Andria; or, The Fair Andrian (517-565)

What do you say to this? When you perceived that they were adopting this plan, why didn’t you tell Pamphilus immediately?

Why, who has induced him to leave her, but myself? For, indeed, we all

know how desperately he loved her. Now he wishes for a wife. In fine, do you intrust me with that affair; proceed however, as before, to celebrate these nuptials, just as you are doing, and I trust that the Gods will prosper this matter.

Very well; be off in-doors; wait for me there, and get ready what’s necessary to be prepared. (DAVUS goes into the house.) He hasn’t prevailed upon me even now altogether to believe these things,

and I don’t know whether what he has said is all true; but I deem it of little moment; this is of far greater importance to me—that my son himself has promised me. Now I’ll go and find Chremes; I’ll ask him for a wife for my son; if I obtain my request, at what other time rather than to-day should I prefer these nuptials taking place?

For as my son has promised, I have no doubt but that if he should prove unwilling, I can fairly compel him. And look! here’s Chremes himself, just at the very time.

I greet you, Chremes.

O, you are the very person I was looking for.

And I for you.

You meet me at a welcome moment. Some persons have been to me, to say that they had heard from you, that my daughter

was to be married to your son to-day; I’ve come to see whether they are out of their senses or you.

Listen; in a few words you shall learn both what I want of you, and what you seek to know.

I am listening; say what you wish.

By the Gods, I do entreat you, Chremes, and by our friendship, which, commencing with our infancy, has grown up with our years,

and by your only daughter and by my own son (of preserving whom the entire power lies with you), that you will assist me in this matter; and that, just as this marriage was about to be celebrated, it may be celebrated.

O, don’t importune me; as though you needed to obtain this of me by entreaty.

Do you suppose I am different now from what I was formerly, when I promised her? If it is for the advantage of them both that it should take place, order her to be sent for. But if from this course there would result more harm than advantage for each, this I do beg of you, that you will consult for their common good, as though she were your own daughter, and I the father of Pamphilus.

Nay, so I intend, and so I wish it to be, Chremes; and I would not ask it of you, did not the occasion itself require it.

What is the matter?

There is a quarrel between Glycerium and my son.

I hear you.

So munch so, that I’m in hopes they may be separated.

Nonsense!

It really is so.

After this fashion, i’faith, I tell you,

the quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.

Well—this I beg of you, that we may prevent it. While an opportunity offers, and while his passion is cooled by affronts, before the wiles of these women and their tears, craftily feigned,

bring back his love-sick mind to compassion, let us give him a wife. I trust, Chremes, that, when attached by intimacy and a respectable marriage, he will easily extricate himself from these evils.

So it appears to you; but I do not think [*] that either he can possibly hold to her with constancy, or that I can put up with it if he does not.

How then can you be sure of that, unless you make the experiment?