University of Virginia Library

SCENE XVIII.

Enter SCELEDRUS.
Periplectomenes! by Gods and men
I do beseech you, by my own folly,
By these your knees—

Per.
What is it, you'd beseech me?

Sce.
Pardon my ignorance, my folly pardon,
Since now at length I know I am half-witted,
Blind, and unthinking; for Philocomasium,
Behold! she is at home.

Per.
Why, how now, hang-dog?
Hast seen them both?

Sce.
I've seen them.

Per.
Prithee send
Your master to me.

Sce.
I indeed confess,
That I have deserv'd most ample chastisement,
And done an injury to your fair lodger:
But I believ'd she was my master's lady,
Of whom I had the charge; for never can there
From the same well be drawn one drop of water
More like another, than our lady is
To this your lodger:—And I do confess too,
I look'd into your house down through the sky-light.

Per.
Confess indeed! what I myself did see.

Sce.
I fancy'd, that I saw Philocomasium.

Per.
And do you rate me at so small a price
Of all mankind, to think that wittingly
I e'er could suffer such an injury,
So glaring, in my house, and to my neighbour?

Sce.
Now do I judge at last, that I have done
Most foolishly, since now I know the truth:—
Yet with no ill intent.

Per.
'Twas wrongly done.
A servant should restrain his eyes, and hands,
And speech too.

Sce.
—I?—If I but mutter ought
From this day forward, ev'n of what I know
Myself for certain, put me to the torture,
I'll give me up to you. Now I beseech you
To pardon me this once.—

Per.
I shall persuade me,
'Twas with no ill intent: I pardon you.

Sce.
May the Gods prosper you!

Per.
And verily,
If you would have them prosper you, your tongue
Henceforward you'll restrain: what you shall know,
You'll know not, and not see, what you shall see.

Sce.
You counsel me aright: I am resolv'd
To do so.—But I hope, you are appeas'd.
Would you ought else?

Per.
That you would know me not.

Sce.
(Aside)
He has cajol'd me.—How benignly he
Vouchsafed his grace no longer to be angry!
I know what he's about:—he means, the captain
Should catch me here at home, when he returns
(As shortly I expect him) from the Forum.—
He and Palæstrio together hold me
At their disposal:—but I've found it out,
And some time have I known it.—Verily
They shall not catch me nibbling at their bait:
I'll now take to my heels, and for some days
I'll hide me somewhere, till the storm is hush'd,
And their resentment soften'd.—I have merited
Enough, and more of chastisement.—But yet,—
Whate'er befall me,—I will e'en go home.

[Exit.