 | The Andrian |  |
SCENE I.
CHREMES, SIMO.Chremes.
Enough already, Simo, and enough
I've shewn my friendship for you; hazarded
Enough of peril: urge me then no more!
Wishing to please you, I had near destroy'd
My daughter's peace and happiness for ever.
Simo.
Ah, Chremes, I must now intreat the more,
More urge you to confirm the promis'd boon.
Chremes.
Mark, how unjust you are thro' wilfulness!
So you obtain what you demand, you set
No bounds to my compliance, nor consider
What you request; for if you did consider,
You'd cease to load me with these injuries.
Simo.
What injuries?
Chremes.
Is that a question now?
Have you not driven me to plight my child
To one possest with other love, averse
To marriage; to expose her to divorce,
And crazy nuptials; by her woe and bane
85
You had prevail'd; I travell'd in the match,
While circumstances would admit; but now
The case is chang'd, content you:—It is said,
That she's a citizen; a child is born:
Prithee excuse us!
Simo.
Now, for heaven's sake,
Believe not Them, whose interest it is
To make him vile and abject as themselves.
These stories are all feign'd, concerted all,
To break the match: when the occasion's past,
That urges them to this, they will desist.
Chremes.
Oh, you mistake: E'en now I saw the maid
Wrangling with Davus.
Simo.
Artifice! mere trick.
Chremes.
Ay, but in earnest; and when neither knew
That I was there.
Simo.
It may be so: and Davus
Told me before-hand they'd attempt all this;
Though I, I know not how, forgot to tell you.
| The Andrian | |