I’ll do so.(They advance to the door of the PROCURER’S house.)PHAEDROMUS(sprinkling the door with wine.) Come, drink, you joyous door, quaff on, readily prove propitious unto me. PALINURUS(in an afected tone.) Door, would you like some olives or a tit-bit, or some capers?PHAEDROMUS Arouse and send out here to me your portress.PALINURUS You’re spilling the wine; what matter is it that possesses you? (Takes hold of his arm.) PHAEDROMUS Let me alone. Don’t you see? This most joyous door is opening; does the hinge make a bit of creaking? ’Tis a charming one.PALINURUS Why don’t you then give it a kiss?PHAEDROMUS Hold your tongue; let’s keep back the light and our noise. PALINURUS Be it so.(They stand apart, leaving the bowl near the door.)

(Enter the PROCURESS, from the house of CAPPADOX.)PROCURESS The savour of aged wine has reached my nostrils; the love of it has brought me in my eagerness hither in the dark; wherever it is, it’s near me. O capital, I’ve found it. (Stooping, and smelling at the bowl.) Hail to you, my soul, Joy of dear Bacchus;how enamoured am I of your old age. For in comparison with yours, the odour of all unguents were mere bilge-water; you are my myrrh, you my cinnamon, you my rose, you my saffron unguent and my cassia, you are my vine-palmVine-palm: Bdellium was a gum of fragrant smell and bitter aste, which exuded from a tree that grew in Arabia. It is described by the Elder Pliny, in his Twelfth Book. scent. But, where you have been poured, there would I most earnestly hope to be buried.PALINURUS(apart.)This old lady’s thirsty; how limited is her thirst?PHAEDROMUS(apart.)She’s a moderate person; she swallows eight gallonsEight gallons: Quadrantal. This was a measure which held forty-eight sextarii, of about a pint and a half each. only.PALINURUS(apart.)I’ faith, according to your account, this year’s vintage is not enough for this old woman alone.PROCURESS But since as yet you, fragrance, alone have penetrated to my nostrils, so in its turn afford some delight to my throat. (Feels for the bowl on the ground, which PALINURUS draws away.) I find you not; where is your own dear self? I’m longing to touch you; do let me pour your liquids into me by sip-sipping. But in this direction it has gone, this way I’ll. follow it.(Goes in the direction of PALINURUS, who has the bowl.)PALINURUS(apart.)It really had been more proper for her to be a dog; she has a good nose.PROCURESS Prithee, whose voice is it that I hear at a distance.