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CARINVS vnderstanding that Philumena shall be maried to Pamphilus: entreateth Pamphilus that he doo not marry her. Here Carinus and Byrria are purposely brought in, least that Philumena should not bee e∣steemed of at all.
BYrria, what sayest thou? shall shée bée married this day to Pamphilus?
Yea, euen so.
How knowest thou?
I heard it of Dauus but a little while since, at the market place.
Wo is mée vnhappy man, for as my minde was held betwéene hope and feare euer till now: so now that all hope is past, euen worne and wearied with care, it is vtterly dismayed.
I pray you Sir for Gods sake, sith you cannot haue what you would, that you will haue what you may.
There is nothing that I will haue but Philu∣mena.
Alas how much better were it for you, to séeke to weare this loue out of your mynde, than to vtter furth such spéeches, whereby your desire is kindled more and more in vayne.
Wée can all lightly when wee are in health, geue good counsayle to such as are sicke: But if thou wert in my case, thou wouldst sing mée a new song.
Wel, go too then, doo as you list.
But to where I sée Pamphilus, I am de∣termined to prooue all manner of wayes before I dye.
What will he now doo?
This same man will I intreate, him wil I ear∣nestly beséech, to him will I discouer my loue: I be∣léeue
I shall get him to put of the marriage, at least, for a few dayes longer: and in the meane space I hope somewhat may be done.
That somewhat, will prooue iust nothing.
But how thinkest thou Byrria, were I best go to him or not?
Yes, what els? though you obteyne nothing at his handes, that yet hée may thinke you ready to make him cuckold, if hée do marry her.
Go get thée hence knaue, with a mischiefe to thée for thy peeuish suspicion.
I see Carinus: God spéede sir.
O Pamphilus, God saue you: I come to you re∣questing at your handes, hope, health, helpe, and coun∣saile.
In good faith I am neither a méete man to geue counsaile, nor yet haue wherewith to helpe an o∣ther: but what is your matter?
Do you marry to day?
So the talke goeth.
Pamphilus if you do so, then shall you neuer sée mée aliue after this day.
Why, how so?
Alas I feare to vtter it: I pray thée Byrria doe thou tell it him.
I will.
What is it?
He is in loue with your Bride.
Now in good fayth hée is not of my minde: but come néere and tel mee Carinus, hath there bene any further matter betwéene you and her?
O, Alas Pamphilus, no.
Mary sir I would there had.
Now I hartely beséech you, euen for the loue and frendship betwixt you and mée: first and formost, that you do not marry her at all.
Truely I will do my best indeuor.
But if you may not otherwise choose, or that this marriage be according to your owne hart:
According to my hart?
Yet at least wise, prolong it for a day or twoo, while I get mée away somewhither, that I may not behold it.
Nay but listen to mée now Carinus, I hold it in no wise the part of an honest man, to pike a thanke where none is due vnto him: God wot I am more desirous to be rid of this mariage, than you are to obtayne it.
You haue reuiued my spirites.
Now if either your selfe, or Byrria here, can do ought in the matter, be doing, faine, finde out and pro∣cure the meanes that you may haue her: I for my part will so handle the matter, as shée may not bée marri∣ed to mée.
I haue my desire.
Oh, in very good tyme do I sée Dauus, whose aduise I vse altogether.
But in good sooth thou wilt tell mée nothing, ex∣cept such things as are not woorth the knowing: dost thou not get thée hence.
Yes truely, and that with a very good wil.
DAVVS hauing gathered by sundry signes and coniectures the vnlikelihood of the mariage, seeketh all the towne ouer for Pamphilus, & reioiceth out of measure.
O Good God, what good newes doo I bring with me, But where shall I now finde Pamphilus, that I may release him from that feare he is in, and fill his hart with ioy.
It is nothing to any purpos, he hath not yet vnderstood of this mischiefe.
Whome I verily beléeue, if he haue yet hard of the marriage prepared for him.
That he is beside himselfe, séeking for me all the Towne ouer. But where shall I seke for him, or whi∣ther shall I now first go?
Well, I go my waies.
Dauus, come hither, stay.
Who calles me? O my Master Pamphilus, you are the man I looke for. Well met Carinus: I finde you both in good time, euen you two I would speaks with all.
Dauus, I am a forlorn man.
But yet listen to me a little.
I am cast away.
I wot what you feare.
Truely and my liefe is in hazard in very déede.
I wot also what you feare.
I must be married.
And that I know too.
Yea but too day.
You dull me with too many wordes, and yet I know the matter already. You feare least you must marry Philumena: And you (Carinus) take care how you may marry her.
Thou hast hit the nayle on the head.
That same is it.
And in that, is there no daunger at all: I war∣rant you.
I pray thée for Gods sake, ryd me presently out of this feare, poore wretch that I am.
Lo, I put you out of feare, Chremes will not at this time giue you his daughter to wife.
How knowest thou somuch?
I know it full well: your father met me ere∣while and told me that he would marry you this day to a wiefe, besides many things else, which now is no time to rehers. By and by I hasted me and ran eue∣ry foote to the market place, to tel you of this: and when I could not finde you there, I got me vp, on a high standing, and looked round about me, you were no where to be séene. By chaunce I spied Byrria this mans seruant, I aske him for you, he sayd he sawe you not. This troubled me: Then I bethink me what to doo: and as I was returning thence, I fell to mistrust whether there were any marriage towards or no, I remembred there was verie small prouision of meate: he himselfe was very sad: The marriage was to be made on the soddeyn, This did not hang well to∣gether.
What of all this?
I presently got me to Chremes house, and be∣ing come thither, there was no body sturring about the doore, I was glad of that.
You say well.
Tell on.
I stay there a while, and could sée no body either
going in, or comming out, I went my waies in, and looked narrowly, there was neuer an elderly woman, no tryming vp of the house, no stur or preparacion.
I graunt you, it is great likelihood.
Nay but doo these thinges séeme to agrée with a marriage matter?
No Dauus, as I ghesse.
Ghesse say you? you take your marke amis: The matter is out of al doubt: Moreouer, as I was comming thence, I met with Chremes boy, carrying potherbs and a halpwoorth of small fish for the old mans supper.
Dauus, I am ryd out of danger this day by thy meanes.
Truely but you are neuer the néerer.
How can that be? for surely Chremes will not giue his daughter in marriage to him.
O wise woodcok, as though it must néedes folow, if he giue not his Daughter to him, that therefore you shall marry her: vnles you sée better vnto it, and vn∣lesse you make sute to the olde mans fréends, you do but throw your cap in the winde.
You aduise me well, I will go thither, al∣though in good faith, this hope hath deceyued me alre∣dy more than once or twise. Farewell.
DAVVS earnestly prayeth and perswadeth Phamphilus, to say vnto his father that he will marry.
WHat meanes my father then? why doth he dissemble with vs?
Mary I shal tel you, if so be it he be now in a chafe bycause Chremes will not marry his daughter vnto you: Then lo, may he thinke with himselfe that he doth you wrong: But yet he will thinke it no wrong at all, before such time as he shall perceyue how your minde is setled towards marriage. But if you shall refuse to marry, then will he lay all the fault vpon you, and then will be old sturre and hurleburly.
What wouldst thou haue me to doo? that I should yéeld to marry?
O master consider, he is your father, it is hard to withstand him: Moreouer this Glycerie is a loue woman, he will quickly picke a quarell against her, and so turn her packing out of town:
May he turn her away?
Yes, out of hand.
Then I pray thée Dauus what shall I doo?
Say to your father that you will marry.
Alas.
Why, what is the matter?
Should I say so?
Why not?
I will neuer doe it.
Neuer deny it.
Neuer doo thou perswade me to it.
Do but consider what will follow of this.
This will follow, that I shall be shut from Glycerie, and tyed vp to this woman.
Not so: Mary I wene your father will say thus much to you: I will haue you to marry a wyfe to day. You shall say, I will: And then I pray you what cause shall he haue to chide you? By this meanes you shall make all his deuises which now are of force, to be then altogether friuolous: and that without any danger to your selfe: for this is without all question, that Chre∣mes will not marry his daughter vnto you: And for more surety, you shall not cease to vse Glyceries compa∣ny still as you haue done, least haply he should alter his minde. Tell your father that you are willing to marry, so as when he would be angrie with you, he may haue no cause: for as for that vaine hope of yours (imagining thus with your selfe: Tush, it is no dāger for me to withstand my father, No man will marry his daughter vnto a man of my manners) I shall easilie put you out of that hope: he will finde out a poore and meane marriage for you, rather than he will suffer you to be spilt by harlots. But if he shall perceiue that you are well content with this marriage, you shall make him reckles of the matter, he will seeke an other wife for you at leysure, and in the meane space some good fortune will fall.
Dost thou think so?
Nay surely there is no doubt of that.
Yea, but take héede whereto thou perswadest me.
What, are you not yet resolued?
Well, I will say so to my father: but we must take héede, that he vnderstand not of the childe I haue
by Glycerie, for I haue promised to bring it vp.
O notable hold déede.
Shée earnestly besought mée to geue her my fayth and troth on this, that so shée might bée sure I would not forsake her.
Well, it shall bée cared for. But your father is here hard by, beware that hée do not finde you sad.
In this scene bee deuises practised of both sides: Dauus putteth Pamphilus in mynde that hee doe not feare or faint, but that he be prouided what to say to his father.
I Come againe to sée what they are a dooing or consulting.
Hée makes sure account that you will refuse to marry: he hath studied by himselfe, and is now come out of some solitary corner, hoping he hath de∣uised talke wherewith hée may bring you beside your selfe: Therefore sée that your wits bée your owne.
I will doo as well as I may.
Maister, credite mée in this: I say vnto you that your father will not geue you one euill woord to day, if you doo but say that you will marry.
BYRRIA watcheth Pamphilus: Pamphilus answeareth his father that hee is ready in all things at his commaun∣dement. Byrria makes report thereof to Carmus.
MY maister gaue mée commaundement, that setting all busines aside, I should watch Pamphilus this day, to thend I might learne what hée did as touching the marriage: and that is the matter I am now come after him hither: but lo where he is with Dauus, here hard at hand. I will do that, that I come for.
˘Hem, looke to your selfe.
Pamphilus.
ʒTurne suddenly toward him as though you were not aware of his comming.
Oh father.
Well handled of you.
I will haue thée to bée married to daye, as I told thée before.
Neither in this thing, nor in any thing els, shall you finde any let or delay, in me.
℈Out alas.
He hath neuer a word more to say.
What did he answeare?
Thou dost as becommeth thée, in that I obteine with thy good wil, ye thing which I require at thy hands.
did not I say true?
As far as I héere, my master is like to leape be∣side his wife.
Now go thy waies in, that there be no tarrying for thée when néede is.
I go.
Is there no trust to be put in any man, for any thing in the world? That same is a true saying which is commonly vsed: Euery man wisheth more good to himselfe than to an other. I my selfe haue séene that same mayden, and I remember she was of a good loue∣ly fauour: Therefore I blame not Pamphilus so much though he had leauer, lye colling of her himselfe a nights, than that my Maister should: well, I will go shew all to my Maister, that for these ill newes he may giue me ill language.
IN this scene Dauus and Simo deceyue one an other: which is woorth the noting.
NOw thinks the old man verilie, that I bring some flye shift to beguyle him, and that I staied here therefore of purpos.
What saith Dauus?
Truly euen as much now as be∣fore.
What, is it nothing thou saiest?
Nothing at all.
But I had hoped to heare somewhat.
Canst thou tell mée truth?
Why, nothing readier.
Is my sonne any thing gréeued at this marriage, in respect of the loue and familiarity betwixt him and this strange harlatry?
No certeinly, or if he be, his gréefe is but for two or three dayes (perceiue you mée?) and than it is don: for hée will take a right course with himselfe, as tou∣ching that matter.
I commend him for it.
While he might, & while it stood with his youth∣full yéeres, he gaue himselfe to loue: nor then neither, but secretly: for he tooke héede that it should not at any tyme bring him to ill name, euen as became a manly man to do. Now it is méete for him to haue a wife, hée hath setled his minde on marriage.
Mée thought that he was somewhat sad.
Not a whit for this matter, but there is some cause why he is not wel pleased with you.
What is that?
A trifling matter.
What is it, I say?
Nothing in effect.
But yet tell me what it is?
He saith that there is too much niggardnes vsed in this matter.
What, by mée?
Yea by you. Hée scarcely (quoth hée) bestowed for∣ty pence in cates, and doth hée séeme to marry his sonne to a wife: what man of calling (of my fréendes and e∣qualles) shall I bid to my wedding feast, as the case now stands? And you likewise, here be it spoken, are too much sparing indéede, which I do not commend in you.
Sirra hold you your peace.
I haue mooued his patience.
I will sée those things cared for well inough: but what is the meaning of this? what is it that this de∣ceitfull knaue goeth aboute? surely if any thing happen otherwise than well, euen that same varlet is the chéefe woorker of it.
Euery man for himselfe and God for vs all.