PHI. What followed upon this? PAR. A few days after, Pamphilus, taking me aside, informs me, "That the maid still remain'd a maid for him; That he had hop'd, before he brought her home, He might have borne the marriage:--but resolving Within myself not to retain her long, I held it neither honesty in me, Nor of advantage to the maid herself, That I should throw her off to scorn:--but rather Return her to her friends, as I receiv'd her, Chaste and inviolate." PHI. A worthy youth, And of great modesty! PAR. "To make this public Would not, I think, do well: and to return her Upon her father's hands, no crime alleg'd, As arrogant: but she, I hope, as soon As she perceives she can not live with me, Will of her own accord depart." PHI. But tell me; Went he meanwhile to Bacchis? PAR. Every day. But she, as is the way you know, perceiving He was another's property, became More cross and mercenary. PHI. Troth, no wonder. PAR. Aye, but 'twas that detach'd him chiefly from her. For when he had examined well himself, Bacchis, and her at home; and had compar'd Their different manners; seeing that his bride, After the fashion of a lib'ral mind, Was decent, modest, patient of affronts, And anxious to conceal the wrongs he did her; Touch'd partly with compassion for his wife, And partly tir'd with t'other's insolence, He by degrees withdrew his heart from Bacchis, Transferring it to her, whose disposition Was so congenial to his own. Meanwhile An old relation of the family Dies in the isle of Imbrus. His estate Comes by the law to them; and our old man Dispatching thither, much against his will, The now-fond Pamphilus, he leaves his wife Here with his mother. The old gentleman Retir'd into the country, and but seldom Comes up to town. PHI. But what is there in this That can affect the marriage? PAR. You shall hear Immediately. At first, for some few days, The women seem'd to live on friendly terms: Till all at once the bride, forsooth, conceiv'd A wonderful disgust to Sostrata: And yet there was no open breach between them, And no complaints on either side. PHI. What then? PAR. If Sostrata, for conversation' sake, Went to the bride, she instantly withdrew, Shunning her company. At length, not able To bear it any longer, she pretends Her mother had sent for her to assist At some home-sacrifice. Away she went. After a few days' absence, Sostrata Sent for her back. They made some lame excuse, I know not what. She sends again. No lady. Then after several messages, at last They say the gentlewoman's sick. My mistress Goes on a visit to her: not let in. Th' old gentleman, inform'd of all this, came On this occasion yesterday to town; And waited on the father of the bride. What pass'd between them, I as yet can't tell; And yet I long to know the end of this. --There's the whole business. Now I'll on my way. PHI. And I: for there's a stranger here, with whom I have an assignation. PAR. Speed the plow! PHI. Parmeno, fare you well!