The Comedies of Terence Part 56

SCENE VII.

_Enter at a distance SOSTRATA with a ring, and the NURSE._

SOSTRA. Or I'm deceiv'd, Or this is certainly the very ring; The ring with which my daughter was expos'd.

CHREM. (_to SYRUS, behind_). What can those words mean, Syrus?

SOSTRA. Tell me, Nurse!

Does it appear to you to be the same?

NURSE. Aye, marry: and the very moment that You show'd it me, I said it was the same.

SOSTRA. But have you thoroughly examin'd, Nurse?

NURSE. Aye, thoroughly.

SOSTRA. In then, and let me know If she has yet done bathing; and meanwhile I'll wait my husband here. (_Exit NURSE._

SYRUS. She wants you, Sir! inquire What she would have. She's grave, I know not why.

'Tis not for nothing; and I fear the cause.

CHREM. The cause? pshaw! nothing. She'll take mighty pains To be deliver'd of some mighty trifle.

SOSTRA. (_seeing them_). Oh husband!

CHREM. Oh wife!

SOSTRA. I was looking for you,

CHREM. Your pleasure?

SOSTRA. First, I must entreat you then, Believe, I would not dare do any thing Against your order.

CHREM. What! must I believe A thing past all belief?--I do believe it.

SYRUS. This exculpation bodes some fault, I'm sure. (_Aside._)

SOSTRA. Do you remember, I was pregnant once, When you a.s.sur'd me with much earnestness, That if I were deliver'd of a girl, You would not have the child brought up?

CHREM. I know What you have done. You have brought up the child.

SYRUS. Madam, if so, my master gains a loss.

SOSTRA. No, I have not: but there was at that time An old Corinthian woman dwelling here, To whom I gave the child to be expos'd.

CHREM. O Jupiter! was ever such a fool!

SOSTRA. Ah, what have I committed?

CHREM. What committed!

SOSTRA. If I've offended, Chremes, 'tis a crime Of ignorance, and nothing of my purpose.

CHREM. Own it or not, I know it well enough, That ignorantly, and imprudently, You do and say all things; how many faults In this one action are you guilty of!

For first, had you complied with my commands, The girl had been dispatch'd; and not her death Pretended, and hopes given of her life.

But that I do not dwell upon: You'll cry, "--Pity,--a mother's fondness."--I allow it.

But then how rarely you provided for her!

What could you mean? consider!--for 'tis plain, You have betray'd your child to that old beldam, Either for prost.i.tution, or for sale.

So she but liv'd, it was enough, you thought: No matter how, or what vile life she led.

--What can one do, or how proceed, with those, Who know of neither reason, right, nor justice?

Better or worse, for or against, they see Nothing but what they list.

SOSTRA. My dearest Chremes, I own I have offended: I'm convinc'd.

But since you're more experienc'd than myself, I pray you be the more indulgent too, And let my weakness shelter in your justice.

CHREM. Well, well, I pardon you: but, Sostrata, Forgiving you thus easily, I do But teach you to offend again. But come, Say, wherefore you began this?

SOSTRA. As we women Are generally weak and superst.i.tious, When first to this Corinthian old woman I gave the little infant, from my finger I drew a ring, and charg'd her to expose That with my daughter: that if chance she died, She might have part of our possessions with her.

CHREM. 'Twas right: you thus preserv'd yourself and her.

SOSTRA. This is that ring.

CHREM. Where had it you?

SOSTRA. The girl That Bacchis brought with her----

SYRUS. Ha! (_Aside._)

CHREM. What says she?

SOSTRA. Desir'd I'd keep it while she went to bathe.

I took no notice on't, at first; but I No sooner look'd on't than I knew't again, And straight ran out to you.

CHREM. And what d'ye think, Or know concerning her?

SOSTRA. I can not tell, Till you inquire it of herself, and find, If possible, from whence she had the ring.

SYRUS. Undone! I see more hope than I desire.

She's ours, if this be so. (_Aside._)

CHREM. Is she alive To whom you gave the child?

SOSTRA. I do not know.

CHREM. What did she tell you formerly?

SOSTRA. That she Had done what I commanded her.