e or hate, disdain or fondness
Shown to one we love; enough
'T is to me to know, that prompted
Or by vanity or by interest,
She came hither to hold converse
With him, 't is enough to make me
Lose the love I once felt for her.

ESCARPIN.
Sir, two men, one bald, one squint-eyed,
Met one day . . .

CLAUDIUS.
What, on your hobby?
A new story?

ESCARPIN.
To tell stories,
Sir, is not my 'forte', 'pon honour:--
Though who would n't make a hazard
When the ball is over the pocket?--

CLAUDIUS.
Well, I do not care to hear it.

ESCARPIN.
Ah, you know it then: Another
Let me try: A friar once . . .
Stay though, I have quite forgotten
There are no friars yet in Rome:
Well, once more: a fool . . .

CLAUDIUS.
A blockhead
Like yourself, say: cease.

ESCARPIN.
Ah, sir,
My poor tale do n't cruelly shorten.
While the sacristan was blowing . . .

CLAUDIUS.
Why, by heaven! I 'll kill you, donkey.

ESCARPIN.
Hear me first, and kill me after.

CLAUDIUS.
Was there ever known such folly
As to think 'mid cares so grave
I could listen to such nonsense? (exit.
[Enter Chrysanthus and Daria, at opposite sides.]

DARIA (to herself).
O ye gods, since my intention
Was in empty air to scatter
All these prodigies and wonders
Worked in favour of Chrysanthus
By the Christians' sorcery, why,
Having you for my copartners,
Do I not achieve a victory
Which my beauty might make facile?

CHRYSANTHUS.
O ye heavens, since my ambition
Was to melt Daria's hardness,
And to bring her to the knowledge
Of one God who works these marvels,
Why, so pure is my intention,
Why, so zealous and so sanguine,
Does not easy victory follow,
Due even to my natural talent?

DARIA (aside).
He is here, and though already
Even to see him, to have parley
With him, lights a living fire
In my breast, which burns yet glads me,
Yet he must confess my gods,
Ere I own that I am vanquished.

CHRYSANTHUS (aside).
She comes hither, and though I
By her beauty am distracted,
Still she must become a Christian
Ere a wife's dear name I grant her.

DARIA (aside).
Venus, to my beauty give
Power to make of him my vassal.

CHRYSANTHUS (aside).
Grant, O Lord, unto my tongue
Words that may dispel her darkness.

DARIA (aside).
To come near him makes me tremble.

CHRYSANTHUS (aside).
To address her, quite unmans me:--
Not in vain, O fair Daria, (aloud.
Does