 | The Andrian |  |
SCENE VIII.
Enter CHREMES going towards Simo's.Chremes.
Having provided all things necessary,
I now return to bid them call the bride.
What's here? [seeing the child.]
by Hercules, a child! Ha, woman,
Was't you that laid it here?
Mysis.
Where is he gone?
[looking after Davus.
Chremes.
What, won't you answer me?
76
looking about.]
Not here: Ah me!
The fellow's gone, and left me in the lurch.
[Davus coming forward and pretending not to see them.
Davus.
Good heavens, what confusion at the Forum!
The people all disputing with each other!
The market-price is so confounded high.
[loud.
What to say else I know not.
[aside.
Mysis.
to Davus.]
What d'ye mean
[Chremes retires, and listens to their conversation.
By leaving me alone?
Davus.
What farce is this?
Ha, Mysis, whence this Child? Who brought it here?
Mysis.
Have you your wits, to ask me such a question?
Davus.
Whom should I ask, when no one else is here?
Chremes
behind.]
I wonder whence it comes.
[to himself.
Davus.
Wilt answer me?
[loud.
Mysis.
Ah!
[confused.
Davus.
This way to the right!
[apart to Mysis.
Mysis.
You're raving mad.
Was't not yourself?
Davus.
I charge you not a word,
But what I ask you.
[apart to Mysis.
Mysis.
Do you threaten me?
Davus.
Whence comes this child?
[loud.
77
From our house.
Davus.
Ha! ha! ha!
No wonder that a harlot has assurance.
Chremes.
This is the Andrian's servant-maid, I take it.
Davus.
Do we then seem to you such proper folks
To play these tricks upon?
[loud to Mys.
Chremes.
I came in time.
[to himself.
Dav.
Make haste, and take your bantling from our door.
[loud.
Hold! do not stir from where you are, besure.
[softly.
Mysis.
A plague upon you: you so terrify me!
Davus.
Wench, did I speak to you or no?
[loud.
Mysis.
What would you?
Davus.
What would I? Say, whose child have you laid here?
Tell me.
[loud.
Mysis.
You don't know?
Davus.
Plague of what I know:
Tell what I ask.
[softly.
Mysis.
Your's.
Davus.
Ours? Whose?
[loud.
Mysis.
Pamphilus's.
78
How say you? Pamphilus's?
[loud.
Mysis.
Why is't not?
Chremes.
I had good cause to be against this match.
[to himself.
Davus.
O monstrous impudence!
[bawling.
Mysis.
Why all this noise?
Davus.
Did not I see this child convey'd by stealth
Into your house last night?
Mysis.
Oh rogue!
Davus.
'Tis true.
I saw old Canthara stuff'd out?
Mysis.
Thank heav'n,
Some free-women were present at her labour?
Davus.
Troth, she don't know the gentleman, for whom
She plays this game. She thinks, should Chremes see
The Child laid here, he would not grant his daughter.
Faith, he would grant her the more willingly.
Chremes.
Not he indeed.
[to himself.
Davus.
But now, one word for all,
Take up the child; or I shall trundle him
Into the middle of the street, and roll
You, madam, in the mire.
Mysis.
The fellow's drunk.
79
One piece of knavery begets another:
Now, I am told, 'tis whisper'd all about,
That she's a citizen of Athens—
[loud.
Chremes.
How!
Davus.
And that by law he will be forc'd to wed her.
Mysis.
Why prithee is she not a citizen?
Chremes.
What a fine scrape was I within a hair
Of being drawn into!
[to himself.
Davus.
What voice is that?
[turning about.
Oh Chremes! you are come in time. Attend!
Chremes.
I have heard all already.
Davus.
You've heard all?
Chremes.
Yes, all, I say, from first to last.
Davus.
Indeed?
Good lack, what knaveries! This lying jade
Should be dragg'd hence to torture.—This is he!
[to Mys.
Think not 'twas Davus you imposed upon.
Mysis.
Ah me!—Good Sir, I spoke the truth indeed.
Chremes.
I know the whole.—Is Simo in the house?
Davus.
Yes Sir.
[Exit Chrem.
A nobis. Most of the Books read a VOBIS, but I am persuaded the other is the right reading. The fact is, the child really came from Glycerium's, and Davus's laughing at the impudence of Mysis in owning it, and the immediate observation of Chremes, that she was the Andrian's maid, is more agreeable to this sense. Besides the mention of the other family is reserved for the answers drawn from Mysis by Davus's asking her whose child it was.
| The Andrian | |