SIMO. I Return in anger thence, and hurt at heart, Yet had no cause sufficient for reproof. "What have I done? he'd say; or how deserv'd Reproach? or how offended, Father?--Her Who meant to cast herself into the flames, I stopped." A fair excuse! SOSIA. You're in the right; For him, who sav'd a life, if you reprove, What will you do to him that offers wrong? SIMO. Chremes next day came open-mouth'd to me: Oh monstrous! he had found that Pamphilus Was married to this stranger woman. I Deny the fact most steadily, and he As steadily insists. In short we part On such bad terms, as let me understand He would refuse his daughter. SOSIA. Did not you _Then_ take your son to task? SIMO. Not even this Appear'd sufficient for reproof. SOSIA. How so? SIMO. "Father, (he might have said) You have, you know, Prescrib'd a term to all these things yourself. The time is near at hand, when I must live According to the humor of another. Meanwhile, permit me now to please my own!" SOSIA. What cause remains to chide him then? SIMO. If he Refuses, on account of this amour, To take a wife, such obstinate denial Must be considered as his first offense. Wherefore I now, from this mock-nuptial, Endeavor to draw real cause to chide: And that same rascal Davus, if he's plotting, That he may let his counsel run to waste, Now, when his knaveries can do no harm: Who, I believe, with all his might and main Will strive to cross my purposes; and that More to plague me, than to oblige my son. SOSIA. Why so? SIMO. Why so! Bad mind, bad heart: But if I catch him at his tricks!--But what need words? --If, as I wish it may, it should appear That Pamphilus objects not to the match, Chremes remains to be prevail'd upon, And will, I hope, consent. 'Tis now your place To counterfeit these nuptials cunningly; To frighten Davus; and observe my son, What he's about, what plots they hatch together. SOSIA. Enough; I'll take due care. Let's now go in! SIMO. Go first: I'll follow you. (_Exit SOSIA._ Beyond all doubt My son's averse to take a wife: I saw How frighten'd Davus was, but even now, When he was told a nuptial was preparing. But here he comes. [Changes: _In this Scene, all quotation marks were supplied from the 1768 edition._ SIMO. Carry those things in: go! (_Ex. SERVANTS._ _Harper text reads "Exit SERVANTS"; "Ex." (1768) can be taken as the correct plural form "Exeunt"._ _Harper_ He wholly did resign himself; and join'd In their pursuits, opposing nobody, _Colman 1768_ He wholly did resign himself; complied With all their humours, checking nobody, ... Was married to this stranger woman. I Deny the fact _Line-final "I" missing in Harper text._] SCENE II. _Enter DAVUS._ DAVUS. (_to himself_). I thought 'twere wonderful If this affair went off so easily; And dreaded where my master's great good-humor Would end at last: who, after he perceiv'd The Lady was refus'd, ne'er said a word To any of us, nor e'er took it ill.