The Comedies of Terence | Page 7

or admonish me to keep faith?
MYS. This one thing I know, that she is deserving that you should not forget her.
PAM. Forget her? Oh Mysis, Mysis, at this moment are those words of Chrysis concerning Glycerium written on my mind. Now at the point of death, she called me; I went to her; you had withdrawn; we were alone; she began: "My dear Pamphilus, you see her beauty and her {youth}; and it is not unknown to you to what extent both of these are now of use to her, in protecting both her chastity and her interests. By this right hand I do entreat you, and by your {good} Genius,[47] by your own fidelity, and by her bereft condition, do not withdraw yourself from her, or forsake her; if I have loved you as my own brother, or if she has always prized you above all others, or has been obedient to you in all things. You do I give to her as a husband, friend, protector, father. This property of mine do I intrust to you, and commit to your care." She placed her in my hands; that instant, death came upon her. I accepted her; having accepted, I will protect her.
MYS. So indeed I hope. (Moving.)
PAM. But why are you leaving her?
MYS. I'm going to fetch the midwife.[48]
PAM. Make all haste. And-- do you hear?-- take care, {and} not one word about the marriage, lest that too {should add} to her illness.
MYS. I understand. (Exeunt severally.

ACT THE SECOND.
SCENE I.
Enter CHARINUS and BYRRHIA.[49]
CHAR. How say you, Byrrhia? Is she to be given in marriage to Pamphilus to-day?
BYR. It is so.
CHAR. How do you know?
BYR. I heard {it} just now from Davus at the Forum.
CHAR. Woe unto wretched me! As, hitherto, until now, my mind has been racked amid hope and fear; so, since hope has been withdrawn, wearied with care, it sinks overwhelmed.
BYR. By my troth, Charinus, since that which you wish can not come to pass, prithee, do wish that which can.
CHAR. I wish for nothing else but Philumena.
BYR. Alas! How much better were it for you to endeavor to expel that passion from your mind, than to be saying that by which your desire is to no purpose still more inflamed.
CHAR. We all, when we are well, with ease give good advice to the sick. If you were in my situation, you would think otherwise.
BYR. Well, well, just as you like.
CHAR. (looking down the side scene.) But I see Pamphilus; I'm determined I'll try every thing before I despair.
BYR. (aside) What does he mean?
CHAR. I will entreat his own self; I will supplicate him; I will disclose to him my love. I think that I shall prevail upon him to put off the marriage for some days at least; in the mean time, something will turn up, I trust.
BYR. That something is nothing.
CHAR. Byrrhia, how seems it to you? Shall I accost him?
BYR. Why not? Should you not prevail, that at least he may look upon you as a gallant {ready} provided for him, if he marries her.
CHAR. Away with you to perdition with that vile suggestion, you rascal!
SCENE II.
Enter PAMPHILUS.
PAM. I espy Charinus. (Accosting him.) Good-morrow!
CHAR. O, good-morrow. Pamphilus, I'm come to you, seeking hope, safety, counsel, {and} assistance.
PAM. I'faith, I have neither time for counsel, nor resources for assistance. But what's the matter now?
CHAR. To-day you are going to take a wife?
PAM. {So} they say.
CHAR. Pamphilus, if you do that, you behold me this day for the last time.
PAM. Why so?
CHAR. Ah me! I dread to tell it; prithee, do you tell it, Bvrrhia.
BYR. I'll tell it.
PAM. What is it?
BYR. He's in love with your betrothed.
PAM. Assuredly he's not of my way of thinking. Come now, tell me, have you had any more {to do} with her, Charinus?
CHAR. Oh Pamphilus, nothing.
PAM. How much I wish {you had}.
CHAR. Now, by our friendship and by my affection, I do beseech you, in the first place, not to marry her.
PAM. For my own part I'll use my endeavors.
CHAR. But if that can not be, or if this marriage is agreeable to you--
PAM. Agreeable to me?
CHAR. Put it off for some days at least, while I go elsewhere, that I may not be witness.
PAM. Now listen, once for all: I think it, Charinus, to be by no means the part of an ingenuous man, when he confers nothing, to expect that it should be considered as an obligation on his part. I am more desirous to avoid this match, than you to gain it.
CHAR. You have restored me to life.
PAM. Now, if you can do any thing, either you yourself, or Byrrhia here, manage, fabricate, invent, contrive {some means}, whereby she may be given to you; this I shall aim at, how she may not be given to