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175
SCENE II.
Enter PHÆDROMUS and PLANESIUM.Pla.
My Phædromus,
Make haste.
Phæ.
Why so?
Pla.
Why, lest your parasite
Escape you. The affair's of consequence.
Phæ.
I've no affairs but what I've seen an end of.
Pla.
Lay hold of him.
Phæ.
Why so?
Pla.
Ask where he had
That ring. My father wore it on his finger.
Cur.
So did my aunt.
Pla.
My mother gave it him
To wear—
Cur.
And so your father, he transferr'd it
To you—
Pla.
You trifle—
Cur.
So I'm us'd to do—
'Tis my vocation, and my livelihood—
But what's the matter?
Pla.
Would you hinder me
From finding out my parents?
Cur.
What, d'you think
I've here conceal'd your father and your mother
Within this ring?
Pla.
I'm a free woman born.
176
And so were many others, who're now slaves.
Pla.
Upon my word, I'm angry.
Cur.
I have told you,
And truly, how the ring came to my hands.
How oft must I repeat the same? I tell you,
I trick'd a captain, of the ring at dice.
Enter THERAPONTIGONUS.
The.
So! safe's the word! See there the man I'm seeking.
How now! good Sir!
Cur.
I hear you—Will you bet
Your uniform on three casts of the dice?
The.
Go to the gibbet with your casts and dice.
Return the money, or the girl.
Phæ.
What money?
What foolish stuff you talk? What girl d'you mean?
The.
Scoundrel, the girl you have brought off to-day
From the procurer.
Phæ.
I! I've brought off none.
The.
Surely I see her there!
[pointing to Plan.
Phæ.
This maiden's free.
The.
My servant free, when I ne'er made her so?
Phæ.
Who sold her to you? Where did'st buy her? Say.
The.
I paid the money for her, by my banker;
Which I will have return'd to me four-fold
By you and the procurer.
177
You who buy
Maids stoln and free—I cite you 'fore the judge—
The.
I shall not go.
Phæ.
Do you think I can't have witnesses?
The.
No—
Phæ.
Jove confound thee! May'st thou live intestate.
Cur.
And I can be a witness, I!—
Phæ.
Come hither.
[to Cur.
The.
A slave a witness!—Take care what you're doing—
Cur.
Well, since you needs must know it, I am free.
The.
Come then before the judge. But first, take that.
[striking him.
Cur.
Help, help me, fellow-citizens!
The.
Why bawl so?
Phæ.
What right have you to strike him?
The.
'Tis my will.
[to Cur.
Phæ.
Come nearer to me— [to Cur.]
There—I'll yield him up—
[to The.
Now say no more.
Cur.
O save me, Phædromus!
Phæ.
Yes, as I would myself, and my good genius.
I ask you, captain, where you had that ring,
This parasite filch'd from you?
Pla.
By these knees,
I beg you, satisfy us.
The.
What's that to you?
You might as well ask, Whence this vest, this sword—
178
What blust'ring airs the braggart gives himself?
The.
Send but that fellow off, I'll tell you all.
Cur.
All he will say, is nothing to the purpose.
Pla.
Sir, I beseech you, satisfy my doubts.
The.
I'll tell you.—Rise—Now listen and attend.
This ring was once Periphanes' my father's.
Pla.
Periphanes!
The.
He, just before he died,
Gave it to me, his son, as right he should.
Pla.
O Jupiter!
The.
And then made me his heir.
Pla.
O filial love, as I have still preserv'd thee,
Preserve me now!—My brother, hail!
The.
How, how
Shall I believe? If what you say be true,
I prithee name your mother.
Pla.
'Twas Cleobula.
The.
Your nurse?—
Pla.
Archestrata. She carried me
Once through the feast of Bacchus, to the shew.
Scarce had they come, and plac'd me in my seat,
When a storm rose, that overset the scaffold.
179
A stranger bore me off, but half alive.
How, I can't say.
The.
You recollect this bustle!
Where is the man that carried you away?
Pla.
I know not; but have ever kept this ring,
Companion of my fate.
The.
Give me to see it.
Cur.
What! are you mad, to let him have the ring?
Pla.
Pray, give me leave.
The.
O Jupiter! the same
I sent you on your birth-day. Well I know it,
Well as I know myself.—My sister, hail!
Pla.
Hail, brother!
The.
May the Gods these wonders make
Blessings to both!—
Cur.
To all of us, I hope.
You, on your first arrival, having found
[to The.
A sister, ought for joy this night to feast us:
To-morrow night, he'll give the nuptial supper.
Phæ.
We promise.
The.
You be silent.
[to Cur.
Cur.
When things fadge,
I'll not be silent.—Soldier, you betroth her
Unto my master: and I'll give the dower.
Phæ.
What dower? You—
Cur.
That, long as I shall live,
I be her guest.
180
Rallying apart, by Hercules!
You shall be welcome. And this pandar here
Shall pay us thirty minæ.
Phæ.
On what score?
The.
Because he bound himself to me by promise;
If any man asserted her free born,
He wou'd, without a word, return the whole.
Phæ.
Then let us to this pandar's.
The.
'Tis agreed.
Phæ.
But, one thing first—and that regards me nearly.
The.
What's that?
Phæ.
That you betroth your sister to me.
Cur.
Why this delay, to give her him to wife?
The.
If she consent?
Pla.
'Tis my desire, my brother.
The.
Then be it so.
Cur.
That's well said.
Phæ.
Do you, captain,
Betroth this maid to be my wife?
The.
I do.
Cur.
And I engage to give you what I mention'd.
The.
Pleasant rogue!—But sure the pandar's here,
My cash-keeper in question's this way coming—
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