University of Virginia Library

PROLOGUE.

Of this your fair and ample city, Plautus
Begs a small nook, where he may set up Athens
Without the help of builders—Now, what say you?
D'ye grant me my request or no?—They nod
Assent—I thought I should succeed at once.—
What if I ask you ought of private property?—
Ay, then they shake their heads—By Hercules!
You still maintain, I see, your antient manners;
Your tongues are ever ready to deny.—
But to the business we are met upon.
Our stage is Athens for a little time,
Just while we play our Comedy—Here lives
[pointing to Phronesium's house.
A girl, by name Phronesium:—her manners
Are of the present mode: she never asks
Her lover what he has already given,
But as to what remains, she does her best
By asking and by taking: so that nothing
Is left at last—This is the women's fashion,
They every one will do the same, when once
They find they have their lover in a string.
Now she pretends she's lately brought to bed;
And that a captain's father of the child:
More expeditiously to sweep away
His money, dust and all—To say no more,
If this girl ever lives to be a woman,
His life and fortune will be wholly hers.