Lacon and Dora

DOE A (wakening him),
Feedest thou upon poppies? drowsy drone!

LACON.

Haply my breathing was a little hard.
Hard it is always when I think of thee.

DORA.

Do idle shepherds snort like porpuses?
I know what such hard breathing means with men;
We never practise it.

Practise it often.

LACON.
Us men ye make
DORA.
Why not keep awake?
LACON.
Too long awake ye keep us.
DORA.
When you dance;
But dance makes me sleep sounder.
LACON.
You mistake
My meaning?
DORA.
Is there any?
LACON.
Day and night
Of all hard breathing ye enforce the worst . .
Unheeded sighs.
DORA.
Bad! but the worst are those
That burst from nostril; hast thou none beside?
LACON.
I could breathe softer in a patient ear:
Sit by my side and hear the difference.
DORA.
Quiet now! wilt not let me seat myself?
LACON.
I would but help thee: soon we both will rise
Together. They who sigh but once have learnt
Imperfect love: beginning, middle, end,
There are in all things; we have barely come
Halfway.
DORA.
O impudence! is that halfway?
Then when, I wonder, sliall we reach the end?