University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter GIDDENEME, and BOY.
Gid.
Who is it knocks?

Mil.
A very near acquaintance.

Gid.
What is your business?

Mil.
Hark you, Giddeneme,
Is that same long-sleev'd man there your acquaintance?

Gid.
Who is't I see? O Jupiter supreme!
Why 'tis my very master, and the father
Of my two mistresses—Hanno 'tis of Carthage.

Mil.
Look again, gipsey—This same Punic juggler
Is at his art most excellent—In troth
He carries all before him—

Gid.
O, my master,
All hail!—All hail to Hanno—to myself,
And to thy daughters much unhop'd for, welcome.
Nay, wonder not, nor gaze so fix'd upon me.
Know you not Giddeneme, your poor slave?

Han.
I know thee well—But where are my two daughters?
That is my first concern—

Gid.
In Venus' temple.

Han.
What do they there?—Inform me—

Gid.
'Tis the feast
Of Venus: and they're gone to pray the goddess
To be propitious to them—

Mil.
Yes, indeed!
Their prayers have well succeeded, now he's come!

Ago.
What then, are these his daughters?

Gid.
Certainly.
Your kindness at this time most critical,
Hath sav'd us all—This day—This very day
Their names were to be chang'd, to the vile purpose
Of common prostitution:—both devoted
For hire, as slaves, to that abandon'd trade.

Boy.
Shall not I bid him welcome?

Gid.
Child, remember,
They are at Venus' festival; as yet
The time's not proper—Hold your peace at present,
And keep the Captain ignorant of this.

Ago.
Tell me what 'tis they say to one another.

[to Milphio.]
Mil.
The boy salutes his mother; she, her son.

Han.
Peace! let alone the female conversation.

Ago.
What female conversation?

Han.
Why, loud talk,
Without all meaning, and beyond all measure.
Do thou [to Milphio.]
then take these home along with thee;
And take the nurse too—

Ago.
Strictly you obey him.

Mil.
But who then will be here to find his daughters?

Ago.
Myself shall do that office most exactly.

Mil.
I go then—

Ago.
Go—Don't tell me so, but go
This moment—Let a supper be got ready,
For my dear kinsman—

Mil.
Herbs may serve your turn.
[to Hanno's slaves.]
I shall [aside.]
take care to set you to the mill,
Then to the water-wheel; where each shall wear
A trusty clog, when tardy, at his heels.
Ye shall have slender cause to praise your keeping.

Ago.
But, kinsman, let me speak—And you must grant me
What I now ask you—Promise me in marriage
Your eldest daughter—

Han.
Granted willingly.

Ago.
Indeed! And do you promise?

Han.
From my heart.

Ago.
Again, hail kinsman! Now you're mine, indeed!
Now shall I visit her at last with freedom!
And, kinsman, would you see your daughter, follow me.

Han.
I will—I from my soul have wish'd it long.

Ago.
What if we meet them, as we pass?

Han.
I fear
Lest we should pass them—Jupiter supreme!
At last restore my hopes, and make me happy.

Ago.
I hope my charmer will be mine for ever.
But look! I see them coming.

Han.
These my daughters!
How wonderously grown!—

Ago.
Nay, wonder not—
They're Grecian columns, tall and elegant.

Mil.
I fancy, what to-day I said in joke,
May turn out quite the truth, a serious matter,
That these two girls are certainly his daughters.

Ago.
By heaven 'tis past all doubt—Milphio, do you
Take home your guests—Ours we shall wait for here.

[Exit Milphio.]