Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6 — John Shaqi
Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6Bridges, Robert
General
Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6
Bridges, Robert
English drama; English poetry
_Chr._ Attend. ’Tis you have caused
This quarrel: you have alienated father and son. 660
Not only that; but it lies with you, and you alone,
That one is risking his life in wild & barbarous wars,
The other is taking leave of his senses as fast as he can.
Think of this happy family life thus broken up,
Which may be never renewed. Suppose that Clinia
Be slain in the wars, and his father brought by grief to his grave—
Should not this make you serious?
_Gor._ He! he! he!
_Chr._ Your trifling manner, miss,
Causes me much distress.
_Gor._ I am very nervous, sir,
Your solemn way of talking alarms me, and when alarmed,
I always laugh. He! he! he!
_Chr._ Well, try and contain yourself, I pray.
I asked you here to my house the better to judge of you. 671
_Gor._ Ha! ha! ha!
_Chr._ Well, well, I see you are merry. I would not check your mirth,
And yet I cannot see what cause you have to laugh.
Still ’tis a feast with us. I bade you join the feast:
Be merry to-day.
_Gor._ Ha! ha! I will, sir.
_Re-enter Pamphilus and Philolaches._
_Chr._ (_aside_). By luck, here’s Pamphilus—
(_To Gor._) See, here is my son: go in: I’ll speak with you
soon again.
_Gor._ What time do you dine?
_Chr._ At five.
_Gor._ Is the bath made hot?
_Chr._ (_aside_). My word!
What a woman!—I’ll call my wife to attend you within.
_Gor._ I thank you. I’ll take the bath.
(_Going indoors._)
_Chr._ (_aside to Pam._). O Pamphilus, Pamphilus,
What have you done? Such a woman as this to dine in
my house. [_Exit Chremes with Gorgo._
_Pam._ By jove, Philolaches; here’s a dilemma now:
I never thought of it. 682
_Ph._ What?
_Pam._ Why when, for Clinia’s sake,
We changed the ladies, I quite forgot that I had described
Antiphila to my father. Gorgo will never do.
_Ph._ Why not?
_Pam._ Don’t ask. What is to be done? What shall I say?
_Ph._ I’m thinking.
_Pam._ My father must never know who Gorgo is.
_Ph._ I see.
_Pam._ What can I tell him?
_Ph._ I’m thinking.
_Pam._ He must not know.
_Ph._ Do let me think.
_Pam._ What is to be done? What can I say?
_Ph._ I have it.
_Pam._ What is it?
_Ph._ If we can do it—
_Pam._ What?
_Ph._ Your father
Must sooner or later come to learn the ladies were changed. 690
_Pam._ To-morrow that will not matter when Gorgo is out of the way.
To-day we must keep up the deception.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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