SIM. Save you, Tranio! TRA. How fare you? SIM. Not amiss. What are you about? TRA. Holding _by the hand_ a very worthy man. SIM. You act in a friendly way, in speaking well of me. TRA. It certainly is your due. SIM. But, i' faith, in you I don't hold a good servant _by the hand_. THEU. (_calling from a distance, where he is not perceived by_ SIMO). Hark you! you whip-knave, come back to me. TRA. (_turning round_). I'll be there just now. SIM. Well now, how soon--? TRA. What is it? SIM. The usual goings-on. TRA. Tell me then, these usual goings-on, what are they? SIM. The way that you _yourselves_ proceed. But, Tranio, to say the truth, according as men are, it so befits you to humour them; reflecting, at the same time, how short life is. TRA. What _of all this_? Dear me, at last, after some difficulty, I perceive that you are talking about these goings-on of ours. SIM. I' faith, you _people_ are living a merry life, just as befits you: on wine, good cheer, nice dainty fish, you enjoy life. TRA. Why yes, so it was in time past, indeed; _but_ now these things have come to an end all at once. SIM. How so? TRA. So utterly, Simo, are we all undone! SIM. Won't you hold your tongue? Everything has gone on prosperously with you hitherto. TEA. I don't deny that it has been as you say; undoubtedly, we have lived heartily, just as we pleased; but, Simo, in such a way has the breeze now forsaken our ship-- SIM. What's the matter? In what way? TRA. In a most shocking _way_. SIM. What, wasn't it hauled ashore [4] in safety? TRA. Ah me! SIM. What's the matter? TRA. Ah wretched me! I'm utterly undone! SIM. How so? TRA. Because a ship has come, to smash the hull of our ship. SIM. I would wish as you would wish, Tranio, _for your own sake_. But what is the matter? Do inform me. TRA. I will inform you. My master has arrived from abroad. SIM. In that case, the cord will be stretched for you; thence to the place where iron fetters clink; after that, straight to the cross. TRA. Now, by your knees, I do implore you, don't give information to my master. SIM. Don't you fear; he shall know nothing from me. TRA. Blessings on you, my patron. SIM. I don't care for clients of this description for myself. TRA. Now as to this about which our old gentleman has sent me. SIM. First answer me this that I ask you. As yet, has your old gentleman discovered anything of these matters? TRA. Nothing whatever. SIM. Has he censured his son at all? TRA. He is as calm as the calm weather is wont to be. Now he has requested me most earnestly to beg this of you, that leave may be given him to see over this house of yours. SIM. It's not for sale. TRA. I know that indeed; but the old gentleman wishes to build a woman's apartment [5] here in his own house, baths, too, and a piazza, and a porch. SIM. What has he been dreaming of?