University of Virginia Library

SCENE VII.

Enter PALÆSTRIO and PHILOCOMASIUM.
PALÆSTRIO,
(To Phil.)
Pray, will you never make an end of weeping?

Phil.
How can I chuse but weep?—I'm going hence,
Where I have pass'd my days with so much pleasure.

Pal.
See you the man there, who is come to you
From your twin-sister and your mother?

Phil.
Ah,
I see him.

Pyrg.
Hearkye me, Palæstrio.

Pal.
What's
Your pleasure?

Pyrg.
You will order all her things
To be brought out.

Pleu.
Philocomasium,
Your servant.

Phil.
Your's.

Pleu.
Your mother and your sister
Bade me to give their love and blessing to you.

Phil.
Heav'ns bless them both!

Pleu.
They pray you to make haste,
That we may set sail, while the wind is fair:
Your mother, if her eyes had not been bad,
Had come along with me.

Phil.
I'll go then, though
'Tis with regret: but duty does compell me.

Pleu.
You're wise now.

Pyrg.
If she had not been with me,
She to this day had liv'd in ignorance.

Phil.
O it is torture this,—to be estrang'd
From such a man as you! for you can make
A woman all accomplish'd; and because
I liv'd with you, I had a lofty spirit:—
But now that greatness I shall lose for ever. (weeping.)


Pyrg.
She weeps excessively.

Phil.
I cannot help it,
While that I look upon you.

Pal.
Come,—take heart.—
Ah me! and I feel what afflicts me too.—
I nothing wonder, 'twas a pleasure to you
To live with him: his beauteous form, his manners,
His bravery have attach'd your soul unto him.—
I too, his servant, weep, when I look on him,
To think we shall be parted.

Phil.
I beseech you,
Let me embrace you once, before I go.

Pyrg.
I give permission.

Phil.
(Embracing him.)
O my eyes! my soul!

(Upon quitting him she seems ready to swoon.)
Pal.
(Taking hold of her.)
For heaven's sake support her, or she'll fall.

Pyrg.
Ha! what's the matter?

Pal.
Soon as she had left you,
Poor soul! she fell into a fit.

Pyrg.
(To his attendants.)
Run in,
And bring some water quick.

Pal.
I want no water.

Pyrg.
Why?

Pal.
I had rather—Don't you interpose,
(Stopping the Captain from going to Phil.)
I pray you, till her senses are restor'd.

Pyrg.
(Observing Pleu. who holds Phil. in his arms.)
They have their heads methinks too closely join'd:—
I like it not:—their lips seem glued together.

Pleu.
How sharp is her disorder!—I was trying,
Whether she breath'd or not.

Pyrg.
He should have put
His ear then to her mouth.

Pleu.
(To Pyrg.)
If you had rather,
I'll leave them both.

Pyrg.
No.— (To Pal.)
Let him take you with him.

Pal.
Ah me! I cannot chuse but weep.

Pyrg.
(To the servants within.)
Bring out
The things, that I have giv'n her.

Pal.
Houshold God!
I now salute you, ere I do depart:—
My fellow-servants, male and female, all
Farewell! may happiness and health attend you!
And let me have your pray'rs, though absent from you.

Pyrg.
Come, come, be of good heart, Palæstrio.

Pal.
Oh,
I cannot chuse but weep, since I must leave you.

Pyrg.
Bear it with patience.

Pal.
O too well I know
What cause I have to grieve.

Phil.
(Seeming to recover.)
Ha! how is this?—
Who are these people?—what do I behold?—
Hail, light!

Pleu.
Are you recover'd?

Phil.
I beseech you,
What man is't I embrace?—I'm lost,—I'm gone—
Am I myself?

Pleu.
(In a low voice.)
Fear nothing, my delight.

Pyrg.
What's all this?

Pal.
Oh, Sir, she had lost her senses.
(Aside)
I fear, our plot will be at length discover'd.

Pyrg.
What say'st thou?

Pal.
That will turn to your discredit,
When they shall see us through the city bear
This load of luggage.

Pyrg.
Of my own I've given,
Not theirs:—I care not what they say:—Away then,
Go—and the favour of the Gods attend you!

Pal.
'Tis for your sake I speak it.

Pyrg.
I believe thee.

Pal.
Farewell!

Pyrg.
Farewell to thee!

Pal.
(To Pleu. and Phil.)
Haste on before,—
I'll overtake you presently:—I've yet
A word or two to say unto my master.

[Pleusides and Philocomasium go off.