Scene III

Bacchis alone.

What joy have I procur’d to Pamphilus

By coming here to-day! what blessings brought him!

And from how many sorrows rescued him!

His son, by his and their means nearly lost,

I sav’d; a wife he meant to put away,

I’ve sav’d; a wife he meant to put away,

I have restor’d; and from the strong suspicions

Of Laches and Phidippus set him free.

—Of all these things the ring has been the cause.

For I remember, near ten months ago,

That he came running home to me one evening,

Breathless, alone, and much inflam’d with wine,

Bringing this ring. I was alarm’d at it.

“Prithee, my dearest Pamphilus, said I,

Whence comes all this confusion? whence this ring?

Tell me, my love.”—He put me off at first:

Perceiving this, it made me apprehend

Something of serious import, and I urg’d him

More earnestly to tell me.—He confess’d

That, as he came along, he had committed

A rape upon a virgin—whom he knew not——

And as she struggled, forc’d from her that ring:

Which Myrrhina now seeing on my finger,

Immediately acknowledg’d, and inquir’d

How I came by it. I told all this story:

Whence ’twas discover’d that Philumena

Was she who had been ravish’d, and the child

Conceiv’d from that encounter.—That I’ve been

The instrument of all these joys I’m glad,

Though other courtesans would not be so;

Nor is it for our profit and advantage

That lovers should be happy in their marriage.

But never will I, for my calling’s sake,

Suffer ingratitude to taint my mind.

I found him, while occasion gave him leave,

Kind, pleasant, and good-humor’d: and this marriage

Happen’d unluckily, I must confess.

Yet I did nothing to estrange his love;

And since I have receiv’d much kindness from him,

’Tis fit I should endure this one affliction.