 | The Courtezans |  |
40
SCENE III.
Enter LYDUS and PHILOXENUS.Lyd.
Now will I try
If you have any spirit of resentment—
Follow me—
Phil.
Whither?—Where do you lead me now?
Lyd.
To her who has undone, who has destroy'd
Your only son—
Phil.
Lydus, fie! fie! Those who
Their passion moderate, are deem'd the wiser—
Less strange it is, that age should do such things
Than not—I did the same when I was young.
Lyd.
Alack! alack-aday!—To his destruction
You humour him—Had it not been for you,
I should have had him well inclin'd to virtue.
Relying now on you, and your indulgence
Your Pistoclerus is become abandon'd.
Mne.
[aside.]
Good gods!—He names my friend—What can this mean?
Why does he rail at Pistoclerus thus?—
Phil.
Lydus, it is not for a length of time
A youth desires to indulge his inclinations.
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Give him the reins:—so he takes care, against
The rule of right and wrong not to offend,
E'en suffer him—
Lyd.
I will not suffer him—
Nor shall he be corrupted while I live.
But you, who plead thus for your son's debaucheries
So well, was this your custom in your youth?
For your first twenty years, I do assert
You had not liberty to set your foot
A finger's breadth abroad, and your attendant
Absent—And had you not, before the sun
Was up, attended the academy,
You would have suffer'd condign punishment.
When that's the case, the mischief is not single—
The tutor and the pupil, both will lose
Their characters—The course, the ball, the pike,
The quoit—In boxing, dancing, wrestling—These
These were their exercises; and not wenching,
And kissing girls—In these they spent their time,
And not in secret lurking holes and corners.
When from the course and place of exercise,
You home return'd, girt with your narrow belt,
Down by your tutor on a form you sat,
And read your book—And had you miss'd a syllable,
Your skin had had as many spots upon it,
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Mne.
[aside.]
I'm vex'd at heart,
My friend, on my account, should be ill spoke of;
And, for my sake, a man quite innocent,
Should be suspected—
Phil.
Lydus, now our manners
Are alter'd quite—
Lyd.
Full well, I know they are.
The time has been, sir, when they did obey
Their governors, till such time they were chosen
Into some publick office in the state.
Scarce seven years old, but touch them with your hand,
The brat even in the instant, with his tablet
Breaks his attendant's head—When to complain
You go, what says the father?—This—
Be thou my n'own dear boy, since thou can'st thus
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So ho! old good for nought!—on this account
Touch not my boy, since he in this has shewn
So stout a heart—Away I say, be gone!
The tutor sneaks away despis'd, and like
An oil'd cloth lantern, with his plaister'd pate
Goes off condemn'd—How can a tutor then,
By means like these, keep his authority,
When he himself receives the lash?—
Mne.
[apart.]
In troth
This accusation is severe—By what
This Lydus says, if he has never felt
The weight of Pistoclerus' fist, 'tis strange—
Phil.
Who's this I see, standing before the door?
Lyd.
Philoxenus—
[addressing himself to him.
Mne.
[apart.]
I'd rather be by gods
Propitious seen, than him—
Phil.
Who is that, there?
Lyd.
'Tis your son Pistoclerus' friend and crony
Mnesilochus; but of a different turn
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O happy man, who such a son begot!—
Phil.
Mnesilochus, all hail!—I joy to see you
Return'd in safety—
Mne.
Heavens bless Philoxenus!
Lyd.
He for his father in a lucky hour
Was born—He braves the sea; regards
The family estate, the house takes care of—
With all his father's humours he complies,
And his commands obeys—Our Pistoclerus
And he have from their boyish years been cronies.
There is not three days difference in their age;
But in their manners, more than thirty years.—
Phil.
Beware a mischief, and restrain your tongue—
Lyd.
Peace! you're a fool—It is not that I fear.
Whose deeds are ill, should ill be spoken of.
For my misfortunes, I had rather he
Would draw on me, than for my property—
Phil.
How so?
Lyd.
Because he'd daily make them less.
Mne.
Why, Lydus, do you chide my friend, your pupil?
Lyd.
Your friend is lost to you—
Mne.
Pray, heaven forbid!
Lyd.
'Tis as I say—I saw it with my eyes.
Mne.
What has he done!
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He passionately doats on
A wanton strumpet—
Mne.
Won't you hold your tongue?
Lyd.
She's one, that ruins whomsoe'er she touches—
Mne.
Where does she live?
Lyd.
Why here—
Mne.
Whence do they say
She comes?
Lyd.
From Samos—
Mne.
What's her name?
Lyd.
'Tis Bacchis.
Mne.
Lydus, you do mistake—The whole affair
I know, and how it is—My Pistoclerus
Is innocent, and falsely you accuse him—
The orders of his true and faithful friend
With diligence and care he has perform'd—
He's not in love—Do not believe he is.
Lyd.
To execute the orders of his friend
Was this the way?—To set upon his lap
A girl to kiss him?—By no other means,
Could these his orders be obey'd by him,
But ever and anon to lay his hand
Upon her breast; and without intermission
Join lip to lip?—That which I saw him do
Before my face, I am asham'd to say—
But he's asham'd of nothing—Sir, in few,
You have your friend, and I my pupil lost—
Philoxenus has also lost his son—
For him I reckon lost, who's lost to shame.
To say no more, had I staid somewhat longer,
An opportunity more fair had offer'd
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More than was fit—More than I ought to see,
Or he to do—
Mne.
[aside.]
My friend, thou hast undone me.
Shall I not brain this jade?—And may I perish,
If I don't do't—Is't come to this? One knows not
Whom to confide in, where to find a man
Of faith and truth—
Lyd.
Observe, how ill he bears
To hear his friend your son is so debauch'd—
It grieves his very soul—
Phil.
Let me intreat you,
Mnesilochus, his disposition guide,
His passions regulate—To me, a son,
And to yourself a friend preserve—
Mne.
I wish it.
Phil.
The whole then of this burthen I assign
To you—Follow me this way— [to Lydus.]
Lyd.
Sir, I follow—
But you had better leave me too behind.
Phil.
[to Lydus.]
Enough in conscience—Watch and rate him soundly. [to Mnesilochus.]
For you, and me, and all his friends, Mnesilochus,
He, by his shameful deeds, has brought to shame.
[Exeunt Philoxenus and Lydus.
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