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The Self-Tormentor

Colman, George (1732-1794)
  
THE SELF-TORMENTOR,
  
[note]
  
[dedication]
  
[castlist]
  
[section]
  
PROLOGUE.

expand section1. 
ACT I.
expand section2. 
ACT II.
expand section3. 
ACT III.
collapse section4. 
ACT IV.
 1. 
SCENE I.
 2. 
SCENE II.
 3. 
SCENE III.
 4. 
SCENE IV.
 5. 
SCENE V.
 6. 
SCENE VI.
 7. 
SCENE VII.
 8. 
SCENE VIII.
 9. 
SCENE IX.
expand section5. 
ACT V.

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SCENE III.

Enter BACCHIS, PHRYGIA, &c. at another Part of the Stage.
Bacch.
Upon my life,
This Syrus with his golden promises
Has fool'd me hither charmingly! Ten Minæ
He gave me full assurance of: but if
He now deceives me, come whene'er he will,
Canting and fawning to allure me hither,
It shall be all in vain; I will not stir.
Or when I have agreed, and fix'd a time,
284

Of which he shall have giv'n his master notice,
And Clitipho is all agog with hope,
I'll fairly jilt them both, and not come near them;
And master Syrus' back shall smart for it.

Clin.
She promises you very fair.

Syrus.
D'ye think
She jests? She'll do it, if I don't take heed.

Bacch.
They sleep: i'faith, I'll rouse them. Hark ye, Phrygia,
Did'st note the villa of Charinus, which
That fellow just now shew'd us?

[aloud.
Phry.
I did, Madam.

Bacch.
The next house on the right hand.

[aloud.
Phry.
I remember.

Bacch.
Run thither quickly: for the Captain spends
The Dionysia there.

[aloud.
Syrus,
behind.]
What means she now?

Bacch.
Tell him I'm here; and sore against my will,
Detain'd by force: but that I'll find some means
To slip away and come to him.

[aloud.
Syrus.
Confusion!—
[comes forward.
285

Stay, Bacchis, Bacchis! where d'ye send that girl?
Bid her stop!

Bacch.
Go!

[to Phrygia.
Syrus.
The money's ready.

Bacch.
Then
I stay.

[Phrygia returns.
Syrus.
This instant you shall have it, Bacchis.

Bacch.
When you please; I don't press you.

Syrus.
But d'ye know
What you're to do?

Bacch.
Why, what?

Syrus.
You must go over,
You and your equipage, to Menedemus.

Bacch.
What are you at now, sauce-box?

Syrus.
Coining money,
For your use, Bacchis.

Bacch.
Do you think to play
Your jests on me?

Syrus.
No; this is downright earnest.

Bacch.
Are You the person I'm to deal with?

Syrus.
No.
But there I'll pay the money.

Bacch.
Let us go then!

Syrus.
Follow her there.—Ho, Dromo!

 

Dormiunt; ego pol istos commovebo. Hedelin interprets these words literally; but surely nothing can be more plain, from the whole tenor of the scene, than that they are merely metaphorical, as Menage justly argues.

Villam Charini. This passage alone is a sufficient proof that the feast of Bacchis, mentioned in this play, was the Dionysia in the fields; and consequently that the scene is not laid in Athens, but in the country. Dacier.

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