Act 4 — Scene II.

Scene II.

Charinus, Pamphilus, Davus.

Pam. Oh! Charinus, unless the gods assist us, my imprudence has undone both you and myself!

Char. What! imprudence! So you found an excuse at last. You have broken your promise, Sir.

Pam. How! at last?

Char. Do you think that any thing you can say will impose upon me a second time?

Pam. What do you mean, Sir?

Char. As soon as I had told you of my love for Philumena, she pleased you forsooth! Alas! fool that I was! I judged of your heart by my own. I believed you to be sincere, and you deceived me.

Pam. You deceive yourself.

Char. Did you think that your happiness would not be complete, unless you could delude an unfortunate lover by nourishing his vain hopes? Well, take her[162].

Pam. I take her! Alas, you know not half the miseries that oppress me; nor how my rascal Davus has embarrassed me with his pernicious advice.

Char. No wonder! I suppose he follows the fine example you set him.

Pam. You would not talk thus if you knew me, or my love.

Char. (ironically.) Oh! I know every thing: you have been in high dispute with your father; and he is now most prodigiously angry with you: and has been striving, in vain, all this day, to prevail upon you to wed Philumena.

Pam. To prove how little you know of my misfortunes, learn, that no marriage was expected to take place: neither did my father think of constraining my inclinations.

Char. O no! ’tis your inclinations that constrain you.

Pam. Hear me: you do not yet understand——

Char. I understand but too well that you are about to wed Philumena.

Pam. Why do you vex me thus[163]? hear me, I say: he never ceased urging me to tell my father that I was ready to marry: he prayed, he entreated, until, at length, I was induced to comply.

Char. Who did this?

Pam. Davus.

Char. Davus?

Pam. Davus has marred all.

Char. Why?

Pam. I know not, unless the gods, in their anger, decreed that I should follow his pernicious counsel.

Char. Is this so, Davus?

Davus. It is indeed but too true.

Char. What can you say for yourself, you rascal? May the gods punish you as you deserve! Answer me, Slave, I say, if his greatest enemies had been desirous of entangling him in this marriage, what worse advice could they possibly have given him?

Davus. I have been deceived, but am not disheartened.

Char. Indeed!

Davus. Our last plan was unsuccessful, but we’ll try another: unless you think that because the first prospered so indifferently, the evil cannot be remedied?

Pam. Oh, far otherwise! for I have no doubt, that if that wise head of yours goes to work, instead of the one wife you have provided me with already, you’ll find me two.

Davus. Pamphilus, I am your slave; and, as such, it is my duty to exert myself to the utmost to serve you, to labour for you night and day, and even to expose my life to peril, to do you service; but, ’tis your part, if any thing should happen cross, to pardon me: my endeavours have been unsuccessful ’tis true; but, indeed, I did my best; if you can do better, dismiss me.

Pam. Certainly; but first place me in the situation in which you found me.

Davus. I will.

Pam. But it must be done directly.

Davus. Hist! Glycera’s door opens[164].

Pam. What can that signify to you?

Davus. I’m studying for an expedient.

Pam. How, at last!

Davus. And have no doubt but I shall soon find one.