Act IV, Scene VIII

Enter PALAESTRIO and PHILOCOMASIUM from the Captain's house.

PAL. (to PHILOCOMASIUM). Prithee, when will you this day make an end of your weeping?

PHIL. What can I do but weep? I am going away hence where I have spent my days most happily.

PAL. See, there's the man that has come from your mother and sister (pointing to PLEUSICLES).

PHIL. I see him.

PYRG. Palaestrio, do you hear?

PAL. What is your pleasure?

PYRG. Aren't you ordering those presents to be brought out which I gave her?

PLEUS. Health to you, Philocomasium.

PHIL. And health to you.

PLEUS. Your mother and sister bade me give their love to you.

PHIL. Heaven prosper them.

PLEUS. They beg you to set out, so that, while the wind is fair, they may set sail. But if your mother's eyes had been well, she would have come together with me.

PHIL. I'll go; although I do it with regret — duty compels me.

PLEUS. You act wisely.

PYRG. If she had not been passing her life with myself, this day she would have been a blockhead.

PHIL. I am distracted at this, that I am estranged from such a man. For you are able to make any woman whatever abound in wit; and because I was living with you, for that reason I was of a very lofty spirit. I see that I must lose that loftiness of mind. (Pretends to cry.)

PYRG. Don't weep.

PHIL. I can't help it when I look upon you.

PYRG. Be of good courage.

PHIL. I know what pain it is to me.

PAL. I really don't wonder now, Philocomasium, if you were here with happiness to yourself, when I, a servant — as I look at him, weep because we are parting (pretends to cry), so much have his beauty, his manners, his valour, captivated your feelings.

PHIL. Prithee, do let me embrace you before I depart?

PYRG. By all means.

PHIL. (embracing him). O my eyes! O my life!

PAL. Do hold up the woman, I entreat you, lest she should fall. (He takes hold of her, and she pretends to faint.)

PYRG. What means this?

PAL. Because, after she had quitted you, she suddenly became faint, poor thing.

PYRG. Run in and fetch some water.

PAL. I want no water; but I had rather you would keep at a distance. Prithee, don't you interfere till she comes to.

PYRG. (observing PLEUSICLES, who is holding PHILOCOMASIUM in his arm). They have their heads too closely in contact between them; I don't like it; he is soldering his lips to hers. What the plague are you about?

PLEUS. I was trying whether she was breathing or not.

PYRG. You ought to have applied your ear then.

PLEUS. If you had rather, I'll let her go.

PYRG. No, I don't care; do you support her.

PAL. To my misery, I'm quite distracted.

PYRG. Go and bring here from in-doors all the things that I have given her.

PAL. And even now, household God, do I salute thee before I depart; my fellow-servants, both male and female, all farewell, and happy may you live; prithee, though absent, among yourselves bestow your blessings upon me as well.

PYRG. Come, Palaestrio, be of good courage.

PAL. Alas! alas! I cannot but weep since from you I must depart.

PYRG. Bear it with patience.

PHIL. (feigning to recover). Ha! how's this? What means it? Hail, O light!

PLEUS. Are you recovered now?

PHIL. Prithee, what person am I embracing? I'm undone. Am I myself?

PLEUS. (in a low voice). Fear not, my delight.

PYRG. What means all this?

PAL. Just now she swooned away here. * * * * * I fear and dread that this at last may take place too openly.

PYRG. What is that you say?

PAL. I fear that some one may turn it to your discredit, while all these things are being carried after us through the city.

PYRG. I have given away my own property, and not theirs. I care but little for other people. Be off then, go with the blessing of the Gods.

PAL. 'Tis for your sake I say it.

PYRG. I believe you.

PAL. And now farewell!

PYRG. And heartily farewell to you!

PAL. (to PLEUSICLES and PHILOCOMASIUM as they leave). Go you quickly on; I'll overtake you directly; I wish to speak a few words with my master. (To PYRGOPOLINICES.) Although you have ever deemed others more faithful to yourself than me, still do I owe you many thanks for all things; and if such were your feelings, I would rather be a slave to you by far than be the freedman of another.

PYRG. Be of good courage.

PAL. Ah me! When it comes in my mind, how my manners must be changed, how womanish manners must be learnt, and the military ones forgotten!

PYRG. Take care and be honest.

PAL. I can be so no longer; I have lost all inclination.

PYRG. Go, follow them; don't linger.

PAL. Fare you right well.

PYRG. And heartily fare you well.

PAL. Prithee, do remember me; if perchance I should happen to be made free, I'll send the news to you; don't you forsake me.

PYRG. That is not my habit.

PAL. Consider every now and then how faithful I have been to you. If you do that, then at last you'll know who is honest towards you and who dishonest.

PYRG. I know it; I have often found that true, as well before as to-day in especial.

PAL. Do you know it? Aye, and this day I'll make you hereafter say still more how true it is.

PYRG. I can hardly refrain from bidding you to stay.

PAL. Take you care how you do that. They may say that you are a liar and not truthful, that you have no honor; they may say that no one of your slaves is trustworthy except myself. If, indeed, I thought you could do it with honor, I should advise you. But it cannot be; take care how you do so.

PYRG. Be off; I'll be content then, whatever happens.

PAL. Then, fare you well.

PYRG. 'Twere better you should go with a good heart.

PAL. Still, once more, farewell. (Exit.)

PYRG. Before this affair, I had always thought that he was a most rascally servant; still, I find that he is faithful to me. When I consider with myself, I have done unwisely in parting with him. I'll go hence at once now to my love here: the door, too, I perceive, makes a noise there.