Читать книгу The Comedies of Terence - Terence - Страница 29

To him Pamphilus and Davus.

Pam. Oh, Charinus,

By my imprudence, unless Heav’n forefend,

I’ve ruin’d both myself and you.

Char. Imprudence!

Paltry evasion! you have broke your faith.

Pam. What now?

Char. And do you think that words like these

Can baffle me again?

Pam. What means all this?

Char. Soon as I told you of my passion for her,

Then she had charms for you.——Ah, senseless fool,

To judge your disposition by my own!

Pam. You are mistaken.

Char. Was your joy no joy,

Without abusing a fond lover’s mind,

Fool’d on with idle hopes?—Well, take her.

Pam. Take her?

Alas, you know not what a wretch I am:

How many cares this slave has brought upon me,

My rascal here.

Char. No wonder if he takes

Example from his master.

Pam. Ah, you know not

Me, or my love, or else you would not talk thus.

Char. Oh yes, I know it all. You had but now

A dreadful altercation with your father:

And therefore he’s enrag’d, nor could prevail

On you, forsooth, to wed. (Ironically.)

Pam. To show you then,

How little you conceive of my distress,

These nuptials were mere semblance, mock’ry all,

Nor was a wife intended me.

Char. I know it:

You are constrain’d, poor man, by inclination.

Pam. Nay, but have patience! you don’t know——

Char. I know

That you’re to marry her.

Pam. Why rack me thus?

Nay hear! he never ceas’d to importune

That I would tell my father, I would wed;

So press’d, and urg’d, that he at length prevail’d.

Char. Who did this?

Pam. Davus.

Char. Davus!

Pam. Davus all.

Char. Wherefore?

Pam. I know not: but I know the Gods

Meant in their anger I should listen to him.

Char. Is it so, Davus?

Davus. Even so.

Char. How, villain?

The Gods confound you for it!—Tell me, wretch

Had all his most inveterate foes desir’d

To throw him on this marriage, what advice

Could they have given else?

Davus. I am deceiv’d,

But not dishearten’d.

Char. True. (Ironically.)

Davus. This way has fail’d;

We’ll try another way: unless you think

Because the business has gone ill at first,

We can not graft advantage on misfortune.

Pam. Oh aye, I warrant you, if you look to ’t,

Out of one wedding you can work me two.

Davus. Pamphilus, ’tis my duty, as your slave,

To strive with might and main, by day and night

With hazard of my life, to do you service:

’Tis yours, if I am cross’d, to pardon me.

My undertakings fail indeed, but then

I spare no pains. Do better, if you can,

And send me packing.

Pam. Aye, with all my heart:

Place me but where you found me first.

Davus. I will.

Pam. But do it instantly.

Davus. Hist! hold a while:

I hear the creaking of Glycerium’s door.

Pam. Nothing to you.

Davus. I’m thinking.

Pam. What, at last?

Davus. Your business shall be done, and presently.