 | The Step-Mother |  |
SCENE IX.
Enter PHIDIPPUS and a Nurse.Phid.
to the Nurse.]
Nay, you shall want for nothing at my house;
I'll give you all that's needful in abundance.
But when you've eat and drank your fill yourself,
Take care to satisfy the infant too.
Lach.
I see the father of Philumena
Coming this way. He brings the child a nurse.
—Phidippus, Bacchis swears most solemnly—
Phid.
Is this she?
Lach.
Ay.
Phid.
They never mind the Gods,
Nor do I think the Gods mind them.
Bacc.
Here are
My waiting-women: take them, and extort
By any kind of torment the truth from them.
—Our present business is, I take it, this:
That I should win the wife of Pamphilus
To return home; which so I but effect,
I sha'n't regret the fame of having done
Lach.
Phidippus, we've discover'd that in fact
We both suspected our wives wrongfully.
Let's now try Her: for if your wife perceives
Her own suspicions also are unjust,
She'll drop her anger. If my son's offended,
Because his wife conceal'd her labour from him,
That's but a trifle; he'll be soon appeas'd.
—And truly I see nothing in this matter,
That need occasion a divorce.
Phid.
Fore heav'n,
I wish that all may end well.
Lach.
Here she is:
Examine her; she'll give you satisfaction.
Phid.
What needs all this to Me? You know my mind
Already, Laches: do but make Them easy.
Lach.
Bacchis, be sure you keep your promise with me.
Bacc.
Shall I go in then for that purpose?
Ay,
Go in; remove their doubts, and satisfy them.
Bacc.
I will; altho' I'm very sure my presence
Will be unwelcome to them; for a wife,
When parted from her husband, to a mistress
Is a sure enemy.
Lach.
They'll be your friends,
When once they know the reason of your coming.
Phid.
Ay, ay, they'll be your friends, I promise you,
When they once learn your errand; for you'll free
Them from mistake, Yourself from all suspicion.
Bacc.
I'm cover'd with confusion. I'm asham'd
To see Philumena.— [to her women.]
You two, in after me.
[Exeunt Phid. Bacc. &c.
LACHES
alone.
What is there that could please me more than This,
That Bacchis, without any loss, should gain
For if she really has withdrawn herself
From Pamphilus, it will increase, she knows,
Her reputation, interest, and honour;
Since by this generous act she will at once
Oblige my son, and make us all her friends.
[Exit.
Terence, by his uncommon art, has attempted many innovations with great success. In this comedy he introduces, contrary to received prejudices, a good Step-Mother, and an honest courtezan; but at the same time he so carefully assigns their motives of action, that by him alone every thing seems reconcilable to truth and nature; for this is just the opposite of what he mentions in another place, as the common privilege of all poets, “to paint good matrons, and wicked courtezans.” Donatus.
It is not unlikely that the method of bringing about the discovery by means of Bacchis going into the family, gave Sir Richard Steele the hint of sending Sealand to Indiana's lodgings for the same purpose. When we are professedly imitating one part of an author, we naturally enough make use of other passages in his works; and what inclines me the more to this conjecture, is that Steele makes exactly the same use of the Bracelet, that Terence does of the Ring, though the presence of Isabella rendered it not so necessary. Such an inconsistency might very possibly proceed from imitation.
| The Step-Mother | |