University of Virginia Library

Scæna prima.

Enter Antigonus, Carinthus, Tymon.
Ant.
What have ye found her out?

Char.
We have hearkned after her.

Ant.
What's that to my desire?

Char.
Your grace must give us time,
And a little meanes.

Ty.
She is sure a stranger,
If she were bred or knowne here—

Ant.
Your dull endeavours
Enter Menippus.
Should never be employ'd. Welcome Menippus.

Men.
I have found her sir,
I meane the place she is lodg'd in; her name is Celia,
And much a doe I had to purchase that too.

Ant.
Dost think Demetrius loves her?

Men.
Much I feare it,
But nothing that way yet can win for certaine.
Ile tell your grace within this houre.

Ant.
A stranger?

Men.
VVithout all doubt.

Ant.
But how should he come to her?

Men.
There lies the marrow of the matter hid yet.

Ant.
Has't thou been with thy wife?

Men.
No sir, I am going to her.

Ant.
Goe and dispatch, and meet me in the garden,
And get all out ye can.

Exit.
Men.
Ile doe my best sir.

Exit.
Tym.
Blest be thy wife, thou wert an arrant asse else.

Char.
I, she is a stirring woman indeed:
There's a braine, brother.

Tym.
There's not a handsome wench of any mettle
VVithin an hundred miles, but her intelligence
Reaches her, and out-reaches her, and brings her
As confidently to Court, as to a sanctuary:
VVhat had his mouldy braines ever arriv'd at,
Had not she beaten it out oth' Flint to fasten him?
They say she keeps an office of Concealements:
There is no young wench, let her be a Saint,
Unlesse she live ith' Center, but she findes her,
And every way prepares addresses to her:
If my wife would have followed her course Charinthus,
Her lucky course, I had the day before him:
O what might I have been by this time, Brother?
But she (forsooth) when I put these things to her,
These things of honest thrift, groans, ô my conscience,
The load upon my conscience, when to make us cuckolds,
They have no more burthen then a brood-goose, brother;
But let's doe what we can, though this wench faile us,
Another of a new way will be lookt at:
Come, let's abroad, and beat our brains, time may
For all his wisedome, yet give us a day.

Ex.