་ And perilous to ourselves; CURIO. These are too violent, but I will fit Our revenge to its other half. Sir Lycius now GALLO. "Tis plausible, and cannot fail to part 'em, CURIO. I wonder where That poor sick fool Mercutius is gone? He hath a chance now. GALLO. Methought I glanced him Below, and forsooth, disguised as a serving-man; APOLLONIUS. But not in the same sense JULIUS. No, not exactly. You take that literal, which I interpret But as a parable—a figure feigned By the elder sages (much inclined to mark And sting where they are cherished APOLLONIUS. Your guess is shrewd ; Nay, excellent enough to have been my own. Than ever you will quote, the fact which backs me. With one of such, a youth, a hopeful youth, His passions otherwise-even like our Lycius- JULIUS. The dainty fable! But now unto the proof. Methinks this sounds Like a real door (knocking); a cloud scarce wars so, But when Jove strikes it with a thunderbolt. I'll tell you, sir, She is a wanton, and that's quite enough To perish a world of wealth. Is your lady now within? [Picus comes to the door. Ho, sirrah! fellow! PICUS. No, sir, she's out. Something hath put her out-she will see nobody. The rout of company. APOLLONIUS. Why, then, I think [A loud shout within. The medical conclave might observe more quiet. Look, knave! are these her grave, her learned physicians? Well met, sirs. [Another shout, and CURIO, etc., issue forth. CURIO. That's as may be. Ha! old mastiff! Go to your kennel. JULIUS. You are just in time, sirs, To settle our dispute: we have a gage on't, The sophist here and I. There is one lives in that house-(pointing to LAMIA'S) She was kind enough, for our poor sakes, to send One Lycius, her late suitor, on an errand CURIO. Yes, a sort of summons Cunningly forged to bid him haste to his father, JULIUS. This is too true. [To APOLLONIUS. I left our father but this very morn The halest of old men. He was then on his way They'll encounter upon the road! APOLLONIUS. Here is some foul and double damned deception. [LAMIA, by signs, assents to this reflection. I'll catechise myself. Here, sir-you-you [TO CURIO. Who have gazed upon this witch, touched her, and talked with her, How know you she is woman, flesh and blood, CURIO. How? by my senses. If I nipped her cheek, till it brought the white and red, I wot she is no fog. APOLLONIUS. Fie on the senses! What are the senses but our worst arch-traitors ? By the corrupted treason of his senses? Fie on the shallow senses ! What doth swear There's one I know in her house, By name Mercutius, a most savage fellow : [Exeunt CURIO, GALLO, etc. |