_Phæd._ Most certainly he has learned impudence of his master, and will deny his being here; but that shall not serve his turn, to cheat me of my present. [_Aside._]--Why, Sosia! What, in a brown study? _Sos._ A little _cogitabund_, or so, concerning this dismal revolution in our family. _Phæd._ But that should not make you neglect your duty to me, your mistress. _Sos._ Pretty soul! I would thou wert, upon condition that old Bromia were six foot under ground. _Phæd._ What! is all your hot courtship to me dwindled into a poor unprofitable wish? You may remember, I did not bid you absolutely despair. _Sos._ No, for all things yet may be accommodated, in an amicable manner, betwixt my master and my lady. _Phæd._ I mean, to the business betwixt you and me-- _Sos._ Why, I hope we two never quarrelled? _Phæd._ Must I remember you of a certain promise, that you made me at our last parting? _Sos._ Oh, when I went to the army: that I should still be praising thy beauty to judge Gripus, and keep up his affections to thee? _Phæd._ No, I mean the business betwixt you and me this morning--that you promised me---- _Sos._ That I promised thee--I find it now. That strong dog, my brother Sosia, has been here before me, and made love to her. [_Aside._ _Phæd._ You are considering, whether or no you should keep your promise-- _Sos._ That I should keep my promise.--The truth on't is, she's another-guess morsel than old Bromia. [_Aside._ _Phæd._ And I had rather you should break it, in a manner, and as it were, and in some sense---- _Sos._ In a manner, and as it were, and in some sense, thou say'st?--I find, the strong dog has only tickled up her imagination, and not enjoyed her; so that, with my own limbs, I may perform the sweetness of his function with her. [_Aside._]--No, sweet creature, the promise shall not be broken; but what I have undertaken, I will perform like a man of honour. _Phæd._ Then you remember the preliminaries of the present---- _Sos._ Yes, yes, in gross I do remember something; but this disturbance of the family has somewhat stupified my memory. Some pretty _quelque chose_, I warrant thee; some acceptable toy, of small value. _Phæd._ You may call a gold goblet a toy; but I put a greater value upon your presents. _Sos._ A gold goblet, say'st thou! Yes, now I think on't, it was a kind of a gold goblet, as a gratuity after consummation. _Phæd._ No, no; I had rather make sure of one bribe beforehand, than be promised ten gratuities. _Sos._ Yes, now I remember, it was, in some sense, a gold goblet, by way of earnest; and it contained-- _Phæd._ One large-- _Sos._ How, one large-- _Phæd._ Gallon. _Sos._ No; that was somewhat too large, in conscience: It was not a whole gallon; but it may contain, reasonably speaking, one large--thimble-full; but gallons and thimble-fulls are so like, that, in speaking, I might easily mistake them. _Phæd._ Is it come to this?--Out, traitor!