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.PALINURUS(to PLANESIUM.) Your aid, I pray, you night-watching Venus. PHAEDROMUS What, do you still persist, whip-scoundrel? (Strikes hint.) PLANESIUM Don’t, there’s a dear, be beating a stone, lest you should hurt your hand.PALINURUS You perpetrate, Phaedromus, a flagitious and a shameful deed of great enormity; one who directs you aright, you pummel with your fists; her you are in love with, a mere nonentity. Is it right that you should behave yourself in this unreasonable manner?PHAEDROMUS Find me a reasonable lover against his weight in gold; here, take the gold of me.