University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter PISTOCLERUS.
Pis.
[to 1 Bacchis within.]
'Tis strange you should request me to return
So pressingly—I can't stir from you if
I would, you have me so engag'd, so chain'd
By love—

Chry.
Immortal gods! here's Pistoclerus—
Hail to you, Pistoclerus.

Pis.
Hail to Chrysalus!

Chry.
I'll save you many speeches, Pistoclerus—
You're glad I'm safe arriv'd, I know you are.
You promise me a lodging and a supper,
To welcome my return—I nod assent.
I bring you from your friend sincere respects.
Ask you me where he is?

Pis.
Lives he, and is
He well?

Chry.
That question I must ask of you.

Pis.
How should I know?

Chry.
None better—

Pis.
And how so?

Chry.
For if his love is found, he is alive,
And well—If not, he's sick, and near his end.
A mistress is a lover's life and soul—
He's a meer nothing when she is away—
And if she's with him, his estate will be
As meer a nothing just, and he himself
An inconsiderate wretch—What have you done
In our affair?—

Pis.
What!—Shall I not perform
'Gainst his return his orders, sent me by
His messenger?—I'd sooner dwell upon
The banks of Acheruns.

Chry.
Pray you, have you then
Found out this Bacchis?

Pis.
Yes, the Samian Bacchis.

Chry.
Prithee take care you handle her with caution.
You know how brittle Samian vessels are—

Pis.
What! at your old sport?—

Chry.
Say, where is she now?

Pis.
Here, at this house, from whence you saw me come.

Chry.
Nice that indeed—She lives almost next door.
And talks she of Mnesilochus?

Pis.
D'you ask?
Nay, he's her man of men, the only man
She prizes—

Chry.
Excellent!

Pis.
Nay, she's as much
Distress'd for him, as he for her—

Chry.
That's good.

Pis.
Nay, Chrysalus, look here, there's not so small
A point of time as this, she e'er omits
To talk of him—

Chry.
So much the better, Bacchis—

Pis.
Nay—

Chry.
Nay! By Hercules! I'll get me gone—

Pis.
Goes it against the grain, to hear how well
Your master's business has succeeded?—

Chry.
No—
'Tis the relator gives me such offence—
Tho' as myself I love Epidicus,
No Play disgusts me more, when Pellio acts
The part—Is Bacchis handsome?

Pis.
Do you ask?
Had I not got a Venus, I should say
She is a Juno.—

Chry.
Well, Mnesilochus,
As things go on, I find here's for your love
A mistress ready—And for this your mistress
Some money must be had—You want some gold?

Pis.
Some Philippæans—

Chry.
And you want it now,
Perhaps?

Pis.
Ay, and before—For there's a Captain coming.

Chry.
A Captain truly!

Pis.
Yes—One who demands
A sum of money to relinquish Bacchis.

Chry.
So he delays me not, why let him come
Whene'er he will—The money is at home—
I fear him not—Nor will I ever sue
To any man, while my own heart is arm'd
With treachery—I'll manage here—Go in—
And say, Mnesilochus will soon see Bacchis—

Pis.
I will.
[Exit Pis.

Chry.
As to the money business, that
Belongs to me—From Ephesus we've brought
Twelve hundred golden Philippæans—All,
A debt to our old master from his host.
Hence a contrivance I'll contrive to-day,
How to procure some money for my master—
But our door creeks—Who's this is coming out?