University of Virginia Library

Scen. 1.

Enter Charinus and Byrrhia his man.
Cha.
VVhat saist thou Byrrhia? must she then to day
Be married vnto Pamphilus?

Byrr.
Yes sir.

Cha.
How dost thou know it?

Byr.
But ene very now
Dauus so told me in the Market-place.

Cha.
Accursed, wretched me! how hitherto
My thoughts haue waited vpon hope and feare?
But hope now being fled, my fainting spirits
Wasted with care, yeeld to confusion.

Byr.
Pray, for Gods loue Charinus, since that things
Cannot be as you would, seeke to desire
What you may compasse.

Cha.
There is nothing else
In all the world I wish, but Philumen.

Byr.
But how much better were it, to endeauour
To vnlodge this idle loue out of your heart,
Then thus to talke of that which addes more fewell
To this your bootlesse vaine affection?

Enter Pamphilus walking in a dumpe.
Cha.
All men in health can easily prescribe
To the sicke patient good directions.
If thou wert in my case thy minde would alter.

Byr.
Well sir then doe your pleasure.

Cha.
But lo yonder
Where Pamphilus is. I doe meane to venture
All trials yet, ere I doe fully perish.

Byr.
What meanes he now to doe?

Cha.
I will request,
Beseech him, open to him all my loue.
I hope I may obtaine of him at least,
For some few dayes to put the wedding of.
I trust in th'Interim somewhat may be done.

Byr.
That somewhat is iust nothing.

Cha.
Byrrhia,
What think'st thou of it? shall I goe to him?

Byr.
What else? if he will yeeld to nothing, yet
Let him suspect, you haue good minde to horne him
If he shall marrie her.

Cha.
Away hence varlet,
With this thy lewd suspition.

Pam.
Charinus,
God saue you.

Cha.
And you also Pamphilus.
I was a comming to you, with desire
To craue hope, helpe, health, counsell at your hands.

Pam.
Troth I haue neither place for counsell left,
Nor meanes to helpe: but what's the matter man?

Cha.
Are you to day to marrie?

Pam.
So they say.

Cha.
If you doe Pamphilus, I can assure you,
This is the last day you shall euer see me.

Pam.
How so?

Cha.
I shame to tell it, Byrrhia prithee
Declare the matter to him.

Byr.
Yes, I will.

Pam.
What is it?

Byr.
Sir, he loues your wife that shall be.

Pam.
Troth he and I are of two seuerall mindes:
I can assure thee. Prithee hearken hither
Charinus; ha'st not had to doe with her
More, then thy man here talkes of.

Cha.
Pamphilus,
No o'my troth.

Pam.
Oh, how I wish thou haddest.

Cha.
Now I intreat thee by our friendship, loue;
First that you would not marrie her at all.

Pam.
Ile (what I can) auoid it.

Cha.
If't full so,
You cannot shun it, or doe else affect it—

Pam.
Affect it?

Cha.
Yet deferre it of awhile,
That I may void hence somewhere, and not see't.

Pam.
Charinus, now heare me. I doe not think't
At any time a part of honestie,
When one deserues nought, to expect for thankes.
Ide rather shun this match then thou obtain't.

Cha.
You put new life into me.

Pam.
If thou canst now,
Or this this thy man here; worke, inuent, fashion,
Take all the course you can to make her thine:
I will finde meanes, that mine she shall not be.

Enter Dauus.
Cha.
I haue enough.

Pam.
And in good time I see
Dauus, whose counsell I rely vpon.

Cha.
But thou dull head canst nothing cast about
Worth knowing. Can you leaue vs?

Byr.
Yes, and gladly.
Exit Byrrhia.