_Cli._ (_to Epic._). Come, come, Epicharis, I pray thee!
_Se^{ o.}_ Is this the gods, or is it not the gods? (_drinks._)
_Cli._ (_dragging at Epic._). Thou shalt, thou must.
_Ep._ (_freeing herself_). One moment, Clitus, please!
_Gri._ (_to Proc._). I ran to know, my lord, if you’ll have the boats.
_Gri._ ’Twas a wonder; all the folk had just left her, I near the last; I felt dizzy-like, and saw the street seem anyhow: then I looked at the theater, and she was full of crinks and chinks, when down she went all to pieces. A little sooner and we had been buried alive.
_Se^{ o.}_ O ye gods! (_drinking_) I drink to thee, old dustman (_to Gripus_).
_Pro._ Off with you, my men: in five minutes I’ll be aboard. (_To Epic._) Come, lass!
_Ep._ There is my old bed-ridden mother, my lord; I’ll not leave her. 275
_Pro._ Well, stick to your ship, like a true girl. You, Calvus, pay the charges and follow.
_Se^{ o.}_ Who’s afraid now, my lord! Is it not the gods?
_Pro._ They take much pains to frighten us, sir.
_Se^{ o.}_ And me, with a wife and family. I care not.
_1st Off._ (_paying_). Thou’lt be buried with thy jars, Epicharis.
_Ep._ Balmed in good wine, eh! Add me yet a denarius for lord Senecio’s drink.
_Se^{ o.}_ (_drinking_). Your health, sir! If you wish to know the cause of all this, I can inform you. ’Tis the emperor’s cursed singing hath done it. He hath offended the gods. To call himself Apollo on the one hand, and on the other to sing in the theatre. What else could he expect? I give him his due, he cares not for the gods.
_1st Off._ Good-night, lass: may we meet again!
_Ep._ No fear. [_Exit 1st Off. with the others._
(_Senecio remains, and Clitus, who stands aloof._)
_Ep._ (_to Senecio_). Follow thou, follow them. 300
_Ep._ Nor will I. I wonder thou durst even show thy face after all thy vain promises. Thou that wouldst bring me to Cæsar, and I know not what.
_Se^{ o.}_ Look what I had brought thee (_showing a book_).
_Se^{ o.}_ No. ’Tis Lucan’s book. This can bring thee to Cæsar. This little book hath great treasons in it.
_Ep._ Treason! ha! and I to inform, to show it to Cæsar?
_Se^{ o.}_ Well, if not, think what his friends might give to recover it.
_Ep._ You should have sold it yourself and brought me the money.