 | The Shipwreck |  |
SCENE IX.
Enter LABRAX, followed by CHARMIDES, from among the Cliffs at the further End of the Stage.LABRAX.
He that would be a beggar and a wretch,
Let him trust Neptune with his life and fortune:
Whoe'er has any dealings with that God,
He'll send him home again in this sweet trim.—
Ah, Liberty, 'twas wisely done of you,
That thou would'st ne'er set foot on board a ship
With Hercules.—But where's this friend of mine,
Who has undone me? (Looking back.)
Oh, see where he crawls.
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What a plague, Labrax, whither in such hurry?
I can't keep up with you, you walk so fast.
Labr.
Would thou hadst died in Sicily on a gallows,
E'er I set eyes on thee, on whose account,
Ah me! this vile disaster has befall'n us.
Charm.
Would thou hadst lain in prison, on the day
Thou first admitted me within thy doors!
And I beseech the Gods, that all thy life
Thou mayst for ever have such guests as I.
Labr.
When I let Thee in, I let in Misfortune.—
Why did I hearken to thee, thou vile rogue?
Why did I thence depart? why go on shipboard?
Where I have lost e'en more than I was worth.
Charm.
I marvel not our ship was cast away,
When it had such a rogue as thee on board,
And thy ill-gotten pelf.
Labr.
Thou hast undone me
With thy cajoling speeches.
Charm.
Thou hast giv'n me
A more atrocious supper, than which erst
Was set before or Tereus or Thyestes.
Labr.
I die! I'm sick at heart! pray, hold my head.
Charm.
Would thou couldst bring thy lungs up, for my part.
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Alas! poor Ampelisca, and Palæstra,
Where are you?
Charm.
Food for fishes, I suppose;
Gone to the bottom.
Labr.
Thou hast brought upon me
Beggary and want, because I gave an ear
To thy romancings.
Charm.
Nay, thou ow'st me thanks:
Before, thou wast a dull insipid fellow;
I've giv'n thee salt and seasoning to thy wit.
Labr.
Go, get thee hence, and hang thyself.
Charm.
Go thou.—
I did as bad, when I embark'd with thee.
Labr.
Can there exist a wretch like me?
Charm.
Yes, I,
I am more wretched.
Labr.
How?
Charm.
Because I don't
Deserve it, but thou dost.
Labr.
Ye bulrushes!
I envy your condition, who preserve
For evermore your dryness.
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By my troth
My words come from me broken, and as 'twere
By fits, like lightning, flash succeeding flash,
I tremble so.
Labr.
Neptune, thy bath's a cold one:
Since I've come out on't in my cloaths, I freeze.
He deals in nothing warm to chear our hearts,
But gives up only salt and cold potations.
Charm.
How happy are the blacksmiths, who are ever
Employ'd about a fire, are always warm!
Labr.
O for the nature of a duck, that now
I might be dry, tho'come from out the water.
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What if I hire me for a bug-bear?
Labr.
Why?
Charm.
Because I chatter with my teeth so terribly.
Yes, yes, I own I have deserv'd this ducking.
Labr.
Why so?
Charm.
Because I dar'd embark with Thee,
Whose crimes have stir'd up ocean from its bottom.
Labr.
Fool! to have listen'd to thy vain pretences,
That in thy country I from girls should draw
Huge profit, and amass a world of riches!
Charm.
Why, thou unclean, unhallow'd beast, didst think
To gobble up all Sicily at a mouthful?
Labr.
I wonder what sea-beast has gobbled up
My wallet, with the treasure pack'd within it.
Charm.
The same, I fancy, that has got my pouch,
With all its silver, which was in the wallet.
Labr.
Alas! I am reduc'd to this one waistcoat,
And this poor shabby cloak.—Undone for ever!
Charm.
We may set up in partnership together;
Our means are equal.
Labr.
Were the damsels sav'd,
Some hope were left me.—Now, if Pleusidippus,
Who gave me earnest for Palæstra, see me,
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(He cries.
Charm.
Prithee, oaf,
Why dost thou blubber thus?—Thou'lt never want,
While thou canst wag a tongue; thy perjury
Will quit all payments.
| The Shipwreck | |