Enter PARMENO from the house of LACHES.
PARMENO
at the door, speaking to SCIRTUS within. If the old man
should be asking for me, do you say that I have just gone to the harbor
to inquire about the arrival of Pamphilus. Do you hear what I say,
Scirtus? If he asks for me, then you are to say so; if he does not, why,
say nothing at all; so that at another time I may be able to employ that
excuse as a new one. Comes forward, and looking
around. --But is it my dear Philotis that I see? How has she come
here? Accosting her. Philotis heartily good-morrow.
PHILOTIS
O, good-morrow, Parmeno,
SYRA
By my troth, good-morrow, Parmeno.
PARMENO
I' faith, Syra, the same to you. Philotis, tell me, where have you been
enjoying yourself so long?
PHILOTIS
For my part, indeed, I have been far from enjoying myself, in leaving
this place for Corinth with
a most brutal captain; for two whole years, there, had I to put up with
him to my sorrow.
PARMENO
I' troth, I fancy that regret for Athens full oft possessed you, and that you thought but
poorly of your foresight.
PHILOTIS
It can not be expressed how impatient I was to return hither, get rid of
the captain, and see yourselves here, that after our old fashion I might
at my ease enjoy the merry-makings among you; for there it was not
allowed me to speak, except at the moment prescribed, and on such
subjects as he chose.
PARMENO
sarcastically. I don't think it was gallant in the
captain to place a restraint on your tongue.
PHILOTIS
But what is this piece of business that Bacchis has just now been
telling me in-doors here? pointing to her house. A thing
I never supposed would come to pass, that he, in her lifetime, could
possibly prevail upon his feelings to take a wife.
PARMENO
To take, indeed!
PHILOTIS
Why, look you, has he not taken one?
PARMENO
He has; but I doubt whether this match will be lasting.
PHILOTIS
May the Gods and Goddesses grant it so, if it is for the advantage of
Bacchis. But why am I to believe it is so? Tell me, Parmeno.
PARMENO
There is no need for its being spread abroad; ask me no more about
it.
PHILOTIS
For fear, I suppose, it may be made public. So may the Gods prosper me,
I do not ask you in order that I may spread it abroad, but that, in
silence, I may rejoice within myself.
PARMENO
You'll never speak me so fairly, that I shall trust my back to your
discretion.
PHILOTIS
Oh, don't say so, Parmeno ;1 as though you
were not much more impatient to tell me this, than I to learn what I'm
inquiring about.
PARMENO
to himself. She tells the truth there; and that is my
greatest failing. To PHILOTIS. If you give me your word
that you'll keep it a secret, I'll tell you.
PHILOTIS
You are now returning to your natural disposition. I give you my word;
say on.
PARMENO
Listen.
PHILOTIS
I'm all attention.
PARMENO
Pamphilus was in the height of his passion for Bacchis here, when his
father began to importune him to take a wife, and to urge those points
which are usual with all fathers, that he himself was now in years, and
that he was his only son, that he wished for a support for his declining
years. He refused at first. But on his father pressing more urgently, he
caused him to become wavering in his mind, whether to yield rather to
duty or to love. By hammering on and teazing him, at last the old man
gained his point; and betrothed him to the daughter of our next-door
neighbor here pointing to the house of PHIDIPPUS . This
did not seem so very disagreeable to Pamphilus, until on the very point
of marriage, when he saw that all was ready, and that no respite was
granted, but marry he must; then, at last, he took it so much to heart,
that I do believe if Bacchis had been present, even she would have
pitied him. Whenever opportunity was afforded for us being alone, so
that he could converse with me, he used to say: "Parmeno, I am ruined!
What have I done! Into what misery have I plunged myself! Parmeno, I
shall never be able to endure this. To my misery, I am undone !"
PHILOTIS
vehemently exclaiming. May the Gods and Goddesses
confound you, Laches, for vexing him so !
PARMENO
To cut the matter short, he took home his wife. On the first night, he
did not touch the girl; the night that followed that, not a bit the
more.
PHILOTIS
What is it you tell me? A young man go to bed with a virgin, intoxicated
to boot, and able to restrain himiself from touching her! You do not say
what's likely; nor do I believe it to be the truth.
PARMENO
I suppose it does seem so to you, for no one comes to you unless he is
eager for you; but he had married her against his will.
PHILOTIS
After this, what followed ?
PARMENO
In a very few days after, Pamphilus took me aside, away from the house,
and told me how that the young woman was still untouched by him; and how
that before he had taken her home as his wife, he had hoped to be able
to endure this marriage: "But, Parmeno, as I can not resolve to live
with her any longer, it is neither honorable in me, nor of advantage to
the young woman herself, for her to be turned to ridicule, but rather I
ought to return her to her relations just as I received her."
PHILOTIS
You tell me of a conscientious and virtuous disposition in
Pamphilus.
PARMENO
"For me to declare this, I consider to be inconvenient to me, but for
her to be sent back to her father without mentioning any blame, would be
insolent; but I am in hopes that she, when she is sensible that she can
not live with me, will go at last of her own accord."
PHILOTIS
What did he do in the mean while ? Used he to visit Bacchis?
PARMENO
Every day. But as usually is the case, after she saw that he belonged to
another, she immediately became more ill-natured and more peevish.
PHILOTIS
I' faith, that's not to be wondered at.
PARMENO
And this circumstance in especial contributed to estrange him from her;
after he had fairly examined himself, and her, and the one that was at
home, he formed a judgment, by comparison, upon the principles of them
both. She, just as might be expected from a person of respectable and
free birth, chaste and virtuous, patient under the slights and all the
insults of her husband, and concealing his affronts. Upon this, his
mind, partly overcome by compassion for his wife, partly constrained by
the insolence of the other, was gradually estranged from Bacchis, and
transferred its affections to the other, after having found a congenial
disposition. In the mean time, there dies at Imbros2 an old man, a
relative of theirs. His property there devolved on them by law. Thither
his father drove the love-sick Pamphilus, much against his will. He left
his wife here with his mother, for the old man has retired into the
country; he seldom comes into the city.
PHILOTIS
What is there yet in this marriage to prevent its being lasting ?
PARMENO
You shall hear just now. At first, for several days, there really was a
good understanding between them. In the mean time, however, in a strange
way, she began to take a dislike to Sostrata; nor yet was there ever any
quarrel or words between them.
PHILOTIS
What then ?
PARMENO
If at any time she came to converse with her, she would instantly
withdraw from her presence,3 and refuse to see her; in fine, when
she could no longer endure her, she pretended that she was sent for by
her mother to assist at a sacrifice. When she had been there a few days,
Sostrata ordered her to be fetched. She made some, I know not what,
excuse. Again she gave similar orders; no one sent back any excuse.
After she had sent for her repeatedly, they pretended that the damsel
was sick. My mistress immediately went to see her; no one admitted her.
On the old man coming to know of this, he yesterday came up from the
country on purpose, and waited immediately upon the father of Philumena.
What passed between them, I do not know as yet; but really I do feel
some anxiety in what way this is to end. You now have the whole matter;
and I shall proceed whither I was on my way.
PHILOTIS
And I too, for I made an appointment with a certain stranger4 to meet him.
PARMENO
May the Gods prosper what you undertake!
PHILOTIS
Farewell!
PARMENO
And a kind farewell to you, my dear Philotis. (Exeunt
severally.)
