As if for joy, you rascal!

SYRUS. Why the plague
Did not I keep within? (_Aside._)

SCENE XII.

_Enter DROMO, hastily._

DROMO. Here! hark ye, Syrus!
Ctesipho begs that you'd come back.

SYRUS. Away! (_Pushes him off._)

DEM. What's this he says of Ctesipho?

SYRUS. Pshaw! nothing.

DEM. How! dog, is Ctesipho within?

SYRUS. Not he.

DEM. Why does he name him then?

SYRUS. It is another.
Of the same name--a little parasite----
D'ye know him?

DEM. But I will immediately. (_Going._)

SYRUS. (_stopping him_). What now? where now?

{_DEMEA and SYRUS struggling._}

DEM. Let me alone.

SYRUS. Don't go!

DEM. Hands off! what won't you? must I brain you, rascal?
(_Disengages himself from SYRUS, and Exit._

SCENE XIII.

_SYRUS alone._

He's gone--gone in--and faith no welcome roarer----
--Especially to Ctesipho.--But what
Can I do now; unless, till this blows over,
I sneak into some corner, and sleep off
This wine that lies upon my head?--I'll do't.
(_Exit reeling._

SCENE XIV.

_Enter MICIO from SOSTRATA._

MICIO. (_to SOSTRATA within_).
All is prepar'd: and we are ready, Sostrata,
As I have already told you, when you please. (_Comes forward._)
But who's this forces open our street door
With so much violence?

_Enter DEMEA on t'other side._

DEM. Confusion! death!
What shall I do? or how resolve? where vent
My cries and exclamations? Heav'n! Earth! Sea!

MICIO (_behind._) So! all's discover'd: that's the thing he raves at.
--Now for a quarrel!--I must help the boy.

DEM. (_seeing him._) Oh, there's the grand corrupter of our children!

MICIO. Appease your wrath, and be yourself again!

DEM. Well, I've appeas'd it; I'm myself again;
I spare reproaches; let us to the point!
It was agreed between us, and it was
Your own proposal too, that you should never
Concern yourself with Ctesipho, nor I
With AEschinus. Say, was't not so?

MICIO. It was.
I don't deny it.

DEM. Why does Ctesipho
Revel with you then? Why do you receive him?
Buy him a mistress, Micio?--Is not justice
My due from you, as well as yours from me?
Since I do not concern myself with yours,
Meddle not you with mine!

MICIO. This is not fair;
Indeed it is not. Think on the old saying,
"All things are common among friends."

DEM. How smart!
Put off with quips and sentences at last!

MICIO. Nay, hear me, if you can have patience, Demea.
--First, if you're