2
Posidon
Ah, I commend your taste. She is pellucid, and bubbles up in perfect purity; the water as bright over her pebbles as if it were a mass of silver,
Alpheus
You know my fountain, Posidon, and no mistake. It is to her that I go.
Posidon
Go, then; and may the course of love run smooth! But pray where did you meet her? Arcadia and Syracuse, you know!:
Alpheus
I am in a hurry; you are detaining me, with these superfluous questions.
Posidon
Ah, so I am. Be off to your beloved, rise from the sea, mingle your channels and be one water.
5
Menelaus
I can understand your turning into water, you know, Proteus, because you are a sea-god. I can even pass the tree; and the lion is not wholly beyond the bounds of belief. But the idea of your being able to turn into fire, living under water as you do,—this excites my surprise, not to say my incredulity.
Proteus
Don’t let it; because I can.
Menelaus
I have seen you do it. But (to be frank with you) I think there must be some deception; you play tricks with one’s eyes; you don’t really turn into anything of the kind?
Proteus
Deception? What deception can there possibly be? Everything is above-board. Your eyes were open, I suppose, and you saw me change into all these things? If that is not enough for you, if you think it is a fraud, an optical illusion, I will turn into fire again, and you can touch me with your hand, my sagacious friend. You will then be able to conclude whether I am only visible fire, or have the addseional Property of burning.
Menelaus
That would be rash.
