 | The Braggard Captain |  |
SCENE X.
Enter PHILOCOMASIUM, from Periplectomenes's House.(To a servant within.)
Put fire upon the altar,
That, when my bathing's ended, I may pour
My thanks and praises to Ephesian Dian,
157
For she has sav'd me in the watry realms
Of Neptune, in his boisterous temples, where
With unrelenting billows I was tost,
And sore dismay'd.
Sce.
(Discovering her.)
Palæstrio, O Palæstrio!
Pal.
Sceledrus, O Sceledrus!—Well,—what would you?
Sce.
That lady,—see there,—who came out from hence
This instant,—say, is she Philocomasium?
Or is she not?
Pal.
Truly I think it her.—
But it is strange, how she could get there,—if
Indeed she be the same.
Sce.
And do you doubt,
If it be she?
Pal.
'Tis like her.—Let's approach,
And speak to her.
Sce.
Philocomasium!—hoa!—
How's this?—What business have you in that house?
Why are you silent? 'Tis to you I speak.
158
Nay verily you speak but to yourself;
For nothing does she answer.
Sce.
Shameless woman!
To you I speak,—you, that thus roam about
Among the neighbours!
Phil.
Whom d'ye speak to?
Sce.
Whom,
But to yourself?
Phil.
Who are you? and what business
Have you with me?
Sce.
Hey!—Ask you, who I am?
Phil.
And why not ask you, what I do not know?
Pal.
Pray who am I then, if you know not him?
Phil.
A very troublesome, whoe'er you are,—
Both you and he.
Sce.
What! don't you know us then?
Phil.
No,—neither.
Sce.
I do greatly fear—
Pal.
What fear you?
Sce.
That we have lost ourselves somewhere or other;
For she knows neither you, she says, nor me.
Pal.
Let us examine, if we are ourselves,
Or else some other:—may be, they have chang'd us
Without our knowledge.
Sce.
Surely I am I.
159
And so am I. (To Phil.)
—Lady, you seek your ruin.—
Philocomasium! hoa!—to you I speak.
Phil.
What madness does possess you thus to call me
By a strange name?
Pal.
Oh ho! how are you call'd then?
Phil.
My name is Glycere.
Pal.
Fye now, this is wrong.—
You'd go by a false name.—'Tis not becoming,
And truly you do wrong my master by it.
Phil.
I?
Pal.
You.
Phil.
I came but yesterday to Ephesus
From Athens, with my young Athenian lover.
Pal.
Tell me, what business have you here at Ephesus?
Phil.
I heard, that my twin-sister sojourn'd here,
And came to seek her.
Pal.
O thou art a sad one!
Phil.
I am a fool to hold discourse with you.—
I'll go.
Sce.
(Laying hold of her.)
But I'll not let you.
Phil.
Loose me.
Sce.
No,—
'Tis plain!—I will not quit you.
Phil.
But I'll make
Your cheeks ring, if you don't let go.
Sce.
Palæstrio?—
Plague:—why do you stand still?—why don't you hold her
On t'other side?
160
I do not chuse to bring
A business on my back.—How do I know,
Whether she be Philocomasium, or
Some other, that is like her?
Phil.
Will you loose me,
Or will you not?
Sce.
No,—I will drag you home
By force, against your will, except you'll gently
Go of your own accord.
Phil.
(Pointing to Periplectomenes's house.)
My lodging's here,—
This door.—At Athens I've an home, and patron.—
Your home I reck not; neither do I know,
What men ye are.
Sce.
Seek your redress by law.—
I'll never loose you, till you give your word,
That, if I do so, you will go in here. (To the Captain's)
Phil.
Me you by force compel, whoe'er you are.—
I promise, if you loose me, I will go
In there, where you command.
Sce.
Then,—I do loose you.
Phil.
And I, as I am free, will go in here.
(Runs into Periplectomenes's house.)
| The Braggard Captain | |