Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6Bridges, Robert
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Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6
Bridges, Robert
English drama; English poetry
_Enter Philolaches and Pamphilus disguised as Persians._
_PHILOLACHES._
Now don’t you think we are unmistakable Persians, eh?
_PAMPHILUS._
The essence of Central Asia: I shouldn’t fear to meet
The shade of Themistocles.
_Ph._ Indeed, I’ll bet my life
Your mother would never know you. Is it not a miracle
What these wide snowy trousers & black beards will do?
_Pam._ I like the hat.
_Ph._ Is it comfortable?
_Pam._ It fits like fun.
Have you your tale by heart?
_Ph._ I shan’t go wrong in that.
You must speak mock high-Persian; as interpreter
I will make sense of nonsense. Be grave too.
_Pam._ If I laugh, 808
I’ve got a pretty good sleeve to laugh in. Let us go.
But stay—which gate sh^d good true Persians enter by?
In at the garden gate, or round the house to the front?
_Ph._ Suppose we try the garden. Isn’t this the garden?
_Pam._ Yes.
_Ph._ I’ll lead. You know the way too well.
[_They go to the garden gate and there meet Chremes
re-entering._
_Pam._ Gods, here’s my father!
_Chr._ (_aside_). Why, who in the name of wonder are these queer
foreigners?
_Ph._ LIERTOS TULVO.
_Chr._ Sir, I do not understand you.
_Pam._ (_to Phil, aside_). Tell him we want Menedemus, and get
him out of the way.
—MEFARIM BURNE SIN MENEDEMUS RYNEAS.
_Ph._ The prince salutes my lord, and asks if here in the earth
Are the thresholds of lord Menedemus.
_Chr._ Ah, you speak our tongue.
’Tis well. This is his house. What would you with him?
_Pam._ (_to Phil._). Heavens!
What will you say?
_Ph._ Go on.
_Pam._ APROYSI THULNEAR. 821
KEKACHYLOS RATULIAN DRICHO BRESNION OIN.
_Ph._ My lord has bid me say we are Persians, sir, arrived
With tidings to lord Menedemus.
_Chr._ (_aside_). Ah! I guessed as much.
This should be news of Clinia: bad news too, I think.
Their Asiatic gravity cannot quite conceal
A strange anxiety. If he’s dead, my money is lost,
My forty pounds all gone. I’ll learn the truth at once—
The news, sir, that ye bring, concerns it the old man’s son?
_Ph._ (_aside_). We’re in for it.
_Pam._ (_aside_). Put him off. Say we bear secret tidings.— 830
NUSPIOL ONAYRMICO.
_Ph._ My lord, sir, will not speak
But only with lord Menedemus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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