Читать книгу The Comedies of Terence - Terence - Страница 11

Pamphilus, Mysis behind.

Pam. Is this well done? or like a man?—Is this

The action of a father?

Mysis. What’s the matter?

Pam. Oh all ye pow’rs of heav’n and earth, what’s wrong

If this is not so?—If he was determin’d

That I to-day should marry, should I not

Have had some previous notice?—ought not he

To have inform’d me of it long ago?

Mysis. Alas! what’s this I hear?

Pam. And Chremes too,

Who had refus’d to trust me with his daughter,

Changes his mind, because I change not mine.

Can he then be so obstinately bent

To tear me from Glycerium? To lose her

Is losing life.—Was ever man so cross’d,

So curs’d as I?—Oh pow’rs of heav’n and earth!

Can I by no means fly from this alliance

With Chremes’ family?—so oft contemn’d

And held in scorn!—all done, concluded all!——

Rejected, then recall’d:—and why?—unless,

For so I must suspect, they breed some monster,

Whom as they can obtrude on no one else,

They bring to me.

Mysis. Alas, alas! this speech

Has struck me almost dead with fear.

Pam. And then

My father!—what to say of him?—Oh shame!

A thing of so much consequence to treat

So negligently!—For but even now

Passing me in the forum, “Pamphilus!

To-day’s your wedding-day, said he: prepare;

Go, get you home!”—This sounded in my ears

As if he said, “go, hang yourself!”—I stood

Confounded. Think you I could speak one word?

Or offer an excuse, how weak soe’er?

No, I was dumb:—and had I been aware,

Should any ask what I’d have done, I would,

Rather than this, do any thing.—But now

What to resolve upon?—So many cares

Entangle me at once, and rend my mind,

Pulling it diff’rent ways. My love, compassion,

This urgent match, my rev’rence for my father,

Who yet has ever been so gentle to me,

And held so slack a rein upon my pleasures.

—And I oppose him?—Racking thought!—Ah me!

I know not what to do.

Mysis. Alas, I fear

Where this uncertainty will end. ’Twere best

He should confer with her; or I at least

Speak touching her to him. For while the mind

Hangs in suspense, a trifle turns the scale.

Pam. Who’s there? what, Mysis! Save you!

Mysis. Save you! Sir. (Coming forward.)

Pam. How does she?

Mysis. How! oppress’d with wretchedness.

To-day supremely wretched, as to-day

Was formerly appointed for your wedding.

And then she fears lest you desert her.

Pam. I!

Desert her? Can I think on’t? or deceive

A wretched maid! who trusted to my care

Her life and honor. Her whom I have held

Near to my heart, and cherish’d as my wife?

Or leave her modest and well nurtur’d mind

Through want to be corrupted? Never, never.

Mysis. No doubt, did it depend on you alone;

But if constrain’d——

Pam. D’ye think me then so vile?

Or so ungrateful, so inhuman, savage,

Neither long intercourse, nor love, nor shame,

Can move my soul, or make me keep my faith?

Can make me keep my faith?

Mysis. I only know, my mistress well deserves

You should remember her.

Pam. Remember her?

Oh Mysis, Mysis! even at this hour,

Mysis. I only know

That she deserves you should remember her.

Pam. I should remember her? Oh, Mysis, Mysis!

The words of Chrysis touching my Glycerium

Are written in my heart. On her death-bed

She call’d me. I approach’d her. You retir’d.

We were alone; and Chrysis thus began:

“My Pamphilus, you see the youth and beauty

Of this unhappy maid: and well you know,

These are but feeble guardians to preserve

Her fortune or her fame. By this right hand

I do beseech you, by your better angel,

By your tried faith, by her forlorn condition,

I do conjure you, put her not away,

Nor leave her to distress. If I have ever,

As my own brother, lov’d you; or if she

Has ever held you dear ’bove all the world,

And ever shown obedience to your will——

I do bequeath you to her as a husband,

Friend, Guardian, Father: all our little wealth

To you I leave, and trust it to your care.”——

She join’d our hands, and died.—I did receive her,

And once receiv’d will keep her.

Mysis. So we trust.

Pam. What make you from her?

Mysis. Going for a midwife.

Pam. Haste then! and hark, be sure take special heed,

You mention not a word about the marriage,

Lest this too give her pain.

Mysis. I understand.