Act II, Scene III

Enter DAVUS in haste.

DAV. (not seeing PAMPHILUS and CHARINUS.) Ye gracious Gods, what good news I bring! But where shall I find Pamphilus, that I may remove the apprehension in which he now is, and fill his mind with joy--?

CHAR. (apart to PAMPHILUS.) He’s rejoiced about something, I don’t know what.

PAM. (apart.) It’s of no consequence; he hasn’t yet heard of these misfortunes.

DAV. (to himself.) For I do believe now, if he has already heard that a marriage is prepared for him--

CHAR. (apart.) Don’t you hear him?

DAV. (to himself.) He is seeking me distractedly all the city over. But where shall I look for him? Or in which direction now first to betake me--

CHAR. (apart to PAMPHILUS.) Do you hesitate to accost him?

DAV. (to himself.) I have it. (Moving on.)

PAM. Davus, come here! Stop!

DAV. Who’s the person that’s-- (Turning round.) O Pamphilus, you are the very man I’m looking for. Well done, Charinus! both in the nick of time: I want you both.

CHAR. Davus, I’m undone!

DAV. Nay but, do hear this.

PAM. I’m utterly ruined!

DAV. I know what you are afraid of.

CHAR. I’faith, my life indeed is really in danger.

DAV. (to CHARINUS.) And what you are afraid of, I know.

PAM. My marriage--

DAV. As if I did not know it?

PAM. This day--

DAV. Why keep dinning me with it, when I know it all? (To PAMPHILUS.) This are you afraid of, lest you should marry her; and you (to CHARINUS,) lest you should not marry her.

CHAR. You understand the matter.

PAM. That’s the very thing.

DAV. And that very thing is in no danger; trust me for that.

PAM. I do entreat you, release wretched me as soon as possible from this apprehension.

DAV. Well, then, I will release you; Chremes is not going to give you his daughter at present.

PAM. How do you know?

DAV. You shall know. Your father just now laid hold of me; he said that a wife was to be given you to-day, and many other things as well, which just now I haven’t time to relate. Hastening to you immediately, I ran on to the Forum that I might tell you these things. When I didn’t find you, I ascended there to a high place. I looked around; you were nowhere. There by chance I saw Byrrhia, his servant (pointing to CHARINUS). I inquired of him; he said he hadn’t seen you. This puzzled me. I considered what I was to do. As I was returning in the mean time, a surmise from the circumstances themselves occurred to me: “How now,-- a very small amount of good cheer; he out of spirits; a marriage all of a sudden; these things don’t agree.”

PAM. But to what purpose this?

DAV. I forthwith betook myself to the house of Chremes. When I arrived there-- stillness before the door; then I was pleased at that.

CHAR. You say well.

PAM. Proceed.

DAV. I stopped there. In the mean time I saw no one going in, no one going out; no matron at the house, no preparation, no bustle. I drew near; looked in--

PAM. I understand; a considerable indication.

DAV. Do these things seem to accord with a wedding?

PAM. I think not, Davus.

DAV. Think, do you say? You don’t view it rightly; the thing is certain. Besides, coming away from there I saw the servant-boy of Chremes carrying some vegetables and little fishes, an obol’s worth, for the old man’s dinner.

CHAR. This day, Davus, have I been delivered by your means.

DAV. And yet not at all.

CHAR. Why so? Surely he will not give her to him, after all this. (Pointing to PAMPHILUS.)

DAV. You silly fellow! as though it were a necessary consequence that if he doesn’t give her to him you should marry her: unless, indeed, you look about you; unless you entreat and make court to the old man’s friends.

CHAR. You advise well. I’ll go; although, upon my faith, this hope has often eluded me already. Farewell! (Exit.