 | The Miser |  |
SCENE VII.
Enter MEGADORUS and EUNOMIA.Meg.
Who calls us?—So,
Lyconides.—
Eun.
So, Strobilus.—What's the matter?
Speak.
Strob.
It is no great matter.
Meg.
But what is it?
Strob.
I call'd you to be witness.—If I bring
A pot here full of gold of four pounds weight,
And give it to Lyconides, Lyconides
Shall make me free, and master of myself.
259
You promise this?
Lyc.
I promise.
(To Meg. and Eun.)
Have you heard
What he has said?
Meg. and Eun.
We have.
Strob.
(To Lyc.)
But swear by Jupiter.
Lyc.
To what vile streights alas! am I reduc'd?
You are too saucy; yet I will submit
To do what you command.
Strob.
A word with you.—
Our age has little faith or honesty.
A record shall be sign'd, there shall be present
A dozen witnesses, the time and place
Mark'd by a notary; yet there shall be found
A pettifogger to dispute the fact.
Lyc.
Prithee dismiss me strait.
Strob.
Here, take this stone.
Lyc.
(Taking the stone.)
If I deceive you knowingly, may Jupiter
Throw me from all I'm worth, no place of refuge
Left me within the city, as I throw
This stone. (Throwing it from him.)
Are you content?
Strob.
I'm satisfy'd.
I'll fetch the treasure.
Lyc.
Hie thee with the speed
Of Pegasus, and swallow up the way
In hasting back again.
[Strobilus goes off.
260
To have a servant, that's for ever prating,
And thinks he has more wisdom than his master.
This fellow here of mine, e'en let him go
And hang himself, I care not, with his freedom,
So he but bring me here the pot of gold,
That I may turn old Euclio's grief to joy,
Hoping to call him father, and obtain
His daughter, who is just now brought to bed
In consequence of my embraces.—See!
Here Strobilus comes loaded; as I think,
He brings the Pot, 'tis certainly the Pot.
[Strobilus returns with the Pot.
Lyconides, you see I've kept my promise:
Here is the pot of gold of four pounds weight.
Have I been tardy?
(Giving it him.
Lyc.
No.—Immortal Gods!
What do I see? what have I in possession?
More than six hundred Philippeans, three
And four times told.—Let us call Euclio out
This instant.—Euclio! Euclio!
Meg.
Euclio! Euclio!
Eucl.
(within.)
What is it you would have?
Lyc.
Come down to us.—
The Gods protect you.—We have got the Pot.
Eucl.
Ha! have ye got it? or d'ye only jest?
Lyc.
I say, we have it.—If you can, fly hither.
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