SPECIMENS OF LATIN COMEDY. 83 



There, there. See how she crawls ! Do you know what ? 

 If I but take a stick in hand, I'll quicken 

 That tortoise-pace of yours. 



STAPA. Would I were hanged 



Rather than serve you at this rate. 



EUCL. The beldam ! 



See how she grumbles to herself ! You jade ! 

 I'll tear your eyes out ; I'll prevent your watching, 

 Peeping and prying into all I do. 

 Get farther off there, farther, farther still, 

 Farther. So, stand there. If you dare to budge 

 A finger or a nail's breadth from that place, 

 Or if you turn your head once till I bid you, 

 I'll send you for a schooling to the gallows. 

 (Aside.) Was ever such a beldam ! I'm afraid, 

 She'll catch me unawares, and smell the place out 

 Where I have hid my money. The curs'd jade ! 

 Why, she has eyes too in her pole. I'll go, 

 And see whether my gold is as I lodged it, 

 My gold, which gives me so much pain and trouble. 



STAPHILA, alone. 



Egad, I can't tell what's come to my master : 

 He's out of his senses. Here now in this manner 

 He turns me out o' doors ten times a day, 

 Ever so often. Troth, I can't imagine 

 What whim-whads he has got into his head. 

 He lies awake all night, and then he sits 

 Purring and poring the whole day at home, 

 Like a lame cobler in a stall. And then 

 My poor young mistress, she again is placed 

 In a sad dilemma now, and how shall I 

 Hide her disgrace ? The best thing I can do is 

 To get a rope, and stretch me at full length. 

 Re-enter EUCLIO. 



EUCL. So, so, my heart's at ease, all's safe within. 

 (To STAPH.) Come, hussy, get you in now and be sure 

 Take care of all within. 



STAPH. Take care of what ? 



Will any, think you, run away with the house ? 

 I'm sure there's nothing else to carry off, 

 Except the cobwebs. Troth, it's full of emptiness. 



EUCL. You hag of hags ! Why Jove to satisfy you, 

 Should make me a King Philip, or Darius. 

 Hark ye, I'd have you to preserve those cobwebs. 

 I'm poor, I'm very poor, I do confess ; 

 Yet I'm content : I bear what heaven allots. 

 Come get you in : bolt the door after you ; 

 I shall be back directly ; and be sure 

 Don't let a soul in. 



STAPH. What if any one 



Should beg some fire ? 



EUCL. I'd have you put it out, 



That there may be no plea to ask for any. f ;;s 



If you do leave a spark of fire alive, 

 I'll put out ev'ry spark of life in you. 

 If any body wants to borrow water, 

 Tell them, 'tis all run out ; and if, as is 

 G2 



