Act V, Scene V

Re-enter PAMPHILUS with CRITO.

CRI. (to PAMPHILUS, as he is coming out.) Forbear entreating. Of these, any one reason prompts me to do it, either your own sake, or the fact that it is the truth, or that I wish well for Glycerium herself.

CHREM. (starting.) Do I see Crito of Andros? Surely it is he.

CRI. Greetings to you, Chremes.

CHREM. How is it that, so contrary to your usage, you are at Athens?

CRI. So it has happened. But is this Simo?

CHREM. It is he.

CRI. Simo, were you asking for me?

SIM. How now, do you say that Glycerium is a citizen of this place?

CRI. Do you deny it?

SIM. (ironically.) Have you come here so well prepared?

CRI. For what purpose?

SIM. Do you ask? Are you to be acting this way with impunity? Are you to be luring young men into snares here, inexperienced in affairs, and liberally brought up, by tempting them, and to be playing upon their fancies by making promises?

CRI. Are you in your senses?

SIM. And are you to be patching up amours with Courtesans by marriage?

PAM. (aside.) I’m undone! I fear that the stranger will not put up with this.

CHREM. If, Simo, you knew this person well, you would not think thus; he is a worthy man.

SIM. He, a worthy man! To come so opportunely to-day just at the very nuptials, and yet never to have come before? (Ironically.) Of course, we must believe him, Chremes.

PAM. (aside.) If I didn’t dread my father, I have something, which, in this conjuncture, I could opportunely suggest to him.

SIM. (sneeringly, to CHREMES.) A sharper!

CRI. (starting.) Hah!

CHREM. It is his way, Crito; do excuse it.

CRI. Let him take heed how he behaves. If he persists in saying to me what he likes, he’ll be hearing things that he don’t like. Am I meddling with these matters or interesting myself? Can you not endure your troubles with a patient mind? For as to what I say, whether it is true or false what I have heard, can soon be known. A certain man of Attica, a long time ago, his ship being wrecked, was cast ashore at Andros, and this woman together with him, who was then a little girl; he, in his destitution, by chance first made application to the father of Chrysis--

SIM. (ironically.) He’s beginning his tale.

CHREM. Let him alone.

CRI. Really, is he to be interrupting me in this way?

CHREM. Do you proceed.

CRI. He who received him was a relation of mine. There I heard from him that he was a native of Attica. He died there.

CHREM. His name?

CRI. The name, in such a hurry!

PAM. Phania.

CHREM. (starting.) Hah! I shall die!

CRI. I’faith, I really think it was Phania; this I know for certain, he said that he was a citizen of Rhamnus.

CHREM. O Jupiter!

CRI. Many other persons in Andros have heard the same, Chremes.

CHREM. (aside.) I trust it may turn out as I hope. (To CRITO.) Come now, tell me, what did he then say about her? Did he say she was his own daughter?

CRI. No.

CHREM. Whose then?

CRI. His brother’s daughter.

CHREM. She certainly is mine.

CRI. What do you say?

SIM. What is this that you say?

PAM. (aside.) Prick up your ears, Pamphilus.

SIM. Why do you suppose so?

CHREM. That Phania was my brother.

SIM. I knew him, and I am aware of it.

CHREM. He, flying from the wars, and following me to Asia, set out from here. At the same time he was afraid to leave her here behind; since then, this is the first time I have heard what became of him.

PAM. (aside.) I am scarcely myself, so much has my mind been agitated by fear, hope, joy, and surprise at this so great, so unexpected blessing.

SIM. Really, I am glad for many reasons that she has been discovered to be a citizen.

PAM. I believe it, father.

CHREM. But there yet remains one difficulty with me, which keeps me in suspense.

PAM. (aside.) You deserve to be ----, with your scruples, you plague. You are seeking a knot in a bulrush.

CRI. (to CHREMES.) What is that?

CHREM. The names don’t agree.

CRI. Troth, she had another when little.

CHREM. What was it, Crito? Can you remember it?

CRI. I’m trying to recollect it.

PAM. (aside.) Am I to suffer his memory to stand in the way of my happiness, when I myself can provide my own remedy in this matter? I will not suffer it. (Aloud.) Hark you, Chremes, that which you are trying to recollect is “Pasibula.”

CHREM. The very same.

CRI. That’s it.

PAM. I’ve heard it from herself a thousand times.

SIM. I suppose, Chremes, that you believe that we all rejoice at this discovery.

CHREM. So may the Gods bless me, I do believe it.

PAM. What remains to be done, father?

SIM. The event itself has quite brought me to reconcilement.

PAM. O kind father! With regard to her as a wife, since I have taken possession of her, Chremes will not offer any opposition.

CHREM. The plea is a very good one, unless perchance your father says any thing to the contrary.

PAM. Of course, I agree.

SIM. Then be it so.

CHREM. Her portion, Pamphilus, is ten talents.

PAM. I am satisfied.

CHREM. I’ll hasten to my daughter. Come now, (beckoning) along with me, Crito; for I suppose that she will not know me. (They go into GLYCERIUM’S house.)

SIM. (To PAMPHILUS.) Why don’t you order her to be sent for hither, to our house?

PAM. Well thought of; I’ll at once give charge of that to Davus.

SIM. He can’t do it.

PAM. How so?

SIM. Because he has another matter that more nearly concerns himself, and of more importance.

PAM. What, pray?

SIM. He is bound.

PAM. Father, he is not rightly bound.

SIM. But I ordered to that effect.

PAM. Prithee, do order him to be set at liberty.

SIM. Well, be it so.

PAM. But immediately.

SIM. I’m going in.

PAM. O fortunate and happy day! (SIMO goes into his house.)