Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters (755-773b)

with his mistress; so ’tis requisite; and on that same spot where the couches are now laid, do you forthwith commence to carouse.

Anything else?

This, and this especially: when you shall have once taken your places together, don’t you arise anyhow, until the signal shall be given by me.

O skilful commander!

You ought by this time to have taken your second draught.

Capital; let’s go.

Do you take care of your duty, and I’ll do mine.

A tremendously great business am I undertaking, and I have my fears how in this one day I may accomplish it. But now I have occasion for the old blade to be fierce and savage at me. For it suits not this plan of mine

that the old fellow should be calm when he has beheld me in his presence. I’ll turn him about[*] this day, finely, if I live. I’ll have him parched as well as ever pea was parched[*]. I’ll walk before the door, that when he comes out, at once as he comes up, I may put the letters[*] in his hand.

This is a matter of great vexation to me, that Chrysalus has thus escaped me this day.

I’m all right: the old fellow is in a passion. Now’s my time for me to accost my man.

Who speaks hard by? (Looking round.) Why surely this is Chrysalus, I think.