Enter PARMENO, moving along with difficulty.
PARMENO
. to himself. Upon my faith, my master does assuredly
think my labor of little value; to have sent me for nothing, where I
have been sitting the whole day to no purpose, waiting at the citadel
for Callidemides, his landlord at Myconos. And so, while sitting there
to-day, like a fool, as each person came by, I accosted him:--"Young
man, just tell me, pray, are you a Myconian" "I am not.." "But is your
name Callidemides?" "No." "Have you any former guest here named
Pamphilus?" All said, "No; and I don't believe that there is any such
person." At last, i' faith, I was quite ashamed, and went away. But how
is it I see Bacchis coming out of our neighbor's? What business can she
have there? Enter BACCHIS, from the house of
PHIDIPPUS.
BACCHIS
Parmeno, you make your appearance opportunely; run with all
speed'1 to Pamphilus.
PARMENO
Why thither?
BACCHIS
Say that I entreat him to come.
PARMENO
To your house?
BACCH. NO;
to Philumena.
PARMENO
What's the matter?
BACCHIS
Nothing that concerns you; so cease to make inquiry.
PARMENO
Am I to say nothing else?
BACCHIS
Yes; that Myrrhina has recognized that ring as her daughter's, which he
formerly gave me.
PARMENO
I understand-is that all?
BACCHIS
That's all. He will be here directly he has heard this from you. But do
you linger?
PARMENO
Far from it, indeed; for I've not had the opportunity given me to-day;
so much with running and walking about have I wasted the whole day.
Goes into the house of LACHES.
BACCHIS
What great joy have I caused for Pamphilus by my coming to-day! How many
blessings have I brought him! and from how many sorrows have I rescued
him! A son I save for him, when it was nearly perishing through the
agency of these women and of himself: a wife, whom he thought that he
must cast off forever, I restore to him: from the suspicion that he lay
under with his father and Phidippus, I have cleared him. This ring, in
fact, was the cause of these discoveries being made. For I remember,
that about ten months ago, at an early hour of night, he came running
home to my house, out of breath, without a companion, and surcharged
with wine,2 with this ring in
his hand. I felt alarmed immediately: "My Pamphilus," I said, "prithee,
my dear, why thus breathless, or where did you get that ring?-tell me!"
He began to pretend that he was thinking of something else. When I saw
that, I began to suspect I know not what, and to press him still more to
tell me. The fellow confessed that he had ravished some female, he knew
not whom, in the street; and said, that while she was struggling, he had
taken that ring away from her. Myrrhina here recognized it just now,
while I had it on my finger. She asked whence it came: I told her all
the story. Hence the discovery has been made that it was Philumena
ravished by him, and that this new-born child is his. I am overjoyed
that this happiness hsa befallen him through my agency; although other
courtesans would not have similar feelings; nor, indeed, is it to our
interest that any lover should find pleasure in matrimony. But, i'
faith, I never, for the sake of gain, will give my mind to base actions.
So long as I had the opportunity, I found him to be kind, easy, and
good-natured. This marriage has fallen out unluckily for me,--that I
confess to be the fact. But, upon my word, I do think that I have done
nothing for it to befall me deservedly. It is but reasonable to endure
inconveniences from one from whom I have received so many benefits.
