 | The Step-Mother |  |
SCENE VIII.
Enter BACCHIS attended by her Women.Bacc.
to herself.]
'Tis not for nothing Laches wants to see me;
And, or I'm much deceiv'd, I guess the cause.
Lach.
to himself.]
I must take care my anger don't transport me
Beyond the bounds of prudence, which may hinder
My gaining my design on her, and urge me
To do what I may afterwards repent.
495
Save you, Bacchis!
Bacc.
Save you, Laches!
Lach.
Bacchis, I do not doubt but you're surpriz'd
That I should send the boy to call you forth.
Bacc.
Ay, and I'm fearful too, when I reflect
Both who and what I am: lest my vocation
Should prejudice me in your good opinion.
My conduct I can fully justify.
Lach.
If you speak truth, you're in no danger, woman.
For I'm arriv'd at that age, when a trespass
Would not be easily forgiven in me.
Wherefore I study to proceed with caution,
And to do nothing rashly. If you act,
And will continue to act honestly,
It were ungenerous to do you wrong,
And seeing you deserve it not, unjust.
Bacc.
Truly, this conduct asks my highest thanks;
For he who does the wrong, and then asks pardon,
Makes but a sorry reparation for it.
But what's your pleasure?
Lach.
You receive the visits
Of my son Pamphilus—
Bacc.
Ah!—
Lach.
Let me speak.
496
—Stay! I've not finish'd all I have to say.—
He is now married. You then, while 'tis time,
Seek out another, and more constant friend.
For he will not be fond of you for ever,
Nor you, good faith, for ever in your bloom.
Bacc.
Who tells you that I still receive the visits
Of Pamphilus?
Lach.
His step-mother.
Bacc.
I?
Lach.
You.
And therefore has withdrawn her daughter: therefore
Meant secretly to kill the new-born child.
Bacc.
Did I know any thing, to gain your credit,
More sacred than an oath, I'd use it, Laches,
In solemn protestation to assure you,
That I have had no commerce with your son,
Since he was married.
Lach.
Good girl! But d'ye know
497
Bacc.
Inform me.
Lach.
Go to the women here, and offer them
The same oath. Satisfy their minds, and clear
Yourself from all reproach in this.
Bacc.
I'll do't.
Altho' I'm sure no other of my calling
Would shew herself before a married woman
Upon the same occasion.—But it hurts me
To see your son suspected on false grounds;
And that to those, who owe him better thoughts,
His conduct should seem light. For he deserves
All my best offices.
Lach.
Your conversation has much wrought upon me,
Gain'd my good-will, and alter'd my opinion.
For not the women only thought thus of you,
But I believ'd it too. Now therefore since
I've found you better than my expectation,
Prove still the same, and make my friendship sure.
If otherwise—But I'll contain myself. I'll not
Say any thing severe.—But I advise you,
Rather experience what a friend I am,
Than what an enemy.
Bacc.
I'll do my best.
Me segregatum habuisse, uxorem ut duxit, a me Pamphilum. How shall we reconcile this solemn protestation of Bacchis to a passage in the first act?
Ph.Quid interea! ibatne ad Bacchidem?
Par.
Cotidie.
Phi.
But tell me;
Went he meanwhile to Bacchis?
Par.
Every day.
Are we to suppose that Bacchis, who behaves so candidly in every other instance, wantonly perjures herself in this? or that the Poet, by a kind of infatuation strangely attending him in this Comedy, flatly contradicts himself?
| The Step-Mother | |