University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Enter CHRYSALUS.
Chry.
To erect a golden statue to this man,
[pointing to himself.
Is right and fit—He's worth his weight in gold—
Two great exploits have I atchiev'd to-day,
And by them double plunder have I got—
How finely my old master have I bit!
How he's been fool'd!—I with my crafty arts
Persuaded and constrain'd the old crafty cuff
To credit every thing I said—And now
For my young master, for the man in love,
With whom I eat and drink, and sport away,
I have procur'd a royal fund of gold;
That he from his own heaps may take at home,
And not, when he wants money, hunt abroad.
Those Parmeno's, those Syrus's I hate
Who from their master filch two or three minæ.
And the worst thing I know of, is a slave
Who wants a head—whose brains are not well stock'd,
From whence, as need requires, he may draw out.
None can be wise, who is not as expert
In doing mischief, as in doing good—
With knaves to be a knave, and filch—With thieves
A thief, and steal whatever comes to hand—
The prudent man should often shift his shape—
If he is wise indeed, good with the good
He'll ever be, and with the bad, be bad—
Just as things are, so will he frame his humour.
But now I long to know, what share my master
Took of the gold to his own proper use;
And what he paid his father—If he's prudent,
He serv'd him just as they serve Hercules;
Gave him a tenth, and kept nine parts himself.
But see! the person I was looking for—
He in good time approaches— [to him.]
So, my master,
Why with your eyes so fix'd upon the ground?
Is any of your money fal'n upon it?
Why see I you so sorrowful and sad?
I like it not—Nor is my judgement rash—
Why don't you answer me?

Mne.
I'm ruin'd, Chrysalus—

Chry.
Perhaps you took too little of the money?

Mne.
How! knave, too little!—Yes, a monstrous deal
Too little.—

Chry.
Then, why did you, simpleton;
When, by my management, I had procur'd
So fair an opportunity, that you
Might take just what you pleas'd, thus pinch it up
Betwixt your finger and your thumb—Not know
How very seldom such occasions offer?

Mne.
Why, you mistake—

Chry.
Ay, and you did the same
When deep enough you did not dip.

Mne.
In troth,
Did you know more, you'd blame me more—I am ruin'd.

Chry.
My mind forebodes more mischief in these words.

Mne.
I'm ruin'd—

Chry.
How so?

Mne.
I've paid back the gold,
Ay, dust and all—

Chry.
Paid back!—

Mne.
Paid back, I say.—

Chry.
What all?—

Mne.
Ay, to an atom.

Chry.
We're demolish'd.
How could it come into your head, to do
So foul a deed?

Mne.
Why, I from Lydus' charge
Suspected Bacchis, and that young man there,
[pointing to Pistoclerus.
Had play'd me false; and in a fit of wrath
Paid back the money—

Chry.
Well then, and what said you,
When you paid back the money to your father?

Mne.
That I from Archidemides his host,
Had just receiv'd it.

Chry.
How!—That speech to-day
Will drive poor Chrysalus strait to the torture.
For soon as e'er the old man spies me out,
He'll take me into custody at once.

Mne.
My father I've besought—

Chry.
What! I suppose
To do the thing I have been talking of—

Mne.
Nay, not to punish you, not to be angry;
And have, with much ado, prevail'd.—Now Chrysalus,
Here is another business for you still—

Chry.
What other business?—

Mne.
Open a new road.
Contrive, devise, invent just what you please.
Your own way model it, that artfully
This artful man you may deceive to-day,
And carry off the gold.

Chry.
It scarce seems possible.

Mne.
Go on with it, you'll easily effect it.

Chry.
Easily!—Plague on't: but this very now
He caught me in a downright lye—And if
I should intreat him, every thing I say
To disbelieve, he'd not trust even that.

Mne.
Nay, if you heard but what he said of you?

Chry.
Why, what was't that he said of me?

Mne.
He said,
If you affirm'd the sun to be the sun,
He would believe it was the moon; and night,
When now 'tis day.

Chry.
I'll fairly wipe his nose—
I'll warrant him, he shan't say that for nothing.

Mne.
What would you have us do?

Chry.
I've no commands
For you, only proceed in your amours—
As to the rest, demand what sum you please,
I'll give it you—What is't to me to have
The name of gold, and not the thing—But now
What is the sum you want, Mnesilochus?
Tell me—

Mne.
For Bacchis' use, to pay the captain,
I want two hundred pieces—

Chry.
Well—I'll give it you.

Mne.
Then to defray common expences—

Chry.
Ah!—
Let us go on deliberately; and when
One thing is done, we'll set about the next—
'Gainst the old man, for the two hundred pieces
My engine will I first apply—If I
With help of that can batter down the tower,
The outworks; next then at the gate will I
Attack the old and antient town itself;
And, if I carry it, carry to your friends
Baskets of gold, as much as heart can wish.—

Pis.
O Chrysalus, our hopes are plac'd in thee.

Chry.
Now, Pistoclerus, go you in to Bacchis,
And quickly bring—

Pis.
Bring what?

Chry.
A style, and wax,
Some tablets, and some tape—

Pis.
It shall be done.
[Exit Pist.

Mne.
What will you do now? tell me— [to Chry.]
Dinner's ready.

Chry.
There'll be you two—And then your mistress—She
Will make a third—

Mne.
According to your way
Of reckoning.

Chry.
Pistoclerus has no mistress—

Mne.
Nay, but he has—And she is here—I love
One sister, he the other—Both are Bacchis.

Chry.
What do you say?

Mne.
But how accommodated?

Chry.
Where are your couches plac'd?

Mne.
Why ask you that?

Chry.
Why so it is—I wish you'd therefore tell me.
You know not what I am about to do;
Nor what a great exploit I shall attempt.

Mne.
Give me your hand, and follow to the door—
Peep in—

Chry.
[looking into Bacchis's house.]
Huzza! a most delicious place;
And just the very thing that I could wish.

Re-enter PISTOCLERUS.
Pis.
Your orders are obey'd with expedition—
To the obedient, orders are well given—

Chry.
Well—what is't you have brought?

Pis.
Just every thing
You order'd—

Chry.
[to Mne.]
Take the tablets, and the style:
Be quick—

Mne.
What then?

Chry.
Write down then what I bid you.
I'd for this reason have you write, because
Your father, when he reads, may know the hand—
Now write—

Mne.
Write what?

Chry.
Salute your father, but
In your own words—

Pis.
Suppose now he should write
Death and disease? That surely would be better.

Mne.
Don't interrupt us— [writing.]
I've wrote what you order'd.

Chry.
Read it.

Mne.
[reading.]
“Mnesilochus sends health to his father.”

Chry.
Be quick, write this besides—“My father, Chrysalus
“Abuses me in every place, because
“I paid you back the gold, and did not cheat you.”

Pis.
Stay till 'tis wrote—

Chry.
A lover should write quick.

Pis.
He's nimbler far to lavish, than to write.

Mne.
That's wrote—What next?

Chry.
“Now be upon your guard.
“He's forming plots to rob you of the money,
“And has declar'd he certainly will have it.”
Write legibly.

Mne.
You dictate then.

Chry.
“And promises
“The gold to me, which I may give to strumpets,
“And eat and drink, and riot in the stews.
“Beware he don't impose upon you, father.
“I beg you'd be upon your guard.”

Mne.
Say on.

Chry.
Well, write then.

Mne.
Tell me what to write.

Chry.
“I beg you,
“Father, remember what you promised me—
“Not to chastise him, but to keep him bound
“At home”—Give me forthwith the wax and tape.
Come, come, be quick—Tye them and seal them up.

Mne.
What is your reason, pray, for writing this?
That he should give no credit to whate'er
You said, and keep you bound at home?

Chry.
Because
It is my whim—Can't you indulge yourself,
And meddle not with me?—To my own powers
Trusting, this business I at first began;
And 'tis at my own peril I proceed.

Mne.
Why you say true.

Chry.
Give me the letter.

Mne.
Take it.

Chry.
Attend then both of you—You Pistoclerus,
And you Mnesilochus, take to your couches;
Go both, and with your mistresses recline,
And briskly put the glass about, where now
Your couches are prepar'd.

Pis.
Would you ought else?

Chry.
Why this—When you are once sat down, stir not
A foot, till I have given you the signal.

Pis.
An excellent commander!—

Chry.
Why ere this,
You ought to have drank twice—

Mne.
Well then, away.

Chry.
See that you do your duty, I'll do mine.

[Exit. Mne. and Pist.