SCENE VIII.

DAVUS, PAMPHILUS.

_Pam._ Where is that villain who has ruined me?

_Davus._ (_aside._) I’m a lost man!

_Pam._ But I confess that I am justly punished for my imprudence: for my want of common sense. Ought I to have confided my happiness to the keeping of such a shallow slave? I only pay the penalty of my folly: however, the rascal shall not escape the punishment he so richly deserves.

_Davus._ (_aside._) If I escape this time, I think I never need know fear again.

_Pam._ And what can I say to my father? Can I, who so lately promised to marry, now refuse? with what face can I venture on such a step as that? I know not what to do!

_Davus._ (_aside._) Nor I, though I am racking my brains to hit upon something. I will tell him that I have thought of an expedient to put off the marriage.

_Pam._ (_seeing Davus._) Oh!

_Davus._ I am seen!

_Pam._ Pray, good Sir, what have you to say for yourself? do you see what a fine situation your rare advice has reduced me to?

_Davus._ But I will soon find an expedient to extricate you from it.

_Pam._ You will find an expedient!

_Davus._ Certainly, Sir.

_Pam._ Like your last, I suppose.

_Davus._ Better, I hope, Sir.

_Pam._ What trust can I put in such a rascal[156]? Can you remedy a misfortune, which appears entirely ruinous? Ah! how foolishly I relied on you, who, out of a perfect calm[157], have raised this storm, and wrecked me on the rock of this accursed marriage! Did I not forewarn you, that it would end thus?

_Davus._ You did, Sir, I confess.

_Pam._ What do you deserve[158]?

_Davus._ Death. But allow me a short time to recover myself, and I will soon consider what is to be done?

_Pam._ Alas! I have not time to punish you as you deserve: the present moment demands my attention to my own wretched affairs; and will not suffer me to revenge myself on you.

END OF THE THIRD ACT.