Читать книгу The Comedies of Terence - Terence - Страница 14

Enter Davus hastily.

Davus. Good Heav’ns, what news I bring! what joyful news!

But where shall I find Pamphilus, to drive

His fears away, and make him full of joy?

Char. There’s something pleases him.

Pam. No matter what.

He has not heard of our ill fortune yet.

Davus. And he, I warrant, if he has been told

Of his intended wedding——

Char. Do you hear?

Davus. Poor soul, is running all about the town

In quest of me. But whither shall I go?

Or which way run?

Char. Why don’t you speak to him?

Davus. I’ll go.

Pam. Ho! Davus! Stop, come here!

Davus. Who calls?

O, Pamphilus! the very man.—Heyday!

Charinus too!—Both gentlemen, well met!

I’ve news for both.

Pam. I’m ruin’d, Davus.

Davus. Hear me!

Pam. Undone!

Davus. I know your fears.

Char. My life’s at stake.

Davus. Yours I know also.

Pam. Matrimony mine.

Davus. I know it.

Pam. But to-day.

Davus. You stun me; plague!

I tell you I know ev’ry thing: you fear (To Charinus.)

You should not marry her.—You fear you should. (To Pam.)

Char. The very thing.

Pam. The same.

Davus. And yet that same

Is nothing. Mark!

Pam. Nay, rid me of my fear.

Davus. I will then. Chremes don’t intend his daughter

Shall marry you to-day.

Pam. No! How d’ye know?

Davus. I will then. Chremes

Won’t give his daughter to you.

Pam. How d’ye know?

Davus. I’m sure of it. Your Father but just now

Takes me aside, and tells me ’twas his will

That you should wed to-day; with much beside,

Which now I have not leisure to repeat.

I, on the instant, hastening to find you,

Run to the Forum to inform you of it:

There, failing, climb an eminence, look round:

No Pamphilus: I light by chance on Byrrhia;

Inquire; he hadn’t seen you. Vex’d at heart,

What’s to be done? thought I. Returning thence

A doubt arose within me. Ha! bad cheer,

The old man melancholy, and a wedding

Clapp’d up so suddenly! This don’t agree.

Pam. Well, what then?

Davus. I betook me instantly

To Chremes’ house; but thither when I came,

Before the door all hush. This tickled me.

Pam. You’re in the right. Proceed.

Davus. I watch’d a while:

Meantime no soul went in, no soul came out;

No matron; in the house no ornament;

No note of preparation. I approach’d,

Look’d in——

Pam. I understand: a potent sign!

Davus. Does this seem like a nuptial?

Pam. I think not,

Davus.

Davus. Think not, d’ye say? you don’t conceive:

The thing is evident. I met beside,

As I departed thence, with Chremes’ boy,

Bearing some pot-herbs, and a pennyworth

Of little fishes for the old man’s dinner.

Char. I am deliver’d, Davus, by your means,

From all my apprehensions of to-day.

Davus. And yet you are undone.

Char. How so? Since Chremes

Will not consent to give Philumena

To Pamphilus.

Davus. Ridiculous! As if,

Because the daughter is denied to him,

She must of course wed you. Look to it well;

Court the old Gentleman through friends, apply,

Or else——

Char. You’re right: I will about it straight,

Although that hope has often fail’d. Farewell.

Exit.