 | The Captives |  |
SCENE III.
HEGIO and STALAGMUS.HEGIO.
My honest lad!—come hither;—my fine slave!
Stal.
What d'ye expect from Me, when such a man,
As you are, will tell lies?—An honest lad!
A fine slave! I ne'er was, nor ever shall be;—
Hope not to make me so.
Heg.
You see at once
Your situation:—if you speak the truth,
You'll better your bad fortune:—speak it then,—
Be true and just, though you was never so
In all your life before.
Stal.
And do you think
I blush to own it, when yourself affirm it?
Heg.
But I shall make you blush;—nay, I will make you
Redden all over.
Stal.
So!—you threaten me
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Say, what's your pleasure?—'Tis but ask, and have.
Heg.
Fine talking this!—To cut the matter short,
Prithee be brief.
Stal.
I'll do as you command.
Heg.
O he was ever an obedient lad!—
But to the business.—Now attend, and answer me
To what I ask you:—if you speak the truth,
You'll better your condition.
Stal.
That's a joke!—
Can you imagine, that I do not know
What I deserve?
Heg.
But yet you may avoid
A part, if not the whole.
Stal.
A trifling part:—
Much is my due;—because I ran away,
And stole your son, then sold him.
Heg.
Sold! to whom?
Stal.
Theodoromedes the Polyplusian
Of Ælis, for six Minæ.
Heg.
O ye Gods!
He is the father of this same Philocrates.
Stal.
I know him better than I know yourself,
And I have seen him oft'ner.
Heg.
Jove supreme
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I beg you, as you love me, to come forth:—
I have to say to you—
| The Captives | |