 | The Andrian |  |
SCENE II.
Enter PAMPHILUS.Pam.
Charinus, save you!
Char.
Save you, Pamphilus!
Imploring comfort, safety, help, and counsel,
You see me now before you.
Pam.
I do lack
Myself both help and counsel—But what mean you?
Char.
Is this your Wedding-day?
Pam.
Ay, so they say.
Char.
Ah, Pamphilus, if so, this day
You see the last of me.
Pam.
How so?
Char.
Ah me!
I dare not speak it: prithee tell him, Byrrhia.
Byr.
Ay, that I will.
Pam.
What is't?
34
He is in Love
With your Bride, Sir .
Pam.
I faith so am not I.
Tell me, Charinus, has ought further past
'Twixt you and her?
Char.
Ah, no, no.
Pam.
Wou'd there had!
Char.
Now by our friendship, by my love, I beg
You wou'd not marry her.—
Pam.
I will endeavour.
Char.
If that's impossible, or if this match
Be grateful to your heart—
Pam.
My heart!
Char.
At least
Defer it some few days; while I depart
That I may not behold it.
Pam.
Hear, Charinus;
It is, I think, scarce honesty in him
To look for thanks, who means no favour. I
Abhor this marriage, more than you desire it.
Char.
You have reviv'd me.
35
Now if you, or He,
Your Byrrhia here, can do or think of aught;
Act, plot, devise, invent, strive all you can
To make her your's; and I'll do all I can
That She may not be mine.
Char.
Enough.
Pam.
I see
Davus, and in good time: for He'll advise
What's best to do.
Char.
But you, you sorry Rogue, [to Byrrhia.
Can give me no advice, nor tell me aught,
But what it is impertinent to know.
Hence, Sirrah, get you gone!
Byr.
With all my heart.
[Exit.
Sponsam hic tuam amat. We have no word exactly answering the sense of Sponsam in this place. The familiar French expression of La Future comes pretty near it. It is, however, I hope, an allowable liberty in familiar conversation to speak of the Lady by the name of the Bride on her wedding-day, though before the performance of the ceremony.
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