MICIO. Not that. (_Snapping his fingers._)
aeSCH. He"s honest.
SYRUS. Faith I will return it.
Do but advance it.
aeSCH. Do, Sir!
MICIO. Well, I"ll think on"t.
DEM. I"ll see that he shall do"t. (_To SYRUS._)
SYRUS. Thou best of men!
aeSCH. My most indulgent father!
MICIO. What means this?
Whence comes this hasty change of manners, brother?
Whence flows all this extravagance? and whence This sudden prodigality?
DEM. I"ll tell you: To show you, that the reason why our sons Think you so pleasant and agreeable, Is not from your deserts, or truth, or justice, But your compliance, bounty, and indulgence.
--Now, therefore, if I"m odious to you, son, Because I"m not subservient to your humor In all things, right or wrong; away with care!
Spend, squander, and do what you will!--but if, In those affairs where youth has made you blind, Eager, and thoughtless, you will suffer me To counsel and correct--and in due season Indulge you--I am at your service.
aeSCH. Father, In all things we submit ourselves to you.
What"s fit and proper, you know best.--But what Shall come of my poor brother?
DEM. I consent That he shall have her: let him finish there.
aeSCH. All now is as it should be.-- (_To the audience._) Clap your hands!
THE STEP-MOTHER.
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
PROLOGUE.
LACHES.
PHIDIPPUS.
PAMPHILUS.
PARMENO.
SOSIA.
BOY, _and other Servants._
SOSTRATA.
MYRRHINA.
BACCHIS.
PHILOTIS.
SYRA.
NURSE, _Servants to Bacchis, etc._
SCENE, ATHENS.
PROLOGUE.
This play is call"d the STEP-MOTHER. When first It was presented, such a hurricane, A tumult so uncommon interven"d, It neither could be seen nor understood: So taken were the people, so engag"d By a rope-dancer!--It is now brought on As a new piece: and he who wrote the play Suffer"d it not to be repeated then, That he might profit by a second sale.
Others, his plays, you have already known; Now then, let me beseech you, know this too.
ANOTHER PROLOGUE.
I come a pleader, in the shape of prologue: Let me then gain my cause, and now grown old.
Experience the same favor as when young; Who then recover"d many a lost play, Breath"d a new life into the scenes, and sav"d The author and his writings from oblivion.
Of those which first I studied of Caecilius, In some I was excluded; and in some Hardly maintain"d my ground. But knowing well The variable fortunes of the scene, I was content to hazard certain toil For an uncertain gain. I undertook To rescue those same plays from condemnation, And labor"d to reverse your sentence on them; That the same Poet might afford me more, And no ill fortune damp young Genius in him.
My cares prevail"d; the plays were heard; and thus Did I restore an Author, nearly lost Through the malevolence of adversaries, To study, labor, and the Poet"s art.
But had I at that time despis"d his plays, Or labor"d to deter him from the task, It had been easy to have kept him idle, And to have scar"d him from attempting more: For my sake, therefore, deign to hear with candor The suit I mean to offer to you now.
Once more I bring the STEP-MOTHER before you, Which yet in silence I might never play; So did confusion crush it: which confusion Your prudence may allay, if it will deign To second our endeavors.--When I first Began to play this piece, the st.u.r.dy Boxers, (The dancers on the rope expected too,) Th" increasing crowds, the noise and women"s clamor, Oblig"d me to retire before my time.
I, upon this occasion, had recourse To my old way. I brought it on again.
In the first act I please: meanwhile there spreads A rumor of the Gladiators: then The people flock together, riot, roar, And fight for places. I meanwhile _my_ place Could not maintain--To-day there"s no disturbance; All"s silence and attention; a clear stage: "Tis yours to give these games their proper grace.
Let not, oh let not the Dramatic Art Fall to a few! let your authority a.s.sist and second mine! if I for gain Ne"er overrated my abilities, If I have made it still my only care To be obedient to your will, oh grant That he who hath committed his performance To my defense, and who hath thrown himself On your protection, be not giv"n to scorn, And foul derision of his envious foes!
Admit this plea for my sake, and be silent; That other Poets may not fear to write, That I too may hereafter find it meet To play new pieces bought at my expense.
ACT THE FIRST.
SCENE I.
_PHILOTIS, SYRA._
PHI. Now, by my troth, a woman of the town Scarce ever finds a faithful lover, Syra.
This very Pamphilus, how many times He swore to Bacchis, swore so solemnly One could not but believe him, that he never Would, in her lifetime, marry. See! he"s married.
SYRA. I warn you, therefore, and most earnestly Conjure you, to have pity upon none.
But plunder, fleece, and beggar ev"ry man That falls into your pow"r.