University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Enter LYDUS from BACCHIS's house.
LYDUS.
Quick, open, open wide this gate of hell;
For I in truth can count it nothing less.
No one comes here, but who has lost all hope
Of being good—Bacchises! No! Not Bacchises,
But Bacchants perilous—Avaunt! these sisters,
Who swallow human blood! The house is richly,
And plentifully furnish'd—for destruction.
I took directly to my heels, as soon
As I beheld these things—Shall I conceal
Such doings?—Pistoclerus, shall I hide,
Hide from your father, these your idle haunts,
Flagitious crimes, debaucheries and ruin?
On shame, disgrace, and ruin you would run,
And wreck us all, yourself, your father, me,
And all your friends at once—You have no awe
Within your breast or of yourself, or me.
For these misdeeds, your father, I, your friends,
Relations all, by this your infamy,
Must bear the weight and burthen of disgrace.
Now, ere you add this mischief to the rest,
I am determin'd strait to tell your father;
So from myself shall I remove the blame.
I'll to the old man open this affair,
That he may fetch him from this mud and dirt.
[Exit Lydus.