University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Enter SAGARISTIO and the DAUGHTER of SATURIO.
Sag.
Don't Athens seem a rich and sumptuous city?

Daug.
I've only seen the outside and the form;
The ways and manners of the people, yet
But little I've observ'd.—

Tox.
There's not a word,
But from the very first she has wisely spoke.

Dor.
[apart]
In a first word I cannot find out wisdom.

Sag.
But as to what you've seen—How does the city
Seem fortified?—

Daug.
Why I should think indeed,
Be but the manners of the people good,
The city's well and fairly fortified—
If breach of faith be banish'd from the city;
Embezzlement of publick money too,
And avarice; if three others with them, spite,
Ambition, scandal; perjury a seventh—

Tox.
O brave!

Dor.
If idleness an eighth, a ninth
Injurious treatment; and a tenth, of all
Most difficult to come at, lawless lust;
If all this crew be not remov'd from hence,
The thickest wall is a defence too weak—

Tox.
What say you, Dordalus?—

Dor.
What is't you mean?

Tox.
You're of the ten, one of the brotherhood—
You ought to troop off hence to banishment—

Dor.
How so?

Tox.
Because you are a perjur'd rascal—

Dor.
Ay, by my troth, there's wisdom in those words—

Tox.
Buy her I say—This turns to your advantage.

Dor.
Why, troth, the more I look, the more I like her—

Tox.
If you should purchase her, immortal gods!
You'll be the richest merchant in the place,
Turn people out of their estates and houses,
Be introduc'd to men of rank and quality.
They'll pay you court, and feast and revel with you.

Dor.
I'll not admit them tho'—

Tox.
Then, they by night
Will sing abusive songs before your house;
Burn down your doors—Then you may shut your house
With doors of steel, make your whole house of iron,
Fix iron thresholds, iron bolt and ring;—
For fear, if you be sparing of your iron,
You should get iron fetters for yourself.

Dor.
Go, hang yourself—

Tox.
Go you, and buy the girl—
Mind what I've said—

Dor.
Let me but know the price—

Tox.
Say, shall I call him hither—

Dor.
I'll go to him.

Tox.
What say you, friend?— [to Sagaristio.]


Sag.
I'm come, and bring the girl,
As I just now had promis'd you I would—
'Twas but last night, our ship arriv'd in port—
I wish to sell this maiden, if I can;
If not, why then with all the speed I may
I'll go from hence—

Dor.
Welcome, young man—

Sag.
Well come
Indeed, can I but sell her at her price.

Tox.
You'll sell her well to him, or else to no one—

Sag.
Are you his friend?—

Tox.
As much as all the gods,
Heaven's high inhabitants—

Dor.
'Tis past a doubt
You're then my foe—For never was a god
To any of our trade so kind, that he
Would favour him—

Sag.
Come to the point in hand—
Have you a mind to buy my girl?—

Dor.
Why yes—
If you've a mind to sell, I have to buy—
If you've no business on your hands in haste,
I'm quite at leisure too—

Sag.
Well, fix your price—

Dor.
The goods are yours—That's what you ought to do.

Tox.
That's fair—

Sag.
Would you buy cheap?

Dor.
Would you sell dear?

Tox.
That's what both wish I know, by Hercules!

Dor.
Come, set your price—

Sag.
I must inform you first,
No man alive will warrant you the goods:
You understand me?

Dor.
Yes I do, declare
The lowest price, that one may have her for—

Tox.
Peace, peace you fool, you're acting like a child—

Dor.
How so?

Tox.
Because, I first would have you ask
Some proper questions of the girl herself.

Dor.
By Hercules! you give no bad advice—
The wary pandar I had almost slipt,
And fal'n into a trap, if you had not
Been here—Of what advantage 'tis to have
A friend at hand, when business is transacted!

Tox.
Inquire her family, where she was born,
And who her parents are; lest you should say
That you had made by my advice and impulse
Too rash a bargain—By your leave, my friend
[to Sagaristio.
Would a few questions ask of this fair maid—

Sag.
With all my heart, at his own will and pleasure.

Tox.
Why stand you?—Go yourself, make your demands—
Altho' the liberty was granted me,
Yet you may ask such questions as you please—
And I had rather you should go yourself,
For fear the man should hold you in contempt.

Dor.
You give me good advice enough—My friend,
[to Sagaristio.
I fain would ask this girl of yours some questions.

Sag.
From first to last, as many as you please—

Tox.
Bid her come here to me—

Sag.
Go to him, child,
And do what he commands—Examine her— [to Dord.

Ask her as many questions as you please.

Tox.
[to Dordalus].
Come on now you—step forward; and take care
You enter on the matter with good omens.

Dor.
The auspices are clear—

Tox.
Then hold your tongue.
Go back a little; now I'll bring her to you.

[goes to the girl.
Dor.
Do what you think is most for my advantage—

Tox.
[to the girl.]
Follow me— [to Dord.]
Would you ask her any question?
I lead her to you— [going.


Dor.
I'd fain have you by—

Tox.
I can't—I must obey my master's will,
And do my duty to this stranger here.—
[pointing to Sagaristio.
Suppose he should not like to have me by?—

Sag.
[to Toxilus]
Yes, yes, come near—

Tox.
I will assist you then—

Dor.
When you assist your friend, you aid yourself—

Tox.
Examine her— [Aside to the girl]
Be you upon your guard—

Daug.
A word's enough [aside to Toxilus.]
Altho' I am a slave
[aloud.
I know my duty well—To his demands
I must a fair and candid answer make
As far as I'm inform'd—

Tox.
My girl, this man's
An honest man—

Daug.
I do believe he is—

Tox.
You will not serve him long—

Daug.
Such is my hope,
If that my parents will but do their duty—

Dor.
Be not surpriz'd I beg, if we demand
Who are your parents, and what is your country?

Daug.
Why should I be surpriz'd at that, good sir?
My state of slavery has forbid me now
To be amaz'd at any evil hap
Which may betide poor me—

Tox.
Weep not—

Daug.
Alass!
Alass! ah! woe is me—

Tox.
[aside]
The gods confound her!
Why, what an artful, crafty slut she is!—
She has courage too, and says just what she ought.

Dor.
Pray give me leave to ask your name—

Tox.
Ah! now
I'm in a mortal fright, lest she should blunder.—

Daug.
In my own country, I was called Lucris—

Tox.
The name and omen are worth any price—
Why don't you purchase her?— [aside]
She has pass'd the pikes,
I was most wofully afraid she'd blunder—

Dor.
If I should purchase you, I'm confident,
My lucre you will be—

Tox.
And if you do,
'Tis my belief, she will not be your slave
To the month's end—

Dor.
Why, that's my wish, by Hercules!

Tox.
Assist yourself, that you may have your wish.
She has made no faux-pas yet. [aside.


Dor.
Where was you born?

Daug.
'Troth, as my mother told me, in the kitchen—
And in a nook on the left hand of it—

Tox.
To you, she'll be a lucky courtezan—
The place of her nativity was warm,
And where good things of every kind abound—
The rogue was taken in, when he enquir'd
[aside.
Where she was born—She plays him off most rarely—

Dor.
But what's your country?—that's the thing I ask?

Daug.
What should it be, but this where now I am—

Dor.
But I enquire for that which was your country—

Daug.
What was, is deem'd as nothing when 'tis gone—
You might as well ask one who has breath'd his last,
Who once he was—

Tox.
So may the gods be kind!
How cleverly she answers—Yet I pity her—

Dor.
But still, my girl, what country are you of?
Speak out at once—What does this silence mean?

Daug.
I'll truly tell you then, what is my country—
This is my country, for I'm here a slave,

Tox.
Touch not that string—You see, she'll not speak out,
Lest you recall past miseries to her mind—

Dor.
Well, well—Is then your father in captivity?

Daug.
No, he is not—But every thing he had
He lost—

Tox.
She must be of a noble house;
Her only knowledge is, to speak the truth—

Dor.
Who was your father?—Let me know his name?

Daug.
Why should I say, who was my wretched father—
Both of us now may well be called wretched—

Dor.
And how was he esteem'd among the people?

Daug.
None better lik'd—Both slaves and free men lov'd him.

Tox.
You have describ'd a man of woe indeed—
Who has lost his friends, and is undone himself.

Dor.
I think I'll purchase her—

Tox.
Still, only think so?

Dor.
She is descended from a princely race,
I well believe—

Tox.
You'll make a fortune by her—

Dor.
Gods grant I may!

Tox.
Would you but close the bargain.

Daug.
This I must say—Soon as my father knows
I'm here arriv'd he'll come and ransom me.

Tox.
How now?—

Dor.
What is't—

Tox.
Heard you not what she said?

Daug.
Altho' his fortune's bankrupt, he has friends

[weeps.
Dor.
Weep not—You'll soon regain your liberty,
If you've gallants enough—But are you willing
To be my slave?

Daug.
Upon condition, that
I am not so too long—

Tox.
Mark how she harps
Upon her freedom—She will be a mass,
A mint of money to you—Come, do this
If you do any thing—I'll go to him—
[meaning Sagaristio.]
Follow you me— [to the girl]
I'll bring her back to you.—

[to Sagaristio.
Dor.
Young man, are you dispos'd to sell this girl?

Sag.
I rather chuse to sell her, than to lose her—

Dor.
Declare then in a word what I must give,
And fix your price—

Sag.
And I will fix it so,
That I shall shew, I wish to deal with you.
Then for a hundred minæ she is yours—

Dor.
That is too much—

Sag.
For eighty then—

Dor.
Too much—

Sag.
I cannot bate a single piece of what
I mention now—

Dor.
Well, what is that?—Speak out—

Sag.
Then she is yours for sixty silver minæ,
At your own risk—

Dor.
Say then, what shall I do?

[apart to Toxilus.
Tox.
May the angry gods pursue you for a villain!
[apart to Dordalus.
Boggle at such a purchase!—

Dor.
Well, I'll have her

Tox.
You've got a noble prize—Go fetch the money—
She'd be a bargain at three hundred minæ—
You are the winner.—

Sag.
Hark you me! I add
Ten minæ more for her habiliments—

Dor.
You should abate, not add—

Tox.
Can't you be quiet—
You see he wants a handle to be off—
Why don't you go, and fetch the money?

Dor.
Mind,
And watch—

Tox.
Go in—

Dor.
I'm gone—I'll bring the money.

[Exit.