 | The Andrian |  |
SCENE IV.
Pam.What means my Father then? why counterfeit?
Davus.
That I'll explain. If he were angry now,
Merely that Chremes has refus'd his Daughter,
He'd think himself in fault; and justly too,
But granting you refuse her for a Wife,
Then all the blame devolves on you, and then
Comes all the storm.
Pam.
What course then shall I take?
Shall I submit—
Davus.
He is your Father, Sir,
Whom to oppose were difficult; and then
Glycerium's a lone woman; and he'll find
Some course, no matter what, to drive her hence.
Pam.
To drive her hence?
Davus.
Directly.
Pam.
Tell me then,
Oh tell me, Davus, what were best to do?
Davus.
Say that you'll marry .
Pam.
How!
Davus.
And where's the harm?
Pam.
Say that I'll marry!
Why not?
Pam.
Never, never.
Davus.
Do not refuse!
Pam.
Persuade not!
Davus.
Do but mark
The consequence.
Pam.
Divorcement from Glycerium,
And marriage with the other.
Davus.
No such thing.
Your father, I suppose, accosts you thus.
I'd have you wed to-day;—I will, quoth you:
What reason has he to reproach you then?
Thus shall you baffle all his settled schemes,
And put him to confusion; all the while
Secure yourself: for 'tis beyond a doubt
That Chremes will refuse his daughter to you;
So obstinately too, you need not pause,
Or change these measures, lest he change his mind;
Say to your father then, that you will wed,
That, with the will, he may want cause to chide.
But if, deluded by fond hopes, you cry,
“No one will wed their daughter to a rake,
“A libertine.”—Alas, you're much deceiv'd.
For know, your father will redeem some wretch
Rather than see your ruin with Glycerium.
But if he thinks you bear an easy mind,
He too will grow indiff'rent, and seek out
Another match at leisure: the mean while
Affairs may take a lucky turn.
Pam.
D'ye think so?
Davus.
Beyond all doubt.
Pam.
See, what you lead me to.
Davus.
Nay, peace!
Pam.
I'll say so then. But have a care
He knows not of the child, which I've agreed
To educate.
Davus.
Oh confidence!
Pam.
She drew
This promise from me, as a firm assurance
That I would not forsake her.
Davus.
We'll take care.
But here's your father: let him not perceive
You're melancholy.
The reciprocal dissimulation between the Father and Son, in the Fable of this Comedy, is much better managed by our Author than by Sir Richard Steele. The efforts made by each party, in order to accomplish the favourite point, which they severally have in view, very naturally keeps all the characters in motion, and produces many affecting, and pleasant situations. There is too much uniformity in the adventures, as well as character of Bevil, for the vivacity of the Drama. His supposed consent to marry is followed by no consequences, and his honest dissimulation, as he himself calls it, is less reconcileable to the philosophical turn of his character, than to the natural sensibility of Pamphilus; besides that the dissimulation of the latter is palliated by his being almost involuntarily driven into it by the artful instigations of Davus.
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