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He swears him out he never saw my face.

Or, if I quarter with your man of pleasure,

He wastes me on his dice and courtesans,

And forthwith turns me naked on the street.

Chr. Because you never had the luck, as yet,

To light upon a moderate man—like me.

I love economy, look ye—no man more;

Then again, I know how to spend, in season.

But let's indoors: I long to introduce

My wife, and only son, whom I do love

Best in this world—next to yourself, I should say.

So Plutus goes home with his new host, and Cario is forthwith sent to call together the friends and acquaintances of his master from the neighbouring farms to rejoice with them at the arrival of this blessed guest. These form the Chorus of the comedy. They enter with dance and song, and are welcomed heartily by Chremylus, with some apology for taking them away from their business,—but the occasion is exceptional. They protest against any apology being required. If they can bear the crush and wrangle of the law-courts, day after day, for their poor dole of threepence as jurymen, they are not going to let Plutus slip through their hands for a trifle. Following more leisurely in the rear of the common rush,—perhaps as a person of more importance,—comes in a neighbour, Blepsidemus, whose name and character is something equivalent to that of "Mr Facing-both-ways" in Bunyan's allegory. He has heard that Chremylus has become suddenly rich, and is most of all surprised that in such an event he should think of sending for his old friends,—a very unusual proceeding, as he observes,