"]
[Footnote 5: _What passport?_)--Ver. 454. Being conscious of the
trick which they are playing on the worthy old man, Tyndarus shows some
alarm on hearing a passport, or "syngraphus," mentioned. Commentators
are at a loss to know why he should express such alarm. It is difficult
to say, but, probably, as there was in the passport a description of the
bearer, who would be Philocrates under the name of Tyndarus, it suddenly
comes to the recollection of Tyndarus that they were originally made
prisoners under their proper names, and that possibly Philocrates may be
recognised as attempting to pass under an assumed name.]
ACT III.--SCENE I.
_Enter_ ERGASILUS.
ERG. Wretched is that man who is in search of something to eat, and
finds that with difficulty; but more wretched is he who both seeks with
difficulty, and finds nothing at all; most wretched is he, who, when he
desires to eat, has not that which he may eat. But, by my faith, if I
_only_ could, I'd willingly tear out the eyes of this day;--with
such enmity has it filled all people towards me. One more starved out I
never did see, nor one more filled with hunger [1], nor one who prospers
less in whatever he begins to do. So much do my stomach and my throat
take rest on these fasting holidays [2]. Away with the profession of a
Parasite to very utter and extreme perdition! so much in these days do
the young men drive away from them the needy drolls.
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