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

Layout 2
ACT II.
Scene 1.—Charinus—Byrrhia—Pamphilus.
Cha. What say you, Byrrhia? She given in marriage To Pamphilus?
Byr. E'en so.
Cha. How did you learn it?
Byr. From Davus in the Forum.
Cha. Oh misery, misery. Long between hope and fear my spirit swept, And hope was uppermost and now is crushed; Hope absent—it is drowned in lethargy.
Byr. Why, edepol! Charinus, though you can't Do what you will, up and do what you can.
Cha. Nought save Philumena is now my will.
Byr. Ah ! how much better were it now to chase This folly from your heart, and cease to speak Such sentiments as only drive you mad.
Cha. All men in health can counsel who are sick, But when themselves are sick 'tis otherwise.
Byr. Do as you please.
Cha. But behold Pamphilus I will try every effort ere I die.
Byr. And what with him?
Cha. Entreat him and implore him— Tell of my love—petition for delay; At least a day or two, in hopes of something.
Byr. Which something, nothing is.
Cha. Advise me, Byrrhia, Say, shall I speak?
​Byr. Why not? since at the least You will inform him she a gallant has, Ready prepared to act.
Cha. Brute, he you off With your suspicions.
Pam. Salvè, Charinus.
Cha. Salvè, O, Pamphilus. I come unto you, hoping and expecting Health and assistance.
Pam. Pol! I am not In a position now to grant assistance. But tell me what it is.
Cha. To-day you wed?
Pam. They say so.
Cha. If it be so, Pamphilus, We meet no more.
Pam. Why so?
Cha. I dare not say. Speak, Byrrhia, and tell all.
Byr. Am I to speak?
Pam. What is it? say.
Byr. That he loves your betrothed.
Pam. Well, tastes are different. Charinus, tell me Hath there aught passed betwixt you?
Cha. Nothing; O, Pamphilus.
Pam. Would that there had been so.
Cha. Now by our friendship and by love, I pray, You will not wed her.
Pam. I will help what I can.
Cha. But if you must so—if your heart is set—
Pam. My heart is set?
​Cha. Delay, delay, I beg you, Some days at least, that I may hence away Nor witness it.
Pam. Hear me, Charinus; now I will not take a credit with none due; For I have more antipathy to this Than you have will towards her.
Cha. Ah! I breathe.
Pam. If you and Byrrhia can devise a plot, Invent, imagine some mode to prevent this, I will omit no labours on my part.
Cha. Enough, enough!
Pam. And in a happy time Lo! Davus, upon whom I set my trust.
Cha. And, hercle! you are useless—be you off— You trouble me.
Byr. I go, with all my heart.
ACT II.—Scene 2.—Davus—Charinus—Pamphilus.
Dav. Auspicious gods! what happy news I bring— But where is Pamphilus? to root out his fear And fill his soul with joy.
Cha. Davus is joyful.
Pam. It is nothing, he has not heard of this.
Dav. I fancy now, if he has heard of this, His nuptials now prepared—
Cha. Do you hear that?
Dav. But where is Pamphilus? I am half dead With weariness of running here and there.
Pam. Here, Davus—stop.
​Dav. Who calls? Ah! Pamphilus, I seek for you. Charinus, also, good. I matter have for both.
Pam. I perish, Davus.
Dav. Hear me, hear me.
Pam. I die.
Dav. Nay, not at all.
Cha. And also I myself am like to die.
Dav. I know your wants.
Pam. My nuptials.
Dav. Yes, I know.
Pam. To-day.
Dav. Be still, I know it all, I say. You, master, would not; you, Charinus, would Wed not, and wed.
Cha. The thing is even so.
Pam. 'Tis even so.
Dav. This even so, is nothing.
Pam. Quick, put me out of doubt and misery.
Dav. I will do so. Chremes won't give his daughter.
Pam. How do you know it?
Dav. Thus; your father called Me on one-side, and told me that he wished That you should wed to-day; he prattled, too, On this and that, all foreign to the matter. I cut off to the Forum to find you. I found you not. I climbed a pedestal, And looked around about; I saw you not. I ran then against Byrrhia—I asked him, But he had seen you not. I—fidgety, And what to do was puzzling, thence returning, Suspicion entered in my brain—eh, eh! ​No purchases for supper, old man sad, Babbling of nuptials—incoherently.
Pam. Get on, get on.
Dav. So I set off to Chremes, And when I came—no porter, no one there, The gateway void—and I began to joy.
Cha. With reason too.
Pam. Get on.
Dav. I stood awhile, I did not see a soul. No matron there, No decorations, tumult—not a sound. I entered—looked around.
Pam. What signifies?
Dav. Does that resemble nuptials?
Pam. Davè, I doubt.
Dav. How do you doubt? I say the thing is sure; And after that I met the boy of Chremes With fishes, and an obolus of herbs.
Cha. You have revived me.
Dav. What is this to you?
Cha. Chremes wont give his daughter unto him.
Dav. What stuff you talk. Because he weds her not, Is that a reason sure that you must wed her? You must look out, you must beseech your friends Or you will go without her.
Cha. Very true, And you admonish well. I'll set about it, Although I often failed before. Farewell.
ACT II.—Scene 3.—Pamphilus—Davus.
Pam. What does my father mean? Why simulate?
Dav. I will tell you why. First, he is angry now With Chremes and his promise now withdrawn, He thinks such retractation is injurious— Your sentiments unknown. If you refuse The alliance proffered, he will transfer his wrath To you, and there will be a precious row.
Pam. But shall I suffer that?
Dav. He is your father, Pamphilus, and has authority; whilst she, Poor soul, is sole and unprotected—he Will soon find means to exile her from hence.
Pam. Exile?
Dav. And quickly.
Pam. What, Davus, must I do?
Dav. Say you are ready.
Pam. No.
Dav. What do you say?
Pam. I ready.
Dav. Wherefore not?
Pam. I never will.
Dav. Do not say so.
Pam. Nay, ask it not.
Dav. But look, What will occur?
Pam. It will occur that I Shall lose the one I love, and have the other.
Dav. Not so, not so. Your father will speak thus: I do desire that you shall wed to-day. ​You will reply—Behold me ready, father. He cannot scold you more, and all his plans, Determinations, cast to all the winds. You need not fear, for Chremes will refuse To give her anywise; so fear not him. Now say it bravely, without hesitation— Say, Father, I am ready. For do not think That you are master of yourself, or can Command events by acting as you please. He is determined now that you shall wed, To take one dowerless, to have his way. Consent with him, and throw him off his guard, And he will go to sleep—and act no more; In the mean time, something may turn up good.
Pam. You think so?
Dav. Out of doubt.
Pam. Ah, take you heed.
Dav. Be still, I say.
Pam. Well, I consent. But look! He must know nothing of the infant child. I have promised her to rear it.
Dav. Madness!
Pam. She has besought, and I have promised it. It is a pledge, I never will desert her.
Dav. It shall be seen to; but your father comes. Be careful and disguise your melancholy.
ACT II.—Scene 4.—Simo—Davus—Pamphilus.
Sim. I stroll about, to see what they are at, What they devise.
Dav. The old man is uneasy, ​He thinks you will refuse; he meditates In silent solitude; and practises A grand oration, pitiful to hear. Prepare you ready then, it is for you.
Pam. Ah! if I can, my Davus.
Dav. Credit me, O Pamphilus. He will not have a word To utter, if you say that you will wed.
ACT II.—Scene 5.—Byrrhia—Simo—Davus—Pamphilus.
Byr. My master bids me, quitting other matters, To keep an eye on Pamphilus, and learn His mind about this marriage; therefore, I Follow the old man here; and here I meet Davus and Pamphilus; that is all right.
Sim. Behold them both.
Dav. Take care; hem!
Sim. Pamphilus.
Dav. Look round promiscuously.
Pam. Hem, father mine.
Dav. Well done that.
Sim. To-day I marry you—to-day. It is my will, I say.
Byr. I tremble, and await His answer—what?
Pam. Father, I am prepared Both now and ever to obey your will.
Byr. Eh—what?
Dav. [Aside.] Struck dumb.
Sim. You do that which becomes you; According, with much sense, what I demand.
​Dav. All right!
Byr. My master may go troop elsewhere.
Sim. Go in, and wait within till we have need.
Pam. I go!
Byr. No faith in man; put not your trust in man. Truly the proverb says—That everyone Must take care of himself and not another. I know the maiden, of a faultless form, And, doubtless, Pamphilus is more content To clasp her in his arms—in lieu of other. Now to my master, to get my reward, The portion I shall have for my good news.
ACT II.—Scene 6.—Daves—Simo.
Dav. He thinks me now a-hatching roguery, And therefore keeps me here.
Sim. What say you, Davus?
Dav. Ah! nothing to the purpose.
Sim. Purpose, how?
Dav. Nothing at all.
Sim. Yet I expected something.
Dav. [Aside.] He is put out. I know it—in a rage.
Sim. Now can you speak the truth?
Dav. Nought easier.
Sim. This marriage, now, has sorely hit my son; All through his intercourse with that same stranger.
Dav. Hercle! Not so; or, if he be put out, 'Tis but a matter of a day or two. He will forget it; for you now perceive He has surrendered to run the right way.
​Sim. And I am glad.
Dav. Whilst things permitted it And age allowed, he loved—but silently— He was most mindful of the world's report— His reputation. Now behoves to marry. And now he is on fire to have a wife.
Sim. But he seemed sad, to me.
Dav. But not for that, There is a matter he is wrath with you.
Sim. What?
Dav. Boy's fantasy!
Sim. But what?
Dav. Ah! nothing.
Sim. Say what?
Dav. Ah, well! you make no feast; Art niggard.
Sim. Me?
Dav. You; not ten drachmas spent. "Upon the feast and marriage of his son, Whom of my friends has he bid to the supper?" Now, by my word, you do this niggardly; Neither do I approve it.
Sim. Hold your jaw.
Dav. [Aside.] I hit him there.
Sim. I will take care for that. All shall go right enough. What does this mean? He is a sly old fox; if aught go wrong. I see and know the author well enough.