I chanc’d on one of my day laborers,

Who had but newly left my farm, and told me

Ctesipho was not there. What shall I do?

Ctes. (peeping out.) Syrus?

Syrus. What?

(Apart.)

Ctes. Does he seek me?

Syrus. Yes.

Ctes. Undone!

Syrus. Courage!

Dem. (to himself). Plague on it, what ill luck is this?

I can’t account for it: but I believe

That I was born for nothing but misfortunes.

I am the first who feels our woes; the first

Who knows of them; the first who tells the news:

And come what may, I bear the weight alone.