 | The Churl |  |
260
SCENE IV.
Enter PHRONESIUM and ASTAPHIUM.Phro.
She's an insipid and a dirty trollop,
Who even in her cups neglects her interest.
Tho' she is over head and ears in wine,
Tipsy from top to toe, yet let her mind
At least be sober—I am vex'd at heart,
Poor Sura has been treated so severely.
The child is prov'd to be Dinarchus' son:
She said—Where heard she that?—Yet all I have,
Children and all are his—Look here! I see
The man who made me guardian of his fortune.
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Woman, I'm come to you—
Phro.
What would you have
My love?
Din.
No love—Truce with your fooleries.
I've nothing more to do with them—
Phro.
I know
What 'tis you want, and what 'tis you demand,
And what you seek for—To see me was what
You wanted; you demand my love, and seek for
The child—
Din.
Immortal gods! how plain she speaks!
And how concisely to the point she comes!
Phro.
I know you are betroth'd—I know you have
A son by your betroth'd—and soon you are
To marry her; and in another place
Your heart's now fix'd, and I'm to be forsaken.
But ne'ertheless reflect, the little mouse,
How sage a brute it is! who never trusts
Its safety to one hole: for when it finds
One entrance is block'd up, it has secure
Some other outlet—
Din.
Well, when we have leisure,
We'll discourse farther of these matters—Now
Restore the child—
Phro.
Nay, only a few days
I beg, you'd suffer him to be with me.
Din.
By no means—
Phro.
Do—I beg you do—
Din.
For what?
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'Tis for my interest—But for three days only,
'Till I can some how trick my noble captain.
If I have any gains, you shall have part.
Take the child from me, and you kill all hopes
I've in the Captain—
Din.
Well, I wish it so—
But there's no room for me to make that wish
Effectual, if I would—Now you've the child,
Do your best with it, and take care of it:
You've wherewithal—
Phro.
And for this kindness, I
By Castor! love you—And whene'er you fear
A scolding bout at home, fly here to me,
And be at least an useful friend—
Din.
Farewell,
Phronesium.
Phro.
Don't you call me then your love?
Din.
That name may now and then by stealth be mention'd.
Phro.
Any thing else?
Din.
Be mindful of your health.
When I have need, I'll visit you again.
[Exit.
Phro.
He's gone, he's fled—Now I may speak my mind.
The proverb's true—Best friends are sometimes troublesome.
On his account, the captain saw himself
Shut out to-day; whom, better than myself
I love, by Castor! So I gain my ends—
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Little remains of what we get by trade—
Such are the glories of a courtezan!
Ast.
Hist, Hist! Phronesium!
Phro.
What's the matter now?
Ast.
Here is the father of the child—
Phro.
If he,
And only he, let him come when he will,
And come the nearest road—By Castor! if
He comes, I by my artifice will ease him,
First of his cash—Then pack him off again.
[Exeunt.
| The Churl | |