 | The Discovery |  |
SCENE V.
Enter the MUSICK-GIRL.Mus. Girl.
Your pleasure, father: why am I call'd forth?
Per.
To see thy mother, child—Go, get thee to her,
And meet her with a kiss—
Mus. Girl.
What mother, Sir?
Per.
She there, that's dying for the sight of you.
Phi.
Who's this, you'd have to kiss me?
Per.
Who?—your daughter.
Phi.
Who?—This?—
Per.
The same.
Phi.
What! kiss this creature, say you?
164
And why not kiss her? Is she not your daughter?
Phi.
The man's distracted.
Per.
I, distracted?
Phi.
You.
Per.
Why so?
Phi.
Because I know not who she is;
Have no acquaintance with her, nor so much
As e'er set eyes on her, before this instant.
Per.
I see from whence arises your mistake;
She has chang'd her dress and put on other cloaths.
Phi.
Kittens and pigs smell very different,
I neither know this girl, nor whence she is.
Per.
Gods! how is this? what! do I keep a brothel
To harbour strangers, and maintain them there?
Why did you call me father, and why kiss me?
Why stand there like a block? Why speak'st thou not?
Mus. Girl.
What would you have me say?
Per.
This woman says,
She's not your mother.
Mus. Girl.
If she's not—why, be it so.
In spite of her, I'll be my mother's daughter.
It is not fair to force her to be such
Against her will.—
Per.
Why then did'st call me father?
165
The fault was yours, not mine—I never call'd
You father once, till you had call'd me daughter.
And should she call me so, I'd call her mother.
As she denies me, she's no more a mother—
No fault of mine—I said, as I was taught.
Epidicus was my instructor—
Per.
How!
Undone! undone!—I'm ruin'd horse and foot.
Mus. Girl.
Am I to blame?
Per.
If e'er you call me father,
By Hercules! your life shall answer for it.
Mus. Girl.
Well, I'll not call you father—when you please,
To be my father—so—when not—why, choose—
Phi.
What! did you buy her, thinking her your daughter?
What tokens had you to believe her such?
Per.
Troth, none at all.
Phi.
What was't then made you think so?
Per.
Epidicus my servant told me so.
Phi.
So, were your servant of another mind,
You knew her not yourself?
Per.
How should I know her,
That saw her but one time—and never after.
166
Wretch, that I am!
Per.
Weep not, I say, but in.—
Have a good heart. I'll find her out, I'll warrant.
Phi.
A citizen of Athens purchas'd her;
A young man too, they say.
Per.
Be you but satisfied,
I'll find her out. Mean time, go in, and watch
This Circe here, this daughter of the sun.
[Exit Philippa into the house.
All other business I'll at once postpone,
And go in search of this Epidicus:
Whom if I find, this day shall be his last.
[Exit.
| The Discovery | |