Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6Bridges, Robert
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Poetical Works of Robert Bridges, Volume 6
Bridges, Robert
English drama; English poetry
_Sost._ See, husband, if you remember them; they are the
very same 1080
Our daughter Antiphila wore, the day she was stolen.
_Chr._ Hey!
What’s this?
_Sost._ I knew them at once.
_Chr._ Then tell me at once, whén,
How, and where did you find them?
_Sost._ The girl that Gorgo brought
Wore them. I knew them at once: and when I heard her name....
_Chr._ Antiphila?
_Sost._ Yes, Antiphila.
_Chr._ Quite so. You heard the name;
That made you think this girl our daughter: I’ll wager my life
She’s no such thing. ’Tis unsupposable.
_Sost._ Dearest husband,
I always knew we should find her. I’ve said so a thousand times.
_Chr._ Oh yes! you always knew beforehand of everything 1089
After it happened, wife: there’s nothing could occur
But you would tell me you told me before. And yet this time
Do not be wise too soon.
_Sost._ Why, here’s the ring itself,
The necklace and the name.
_Chr._ The name is a common name,
And rings and necklaces too are made so much alike,
They’re nothing to go by.
_Sost._ Then I have spoken to her, Chremes,
And she is so like her:—
_Chr._ Hey! here’s fine proof indeed;
Just think for once now what you have said. You recognize
In a grown-up lady, you say, the baby you have never seen
Since she was three! Why, even supposing she was not changed
In all these fifteen years, could you remember her
So long?
_Sost._ But she is my daughter: that makes the difference. 1101
_Chr._ Why, that’s the very question. Is she? And if she was,
What difference could it make? But if you have spoken with her,
Where does she say she comes from?
_Sost._ She says she lives in the town
With an old Corinthian widow ...
_Chr._ I know: the mother of Gorgo.
They live together, do they? Then just send Gorgo here.
_Sost._ Indeed she has nothing to do with Gorgo.
_Chr._ According to that
There are two Corinthian widows.
_Sost._ Two?
_Chr._ Why not? I suppose
There must be two, unless it’s the same.
_Sost._ But who is the other?
_Chr._ There isn’t another at all. Bring Gorgo here at once. 1110
She’ll know enough of the facts to set this matter at rest.
_Sost._ Why, Chremes ...
_Chr._ I say, fetch Gorgo.
_Sost._ I assure you, Chremes dear ...
_Chr._ Do go and fetch her, wife.
_Sost._ Well, as you will....
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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