PAM. Ah, why will you attempt to comfort me? Was ever such a wretch?--Before I married, My heart, you know, was wedded to another. --But I'll not dwell upon that misery, Which may he easily conceiv'd: and yet I had not courage to refuse the match My father forc'd upon me.--Scarcely wean'd From my old love, my lim'd soul scarcely freed From Bacchis, and devoted to my wife, Than, lo, a new calamity arises, Threatening to tear me from Philumena. For either I shall find my mother faulty, Or else my wife: In either case unhappy. For duty, Parmeno, obliges me To bear with all the failings of a mother: And then I am so bounden to my wife, Who, calm as patience, bore the wrongs I did her, Nor ever murmur'd a complaint.--But sure 'Twas somewhat very serious, Parmeno, That could occasion such a lasting quarrel. PAR. Rather some trifle, if you knew the truth. The greatest quarrels do not always rise From deepest injuries. We often see That what would never move another's spleen Renders the choleric your worst of foes. Observe how lightly children squabble.--Why? Because they're govern'd by a feeble mind. Women, like children, too, are impotent, And weak of soul. A single word, perhaps, Has kindled all this enmity between them. PAM. Go, Parmeno, and let them know I'm come. (_Noise within._) PAR. Ha! what's all this? PAM. Hush! PAR. I perceive a bustle, And running to and fro.--Come this way, Sir! --To the door!--nearer still!--There, there, d'ye hear? (_Noise continues._) PAM. Peace; hush! (_Shriek within._) Oh Jupiter, I heard a shriek! PAR. You talk yourself, and bid me hold my tongue. MYRRHINA (_within_). Hush, my dear child, for Heaven's sake! PAM. It seem'd The voice of my wife's mother. I am ruin'd! PAR. How so? PAM. Undone! PAR. And why? PAM. Ah, Parmeno, They hide some terrible misfortune from me! PAR. They said your wife Philumena was ill: Whether 'tis that, I can not tell. PAM. Death, Sirrah! Why did you not inform me that before? PAR. Because I could not tell you all at once. PAM. What's her disorder? PAR. I don't know. PAM. But tell me, Has she had no physician? PAR. I don't know. PAM. But why do I delay to enter straight, That I may learn the truth, be what it will? --Oh my Philumena, in what condition Shall I now find thee?--If there's danger of thee, My life's in danger too. (_Exit._ SCENE II. _PARMENO alone._ It were not good That I should follow him into the house: For all our family are odious to them. That's plain from their denying Sostrata Admittance yesterday.--And if by chance Her illness should increase (which Heav'n forbid, For my poor master's sake!), they'll cry directly, "Sostrata's servant came into the house:" Swear,--"that I brought the plague along with me, Put all their lives in danger, and increas'd Philumena's distemper."--By which means My mistress will be blam'd, and I be beaten. SCENE III. _Enter SOSTRATA._