 | The Self-Tormentor |  |
SCENE I.
SYRUSalone.
My mind misgives me, my defeat is nigh.
This unexpected incident has driven
My forces into such a narrow pass,
I cannot even handsomely retreat
Without some feint, to hinder our old man
From seeing that this wench is Clitipho's.
As for the money, and the trick I dreamt of,
Those hopes are flown, and I shall hold it triumph,
So I but 'scape a scouring.—Cursed Fortune,
To have so delicate a morsel snatch'd
Out of my very jaws!—What shall I do?
—Nothing so difficult, but may be won
By industry.—Suppose, I try it thus.
[thinking.
—'Twill never do.—Or thus?—No better still.
But thus I think.—No, no.—Yes, excellent!
Courage! I have it.—Good!—Good!—Best of all!—
—'Faith, I begin to hope to lay fast hold
Of that same slipp'ry money after all.
Madam Dacier, and most of the later criticks who have implicitly followed her, tell us that, in the interval between the third and fourth acts, Syrus has been present at the interview between Chremes and Antiphila within. The only difficulty in this doctrine is how to reconcile to it the apparent ignorance of Syrus, which he discovers at the entrance of Clinia. But this objection, says she, is easily answered. Syrus having partly heard Antiphila's story, and finding things take an unfavourable turn, retires to consider what is best to be done. But surely this is a most unnatural impatience at so critical a juncture: and after all, would it not be better to take up the matter just where Terence has left it, and to suppose that Syrus knew nothing more of the affair than what might be collected from the late conversation between Chremes and Sostrata, at which we know he was present; and which at once accounts for his apprehensions, which he betrayed even during that scene, as well as for his imperfect knowledge of the real state of the case, till apprized of the whole by Clinia?
| The Self-Tormentor | |