THE ARGUMENT.
There were in Athens two brothers, Chremes and Phania. The former making a voyage to Asia, left his infant daughter, named Pasibula, under the protection of Phania; who, to avoid the dangers of a war which shortly after convulsed the Grecian States, quitted Athens, and embarked also for Asia with the infant Pasibula, designing to rejoin his brother Chremes. His vessel being wrecked off Andros, he was received and hospitably entertained by an inhabitant of the island, where he died, bequeathing his niece to his host, who generously educated her with his own daughter Chrysis; changing her name from Pasibula to Glycera. After some years he also died, and his daughter Chrysis, finding herself reduced to poverty, and avoided by her relations, removed to Athens, accompanied by her adopted sister Glycera, or Pasibula. Here, supported by her industry, she lived for some months in a virtuous seclusion; but after that period became acquainted with several young Athenians of good family, whose visits she admitted, hoping perhaps to accomplish an advantageous marriage either for Glycera or for herself. She was seduced by pleasure, and her conduct from that time became very far from irreproachable. Meanwhile a young man, named Pamphilus, is accidently introduced at her house, sees Glycera, is enamoured of her; she returns his affections, and they are privately betrothed; a short time previous to the death of Chrysis, which happens about three years after her removal to Athens. Chremes, whom we left in Asia, returned to Athens, and became the father of another daughter, who was called Philumena; he had long before formed a friendship with Simo, the father of Pamphilus. Pamphilus being a youth of great worth and high reputation, Chremes wishes to bestow on him the hand of his daughter Philumena. Here the play opens. A report of the connexion between Pamphilus and Glycera reaching the ears of Chremes, he breaks off the marriage. Simo conceals this, and to try the truth of the rumour, proposes Philumena again to his son, and desires him to wed her instantly. Apprized by his servant Davus of his father’s artful stratagem, Pamphilus professes his willingness to marry, thinking by this measure to disappoint it; but he defeats himself, for from his ready consent, Chremes concludes the rumour false, and renews the treaty to the great embarrassment of Pamphilus, which, with the artifices Davus employs to extricate him, form the most diverting scenes of the play. However, when the affairs of Pamphilus and Davus are reduced to extremity, and a breach between father and son appears inevitable on account of the marriage with Glycera, and the refusal to accept Philumena, a stranger called Crito, most opportunely arrives from Andros, and discovers Glycera to be Pasibula, the daughter of Chremes, who willingly confirms her the wife of Pamphilus, and bestows Philumena, his other daughter, on Charinus, a friend of Pamphilus, to the great satisfaction of all parties.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
- Simo, an old man, the father of Pamphilus.
- Sosia, the freedman of Simo.
- Pamphilus, the son of Simo.
- Davus, servant to Pamphilus.
- Charinus, a young man, the friend of Pamphilus.
- Byrrhia, servant to Charinus.
- Chremes, an old man, the friend of Simo.
- Crito, a stranger, from the island of Andros.
- Dromo, a servant.
- Glycera, the Andrian.
- Mysis, her maid.
- Lesbia, a midwife.
MUTES.
- Archillis, Glycera’s nurse.
- Servants belonging to Simo.
The Scene lies in Athens, in a street between the
houses of Simo and Glycera.
The Time is about nine hours.