Publii Terentii Carthaginiensis Afris poëtae lepidissimi comoediae sex Anglo-Latinae in usum ludi-discipulorum, quo Feliciùs venustatem linguae Latinae ad sermonem quotidianum exercendum assequantur / a Carolo Hoole ... = Six comedies of that excellent poet Publius Terentius, an African of Carthage, in English and Latine : for the use of young scholars, that they may the more readily attain the purity of the Latine tongue for common discourse / by Charles Hoole ...

Act. V. Scen. I.

BACCHIS. LACHES.

Bac.

THis is not for nothing, that Laches desireth not to speak with me, And trulie I am not much mistaken, but it is that which I suspect what he would.

Lach.

I must have a care, l••st I obtain less through anger, then I may•…•… And that I do nothing more, which may afterwards be better for me not to have done. [line 5] I will accost her. Bacchis, God save you.

B.

God save you,

L.

ches:

La.

Trulie: Bacchis, I believe you somewhat marvail what the matter is, wherefore I com∣manded the boy To call you out of doors hither.

Bac.

I am indeed also fearfull, when I remember Who I am, left the report of gain should prejudice me with you. For I can easilie justifie my conditions.

La.

If you say true, I will do you no harm, woman, [line 10] For I am of those yeares now, that it were not reasonable I should be pardoned if I did amisse,

Wherefore I do the more warilie consider everie thing, that I may do nothing rashlie. For if now you do, or are likelie to do, that which it becomes honest women to do, It were unjust for me unwittinglie to offer you a wrong who do not deserve it.

Ba.

Trulie it is great thanks that I give you for this matter. [line 15] For he that excuseth himself after a wrong done, can do me little good. But what is the matter?

La.

You entertain my son Pamphilus to your house.

Ba.

Alas.

La.

Let me speak. Before he married this wife, I bore with your love. Tarrie, I have not yet said what I would: he now hath a wife, Seek for your self another and surer friend, whilest you have time to consult. [line 20] For he will not be of this minde verie long, nor you indeed of that same age.

Ba.

Who saith it?

La.

His mother in law.

Ba.

That I entertain him?

La.

That you your self do it, and she hath had away her daughter; And would for that reason have privilie made away the childe, which is born.

Ba.

If I knew anie other thing, whereby I might make you believe me, More holie then an oath, I would assure you, Laches, [line 25] That I parted Pamphilus from me, ever since he married a wife.

La.

You are a lovelie woman, but do you know what I would rather have you do?

Ba.

Tell me, what would you have?

La.

That you go in hither to the women, and there offer that same oath to them: Satisfie their minds, and acquit your self of this fault.

Ba.

I will do it, but if indeed it were another of this trade, she would not do it, I know; [line 30] That upon such an occasion she should shew her self to a married woman. But I am loth to have your son suspected on a false report, Or to se••m without cause more inconstant to you, who ought not to think him so; For he hath deserved of me, that I should pleasure him, •…•…l I can.

La.

Your discourse hath made us favourable and well willing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to∣wards you, [line 35] For they alone did not suppose this thing, but I also believed it, Now seeing I have found you to be otherwise then we thought you were, See you be the same woman you were, and further make use of our friendship as you please. If yo do otherwise—But I will refrain my self, that you may not hear anie thing unkindlie from me. But this one thing I advise you, that you would rather 〈◊〉〈◊〉 what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 friend I may be, [line 40] Or what I may do for you, then what an enemie.

Ba.

I will do my utmost.