THE ARGUMENT.
Therewere in Athens two brothers,ChremesandPhania. The former making a voyage to Asia, left his infant daughter, namedPasibula, under the protection ofPhania; who, to avoid the dangers of a war which shortly after convulsed theGrecianStates, quitted Athens, and embarked also forAsiawith the infantPasibula, designing to rejoin his brotherChremes. 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 daughterChrysis; changing her name fromPasibulatoGlycera. After some years he also died, and his daughterChrysis, finding herself reduced to poverty, and avoided by her relations, removed to Athens, accompanied by her adopted sisterGlycera, orPasibula. 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 forGlyceraor for herself. She was seduced by pleasure, and her conduct from that time became very far from irreproachable. Meanwhile a young man, namedPamphilus, is accidently introduced at her house, seesGlycera, is enamoured of her; she returns his affections, and they are privately betrothed; a short time previous to the death ofChrysis, 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 calledPhilumena; he had long before formed a friendship withSimo, the father ofPamphilus.Pamphilusbeing a youth of great worth and high reputation,Chremeswishes to bestow on him the hand of his daughterPhilumena. Here the play opens. A report of the connexion betweenPamphilusandGlycerareaching the ears ofChremes, he breaks off the marriage.Simoconceals this, and to try the truth of the rumour, proposesPhilumenaagain to his son, and desires him to wed her instantly. Apprized by his servantDavusof his father’s artful stratagem,Pamphilusprofesses his willingness to marry, thinking by this measure to disappoint it; but he defeats himself, for from his ready consent,Chremesconcludes the rumour false, and renews the treaty to the great embarrassment ofPamphilus, which, with the artificesDavusemploys to extricate him, form the most diverting scenes of the play. However, when the affairs ofPamphilusandDavusare reduced to extremity, and a breach between father and son appears inevitable on account of the marriage withGlycera, and the refusal to acceptPhilumena, a stranger calledCrito, most opportunely arrives from Andros, and discoversGlycerato bePasibula, the daughter ofChremes, who willingly confirms her the wife ofPamphilus, and bestowsPhilumena, his other daughter, onCharinus, a friend ofPamphilus, to the great satisfaction of all parties.