Andria; or, The Fair Andrian (660-691)

Why are you torturing me to death? Listen to this. He (pointing to DAVUS.) never ceased to urge me to tell my father that I would marry her; to advise and persuade me, even until he compelled me.

Who was this person?

Davus.

Davus!

For what reason?

I don’t know; except that I must have been under the displeasure of the Gods, for me to have listened to him.

Is this the fact, Davus?

It is the fact.

Ha! What do you say, you villain? Then may the Gods send you an end worthy of your deeds. Come now, tell me, if all his enemies had wished him to be plunged into a marriage, what advice but this could they have given?

I have been deceived, but I don’t despair.

I’m sure of that.

This way it has not succeeded; we’ll try another. Unless, perhaps, you think that because it failed at first, this misfortune can not now possibly be changed for better luck.

Certainly not; for I quite believe that if you set about it, you will be making two marriages for me out of one.

I owe you this, Pamphilus, in respect of my servitude, to strive with hands and feet, night and day; to submit to hazard of my life, to serve you. It is your part, if any thing has fallen out contrary to expectation, to forgive me. What I was contriving has not succeeded; still, I am using all endeavors;

or, do you yourself devise something better, and dismiss me.

I wish to; restore me to the position in which you found me.

I’ll do so.

But it must be done directly.

But the door of Glycerium’s house here makes a noise. [*]

That’s nothing to you.

I’m in search of—

Dear me, what, now at last?

Presently I’ll give you what I’ve hit upon.

Now, wherever he is, I’ll take care that your own Pamphilus shall be found for you, and brought to you by me; do you only, my life, cease to vex yourself.

Mysis.

Who is it? Why, Pamphilus, you do present yourself opportunely to me.

My mistress charged me to beg of you, if you love her, to come to her directly; she says she wishes to see you.

Alas! I am undone; this dilemma grows apace! (To DAVUS.) For me and her, unfortunate persons, now to be tortured this way through your means;

for I am sent for, because she has discovered that my marriage is in preparation.

From which, indeed, how easily a respite could have been obtained, if he (pointing to DAVUS.) had kept himself quiet.