University of Virginia Library

ACT III.

SCENE I.

Enter STRABAX.
STRABAX.
One morning, not long since, my father sent me
Into the country hence, to give out fodder
To feed our oxen; scarce got I there, when
One came up to our farm, (so't pleas'd the gods!)
Who ow'd my father money: he had bought,
It seems, Tarentine sheep of him—He ask'd
Where was my father—Why, in town, I answer'd him.
And then I ask'd what was his business with him.
He took his purse from off his neck, and gave me
Just twenty minæ. Gladly I receiv'd them,
And stuff'd them in my purse—Away went he,
And strait to town I've brought these fleeceless sheep
Stow'd in my purse—By Pollux' temple! Mars
Is desperately enrag'd against my father,
His sheep have strol'd so very near the wolves.
Now all your finical, fine town gallants,
With this one stroke I'll set adrift, and turn them
Strait out of doors—My father I'm first fix'd
To ruin: then my mother—Now, to her,
Whom I much better than my mother, love;
I'll take the money—Who's here?—Nobody?
[knocking at Phronesium's door.
Who opens me the door?—

Enter ASTAPHIUM.
Ast.
What's this? Good now,
My Strabax!—You a stranger!—And why not
Come in at once?—Ought you to have been so shy?
You whom we look upon one of the family—

Strab.
Well, well, I'll in then, that you may not think
I loiter here too long—

Ast.
Why that's well done.

[Exit Strabax.

SCENE II.

Enter STRATILAX.
Strat.
'Tis marvalous, Strabax, our measter's zon
Bean't yet come back to town—May hap, he's privately
Zlunk into thick corrupting hussey's house.

Ast.
[aside.]
If he should see me now, he'll scold me off.

Strat.
I be'ant so crusty as I was, Astaphium,
Not near—I'se no churl now—Nay, daun't be frightned.
What would'st thou ha'—

Ast.
What?—Why, your churlishness.

Strat.
Command whate'er, and in what way thou would'st—
Vor I am chang'd; I've got new manners now,
And cast the old ones off—Plague! I could love,
E'en I, and take a bona-roba home—

Ast.
This is rare news indeed! But, tell me—Have you—

Strat.
A bona-roba, you would say, may-hap—

Ast.
You've a quick comprehension—

Strat.
Hark you me!
Zinse to and fro I've trudg'd so oft to town,
I'm grown a banterer, a nice poker too—

Ast.
Astonishing!—What means that nonsense, prithee?
Joker you would have said, perhaps.

Strat.
Ay, joker,
Or poker; there's no such mighty difference.

Ast.
Follow me in, my love—

Strat.
Here, take these boli,
As earnest, that you'll come to me anon.

Ast.
Merciful! Boli! what strange beasts are those?
Why did you not say oboli?

Strat.
To zave
An o; like the Prænestine volk, who say
Vor pewit, wit—

Ast.
Follow me.

Strat.
I but waits
Vor Strabax here, who ought to come to toon.

Ast.
Strabax is here with us—He's just now come.

Strat.
What here, avore he gang to zee his mother?
Alack-a-day!—He's good for nought, I'se zure.

Ast.
What! your old way again!

Strat.
Nay, I ha' done.

Ast.
Walk in—Give me your hand, I pray—

Strat.
Here—take't.
[gives his hand.
Now am I leading to a publick house,
Where I shall vind bad treatment vor my money.

[Exeunt.