The Andrian: Act the First: Scene I

SIMO. Carry those things in: go! (Ex. SERVANTS.Sosia, come here;A word with you!

SOSIA. I understand: that theseBe ta'en due care of.SIMO. Quite another thing.

SOSIA. What can my art do more for you?

SIMO. This businessNeeds not that art; but those good qualities,Which I have ever known abide in you,Fidelity and secrecy.

SOSIA. I waitYour pleasure.

SIMO. Since I bought you, from a boyHow just and mild a servitude you've pass'dWith me, you're conscious: from a purchas'd slaveI made you free, because you serv'd me freely:The greatest recompense I could bestow.SOSIA. I do remember.

SIMO. Nor do I repent.

SOSIA. If I have ever done, or now do aughtThat's pleasing to you, Simo, I am glad,And thankful that you hold my service goodAnd yet this troubles me: for this detail,Forcing your kindness on my memory,Seems to reproach me of ingratitude.Oh tell me then at once, what would you? Sir!

SIMO. I will; and this I must advise you first;The nuptial you suppose preparing now,Is all unreal.

SOSIA. Why pretend it then?

SIMO. You shall hear all from first to last: and thusThe conduct of my son, my own intent,And what part you're to act, you'll know at once.For my son, Sosia, now to manhood grown,Had freer scope of living: for beforeHow might you know, or how indeed divineHis disposition, good or ill, while youth,Fear, and a master, all constrain'd him?

SIMO. Though most, as is the bent of youth, applyTheir mind to some one object, horses, hounds,Or to the study of philosophy;Yet none of these, beyond the rest, did hePursue; and yet, in moderation, all.I was o'erjoy'd.

SOSIA. And not without good cause.For this I hold to be the Golden RuleOf Life, too much of one thing's good for nothing.

SIMO. So did he shape his life to bear himselfWith ease and frank good-humor unto all;Mix'd in what company soe'er, to themHe wholly did resign himself; and join'dIn their pursuits, opposing nobody,Nor e'er assuming to himself: and thusWith ease, and free from envy, may you gainPraise, and conciliate friends.

SOSIA. He rul'd his lifeBy prudent maxims: for, as times go now,Compliance raises friends, and truth breeds hate.

SIMO. Meanwhile, 'tis now about three years ago,A certain woman from the isle of Andros,Came o'er to settle in this neighborhood,By poverty and cruel kindred driv'n:Handsome and young.

SOSIA. Ah! I begin to fearSome mischief from this Andrian.

SIMO. At firstModest and thriftily, though poor, she liv'd,With her own hands a homely livelihoodScarce earning from the distaff and the loom.But when a lover came, with promis'd gold,Another, and another, as the mindFalls easily from labor to delight,She took their offers, and set up the trade.They, who were then her chief gallants, by chanceDrew thither, as oft happen with young menMy son to join their company. "So, so!"Said I within myself, "he's smit! he has it!"And in the morning as I saw their servantsRun to and fro, I'd often call, "here, boy!Prithee now, who had Chrysis yesterday?"The name of this same Andrian.SOSIA. I take you.

SIMO. Phaedrus they said, Clinia, or Niceratus,For all these three then follow'd her.--"Well, well,But what of Pamphilus?"--"Of Pamphilus!He supp'd, and paid his reck'ning."--I was glad.Another day I made the like inquiry,But still found nothing touching Pamphilus.Thus I believ'd his virtue prov'd, and henceThought him a miracle of continence:For he who struggles with such spirits, yetHolds in that commerce an unshaken mind,May well be trusted with the governanceOf his own conduct. Nor was I aloneDelighted with his life, but all the worldWith one accord said all good things, and prais'dMy happy fortunes, who possess'd a sonSo good, so lib'rally disposed.--In shortChremes, seduc'd by this fine character,Came of his own accord, to offer meHis only daughter with a handsome portionIn marriage with my son. I lik'd the match;Betroth'd my son; and this was pitch'd upon,By joint agreement, for the wedding-day.

SOSIA. And what prevents it's being so?

SIMO. I'll tell you.In a few days, the treaty still on foot,This neighbor Chrysis dies.

SOSIA. In happy hour:Happy for you! I was afraid of Chrysis.

SIMO. My son, on this event, was often thereWith those who were the late gallants of Chrysis;Assisted to prepare the funeral,Ever condol'd, and sometimes wept with them.This pleas'd me then; for in myself I thought,"Since merely for a small acquaintance-sakeHe takes this woman's death so nearly, whatIf he himself had lov'd? What would he feelFor me, his father?" All these things, I thought;Were but the tokens and the officesOf a humane and tender disposition.In short, on his account, e'en I myselfAttend the funeral, suspecting yetNo harm.

SIMO. You shall hear all. The CorpseBorne forth, we follow: when among the womenAttending there, I chanc'd to cast my eyes,Upon one girl, in form----

SIMO. And look; so modest, and so beauteous, Sosia!That nothing could exceed it. As she seem'dTo grieve beyond the rest; and as her airAppear'd more liberal and ingenuous,I went and ask'd her women who she was.Sister, they said, to Chrysis: when at onceIt struck my mind; "So! so! the secret's out;Hence were those tears, and hence all that compassion!"SOSIA. Alas! I fear how this affair will end!

SIMO. Meanwhile the funeral proceeds: we follow;Come to the sepulchre: the body's plac'dUpon the pile, lamented: whereuponThis sister I was speaking of, all wild,Ran to the flames with peril of her life.Then! there! the frighted Pamphilus betraysHis well-dissembled and long-hidden love:Runs up, and takes her round the waist, and cries,"Oh my Glycerium! what is it you do?Why, why endeavor to destroy yourself?"Then she, in such a manner, that you thenceMight easily perceive their long, long, love,Threw herself back into his arms, and wept,Oh how familiarly!

SOSIA. How say you!

SIMO. IReturn in anger thence, and hurt at heart,Yet had no cause sufficient for reproof."What have I done? he'd say; or how deserv'dReproach? or how offended, Father?--HerWho meant to cast herself into the flames,I stopped." A fair excuse!

SOSIA. You're in the right;For him, who sav'd a life, if you reprove,What will you do to him that offers wrong?

SIMO. Chremes next day came open-mouth'd to me:Oh monstrous! he had found that PamphilusWas married to this stranger woman. IDeny the fact most steadily, and heAs steadily insists. In short we partOn such bad terms, as let me understandHe would refuse his daughter.

SOSIA. Did not youThen take your son to task?

SIMO. Not even thisAppear'd sufficient for reproof.

SIMO. "Father, (he might have said) You have, you know,Prescrib'd a term to all these things yourself.The time is near at hand, when I must liveAccording to the humor of another.Meanwhile, permit me now to please my own!"SOSIA. What cause remains to chide him then?

SIMO. If heRefuses, on account of this amour,To take a wife, such obstinate denialMust be considered as his first offense.Wherefore I now, from this mock-nuptial,Endeavor to draw real cause to chide:And that same rascal Davus, if he's plotting,That he may let his counsel run to waste,Now, when his knaveries can do no harm:Who, I believe, with all his might and mainWill strive to cross my purposes; and thatMore to plague me, than to oblige my son.

SIMO. Why so! Bad mind, bad heart: But ifI catch him at his tricks!--But what need words?--If, as I wish it may, it should appearThat Pamphilus objects not to the match,Chremes remains to be prevail'd upon,And will, I hope, consent. 'Tis now your placeTo counterfeit these nuptials cunningly;To frighten Davus; and observe my son,What he's about, what plots they hatch together.

SOSIA. Enough; I'll take due care. Let's now go in!

SIMO. Go first: I'll follow you. (Exit SOSIA.Beyond all doubtMy son's averse to take a wife: I sawHow frighten'd Davus was, but even now,When he was told a nuptial was preparing.But here he comes.

SIMO. Carry those things in: go! (Ex. SERVANTS.Harper text reads "Exit SERVANTS"; "Ex." (1768) can be taken as thecorrect plural form "Exeunt".

HarperHe wholly did resign himself; and join'dIn their pursuits, opposing nobody,Colman 1768He wholly did resign himself; compliedWith all their humours, checking nobody,

... Was married to this stranger woman. IDeny the fact