 | The Parasite |  |
SCENE I.
Enter Master of the Wardrobe, as Chorus.MAST. CHOR.
'Troth, Phædromus has got an arch rogue there;
A sly informer—But by sea or land
Rather, I know not which I should pronounce him.
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No matter! I have nought to do with him,
I trusted them to Phædromus. However,
I'll keep a watchful eye. 'Till he comes out,
Lest you should take unnecessary trouble,
[to the spectators.
I'll shew you where to find all sorts of men,
Or bad or good, or honest men or rascals.
Whoe'er wants one to swear through thick and thin,
I send him to law-courts—A lying boaster
You'll find not far from Cloacina's altar.
Your prodigal rich husbands you must look for
At the Exchange. There too you'll find stale harlots,
Ready for any bargain. Stewards of clubs
Are ever at the fish-markets. Your rich,
Your good men, at the bottom of the Forum.
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Meer braggarts, bold, loquacious—'Bove the lake,
Malevolent and foul-mouth'd fellows, such
As boldly deal out slander without cause:
Yet give sufficient matter unto others,
To form true accusations against them.
At the old shops, are those who lend out money,
Or borrow it, on usury—Behind
The temple of Castor, those you'll not trust easily.—
In Tuscan street are such as sell themselves,
The baker, butcher, or the augurer.
In the oil-market, those who cheat mankind,
Or lay it in men's way to cheat themselves.
In th'Oppian Leucadia, are rich husbands,
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To poverty. But hark! the door there creaks!
'Tis time, it seems, for me to hold my tongue.
[Exit.
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