But I long to see you. PALAESTRA In that wish you are my rival. AMPELISCA Let’s follow our voices with our steps; where are you? PALAESTRA See, here am I. Step onward towards me, and come straight on to meet me. AMPELISCA I’m doing so with care. (They meet in front of the stage.) PALAESTRA Give me your hand. AMPELISCA Take it. PALAESTRA Are you still alive? Prithee, tell me. AMPELISCA You, indeed, make me now wish to live, since I’m empowered to touch you. How hardly can I persuade myself of this, that I am holding you. Prithee, do embrace me (they embrace) , my only hope; how you are now easing me of all my woes. PALAESTRA You are beforehand with me in using expressions which belong to me. Now it befits us to be going hence. AMPELISCA Prithee, whither shall we go? PALAESTRA Let’s keep along this sea-shore. (Pointing to the shore.) AMPELISCA Wherever you please, I’ll follow. PALAESTRA Shall we go along thus with our wet clothing? AMPELISCA That which exists, the same must of necessity be borne. (Looking up at the Temple.) But, pray, what’s this? PALAESTRA What is it? AMPELISCA Prithee, don’t you see this Temple? (Pointing towards it.) PALAESTRA Where is it? AMPELISCA On the right hand. PALAESTRA I seem to be looking at a place becoming the Divinities. AMPELISCA There must be people not far hence; it is so delightful a spot. Whoever the God is, I pray him to relieve us from these troubles, and to succour us females, wretched, helpless, and in distress. (They advance towards the Temple, and kneel down before it.) (Enter PTOLEMOCRATIA, the Priestess, from the Temple of Venus.) PTOLEMOCRATIA Who are these, that in their prayers are soliciting aid from my Patroness? For the voice of suppliants has brought me hither out of doors. They pay suit to a kind and compliant Goddess and a Patroness that makes no difficulties, and one who is very benevolent. PALAESTRA Mother, we bid you hail. PTOLEMOCRATIA Maidens, hail to you. But, prithee, whence am I to say that you are hither come with your wet garments, thus wofully arrayed? PALAESTRA Just now, we came from a place there (pointing towards the shore) , not a great way from this spot; but it is a great way off from here, whence we have been brought hither. PTOLEMOCRATIA Have you been borne, do you mean, by a ship, the wooden steed The wooden steed : Homer calls ships horses of the sea. , over the azure paths? PALAESTRA Even so.