Pam. Would there had!

Char. Now by our friendship, by my love, I beg

You would not marry her.

Pam. I will endeavour.

Char. If that's impossible, or if this match

Be grateful to your heart

Pam. My heart!

Char. At least

Defer it some few days; while I depart,

That I may not behold it.

Pam. Hear, Charinus;

It is, I think, scarce honesty in him

To look for thanks, who means no favour. I

Abhor this marriage, more than you desire it.
Char. You have reviv'd me.

Pam. Now if you, or he,

Your Byrrhia here, can do or think of aught
Act, plot, devise, invent, strive all you can
To make her your's; and I'll do all I can
That she may not be mine.

Char. Enough.

Pam. I see

Davus, and in good time: for he'll advise
What's best to do.

Char. But you, you sorry rogue,

Can give me no advice, nor tell me aught,
But what it is impertinent to know.

Hence, sirrah, get you gone

!

[to Byrrhia.

Byr. With all my heart.

[Exit.

SCENE

SCENE III.

Enter DAVUS hastily.

Davus. Good heav'ns, what news I bring! what joy

ful news!

But where shall I find Pamphilus, to drive

His fears away, and make him full of joy?
Char. There's something pleases him.
Pam. No matter what.

He has not heard of our ill fortune yet.

Dacus. And he, I warrant, if he has been told Of his intended wedding

Char. Do you hear?

Davus. Poor soul, is running all about the town

In quest of me. But whither shall I go?

Or which way run?

Char. Why don't you speak to him?
Davus. I'll go.

Pam. Ho! Davus! Stop, come here !
Davus. Who calls?

Ó, Pamphilus! the very man.-Heyday!
Charinus too!-Both gentlemen, weli met!
I've news for both.

Pam. I'm ruin'd, Davus.

Davus. You stun me; plague!

I tell you I know ev'ry thing: you fear [to Charinus. You should not marry her—you fear you should. [to Pam. Char. The very thing.

Pam. The same.

Davus. And yet that same

Is nothing. Mark!

Pam. Nay, rid me of my fear.

Davus. I will then. Chremes don't intend his daughter Shall marry you to-day.

Pam. No! How d'ye know?

Davus. I'm sure of it. Your father but just now

Takes me aside, and tells me 'twas his will,

That you should wed to-day; with much beside,
Which now I have not leisure to repeat.
1, on the instant, hastening to find you,
Run to the Forum to inform you of it:

There, failing, climb an eminence; look round;
No Pamphilus : I light by chance on Byrrhia;
Enquire; he hadn't seen you". Vext at heart,
Returning thence,

What's to be done? thought I.

A doubt arose within me. Ha! bad cheer,
The old man melancholy, and a wedding
Clapt up so suddenly! This don't agree.
Pam. Well, what then?

Davus. I betook me instantly

To Chremes' house; but thither when I came,
Before the door all hush 45. This tickled me.

Pam. You're in the right.

Davus. I watch'd awhile:

Proceed.

Meantime no soul went in, no soul came out ;

No matron

46

; in the house no ornament;

3

No

No note of preparation. I approach'd,
Look'd in-

Pam. I understand a potent sign!
Davus. Does this seem like a nuptial?
Pam. I think not.

Davus. Think not, d'ye say? Away! you don't

conceive :

The thing is evident. I met beside,

As I departed thence, with Chremes' boy,

Bearing some pot-herbs, and a pennyworth 47
Of little fishes for the old man's dinner.

Char. I am deliver'd, Davus, by your means,
From all my apprehensions of to-day.
Davus. And yet you are undone.
Char. How so? since Chremes
Will not consent to give Philumena
To Pamphilus.

Davus. Ridiculous! As if,

Because the daughter is denied to him,

She must of course wed you. Look to it well;
Court the old gentleman thro' friends, apply,
Or else-

Char. You're right: I will about it straight,
Altho' that hope has often fail'd. Farewell.

SCENE IV.

PAMPHILUS. DAVUS.

Pam. What means my father then? why counterfeit ? Davus. That I'll explain. If he were angry now, Merely that Chremes has refus'd his daughter, He'd think himself in fault; and justly too,

Before the bias of your mind is known.

But granting you refuse her for a wife,

Then all the blame devolves on you; and then
Comes all the storm.

Pam. What course then shall I take?

Shall 1 submit

Davus. He is your father, sir,

Whom to oppose were difficult; and then,
Glycerium's a lone woman; and he'll find
Some course, no matter what, to drive her hence.
Pam. To drive her hence?

Davus. Directly.

Pam. Tell me then,

Oh tell me, Davus, what were best to do?

Davus. Say that you'll marry.

Pam. How!

Davus. And where's the harm?

Pam. Say that I'll marry!

Davus. Why not?

Pam. Never, never.
Davus. Do not refuse!

Pam. Persuade not!

Davus. Do but mark

The consequence.

Pam. Divorcement from Glycerium, And marriage with the other.

Davus. No such thing.

Your father, I suppose, accosts you thus:
I'd have you wed to-day;-I will, quoth you :
What reason has he to reproach you then?
Thus shall you baffle all his settled schemes,
And put him to confusion; all the while
Secure yourself: for 'tis beyond a doubt

That