my own inclinations, at once I entirely spoiled the labours of the builders. Idleness came on; that was my storm; on its arrival, upon me it brought down hail _and_ showers, which overthrew my modesty and the bounds of virtue, and untiled them for me in an instant. After that I was neglectful to cover in _again_; at once passion like a torrent entered my heart; it flowed down even unto my breast, _and_ soaked through my heart. Now both property, credit, fair fame, virtue, _and_ honor have forsaken _me_; by usage have I become much worse, and, i' faith (so rotten are these rafters of _mine_ with moisture), I do not seem to myself to be able possibly to patch up my house to _prevent it_ from falling down totally once for all, from perishing from the foundation, _and_ from no one being able to assist me. My heart pains me, when I reflect how I now am and how I _once_ was, than whom in youthful age not one there was more active in the arts of exercise [4], with the quoit, the javelin, the ball, racing, arms, _and_ horses. I _then_ lived a joyous life [5]; in frugality and hardihood I was an example to others; all, even the most deserving, took a lesson from me for themselves. Now that I'm become worthless, to that, indeed, have I hastened through the bent of my inclinations. (_He stands apart._) [Footnote 1: _Polished off_)--Ver. 98. From this passage it would seem that pains were taken to give the houses a smooth and polished appearance on the outside.] [Footnote 2: _Walls come tumbling down_)--Ver. 114. Warner remarks that a sentiment not unlike this is found in Scripture, Ecclesiastes, x. 18: "By much slothfulness, the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through." It may be also observed that the passage is very similar to the words of the parable of the foolish man who built his house upon sand, St. Matthew, vii. 26: "And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell; and great was the fall thereof."] [Footnote 3: _Find them some relation_)--Ver. 127. In the first year of military service the Roman youths were placed under the tutelage of some relation or friend.] [Footnote 4: _In the arts of exercise_)--Ver. 147. "Arte gymnastica." Literally, "in the gymnastic art."] [Footnote 5: _Lived a joyous life_)--Ver. 148. "Victitabam volup." Lambinus suggests that the true reading here is "hand volup," "not voluptuously."] SCENE III.--_Enter_ PHILEMATIUM _and_ SCAPHA, _with all the requisites for a toilet._ PHILE. On my word, for this long time I've not bathed in cold water with more delight _than just now_; nor do I think that I ever was, my _dear_ Scapha, more thoroughly cleansed _than now_. SCA. May the upshot of everything be _unto you_ like a plenteous year's harvest. PHILE. What has this harvest got to do with my bathing? SCA. Not a bit more than your bathing _has to do_ with the harvest.