That I abstain'd from her when first we married: And if he hears her frequent cries, I fear That he'll discover her to be in labor. I must dispatch him on some idle errand, Until Philumena's deliver'd. SCENE VI. _Enter at a distance PARMENO, SOSIA, and other slaves with baggage._ PAR. (_to SOSIA_). Aye? And had you such a wretched voyage, say you? SOSIA. Oh Parmeno, words can't express how wretched A sea-life is. PAR. Indeed? SOSIA. Oh happy Parmeno! You little know the dangers you've escap'd, Who've never been at sea.--For not to dwell On other hardships, only think of this! I was on shipboard thirty days or more, In constant fear of sinking all the while, The winds so contrary, such stormy weather! PAR. Dreadful! SOSIA. I found it so, I promise you. In short, were I assur'd I must return, 'Fore Heaven, Parmeno, I'd run away, Rather than go on board a ship again. PAR. You have been apt enough to think of that On slighter reasons, Sosia, before now. --But yonder's my young master Pamphilus Standing before that door.--Go in! I'll to him, And see if he has any business for me. (_Exeunt SOSIA, and the rest of the slaves with the baggage._ Master, are you here still? (_To PAMPHILUS._) PAM. Oh Parmeno! I waited for you. PAR. What's your pleasure, Sir? PAM. Run to the Citadel. PAR. Who? PAM. You. PAR. The Citadel! For what? PAM. Find out one Callidemides, My landlord of Mycone, who came over In the same ship with me. PAR. A plague upon it! Would not one swear that he had made a vow To break my wind, if he came home in safety, With running on his errands? PAM. Away, Sirrah! PAR. What message? must I only find him out? PAM. Yes; tell him that it is not in my power To meet him there to-day, as I appointed; That he mayn't wait for me in vain.--Hence; fly! PAR. But I don't know him, if I see him, Sir. PAM. (_impatiently_). Well; I'll describe him, so you can not miss him. --A large, red, frizzle-pated, gross, blear-eyed, Ill-looking fellow. PAR. Plague on him, say I! --What if he should not come, Sir, must I wait Till evening for him? PAM. Wait.--Be quick! PAR. Be quick? I can't be quick,--I'm so much tir'd. (_Exit._ SCENE VII. _PAMPHILOS alone._ He's gone. What shall I do? Alas! I scarcely know How to conceal, as Myrrhina desir'd, Her daughter's labor. Yet I pity her; And what I can, I am resolv'd to do, Consistent with my duty: for my parents Must be obey'd before my love.--But see! My father and Phidippus come this way. How I shall act, Heav'n knows. [Changes: _Harper_ And what I can, I am resolv'd to do, Consistent with my duty: for my parents _Colman 1768_ And what I can, consistent with my duty, I am resolv'd to do: and yet my parents SCENE VIII. _Enter at a distance LACHES and PHIDIPPUS._ LACH. Did not you say She only waited my son's coming? PHID. Aye. LACH. They say that he's arriv'd. Let us return then!