order her forth—
Per.
This is the girl I bought.
There is no other here.—
Capt.
No tricks with me!
Produce the musick-girl Acropolistis.
Per.
Why, this is she—
Capt.
I tell you, 'tis not she.
Think you I know not my own mistress? What!—
Per.
I tell you, this is she my son was fond of.
Capt.
'Tis not the same.
Per.
What? not the same?
Capt.
'Tis not.
Per.
Whence came she then? By Hercules! I swear,
This is the girl I gave the money for.
Capt.
You fool'd your money then away, and made
A plaguy blunder.
Per.
Out of doubt, 'tis she.
I sent my servant: one who usually
Attends upon my son; he made the purchase.
Capt.
This servant then has fairly bubbled you.
Per.
How bubbled me?
Capt.
Nothing: 'tis but suspicion.
This wench is put upon you for the musick-girl,
You're plainly, palpably impos'd upon.—
157
I'll find her out where'er she is: and so,
My man of war, adieu!—Well done, Epidicus!
[Exit Captain.
A clever fellow!—Bravely done, my man!
You've finely wip'd my nose.— [to the girl.]
Did not Apœcides
Buy thee this very day of the slave merchant!
Mus. Girl.
Ne'er till this day heard I of such a man:
Nor could he purchase me at any rate
Who have been five years free.
Per.
What business here, then?
Mus. Girl.
Here I was hir'd to sing and play the lute,
While an old gentleman perform'd a sacrifice.
Per.
There's not a greater ideot than myself;
No not in Athens.—But you know the musick-girl
Acropolistis?
Mus. Girl.
As I know myself.
Per.
Where lives she?
Mus. Girl.
Since her freedom I'm not sure.
Per.
Freedom!—And who gave her her freedom, pray?
Mus. Girl.
I'll tell you what I've heard; 'twas that Stratippocles,
Periphanes's son, who in his absence
Took care to get her freedom.
158
If 'tis true,
I am undone, by Hercules!—Epidicus
'Tis very plain, has squeez'd my purse most finely.
Mus. Girl.
By what I hear, you will no more with me.
Per.
No more, but death with torture, and your absence.
Mus. Girl.
You'll let me take my lute?—
Per.
Nor lute, nor flute—
Hast, if the gods will let you, fly.
Mus. Girl.
I go:
But you'll repent this usage some time hence.—
[Exit Musick Girl.
Per.
What's to be done? Shall I, who've had my name
Before so many edicts, let this rascal
159
As much again, I'd rather, than to bear
To be thus laugh'd at, plunder'd, unreveng'd.
Yes, I'm expos'd.—Yet I'm a fool indeed,
To have a worse opinion of myself
Than this Apœcides, who brags of being
A law-maker so famous—He is still
Boasting his wisdom—But, I'd have him know,
The hammer is no wiser than the handle.
| The Discovery | |