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562
(Enter LYSIMACHUS, from his house.)
LYSIMACHUS
(to PASICOMPSA, within.)
I’ll bring him to you directly, if I meet him.
I’ll bring him to you directly, if I meet him.
DEMIPHO
(behind.)
He’s meaning me.
He’s meaning me.
LYSIMACHUS
(turning about.)
How say you, Demipho?
How say you, Demipho?
DEMIPHO
Is the damsel at your house?
Is the damsel at your house?
LYSIMACHUS
What do you suppose?
What do you suppose?
DEMIPHO
What if I go see her?
(Moves towards the house.)
What if I go see her?
LYSIMACHUS
Why making such haste? Stay.
Why making such haste? Stay.
DEMIPHO
What am I to do?
565
What am I to do?
565
LYSIMACHUS
What you ought to do; take care and consider.
What you ought to do; take care and consider.
DEMIPHO
Consider what? Why troth, for my own part, I think there’s need for my doing this, going in-doors there, I mean.
Consider what? Why troth, for my own part, I think there’s need for my doing this, going in-doors there, I mean.
LYSIMACHUS
What, is it so, you old wether? Would you be going in?
What, is it so, you old wether? Would you be going in?
DEMIPHO
What should I do else?
What should I do else?
LYSIMACHUS
First listen to this, and attend; there’s something even before this that I think it proper you should do.
For if you now go in-doors to her, you’ll be wishing to embrace her, chatting with her, and kissing her.
570
First listen to this, and attend; there’s something even before this that I think it proper you should do.
For if you now go in-doors to her, you’ll be wishing to embrace her, chatting with her, and kissing her.
570
DEMIPHO
Really you know my feelings; you understand what I would be at.
Really you know my feelings; you understand what I would be at.
LYSIMACHUS
You will be doing wrong.
You will be doing wrong.
DEMIPHO
What, with that which you love?
What, with that which you love?
LYSIMACHUS
So much the less reason. Would you, full of hungriness, with a foul breath,
a stinking old fellow, be kissing a woman? And wouldn’t you, as you approached, be setting a female vomiting?
575
So much the less reason. Would you, full of hungriness, with a foul breath,
a stinking old fellow, be kissing a woman? And wouldn’t you, as you approached, be setting a female vomiting?
575
DEMIPHO
I’ faith, I’m sure that you’re in love, as you point out these things beforehand to me. What then, if I give a dinner? If you approve of this, let’s lay hold of some cook, who may be cooking away a meal
1
here at your house, even until the evening.
580
I’ faith, I’m sure that you’re in love, as you point out these things beforehand to me. What then, if I give a dinner? If you approve of this, let’s lay hold of some cook, who may be cooking away a meal
1
here at your house, even until the evening.
580
LYSIMACHUS
Well, I’m of that way of thinking. Now you are talking wisely, and like a lover.
Well, I’m of that way of thinking. Now you are talking wisely, and like a lover.
DEMIPHO
Why are we standing here? Why then don’t we be off and procure the provisions, that we may be comfortable?
Why are we standing here? Why then don’t we be off and procure the provisions, that we may be comfortable?
LYSIMACHUS
For my part, I’ll follow you. And, i’ troth, you’ll be finding out a lodging for her, if you are prudent;
for, i’ faith, she shan’t be at my house a single day beyond the present; I’m afraid of my wife, lest, if she should return from the country to-morrow, she’ll be finding her here.
585
(Exeunt.)
For my part, I’ll follow you. And, i’ troth, you’ll be finding out a lodging for her, if you are prudent;
for, i’ faith, she shan’t be at my house a single day beyond the present; I’m afraid of my wife, lest, if she should return from the country to-morrow, she’ll be finding her here.
585
Mercator. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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