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.(Holds out his purse.)PALINURUS Do you find me a person for me to serve in his sound senses against his weight in double-distilled gold.PLANESIUM Kindly fare you well, apple of my eye, for I hear the sound and creaking of doors; I think the keeperThe keeper: Aedituum. The aeditui were persons who took care of the Temples, and attended to the cleaning of them. They, however, partook in some measure of the priestly character, and are sometimes called priests by the Greek Grammarians. They lived in or near to the Temples, and showed them to those persons who wished to see them. is opening the temple. But, prithee, in this same mannershall we always enjoy our love by stealth?PHAEDROMUS Far from it; for I sent my Parasite four days since to Caria to fetch some money; he’ll be here to-day.PLANESIUM You are very long in your contriving.PHAEDROMUS So may Venus love me, I’ll never allow you to be three days in this house here, before I procure your liberty.PLANESIUM Take care to remember it. Once more, before I go hence, take this kiss.(Kisses him.)PHAEDROMUS By heavens, really if a kingdom now were offered me, I should not obtain it with greater pleasure. When shall I see you again?PLANESIUM Why now, for that expression get ready the Praetor’s rodThe Prœtor’s rod: Vindicta. This was the rod which was laid on the head of the person who received his freedom.; if you love me, purchase my freedom; don’t make any haggling. Take care to prevail with your offer. Kindly adieu! (Goes into the house of the PROCURER.) PHAEDROMUS And am I then left behind? Palinurus, I’m Lilled outright. PALINURUS And I as well, who am dying with thumps and sleepiness. PHAEDROMUS Do you follow me.(They go into the house of PHAEDROMUS.)

(Enter CAPPADOX, from the Temple of AESCULAPIUS.)CAPPADOX(to himself.)I am resolved to depart from this Temple out of doors forthwith, since thus I findSince thus I find: It being near daybreak, Cappadox comes from the Temple, complaining that he has experienced no relief from his visit. the determination of Aesculapius, who sets me at nought, and chooses not that I should be healed. My health is declining, my weakness increases. For now I walk, girded with my spleen as though with a belt; in my stomach do I seem to be holding a twin offspring. I’m afraid of nothing, but that, in my misery, I should burst asunder in the middle.(PHAEDROMUS.)PALINURUS(speaking to PHAEDROMUS within as he enters.)If you do right, Phaedromus, you’ll listen to me, and banish this sorrow from your feelings. You are anxious because your Parasite hasn’t returned from Caria. I think he’ll bring the money; but if he doesn’t bring it, by a chain of iron he couldn’t be withheld from betaking himself to eat at his mangerAt his manger: Praesepem, a manger or stall, in allusion to the sensual propensities of Parasites..CAPPADOX(turning round.) What person is it that speaks?PALINURUS(to himself.) Whose voice is it that I hear?CAPPADOX Isn’t this Palinurus, the servant of Phaedromus?PALINURUS(aside.) Who is this fellow with extended paunch, and eyes as green as grass? From his figure I know him; from his complexion I cannot recognize him. O, now I do know him: it’s the Procurer Cappadox. I’ll accost him.CAPPADOX Save you, Palinurus. PALINURUS O source of villanies, save you; how are you?CAPPADOX I’m just alive. PALINURUS Just as you deserve, I suppose? But what’s the matter with you?