I must return,
'Fore Heaven, Parmeno, I'd run away,
Rather than go on board a ship again.

PAR. You have been apt enough to think of that
On slighter reasons, Sosia, before now.
--But yonder's my young master Pamphilus
Standing before that door.--Go in! I'll to him,
And see if he has any business for me.

(_Exeunt SOSIA, and the rest of the slaves with the baggage._

Master, are you here still? (_To PAMPHILUS._)

PAM. Oh Parmeno!
I waited for you.

PAR. What's your pleasure, Sir?

PAM. Run to the Citadel.

PAR. Who?

PAM. You.

PAR. The Citadel!
For what?

PAM. Find out one Callidemides,
My landlord of Mycone, who came over
In the same ship with me.

PAR. A plague upon it!
Would not one swear that he had made a vow
To break my wind, if he came home in safety,
With running on his errands?

PAM. Away, Sirrah!

PAR. What message? must I only find him out?

PAM. Yes; tell him that it is not in my power
To meet him there to-day, as I appointed;
That he mayn't wait for me in vain.--Hence; fly!

PAR. But I don't know him, if I see him, Sir.

PAM. (_impatiently_). Well; I'll describe him, so you can not miss him.
--A large, red, frizzle-pated, gross, blear-eyed,
Ill-looking fellow.

PAR. Plague on him, say I!
--What if he should not come, Sir, must I wait
Till evening for him?

PAM. Wait.--Be quick!

PAR. Be quick?
I can't be quick,--I'm so much tir'd. (_Exit._

SCENE VII.

_PAMPHILOS alone._

He's gone.
What shall I do? Alas! I scarcely know
How to conceal, as Myrrhina desir'd,
Her daughter's labor. Yet I pity her;
And what I can, I am resolv'd to do,
Consistent with my duty: for my parents
Must be obey'd before my love.--But see!
My father and Phidippus come this way.
How I shall act, Heav'n knows.

[Changes:

_Harper_
And what I can, I am resolv'd to do,
Consistent with my duty: for my parents
_Colman 1768_
And what I can, consistent with my duty,
I am resolv'd to do: and yet my parents

SCENE VIII.

_Enter at a distance LACHES and PHIDIPPUS._

LACH. Did not you say
She only waited my son's coming?

PHID. Aye.

LACH. They say that he's arriv'd. Let us return then!

PAM. (_behind_). What reason I shall frame to give my father,
For not recalling her, I can not tell.

LACH. (_overhearing_). Whose voice was that?

PAM. (_to himself_). And yet I am resolv'd
To stand to my first purpose.

LACH. (_seeing PAMPHILUS_). He himself,
Whom I