PAR. How now? Wherefore so sad? and why this hurry, Chaerea? Whence come you? CHAER. I? I can not tell, i'faith, Whence I am come, or whither I am going, I've so entirely lost myself. PAR. And why? CHAER. I am in love. PAR. Oh brave! CHAER. Now, Parmeno, Now you may show what kind of man you are. You know you've often told me; "Chaerea, Find something out to set your heart upon, And mark how I will serve you!" yes, you know You've often said so, when I scrap'd together All the provisions for you at my father's. PAR. Away, you trifler! CHAER. Nay, in faith, it's true: Now make your promise good! and in a cause Worthy the utmost reachings of your soul: A girl! my Parmeno, not like our misses; Whose mothers try to keep their shoulders down, And bind their bosoms, that their shapes may seem Genteel and slim. Is a girl rather plump? They call her nurse, and stint her in her food: Thus art, in spits of nature, makes them all Mere bulrushes: and therefore they're belov'd. PAR. And what's this girl of yours? CHAER. A miracle. PAR. Oh, to be sure! CHAER. True, natural red and white; Her body firm, and full of precious stuff! PAR. Her age? CHAER. About sixteen. PAR. The very prime! CHAER. This girl, by force, by stealth, or by entreaty, Procure me! how I care not, so I have her. PAR. Well, whom does she belong to? CHAER. I don't know. PAR. Whence comes she? CHAER. I can't tell. PAR. Where does she live? CHAER. I can't tell neither. PAR. Where was it you saw her? CHAER. Here in the street. PAR. And how was it you lost her? CHAER. Why it was that, which I so fumed about, As I came hither! nor was ever man So jilted by good fortune as myself. PAR. What mischief now? CHAER. Confounded luck. PAR. How so? CHAER. How so! d'ye know one Archidemides, My father's kinsman, and about his age? PAR. Full well. CHAER. As I was in pursuit of her He met me. PAR. Rather inconveniently. CHAER. Oh most unhappily! for other ills May be told, Parmeno!--I could swear too, For six, nay seven months, I had not seen him, Till now, when least I wish'd and most would shun it. Is not this monstrous? Eh! PAR. Oh! very monstrous. CHAER. Soon as from far he saw me, instantly, Bent, trembling, drop-jaw'd, gasping, out of breath, He hobbled up to me.--"Holo! ho! Chaerea!"---- I stopp'd.--"D'ye know what I want with you?"--"What?" --"I have a cause to-morrow."--"Well! what then?"---- --"Fail not to tell your father, he remember To go up with me, as an advocate."---- His prating took some time. "Aught else?" said I. "Nothing," said he:--Away flew I, and saw The girl that instant turn into this street. PAR. Sure he must mean the virgin, just now brought To Thais for a present. CHAER. Soon as I Came hither, she was out of sight. PAR. Had she Any attendants? CHAER. Yes; a parasite, With a maid-servant. PAR. 'Tis the very same; Away! have done! all's over. CHAER. What d'ye mean? PAR. The girl I mean.