SIMO, DAVUS. _Simo._ Now, I entreat you, Davus, since you have brought about the marriage entirely by yourself―――― _Davus._ (_aside._) Yes, I have the credit of it entirely to myself. O! curse my unlucky stars. _Simo._――――to use all your influence with Pamphilus to induce him to give up his present connexion with Glycera. _Davus._ I’ll do all in my power, Sir. _Simo._ You will find less difficulty now, while he is angry with his mistress. _Davus._ Be at ease, Sir, and rely on me. _Simo._ About it then at once: but where is my son now? _Davus._ I should not wonder if he were at home. _Simo._ I will go and tell him what I have just told you. SCENE VII. DAVUS (_alone_). I am utterly undone: why do I not at once go straight to the grinding-house. ’Twill be to no purpose to implore mercy: I’ve overturned everything. I have deceived the old man, and embarrassed the son with a marriage he detests; which I have brought about this very day, though the father considered the attempt as hopeless; and Pamphilus as the greatest evil that could befal him. O! wise Davus, if you had but been quiet, this mischief would never have happened. But, see, here come Pamphilus himself! I’m a dead man. O! for some precipice that I might dash myself down headlong! [_Retires._ SCENE VIII. DAVUS, PAMPHILUS. _Pam._ Where is that villain who has ruined me? _Davus._ (_aside._) I’m a lost man! _Pam._ But I confess that I am justly punished for my imprudence: for my want of common sense. Ought I to have confided my happiness to the keeping of such a shallow slave? I only pay the penalty of my folly: however, the rascal shall not escape the punishment he so richly deserves. _Davus._ (_aside._) If I escape this time, I think I never need know fear again. _Pam._ And what can I say to my father? Can I, who so lately promised to marry, now refuse? with what face can I venture on such a step as that? I know not what to do! _Davus._ (_aside._) Nor I, though I am racking my brains to hit upon something. I will tell him that I have thought of an expedient to put off the marriage. _Pam._ (_seeing Davus._) Oh! _Davus._ I am seen! _Pam._ Pray, good Sir, what have you to say for yourself? do you see what a fine situation your rare advice has reduced me to? _Davus._ But I will soon find an expedient to extricate you from it. _Pam._ You will find an expedient! _Davus._ Certainly, Sir. _Pam._ Like your last, I suppose. _Davus._ Better, I hope, Sir. _Pam._ What trust can I put in such a rascal[156]? Can you remedy a misfortune, which appears entirely ruinous? Ah! how foolishly I relied on you, who, out of a perfect calm[157], have raised this storm, and wrecked me on the rock of this accursed marriage! Did I not forewarn you, that it would end thus?