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?CAPPADOX My spleen is killing me, my reins are in torment, my lungs are being torn asunder, my liver is being tortured, my heart-strings are giving way, all my intestines are in pain. PALINURUS The liver complaint is afflicting you, then.CAPPADOX My spleen is expanded. PALINURUS Take walking exerciseTake walking exercise: There is little doubt that he means seriously to tell Cappadox that exercise is the best cure for disease of the spleen. The Procurer, however, thinks that he is laughing at him.; that’s the best thing for the spleen.CAPPADOX ’Tis an easy matter to laugh at the afflicted.PALINURUS Well, then, do you hold outDo you hold out: This passage has much perplexed Commentators. If a period is placed after tibi, and exputescant is read for exputescunt, much of the difficulty is removed. None of the Commentators seem to have observed that, in all probability, si id feceris, if you do that, refers to the advice previously given as to taking exercise. If so, the meaning is clear. If you don’t take exercise, in a few days your inside will be putrefying. If, however, you do so now, while the humours of the body are not corrupted, your inside will fetch a higher price than your whole carcase put together—alluding to the worthless character of the Procurer. for some days until your intestines become putrid. Now, while the humours are pretty sound, if you do that, you yourself might sell for a worse price than those intestines of yours.CAPPADOX Prithee, have done with this, and answer me this which I ask; can you possibly form a conjecture on it, if I relate to you what I dreamt last night in my sleep?PALINURUS Psha, this—(pointing to himself)—this is the sole person that is really skilled in divination; why, the interpreters of dreams ask advice of myself; the answer that I have given them, by that opinion they all stand.

(Enter a COOK, from the house of PHAEDROUMS.)COOK Palinurus, why do you delay? Why are not the things served out for me which are needed for the breakfast to be prepared for the Parasite when he comes.PALINURUS Wait, please, until I interpret his dream. (Pointing to CAPPADOX.) COOK Why, you your own self, if you’ve had any dream, always apply to me.