 | The Braggard Captain |  |
SCENE IV.
Enter LUCRIO, a Lad.Sceledrus
Is not at leisure.
Pal.
Why?
Lucr.
He's fast asleep
Gulping.
Pal.
Gulping what?
Lucr.
Snoring I would say;—
But they are both so much alike;—to snore
Is as it were to gulp.
Pal.
What! is Sceledrus
Asleep within?
Lucr.
Not with his nose indeed;—
With that he makes an huge noise.—He has taken
A cup by stealth: the butler through neglect
Left in his way a pitcher-full of Nardine.
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Hoa, rascal, you that are the under butler,
Hearkye me.—
Lucr.
What's your pleasure?
Pal.
How is it,
That he's asleep?
Lucr.
How?—with his eyes, I think.
Pal.
Sirrah, I do not ask you that.—Come hither.—
You are undone, except I know the truth.—
You drew him wine?
Lucr.
Not I.
Pal.
Do you deny it?
Lucr.
Yes truly;—for he charg'd me not to tell.—
Not I indeed forsooth,—I did not draw him
A pitcher of eight pints,—no, nor did he
Drink hot wine at his dinner.
Pal.
Nor did you
Drink too.
Lucr.
The Gods confound me, if I did,—
If drink I could.
Pal.
For why?
Lucr.
I only sipt,—
It was too hot, it burnt my throat.
Pal.
Well,—some
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The cellar's trusted to an honest butler,
As well as under-butler!
Lucr.
You in troth
Would do the self-same, if you had the care on't.—
Because you cannot copy us, you now envy.
Pal.
Hoa,—did he never draw him wine before?—
Answer me, villain.—And be sure of this,—
I give you warning,—if you tell me false,
You shall be tortur'd,—rascal!
Lucr.
So will you
Inform against me, hey; and then shall I
Be ousted from my battening-post, that you
May have an under-butler to your mind,
To draw you wine in plenty.
Pal.
Faith I will not.—
Come then, speak boldly to me.
Lucr.
Then by heavens
I never saw him draw one drop of wine:—
But thus it was;—he order'd and I drew.
Pal.
What, did you stoop the cask?
Lucr.
That's not so easy:
Besides, the cellar's very wet and slippery.—
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That holds two pints. Now this was often fill'd,—
Ten times a day;—I've seen it quick replenish'd,
And emptied all as quickly.—As the pot
Mov'd to and fro, the casks would stoop to meet it.
Pal.
Go, get you in.—Ye play the Bacchanals
Both of you in the wine cellar.—I'll fetch
My master from the Forum.
Lucr.
(Aside.)
I am ruin'd.—
When he comes home, and learns what has been done,
He'll have me whipt, because I did not tell him.—
I'll e'en take to my heels,—and skulking somewhere
Stave off my sufferings to a further day. (Going.)
(To the spectators.)
I do beseech you, that you will not tell him.
Pal.
Whither art going?
Lucr.
I am sent elsewhere,
And shall return this instant.
Pal.
Who has sent you?
Lucr.
Philocomasium.
Pal.
Go,—be back directly.
Lucr.
If there's a dividend, while I'm away,
Of a sound beating, do you take my share on't.
[Lucrio goes off.
| The Braggard Captain | |