Читать книгу The Comedies of Terence - Terence - Страница 35

Chremes. Having provided all things necessary.

I now return to bid them call the bride.

What’s here? (seeing the child) by Hercules, a child! Ha, woman,

Was’t you that laid it here?

Mysis. Where is he gone? (Looking after Davus.)

Chremes. What, won’t you answer me?

Mysis. (Looking about.) Not here: Ah me!

The fellow’s gone, and left me in the lurch.

Davus coming forward and pretending not to see them.

Davus. Good Heavens, what confusion at the Forum!

The people all disputing with each other!

The market-price is so confounded high. (Loud.)

What to say else I know not. (Aside.)

Mysis (to Davus). What d’ye mean,

Chremes retires and listens to their conversation.

By leaving me alone?

Davus. What farce is this?

Ha, Mysis, whence this child? Who brought it here?

Mysis. Have you your wits, to ask me such a question?

Davus. Whom should I ask, when no one else is here?

Chremes (behind). I wonder whence it comes. (To himself.)

Davus. Wilt answer me! (Loud.)

Mysis. Ah! (Confused.)

Davus. This way to the right! (Apart to Mysis.)

Mysis. You’re raving mad.

Was ’t not yourself!

Davus. I charge you not a word,

But what I ask you. (Apart to Mysis.)

Mysis. Do you threaten me?

Davus. Whence comes this child? (Loud.)

Mysis. From our house.

Davus. Ha! ha! ha!

No wonder that a harlot has assurance.

Chremes. This is the Andrian’s servant-maid, I take it.

Davus. Do we then seem to you such proper folks

To play these tricks upon? (Loud to Mysis.)

Chremes. I came in time. (To himself.)

Davus. Make haste, and take your bantling from our door. (Loud.)

Hold! do not stir from where you are, be sure. (Softly.)

Mysis. A plague upon you: you so terrify me!

Davus. Wench, did I speak to you or no? (Loud.)

Mysis. What would you?

Davus. What would I? Say, whose child have you laid here?

Tell me. (Loud.)

Mysis. You don’t know?

Davus. Plague of what I know:

Tell what I ask. (Softly.)

Mysis. Yours.

Davus. Ours? Whose? (Loud.)

Mysis. Pamphilus’s.

Davus. How say you? Pamphilus’s? (Loud.)

Mysis. To be sure.

Mysis. Why is ’t not?

Chremes. I had good cause to be against this match. (To himself.)

Davus. O monstrous impudence! (Bawling.)

Mysis. Why all this noise?

Davus. Did not I see this child convey’d by stealth

Into your house last night?

Mysis. Oh rogue!

Davus. ’Tis true.

I saw old Canthara stuff’d out?

Mysis. Thank Heav’n,

Some free-women were present at her labor?

Davus. Troth, she don’t know the gentleman, for whom

She plays this game. She thinks, should Chremes see

The child laid here, he would not grant his daughter.

Faith, he would grant her the more willingly.

Chremes. Not he indeed. (To himself.)

Davus. But now, one word for all,

Take up the child; or I shall trundle him

Into the middle of the street, and roll

You, madam, in the mire.

Mysis. The fellow’s drunk.

Davus. One piece of knavery begets another:

Now, I am told, ’tis whisper’d all about,

That she’s a citizen of Athens—(Loud.)

Chremes. How!

Davus. And that by law he will be forc’d to wed her.

Mysis. Why prithee is she not a citizen?

Chremes. What a fine scrape was I within a hair

Of being drawn into! (To himself.)

Davus. What voice is that? (Turning about.)

Oh Chremes! you are come in time. Attend!

Chremes. I have heard all already.

Davus. You’ve heard all?

Chremes. Yes all, I say, from first to last.

Davus. Indeed?

Good lack, what knaveries! this lying jade

Should be dragg’d hence to torture.—This is he! (To Mysis.)

Think not ’twas Davus you impos’d upon.

Mysis. Ah me!—Good Sir, I spoke the truth indeed.

Chremes. I know the whole.—Is Simo in the house?

Davus. Yes, Sir.

Exit Chremes.