University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter ARGYRIPPUS from CLEÆRETA's house.
Arg.
Is't thus I'm serv'd?—What! turn me out of doors!
[to Cleæreta within.
This my reward for all the good I've done you!
To those who have deserved well of you,
You do what's ill; to those who have ill deserv'd
You do what good you can—But you'll repent it.
I'll now go straitway to the magistrate,
And give in all your names—You and your daughter
I'll charge with capital offences; whores,
Destruction, common bane of youth. The sea
Is not the sea when 'tis compar'd to you;
You're a most dangerous sea indeed—At sea
I found a fortune, here I've squander'd it.
I now find out that all my kindnesses
And all my presents are of no effect,
And have been given to ingrates: henceforth
I'll do you all the mischief in my power,
Which will be giving you but your deserts.
By Pollux! I'll reduce you to the state
You first arose from, extreme poverty.
By Pollux' temple, I will make you know
Who now you are, and what thing once you was,
Before I visited your daughter, and
Bestow'd my love upon her: on coarse bread
You liv'd, and all your cloathing was but rags:
And if you'd these, you had to thank the gods for 'em.
Now things are better, and you live at ease,
You will not own that 'tis to me you owe
The obligation: like a savage beast
Have you behav'd: but I shall make you tame
With hunger. Leave that matter but to me.
I am not angry with my dear Philenium.
She has merited no ill from me. She did
But what you order'd, and obey'd your will:
You are her mother and her mistress too.
I will revenge myself on you alone,
Treat you according to your worth, and give you
To th'utmost what you have deserv'd from me.
But see, the jade! she does not think me worthy
To be approach'd or spoke to, nor will deign
To deprecate my anger. But see there
Th'enticer's coming out. Before the door
Since I am not allow'd to enter in,
I'll tell her what I have to say to her.