University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Enter AGORASTOCLES and MILPHIO.
Ago.
Say'st thou then Milphio, Syncerastus told thee
That these two girls are neither of them slaves;
But free; of noble birth; and stolen from Carthage?

Mil.
Yes, I affirm it—And I add this likewise,
If you had spirit, you would claim them both
As free—Troth! 'tis a baseness in you,
To suffer your own countrywomen here
Before your eyes to be pent up, and treated
As slaves, meer slaves, who once, at home were free—

Han.
[apart.]
These mens discourse is musick to my heart.
My ears devour their words; and every syllable
Chears up my mind, and kindles hope anew.

Ago.
[to Milphio.]
Had I but evidence of this, your project
Should instantly be put in practice—

Mil.
Evidence!
What tell you me of evidence?—Insist
Most strenuously upon it—Unknown good fortune
Will come and aid your purpose—

Ago.
This attempt
May be indeed begun with ease; but not
Brought to the wish'd event so easily—

Mil.
But see! what is that creature, who comes forward
In his long robes?—Returns he from the baths,
[seeing Hanno, and his servants.]
Thus muffled in his cloak? A Carthaginian
To read him by his countenance—And with him
He has, you see, some antiquated slaves—

Ago.
How know you that?

Mil.
They're loaded with his baggage.
They have, it seems, no fingers on their hands.

Ago.
Whence comes that idle fancy?

Mil.
Why, they carry
Their rings upon their ears—I'll e'en accost them,
And speak to them in Punic—If they answer,
I'll chatter on in Punic—But if not,
My tongue shall speak some language they are us'd to.
But what say you?—Have you forgot your Punic?

Ago.
I have—How could I otherwise—No phrase
Do I remember of it—When stolen from Carthage,
I was but six years old—

Han.
[apart.]
How many children
Free born, are stolen from Carthage in this manner!

Mil.
What say you, Sir?

Ago.
What is't you ask?

Mil.
Inform me,
Is it your will I speak to him in Punic?

Ago.
Do'st understand it?

Mil.
Understand it?—Yes,
As well as any Punic of them all.

Ago.
Go, and accost him then—Enquire his purpose,
Why he comes hither—Who he is—What countryman,
And whence?—Spare not, but sift him thoroughly.

Mil.
God save you!—What's your country?—From what town?

Han.
I'm Hanno, son of Mythymbal, from Carthage.

Ago.
What answers he?—

Mil.
He says his name is Hanno,
The son of Mythymbal, and comes from Carthage—

Han.
All hail to both—

Mil.
He hails us both—

Han.
My masters.

Mil.
Sure 'tis some gift he means to offer you.
You hear him promise.

Ago.
In my name again
Return his compliment, and bid him welcome.

Mil.
In his own name, my master bids you welcome.

Han.
Oh! what a son of tears!

Mil.
That be thy portion;
But leave it not to me.

Ago.
What is't he says?

Mil.
He says his jaws are very painful, Sir—
Perhaps he may mistake us for physicians.

Ago.
If that be his opinion, undeceive him
This instant—Tell him we are not—A stranger
Should never be deceiv'd—

Mil.
We are no doctors—

Ago.
In troth, I would assist him all I may,
And aid his purpose—Ask, if I can serve him?

Mil.
You there, who wear no girdle—For what cause,
Why come you to this city?—What's your business?

Han.
Open your doors—

Ago.
What says he?—

Han.
Give to Saturn
A welcome entrance, I intreat—

Ago.
What asks he?

Mil.
Why, hear you not he talks of mice from Africa,
To be presented at the Ædile games,
To publick view?

Han.
The messenger, who asks
A safe abode, and kind endurance here—

Ago.
Well, my interpreter, what says he now?

Mil.
He tells us, he has bought some petty wares,
Shoe-straps and water-pipes, and nuts to part with:
And now he begs you'd help him in the sale.

Ago.
Sure he's some merchant then!—

Han.
Us strangers here—

Ago.
What? How?—

Han.
Admit at once in hospitable guise—

Ago.
Interpret, Milphio, what is it he says?

Mil.
He tells you he has spades and forks for sale,
For garden use, and sickles for our corn.
I fancy he comes here against your harvest.

Ago.
What is all this to me?

Mil.
'Tis my intent
You should be well inform'd of all his traffick,
Lest you should fancy I conceal one syllable.

Han.
'Tis on your deities, before invok'd,
On their account—

Mil.
Hem!—Be not over hasty
To traffick with him—

Ago.
What is it he says?
What's his request?—Explain it—

Mil.
He beseeches
To end his misery, you would place him under
A hurdle; and heap stones enough upon it,
To kill him quite, and finish all his sorrows.

Han.
Answer, O Baal! great lord of heaven and earth!

Ago.
What! How!—Interpret to me what he says.

Mil.
Why here indeed, I'm puzzled quite, and know not
A single word he utters.—

Han.
You shall not long
Be puzzled, I assure you—For henceforth
I'll speak in Latin plainly, and inform you
I know your knavery—'Tis not the sign
Of a good faithful servant, thus to sneer,
And spend your wit on an unhappy stranger.

Mil.
I know you well, a sycophant, a cheat,
Come hither with your jargon to deceive us—
A crawling serpent with your forked tongue—

Ago.
Forbear ill language, Milphio, curb your tongue,
If wise, henceforth you will forbear reproaches,
Or you shall smart severely—I'll not suffer you
Thus to abuse my countryman—Remember
That I myself to Carthage owe my birth—

Han.
My countryman, all hail!—

Ago.
All hail again
I cordially return, whoe'er you are.
If I in ought can serve you, speak, command me,
And take my service for the sake of Carthage—

Han.
With my best thanks your kindness I receive.
I think, I have a friend to entertain me—
I'm seeking now for Agorastocles,
Antidamas's son—Direct me to him,
If he be known to you—Are you acquainted
With such a youth as Agorastocles?

Ago.
Son by adoption to Antidamas,!
Antidamas, whose father was Damarchus!
If you enquire for him, the very person
Stands talking with you now—Myself am he.

Han.
Good heaven! What is't I hear?—

Ago.
You hear that I'm
Antidamas's son—

Han.
If this be so,
Compare my hospitable ticket.—Here,
Look at it: I have brought it with me; see—

Ago.
Pray let me see it then—Exactly true!
It tallies well with that I have at home—

[looking at it.]
Han.
Most worthy host, all hail! Your father formerly—
Once, formerly, your father was my guest—
This hospitable token from Antidamas
Did I receive at parting—

[shewing it.]
Ago.
In return,
As he was yours, so you shall be my guest.
I bid you doubly welcome, as from Carthage
My native place—

Han.
Heaven give you all you wish!
But say?—By what strange fate, if born at Carthage,
Did an Ætolian take you for his son?

Ago.
From Carthage I was stol'n—Antidamas
Your former guest, first purchas'd me a slave,
And for his son at length adopted me.

Han.
Antidamas was by Demarchus too
Adopted.—But no more of him—To you
I must confine my questions—Pray inform me,
Remember you your parents' names?

Ago.
The names
Of both I do remember perfectly.

Han.
Repeat them instantly—Perhaps I knew them.
They might perhaps be also of my kindred—

Ago.
My mother's was Ampsigura—My father's
Jachon—

Han.
O would that they were living now!

Ago.
Are they both dead?

Han.
Both, to my grief unutterable.
Ampsigura, your mother, was my kinswoman,
My cousin-german—And your father Jachon
My uncle's son—Dying, he left me heir
To his estate—His loss I bear most heavily.
But if you be indeed the son of Jachon,
On your left hand there is a scar—A monkey
Bit you, a boy, as you was playing with him.
Shew me your open hand, and let me view it.

Ago.
See then—'Tis there—All hail! my dearest kinsman.

Han.
All hail! again to Agorastocles—
In finding thee, I seem to live anew.

Mil.
In troth, it pleases me that things fall out
So happily for both—Shall I advise
A word or two?—

Han.
Most willingly—You may.

Mil.
The father's fortune then of right is his,
And 'tis but justice that his son should be
His father's heir, and take his whole estate—

Han.
I mean no other—All shall be restor'd—
I will diminish nothing, when he comes
To Carthage—

Mil.
Nay, restore it, tho' he should
Continue to live here.

Han.
He shall have mine
Beside, whene'er I die—

Mil.
A lucky thought
Just comes across me—

Han.
What is't?—

Mil.
We shall need
Your helping hand.—

Han.
Speak, and explain yourself.
My best assistance you may use most freely.—
What is the business?—

Mil.
Could you play a part?

Han.
Yes, on an enemy—To cheat a friend
Were meer absurdity—

Mil.
A foe to him,
[pointing to Agorastocles.]
He is undoubtedly—

Han.
With all my heart,
I'll do him an ill turn—

Mil.
My master, here
Fancies a girl this pandar has in keeping.

Han.
Discretely, sure!—

Mil.
This pandar lives hard by.

Han.
Does he?—Most willingly I'll play upon him.

Mil.
He has at home two girls; two sisters are they,
He keeps for traffick—One of these my master
Is desperately in love with—But has never
Once touch'd her—

Han.
An unhappy passion!

Mil.
Now
This pandar plays on him—

Han.
To enhance his merchandize.

Mil.
My master here would cheat him in his turn.

Han.
He's right, if he can do it—

Mil.
This contrivance
Is labouring in my brain—The plan is thus—
My plot must turn upon you—We shall cite you
To vouch them your two daughters, and both free—
That they were stolen from Carthage, and re-claim them.
You fully comprehend it?—

Han.
But too well.
Two daughters of my own, were stol'n like them,
When little children, with their nurse.

Mil.
Most happily
You make a parallel—We set out finely—

Han.
A parallel more perfect than I wish it.

[aside, weeping.]
Mil.
[aside.]
Alas!—In troth, we've got a subtle mortal,
[to Agorastocles.]
A wily, cunning, tricking, artful knave:
See how he whimpers!—Every gesture shews
An able actor—Why, he tops e'en me,
The very architect of fraud—

Han.
Their nurse—
Explain to me her person—

Mil.
Not o'er tall.
Dusky her hue.

Han.
Ay, ay, the very same,
No doubt—

Mil.
Her form agreeable—
Her mouth is small, her eyes as black as jet.

Han.
Her very form you have describ'd exactly.

Mil.
Choose you to see her?—

Han.
I would rather choose
To see my daughters—But go thou and call her.—
If they're indeed my daughters, she their nurse,
She'll know me instantly—

Mil.
Within!—Who's there?
Tell Giddeneme to come forth directly—
Here's one has business of importance with her—