Act II, Scene V

Enter from DORIO’S house, DORIO, followed by PHÆDRIA.

PHÆD. Prithee, hear me, Dorio.

DOR. I’ll not hear you.

PHÆD. Only a moment.

DOR. Let me alone.

PHÆD. Do hear what I have to say.

DOR. Why really I am tired of hearing the same thing a thousand times over.

PHÆD. But now, I have something to tell you that you’ll hear with pleasure.

DOR. Speak then; I’m listening.

PHÆD. Can I not prevail on you to wait for only three days? Whither are you going now?

DOR. I was wondering if you had any thing new to offer.

ANT. (apart, to GETA.) I’m afraid for this Procurer, lest----

GETA (apart, to ANTIPHO.) Something may befall his own safety.

PHÆD. You don’t believe me?

DOR. You guess right.

PHÆD. But if I pledge my word.

DOR. Nonsense!

PHÆD. You will have reason to say that this kindness was well laid out by you on interest.

DOR. Stuff!

PHÆD. Believe me, you will be glad you did so; upon my faith, it is the truth.

DOR. Mere dreams!

PHÆD. Do but try; the time is not long.

DOR. The same story over again.

PHÆD. You will be my kinsman, my father, my friend; you----

DOR. Now, do prate on.

PHÆD. For you to be of a disposition so harsh and inexorable, that neither by pity nor by entreaties can you be softened!

DOR. For you to be of a disposition so unreasonable and so unconscionable, Phædria, that you can be talking me over with fine words, and be for amusing yourself with what’s my property for nothing!

ANT. (apart, to GETA.) I am sorry for him.

PHÆD. (aside.) Alas! I feel it to be too true.

GETA (apart, to ANTIPHO.) How well each keeps up to his character!

PHÆD. (to himself.) And would that this misfortune had not befallen me at a time when Antipho was occupied with other cares as well.

ANT. (coming forward.) Ah Phædria, why, what is the matter?

PHÆD. O most fortunate Antipho!

ANT. What, I?

PHÆD. To have in your possession the object of your love, and have no occasion to encounter such a nuisance as this.

ANT. What I, in my possession? Why yes, as the saying is, I’ve got a wolf by the ears; for I neither know how to get rid of her, nor yet how to keep her.

DOR. That’s just my case with regard to him (pointing to PHÆDRIA).

ANT. (to DORIO.) Aye, aye, don’t you show too little of the Procurer. (To PHÆDRIA.) What has he been doing?

PHÆD. What, he? Acting the part of a most inhuman fellow; been and sold my Pamphila.

GETA. What! Sold her?

ANT. Sold her, say you?

PHÆD. Sold her.

DOR. (ironically.) What a shocking crime-- a wench bought with one’s own money!

PHÆD. I can not prevail upon him to wait for me the next three days, and so far break off the bargain with the person, while I get the money from my friends, which has been promised me; if I don’t give it him then, let him not wait a single hour longer.

DOR. Very good.

ANT. It’s not a long time that he asks, Dorio; do let him prevail upon you; he’ll pay you two-fold for having acted to him thus obligingly.

DOR. Mere words!

ANT. Will you allow Pamphila to be carried away from this place? And then, besides, can you possibly allow their love to be severed asunder?

DOR. Neither I nor you cause that.

GETA. May all the Gods grant you what you are deserving of!

DOR. I have borne with you for several months quite against my inclination; promising and whimpering, and yet bringing nothing; now, on the other hand, I have found one to pay, and not be sniveling; give place to your betters.

ANT. I’ faith, there surely was a day named, if I remember right, for you to pay him.

PHÆD. It is the fact.

DOR. Do I deny it?

ANT. Is that day past, then?

DOR. No; but this one has come before it.

ANT. Are you not ashamed of your perfidy?

DOR. Not at all, so long as it is for my interest.

GETA. Dunghill!

PHÆD. Dorio, is it right, pray, for you to act thus?

DOR. It is my way; if I suit you, make use of me.

ANT. Do you try to trifle with him (pointing to PHÆDRIA) in this manner?

DOR. Why really, on the contrary, Antipho, it’s he trifling with me, for he knew me to be a person of this sort; I supposed him to be quite a different man; he has deceived me; I’m not a bit different to him from what I was before. But however that may be, I’ll yet do this; the captain has said, that to-morrow morning he will pay me the money; if you bring it me before that, Phædria, I’ll follow my rule, that he is the first served who is the first to pay. Farewell! (Goes into his house.)