RAGUENEAU:
Pray then, madam, to what use would you degrade prose?
[Scene 2.II.]
The same. Two children, who have just trotted into the shop.
RAGUENEAU:
What would you, little ones?
FIRST CHILD:
Three pies.
RAGUENEAU (serving them):
See, hot and well browned.
SECOND CHILD:
If it please you, Sir, will you wrap them up for us?
RAGUENEAU (aside, distressed):
Alas! one of my bags!
(To the children):
What? Must I wrap them up?
(He takes a bag, and just as he is about to put in the pies, he reads):
‘Ulysses thus, on leaving fair Penelope. . .’
Not that one!
(He puts it aside, and takes another, and as he is about to put in the pies, he reads):
‘The gold-locked Phoebus. . .’
Nay, nor that one!. . .
(Same play.)
LISE (impatiently):
What are you dallying for?