a! that speech from you, dear Bacchis?

BACCH. You lov'd your wife with reason, Pamphilus:
Never that I remember, did I see her
Before to-day; and she's a charming woman.

PAM. Speak truth.

BACCH. So Heaven help me, Pamphilus!

PAM. Say, have you told my father any part
Of this tale?

BACCH. Not a word.

PAM. Nor is there need.
Let all be hush! I would not have it here,
As in a comedy, where every thing
Is known to every body. Here those persons
Whom it concerns already know it; they,
Who 'twere not meet should know it, never shall.

BACCH. I promise you it may with ease be hid.
Myrrhina told Phidippus that my oath
Convinc'd her, and she held you clear.

PAM. Good! good!
All will be well, and all, I hope, end well.

PAR. May I know, Sir, what good I've done to-day?
And what's the meaning of your conversation?

PAM. No.

PAR. I suspect, however.--"I restore him
From death to life"--which way?----

PAM. Oh, Parmeno,
You can't conceive the good you've done to-day;
From what distress you have deliver'd me.

PAR. Ah, but I know, and did it with design.

PAM. Oh, I'm convinced of that. (_Ironically._)

PAR. Did Parmeno
Ever let slip an opportunity
Of doing what he ought, Sir?

PAM. Parmeno,
In after me!

PAR. I follow.--By my troth,
I've done more good to-day, without design,
Than ever with design in all my life.----
Clap your hands!

* * * * *
* * * *

PHORMIO.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

PROLOGUE.
DEMIPHO.
CHREMES.
ANTIPHO.
PHAEDRIA.
CRATINUS.
CRITO.
HEGIO.
PHORMIO.
DORIO.
GETA.
DAVUS, _and other Servants._

NAUSISTRATA.
SOPHRONA.

SCENE, ATHENS.

PROLOGUE.

The Old Bard finding it impossible
To draw our Poet from the love of verse,
And bury him in indolence, attempts
By calumny to scare him from the stage;
Pretending that in all his former plays
The characters are low, and mean the style;
Because he ne'er describ'd a mad-brain'd youth,
Who in his fits of frenzy thought he saw
A hind, the dogs in full cry after her;
Her too imploring and beseeching him
To give her aid.--But did he understand
That, when the piece was first produc'd, it ow'd
More to the actor than himself its safety,
He would not be thus bold to give offense.
--But if there's any one who says, or thinks,
"That had not the Old Bard assail'd him first,
Our Poet could not have devis'd a Prologue,
Having n