.

_PARMENO alone._

I' faith my master holds my labor cheap,
To send me to the Citadel for nothing,
Where I have waited the whole day in vain
For his Myconian, Callidemides.
There was I sitting, gaping like a fool,
And running up, if any one appear'd,
--"Are you, Sir, a Myconian?"--"No, not I."----
--"But your name's Callidemides?"--"Not it."----
"And have not you a guest here of the name
Of Pamphilus?"--All answer'd, No.
In short, I don't believe there's such a man.
At last I grew asham'd, and so sneak'd off.
--But is't not Bacchis that I see come forth
From our new kinsman? What can she do there?

[Changes:

_Harper_
Of Pamphilus?"--All answer'd, No.
_Colman 1768_
Of Pamphilus?"--No--no--All No.]

SCENE II.

_Enter BACCHIS._

BACCH. Oh Parmeno, I'm glad I've met with you.
Run quick to Pamphilus.

PAR. On what account?

BACCH. Tell him that I desire he'd come.

PAR. To you?

BACCH. No; to Philumena.

PAR. Why? what's the matter?

BACCH. Nothing to you; so ask no questions.

PAR. Must I
Say nothing else?

BACCH. Yes; tell him too,
That Myrrhina acknowledges the ring,
Which formerly he gave me, as her daughter's.

PAR. I understand you. But is that all?

BACCH. All.
He'll come the moment that you tell him that.
What! do you loiter?

PAR. No, i' faith, not I.
I have not had it in my pow'r, I've been
So bandied to and fro, sent here and there,
Trotting, and running up and down all day. (_Exit._

SCENE III.

_BACCHIS alone._

What joy have I procur'd to Pamphilus
By coming here to-day! what blessings brought him!
And from how many sorrows rescued him!
His son, by his and their means nearly lost,
I've sav'd; a wife he meant to put away,
I have restor'd; and from the strong suspicions
Of Laches and Phidippus set him free.
--Of all these things the ring has been the cause.
For I remember, near ten months ago,
That he came running home to me one evening,
Breathless, alone, and much inflam'd with wine,
Bringing this ring. I was alarm'd at it.
"Prithee, my dearest Pamphilus, said I,
Whence comes all this confusion? whence this ring?
Tell me, my love."--He put me off at first:
Perceiving this, it made me apprehend
Something of serious import, and I urg'd him
More earnestly to tell me.--He confess'd
That, as he came along, he had committed
A rape upon a virgin--whom he knew not----
And as she struggled, forc'd from her that ring:
Which Myrrhina now seeing o