University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Enter STROBILUS, Servant to LYCONIDES.
'Tis a good servant's duty to behave
As I do,—to obey his master's orders
Without delay or grumbling: for whoever
Seeks to demean him to his master's liking,
Ought to be quick in what concerns his master,
And slow to serve himself: his very dreams,
When sleeping, should remind him what he is.
If any serve a master that's in love,
(As I do for example) and he find
His passion has subdu'd him, 'tis his duty
To keep him back, restrain him for his good,
Not push him forward where his inclinations
Hurry him on. As boys, that learn to swim,
Rest on a kind of raft compos'd of rushes,
That they may labour less, and move their hands,
And swim more easily; so should a servant
Buoy up his master, that is plung'd in love,
From sinking like a plummet.—Such an one
Will read his master's pleasure in his looks,
And what he orders haste to execute
As quick as lightning. Whatsoever servant
Acts in this wise, will never feel the lash,
Nor make his fetters bright by constant wear.—
My master is enamour'd with the daughter
Of this poor fellow Euclio, and has learn'd
She's to be married to our Megadorus.
He therefore sent me hither as a spy,
T'inform him of what passes.—I may seat me
Close by this altar here without suspicion;
Whence I can learn what's doing on all sides.

[Sits down by an altar.

SCENE II.

Enter EUCLIO from the Temple of Faith.
Good Faith, discover not to any one,
That here my gold is plac'd: I have no fear,
That any one will find it, it is lodg'd
So privily.—On my troth, if any one
Should find this Pot cramm'd full of gold, he'd have
A charming booty on't: but I beseech you,
Prevent it, Faith.—Now will I go and bathe,
That I may sacrifice, and not detain
My son-in-law, but soon as he demands her
He may espouse my girl, and bring her home.
Look to't again, Faith, and again, that I
May bear my gold off, safe as I have left it,
Lodg'd in your temple, trusted to your faith.

[Exit.

SCENE III.

STROBILUS,
from his lurking-place.
What did I hear him say?—Immortal Gods!
That he had hid a Pot brimful of gold
Here in this temple.—I beseech you, Faith,
Be not to him more faithful than to me.—
This is the father, if I don't mistake
Of her my master is enamour'd with.
I'll in, and rummage the whole temple o'er
To find this treasure, now that he's employ'd.—
If I do find it, Faith, I'll offer to you
A gallon full of wine, and faithful measure.—
I'll offer,—but I'll drink it all myself.

[Goes to the Temple of Faith.

SCENE IV.

EUCLIO
returning.
'Tis not for nothing that I heard the raven
On my left hand: and once he scrap'd the ground,
And then he croak'd: it made my heart to jump
And flutter in my breast.—Why don't I run?

SCENE V.

EUCLIO,
dragging out STROBILUS.
Out, earthworm, out, who but a moment past,
Crept under-ground, wert no where to be seen;
But now thou dost appear, 'tis over with thee.
Rascal, I'll be thy death.

Strob.
What a plague ails you?
What business have you, you old wretch, with me?
Why do you lug me so? what makes you beat me?

Eucl.
D'ye ask? you whipping-stock! you villainous thief!
Not one alone, but all the thieves together!

Strob.
What have I stol'n of your's?

Eucl.
Restore it to me.

Strob.
Restore it? what?

Eucl.
D'ye ask?

Srob.
I've taken nothing.

Eucl.
Come, give me what you've got.

Strob.
What are you at?

Eucl.
What am I at?—You shall not carry it off.

Strob.
What is it you would have?

Eucl.
Come, lay it down.

Strob.
Why we have laid no wager, that I know of.

Eucl.
Come, come, no joking; lay it down, I say.

Strob.
What must I lay down? tell me, name it to me:
I have not touch'd, or taken any thing.

Eucl.
Shew me your hands.

Strob.
Here they are.

Eucl.
Shew them me.

Strob.
Why here they are.

Eucl.
I see.—Shew me your third hand.

Strob.
(Aside)
Sure the old fellow's crazy; he's bewitch'd.
Prithee now don't you use me very ill?

Eucl.
Very ill truly, not to have you hang'd,—
Which I will do, if now you don't confess.

Strob.
Don't confess what?

Eucl.
What did you take from hence?

Strob.
May I be curs'd, if I took any thing
Belonging to you, or desired it, I.

Eucl.
Come, come, pull off your cloak.

Strob.
(pulling it off)
Just as you please.

Eucl.
You may have hid it underneath your cloaths.

Strob.
Search where you will.

Eucl.
(Aside)
The rogue, how civil is he,
That I may not suspect!—I know his tricks.—
Once more, shew me your right hand.

Strob.
Here it is.

Eucl.
Well,—now shew me your left.

Strob.
There they are both.

Eucl.
Come,—I will search no further,—give it me.

Strob.
What must I give you?

Eucl.
Pshaw! don't trifle with me.
You certainly have got it.

Strob.
Got? got what?

Eucl.
So,—you would have me name it;—but I will not.
Restore whatever you have got of mine.

Strob.
You're mad sure.—You have search'd me at your pleasure,
And you have found nothing of your's upon me.

Eucl.
Stay, stay,—who was that other with you yonder?
(Aside)
I'm ruin'd! he's at work within; and if
I let him go, this other will escape.—
I've search'd him, it is true, and he has nothing.
(To Strob.)
Go where you will, and may the Gods confound you!

Strob.
I'm much oblig'd to you for your kind wishes.

Eucl.
I'll in, and if I light on your accomplice,
I'll strangle him.—Out of my sight—be gone.

Strob.
I go.

Eucl.
And never let me see you more.

[Euclio goes into the Temple.

SCENE VI.

STROBILUS
alone.
I'd rather die the worst of deaths, than now
Not lay an ambush for this old man's money.
He will not dare to hide it here, I fancy;
But he will bring it out with him, and change
Its situation.—Hush, the door is opening,
And out he comes, the old hunks, with his treasure,
I'll draw a little nearer to the gate here.

[Skulks on one side.

SCENE VII.

EUCLIO
returns, with his Pot of Money.
Faith had more faith, I thought: but she has made
An ass of me downright.—If this same raven
Had not stood by me, oh! I had been ruined.
Would I could meet this honest bird again,
That gave me this foreboding! I would give him
Good words at least.—Good words, they say, cost nothing.—
Now,—let me see—where can I find a place,
A lonely one, where I may hide this treasure?
(Meditating)
—There is a grove without the city walls,
That's sacred to Sylvanus, unfrequented,
Thick set with willows:—on that spot I'll fix.
Sylvanus will I sooner trust than Faith.

[Exit.

SCENE VIII.

STROBILUS
alone.
I'll run before him, climb into a tree,
And watch where this old fellow hides his money.
My master bade me wait here,—but no matter:
I'll risk mishap in quest of such advantage.

[Exit.

SCENE IX.

Enter LYCONIDES and EUNOMIA.
Lyc.
I've told you all, good mother: you are now
As well acquainted as myself with all
Concerning Euclio's daughter. My dear mother,
I now unask you what I ask'd before:—
Impart it to my uncle, I beseech you.

Eun.
Your will you know is mine, son; and I trust
I shall obtain my brother's approbation;
And there is reason good, if, as you say,
You us'd her unbecomingly in liquor.

Lyc.
You cannot think, I'd tell you an untruth.
PHÆDRIA within.
My pangs come on—Help, help, nurse! I shall die!
Juno Lucina, save me!

Lyc.
Hark, good mother!
This is a further proof: she's crying out,
She's now in labour.

Eun.
Come then, my dear son,
You shall go in here with me to my brother,
And I'll persuade him to forego his marriage.

Lyc.
I'll follow you this instant.

[Eunomia goes in.

SCENE X.

LYCONIDES
alone.
I'm amaz'd
Where Strobilus can be, when I had order'd him
To wait me here. And yet upon reflection,
If he is absent now to do me service,
It would be wrong to be offended with him.
I'll in then, where they sit in judgment on me.

[Exit.