The Andrian :: :: University of Virginia Library

Enter DAVUS hastily.
Davus.
Good Heav'ns, what news I bring! what joyful news!
But where shall I find Pamphilus, to drive
His fears away, and make him full of Joy?

Char.
There's something pleases him.

Pam.
No matter what.
He has not heard of our ill fortune yet.

Davus.
And He, I warrant, if he has been told
Of his intended Wedding—

Char.
Do you hear?

Davus.
Poor Soul, is running all about the Town
In quest of me. But whither shall I go?
Or which way run?

Char.
Why don't you speak to him?

Davus.
I'll go.

Pam.
Ho! Davus! Stop, come here!

Davus.
Who calls?
O, Pamphilus! the very man.—Heyday!
Charinus too!—Both gentlemen, well met!
I've news for both.

Pam.
I'm ruin'd, Davus.

Davus.
Hear me!

Pam.
Undone!

Davus.
I know your fears.

Char.
My life's at stake.

Davus.
Your's I know also.

Pam.
Matrimony mine.

Davus.
I know it.

Pam.
But to-day.

Davus.
You stun me; Plague!
I tell you I know ev'ry thing: You fear [to Charinus.

You shou'd not marry her.—You fear you shou'd. [to Pam.

Char.
The very thing.

Pam.
The same.

Davus.
And yet that same
Is nothing. Mark!

Pam.
Nay, rid me of my fear.

Davus.
I will then. Chremes
Won't give his daughter to you.

Pam.
How d'ye know?

Davus.
I'm sure of it. Your Father but just now
Takes me aside, and tells me 'twas his will,
That you shou'd wed to-day; with much beside,
Which now I have not leisure to repeat.
I, on the instant, hastening to find you,
Run to the Forum to inform you of it:
There, failing, climb an eminence, look round:
No Pamphilus: I light by chance on Byrrhia;
Enquire; he hadn't seen you. Vext at heart,
What's to be done; thought I. Returning thence

A doubt arose within me. Ha! bad cheer,
The old man melancholy, and a wedding
Clapt up so suddenly! This don't agree.

Pam.
Well, what then?

Davus.
I betook me instantly
To Chremes' house; but thither when I came,
Before the door all hush. This tickled me.

Pam.
You're in the right. Proceed.

Davus.
I watch'd awhile:
Mean time no soul went in, no soul came out;
No Matron; in the house no ornament;
No note of preparation. I approach'd,
Look'd in—

Pam.
I understand: a potent sign!

Davus.
Does this seem like a nuptial?

Pam.
I think not,
Davus.

Davus.
Think not, d'ye say? you don't conceive:
The thing is evident. I met beside,
As I departed thence, with Chremes' boy,

Bearing some potherbs, and a pennyworth
Of little fishes for the old man's dinner.

Char.
I am deliver'd, Davus, by your means,
From all my apprehensions of to-day.

Davus.
And yet you are undone.

Char.
How so? since Chremes
Will not consent to give Philumena
To Pamphilus.

Davus.
Ridiculous! As if,
Because the daughter is denied to him,
She must of course wed you. Look to it well;
Court the old Gentleman thro' friends, apply,
Or else—

Char.
You're right: I will about it strait,
Altho' that hope has often fail'd. Farewell.

[Exit.

Rogo, negat vidisse. Wonderful brevity, and worthy imitation.

Donatus.

Whoever remembers this Speech, as well as many other little narrations, in the original, will readily concur with the Critick; but whether the imitation recommended is very practicable, or capable of equal elegance in our language, the reader may partly determine from the present and other translations.

Terence has not put this remark into the mouth of Davus without foundation. The House of the Bride was always full, and before the Street-door were Musicians, and those who waited to accompany the Bride. Dacier.

Married women, neighbours, and relations; whose business it was to attend the Lady, whose name (Pronuba) as well as office was much the same as that of the modern Bride-maid.

Obolo. The Obolus, says Donatus, was a coin of the lowest value. Cooke tells us that the precise worth of it was one penny, farthing, one sixth.