1832.] The Captives, of Plautus. 153 



TYND. There do you hear him, Sir ? 

 He's looking for a stone. 



ARIST. Shall I beg, Hegio, 

 A word with you alone ? 



HEG. Speak where you are, 

 What would you ? I can hear you at a distance. 



TYND. If you permit him to approach you nearer, 

 - He'll bite your nose off. 



Aristophontes now prevails, though with difficulty, on Hegio to grant 

 him a private audience, which leads to the final disclosure of the arti- 

 fice, as has been detailed in the account of the plot. When Hegio's 

 eyes "were opened to the gross imposture that had been played off* upon 

 him, his natural facility of temper resigned its sway, and the frenzy, 

 which his disappointment and mortification excited in his mind, ended 

 in the condemnation of him who was afterwards discovered to be his 

 own son, namely, our old friend Tyndarus the psuedo-P /liberates. 



We are now brought to the commencement of the fourth act, which 

 shews us plainly that the Parasite's attempts have not been ineffectual ; 

 for Ergasilus appears on the stage in a state which must remove every 

 lingering doubt of his having done ample justice at least to the wines, 

 if not to the viands of some bountiful patron. Hegio perceives him 

 advancing at a distance, though, as Ergasilus's eyes had probably suf- 

 fered some obscuration from his potations, he did not descry the old f 

 gentleman ; and thus we find him walking towards Hegio's house, and 

 vociferating: 



Haste, haste, Ergasilus look to thy business. 



(Very loud) Hence, take care, I warn you, and forewarn you. 



Let no man stop me in my way, unless 



He thinks he has had enough of life ; 



Whoever stops me, he shall kiss the ground. 



I'll do't by heavens I'll do't. Let every one 



Pursue his own track, nor by any thing 



Clog up the street. My fist "is a balista, 



My arm a catapulta, and my shoulder 



A battering-ram. On whomsoever once 



I dart my knee, I'll give him to the ground. 



Whatever mortal I shall light upon, 



I'll knock his teeth out, and employ the wretch 



In picking them up again. If any dare 



Oppose my cause, I'll make him well remember 



The day, the place for evermore, and me : 



Who stops me, puts a stop to his existence. 



I give you notice, caution you beforehand, 



That it may be your own fault, if you're caught. 



Keep home, then guard you from assault. 



Then for your bakers, breeders of swine, 



Rascals who feed their hogs with refuse bran, 



That no one can pass by their bake-house 



For the stench ; let me but see one of their swine 



Here in the public way, my fists shall give 



The owner such a dusting ....... 



Then for your fishmongers, who hawk about 

 Upon a four-legged, dull, provoking jade, 

 Their stale commodities, whose very stench 

 Drives off our saunterers from the forum : troth, 

 I'll beat their filthy baskets 'bout their chaps, 



