# Comedies of Publius Terentius Afer (1870)/Andria/Act III

Layout 2
ACT III.
Scene 1.—Mysis—Simo—Davus—Lesbia—Glycerium.
Mys. Pol! Lesbia, what you say is very true. You may go far to find a faithful lover.
Sim. Is this the maiden of the Andrian?
Dav. Yes, yes.
Mys. But Pamphilus—this Pamphilus—
Sim. Eh, what?
Mys. Has kept his plighted troth.
Sim. Hem, hem.
Dav. Would either he were deaf, or they were mute.
Mys. And he has given commands to rear the babe.
Sim. O Jupiter! What is the thing I hear? It's lost—if what she states is veritable.
Les. Now, by my credit, an ingenuous lad.
Mys. An excellent. Now follow me within; Perchance my mistress needs you.
Les. Come away.
Dav. Davus, how now, how remedy this freak?
Sim. Is it credible—I ask, now—credible? What, from a stranger? Ah! now, I perceive— Ah, what a dunce am I!
Dav. What does he say?
Sim. It is that rascal's villany, to feign This parturition; there is no such thing— Only to frighten Chremes.
Gly. [Within.] Juno Lucina! help—help I beseech you!
Sim. Oh, oh! directly—quite absurd—so soon As I am at the doorway—cry away. ​Davus, you have not managed the plot well, You don't divide the acts.
Dav. How, master, me?
Sim. Your actors lose their cue.
Dav. I know not what, Master, you say.
Sim. Ah! if this rogue now had Caught me in a loose moment, unprepared, I had been nicely fooled, or if in earnest— But now he will be shipwrecked—the whilst I Sail into port.
ACT III.—Scene 2.—Simo—Davus—Lesbia—Archillis.
Les. Archillis! everything as yet goes well; All promising a speedy convalescence. Firstly the bath, and afterwards the potion, Pursuant both to time and quantity. I will return immediately. Ecastor, A noble boy is born to Pamphilus. May the good gods preserve him—for so kind And good a father, and who would not wrong The mother by its death.
Sim. Now who can doubt, Hearing this stuff, but that you are its author.
Dav. Author of what?
Sim. Why, mark you, in the house She held her peace, nor issued her commands; But thence departed,—forthwith she begins Here in the street to bellow out this stuff. Oh, Davè! did you think me such a fool To be deceived, to be outwitted thus— ​Grossly and openly. Davus, learn your craft, That at the least you may pretend to fear me.
Dav. [Aside.] Hercle! he cheats himself—It is not I.
Sim. Did I not bid you lay by trickery? And have you done so? And with what result? Think you I will believe this child is his?
Dav. I see his error, and I catch my cue.
Sim. Why are you silent?
Dav. Think you would believe? Did not some one inform you of all this?
Sim. Inform me, who?
Dav. Eh, did you guess, yourself, That this was all a mime?
Sim. They mock at me.
Dav. You were informed, else how could you have had Such a suspicion?
Sim. How, because I know you.
Dav. You seem to think and say, it was my counsel.
Sim. Without a doubt it is.
Dav. There, Simo, let me say You know me not.
Sim. How so, I know you not?
Dav. The instant I begin to tell the truth, You think that I deceive.
Sim. Lies!
Dav. So, hercle! I Dare not to open mouth.
Sim. I know full well No one has brought forth here.
Dav. It may be so, But that will not prevent them bringing here An infant, and to lay it at your door. ​I tell you, master, what will come to pass So that it may not take you unprepared, And that you may not think it was the deed By trick or counsel, of this brain of mine. Henceforth I would stand right in your opinion.
Sim. How do you know this?
Dav. I heard it, and believe it; A thousand things concur. This woman, first, Says she is great with child by Pamphilus. Well, that's a lie. Next, when she hears of nuptials, She sends to seek a midwife, who then brings An infant to her; for, unless you see The child with your own eyes, you won't believe, Neither retard these nuptials.
Sim. What is this? If you were cognizant of such a plot, Why did you not tell Pamphilus?
Dav. Who, I! Who else, save I, has weaned him from this girl! We know the fervour wherewith he adored her, And now he asks a wife. Let me alone, Let me conclude this matter. The mean time Do you push on this wedding, and I trust The gods will bring it to a good result.
Sim. Well, get you in; and wait you for me there, And get all things in order—do you hear!
ACT III.—Scene 3.—Simo.
I know not what to think of this, or if The fellow tells me true or tells me false. Nor do I care; for, what concerns me most, ​My son has made the promise. Now, I go To find out Chremes, and to win the wife. If he consents, I see no reason why This marriage should not come to pass, to-day. Altho' my son consents, there is no doubt My rights paternal also may constrain him. Here Chremes comes, and at the nick of time.
ACT III.—Scene 4.—Simo—Chremes.
Sim. Health unto Chremes!
Chr. Ah! I sought for you.
Sim. I sought for you, too.
Chr. You come at the wish. I hear that you have rumoured it abroad To-day your son is to wed with my daughter. Now, are my neighbours crazy, or are you?
Sim. Now, hear me a few words. You know my wishes— You know the truth of what you now demand.
Chr. Speak then, I am attention.
Sim. By the gods, I do entreat you, Chremes: by that friendship Which has existed from our early boyhood, And which has grown with years. I do entreat you, by Your only daughter and my only son, Whose happiness is now within your hands, Aid and consent to this; and suffer now This marriage, promised, and then broken off.
Chr. Nay, ask it not, I say; and do not deem That this can be accorded unto prayers. Think you that I am other than I was, When I consented to their nuptials? If ​They are consistent with their happiness, Then call them hither, let them marry straight. If, on the other hand, they bode for ill— Evil to both—I pray you pause a while; Let us take counsel in this case together, As if she were your daughter, he my son.
Sim. Therefore I wish it, therefore I demand it; Ah, Chremes! if it were not evident For good, I would not ask it.
Chr. Well, how so?
Sim. Glycerium and my son have fallen out.
Chr. Well:
Sim. And irretrievably, as I believe.
Chr. Fables!
Sim. Nay, it is fact.
Chr. Hercle! e'en thus: "Quarrels of lovers but renew their love."
Sim. Ah, Chremes! aid us, whilst the time avails; Whilst passion is the prey of contumely; Before the harlot tears convert to smiles; Before the angry humour change to love, Grant him the wife; won by connubial bliss, And conversation with a worthy wife, He will retrieve himself from depths of ill.
Chr. It may seem so to you, but not to me; I have no faith in his so fickle love; Nor will I trust it.
Sim. But how can you tell, Unless you make essayal?
Chr. Essayal, by the hand Of my dear daughter—no—that were unjust!
Sim. The utmost inconvenience could arise ​Would be their disagreement—Gods avert it!— And separation. On the other hand, Mark the great gains: first, yon reclaim a son For me, your friend; you gain a worthy son— Your daughter, too, a husband not unworthy.
Chr. Do you believe so? If you so believe, I am unable to refuse your plea.
Sim. Chremes! I ever loved you, very dearly.
Chr. But—
Sim. But what?
Chr. How know you they have quarreled?
Sim. Davus, who knows, revealed it unto me; And begs besides to hurry on the match. Think you that he would do so unadvised, Or contrary to wish of Pamphilus? Nay, you shall hear it with your very ears. Eh, Davus, hither! Ah! here Davus comes.
ACT III.—Scene 5.—Davus—Simon—Chremes.
Dav. I sought you.
Sim. Eh, what now?
Dav. Where is the wife? Where are these tardy nuptials?
Sim. There, you hear. Davus, I own I held you in distrust, Suspected you, that like to other servants That you would serve my son, betraying me.
Dav. That I was such a one?
Sim. Ay, I believed it; Therefore I hid, what now I will reveal.
Dav. What?
​Sim. I now put confidence in you.
Dav. You know me now, at last.
Sim. Those nuptials were Only a feint.
Dav. Look now, I never could Unfold that mystery. Ah, bah! What depth Of cleverness.
Sim. Listen, I will tell all. Now, when I bade you to go in the house, Chremes I met outside.
Dav. [Aside.] Then we are lost.
Sim. I told him what you told me.
Dav. [Aside.] Bother it!
Sim. I asked him for his daughter, and he grants her.
Dav. I am knocked down.
Sim. Eh, what is that you said?
Dav. I am enchanted, quite.
Sim. No obstacles Existing on his side.
Chr. And I will hence go home, Get matters forwarded, and then return.
Sim. And Davus, since through you this happiness Hath come to pass—
Dav. Yes, truly so, through me.
Sim. Try and control my son.
Dav. Ay, if I can.
Sim. Whilst that his soul is irritated—urge—
Dav. Depend on me.
Sim. Off then, where is he now?
Dav. Most probably at home.
Sim. I'll keep him there, And tell him of these things now come to pass.
​Dav. I'm in a mess. Now, with the right foot forward, Sent to the mill. Prayer will be useless now. I have upset all—I have deceived my master, Hurled him into a marriage that he hates— And hurried on, despite of the old man, Against the will of Pamphilus. Zounds, I'm astute! If I had never meddled—never made, This had not come to pass. Ah! Pamphilus Himself; I sink—I faint. Oh, that there were A precipice whence I might cast myself!
ACT III.—Scene 6.—Pamphilus—Davus.
Pam. Where is that villain who has ruined me?
Dav. I am undone!
Pam. And I need blame myself. Incredible stupidity! to trust One's dearest fortunes to a stolid slave! I reap the fruits of my absurdity, But he shall not unpunished so depart.
Dav. If I get out of this, I need not fear The future pranks of fortune.
Pam. What can I Say to my father; that I will not marry— When but an hour since I gave consent. With what face can I say so? I know not What I can do.
Dav. Nor I—howe'er I search; And yet not so, for I have a device, Which now I must impart to him, and will.
Pam. Oh!
Dav. He spies me.
​Pam. Eho! thou honest man! Do you acknowledge where your counsels led me?
Dav. I labour now to extricate—
Pam. To extricate?
Dav. Truly so, Pamphilus.
Pam. Ay—even as before.
Dav. Not so, I trust, but with a better fortune.
Pam. Think you—I will believe you, furcifer! Can you restore a thing that 's lost and gone? Oh! from a state of happiness, to be Cast down to depths of married misery! I told you it would be so.
Dav. You did so.
Pam. And what do you deserve.
Dav. Deserve the cross— Grant me a moment, let me think a while— Devize some plan.
Pam. I have no leisure now To punish, nor to think of punishment. I must see to myself—my own affairs Have now the sway o'er me and mastery.