University of Virginia Library

ACT V.

SCENE I.

Enter LYSITELES.
I am the first of men, surpassing all
In pleasure and in joy, so happily
Does every thing befall me, that I wish:
Still one success is followed by another
In all I do, and transport seconds transport.
Young Lesbonicus' servant, Stasimus,
Met me just now, and told me, Charmides
His master was return'd here from abroad.
'Tis proper I should meet him with all speed,
That so the compact 'twixt his son and me
May by the father's sanction be confirm'd.
I'll go.—But hark, the door I hear is opening:—
This hindrance now is most unseasonable.

(Retires at a distance.

SCENE II.

Enter CHARMIDES and CALLICLES.
Charm.
I cannot think there is a man on earth,
Or ever was a man, or ever will be,
Whose faith and honest firmness to his friend
Can equal thine: had it not been for thee,
He had unhous'd me of my house and home.

Cal.
If I have serv'd my friend in any thing,
Or acted tow'rds him with fidelity,
I scarce can seem to merit any praise,
But think, I only have avoided blame.
Whatever we confer upon a friend
To have and hold for ever, is his own;
But what is only lent him for a time,
May be demanded back again at pleasure.

Charm.
'Tis as you say.—But now, my honest friend,
I cannot enough wonder, that my son
Should have betroth'd his sister in a family
So wealthy as Lysiteles' Philto's heir.

Lys.
(Behind)
My name he mentions.

Charm.
By my troth, the girl
Has got into the best of families.

Lys.
Why not address me to them?—Yet 'tis better
To wait awhile; for the discourse concerns me.

Charm.
Ah!

Cal.
What's the matter?

Charm.
I forgot indeed
To tell you, while we were within.—Just now,
On my arrival here, a certain knave
Accosted me, a very knave in grain.
He told me, he had brought a thousand pieces
For you and Lesbonicus, of my giving;—
Though who he is, I know not, nor did ever
See him before.—But wherefore do you laugh?

Cal.
He came by my direction, as from you
Bringing me sums of gold, for me to give
In dowry with your daughter; so your son
On the receipt might think it came from you;
Lest knowing of the truth, and that the treasure
Was lodg'd in my possession, by our laws
He might demand it as his patrimony.

Charm.
A rare conceit!

Cal.
Good Megaronides,
Our common friend, devis'd it.

Charm.
I approve,
Applaud his counsel.

Lys.
Wherefore do I stand,
Fool that I am, alone here, and afraid
To interrupt them in their conservation?
Why not about the business I purposed?—
I will accost them.

(Advances.
Charm.
Look you,—who is this
Coming towards us here?

Lys.
(Going up)
Lysiteles
Salutes his father-in-law, good Charmides.

Charm.
Heav'n grant you all you wish!

Cal.
And am not I
Worth a salute?

Lys.
Yes, save you, Callicles!—
But I must give him preference.—My coat,
Dear Sir, is nearer to me than my cloke.

Cal.
Heav'n prosper you in all that you design!

Charm.
My daughter is, I hear, betroth'd to you.

Lys.
If you object not.

Charm.
No, by no means I.

Lys.
Your daughter you betroth to me for wife then?

Charm.
I do betroth her, and will give withal
A thousand Philippeans for her portion.

Lys.
The portion I regard not.

Charm.
If you like
The maiden, you must like the portion too:
In short, you will not have the wife you want,
Except you take the portion which you want not.

Cal.
He asks but justice.

Lys.
And he shall prevail,
Since you're his advocate, and judge betwixt us.
On this condition then you do engage
To give your daughter to me for a wife?

Charm.
I do engage.

Cal.
I'll answer for it too.

Lys.
Dear kinsmen, health and happiness attend you!

Charm.
O Callicles! and yet there is a point,
In which I've reason to be angry with you.

Cal.
What have I done?

Charm.
My son!—you've suffer'd him
To be debauch'd.

Cal.
If wilfully 'twere done,
With my consent, you would have cause indeed
To be most angry with me.—But I pray you,
Let me obtain from you this one request,
Which I intreat.

Charm.
What is it?

Cal.
You shall know.
Whatever he has done imprudently,
Forget it all.—Why do you shake your head?

Charm.
I'm sorely vex'd at heart; and O! I fear—

Cal.
What do you mean?

Charm.
I'm vex'd that he should prove
Such as I would not have him,—and I fear,
Should I deny you your request, you'd think
I bore me slightingly towards you.—Come,
I'll not stand out, but do as you desire.

Cal.
Now thou'rt a right good fellow:—I will go,
And call him forth.

Charm.
'Tis hard you will not let me
Take vengeance on him, such as he deserves.

Cal.
Open the door there,—open quick,—call forth
Young Lesbonicus, if he be at home.—
The cause is sudden, wherefore I require
His presence here this instant.

SCENE III.

Enter LESBONICUS.
Les.
Who is it,
With boisterous voice calls on me to come forth
With speed here?

Cal.
A well-wisher, and a friend.

Les.
Tell me, is any thing amiss?

Cal.
All's right.—
I am rejoic'd, your father is return'd
In safety from abroad.

Les.
Who says so?

Cal.
I.

Les.
How! have you seen him?

Cal.
Yes,—and you yourself
May see him too.

(Pointing to Charmides.
Les.
(Going up)
My father! O my father!
Heav'n's blessings on you.

Charm.
And on you, my son!

Les.
Any mischance, good father?

Charm.
Never fear:
Nothing has happen'd: I am safe arriv'd;
And well have manag'd my affairs.—O son!
If you would but be prudent, Callicles
Has promis'd you his daughter.

Les.
Sir, I'll take her,
And whomsoever else you shall command.

Charm.
I could, I am so angry—

Cal.
Come,—one misery
For one man's full enough.—

Charm.
Nay, but for him
It is too little; were he for his sins
To wed an hundred wives, 'twere all too little.

Les.
But now henceforward I'll refrain myself
From wild and evil courses.

Charm.
So you say:
Would you but do't!

Les.
What hinders, but my wife
To-morrow I may bring home.

Charm.
It were best:
Then be it so. (To Lysiteles)
And you, Sir, be prepar'd
For marriage the day after.—Clap your hands.