University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter GRIPUS with a Spit, from DÆMONES's House.
(Entering.)
By heav'ns
Ye shall not see Gripus alive to-night,
Unless the wallet be restor'd to me.

Lab.
(Over-hearing)
Oh! at the very mention of a wallet
I'm ready to drop down, just as if somebody
Had struck me with a large stake o'er the breast.

Grip.
That rascal there has got his freedom by it;
But I, who caught this wallet with my net,
I,—ye refuse to give him any thing.

Lab.
O ye immortal Gods! this fellow makes me
Prick up my ears at what he says.

Grip.
'Fore heav'n
I'll have it posted up all round about
In letters a yard long, “If any one
“Has lost a wallet full of gold and silver,
“Let him repair to Gripus.”—Ye sha'n't carry it,
As ye imagine.

Lab.
Verily this fellow
Knows who has got My wallet.—I'll accost him.

(Dæmones, or some one else, calls Gripus from within.)
Grip.
Why do you call me in again? I'd scour
This spit without doors where I am.— (Scouring the spit)
In troth
It's made of rust, not iron; and the more
I rub it, still more red it grows, and slenderer.
This spit has spit itself in a consumption,
It falls away, it wasts so in my hands.

Lab.
(Advancing.)
Save you, young man.

Grip.
Heav'ns bless you, Goodman Baldpate.

Lab.
What are you at?

Grip.
Scouring this spit.

Lab.
How do you?

Grip.
Why do you ask? Are you a doctor pray,
A medicant?

Lab.
I'm more, more by one letter.

Grip.
I understand you; you're a mendicant,
A beggar?

Lab.
You have hit it.

Grip.
So I thought
By your appearance.—What's the matter with you?

Lab.
I was involv'd o'er head and ears, deep in for't
Last night at sea; my ship was cast away,
And I lost all that I was worth.

Grip.
What lost you?

Lab.
I lost a wallet full of gold and silver.

Grip.
Do you remember what was in the wallet?

Lab.
What signifies it, when 'tis lost?

Grip.
Well, well! then,—
If not of this, let's talk of something else.—
What if I know who found it?—Prithee now
Tell me the marks, inform me what was in it.

Lab.
There were eight hundred pieces in a bag,
All gold, besides an hundred Philippeans
In a small scrip of leather by itself.

Grip.
(Aside.)
'Fore heav'n a noble prize, and I shall get
A large reward for finding it.—The Gods
Respect poor mortals.—I shall go from hence
Laden with spoil.—'Tis certainly his wallet.—
(To Lab.)
Proceed.

Lab.
A silver talent in a purse,
A bowl, a boat, an ewer, and a goblet.

Grip.
Most wonderful!—You had a world of riches.

Lab.
O 'tis a sad word and a vile one, Had,—
T'have had and not to have.

Grip.
What will you give
The party, that shall find and tell you of it?
Speak quick.

Lab.
Three hundred pieces.

Grip.
A mere feather.

Lab.
Four hundred.

Grip.
Rotten thread.

Lab.
Five hundred.

Grip.
Nutshells.

Lab.
Six hundred.

Grip.
Mites.

Lab.
I'll give sev'n hundred.

Grip.
Why
D'ye keep your mouth so close? are you afraid
To open it for fear of catching cold?

Lab.
I'll give a thousand pieces.

Grip.
You are dreaming.

Lab.
I'll give no more: begone.

Grip.
But hearkye me,
If I once go, I come not here again.

Lab.
What if I add an hundred to the thousand.

Grip.
Poh! you're asleep.

Lab.
Speak, how much would you have?

Grip.
Well then,—to make but one word,—a great talent;
That is the price; I will not bate a doit:
Therefore say ay or no.

Lab.
(Aside.)
I see I'm forc'd to't.—
(To Gripus.)
A talent shall be giv'n.

Grip.
(Going to the altar.)
Come hither then.
Venus shall be a party to th'agreement.

Lab.
Command me what you will.

Grip.
Here,—touch the altar.

Lab.
I touch it.

Grip.
By this Goddess you must swear—

Lab.
What must I swear?

Grip.
What I shall order you.

Lab.
Well—dictate what you will. (Aside.)
I need not borrow
Of any one what I've at home in plenty.

Grip.
Take hold here of the altar.

Lab.
I have hold on't.

Grip.
Swear, you will pay me what we have agreed on,
As soon as you've possession of the wallet.

Lab.
I will.

Gripus
speaks, and Labrax repeats after him.
Cyrenian Venus, bear me witness,
If I shall find this wallet, which I lost,
With all the gold and silver, and it come
Safe into my possession,—

Grip.
“Then, I promise
“This present Gripus,”— (To Lab.)
Say so after me,
And lay your hand upon me.

Lab.
Then, I promise
This present Gripus,—

Grip. and Lab.
Venus be my witness,—
That I will give him a great silver talent.

Grip.
Say,—If you cozen me, let Venus then
Destroy you root and branch in your profession.
(Aside.)
And be it so, the moment you have sworn!

Lab.
O Venus, if I falsify my oath,
May curses light on me and all Procurers.

Grip.
(Aside.)
And so they will, though you should keep your oath.—
(To Labrax,)
Stay here:—I'll bring the old man out:—Be sure
You challenge him directly with the wallet.

[Gripus goes in.
Lab.
So—though he help me to my wallet, yet
I owe him not a doit. Myself am judge
Of what my tongue does swear.—Hush,—here he comes,
And the old gentleman along with him.