The Comedies of Terence Part 91

PAR. Ha! what's all this?

PAM. Hus.h.!.+

PAR. I perceive a bustle, And running to and fro.--Come this way, Sir!

--To the door!--nearer still!--There, there, d'ye hear?

(_Noise continues._)

PAM. Peace; hus.h.!.+ (_Shriek within._) Oh Jupiter, I heard a shriek!

PAR. You talk yourself, and bid me hold my tongue.

MYRRHINA (_within_). Hush, my dear child, for Heaven's sake!

PAM. It seem'd The voice of my wife's mother. I am ruin'd!

PAR. How so?

PAM. Undone!

PAR. And why?

PAM. Ah, Parmeno, They hide some terrible misfortune from me!

PAR. They said your wife Philumena was ill: Whether 'tis that, I can not tell.

PAM. Death, Sirrah!

Why did you not inform me that before?

PAR. Because I could not tell you all at once.

PAM. What's her disorder?

PAR. I don't know.

PAM. But tell me, Has she had no physician?

PAR. I don't know.

PAM. But why do I delay to enter straight, That I may learn the truth, be what it will?

--Oh my Philumena, in what condition Shall I now find thee?--If there's danger of thee, My life's in danger too. (_Exit._

SCENE II.

_PARMENO alone._

It were not good That I should follow him into the house: For all our family are odious to them.

That's plain from their denying Sostrata Admittance yesterday.--And if by chance Her illness should increase (which Heav'n forbid, For my poor master's sake!), they'll cry directly, "Sostrata's servant came into the house:"

Swear,--"that I brought the plague along with me, Put all their lives in danger, and increas'd Philumena's distemper."--By which means My mistress will be blam'd, and I be beaten.

SCENE III.

_Enter SOSTRATA._

SOSTRA. Alas, I hear a dreadful noise within.

Philumena, I fear, grows worse and worse: Which aesculapius, and thou, Health, forbid!

But now I'll visit her. (_Goes toward the house._)

PAR. Ho, Sostrata!

SOSTRA. Who's there?

PAR. You'll be shut out a second time.

SOSTRA. Ha, Parmeno, are you there?--Wretched woman!

What shall I do?--Not visit my son's wife, When she lies sick at next door!

PAR. Do not go; No, nor send any body else; for they That love the folks, to whom themselves are odious, I think are guilty of a double folly: Their labor proves but idle to themselves, And troublesome to those for whom 'tis meant.

Besides, your son, the moment he arriv'd, Went in to visit her.

SOSTRA. How, Parmeno!

Is Pamphilus arriv'd?

PAR. He is.

SOSTRA. Thank Heav'n!

Oh, how my comfort is reviv'd by that!

PAR. And therefore I ne'er went into the house.

For if Philumena's complaints abate, She'll tell him, face to face, the whole affair, And what has pa.s.s'd between you to create This difference.--But here he comes--how sad!

SCENE IV.

_Enter PAMPHILUS._

SOSTRA. My dear boy, Pamphilus!

PAM. My mother, save you! (_Disordered._)

SOSTRA. I'm glad to see you safe return'd--How does Your wife!

PAM. A little better.

SOSTRA. Grant it, Heav'n!

--But why d'ye weep, and why are you so sad?