(Several hours have elapsed.)

ENTER Cappadox FROM TEMPLE.

CAPPADOX: (rubbing his monumental stomach and groaning) Yes, I am resolved to quit the temple this . . . moment, since I see for sure that Aesculapius cares... nothing for me, has no wish to cure me. My strength is . . . decreasing and my pain is . . . increasing. Why, already my spleen is wound around me like a. . . girdle as I walk along–anyone would think I was . . . carrying twins. Oh dear! All I am afraid of is that I . . . shall blow up in the middle.

ENTER Palinurus FROM HOUSE OF Phaedromus.

PALINURUS: (to Phaedromus within) You’d do well to listen to me, sir, and shake off that doleful spirit of yours. You’re panic-struck just because the parasite hasn’t got back from Caria! (cheerily) He’s bringing the money, I reckon. For otherwise he couldn’t be kept by fetters of iron from hying himself back here to eat at his own manger.

CAPPADOX: (wearily) Who is that . . . talking here?

PALINURUS: (aside) Whose voice is that?

CAPPADOX: Palinurus, is it, Phaedromus’s man?

PALINURUS: (aside) Who’s that fellow with the comprehensive belly and the grass-green eyes? His figure looks familiar, but I don’t recognize that colour scheme. (looking more sharply) Now! Now I recognize him! It’s the pimp, Cappadox. I’ll up to him. (approaches)

CAPPADOX: Good day, Palinurus.

PALINURUS: Ah there, you fount of iniquity! Good day to you. How are you?

CAPPADOX: (with a tremendous groan) Living.

PALINURUS: (callously) As you deserve, no doubt. What ails you, though?

CAPPADOX: My spleen is . . . killing me, my kidneys ache, my lungs are . . . torn to tatters, my liver . . . is in agony, my heart-strings are . . . clean gone, and all my . . . small intestines pain me.

PALINURUS: (with professional air) Ah, then you must be suffering from some hepatic affection.

CAPPADOX: It is easy to laugh at . . . a poor wretch.

PALINURUS: (interestedly) I say, hold out for a few days longer while your intestines go rotten, now while the pickling is good enough. You do this, and you can sell your intestines for more than your whole carcass.

CAPPADOX: My spleen is . . . racked.

PALINURUS: (lightly) Take walks–best thing in the world for the spleen.

CAPPADOX: (woefully) For mercy’s sake, drop your joking and do answer me this. Supposing I told you a . . . dream I had when I was asleep last night, could you interpret it?

PALINURUS: (slapping his chest) Hah! Why, here’s your one and only expert at divination. Man alive, professional clairvoyants come to me for advice, and the answers I give ’em they all abide by.