University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

Enter CALLICLES, his MAID, and SURA, bound.
Cal.
[to his maid.]
Speak I to you ill language?—Or to you?
[to Sura.
Bear I a mind malicious?—Both of you
In my opinion, have well nigh experienc'd
How gentle and how mild a man I am.
For when you both were scourg'd, and both examin'd,
I recollect, and know how every thing
You then confess'd—Now, here I fain would see,
If without torture, you will own the same.
But mind, I plainly tell you both beforehand,
Tho' of the serpent kind you are, beware
You speak not different language, lest for aye
I stop your double tongues; unless you chuse
To go to those will make the lashes smack
Upon your backs—

Maid.
I must perforce confess
The truth, the thongs so wring and gall my arms.

Cal.
Confess the truth, and you shall be unbound.

Din.
[aside.]
I know not what to make of this affair;
I only know I'm in a horrid fright.

Maid.
I'm yet to learn what crime I have committed.

Cal.
Stand first of all apart—Thus I, observe,
Would have it—Mark, and use no signs between you.
I'll be a screen—Speak you—

[to his maid.
Maid.
What shall I say?

Cal.
Say what's done with my daughter's child, my grandson?
Tell me from first to last.

Maid.
I gave it her—

[meaning Sura.
Cal.
Now hold your tongue—You took the child then from her?

[to Sura.
Sur.
I did.

Cal.
Well, peace! I stand on nothing else.
You have confess'd enough—

Sur.
I shan't deny it.

Cal.
By this you've made a plaister for your back.
As yet they both agree in what they say.

Din.
[aside.]
Wretch that I am, my wicked deeds are now
Disclos'd, which I have hop'd would ne'er have come
To light—

Cal.
Do you speak now: [to the maid.]
Who bid you give
The child to her?—

Maid.
'Twas my old mistress, Sir.

Cal.
Now what say you? [to Sura.]
Why did you take it of her?

Sur.
Why, my young mistress beg'd I would procure
A child, and keep the whole a secret, Sir.

Cal.
Speak you again—What did you with the child?

Sur.
Why, I convey'd it to my mistress strait.

Cal.
Well, what did she with't?

Sur.
She to my mistress
Directly gave it—

Cal.
To what mistress, carrion?

Sur.
I have two mistresses—

Cal.
Mind what you say.
Answer to what I say; my questions only.

Sur.
Why then I say, the mother, my old mistress,
The infant gave directly to her daughter.

Cal.
You did not say so much just now.

Sur.
Nor did
You ask so much—

Cal.
Come, answer me more speedily.
Now, she who had the child, what did she with it?

Sur.
She made it pass for—

Cal.
Whose?

Sur.
For her own child.

Cal.
For her own child! good Heaven! with what a deal
More ease, a stranger bears a child, than does
The real mother! Here is one has brought
A child into the world, and felt no pain.
A happy child indeed, and doubly blest,
Since it two mothers, and two grandams has.
I fear it has more fathers too, than one.
See, see the wicked ways of women!

Maid.
Troth
This fraud had more of man than woman in it.
It was a man, and not a woman got
The child—

Cal.
Ay, I know that as well as you.
You've been a trusty guardian—

Maid.
Why, the weakest
Goes always to the wall—He was a man—
Was strong, and conquer'd—What he ask'd, he took—

Cal.
And brought you into misery.

Maid.
You need not
Tell me the thing I know, by sad experience.

Cal.
Cannot I make you tell me, who's the father?

Maid.
I've kept it secret hitherto—But now
It all must out—For since he's present here,
I must perforce declare it—

Din.
[aside.]
I am petrified.
Wretch that I am! I dare not stir—'Tis all
Discover'd now; I'm trying for my life.
It was my folly, my foul deed: I fear
She'll name me soon—

Cal.
Tell me, who was't debauch'd
My virgin daughter?

Maid.
Why, I see him by you.

Cal.
Hussy! who is't?

Maid.
He who supports the wall.

Din.
I'm nor alive, nor dead—Nor do I know
What I've to do—How shall I face him? How
Get off?—I'm stupified with fear—

Cal.
Well, will you
Tell me, or no?

Maid.
Dinarchus; he, to whom
You had before espous'd her—

Cal.
And where is he?

Din.
Here, I am, Callicles: and by these knees
Adjure you, that what I with folly did,
You would with wisdom bear, and pardon me—
Wine was the cause; reason had lost her sway.

Cal.
I like not this—You throw the blame on that
Which can say nothing; for, could wine but speak,
Wine would defend its cause—'Tis not for wine
To guide and rule men's conduct—Wine is but
The slave of virtuous men; and, the debauch'd,
Whether they drink, or whether they abstain,
Will be debauch'd—The fault is in their hearts.

Din.
Many reproaches I must hear, I'm sensible,
Which I would not—I own besides, I have
Offended you—I'm privy to the crime.

Maid.
I beg you would not injure any, Callicles—
While the defendant pleads his cause at large,
You keep the witnesses in bonds—

Cal.
Unbind them.
There, get you gone— [to the maid.]
Do you go home—And you
[to Sura.
The same; and tell your mistress to restore
The child where 'tis demanded—As to you,
Dinarchus, you must go before the Prætor.

Din.
Why summon me before the magistrate?
Yourself shall be the judge—And, Callicles,
I beg you would consent that I may marry her.

Cal.
By Pollux! I perceive how you had judg'd
The thing, yet would not stay for my consent,
But serv'd yourself—As you have caught her, take her—
I'll fine your folly tho'—I shall deduct
For that, six Attic talents from her fortune.

Din.
You treat me kindly—

Cal.
You had best demand
Your son, and, soon as possible, take home
Your wife—I'll strait return my kinsman's messenger,
And let him know, he must look out his son
Some other match—

[Exit.
Din.
I'll claim my child, for fear
She should deny it—But that can't be, for she
Had openly declar'd the whole to me,
And of her own accord—By Pollux! see,
Most luckily she's coming—On my word
She has a long sting to wound my heart from thence.