Act V

Enter Strobilus

Strob. Ye immortal Gods, what joy, what bliss, ye bless me with! I have a four pound pot of gold, chock full of gold! Show me a man that's richer! Who's the chap in all Athens now that Heaven's kinder to than me?

Lyc. Why, it surely seemed as if I heard someone's voice just then. (catches a glimpse of Strobilus's face, the latter wheeling around as he sees Lyconides)

Strob.(aside) Hm! Is that master there?

Lyc. (aside) My servant, is it?

Strob.(aside,after a quick glance) It's the governor.

Lyc. (aside) Himself.

Strob.(aside) Here goes. (Moves toward Lyconides)

Lyc. (aside) I'll go meet him. No doubt he's followed instructions and been to see that old woman I mentioned, my girls' nurse.

Strob.(aside) Why not tell him I've found this prize? Then I'll beg him to set me free. I'll up and let him have the whole story. (To Lyconides, as they meet) I've found --

Lyc. (scoffingly) Found what?

Strob. No such trifle as youngsters hurrah over finding in a bean.

Lyc. At your old tricks? You're chaffing. ( pretends to be about to leave)

Strob. Hold on, sir; I'll tell you all about it this minute. Listen.

Lyc. Well, well, then, tell away.

Strob. Sir, to-day, I've found -- boundless riches.

Lyc. (interested) You have? Where?

Strob. A four pound pot, sir, I tell you a four pound pot just full of gold.

Lyc. What's all this you've done? He's the man that robbed old Euclio. Where is this gold?

Strob. In a box at home. Now I want you to set me free.

Lyc. (angrily) I set you free, you,you great lump of iniquity?

Strob. (crestfallen, then laughing heartily) Go along with you, sir! I know what you're after. Gad! that was clever of me, testing you in that way! And you were just getting ready to drop on it! Now, what would you be doing, if I really had found it?

Lyc. No, no, that won't pass. Off with you: hand over the gold.

Strob. Hand over the gold? I?

Lyc. Yes, hand it over, so that it may be handed over to Euclio.

Strob. Gold? Where from?

Lyc. The gold you just admitted was in the box.

Strob. Bless your heart, sir, my tongue's all the time running on foolish-like.

Lyc.

Strob. That's what I say.

Lyc. (seizing him) See here, do you know what you'll get?

Strob. By heaven, sir, you can even kill me, but you won't have it from me, never --


The rest of the play is lost, save for a few fragments. Lyconides, on returning the pot of gold, was given permission to marry Euclio's daughter; and Euclio, having a change of heart, or influenced by his Household God, gave it to the young couple as a wedding present