 | The Andrian Woman |  |
Scen. 4.
Enter Crito and Pamphilus.Crit.
Cease to intreat.
Each of the reasons you haue vs'd, perswade me
To your request: either your owne selfe cause,
Or for it is a truth, or cause I wish
All furtherance vnto Glycerium.
Chr.
Doe I not see Crito of Andros there?
Tis he. Crito you are here well met:
You haue bin long a stranger here: what chance
Hath brought you now to Athens.
Crit.
An occasion.
But is this Simo?
Chr.
Yes.
Sim.
Aske you for me?
D'yee heare sir, is it you that doe affirme
Glycerium to be free borne of Athens?
Crit.
Are you one, doe denie it?
Sim.
Is't eene so?
Come you so well prepared too?
Crit.
Wherefore?
Sim.
Doost thou vse question? thinkst thou to escape
Fairely thus of with't? seekest thou to worke on
The easie natures of vnguided youth,
Peruerting our well nurtur'd children?
Winning their hearts with fawning promises.
And this, in Athens.
Crit.
Are you in your wits?
Sim.
And harlot-loues knit'st vp in marriage?
Chr.
If you knew this man Simo thoroughly,
You would not iudge so: he is an honest man.
46
An honest man; to come iumpe in th'instant
Of closing hands, and nere seene here before?
Chremes, may such a man be credited?
Pam.
If I not doubted to displease my father
I easily could prompt him to that point.
Sim.
Cauelling sycophant—
Crit.
How?
Chr.
Forbeare Crito;
It is his temper.
Crit.
Let him regard his temper:
If he will vent his pleasure vpon me
He shall be forc'd to heare what will displease him.
Trouble I his matters? or yet care for 'hem?
Cannot you beare your owne ils patiently?
For my part, it may instantly be knowne
Whether 't be false or true, you heard me say
A certaine man of Athens, now long since
Shiprackt at sea, was cast on Andros Isle;
And with him this Glycerium, then a childe:
He being poore had harbour at the house
Of Chrysis father.
Sim.
He begins a tale.
Chr.
Pray giue him leaue.
Crit.
Does he disturbe me thus?
He that entertaind him was my kinsman:
Of him I then heard, that this shipwrack'd man
Was an Athenian.
Chr.
Pray, what was his name?
Crit.
His name so sodainly? Pha—Pha-nia.
Chr.
Oh, my heart!
Crit.
Yes sure, I thinke twas Phania.
This I well know, he nam'd himselfe of Ramnos.
Chr.
O Iupiter!
Crit.
A many moe in Andros
Then heard it.
Chr.
I beseech the Gods, it proue
According to my hopes: but pray you Crito,
What said he of the childe, that twas his owne?
Crit.
No.
Chr.
Whose then?
Crit.
The daughter of his brother.
Chr.
Tis certainly mine owne.
Crit.
What doe you say?
47
What say you?
Pam.
Pamphilus giue heed to this.
Sim.
Why thinke you so?
Chr.
That Phania was my brother.
Sim.
I knew him well, and know that he was so.
Chr.
He flying hence to auoid the rage of warre,
Trauaild toward Asia in pursuit of me;
And feard withall to leaue the childe behinde:
Since whence, now I heare the first newes of him.
Pam.
I scarcely feele my selfe: my mind's so tost
Twixt feare, and hope, and ioy, and wondring,
At this so great, so sodaine happinesse.
Sim.
In truth I much reioyce, she is sound yours.
Pam.
I doe beleeue you father.
Chr.
But there rests
One scruple yet, which somewhat troubles me.
Pa.
You are worthy now of hate, with these your scruples
Crit.
What is't?
Chr.
The name agrees not.
Crit.
She had sure
Another being young.
Chr.
What was it Crito?
Canst thou remember?
Crit.
I am thinking on't.
Pam.
Shall I permit his tardie memorie
To slacken my ioyes current, being able
Herein to giue my selfe a remedie?
No, I will not: harke you hither Chremes;
The name you doubt of is Pasibula.
Crit.
That's it.
Chr.
Tis right.
Pam.
I heard it of her selfe
At least a thousand times.
Sim.
I beleeue Chremes,
You thinke we all ioy at it.
Chr.
As may the Gods
Assist me, I doe thinke so.
Pam.
What rests father?
Sim.
The case it selfe now reconcileth vs.
Pam.
Oh my most louing father: and you Chremes
Change nothing in the wife I now possesse?
Chr.
The cause is iust, your father so agreeing.
Pam.
Thus much—
Sim.
Yea marrie—
Chr.
Her dowre Pamphilus I make ten talents.
48
I accept of it.
Chr.
Ile forthwith see my daughter: Crito, pray
Goe with me; for I thinke she knowes me not.
Sim.
Why cause you not your wife be brought to vs?
Pam.
You warne me well, Ile eene giue Dauus charg ont.
Sim.
He cannot now effect it.
Pam.
Pray why so?
Sim.
Has more and greater charge vpon himselfe.
Pam.
What?
Sim.
Hee's bound.
Pam.
Hee's not bound rightly father.
Sim.
No; I did will him be bound otherwise.
Pam.
Pray order he be loosd.
Sim.
Well, be it so.
Pam.
But good sir, haste.
Sim.
Ile in and see it done.
Exit Simo.
Pam.
Oh happie, oh this prosperous blessed day.
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