_Byrr._ Why not? that even if you can obtain nothing, you may make him think, at least, that Philumena will find a pressing gallant in you, if he marries her[112]. _Char._ Get away, rascal, with your base suspicions. SCENE II. CHARINUS, BYRRHIA, PAMPHILUS. _Pam._ Ha! Charinus, I hope you are well, Sir. _Char._ Oh, Pamphilus!――――I come to implore from you hope, safety, counsel, and assistance. _Pam._ Truly, I myself have need of counsel, and assistance too: but what is this affair? _Char._ You are to be married to-day! _Pam._ Ay, they say so. _Char._ If you are, Pamphilus, you see me to-day for the last time[113]. _Pam._ Why so? _Char._ Alas! I dread to speak it! tell him, Byrrhia, I beseech you. _Byrr._ I will. _Pam._ What is it, speak? _Byrr._ My master loves Philumena to distraction, and hears that she is betrothed to you. _Pam._ Truly, he and I are not of the same mind then; but prithee now, Charinus, tell me, has nothing passed between you and Philumena? _Char._ Ah! Pamphilus, nothing. _Pam._ I wish with all my soul there had! _Char._ I implore you then, by all the ties of friendship, and tried affection, never to wed her: this is my first request. _Pam._ Never! if I can help it, believe me. _Char._ But if you cannot grant me this, and earnestly desire the match―――― _Pam._ I desire it! _Char._ At least defer it for a day or two, that I may go from here, and avoid the misery of being obliged to witness it. _Pam._ Listen to me, Charinus; I think it is by no means the part of a man of honour to claim thanks, where none are due to him. I am more desirous to avoid Philumena, than you are to obtain her. _Char._ My dearest friend! your words have given me new life. _Pam._ Now, if either you, or Byrrhia here, can do any thing; for [114]Heaven’s sake do it; contrive, invent, and manage if you can, that she may be given to you; I meantime will do all in my power to prevent her from being given to me. _Char._ I am satisfied. _Pam._ But here comes Davus, most opportunely; I rely entirely upon his advice. _Char._ [_to Byrrhia._] But as for you, you can tell me nothing but what I don’t care to hear. Begone, sirrah. _Byrr._ With all my heart, Sir. [_Exit._ SCENE III. CHARINUS, PAMPHILUS, DAVUS. _Davus._ Heaven! what a world of good news do I bring! but, [_to himself_,] where shall I find Pamphilus? that I may relieve him from his present fears, and fill his soul with joy. _Char._ He seems to be very much pleased at something; he’s mighty merry. _Pam._ Oh! ’tis nothing at all: he does not yet know of this unfortunate affair. _Davus._ [_to himself._] For if he has heard that he is to be married to-day. _Char._ Do you hear what he says?