But give up that which you have taken away for yourself. Are you going to do so? STROBILUS Do what? EUCLIO You can’t carry it off. STROBILUS What do you want? EUCLIO Lay it down. STROBILUS Troth, for my part, I think that you are in the habit In the habit : The real meaning of the author in this line is so indelicate, that it requires another turn to be given to the passage. of quizzing, old gentleman. EUCLIO Put that down, please; cease your quibbling; I’m not trifling now. STROBILUS What am I to put down? Why don’t you mention it, whatever it is, by its own name? By my faith, I really have neither taken nor touched anything. EUCLIO Show me your hands, here. STROBILUS Well, I do show them; see, here they are. (Holdinq out his hands.) EUCLIO I see them. Come, show me the third Show me the third : This passage has been considered as extravagant; but it really does not appear inconsistent with the ridiculous conduct of the wretched Euclio throughout. Thornton supposes that the following passage in the old play of Albumazar, Act III., Sc. 8 (where Trinculo questions Ronca about the purse, which the latter has stolen from him), is an imitation of this passage: Trin. Show me your hand. Ron. Here ’tis. Trin. But where’s the other? Ron. Why, here. Trin. But I mean, where’s your other hand? Ron. Think you me the giant with an hundred hands? Trin. Give me your right. Ron. My right? Trin. Your left? Ron. My left? Trin. Now both. Ron. There’s both, my dear Antonio , as well. STROBILUS (aside.) Sprites, and frenzy, and madness, possess this old fellow. Are you doing me an injustice, or not? EUCLIO A very great one, I confess, inasmuch as you are not strung up; and that too shall be done this moment, un less you do confess. STROBILUS What am I to confess to you? EUCLIO What it was you took away hence. STROBILUS May the Gods confound me, if I’ve taken away anything of yours, (aside) and if I don’t wish I had taken it away. EUCLIO Come then, shake out your cloak. STROBILUS At your pleasure. (Shakes it.) EUCLIO You haven’t it among your under-clothing? STROBILUS Search where you please. EUCLIO Pshaw! how civilly the rascal speaks, that I mayn’t suppose he has taken it away! I know your tricks. Come, show me here again that right hand. STROBILUS Here it is. (Extending it.) EUCLIO Now show me your left. STROBILUS Well, then, I show you both, in fact. (Extending them.) EUCLIO Now I leave off searching. Give back that here. STROBILUS Give back what? EUCLIO Are you trifling with me? You certainly have got it. STROBILUS I, got it? Got what? EUCLIO I shan’t say; you want to hear. Whatever you have of mine, give it back.