Palinurus, Palinurus! PALINURUS Say on; why is it that you call upon Palinurus?PHAEDROMUS(aside.) She is a charming one.PALINURUS(aside.) Aye, too charming.PHAEDROMUSI am a God.PALINURUS Why, no—a mortal, of no great value.PHAEDROMUS What have you seen, or what will you see, more nearly to be compared with the Gods?PALINURUS You are not in your senses, master; a thing that’s grievous to me. PHAEDROMUS You are not sufficiently respectful to me: hold your tongue.PALINURUS The person that seesPerson that sees: He is censuring his master for his backwardness in not embracing Planesium instantly on her appearance. the object which he loves, and enjoys not the opportunity while he may, is one who torments his own self.PHAEDROMUS Rightly does he rebuke me; really there’s nothing which for this long time past I have more eagerly desired.PLANESIUM Clasp me, embrace me then. PHAEDROMUS(embracing her.) This, too, is a reason for which I could wish to live; because your master restrains, you, in secret do I court you.PLANESIUM Restrain me? He neither can restrain me, nor will he restrain me, unless death should separate my soul from you.PHAEDROMUS Let monarchs keep their kingdoms to themselves, the rich their riches to themselves, to themselves their honors, to themselves their prowess, to themselves their combats, to themselves their battles;so long as they abstain from envying me, let each one of them keep what is his own.PALINURUS(aside.) Of a truth, I cannot refrain from giving a lecture to my master; for, really, it is good to love in a moderate degree; to distraction, it is not good; but to love to entire distraction, is the thing that my master’s doing.(Aloud.)What say you, sir? Have you made a vow, Phaedromus, you’d watch the night through for Venus? For really, upon my faith, before very long hence the dawn will be breaking.PHAEDROMUS Do hold your tongue.PALINURUS Why hold my tongue? What, are you going to sleep? PHAEDROMUS I am asleep; don’t you make a noise.PALINURUS Why, but you’re broad awake. PHAEDROMUS Aye, but after my own fashion I’m asleep; this is my slumber.PALINURUS(to PLANESIUM.) A word with you, madam; ’tis thoughtlessness to treat amiss one who deserves it not.PLANESIUM You would be angry, if, when you are eating, he were to drive you awayTo drive you away: As Palinurus wishes his master to withdraw against the wish of Planesium, she asks him how he would like his victuals to be taken away from him—implying that Phaedromus is as dear to herself as her very sustenance. from your food.PALINURUS(aside.) It’s all over with him. I see that these two are equally in love to distraction; and both of them are mad. D’ye see how intensely they hug each other? They cannot embrace enough. (Addressing them.) Are you going to part yet?PLANESIUM No human being has blessings that lastBlessings that last: This is like the sentiment in Horace, Book iii., Ode 16:Nihil est ab omniParte beatum. for ever. To this pleasure, then, is that plague added.PALINURUS What say you, you shocking hussyShocking hussy: Propudium. This was a very harsh term of reproach; and it is not to be wondered at that Phaedromus is angry with Palinurus for using it.? What, you little tipsy ninnyTipsy ninny: Ebriola, and not ebriolae, seems to be the correct reading here. She has perhaps been taking her share of the wine, to which fact he alludes. Persolla means either a little mask or a diminutive person; much as we call a little interfering body a whipper-snapper., are even you with your owlish eyesOwlish eyes: Though grey eyes were admired among the Greeks Palinurus does not intend this as a compliment to Planesium. He perhaps alludes to her intended vocation, as having eyes peculiarly adapted for the night- time. to be calling me a plague, you whipper-snapper?PHAEDROMUS What, you abusing my own Venus? And really, is a slave well trounced with the rod to be commencing a discussion with myself? But, by the powers, you’ve surely said that to your own misfortune.(Strikes him.)There, take that, by way of punishment for this abusive language, that you may be able to put a check upon your speech.