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.

SOPHRONA. CHREMES.

S.

WHat should I do? whom shall I finde to be my friend poor woman, or to whom Shall I impart these purposes? or of whom should I desire help? For I am affraid lest my mistris through my perswasion should be un∣worthilie wronged.

I h••a•• the young mans father takes these things that are done so pas•…•… ••atelie.

C.

[line 5] But what dismaied old-woman is this, which is come out from my brothers?

S.

Which poverty forced me to do, when I know this was an uncertain Marriage; that I might take that course, that our life might be preser∣ved in the mean time.

C.

Verilie, except I be mistaken, or my eyes fail me, I see my daughters nurse.

S.

Neither is he to be traced out.

C.

What should I do?

S.

[line 10] Who is her father?

C.

Had I best go to her or tarrie, till I bet∣ter know what she saith?

S.

But if I could but now finde him, there would be nothing that I should fear.

C.

It is just she, I will speak with her.

S.

Who speaks here?

C.

Sophrona.

S.

And doth he name my name too?

C.

Look back to me.

S.

O strange, is this Stilpho?

C.

No.

S.

Do you say no?

C.

Go aside hence from the door a little this way I pray you, So∣phrona. [line 15] See you do not call me by this name hereafter.

S.

What I pray you, are not you he, Whom you have alwayes used to say you were?

C.

Whisht.

S.

What, are you affraid of this door?

C.

I have a curst wife pent up; but concerning that name, I have told you wrong heretofore to that end, left you peradventure being indiscreet Should blab it out, and my wife also should come to know it one way or other.

S.

[line 20] Alas, by this means we poor women could never be able to finde you here.

C.

Come on, tell me, what have you to do with this familie whence you come? or where are Those women?

S.

Woe is me.

C.

Ha, what is the matter? are they living?

S.

Your daughter is alive: But death hath seised upon the mother for very grief.

C.

This is ill done.

S.

And I who was a forlorn old woman, being in want, and unknown, [line 25] Have bestowed the maid in marriage as well as I could to this young man, that is the master

Of this house.

Ch.

To Antipho?

S.

Ah, to himself.

Ch.

What? Hath be two wives?

S.

Soft, I pray you, he hath indeed this one alone.

Ch.

What is that other woman, which is said to be his kinswoman?

S.

This is then she.

Ch.

What say you?

S.

It was done on purpose, how he being in love might have her [line 30] Without a portion.

Ch.

O strange! how often do these things fall out by chance unadvisedlie, Which one dare not wish! at my coming I have found my daughter Placed with him that I desired, and as I desired. That which we both endeavoured with a great deal of pains, that it might be done, This woman alone hath effected without anie great care of ours.

S.

[line 35] Now see what is needfull to be done; here comes the young-man's father, And they say he takes it verie impatientlie.

Ch.

There is no danger: But for God's sake and man's, take heed that no bodie kno••w this is my daughter.

S.

No bodie shall know it from me.

Ch.

Follow me, you shall hear the rest within.