SCENE II.

CHARINUS, BYRRHIA, PAMPHILUS.

_Pam._ Ha! Charinus, I hope you are well, Sir.

_Char._ Oh, Pamphilus!――――I come to implore from you hope, safety, counsel, and assistance.

_Pam._ Truly, I myself have need of counsel, and assistance too: but what is this affair?

_Char._ You are to be married to-day!

_Pam._ Ay, they say so.

_Char._ If you are, Pamphilus, you see me to-day for the last time[113].

_Pam._ Why so?

_Char._ Alas! I dread to speak it! tell him, Byrrhia, I beseech you.

_Byrr._ I will.

_Pam._ What is it, speak?

_Byrr._ My master loves Philumena to distraction, and hears that she is betrothed to you.

_Pam._ Truly, he and I are not of the same mind then; but prithee now, Charinus, tell me, has nothing passed between you and Philumena?

_Char._ Ah! Pamphilus, nothing.

_Pam._ I wish with all my soul there had!

_Char._ I implore you then, by all the ties of friendship, and tried affection, never to wed her: this is my first request.

_Pam._ Never! if I can help it, believe me.

_Char._ But if you cannot grant me this, and earnestly desire the match――――

_Pam._ I desire it!

_Char._ At least defer it for a day or two, that I may go from here, and avoid the misery of being obliged to witness it.

_Pam._ Listen to me, Charinus; I think it is by no means the part of a man of honour to claim thanks, where none are due to him. I am more desirous to avoid Philumena, than you are to obtain her.

_Char._ My dearest friend! your words have given me new life.

_Pam._ Now, if either you, or Byrrhia here, can do any thing; for [114]Heaven’s sake do it; contrive, invent, and manage if you can, that she may be given to you; I meantime will do all in my power to prevent her from being given to me.

_Char._ I am satisfied.

_Pam._ But here comes Davus, most opportunely; I rely entirely upon his advice.

_Char._ [_to Byrrhia._] But as for you, you can tell me nothing but what I don’t care to hear. Begone, sirrah.

_Byrr._ With all my heart, Sir.

[_Exit._