Pam. I take her! Alas, you know not half the miseries that oppress me; nor how my rascal Davus has embarrassed me with his pernicious advice.
Char. No wonder! I suppose he follows the fine example you set him.
Pam. You would not talk thus if you knew me, or my love.
Char. (ironically.) Oh! I know every thing: you have been in high dispute with your father; and he is now most prodigiously angry with you: and has been striving, in vain, all this day, to prevail upon you to wed Philumena.
Pam. To prove how little you know of my misfortunes, learn, that no marriage was expected to take place: neither did my father think of constraining my inclinations.
Char. O no! ’tis your inclinations that constrain you.
Pam. Hear me: you do not yet understand——
Char. I understand but too well that you are about to wed Philumena.
Pam. Why do you vex me thus[163]? hear me, I say: he never ceased urging me to tell my father that I was ready to marry: he prayed, he entreated, until, at length, I was induced to comply.
Char. Who did this?