Act II, Scene X

Enter PHILOCOMASIUM, dressed in another habit, from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.

PHIL. (to a servant Servant). Put fire on the altar, that in my joy I may return praises and thanks to Diana oi Ephesus, and that I may send up for her a grateful smoke with odours of Arabia: she who has preserved me in the realms of Neptune and amid the boisterous temples, where with raging billows I have been so recently dismayed.

SCEL. (discovering her). Palaestrio! O Palaestrio!

PAL. Sceledrus! O Sceledrus! What is it you want?

SCEL. This lady that has come out of that house just now — is she Philocomasium, our master's lady, or is she not?

PAL. I' faith, I think, it seems to be she. But 'tis a wondrous thing how she could pass from our house to next door; if, indeed, it is she.

SCEL. And have you any doubt that this is she?

PAL. It seems to be she.

SCEL. Let us approach her, and accost her. Hallo! how's this, Philocomasium? What is there owing to you in that house? What is your business there? Why are you silent now? I am speaking to you.

PAL. No, faith, you are talking to yourself; for nothing at all does she answer.

SCEL. I am addressing you, woman, brimful of viciousness and disgrace, who are roaming about among your neighbours.

PHIL. To whom are you talking?

SCEL. To whom but to yourself?

PHIL. What person are you? Or what business have you with me?

SCEL. O, you ask me who I am, do you?

PHIL. Why shouldn't I ask that which I don't know?

PAL. Who am I, then, if you don't know him?

PHIL. You are an annoyance to me, whoever you are, both you and he.

SCEL. What? don't you know us?

PHIL. No, neither of you.

SCEL. I very much fear

PAL. What do you fear?

SCEL. Why, that we have lost ourselves somewhere or other; for she says that she knows neither you nor me.

PAL. I wish, Sceledrus, to examine into this, whether we are ourselves, or else some other persons; lest secretly somehow some one of our neighbours may have transformed us without our knowing it.

SCEL. For my part, beyond a doubt, I am my own self.

PAL. I' faith, and so am I.

SCEL. My lady, you are seeking your destruction. To you I am speaking; hark you, Philocomasium!

PHIL. What craziness possesses you, to be calling me wrongly by a crackjaw name?

SCEL. How now! What are you called, then?

PHIL. My name is Glycera.

SCEL. For a bad purpose, Philocomasium, you wish to have a wrong name. Away with you, shocking woman; for most notably are you doing a wrong to my master.

PHIL. I?

SCEL. Yes, you.

PHIL. I, who arrived from Athens yesterday evening at Ephesus, with my lover, a young man of Athens?

SCEL. Tell me, what business have you here in Ephesus?

PHIL. I had heard that my own twin-sister is here in Ephesus; I came here to look for her.

SCEL. You're a good-for-nothing woman.

PHIL. Yes, i' faith, I am a very foolish one to be parleying with you fellows. I am going.

SCEL. I won't let you go. (Catches hold of her.)

PHIL. Let me go.

SCEL. You are discovered in the fact. I won't let you go.

PHIL. But my hands shall just now sound again against your cheek, if you don't let me go.

SCEL. (to PALAESTRIO). Why the plague are you standing idle? Why don't you hold her on the other side?

PAL. I don't choose to bring the business down upon my back. How do I know but that this is not Philocomasium, but is some other female that resembles her?

PHIL. Will you let me go, or will you not let me go?

SCEL. No; by force and against your will, in spite of you, I'll drag you home, unless you'll go of your own accord.

PHIL. (pointing to the house of PERIPLECOMENUS). This is my lodging here abroad, at Athens is my home.

SCEL. But your master lives here (pointing to the Captain's house).

PHIL. I have nothing to do with that house, nor do I know or understand yourselves what persons you are.

SCEL. Proceed against me at law. I'll never let you go, until you give me your solemn word that you will go indoors here (pointing to the Captain's house) if I let go ol you.

PHIL. You are compelling me by force, whoever you are. I gi re you my word, that if you let go of me, I will go into that house where you bid me.

SCEL. Then, now I let go of you.

PHIL. And, as I'm let go, I'll go in here. (Runs into the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.)