University of Virginia Library

SCENE XV.

Enter PERIPLECTOMENES.
Why sure these fellows here, these varlet-knaves,
These servants of our neighbour captain,—What?
They take me for a woman, not a man;
To make me thus their pastime! in the street
T'assault and use such freedoms with my lodger,
(Who with her lover is from Athens come,)
A modest, and a gentle.—

Sce.
I am ruin'd;
He bears down strait upon me. I'm afraid,
This same affair will bring me to great trouble,
As much as I have heard this old man talk.

Per.
I'll up to him.—Sceledrus! was it you,
A rascal as you are, that dar'd affront
My lodger here just now before my door?

Sce.
Good neighbour, I beseech you, hear.

Per.
I hear you?

Sce.
I would fain clear me.

Per.
How! you clear you? You,
Who've put such gross indignities upon me?—
Because ye serve a soldier, do ye think,
That ye may do whate'er ye list?—You rascal!

Sce.
May I—

Per.
But let the Gods ne'er prosper me,
If I don't have you punish'd with a whipping,
A long and lasting one, from morn to even:
First, that you broke my gutters and my tiles,
In seeking for a monkey like yourself;
Next, that you peep'd down thence into my house,
And saw my lodger fondling with his mistress;
Then, that you dar'd accuse your master's lady,
(A modest,) of incontinence, and me
Of a most heinous action; further, that
You dar'd assault my lodger at my door.
And if you are not punish'd with due stripes,
Your master I will load so with disgrace,
He shall be fuller of it than the sea
Of billows in a storm.

Sce.
Periplectomenes,
I'm driven to such a strait, I know not whether
'Twere fitter to dispute this matter with you,
Or clear myself before you: for if she
Be not the lady, then our lady is not;
Nor do I even know now what I've seen;
So very like your lady is to our's,
If not the same.

Per.
Go to my house, and see;
You soon will know.

Sce.
Will you permit me?

Per.
Nay,
I do command:—examine at your leisure.

Sce.
And so I will.

(Sceledrus goes into Periplectomenes's house.