THE LOEB CLASSICAL LIBRARY
FOUNDED BY JAMES LOEB, LL.D.
EDITED BY
|T. E. PAGE, C.H., LITT.D.
tE. CAPPS, PH.D., LL.D. fW. H. D. ROUSE, LITT.D.
L. A. POST, L.H.D. E. H. WARMINGTON, M.A., F.B.HIST.SOC.
TERENCE
II
TERENCE
WITH AN ENGLISH TRANSLATION BY
JOHN SAEGEAUNT
IN TWO VOLUMES
TT
PHORMIO
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
THE BROTHERS
LONDON
WILLIAM HEINEMANN LTD
CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS
MCMLIX
First Printed 1912
1920, 1925, 1931, 1947
, 1959
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN
CONTENTS
PAGE
I. PHORMIO . . . 1
II. THE MOTHER-IN-LAW . . . .121
III. THE BROTHERS. 213
PHORMIO
INC1PIT TERENTI PHORMIO . ACTA LVDIS ROMANIS L
POSTVMIO ALBINO L . CORNELIO MERVLA AEDILIB . CVRVLIB
EGIT L . AMBIVIVS TVRPIO . MODOS FECIT FLACCVS CLAVD1
TIBITS INPAR1BUS . TOTA GRAECA APOLLODORV EPIDICA-
ZOMENOS , FACTA IIII C , FANNIO M. VALERIO COS
Phormio by Terence. Acted at the Roman Games
in the Curule Aedileship of Lucius Postumius
Albinus and Lucius Cornelius Merula under the
management of Ambivius Turpio. Pipe-music
bass and treble by Flaccus^ servant to Claudius.
The whole adapted from "The Claimant/ a Greek
comedy of Apollodorus. The adapter s fourth
comedy. Produced in the Consulship of Gaius
Fannius and Marcus Valerius.
C. SVLPICI APOLL1NARIS
PERIOCHA
Chremetis frater aberat peregre Demipho
relicto Athenis Antiphone filio.
Chremes clam habebat Lemrii uxorem et filiam,
Athenis aliam coniugem et amantem unice
fidicinam gnatum. mater e Lemno advenit
Athenas; moritur; virgo sola (aberat Chremes)
fuiius procurat. ibi earn cum visam Antipho
amaret, opera parasiti uxorem accipit.
pater et Chremes reversi fremere. dein minas
triginta dant parasite, ut illam coniugem
haberet ipse : argento hoc emitur fidicina.
uxorem retinet Antipho a patruo adgnitam.
10
PERSONAE
DAVOS SERVOS
GETA SERVOS
ANTIPHO ADVLESCENS
PHAEDRIA ADVLESCENS
DEMIPHO SENFX
PHORMIO PARASITVS
DOR 10 LENO
ADVOCATI
HEGIO
CRATINVS
CRITO
CHREMES SEN EX
SOPHRONA NVTRIX
NAVSISTRATA MATRONA
CANTOR
SUMMARY OF THE PLAY
BY GAIUS SULPICIUS APOLLINARIS
Demipho, brother to Chremes,, was abroad, having
left his son Antipho at Athens. Chremes had
secretly contracted a bigamous marriage at Lemiios
and had a daughter there. His original wife was
at Athens with a son devoted to a lady fiddler.
The Lemnian wife came to Athens and died there.
Chremes was away at the time and there was only
her daughter to bury her. Antipho saw the daughter
at the funeral, fell in love with her, and by the aid
of an adventurer married her. His father and
Chremes on their return were highly indignant.
They gave the adventurer a hundred and twenty
pounds to marry the girl in Antipho s place. The
money was used to buy the fiddle-girl. Chremes
however recognized his daughter and Antipho
retained his wife.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
DEMIPHO, an old gentleman of Athens.
CHREMES, his brother.
HEGIO
CRATTNUS
friends to Demipho.
CRITO
ANTIPHO, son to Demipho.
PHAEDRIA, son to Chremes.
PHORMIO, an adventurer.
DORIO, a slave-dealer.
GETA, servant (slave) to Demipho.
DAVUS, a servant (slave).
NAUSISTRATA, wife to Chremes.
SOPHRONA, nurse to Chremes daughter. 5
PROLOGVS
Postquam poeta vetus poetam non potest
retrahere a studio et transdere hominem in otium,
maledictis deterrere ne scribat parat ;
qui ita dictitat, quas ante hie fecit fabulas
tenui esse oratione et scriptura levi :
quia nusquani insanum scripsit adulescentulum
cervam videre fugere et sectari canes
et eam plorare, orare ut subveniat sibi.
quod si intellegeret, quom stetit olim nova,
actoris opera magis stetisse quam sua, 10
minus multo audacter quam mine laedit laederet.
mine si quis est qui hoc dicat aut sic cogitet:
vetus si poeta non lacessisset prior,
nullum invenire prologum posset novos
quern diceret, nisi haberet cui male diceret" :
is sibi responsum hoc habeat, in medio omnibus
palmam esse positam qui artem tractaiit musicam.
ille ad famem hunc a studio studuit reicere :
hie respoiidere voluit, non lacessere :
benedictis si certasset, audisset bene : 20
quod ab illo adlatumst, sibi esse rellatum putet.
de illo iam finem faciam dicundi mini,
peccandi quom ipse de se finem non facit.
nunc quid relim animum attendite : adporto novam
Epidicazomenon quam vocant comoediam
Graece, Latine hie Phormionem nominat,
quia primas partis qui aget, is em Phormio
parasitus, per quern res geretur maxume,
6
PROLOGUE
The old playwright, being unable to divert our play
wright from his calling and consign him to leisure,
tries hard words to scare him from writing. He
keeps declaring that our man s plays are thin and
trivial compositions, and that is because he has not
introduced a mad stripling seeing a hind in flight
and hounds giving chase and the beast begging and
imploring aid. 1 If the old playwright had grasped
that the original success of his drama was due more
to his company than to himself, he would show much
less boldness in his attacks. It may be said or at
least thought that if the old playwright had not
given the challenge, the new playwright would lack
material for his prologue as having no one to attack.
The answer must be that competition for the prize
is open to all followers of dramatic art. The old
man s wish was to drive his rival from his calling
into starving. Our poet s aim was to answer, not
to provoke. Kind terms should have met with kind
terms in return. As it is the old playwright must
reckon that he is paid in his own coin. I shall here
end what 1 have to say of him though he puts no
end to his offences.
Please now attend to my aim. I produce a new
comedy of which the Greek title is The Claim
ant," but I name it Phormio," because Phormio
is the principal part in the drama and the chief actor
in the intrigue, as you will find if the poet receives
1 See note ( ) p. 9.
7
PUBLIUS TEKENTIUS AFER
voluntas vostra si ad poetam accesserit.
date operam, adeste aequo animo per silentium, 30
ne simili utamur fortuna atque usi sumus
quom per tumultum noster grex motus locost:
quern actoris virtus nobis restituit locum
bonitasque vostra adiutaiis atque aequariimitas.
PHORM1O
your kind attention. Be good enough to listen in
attentive silence that we may receive better treat
ment than when the uproar drove our company
from the stage. The opportunity of another per
formance we owe to the goodness of our manager
and the help given him by your sense of what is
fair and just. 2
1 The allusion is to some scene in a play of Lavinius.
As the play has not come down to us exact explanation
is impossible. Perhaps Terence means that a man driven
mad by love would be more in place as a character in a
tragedy than in a comedy.
2 The allusion is obscure. Some have seen a reference
to an earlier performance of the Hecyra. In any case
Terence expresses his gratitude to Lucius Ambivius Tur-
pio, who produced the play.
PUBL1US TERENT1US AFER
ACTVS I
Davos Amicus summus meus et popularis Geta
heri ad me venit. erat ei de ratiuncula
iam pridem apud me relicuom pauxillulum
nummorum : id ut conficerem. confeci : adfero.
nam erilem filium eius duxisse audio
uxorem : ei credo munus hoc conraditur. 40
quam inique comparatumst, ei qui minus habent
ut semper aliquid addant ditioribus !
quod ille uiiciatim vix de demenso suo
suom defrudans genium conpersit miser,
id ilia univorsum abripiet, baud existumans
quanto labore partum. porro autem Geta
ferietur alio munere, ubi era pepererit;
porro autem alio, ubi erit puero natalis dies;
ubi mitiabimt. omne hoc mater auferet:
puer causa erit mittuiidi. sed videon Getam? 50
Geta Si quis me quaeret rufus . . .
I-
.11
Davos praestost, desirie.
Geta oh,
at ego obviam conabar tibi, Dave.
Davos accipe, em:
lectumst; conveniet numerus quantum debui.
Getc amo te, et non neclexisse habeo gratiam.
10
PHORMIO
Scene : A thens. A p lace where four streets meet. The
houses ofDemipko, Chremes, and Dorio are on the stage.
ACT I
ENTER DaVUS AS FROM THE PIAZZA, A PURSE IN
HIS HAND.
Davus My great friend and countryman Geta came to me
yesterday. He had against me a trifling balance
on a piddling account. He asked me to make it
up, I have done so, and here it is. I hear his
master s son has taken a wife : it s for her, I sup
pose, this money is scraping together. What an
unfair system it is that the poorer man always has
to give his mite to swell the richer man s store !
What my friend has struggled to save, farthing by
farthing, from his rations, robbing himself of his
pleasures, she ll swallow down at a bite with never
a thought for the toil it cost him. Then again
Geta will be hit for another present when a child
is born arid another on its birthday, and another at
the initiation ceremony. The mother will pocket
it all, the child will be the pretext for the gift.
Ah, is that Geta ?
ENTER Geta FROM Demipho* s HOUSE.
Geta {speaking to a servant within} If a red-headed fellow
asks for me
Davus (interrupting) All right: here he is.
Geta (turning round) You ve saved me going to look for
you, Davus.
Davus (handing him the purse) Here you are, take it, no
clipped coin, the sum just what I owed.
Geta Thank you, thank you; very good of you riot to
overlook it.
11
PUBL1US TERENT1US AFER
Davos praeserlim ut nimc : unt mores : adeo res redit :
si quis quid reddit, magiia habendast gratia.
sed quid tu es tristis ?
Geta egone ? nescis quo in metu,
quanto in periclo simus !
Davos quid istuc est?
Geta scies,
modo ut tacere possis.
Davos abi sis, insdens:
quoius tu fidem in pecunia perspexeris, 60
verere verba ei credere? ubi quid mihi lucrist
te fallere?
Geta ergo ausculta.
Davos hanc operam tibi dico.
Geta senis nostri, Dave, fratrem maiorem Chremem
nostin ?
Davos quid ni?
Geta quid ? eius gnatum Phaedriam ?
Davos tam quam te.
Geta evenit senibus ambobus simul
iter illi in Lemnum ut esset, nostro in Ciliciam
ad hospitem antiquom. is senem per epislulas
pellexit, modo non mentis auri pollicens.
Davos quoi taiita erat res et supererat?
Geta desinas :
sic est ingenium. 70
Davos oh, regern me esse oportuit.
Geta abeuntes ambo hie turn series me fill is
relinquont quasi magistrum.
Davos o Geta, provinciam
cepisti duram.
Geta mi usus venit, hoc scio:
meniini relinqui me deo irato meo.
coepi advorsari primo : quid verbis opust ?
PHORMIO
Davus I should think so with morals as they are now.
It s come to this that, if a man pays a debt, you
have to be mighty thankful to him. But you look
glum : what is it ?
Geta Do I? Ah, you don t know what fear we re in,
what danger.
Davus What s the matter?
Geta I ll tell you, but you must keep it secret.
Davus Go along, silly man ! Find a man trustworthy in
a matter of cash and then fear to confide a story to
him? Besides here how should I gain by playing
you false?
Geta Listen then.
Davus I m all attention.
Geta You know Chremes, don t you, our old man s elder
brother ?
Davus Of course I do.
Geta And his son Phaedria?
Davus As well as I know you.
Geta It so fell out that the pair of old men went abroad
at the same time, Chremes to Lenmos and our
venerable to an old friend in Cilicia, who had
caught his fish by promising mountains, well nigh
of gold.
Davus What, when he had all that money, so much above
his wants?
Geta What use talking? Money s his passion.
Davus Oh, if I d been king, things would be different.
Geta On going off both old men left me here to be
tutor, like, to their sons.
Davus O Geta, what a tough job of an office for you !
Geta That s what I found it, I can tell you. It s written
on my mind that my guardian angel had a grudge
against me. At first I used to try and check em:
13
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
seni fidelis dum sum, scapulas perdidi.
Davos venere in mentem mi istaec: namque insoitiast,
advorsum stimulum calces.
Geta coepi eis omnia
facere, obsequi quae vellent.
Davos scisti uti foro.
Geta noster mali nil quicquam primo; hie Pliaedria 80
continue quandam nactus est puellulam
citharistriam, hanc amare coepit perdite.
ea serviebat lenoni inpurissumo,
neque quod daretur quicquam; id curarant patres
restabat aliud nil nisi oculos pascere,
sectari, in ludum ducere et redducere.
operam otiosi nos dabamus Phaedriae.
in quo haec discebat ludo, exadvorsum ei loco
tonstrina erat quaedam; hie solebamus fere
plerumque earn opperiri, dum iride iret domum. 90
interea dum sedemus illi, intervenit
adulesceiis quidam lacrumans. nos mirarier;
rogamus quid sit. numquam aeque " inquit ac modo
paupertas mihi onus visumst et miserum et gra^e.
modo quandam vidi virgiiiem hie viciniae
miseram suam matrem lamentari mortuam.
ea sita erat exadvorsum neque illi benevolus
neque notus neque cognatus extra imam aniculam
quisquam aderat qui adiutaret funus: miseritumst.
virgo ipsa facie egregia." quid verbis opust? 100
commorat omnis nos. ibi continuo Aiitipho
voltisne eamus visere?" alius censeo:
eamus: due nos sodes." imus, venimus,
14
PHORMIO
to cut the tale short, my faithfulness to the old
man played the devil with my shoulderblades.
Darns (sententiously) Just what occurred to me. Yes, yes,
it s folly kicking against the pricks.
Geta Then I took to doing everything to please em,
falling in with all their whims.
Davus You knew how to make your market.
Geta Our lad was up to no mischief at first, but that
Phaedria at once came across a slip of a girl, a
cithern-player, and fell desperately in love with
her. She belonged to a real beast of a slave-dealer
and there wasn t a penny to give; the fathers had
seen to that. The only thing left was to feed his
eyes, dance attendance on her, escort her to the
music school and back. Having nothing on hand
we helped Master Phaedria. The school she went
to had right opposite it a barber s shop: that s
where we used generally for the most part to wait
for her to come out and go home. One day, as
we were sitting there, in comes a young man in
tears. We fell a-wondering and asked what s the
matter. Never/ says he, so much as just now
have I felt what a wretched crushing load poverty
is. I have just seen an unhappy girl round the
corner here weeping for her dead mother. The
body was laid out in the hall, and there wasn t a
wellwisher or an acquaintance or a kinsman, 110-
body but one old crone, on the spot to help in
the funeral. It wrung my heart; and the girl a
real beauty too ! In short his story touched us
all. Then at once, cries Antipho, if Shall we go
and visit her? Says another, l vote we do,
come along, show us the way, please." We start,
we re there, we see her, a lovely girl and you
15
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
videmus. virgo pulchra, et quo magis diceres,
nil aderat adiumenti ad pulchritudinem :
capillus passus, nudus pes, ipsa horrida,
lacrumae, vestitus turpis : ut, ni vis boni
in ipsa inesset forma, haec formam exstinguerent.
ille qui ill am amabat fidicinam tantum modo
satis inquit scitast"; noster vero . . 1 10
Davos iam scio:
amare coepit.
Geta scin quam ? quo evadat vide.
postridie ad anum recta pergit : obsecrat
sibi ut eius faciat copiam. ilia enim se negat
neque eum aequom facere ait: illam civem esse
Atticam,
bonam boiiis prognatam : si uxorem velit,
lege id licere facere ; sin aliter, negat.
noster quid ageret nescire : et illam ducere
cupiebat et metuebat absentem patrem.
Davos non, si redisset, ei pater veniam daret?
Geta ille indotatam virginem atque ignobilem 120
daret illi? numquam faceret.
Davos quid fit denique?
Geta quid fiat? est parasitus quidam Phormio,
homo confidens: qui ilium di omnes perduint!
Davos quid is fecit?
Geta hoc consilium quod dicam dedit:
lex est ut orbae, qui sint genere proxumi,
eis nubant, et illos ducere eadem haec lex iubet.
ego te cognatum dicam et tibi scribam dicam ;
paternum amicum me adsimulabo virgiriis :
ad iudices veniemus : qui fuerit pater,
quae mater, qui cognata tibi sit, omnia haec 130
confingam: quod erit mihi bonum atque cornmodum,
16
PHORMIO
might have said so the more from her loveliness
having nothing to set it off; hair dishevelled, no
shoes on, person unkempt, miserable clothes; in
fact but for the soul of beauty in her face all this
would have quenched it. The cithern-girl s lover
said no more than <f She s pretty enough/ but our
young man-
Davus (interrupting) I know, fell in love with her.
Geta Rather! Mark what follows. Next day he goes
straight to the old woman and begs admission.
No," says she, and tells him he s not acting right :
the girl is an Athenian, honest and of honest
parents; if he wants to marry her, he may do it
the lawful way; if something else, then no. Our
man couldn t tell what to do; he was eager to
marry, but afraid of his absent father.
Davtis If his father were come back, he wouldn t be 1 for
letting him, eh?
Geta Let him marry a girl of no fortune nor family?
Never, not he.
Davus What happened in the end?
Geta Pretty doings ! There s an adventurer named
Phormio, a fellow all impudence, may the devil
fly away with him!
Darns What did he do?
Geta Gave the advice I ll tell you. There s a law,"
says he, that orphans are to be married to their
next of kin, and the same law prescribes that the
next of kin shall marry them. I ll say you are her
kinsman, and I ll take out a writ against you. I ll
set up for a friend of the girl s father. We shall
both come into court. Who her father was, who
her mother, and how she s akin to you, I ll make
up a story for all that. Any point that I choose and
17
PUBLICS TERENT1US AFER
quom tu horum nil refelles, vincam scilicet.
pater aderit : mihi paratae lites : quid mea ?
ilia quidem nostra erit."
Davos iocularem audaciam.
Geta persuasumst homini : factumst : ventumst : vincimur :
duxit.
Davos quid narras?
Geta hoc quod audis.
Davos o Geta,
quid te futurumst?
Geta nescio hercle ; unum hoc scio,
quod fors feret feremus aequo animo.
Davos placet :
em, istuc virist officium.
Geta in me omnis spes mihist.
Davos laudo.
Geta ad precatorem adeam credo qui mihi 1 40
sic oret : nunc amitte quaeso hunc ; ceterum
posthac si quicquam, nil precor." tantum modo
non addit: ubi ego hinc abiero, vel occidito."
Davos quid paedagogus ille qui citharistriam ?
quid rei gerit?
Geta sic, tenuiter.
Davos non multum habet
quod det fortasse?
Geta immo nil nisi spem meram.
Davos pater eius rediit an non?
Geta nondum.
Davos quid? senem
quoad exspectatis vostrum ?
Geta non certum scio,
sed epistulam ab eo adlatam esse audivi modo
et ad portitores esse delatam : hanc petam. 1 50
18
PHORMIO
please, since you won t be for contesting any one
of them, I shall of course establish. Your father
will come back, I am in for a row, but what care
I ? The girl will be ours.
Davus A sporting venture
Geta Our man agreed, it was done, we come into court,
we are beaten, he has married her.
Davus You don t say so?
Geta But I do say so.
Davus O Geta, what will become of you?
Geta Lord ! I don t know. One thing I know (affecting
heroism), come what will I shall bear it philo
sophically.
Davus Good! There s a man for you!
Geta My dependence is wholly on myself.
Davus Bravo !
Geta Likely that I should go to an intercessor to plead
for me in this style : For this time please let him
off, but if he ever offend again, no intercession
from me," all but adding, when I am gone, if
you like hang him straight off."
Davus What of the gentleman usher, the cithern-girl s
escort, you know? How does he get on?
Geta So so, rather poorly.
Davus Hasn t much to give perhaps?
Geta Nothing but hope, bare hope.
Davus His father back yet or not?
Geta Not yet.
Davus And your old man, when do you look for him?
Geta Can t say for certain. I heard just now there was
a letter come from him and taken into the harbour
office. I ll go and get it.
19
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Davos num quid, Geta, aliud me vis?
Geta ut bene sit tibi.
puer, heus. nemon hoc prodit? cape, da hoc Dorcio.
Anti. Adeon rem redisse ut qui mi consul turn optume
I. iii velit esse,
Phaedria, patrem ut extimescam, ubi in mentem
eius adventi veniat!
quod ni fuissem incogitaris, ita exspectarem, ut par fuit.
Phae. quid istuc?
Anti. rogitas, qui tarn audacis facinoris mihi consciu s ?
quod utinam ne Phormioni id suadere in mentem
incidisset
neu me cupidum eo inpulisset, quod mihi principi-
umst mali!
noii potitus essem : fuisset turn illos mi aegre aliquod
dies,
at noil cottidiana cura haec angeret animum. 1 60
Phae. audio.
Anti. dum exspecto quam mox veniat qui adimat hanc
mihi consuetudinem.
Phae. aliis quia defit quod amant aegrest; tibi quia
superest dolet:
amore abundas, Antipho.
nam tua quidem hercle certo vita haec expetenda .
optandaque est.
ita me di bene ament, ut mi liceat tarn diu quod amo
frui,
iam depecisci morte cupio : tu conicito cetera,
quid ego ex hac inopia nunc capiam et quid tu ex
istac copia;
ut ne addanr, quod sine sumptu ingenuam, liberalem
nactus es,
quod habes, ita ut voluisti, uxorem sine mala fama
palam :
20
PHORMIO
Davits Anything more I can do for you, Geta?
Geta Take ray good wishes. [EXIT Davus.] (Geta goes
to the door and calls) Hi, boy ! (a pause) Is no one
going to come to the door ? (enter a servant) Take
and give this to Dorcium. ] (gives him the purse)
[EXEUNT SEVERALLY.
ENTER Antipho AND Pkoedria FROM THE HOUSE.
Anti. An ugly pass I am come to, Phaedria, when the
thought of my father s return, the man who cares
for my best interests, fills me with terror, while if
I hadn t been a thoughtless fool, I should have been
awaiting him in the right spirit.
Pkae. (impatiently) What now?
Anti. What a question for an accomplice in a piece of
impudence ! Would to heaven it had never entered
Phormio s mind to suggest it and I had never been
so eager as to let him push me into it! There s
where my trouble begins. Suppose I had never
won her, then 1 should have fretted for a week or
two, but shouldn t have had this daily anxiety
catching me at the heart.
Phae. (bitterly) Yes, yes, I know.
Anti. While every moment I m looking for the return of
the man who will put an end to this intercourse.
Phae. Other men fret from lack of their bliss, you are
pained by superabundance of it, yes superabundance,
Antipho. By heaven, man, your present life is a
thing one might cry and pray for. As I hope to be
saved, if I might have as long enjoyment of my
love I am eager to bargain my life for it on the
spot. Now draw your conclusion what I get from
my nothing and you from your much, not to say
that without spending a shilling you have hit on a
1 Dorcium is Geta s wife.
21
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
beatus, ni unum desit, animus qui modeste istaec 170
ferat.
quod si tibi res sit cum eo lenone quo mihist, turn
seiitias.
ita plerique omnes sumus ingem o: nostri nosmet
paenitet.
Anti. at tu mihi contra nunc videre fortunatus, Phaedria,
quoi de integro est potestas etiam consulendi quid
velis :
retinere amorem an mittere; ego in eum incidi
infelix locum
ut neque mihi eius sit amittendi nee retinendi copia.
sed quid hoc est ? videon ego Getam currentem hue
adveiiire ?
is est ipsus. ei, timeo miser quam hie mihi nunc
nuntiet rem.
Geta Nullu s, Geta, nisi aliquod iam consilium celere
I. iv reperies:
ita nunc inparatum subito tanta te inpendent mala ; 1 80
quae neque uti devitem scio neque quo modo me
inde extraham ;
nam non potest celari nostra diutius iam audacia.
Anti. quid illic commotus venit?
Geta turn temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est : erus
adest.
Anti. quid illuc malist?
Geta quod quom audierit, eius quod remedium inveniam
iracundiae ?
loquarne? incendam; taceam? instigem; purgem
me? laterem lavem.
heu me miserum ! quom mihi paveo, turn Antipho
me excrueiat animi :
eius me miserct, ei nunc timeo, is nunc me retinet;
nam absque eo esset,
22
PHORMIO
true gentlewoman and have married her, as you
wished, honourably in the light of day, happy
indeed but for the one lack of a temper to bear
your fortune contentedly. But if you had to do
with that slave-dealer that /have, then you d know
what it is. It s the way with pretty nearly all of
us, every man is sorry for himself.
On the contrary it s you I take for the happy man,
Phaedria; you are still unhampered in thinking
what you may do, keep or drop your love. I am
fallen into the unhappy case of not being able to
do either, (turns round) Hollo, what s this? Is that
Geta coming up at a run ? It is. Hang it, I m
afraid he has bad news, (they stand aside)
ENTER Geta HURRIEDLY.
(not seeing the others and pacing up and down) You re
done for, Geta, unless you find some plan at once ;
you weren t ready for all this cloud of trouble. 1
don t know how to avoid the storm or how to survive
its bursting. Hidden any longer our piece of
daring can t be.
inti. {aside to Phaedria) What s his excitement?
lela What s worse, I ve only a moment to think. Master s
come.
inti. (as before) What s the trouble?
Jeta When he hears of it how can I soothe his rage?
Tell him? That s fuel to him. Not tell him?
That s goading him to worse. Defend myself?
Labour lost! Curse it all, it s not my own skin
only ; I m tortured no less for Antipho : it s him I
pity, him I fear for, it s he keeps me here : else I
23
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
recte ego mihi vidissem et senis essem ultus iracundiam :
aliquid convasassem atque hinc me conicerem pro- 190
tinam in pedes.
Anil. quamnam hie fugam aut furtum parat?
Geta sed ubi Antiphonem reperiam? aut qua quaerere
insistam via?
Phae. te nominat.
Anti. nescio quod magnum hoc nuntio exspecto malum.
Phae. ah.
Geta domum ire pergam: ibi plurimumst.
Phae. revocemus hominem.
Anti. sta ilico.
Geta hem,
satis pro imperio, quisquis es.
Anti. Geta.
Geta ipsest quern volui obviam.
Anti. cedo, quid portas, obsecro? atque id, si potes, verbo
expedi.
Geta faciam.
Anti. eloquere.
Geta modo apud portum . .
Anti. meumne?
Geta intellexti.
Anti. oceidi.
Phae. hem.
Anti. quid agam?
Phae. quid ais?
Geta huius patrem vidisse me, patruom tuom.
Anti. namquod ego huic nunc subito exitio rernedium 200
inveniam miser?
quod si eo meae fortunae redeunt, Phanium, abs te
ut distrahar,
24
PHORMIO
should have looked out for myself, yes and punished
the old man s passionateness, packed up a thing or
two and taken straight to my heels.
nil. Bolting? thieving? what s the fellow got in his
head ?
eta But where can I find Antipho? Where shall I
start the search? (stands meditating)
*hae. (to Antipho) He mentions you.
nti. I expect some horrible misfortune in his news.
*hae. Heavens !
eta I ll draw the home covert, he s mostly tied to my
lady s apron, (goes towards the house)
Let s call him back.
(calling) Stop you, stop at once.
(not looking back) Hem! Pretty peremptory, who
ever you are.
Geta !
(turning round") The very man I wanted.
For heaven s sake, your news, in a word if you can.
eta You shall have it.
nti. Speak.
\eta Just now on the quay
nti. My ?
\eta You ve got it.
nti. Death f
*hae. I say
\nti. What shall I do?
*hae. (to Getct) What is it you say?
ieta That I ve seen his father, your uncle.
(nti. How can a poor wretch stave off this sudden
destruction ? (passionately) If it comes to my being
torn from you, my Phanium,no life is worth my care.
25
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFER
nullast mihi vita expetenda.
Geta ergo istaec quom ita sint, Antipho,
tanto magis te advigilare aequomst : fortis for tuna
adiuvat.
Anti. non sum apud me.
Geta atqui opus est nunc quom maxume ut sis, Antipho ;
nam si senserit te timidum pater esse, arbitrabitur
commeruisse culpam.
Phae. hoc verumst.
Anti. non possum inmutarier.
Geta quid faceres si gravius aliquid tibi nunc faciundum foret ?
Anti. quom hoc non possum, illud minus possem.
Geta hoc nil est, Phaedria : ilicet.
quid hie conterimus operam frustra ? quin abeo ?
Phae. et quidem ego?
Anti. obseero,
quid si adsimulo ? satinest ? 210
Geta garris.
Anti. voltum contemplamini : em,
satin e sic est?
Geta non.
Anti. quid si sic?
Geta propemodum.
Anti. quid sic?
Geta sat est:
em, istuc serva; et verbum verbo, par pari, ufr re-
spondeas,
ne te iratus suis saevidicis diotis protelet.
Anti. scio.
Geta vi coactum te esse invitum.
Phae. lege, iudicio.
Geta tenes ?
sed hie quis est senex quern video in ultima platea ?
ipsus est.
26
PHORM1O
Geta Well then, as that s so, Sir, you ought all the more
to keep awake. Fortune favours the brave.
4ntl. I can t command myself.
Geta Come, come now, if ever you ve got to command
yourself. If your father sees you re afraid he ll
think you guilty.
That s true.
(dolefully) I can t change my nature.
What would you do if your task were still harder ?
As I am not equal to this, I should be still less
equal to that.
(to Phaedria) This cock won t fight, Sir ; the game s
up, no use wasting time here, I m off. (going)
Phae. So am I.
dnti. For heaven s sake, no: suppose I pretend, (en
deavouring to put on an air of confidence) Will this
do?
Geta Absurd.
4nti. Keep your eyes on my face. See now, will this do ?
Geta No.
4nti. (making a better attempt) This then?
Geta That s more like it.
Anii. What of this?
Geta That ll do ; yes, keep that up ; and mind you answer
him word for word, hit for hit, else in his rage he ll
rout you with a broadside of curses.
AntL (dolefully) I know.
Geta Say you were forced into it against your will.
Phae. By the statute, by the court.
Geta Do you see, eh? Hollo, who s that old gentleman
at the end of the street? It s himself.
B 27
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Anti. non possum adesse.
Geta ah, quid agis? quo abis, Antipho?
mane inquam.
inti. egomet me novi et peccatum mcum:
vobis commendo Phanium et vitam meam.
Phae. Geta, quid nunc fiet?
Geta tu iam litis audies;
ego plectar pendens nisi quid me fefellerit. 220
sed quod modo hie nos Antiphonem monuimus,
id nosmet ipsos facere oportet, Phaedria.
Phae. aufer mi oportet" : quin tu quid faciam impera.
Geta meministm, olim ut fuerit vostra oratio
in re incipiunda ad defendendam noxiam,
iustam illam causam, facilem, vincibilem, optumam ?
Phae. niemini.
Geta em, nunc ipsast opus ea aut, si quid potest,
meliore et callidiore.
Phae. fiet sedulo.
Geta nunc prior adito tu, ego in insidiis hie ero
subcenturiatus, si quid deficias. 230
Phae. age.
ACTVS II
Demi. Itane tandem uxorem duxit Antipho iniussu meo?
nee meum imperium. ac mitto imperium, non
simultatem meam
revercri saltern! non pudere : o facinus audax, o
Geta
28
PHOTCMIO
it tL (much alarmed) I can t face him. (going)
eta No, no, what are you about ? Where are you off to :
Stop, I say.
nil. I know myself and my offence. I trust you two
with Phanium and my life.
[EXIT. The two others look blankly at each other.
hae. What now, Geta?
eta FoM 11 get a wigging on the spot, I shall be strapped
up and drubbed, or else I m much mistaken.
However the advice we gave just now to your
cousin, that s what we ought to follow ourselves, Sir.
Ought " be hanged! Just tell me what to do.
Do you remember the defence we talked over som
time back, when we projected the enterprise, so as
to get clear of blame, how the cause was right and
straight and sure to win, just perfect.
hae. I remember.
eta Very well, that s the defence that s wanted now or
a better and cleverer one if we can find it.
hae. I shall do my best.
eta You must begin the attack, I shall lie in ambush
here as a reserve force in case you give ground.
hae. All right, (they stand aside)
ACT II
ENTEH Dtmipho IN TRAVELLING DRESS.
kml. (not seeing the others) Do they mean to tell me that
Antipho has married a wife without my leave?
What, no regard for my authority I won t mention
authority- -for my indignation even? No shame
either? What atrocious assurance And Geta what
a pretty adviser!
29
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
monitor !
Geta vix tandem.
Demi. quid mihi dicent aut quam causam reperient ?
demiror.
Geta atqui reperiam: aliud cura.
Demi. an hoc dicet mihi:
invitus feci. lex coegit"? audio, fateor.
Geta places.
Demi, verum scientem, taciturn, causam tradere advorsariis,
etiamne id lex coegit?
Phae. illud durum.
Geta ego expediam: sine.
Demi, incertumst quid agam, quia praeter spem atque
incredibile hoc mi obtigit:
ita sum inritatus, animum ut nequeam ad cogitan- 240
dum instituere.
quam ob rem omnis, quom secundae res sunt ma-
xume, turn maxume
meditari secum oportet quo pactotadvorsam aerum
nam ferant:
pericla, damna, peregre rediens semper secum
cogitet,
aut fili peccatum aut uxoris mortem aut morbum filiae ;
communia esse haec, fieri posse ut rie quid animo
sit novom;
quidquid praeter spem eveniat, omne id deputare
esse in lucro.
Geta o Phaedria, incredibile quantum erum ante eo
sapientia.
meditata mihi sunt omnia mea incommoda, erus si
redierit :
inolendum usque in pistrino, vapulandum, liabendae
compedes,
30
PHORMIO
eta (aside) Geta at last !
>emi. What will they say to me? What excuse will they
find? I wonder.
eta (aside) Oh, I ll devise one, don t worry about that
)emi. Is this what they ll say? It was against my will,
the law coerced me." Quite so, I admit it.
eta (aside) Very good of you !
)emi. But to give the case into the other side s hands with
your eyes open and your mouth shut, did the law
coerce you into that too?
"hae. (aside) That s a poser.
eta (aside) I ll solve it, never you mind.
)emi. I can t tell what to do, it s such an unexpected, such
an unbelievable blow. The thing stings me so, that
I can t start thinking. It shows that just when
things are at the very best with us we ought all to
rehearse how to bear misfortune when we meet with
it. Coming from his travels a man should always
have in his mind lawsuits and losses, an offence of
his son, the death of his wife, or the sickness of his
daughter, reflecting that such misfortunes are com
mon to all and may happen to him, so that nothing
may come to him as a surprise : anything that betters
his expectation he should count clear gain.
eta (aside to Phaedria) Oh Sir, you can t think how much
my wisdom is ahead of my master s. I ve rehearsed
all the unpleasantnesses in case of his return, endless
grinding in the mill, drubbings, fetters, drudgery on
the farm, not one of these will come to me as a
31
PUBLICS TERENT1US AFER
opus ruri faciundum. horum nil quicquam accidet 250
animo novom.
quidquid praeter spem eveniet, omne id deputabo
esse in lucro.
sed quid cessas hominem adire et blande in prin
ciple adloqui?
Demi. Phaedriam mei fratris video filium mi ire obviam.
Phae. mi patrue, salve.
Demi. salve; sed ubist Antipho?
Phae. salvom venire . . .
Demi. credo; hoc responde mihi.
Phae. valet, hie est; sed satin omnia ex sententia?
Demi, veil em quidem.
Phae. quid istuc est?
Demi. rogitas, Phaedria?
bonas me absente hie coiifecistis nuptias.
Phae. eho, an id suscenses mine illi?
Geta artificem probum
Demi, egon illi non suscenseam? ipsum gestio 260
dari mi in conspectum, nunc sua culpa ut sciat
lenem patrem ilium factum me esse acerrumum.
Phae. atqui nihil fecit, patrue, quod suscenseas.
Demi, ecce autem similia omnia ! omnes congruent :
unum quom noris omnis noris.
Phae. hand itast.
Demi, hie in noxiast, ille ad defendendam causam adest:
quom illest, hie praestost: tradunt operas mutuas.
Geta probe horum facta inprudens depinxit senex.
Demi, nam ni haec ita essent, cum illo haud stares, Phaedria.
32
PHORM1O
surprise, and anything that betters my expectation
I shall count clear gain. However you d better
go up to our gentleman and open the parley with
some sugared words. (Phaedria advances)
emi. There s my nephew Phaedria coming to meet
me.
kae. How do you do, uncle? {greets him effusively)
emi. How do you do? But where* s Antipho?
lae. I m so glad to see that-
emi. (interrupting) Yes, yes, but answer my question.
lae. He s quite well, he s close by. Everything satis
factory, I hope.
emi. I only wish it were.
lae. Why, what s the matter?
emi. A pretty question, Phaedria! A nice marriage you
people have trumped up while I was away.
hae. (with affected astonishment) Bless me, Sir, are you
angry with him for that?
zta (aside) Splendid acting!
emi. And am I not to be angry with him ? I m on fire to
have the culprit brought before me so that he may
learn how his own fault has turned his easy old
father into a perfect martinet.
kac. But, uncle, he s done nothing to make you angry.
emi. There you are! all of a pattern, all of a gang!
Know one and you know all.
kae. That s not the case.
emi. One offends, the other takes a brief to defend him ;
the second offends, up trots the first. They re a
company for mutual benefit.
eta (aside) The old boy has drawn their pictures to the
life though he don t know it.
emi. If it weren t so, Phaedria, you wouldn t be his
chamoion.
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Phae. si est, patrue, culpam ut Antipho in se admiserit, 270
ex qua re minus rei foret aut famae temperans,
non causam dico quin quod meritus sit ferat.
sed si quis forte malitia fretus sua
itisidias nostrae fecit adulescentiae
ac vicit, nostran culpa east an iudicum,
qui saepe propter iiividiam adimunt diviti
aut propter misericordiam addunt pauperi ?
Geta ni nossem causam, crederem vera hune loqui.
Demi, an quisquam iudex est qui possit noscere
tua iusta, ubi tute verbum non respoiideas, 280
ita ut ille fecit?
Phae. functus adulescentulist
officium liberalis : postquam ad iu dices
^entumst, non potuit cogitata proloqui ;
ita eum turn timidum subito stupefecit pudor.
Geta laudo hunc. sed cesso adire quam primum senem ?
ere, salve : salvom te advenisse gaudeo.
Demi oh,
bone custos, salve, columen vero familiae,
quoi commendavi filium hinc abiens meum.
Geta iam dudum te oinnis nos accusare audio
inmerito et me horunc omnium inmeritissumo. 290
namquid me in hac re facere voluisti tibi?
servom hominem causam orare leges non sinunt
neque testimoni dictiost.
Demi mitto omnia.
do istuc inprudens timuit adulescens" ; sino
tu servo s; verum si cognatast maxume,
non fuit necesse habere ; sed id quod lex iubet,
34
PHORMIO
hae. If it is a fact, uncle, that Antipho has committed
any fault that shows him to be regardless of his
self-interest or his good name, I enter no plea
against his getting his deserts. If however there
is one who, relying on his own wickedness, has set
a trap for our inexperience and has got the better
of us, is that our fault or the fault of the jury, who
often out of jealousy cast a rich man in damages or
out of pity give them to a poor man ?
eta (aside) If I didn t know the facts I should think he
f was speaking the truth.
>emi. How can any juryman tell the merits of your case
when you yourself don t say a word, as he didn t ?
hae. He acted like the ingenuous j^oung man that he is.
When he came into court he couldn t find a voice
for his prepared arguments. With his nervous
nature his modesty struck him dumb on the spot.
eta (aside) Well done our side ! But I d better go i p to
the old man. (advances) Good day, Sir : I m glad to
see you back safe and sound.
*emi. (shaking his stick at him) O faithful shepherd ! O
pillar of my household, to whom I entrusted my
son when I went abroad!
eta (affecting to be aggrieved) For some minutes, Sir, I
have been listening to your unjust charges against
all of us, and me in particular who deserve them
least of all. What did you want me to do in the
matter, Sir? The law won t let a slave hold a
brief, no nor go into the witness-box.
emi. I grant it all, I allow your nervous and inex
perienced lad," I concede you are a slave. Still,
if she is ten times our kinswoman, we weren t
forced into a marriage. You could have gone by
the statute, supplied her with a dowry, looked out
35
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
dotein daretis, quaereret alium viruni.
qua ratione inopem potius ducebat domum?
Geta non ratio verum argentum deerat.
Demi sumeret
alicunde.
Geta alicunde? nil est dictu facilius. 300
Demi, postremo si nullo alio pacto, faenore.
Geta hui, dixti pulchre! siquidem quisquam crederet
te vivo.
Demi. non, non sic futurumst: non potest.
egon illam cum illo ut patiar nuptam unum diem?
nil suave meritumst. hominem conmonstrarier
mi istuni volo aut ubi habitet demons trader.
Geta nempe Phormionem?
Demi. istum patron um mulieris,
Geta iam faxo hie aderit.
Demi. Antipho ubi nunc est?
Geta foris.
Demi, abi, Phaedria, eum require atque hue adduc.
Phae. eo :
recta via quidem illuc.
Geta nempe ad Pamphilam. 310
Demi, ego deos penatis hinc salutatum domum
devortar; inde ibo ad forum atque aliquod mihi
amicos advocabo ad hanc rem qui adsient,
ut ne inparatus sim si veniat Phormio.
Pkor. Itane patris ais conspectum veritum hinc abiisse?
II. ii
Geta ad mod urn.
S6
PHORMIO
for another man to marry her. Where was the sense
in preferring to saddle him with a penniless bride ?
eta The sense was there, Sir; it was the cash was
lacking.
k nti. He might have borrowed it from some one ?
eta Some one? Nothing easier to say\
)emi. At the worst, if other ways failed, on interest.
eta (whistles) Phew I Fine words! Yes, indeed, if any
one would have given him credit with you alive.
kmi. (furiously) It shan t be, it shan t be, it s impossible.
What, I let her live with him a single day ? They
have deserved no indulgence, (pauses) I want to
have that fellow pointed out to me or to be shown
where he lives.
eta Phormio, I presume?
)emi. The girl s champion.
eta I ll have him here in no time.
)emi. Where is Antipho now?
eta Out, Sir.
)emi. Off with you, Phaedria ; find him and bring him here.
*hae. I ll go (winks to Geta) straight you know where.
eta (aside to Phaedria) To his ladylove of course.
[EXEUNT Phaedria AND Geta SEVERALLY.
kmi. I shall go home to give thanks for my return. Then
I shall go to the Piazza and call in some friends to
back up my case so that I mayn t be unprepared
when this Phormio comes. [EXIT.
ACT III
(Half an hour has elapsed.}
ENTER Phormio AND Geta.
*hor. Do you mean to tell me that he was so afraid of his
father that he bolted?
reta I do indeed.
S7
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
PJior. Phanium relictam solam ?
Geta sic.
Phor. et iratum senem?
Geta oppido.
Phor. ad te summa solum, Phormio, rerurn redit:
tute hoc intristi : tibi omnest exedendum : accingere,
Geta obsecro te.
Phor, si rogabit . . .
Geta in te spes est.
Phor. eccere,
quid si reddet . . . ? 320
Geta tu inpulisti.
Phor. sic opinor.
Geta subveni.
Phor. cedo senem : iam instructa sunt mi in corde consilia
omnia.
Geta quid ages?
Phor. quid vis, nisi uti maneat Phanium atque
ex crimine hoc
Antiphonem eripiam atque in me omnem iram
derivem senis?
Geta o vir fortis atque amicu s. verum hoc saepe,
Phormio,
vereor, ne istaec fortitude in nervom erumpat denique.
Phor ah,
non itast : factumst periclum, iam pedum visast via.
quod me censes homines iam deverberasse usque 327
ad necem?
cedo dum, enumquam iniuriarum audisti mini scri- 329
ptam dicam?
Geta quiistuc? 330
Phor. quia non rete accipitri tennitur neque milvo,
qui male faciurit nobis : illis qui nihil faciunt tennitur,
quia enim in illi* iru <**/* est, in illis opera luditur.
38
PHORMIO
Phor. And Phaiiium is left without a protector?
Geta That is so.
Phor. And the old man in a rage ?
Geta I should think he is!
Phor. Then, Phormio, the whole burden falls on youi
shoulders. You mixed the mess and you must eat
it up. Gird up your loins.
Geta In heaven s name
Phor. (to himself) Suppose he asks-- (meditating)
Geta Our hope is in you.
Phor. (as before) There now, what if he replies ?
Geta It was you made us do it.
Phor. (as before) Yes, I think so, yes.
Geta To the rescue.
Phor. (turning to Geta) Produce the old man : my plan of
campaign is settled
Geta What 11 be your line?
Phor. What do you want except for Phanium to remain
his wife, Antipho to be rescued from this reproach,
and the whole torrent of the old boy s fury to be
turned on to me?
Geta You re a hero and a friend indeed. But, Phormio,
I often have my fears that this heroism of yours
may in the end land you in the stocks.
Phor. (derisively} No, no, not a bit of it. I ve tested the
path, I ve espied a good foothold. How many men
do you think I have bastinadoed well nigh to death ?
Tell me now, have you ever heard of an action
against me for assault and battery?
Geta How comes that?
Phor. Because a net isn t spread for a hawk or a kite,
birds of mischief; it s spread for innocent birds.
because of course these pay for catching, with the
others it s a waste of labour. There are various
89
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
aliis aliunde est periclum unde aliquid abradi potest :
mihi sciunt nil esse. dices ducent damnatum
domum" :
alere nolunt hominem edacem et sapiunt mea sen-
tentia,
pro maleficio si benencium summum iiolunt reddere.
Geta non pote satis pro merito ab illo tibi referri gratia.
Phor. immo enim nemo satis pro merito gratiam regi
refert.
tene asymbolum venire unctum atque lautum e
balineis,
otiosum ab animo, quom ille et cura et sumptu 340
absumitur !
dum tibi fit quod placeat, ille ringitur: tu rideas,
prior bibas,, prior decumbas ; cena dubia adponitur.
Geta quid istuc verbist?
Phor. ubi tu dubites quid sumas potissumum
haec quom rationem ineas quam sint suavia et quam
eara sint,
ea qui praebet, non tu hunc habeas plane praesen-
tem deum?
Geta senex adest : vide quid agas : prima coitiost acer-
ruma;
si earn sustinueris, postilla iam ut lubet ludas licet.
Demi. Enurnquam quoiquam contumeliosius
Il.iii audistis factam iniuriam quam haec est mihi?
adeste quaeso. 350
Geta iratus est.
Phor. quin tu hoc age:
iam ego hunc agitabo. pro deum inmortalium,
negat Phanium esse hanc sibi cognatam Demipho ?
4C
PHORMIO
perils for other men from whom something can be
shorn, 7 am known to have nothing. You will say.
They will seize your person and make you slave
for them." No, they ve no wish to feed a huge
eater, and they re wise in my opinion not to requite
an injury with a great favour.
Geta My master can never fully repay your services.
Phor. No, it s the other way, a man can never fully repay
his patron. Just think of it : you come contributing
nothing, perfumed and comfortable after a bath,
your mind at ease, while the patron is devoured by
care and expense. While everything is done to
please you, he s on the growl. You may smile, be
helped to wine before him, take your place before
him, a puzzling dinner is served you.
Geta Puzzling ? What does that mean ?
Phor. Where you d be puzzled what dish to try first.
When you start reckoning up how delightful and
how costly it all is, wouldn t you count the man who
gives it a very god in avatar?
Geta (looking down the street) The old man s here ; mind
what you re about ; the first shock is the hottest;
if you ve withstood that, you may afterwards fence
with him as you fancy.
ENTER Demipho BEHIND WITH Hegio, Cratinus, AND
Crito.
Demi. Have you ever heard, my friends, of a mure insult
ing wrong done to any man than this to me ? Be
so good as to stand by me.
Geta (aside to Phormio) A temper he s in.
Phor. (aside to Geta) Attention now ! I ll work him up in
a moment, (aloud, pretending not to see the old gentle
men) Heaven and earth ! does Demipho say she isn t
41
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFER
hanc Demipho negat esse cognatam?
Geta negat.
Phor. neque eius patrem se scire qui fuerit?
Geta negat.
Demi, ipsum esse opinor de quo agebam: sequimini. 355
Phor. quia egens relictast misera, ignoratur parens, 357
neclegitur ipsa : vide avaritia quid facit.
Geta si erum insimulabis malitiae, male audies.
Demi, o audaciam ! etiam me ultro accusatum advenit. 360
Phor. nam iam adulescenti nihil est quod suscenseam,
si ilium minus norat; quippe homo iam grandior,
pauper, quoi in opere vita erat, ruri fere
se continebat; ibi agrum de nostro patre
colendum habebat. saepe interea mihi senex
narrabat se hunc neclegere cognatum suom :
at quern virum! quern ego viderim in vita oplumum.
Geta videas te atque ilium iiarras!
Phor. in malam crucem!
nam ni ita eum existumassem, numquam tarn gravis
ob hanc inimicitias caperem in vostram familiam, 370
quam is aspernatur nunc tarn iiiliberaliter.
3eta pergin ero absenti male loqui, inpurissume ?
Demi, dignum autem hoc illost.
Seta ain tamen, career?
Demi. Geta.
Geta bonorum extortor, legum contortor!
Demi. Geta.
42
PHORMIO
akin to him ? Demipho say she isn t akin to him ?
Geta He does that.
Phor. And says he doesn t know who her father was?
Geta He does that.
Demi, (to his friends) I take it this is the man I spoke of.
Come with me.
Phor. Because the poor thing is left in penury, her father
is disowned and herself ignored. See what avarice
does!
Geta If you re going to charge my master with bad con
duct you shall be called bad names.
Demi. What effrontery! He s actually going to turn the
accusation against me.
Phor. Yes, there s no reason for resentment against the
young gentleman if he didn t know the man.
Naturally, for he was well on in years, had small
means, worked for a living on his farm, mostly
stayed in the country. He rented land there under
my father. From time to time the old man used to
tell me that this kinsman of his ignored him : but
what a splendid man, the best I ever set eyes on !
3eta (pretending sarcasm) May you live to see yourself
what you call him !
Phor. You be hanged ! If I hadn t accounted him all that,
I should never have been engaging in these bitter
feuds with your house for his daughter s sake whom
your master now rejects, for all the world like a cad
Jeta Still abusing my master behind his back, foul-mouth?
Demi. Cad s the right name for him.
jeta You dare to say so, you dare, jail-bird?
Demi, (coming forward) Geta!
jeta (pretending not to hear} Rogue, thief, pettyfogger,
perjurer!
Demi. Geta !
43
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Phor. responde.
Geta quis homost? ehem.
Demi. tace.
Geta absent! tibi
ie indignas seque dignas contumelias
numquam cessavit dicere hodie.
Demi. desine.
adulescens, primum abs te hoc bona venia peto.
si tibi placere potis est, mi ut respondeas :
quern amicum tuom ais fuisse istum, explaria mihi, 380
et qui cognatum me sibi esse diceret.
Phor. proinde expiscare quasi non nosses.
Demi. nossem ?
Phor. ita.
Demi, ego me nego : tu qui ais redige in memoriam.
Phor. eho tu, sobrinum tuom non iioras?
Demi. enicas.
die nomen.
Phor. nomen ?
Demi. maxume. quid nunc taces?
Phor. perii hercle, nomen perdidi.
Demi. quid ais?
Phor. Geta,
si meministi id quod olim dictumst, subice. hem,
non dico: quasi non nosses, temptatum advents.
Demi, ego autem tempto?
Geta. Stilpho.
Phor. atque adeo quid mea?
Stilphost. 390
Demi. quern dixti?
Phor. Stilphonem inquam noveras.
ft*
PHORMIO
Pkor. (whispering) Answer him.
Geta Who s calling? (turning round and affecting astonish
ment) Oh Sir!
Demi. Silence
Geta Behind your back, Sir, he has been throwing at you
all the time without a break insulting words that
don t fit you, Sir, and do fit him.
Demi. No more, (turns to Phormio) Young Sir, in the first
place w r ith your good leave I ask you, provided that
I may be so lucky that it please you, to answer me
one question. Expound to me who that personage
was whom you assert to have been your friend and
in what way he claimed relationship with me.
Pkor. Fishing, just as if you didn t know him!
Demi. Know him?
Pkor. Yes, know him.
Demi. I say I didn t: as you say I did, recall him to my
memory.
Phor. Dear me now, not know your own cousin?
Demi. Grant me patience ! Tell me his name.
Pkor. His name?
Demi. Certainly, (a pause) Why don t you answer?
Phor. (aside) Damn it! I ve forgotten the name.
Demi. W T hat do you say?
Pkor. (turns and whispers to Geta) Geta, if you remember
the name we gave at the time, prompt me. (aloud)
Pshaw ! I don t tell you. As if you didn t know
him, you come to me with your tricks.
Demi. Tricks? I?
Geta (ivhispering to Phormio) Stilpho.
Phor. After all what s it matter to me? It s Stilpho.
Demi. What name do you say?
Phor. I say you knew Stilpho.
45
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Demi, neque ego ilium noram neque mi cognatus fuit
quisquam istoc nomine.
Phor. itane? non te horum pudet?
at si taleiitum rem reliquisset decem,
Demi, di tibi malfaciant!
Phor. primus esses memoriter
progeniem vostram usque ab avo atque ata\ o proferens.
Demi, ita ut dicis. ego turn quom advenissem, qui mihi
cognata ea esset dicerem : itidem tu face.
cedo qui est cognata.
Geta eu noster, recte. heus tu, cave
Phor. dilucide expedivi quibus me oportuit
iudicibus : turn id si falsum fuerat, nlius 400
quor non refellit?
Demi. filium narras mihi?
quoius de stultitia dici ut dignumst non potest
Phor. at tu qui sapiens es magistratus adi,
iudicium de eadem causa iterum ut reddant tibi,
quandoquidem solus regnas et soli licet
hie de eadem causa bis iudicium apiscier.
Demi, etsi mihi facta iniuriast, verum tamen
potius quam litis secter aut quam te audiam,
itidem ut cognata si sit, id quod lex iubet
dotis dare, abduc hanc, minas quinque accipe. 410
Phor. hahahae, homo suavis.
Demi. quid est ? num iniquom postulo ?
an ne hoc quidem ego adipiscar quod ius publicumst ?
Phor. itan tandem, quaeso, item ut meretricem ubi abusus sis,
mercedem dare lex iubet ei atque amittere?
an, ut ne quid turpe civis in se admitteret
46
PHORMIO
Demi. I neither knew him nor ever had a kinsman of that
name.
Pkor. You say that ? No shame in presence of your friends ?
Ah, if he had left an estate of some thousands-
Dew? . Heaven blast you !
Phor. -you would have been the first to produce an exact
pedigree tracing from your grandfather and your
grandfather s grandfather and all that.
Demi, (trying to keep his temper) True. If I had been at
the trial I should have stated how she was related
to me: do you the same. State how she s related
to me.
Geta Bravo ! Well said our side ! (aside to Phormio) I say.
be cautious.
Phor. I gave a clear account where I was bound to give
it, in court. If it was a fiction then, why didn t
your son then upset it?
Demi. Talk to me of my son? I can t find words to express
his folly.
Phor. Well, as you at least are no fool, go before the court
and ask them to grant you a new trial of the case,
since you are sole monarch here and the sole man
who may have the same case tried twice.
Demi Victimized as I am, still, rather than be perpetually
at law or have to listen to you, I will assume she is
related to us, and, as the statute prescribes the
amount of the dowry, take you her away and accept
the five and twenty pounds.
Phor. Ha, ha, ha! a pleasant gentleman!
Demi. What do you mean ? Isn t it a fair proposal ? Am I
not even to have common justice?
Pkor, And pray do you really mean to tell me that when
you have treated her as a courtesan the law says
you are to pay her and whistle her off? Wasn t it
47
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
propter egestatem, proxumo iussast dari,
ut cum uno aetatem degeret ? quod tu vetas.
Demi, ita, proxumo quidem; at iios unde? aut quam ob
rem?
Phor. ohe,
actum" aiunt ne agas."
Demi. non agam? immo baud desinam,
donee perfecero boc. 49,0
Phor. ineptis.
Demi. sine modo.
Phor. postremo tecum nil rei nobis, Demipho, est:
tuos est damnatus gnatus, non tu ; nam tua
praeterierat iam ad ducendum aetas.
Demi. omnia haec
ilium putato quae ego nunc dico dicere;
aut quidem cum uxore bac ipsum probibebo domo.
Geta iratus est.
Phor. tu te idem melius feceris.
Demi, itan es paratus facere me advorsum omnia,
infelix ?
Phor. metuit hie nos, tametsi sedulo
dissimulat.
Geta bene habent tibi principia.
Phor. quin quod est
ferundum fers? tuis dignum factis feceris, 430
ut amici inter nos simus.
Demi. egon tuam expetam
amicitiam ? aut te visum aut auditum velim ?
Phor. si concordabis cum ilia, habebis quae tuam
senectutem oblectet: respice aetatem tuam,
48
PHORMIO
the intention of the law that no Athenian gentle
woman should be driven to shame by her poverty
and so it is enjoined that she be married to the
next of kin to live out her life with him ? But you
are above the law.
Demi. Yes, to the next of kin, but where do we come in ?
Why be married to us?
^hor. Oh dear! Settled once, settled for ever/ as the
saying goes.
Demi. Settled for ever? I will never rest till I have un
settled it.
ry hor. Idle talk!
Demi. Never you mind!
kur. As a last word, with you, Demipho, we have no
concern. The order of the court dealt with your
son, not with you. In fact you had already passed
the age of matrimony, (bows to him mockingly)
Demi. Take it that all I say now he says too : else, I assure
you, I shall forbid him my house and his wife too.
~jeta {aside) A temper he s in!
hor. Better forbid it to yourself.
Demi. Are you forearmed to thwart me at every point,
you wretch?
ry hor. (aside to Geta) He s afraid of us though he tries hard
to hide it.
jeta (aside to Phormio) You ve done well so far.
n /ior. (to Demipho) Why can t you bear what you ve got to
bear? It will be like your better self and so we
might be friends.
Demi, (furiously) I want friendship with you ? 7 choose to
see or hear you?
D hor. (mockingly) If you hit it off with her, you ll have
somebody to be the charmer of your old age. Do
have thought for your grey hairs.
49
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Demi, te oblectet, tibi habe.
Pkor. minue vero iram.
Demi. hoc age :
satis iam verborumst : nisi tu properas mulierera
abducere, ego illam eiciam. dixi, Phormio.
Pkor. si tu illam attigeris secus quam dignumst liberam,
dicam tibi inpingam grandem. dixi, Demipho.
si quid opus fuerit, heus, domo me. 440
Geta intellego.
Demi. Quanta me cura et sollicitudine adficit
Il.iv gnatus, qui me et se hisce inpedivit nuptiis !
neque mi in conspectum prodit, ut saltern sciam
quid de ea re dicat quidve sit sententiae.
abi, vise redieritne iam an nondum domum.
Geta eo.
Demi. videtis quo in loco res haec siet:
quid ago? die, Hegio.
Hegio ego? Cratiiium censeo,
si tibi videtur.
Demi. die, Cratine.
Cra. mene vis?
Demi. te.
Cra. ego quae in rem tuam sint ea velim facias, mini
sic hoc videtur: quod te absente hie films 450
egit, restitui in integrum aequomst et bonum,
et id impetrabis. dixi.
Demi. die mine, Hegio.
Hegio ego sedulo hunc dixisse credo; verum itast,
quot homines tot sententiae : suos quoique mos
mihi non videtur quod sit factum legibus
50
PHORMIO
Demi. Let her be your charmer, keep her for yourself,
Phor. Now, now, less temper!
Demi. Attend to this : we have had words enough : unless
you are prompt to take her away, I shall turn her
out. So much for Fhormio ! (turns on his heel)
Phor. Offer to touch her in any way that doesn t befit a
gentlewoman and I shall bring an action against
you for swingeing damages. So much for Demipho !
(turns and speaks aside to Geta) If I m wanted, come
and fetch me.
Geta (aside to Phormio) I m alive. [EXIT Phormio.
Demi. Oh, the trouble and anxiety the boy gives me,
entangling himself and me in this marriage ! And
he doesn t show himself even, so that I might at
least know what he has to say, what view he takes.
Go (to Geta) and see if he is come home yet or not.
[EXIT. Demipho turns to his friends.
Geta Yes, Sir.
Demi. You see the state of the affair: what is the right
course? What do you say, Hegio?
Hegio Oil, I think Cratiiius had better speak, if you don t
mind.
Demi. What do you say, Cratiiius?
?ra. You want my opinion?
Demi. Yes, yes.
Cm. For my part I should like you to do what is best for
your own interest. I look at it this way. What
your son has arranged here during your absence
should rightly and properly be null and void, and
you will get it adjudged so. That is my opinion.
Demi. Now, Hegio, your turn.
Hegio I think our friend here has given a careful opinion,
but the truth is, so many men so many minds,
every one has his point of view. My opinion is that
51
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
rescindi posse ; et turpe inceptust.
Demi. die, Crito.
Crito ego amplius deliberandum censeo :
res inagnast.
Hegio num quid nos vis?
Demi. fecistis probe.
incertior sum multo quam dudum.
Geta negant
redisse.
Demi. frater est exspectandus mihi : 460
is quod mihi dederit de hac re consilium, id sequar.
percontatum ibo ad portum, quoad se recipiat.-
Geta at ego Antiphonem quaeram, ut quae acta hie sint
sciat.
sed eccum ipsum video in tempore hue se recipe re.
ACTVS III
Anti. Enim vero^ Antipho, multimodis cum istoc animo es
vituperandus :
itane te hinc abisse et vitam tuam tutandam aliis
dedisse !
alios tuam rem credidisti magis quam tete animum
advorsuros ?
nam utut erant alia, illi certe quae nunc tibi domist
consuleres,
ne quid propter tuam fidem decepta poteretur mali ;
quoi nunc miserae spes opesque sunt in te uno 470
omnes sitae.
Geta et quidem, ere, nos iam dudum hie te absentem
incusamus qui abieris.
Anti. te ipsum quaerebam.
Geta sed ea causa nihilo magis defecimus
52
PHORMIO
what has been done legally cannot be undone and
to attempt it would be discreditable.
)emi. Now your turn, Crito.
Tito (speaking very slowly) I think the matter requires
more protracted deliberation. It is a serious affair.
Tegio Is there anything more we can do for you ?
)emi. You have done admirably. [EXEUNT Hegio } Cratinus,
AND Crito.] I m in a much thicker fog than I was
to start with.
RE-ENTER Gettt.
ieta They say he is not back, Sir.
)emi. I must wait for my brother: I shall follow the
advice he gives me in the matter. I ll go and find
out at the harbour when his boat is due. [EXIT.
*cta And I ll go and find Antipho to tell him all about
it. Ah, here he comes just in the nick.
ENTER Antipho.
inti. (not seeing Geta) Indeed and indeed, Antipho, you
and your faint heart are many ways to be blamed.
Think of running away and entrusting your life to the
defence of others. Did you imagine others would
see to your business better than yourself? If nothing
else, you should at least have had thought for the
dear one at home, that she might not be misled by
her confidence in you and so come to trouble.
Poor girl, all her hopes and chances now rest on
you and you only.
jeta (coming forward) Yes, Sir, and here have we been
cursing you all this time for bolting.
inti. You re the man I was looking for.
jeta But we haven t been a bit the more remiss on that
account.
53
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Anti. loquere obsecro, quonam in loco sunt res et for-
tunae meae ?
num subolet quid patri?
Geia nil etiam.
Anti. ecquid spei porrost?
Geta nescio.
Anti. ah.
Geta nisi Phaedria baud cessavit pro te eniti.
Anti. nil fecit novi.
Geta turn Phormio itidem in hac re ut aliis strenuom
hominem praebuit.
Anti. quid is fecit?
Geta confutavit verbis admodum iralum senem.
Anti. eu, Phormio.
Geta ego quod potui porro.
Anti. mi Geta, omnis vos amo.
Geta sic babent priiicipia sese ut dico : adbuc tranquilla res,
mansurusque patruom pater est, dum hue adveniat. 480
Anti. quid eum?
Geta ut aibat
de eius consilio sese velle facere quod ad hanc rem
attinet.
Anti. quantum metuist mihi videre hue salvom nunc
patruom, Geta!
nam eius per unam, ut audio, aut vivam aut moriar
sententiam.
Geta Phaedria tibi adest.
Anti. ubinam ?
Geta eccum ab sua palaestra exit foras.
Phac. Dorio,
[II. ii audi obsecro.
Dorio non audio.
Phae. parumper.
Doric* quin omitte me
54
PHORMIO
For heaven s sake tell me how things stand with
me. Any luck ? Has my father any scent of the
truth ?
Not the least.
Any hope, eh?
Can t say.
Ah!
Only Pliaedria hasn t slackened in his efforts for you.
No novelty that.
And Phormio too in this matter, as always, has been
all energy.
iti. What did he do?
?ta Your father was boiling over with fury and he
quelled him.
iti. Bravo, Phormio!
ita (with much modesty) I myself too did what I could.
iti. My dear Geta, I love you all.
The first engagement was as I tell you. Up to now
there is a lull in the operations and your father
means to wait for your uncle to come.
Why for my uncle?
He said he meant to follow his advice as far as this
affair goes.
iti. How alarming the prospect of my uncle s safe
return, Geta, for on his single vote by your account
hangs my life or death.
ta Here comes Phaedria, Sir.
\ti. Where ?
ta There, coming out of his playground, {sniggers)
ENTER Phaedria FROM Dorio s WITH Dorio.
ae. Dorio, for heaven s sake hear me.
mo (surly) I won t.
ae. But one word, (lays his hand on Dorio s shoulder)
no Leave me alone, (shakes him off)
55
PUBL1US TERENTIUS AFEH
Phae. audi quod dicam.
Dorio at enim taedet iam audire eadem miliens
Phae. at nunc dicam quod lubenter audias.
Dorio loquere, audio.
Phae. non queo te exorare ut maneas triduom hoc? quo
nunc abis?
Dorio mirabar si tu mihi quicquam adferres novi. 490
Anti. ei,
metuo lenonem ne quid . . .
Geta suo suat capiti ? idem ego vereor
Phae. nondum mihi credis?
Dorio hariolare.
Phae. sin fid em do?
Dorio fabulae.
Phae. faeneratum istuc beneficium pulchre tibi dices.
Dorio logi.
Phae. crede mihi, gaudebis factor verum hercle hoc est.
Dorio somnia.
Phae. experire : non est longum.
Dorio cantilenam eandem cariis.
Phae. tu mihi cognatus, tu parens, tu amicus, tu . . .
Dorio garri modo.
Phae. adeoii ingenio esse duro te atque inexorabili,
ut neque misericordia neque precibus molliri queas!
Dorio adeon te esse incogitantem atque inpudentem sine
modo,
ut phaleratis ducas dictis me et meam ductes gratiis ! 500
Anti. miseritumst.
Phae. ei, veris vincor!
Geta quam uterquest similis sui
56
PHORMIO
me. Hear what I say?
mo No, I m sick of hearing the same thing a thousand
times over.
tae. But now I shall say what you will be glad to hear.
mo Say on, I m listening.
tae. Can t I get you to wait for the next three days?
(Dorio moves away) Where are you going to now ?
mo I thought it would be a wonder if you d anything
new to say to me.
iti. {aside to Geta) Gad ! I m afraid this creature may
da (interrupting) Set a trap for himself? Just my
fear.
me. Don t you trust me even yet?
mo Moonshine !
me. But if I pledge myself?
mo Nonsense !
me. You shall say your kindness was a good investment.
mo Rubbish !
lae. Believe me, you shall be glad you did it. That s
true, by heaven it is.
mo Stuff!
>.ae. Try : it isn t a long time.
trio You sing the same old song.
ae. You are my kinsman, rny father, my friend, my
trio (interrupting) Ay, chatter on.
.ae. You must have a heart of stone and ears of rock if
you can t be softened either by pity or by prayers.
mo You must have an empty head and an utterly
shameless soul if you think to take me in with
your tinsel and to get my girl for nothing.
(aside) Poor wretch !
(turning away) Confound it ! The truth s too strong
for me.
ta (aside) I low like himself, each of them !
57
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Phae. atque Antipho alia quom occupatus esset sollicitu-
dine,
turn hoc esse mi obiectum malum!
AntL quid istuc est autem, Phaedria?
Phae. o fortunatissume Antipho.
Anti. egone?
Phae. quoi quod amas domist,
ncque umquam cum huius modi usus venit ut con-
fiictares malo.
Anti. mil an domist? immo, id quod aiunt, auribus teneo
lupum :
nam neque quo pacto a me amittam neque uti
retineam scio.
Dorio ipsum istuc mi in hoc est.
Anil. heia, ne parum leno sies.
num quid hie confecit?
Phae. hicine? quod homo inhumanissumus:
Pamphilam meam vendidit.
Anti. quid? vendidit?
Geta ain? vendidit.
Phae. vendidit.
Dorio quam indignum facinus, ancillam aere
emptam meo !
Phae. nequeo exorare ut me maneat et cum illo ut mutet
fidem
triduom hoc, dum id quod est promissum ab amicis
argentum aufero.
si non turn dedero, unam praeterea horam ne op-
pertus sies.
Dorio obtuiides ?
Anti. haud longumst id quod orat : exoret sine,
idem hie tibi, quod boni promeritus fueris, con-
duplicaverit.
58
PHORMIO
\ae. And then that this trouble should have befallen
me when Antipho was the victim of a like anxiety.
itL (coming forward) What s the matter, Phaedria?
hae. Happy happy Antipho !
iti. (bitterly} Happy? I?
kae. Yes, you possess your love and have never had to
wrestle with this kind of misfortune.
nti. Possess my love? No indeed, I ve got a wolf by
the ears, as they say, can t let go and can t hold on.
That s just my case with this gentleman.
Hollo, don t ply your trade by halves ! (to Phaedria)
He hasn t settled anything, has he ?
lae. Yes, like the brute beast he is: he has sold my
Pamphila.
What, sold her ?
What, Sir, sold her?
Sold her.
What a wicked shame to sell a girl I bought and
paid for!
I can t get him to wait for me and break with the
other man ; it s only for the next three days till 1
can get the money my friends have undertaken to
raise, (to Dorio) If I don t give it you then, don t
wait a single hour longer.
You ll stun me, will you?
It s not long he asks for, do grant it. He ll pay
you twice over, you ll find, for any service you do
him.
59
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER j
Dorio vcrba istaec simt.
Anti. Pamphilamne hac urbe privari sines?
turn praeterea horunc amorem distrahi poterin pati ?
Dorio neque ego neque tu.
Geta di tibi omnes id quod es dignus duint!
Dorio ego te compluris advorsum ingenium meum mensis 520
tuli,
pollicitantem et nil ferentern, flentem; nunc contra
omnia haec :
repperi qui det neque lacrumet: da locum meli-
oribus.
Anti. certe hercle, ego si satis commemini, tibi quidemst
olim dies,
quam ad dares huic, praestituta.
Phae. factum.
Dorio num ego istuc nego?
Anti. iam ea praeteriit?
Dorio non, verum haec ei antecessit.
Anti. non pudet
vanitatis ?
Dorio minume, dum ob rem.
Geta sterculinum.
Phae. Dorio,
itane tandem facere oportet?
Dorio sic sum : si placeo, utere.
Anti. sic hunc decipi!
Dorio imrno enim vero, Antipho, hie me decipit:
nam hie me scibat huius modi esse, ego hunc esse
aliter credidi;
iste me fefellit, ego isti nilo sum aliter ac fui. 530
sed utut haec sunt, tamen hoc faciam : eras mane
argentum mihi
miles dare se dixit: si tu prior attuleris, Phaedria,
60
PHORMIO
That s mere talk.
Will you let Pamphila be sent away from Athens?
And besides will you have the heart to let these
two lovers be torn asunder?
It s no more my doing than yours.
The powers above deal with you as you deserve
(to Phaedria) I ve put up with you month after
month all against my grain, while you make end
less promises and don t bring a penny, nothing but
tears. Now quite on the contrary I ve found a
man to pay instead of weeping. Make way for
your betters.
nil. But, hang it, if my memory serves me, Phaedria,
there was a day once fixed for you to pay him on.
kae. There was.
orio Well, I don tdeny it, do I?
itL Is it past?
orio No, but this is arrived first.
itl. Aren t you ashamed of your shiftiness ?
orio Not a bit, so long as it pays.
da You muckheap !
me. Really now, Doric, ought you to act in this way?
orio I am what I am. If you like me, deal with me.
iti. My cousin to be cheated in this way !
mo No indeed, Antipho, it s he cheats me. He knew
this was my way, I thought his way was what it
isn t. It was he took me in, I am the same to him
as always. However, be that as it may, this I wil]
do. The Captain has promised the money for to
morrow ; if you, Phaedria, bring it before he does,
61
PU13LIUS TERENT1US AFER
mea lege utar, ut potior sit qui prior ad dandumst.
vale.
Phae. Quid faciam? unde ego mine tarn subito huic
III. iii argentum inveniam miser,
quoi minus nihilost? quod, hie si pote fuisset
exorarier
triduom hoc, promissum fuerat.
Anti. itane hunc patiemur, Geta,
fieri miserum, qui me dudum ut dixti adiurit
comiter ?
quin, quom opust, beiieficium rursum ei experiemur
reddere ?
Geta scio equidem hoc esse aequom.
Anti. age ergo, solus servare hunc potes.
Geta quid faciam? 540
Anti. invenias argentum.
Geta cupio; sed id unde edoce.
Anti. pater adest hie.
Geta scio ; sed quid turn ?
Anti. ah, dictum sapienti sat est.
Geta itane ais?
Anti. ita.
Geta sane hercle pulchre suades : etiam tu hinc abis ?
non triumpho, ex nuptiis tuis si nil nanciscor mali,
ni etiam nunc me huius causa quaerere in malo
iubeas crucem?
Anti. veruin hie dicit.
Phae. quid? ego vobis, Geta, alienus sum?
Geta haud puto;
sed parum ne est quod omnibus nunc nobis suscen-
set senex,
ni instigemus etiam, ut nullus locus relinquatur
preci?
62
PHORMIO
I will follow my rule of first paying first served.
Good day to you. [EXIT WITH AN AIR OF INSOLENCE.
\ae. (turning dolefully to Antipko) What am I to do?
W T here can a poor devil like me raise the money at
such short notice, when I have less than nothing?
If I could have wrung the three days out of him,
I had a promise of it. (almost in tears)
iti. Geta, Geta, we can t let him be brought to this
misery after his giving me just now the hearty
assistance you spoke of. We really must try now
that he needs it to repay his kindness.
jta (slowly and doubtfully} Yes, I know of course that is
fair.
///. Come then, no one but you can save him.
a What am I to do !
iti. You must raise the money.
?ta I m keen on it, but where? Please tell me that.
iti. My father is back In town.
?ta I know that, but what follows?
iti. Tut, tut, a word s enough for the wise.
>ta That s what you say, is it?
iti. I do.
.ta And by Jove, Sir, mighty pretty advice ! Get along
with you ! Isn t it triumph enough for me to have
escaped punishment for your wedding without your
telling me to jump for your cousin s sake from the
frying-pan into the fire ?
iti. (turning to Phaedria) There s reason in what he
says.
ae. But, Geta, ain t I one of the family?
ia I don t deny it, but surely, surely it s enough that
the old man is angry with us all without our goad
ing him to the point where we might cry for mercy
in vain.
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Phae. alius ab oculis meis illam in ignotum abducet locum ?
hem:
turn igitur, dum licet dumque adsum, loquimini
mecum, Antipho,
contemplamiiii me. 550
.Inti. quamobrem? aut quidnam facturu s? cedo.
Phae. quoquo hinc asportabitur terrarum, certumst per-
sequi
aut per ire.
Geta di bene vortant quod agas ! pedetemptim tamen.
Anti. vide si quid opis potes adferre huic.
Off a si quid? quid?
Anti. quaere obsecro,
ne quid plus minusve faxit quod nos post pigeat,
Geta.
Geta quaero: salvos est, ut opinor; verum enim metuo
malum.
Anti. noli metuere: una tecum bona mala tolerabimus.
Gd a quantum tibi opust loquere argenti.
Phae. solae triginta minae.
Geta triginta? hui, percarast, Phaedria.
Phae. istaec vero vilis est.
Geta age age, inventas reddam.
Phae. o lepidum !
Geta aufer te hinc.
Phae. iam opust.
Geta iam feres :
sed opus est mihi Phormionem ad hanc rein
adiutorem dari. 560
Anti. praestost: audacissume oneris quidvis inpone,
ecferet ;
solus est homo amico amicus.
Geta eamus ergo ad eum ocius.
64.
PHORMIO
*hae. Is another to carry her off from my eyes, heaven
knows where ? (solemnly) Listen to this then.
While you can and while I stay here, talk with me,
Antipho, both of you, look on my face.
nti. What for? What do you mean to do? What
is it?
kae. Wherever she is transported to, I am resolved tc
follow her or else to die. (breaks down and sobs)
A blessing on your designs, but gently, Sir, gently .
(to Geta) Think whether you can help him in any
way.
eta Any way ? What way ?
nti. For heaven s sake try, for fear he do something
that would afterwards make us feel uneasy.
eta I am trying, (after a pause) He s all right, I think :
but, but I m afraid it will land me in trouble.
nti. Don t be afraid : good or bad, we ll bear it all with
you.
eta (to Phaedria) Tell me how much money you want?
kae. Only a hundred and twenty pounds.
eta A hundred and twenty? (whistles) Phew! She s
mighty dear, Sir.
kae. (angrily) Mighty cheap, she is.
eta Well, well, I ll see it s got.
kae. O you good fellow!
eta Off with you.
kae. We must have it at once.
eta At once you shall, but I must have Phormio to help
me in the business.
nti. He s at your service. Never scruple to put the
heaviest burden on him, he ll carry it through, he s
the only friend that is a friend,
eta Then to him at once.
65
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Anti. num quid est quod mea opera opus vobis sit?
Geta nil ; verum abi domum
et illam miseram, quam ego nunc intus scio esse
exanimatam metu,
consolare. cessas ?
Anti. nihil est aeque quod faciam lubens.
Phae. qua via istuc facies ?
Geta dicam in itere : modo te hinc amove.
ACTVS IV
Demi. Quid? qua profectus causa hinc es Lemnum,
Chremes,
adduxtin tecum filiam?
Chr. non.
Demi. quid ita non?
Chr. postquam videt me eius mater esse hie diutius,
simul autem non manebat aetas virginis 570
meam neclegentlam, ipsam cum omni familia
ad rne profectam esse aibant.
Demi. quid illi tarn diu
quaeso igitur commorabare, ubi id audiveras?
Chr. pol me detinuit morbus.
Demi. unde? aut qui?
Chr. rogas?
senectus ipsast morbus. sed venisse eas
salvas audivi ex nauta qui illas vexerat.
Demi, quid gnato obtigerit me absente audisti, Chremes?
Chr. quod me quidem factum consili incertum facit.
iiam hanc condicionem si quoi tulero extrario,
quo pacto aut unde mihi sit dicundum ordine est. 580
66
PHORMIO
tnti. Nothing, I suppose, you want my help for?
jeta Nothing. No, go you off home and comfort your
poor wife. I know she s waiting there half dead
with fear. \Antipho hesitates) Why are you loitering ?
intt. 1 here s nothing else I could do with half the heart.
[EXIT.
D hae. How are you going to do it?
jeta I ll tell you as we go. Come along with you.
[EXEUNT.
ACT IV
(Half an hour has elapsed}
ENTER Chremes IN TRAVELLING DRESS AND Demipho.
Demi. By the way, about the object which took you to
Lemnos, Chremes ? Your daughter, have you
brought her with you?
No.
Demi. Why not?
^hr. As her mother found I was staying here longer
than usual and the girl was getting too old to wait
for my inattention, she had set out, they told
me, with all her household to join me.
Demi. Well then, why did you stop there so long after
you were told that ?
7Ar. Lord ! I was detained by illness.
Demi. Where did you catch it? What was it?
7Ar. No matter : old age is an illness in itself. However
that they arrived safe I learnt from the captain of
the ship that brought them.
Demi. You have heard of the trouble that befell my son
while I was away, eh ?
Yes, and it s that which causes an uncertainty in
my plans, because, if I make a match for my gir]
with anyone outside the family, I shall have to
explain precisely how she comes to be my daughter.
61
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
te mihi fidelem esse aeque atque egomet sum mihi
scibam. ille si me alienus adfinem volet,
tacebit, dum intercedet familiaritas ;
sin spreverit me, plus quam opus est scito sciet.
vereorque lie uxor aliqua hoc resciscat mea :
quod si fit, ut me excutiam atque egrediar domo,
id restat; nam ego meorum solus sum meus.
Demi, scio ita esse et istaec mihi res sollicitudinist,
neque defetiscar usque adeo experirier,
donee tibi id quod pollicitus sum effecero. 590
Geta Ego hominem callidiorem vidi neminem
IV.ii quam Phormionem. venio ad hominem, ut dicerem
argentum opus esse et id quo pacto fieret.
vix dum dirnidium dixeram, intellexerat :
gaudebat, me laudabat, quaerebat senem.
dis gratias agebat tempus sibi dari,
ubi Phaedriae esse ostenderet nilo minus
amicum sese quam Antiphoni. hominem ad forum
iussi opperiri : eo me esse adducturum senem.
sed eccum ipsum. quis est ulterior ? attat Phaedriae 600
pater venit. sed quid pertimui autem belua?
an quia quos fallam pro uno duo sunt mi dati?
commodius esse opinor duplici spe utier.
petam hinc unde a primo institi : is si dat, sat est ;
IV. iii si ab eo nil fiet, turn hunc adoriar hospitem.
Anli. Exspecto quam mox recipiat sese Geta.
68
PHORMIO
You I knew were as loyal to me as I am to myself.
If an outsider desires the connexion, he will hold
his tongue so long as we are on good terms, but if
he has a tiff with me he ll know more than he ought
to know. And I have my fears that some way or
other my wife may get to know of it. If she does,
there s nothing left for me but to turn myself out
and never darken my own door again, for I m the
only thing in my house that I can call my own.
lemt. I know that s so and your trouble is mine, and I
shall never weary till I have carried out what I
promised you.
ENTER Geta.
reta {coming down the street and not seeing the old men)
A sharper fellow than Phormio I ve never set eyes
on. I come to my man to tell him we wanted
money and how we came to want it. I was barely
half through with my story when he d see it all.
He was delighted, commended me, asked to see
the old man. He thanked heaven he had a chance
of showing he was just as much a friend of Phaedria s
as of Antipho s. I told him to wait for me in the
Piazza and I d bring the old man there, (sees
Demipho) Ah, there he is. Who s that behind
him? Crimini! Phaedria s father s come back.
{recovering himself) Bah ! why was I such a dolt as
to be scared? Because I ve got a couple to take
in instead of one? I think it s all to the good to
have two strings to one s bow. I ll apply to the
man I was first after: if he provides the money,
then I have it : if I fail with him, then have at the
newcomer.
ENTER Antipho FROM HIS FATHER S HOUSE.
Inti. (stopping by the door) I m waiting to see how long
69
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
sed patruom video cum patre astantem. ei mihi,
quam timeo adventus huius quo inpellat patrem !
Geta adibo: o salve, noster Chremes.
Chr. salve, Geta.
Geta venire salvom volup est. 610
Chr. credo.
Geta quid agitur?
multa advenienti, ut fit, nova hie?
Chr. compluria.
Geta ita. de Antiphone audistin quae facta?
Chr. omnia.
Geta tun dixeras huic? facimis indignum, Chremes,
sic circumiri!
Chr. id cum hoc agebam commodum.
Geta nam hercle ego quoque id quidem agitans mecum
sedulo
inveni, opinor, remedium huic rei.
Chr. quid, Geta?
Demi, quod remedium?
Geta ut abii abs te, fit forte obviam
mihi Phormio.
Chr. qui Phormio?
Demi. is qui istanc-
Chr. scio.
Geta visumst mi ut eius temptarem sententiam.
prendo hominem solum: quor non," inquam, 620
Phormio,
vides, inter nos sic haoc potius cum bona
ut componamus gratia quam cum mala?
eras liberalis est et fugitans litium ;
70
PHORMIO
Geta will be in getting back. Ah, there s my
uncle with my father. Dash it, I don t like to
think what he may move my father to. (He re
mains unseen by the others)
Geta (aside) I ll to him. (comes forward) Good day to you,
Sir. (to Chremes)
Chr. Good day, Geta.
Geta Delighted to see you back and well, Sir.
Chr. (brusquely) No doubt.
Geta How goes it, Sir? The usual surprises when one
comes home perhaps?
Ckr. A good many.
Geta Quite so, Sir. Your nephew now, have you heard
what s happened about him?
Chr. Everything.
Geta (to Demipho) Was it you told him, Sir ? A shocking
affair, Sir, to be circumvented in this way.
Chr. I was talking to my brother about it this moment.
Geta Well now I vow, Sir, I too have been turning it
over with a busy brain and I ve found, I think, a
way out of the difficulty.
Chr. Eh, Geta?
Demi. What way? (Geta draws them forward and speaks
confidentially)
Geta When I left you, Sir, it so happened I met Phormio.
Chr. Who s Phormio?
Demi. The man by whom the girl was
Chr. (interrupting) I see.
Geta I thought I d better first find out his sentiments.
I buttonhole my man and " Phormio," says I, "why
don t you consider how w r e can settle this between
us, like, so as to leave a good feeling instead of a
bad? My master s a gentleman and shy of law
suits ; yes indeed, his friends, every one of em by
71
PUBLICS TERENT1US AFER
nam ceteri quidem hercle amici omnes modo
uno ore auctores fuere ut praecipitem hanc daret."
Anti. quid hie coeptat aut quo evadet hodie?
Geta an legibus
daturum poenas dices, si illam eiecerit?
iam id exploratumst : heia, sudabis satis,
si cum illo inceptas homine : ea eloquentiast.
verum pono esse victum eum ; at tandem tamen 63C
non capitis ei res agitur sed pecuniae."
postquam hominem his verbis seiitio mollirier,
soli sumus nunc hie inquam: eho, die quid vis
dari
tibi in manum, ut erus his desistat litibus,
haec hinc facessat, tu molestus ne sies?
Anti. satin illi di sunt propitii?
Geta nam sat scio,
si tu aliquam partem aequi bonique dixeris,
ut est ille bonus vir, tria non commutabitis
verba hodie inter vos."
Demi. quis te istaec iussit loqui?
Chr. immo non potuit melius pervenirier 640
eo quo nos volumus.
Anti. occidi !
Demi. perge eloqui.
Geta a primo homo insanibat.
Chr. eedo quid postulat?
Geta quid? nimium quantum.
Chr. quantum? die.
Geta si quis daret
talentum magnum.
Demi. immo malum hercle: ut nil pudet!
Geta quod dixi adeo ei : quaeso, quid si filiam
suain unicam locaret? parvi re tulit
72
PHORMIO
Jove to a man, advised him with one voice to kick
the girl out of doors."
inti. (aside) What s his design? What on earth will he be
driving at?
jeta Perhaps you may say," says I, the law will punish
him if he turns her out. Now that s been well
looked to. My word, you ll sweat enough if you
try a fall with my master : his eloquence is simply-
(waves his hand) However I assume he s throw r n,
still after all it s not a question of life and death
but of money." As I saw the fellow was worked
on by w r hat I said, "We re here by ourselves," says
I, u at this moment: look here, what ll you take in
ready cash for my master to drop his suit, the girl
to take herself off, and you to stop bothering us?"
4nti. (aside, in alanri) Has he got a visitation of lunacy ?
Seta Why," says I, "l know well enough, if there s a
spark of fairness and honesty in your terms, with a
good gentleman like that it won t take you half a
dozen words, not half a dozen, to settle it."
Demi, (coldly) Who commissioned you to talk in that strain ?
?hr. No, no, he s right, there couldn t be a better way
of getting to our goal.
inti. (aside) Damnation!
Demi. On with your story.
Seta At first our man raved.
How much does he ask?
Why, something enormous,
(impatiently) How much ? Tell me.
Seta He talked of- -two hundred and fifty pounds.
Demi. Two hundred and fifty whippings The shameless
wretch !
Geta And that s just what I said to him, Sir. Lord!
says I, "one might think he was marrying an only
73
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
non suscepisse: inventast quae dotem petat."
ut ad pauca redeam, ac mittam illius ineptias,
haec denique eius fuit postrema oratio:
ego" inquit a principio amici filiam, 650
ita ut aequom fuerat, volui uxorem ducere ;
nam milii venibat in mentem eius incommodum,
in servitutem pauperem ad ditem dari.
sed mi opus erat, ut aperte tibi mmc fabuler,
aliquantulum quae adferret qui dissolverem
quae debeo : et etiam mmc, si volt Demipho
dare quantum ab hac accipio quae sponsast inilii,
nullam mihi malim quam istanc uxorem dari."
Anti. utrum stultitia facere ego hunc an malitia
dicam, scientem an inprudentem, incertus sum. 660
Demi, quid si animam debet?
Geta ager opposltus pignori
decem ob minas est."
Demi. age age, iam ducat: dabo.
Geta aediculae item sunt ob decem alias."
Demi. oiei,
nimiumst.
Chr. ne clama: repetito hasce a me decem.
Geta uxori enmnda ancillulast ; turn pluscula
supellectile opus est; opus est sumptu ad nuptias:
his rebus sane porro pone" inquit decem."
Demi, sescentas proinde scribito iam mihi dicas:
nil do. inpuratus me ille ut etiam inrideat?
Chr. quaeso, ego dabo, quiesce : tu modo filium
fac ut illam ducat, nos quam volumus.
Anti. ei mihi
Geta, occidisti me tuis fallaciis.
74
PHORMIO
daughter. Little good to him never to have had a
daughter, if a girl s been found to demand a dowry !
To cut the story short and drop his impertinences,
this is what his final proposal was: From the
beginning/ says he, "I ve been ready to do what
was just and marry my friend s daughter, for I kept
thinking of the unfortunate circumstance that when
a poor girl is given to a rich husband it s slavery,
not matrimony. But, to be quite frank with you,
I wanted a bride who would bring me a trifle to
pay my debts with ; and even now, if Demipho is
ready to give me as much as I am getting w r ith the
girl that s engaged to me, the other girl s the one
I should choose before all the girls in the world."
Anti. (aside) Stupidity or knavery, which is it ? Is he
deliberate or blundering? I m in the dark.
Demi. What if he s head and ears in debt?
Geta There s some land," says he, "mortgaged for fifty
pounds."
Demi. Well, well, let him marry her at once : I ll pay it.
Geta f A small house too for another fifty?
Demi. Confound the man! It s too much.
Ckr. Don t swear : you may recover this fifty from me.
Geta My wife," says he, must get a maid; besides,
we shall want a few more sticks of furniture ; some
thing must be spent at the wedding ; for all this
let s put down," says he, another fifty."
Demi, (angrily) Then he may j ust bring five hundred actions
against me. I don t give a penny. A blackguard
like that to laugh at me even!
Chr. Please, please. I ll pay it : be pacified : only make
your son marry the wife we wish.
Anti. (aside) Confound it ! Your tricks have done for me,
master Geta.
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PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Chr. mea causa eicitur : me hoc est aequom amittere.
Geta quantum potest me certiorem inquit "face,
si illam dant, hanc ut mittam, ne incertus siem ;
nam illi mihi dotem iam const! tuerunt dare."
1
Chr. iam accipiat: illis repudium renuntiet;
hanc ducat.
Demi. quae quidem illi res vortat male !
Chr. opportune adeo argentum nunc mecum attuli,
fructum quern Lemni uxoris reddunt praedia : 680
inde sumam; uxori tibi opus esse dixero.
IV.iv
Anti. Geta.
Geta hem.
Anti. quid egisti?
Geta emunxi argento senes.
Anti. satin est id?
Geta nescio hercle : tantum iussus sum.
Anti. eho, verbero, aliud mihi respondes ac rogo?
Geta quid ergo narras?
Anti. quid ego narrem? opera tua
ad restim mihi quidem res redit plaiiissume.
ut te quidem di deaeque omnes superi inferi
malis exemplis perdant! em, si quid velis,
huic mandes qui te ad scopulum e tranquillo auferat.
quid minus utibile fuit quam hoc ulcus tangere 690
aut nominare uxorem? iniectast spes patri
posse illam extrudi. cedo nunc porro : Phormio
dotcm si accipiet, uxor ducendast domumi
76
PHORM1O
Chr. It s for my sake she s turned out; it s right I
should lose the money.
Geta Let me know as soon as possible/ says he, so
that, if they give me the girl, I may break with the
other and not be on the fence, for the other parties
have arranged to pay me the dowry at once."
Chr. (to Demipho) Let him have it at once, let him send
and break with them, and marry this one.
Demi. And the devil go with him !
Chr. Very luckily Fve got this money with me now, the
rents of my wife s larms at Lemnos. I ll take it
out of that sum and tell my wife you had a call for
it. [EXEUNT Chremes AND Demipho INTO Chremes
HOUSE.
Anti. (comes forward in anger) Geta
Geta (cheerfully) Well, Sir.
Anti. What have you been at?
Geta I ve diddled the old men out of the cash, (gleefully)
Anti. Is that good enough?
Geta Enough? Hanged if I know: it s the sum I was
told to get.
Anti. What, you knave ? Do you pretend to mistake my
question? (kicks him)
Geta (sulkily) Well, what do you mean then?
Anti. By your doing I m brought to the halter, plain as
day. May all the powers above and below damn
you to the worst of punishments! Look there, if
you want a thing done commission him with it, to
steer you from still water on to a rock. Could
anything be worse than touching on that sore or
mentioning my wife? You ve inoculated my father
with the hope of thrusting her out. Tell me this
now about the future : if Phormio gets the dowry,
he must marry the wife : what then ?
77
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
quid fiet?
Geta non enim ducet.
Anii. novi. ceterum
quom argentum repetent, nostra causa scilicet
in nervom potius ibit.
Geta nil est, Antipho,
quin male narrando possit depravarier:
tu id quod bonist excerpis, dicis quod malist.
audi nunc contra: iam si argentum acceperit,
ducendast uxor, ut ais, concedo tibi : 700
spatium quidem tandem adparandi nuptias,
vocandi, sacruficandi dabitur paululum.
interea amici quod polliciti sunt dabunt:
inde iste reddet.
Anti. quam ob rem? aut quid dicet?
Geta rogas ?
quod res postilla monstra evenerunt mihi
intro iit in aedis ater alienus canis;
anguis in inpluvium decidit de tegulis ;
gallina cecinit ; interdixit hariolus :
haruspex vetuit; ante brumam autem novi
negoti incipere! quae causast iustissuma. 710
haec fient.
Anil. ut modo fiant!
Geta fient: me vide.
pater exit: abi, die esse argentum Phaedriae.
Demi. Quietus esto, inquam : ego curabo lie quid verborum
IV.v duit.
hoc temere numquam amittam ego a me quin mihi
testis adhibeam:
quoi dem et quam ob rem dem commemorabo.
Geta ut cautus est, ubi nil opust.
Chr. atque ita opus factost : et matura, dum lubido eadem
haec manet;
78
PHORMTO
Geta (testily) Why, he won t marry her.
Anti. (sarcastically) Oh no, of course not; and, when they
ask for the money back, doubtless for our sake he ll
choose to go to jail.
Geta There s nothing, Sir, that can t be made worse by
the telling. What you do is cut out the good and
mention the bad. Now hear the other side. If he
takes the money for good, he must marry the wife,
as you say ; I grant that. After all, though, some
little time will be allowed to prepare for the wed
ding, send out the invitations, arrange the religious
part. Meantime his friends will supply what
they ve promised: he ll pay it back out of that.
Anti. On what ground? What reason will he give ?
Geta That s easy enough. He can say The number of
ominous warnings I ve had since the engagement !
A strange black dog came into my house, a snake
dropped off the tiles into the cistern, a hen crowed,
a wizard vetoed, a diviner forbad it, I couldn t think
of undertaking a new business before the shortest
day " and that s the soundest excuse of all.
That s what ll happen.
Anti. If only it would !
Geta It will: trust me. Your father s coming out: off
with you, tell Phaedria the money s there.
[EXIT Antipho.
RE-ENTER Demipho AND Chremes.
Demi. Be easy, I say : I ll take care he don t cheat us. 1
shan t be so rash as to part with the money except
before witnesses. I shall recite to whom I m giving
it and what I m giving it for.
Geta (aside) Mighty cautious when there s no need !
Chr. Yes, that s the way you must do it, and make haste
79
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
nam si altera illaec magis instabit, forsitan nos reiciat.
Geta rem ipsam putasti.
Demi. due me ad eum ergo.
Geta non moror.
Car. ubi hoc egeris,
transito ad uxorem meam, ut conveniat hanc prius
quam hinc abit.
dicat earn dare nos Phormioni nuptum, ne suscen- 720
seat;
et magis esse ilium idoneum qui ipsi sit familiarior ;
nos nostro officio non digressos esse: quantum is
voluerit,
datum esse dotis.
Demi. quid malum id tua re fert?
Chr. magni, Demipho.
non satis est tuom te officium fecisse, id si non fama
adprobat :
volo ipsius haec voluntate fieri, ne se eiectam praedicet.
Demi, idem ego istuc facere possum.
Chr. mulier mulieri magis convenit.
Demi, rogabo.
Chr. ubi illas nune ego reperire possim cogito.
ACTVS V
So. Quid agam ? quern mi amicum inveniam misera ?
aut quo consilia haec referam?
aut unde auxilium petam?
nam vereor, era ne ob meum suasum indigna iniuria 730
adficiatur :
ita patrem adulescentis facta haec tolerare audio
violenter.
Chr. nam quae haec anus est, exanimata a fratre quae
egressast meo ?
80
PHORMIO
while the fit s on him : if the other girl gets more
urgent he may perhaps throw us over.
Geta You ve hit it, Sir.
Demi, (to Geta) Then take me to him.
jet a This instant, Sir.
Chr. When you ve done the business, come across to my
wife and ask her to visit the girl before she leaves
your house. She may tell her we are giving her
in marriage to Phormio, (then she won t be angry,)
and that he s a better husband for her because he s
an older acquaintance, that we have not fallen short
of our duty and have provided as large a dowry as
he desired.
Demi. What the plague is that to you ?
?hr. Much, my dear brother. It is not enough for a man
to have done his duty unless the world ratines it.
I want this to be done with her own consent so that
she mayn t assert that she was turned out.
Demi. I can do that part myself.
?hr. A woman is best to deal with a woman.
Demi. I will ask her. [EXIT.
Now I wonder where I can find those others.
ACT V
ENTER Sophrona FROM Demiphos HOUSE.
So. (not seeing Chremes) What am I to do ? Where can a
poor woman find a friend to take the case to or appeal
for help? I m afraid my mistress will suffer a
shocking wrong from taking my advice. The young
man s father, from what I hear, takes what we have
done like a fury.
?hr. (aside) Who is this old woman that s come in this
wild state from my brother s?
81
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
So. quod ut facerem egestas me inpulit, quom scirem
infirmas nuptias
hasce esse, ut id consulerem, interea vita ut in tuto
foret.
Chr. certe edepol, nisi me animus fallit aut parum pro-
spiciunt oculi,
meae nutricem gnatae video.
So. . neque ille investigatur,
Chf. quid ago?
So. qui eius pater est.
Chr. adeo, maneo, dum haec quae loquitur magis cognosco ?
So. quod si eum nunc^reperire possim, est nil quod verear.
Chr. ipsa east :
conloquar.
So. quis hie loquitur?
Chr. Sophrona.
So. et meum nomen nominat?
Chr. respice ad me. 740
So. di obsecro vos, estne hie Stilpho?
Chr. non.
So. negas ?
Chr. concede hinc a foribus paulum istorsum sodes, Sophrona.
ne me istoc nomine appellassis posthac.
So. quid? non obsecro es
quern semper te esse dictitasti ?
Chr. sk
So. quid has metuis fores ?
Chr. conclusam hie habeo uxorem saevam. verum istoc
me nomine
eo perperam olim dixi, ne vos forte inprudentes foris
effuttiretis atque id porro aliqua uxor mea rescisceret.
So. istoc pol nos te hie invenire miserae numquam
potuimus.
82
PHORMIO
b. And it was penury drove me into it, though I knew
this marriage wouldn t hold. I wanted time to
turn round and had to provide her with a livelihood
till I could.
^hr. (aside) By heaven, unless my memory is out or my
eyesight fails, this is my daughter s nurse.
o. And we get no traces-
^hr. (aside, much agitated} What shall I do?
o. of her father.
^hr. (aside) Am I to go up to her or stop here till I catch
clearer what she s saying?
o. If only I could find him now I have nothing to fear.
^hr. (aside) It is the nurse. I ll speak to her. (goes forward)
o. (her back to him) Who s that talking ?
^hr. Sophrona !
o. My name too!
Ihr. Turn and look at me.
o. (turns round) For mercy s sake, are you Stilpho?
^hr. No.
o. You deny it? (they are now near Chr ernes door)
"hr. Come away a little from the doorway, this way,
please, Sophrona. (they move away: he whispers)
Never you call me that name again !
o. What? Aren t you the man you always said you
were?
7Ar. Hush !
o. Why are you afraid of that door ?
7Ar. Behind it I have a wife, a vixen. Why I told you s
falsely, when I did, that that was my name was that
some of you might happen to let my real name leak
out unawares and in consequence my wife might
somehow find it all out.
?o, Well I declare ! That s why we poor creatures never
could find you here.
as
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Chr. eho die mihi, quid rei tibist cum familia hac unde exis ?
ubi illae sunt ?
So. miseram me.
Chr. hem, quid est? vivontne?
So. vivit gnata.
matrem ipsam ex aegritudine hac mors miseram 750
consecutast.
Chr. male factum.
So. ego autem, quae essem anus deserta egens ignota,
ut potui nuptum virginem locavi huic adulescenti,
harum qui est doininus aedium.
Chr. Antiphonin ?
So. isti inquam ipsi.
Chr. quid? duasne uxores habet?
So. au, obsecro, unam ille quidem hanc sol am.
Chr. quid illam alteram quae dicitur cognata ?
So. haec ergost.
Chr. quid ais?
So. composite factumst, quo modo hanc amans habere
posset
sine dote.
Chr. di vostram fidem, quam saepe forte temere
eveniunt quae non audeas optare ! offendi adveniens
quocum volebam et ut volebam filiam locatam :
quod nos ambo opere maxumo dabainus operam ut 760
fieret,
sine nostra cura, maxuma sua cura haec sola fecit.
So. nunc quid opus facto sit vide : pater adulescentis venit
eumque animo iniquo hoc oppido ferre aiunt.
Chr. nil periclist
84
PHORMIO
Ihr. By the by, tell me w r hat you have to do with the
household you are just come from? Where are my
daughter and her mother?
o. Oh dear, dear! (crying)
Why now, what s the matter? Are they living?
Your daughter is alive. Her poor mother after all
this distress went and died, (crying)
Mir. Dear, dear now !
o. Being only an old woman, deserted and penniless
and a stranger here, I could only do my best, so I
married her to the young gentleman who is master
of this house here ?
y hr. (astounded) To Antipho ?
f o. Yes, I say so, to Antipho.
Ikr. What! Has he two wives?
o. Oh, mercy on us, no : he s only this one, he has.
Ikr. What of that other one who is called his relation ?
o. Why, that s this.
^hr. You can t mean it?
o. It was all a contrivance so that her lover could
marry her without a dowry. (Chremes clasps and
lifts his hands)
7hr. Great heavens, how often the merest chance brings
about things that you wouldn t venture to pray for !
I come back to find my daughter married to the
man I wished and in the way I wished. What the
pair of us were working our hardest to bring about
she alone without any exertion of ours by her own
great exertions has accomplished,
o. Now consider what we ve got to do. The young
man s father is returned and they say he s mightily
offended at the match.
^hr. There s no danger, but in the name of heaven and
85
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
sed per deos atque homines meam esse hanc cave
resciscat quisquam.
So. nemo e me scibit.
Chr. sequere me : intus cetera audiemus.
Demi. Nostrapte culpa facimus ut mails expediat esse,
V.ii dum nimium dici nos bonos studemus et benignos.
ita fugias ne praeter casam, quod aiunt. nonne id
sat erat,
accipere ab illo iniuriam!? etiam argentumst ultro
obiectum,
ut sit qui vivat, dum aliud aliqftid flagiti conficiat. 770
Geta planissume.
Demi. eis nunc praemiumst, qui recta prava faciunt.
Geta verissume.
Demi. ut stultissume qwidem illi rem gesserimus.
Geta modo ut hoc consilio possiet discedi, ut istam ducat.
Demi, etiamne id dubiumst?
Geta haud scio hercle, ut homost, an mutet animum.
Demi, hem, mutet autem?
Geta nescio ; verum, si forte, dico.
Demi, ita faciam, ut frater censuit, ut uxorem eius hue
adducam,
cum ista ut loquatur. tu, Geta, abi prae, nuntia
hanc venturam.
Geta argentum iiiventumst Phaedriae ; de iurgio siletur ;
provisumst ne in praesentia haec hinc abeat: quid
nunc porro?
86
PHORMIO
earth take care not a soul finds out she s my
daughter.
9. (with decisioii) Nobody shall know it from me.
hr. Come with me : you shall tell me the rest indoors.
[EXEUNT INTO Demipko s HOUSE.
(About half an hour has elapsed.)
ENTER Demipho WITH Geta.
)emi. It s our own blundering that makes it worth a man s
while to be a rogue and all because of our excessive
eagerness to be called honest and generous. Shoot
not beyond the mark, as the proverb has it. Wasn t
it enough to put up with wrong from that fellow ?
Now we have positively tossed money to him to keep
him going till he can achieve some other piece of
wickedness.
eta That s plain as day.
)emi. Nowadays there s a prize for those who don t care
whether they do right or wrong.
leta Absolutely true.
lemi. And so we have made a fool s business of it in this
affair.
reta I only hope this plan will get us out all right by
his marrying her.
}emi. (starting) Is even that doubtful?
leta I don t know, Sir, I m sure. Seeing he s what he
is, he may change his mind.
)emi. The devil ! You don t mean it ?
reta I don t know, Sir : I only say he may.
)emi. I ll do as my brother proposed, bring his wife across
to talk with her. Go ahead, Geta ; announce that
she s corning. [EXIT INTO Chremes* HOUSE.
jeta We ve got the cash for Phaedria; not a word about
the action; it s secured that for the moment the
lady doesn t leave us. What about the future?
87
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
quid fiet? in eodem luto haesitas; vorsuram solves, 780
Geta : praesens quod fuerat malum in diem abiit :
plagae, crescunt,
nisi prospicis. nunc hinc domum ibo ac Phanium
edocebo
ne quid vereatur Phormionem aut huius orationem.
Demi. Age dum, ut soles, Nausistrata, fac ilia ut placetur
V.iii nobis,
ut sua voluntate id quod est faciundum faciat.
Nau. faciam.
Demi, pariter nunc opera me adiuves, ac re dudum opitu-
lata es.
Nau. factum volo. ac pol minus queo viri culpa quam
me dignumst.
Demi, quid autem ?
Nau. quia pol mei patris bene parta indiligenter
tutatur; nam ex eis praediis talenta argenti bina
statim capiebat : vir viro quid praestat ! 790
Demi. binan quaeso?
Nau. ac rebus vilioribus, tamen talenta bina.
Demi. hui.
Nau. quid haec videntur?
Demi. scilicet.
Nau. virum me natum vellem :
ego ostenderem-
Demi. certo scio.
Nau. quo pacto-
Demi. parce sodes,
88
PHORMIO
What will be done ? You re stuck in the old mud ;
you borrowed to pay and must pay for the borrow
ing,, Geta. What was the present trouble is off for
the day, but the score of stripes runs up unless you
look out. Now I ll go off home and put Phanium
up to it all that she mayn t be afraid of Phormio or
the old lady s speechmaking. [EXIT.
RE-ENTER Demipho WITH Nausistrata.
*emi. Come then, Nausistrata, with your usual tact put
her in good humour with us that she may do volun
tarily what s got to be done.
au. I will do so.
tent. Help me with your good offices in this as you did
just now with your purse.
r au. I am most happy to help, and I assure you it s my
husband s fault that I can t do all that I ought to
have the means of doing.
>emi. How so?
au. Because, I do assure you, he s so careless in looking
after my father s honest savings. My father used
to receive from those farms five hundred pounds
every rent-day. What a difference there is between
man and man !
} emi. Five hundred, really ? (affecting surprise)
ait. Yes, and with prices much lower too: still five
hundred pounds.
} emi. Astonishing !
au. What do you think of that ?
] emi. It is evident.
au. I could wish / had been born a man : I should have
shown
t emi. (interrupting) I am sure of it.
au. by what means
>emi. (interrupting) Spare yourself, please, so that you may
89
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
ut possis cum ilia, mulier ne te adulescens defetiget.
Nau. faciam ut iubes. sed meum virum abs te exire
video.
Chr. ehem, Demipho,
iam illi datumst argentum?
Demi. curavi ilico.
Ckr. nollem datum.
ei, video uxorem: paeiie plus quam sat erat.
Demi. quor nolles, Chremes?
Chr. iam recte.
Demi. quid tu ? ecquid locutu s cum istac quam
ob rem hanc ducimus?
Chr. transegi.
Demi. quid ait tandem?
Chr. abduci non potest.
Demi. qui non potest?
Chr. quia uterque utri quest cordi. 800
Demi. quid istuc nostra?
Chr, magni. praeterhac
cognatam comperi esse nobis.
Denn. quid? deliras.
Chr. sic erit.
non temere dico : redii mecum in memoriam.
Demi. satin sanus es?
Nau. au obsecro, vide ne in cognatam pecces.
Demi. non est.
Chr. ne nega :
patris nomen aliud dictumst: hoc tu errasti.
Demi. non norat patrem ?
Chr. norat.
Demi. quor aliud dixit?
Chr. numquamne hodie concedes mihi
PHORMIO
talk to the girl. She is young and may tire you out.
au. I will follow your recommendation. Ah, there s
my husband coming out of your house.
ENTER Chremes.
ir. (much excited, not seeing his wife) I say, Demipho, has
the money been paid him yet?
emi. I saw to it at once.
ir. I m sorry for it. (sees his wife, aside) Dear me,
there s my wife. I had almost said too much.
emi. Why sorry, Chremes ?
kr. (confused) It s all right now.
emi. And your part? Have you talked to the girl and
told her why we bring your wife ?
hr. I have settled it.
emi. Pray, what does she say?
hr. The removal is impossible.
\erni. (astonished) Impossible? How s that?
hr. Because they are in love with each other.
*emi. What s that to us ?
hr. Much. Besides I have discovered that she s a
relation of ours.
\erni. What ? You re out of your wits.
hr. You ll find it s so. I m not talking at random, I ve
recollected.
)emi. Are you sane.
r au. Mercy on us, see that you don t wrong a kinswoman.
kmi. She isn t one.
hr. Don t be so sure. Her father s name was given
wrongly : that s why you mistook.
)emi. She didn t know her own father?
hr. (testily) Knew him? Yes.
)emi. Why did she give a wrong name?
hr. (aside to Demipho) Will you never give in? Won t
you understand?
D 91
FUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
neque intelleges?
Demi. si tu nil narras?
Chr. perdis.
\au. miror quid siet.
Demi, equidem hercle nescio.
Chr. viii scire ? at ita me servet luppiter,
ut propior illi quam ego sum ac tu nemost.
Demi. di vostram fidem,
eamus ad ipsam : una omnis nos aut scire aut nescire
hoc volo.
Chr. ah.
Demi, quid est? 810
Chr. itan parvam mihi fidem esse apud te!
Demi. vin me credere?
vin satis quaesitum mi istuc esse ? age, fiat, quid ?
ilia filia
amid nostri quid futurumst ?
Chr. recte.
Demi. hanc igitur mittimus?
Chr. quid ni?
Demi. ilia maneat?
Chr. sic.
Demi. ire igitur tibi licet, Nausistrata.
Nau. sic pol commodius esse in omnis arbitror quam ut
coeperas,
manere hanc; nam perliberalis visast, quom vidi,
mihi.
Demi, quid istuc negotist?
Chr. iamrie operuit ostium?
Demi. iam.
Chr. o luppiter,
92
PHORMIO
)emi. When you talk nonsense ?
hr. (aside to Demipho) You re ruining me.
au. (suspiciously) I wonder what it means.
)emi. On my word I haven t a notion.
hr. Do you wish to know ? Then, as I hope to be saved.
she hasn t a nearer relation in the world than you
and me.
)mi. Heavens, man, let us go and see her then. I should
like us all to know the truth together, whichever
way it is. (moves towards his door)
hr. (catching his sleeve) No, no.
)emi. What s the matter?
hr. How can you have such little confidence in me?
)emi. You wish me to take your word ? You wish me to
look on the question as settled? (Chremes nods)
Very well, so be it. Now that daughter of our
friend, what s to become of her?
hr. That s all right.
)emi. We drop her, eh ?
kr. Of course.
)emi. And keep the other?
hr. Yes.
)emi. Then, Nausistrata, we needn t detain you any longer.
T au. On my word it seems to me a more satisfactory
arrangement for everybody that she should stop.
She seemed to me, when I saw her, to be quite the
gentlewoman.
[EXIT, ESCORTED BY Demipho TO HER DOOR.
}emi. (turning to Chremes) Now what s all this?
"hr. Is the door shut?
)emi. Yes.
%r. Great God! Heaven befriends us. I find my
daughter married to your son.
93
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
di nos respiciunt: gnatam inveni nuptam cum tuo
filio.
Demi. hem,
quo pacto potuit?
Chr. non satis tutust ad narrandum hie locus.
Demi, at tu intro abi.
Chr. heus, ne filii quidem hoc nostri resciscant volo.
Anti. Laetus sum, ut meae res sese habent, fratri obti- 820
V.iv gisse quod volt.
quam scitumst eius modi in animo parare cupiditates,
quas, quom res advorsae sient, paulo mederi possis !
hie simul argentum repperit, cura sese expedivit;
ego nullo possum remedio me evolvere ex his turbis
quin, si hoc celetur, in metu, sin patent, in probro sim.
neque me domum mine reciperem ni mi esset spes
ostenta
huiusce habendae. sed ubinam Getam in venire 827
possim ?
Phor. Argentum accepi, tradidi lenoni : abduxi mulierem, 829
V.v curavi propria ut Phaedria poteretur ; nam emissast 830
manu.
nunc una mihi res etiam restat quae est conficiunda,
otium
ab senibus ad potandum at habeam; nam aliquot
hos sumam dies.
Anti. sed Phormiost. quidais?
Pkor. quid ?
A nti. quidnam nunc facturust Phaedria ?
quo pacto satietatem amoris ait se velle absumere ?
Pkor. vicissim partis tuas acturus est.
Anil. quas?
Phor. ut fugitet patrem.
te suas rogavit rursum ut ageres, causam ut pro se
diceresr:
PHORMIO
ewt. Powers above ! how could that be ?
kr. It isn t safe to tell you all out here.
*emi. Come indoors then.
kr. Look here, I wouldn t have our sons, even, find this
out. [EXEUNT INTO Demipho s HOUSE.
ENTER Antipho.
nti. I rejoice, considering how things are with me, that
my cousin has attained his object. How sensible
it is to cherish such desires that when things go
wrong you can easily set them right. With him
the moment he found the money he got clear of
his anxiety, with me there are no means of dis
entangling myself from these troubles : if the secret
is kept I m in fear, if it comes out I m in disgrace. I
shouldn t be on my way home now but for a glimpse
of hope that I may keep my wife. But where can
I find Geta? (looking up the street)
ENTER Phormio FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
hor. (not seeing Antipho) I got the money, paid it to the
man, carried off the girl, and saw to Phaedria s
getting her for his own, for now she s been emanci
pated. I have only one thing left to do, get some
peace from the old men for a tippling bout ; yes, I
shall take the next few days for it.
nti. There s Phormio. (comes forward) What are you
saying ?
hor. What should I say?
nti. What does Phaedria mean to do now ? How does
he propose to satiate his passion?
hor. He s going to take his turn in your part?
nti. What part s that?
hor. Skulking from his father. He has asked you to
take a turn in his and plead his cause. He ll be
95
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
nam potaturus est apud me. ego me ire senibus
Sunium
dicam ad mercatum, ancillulam emptum dudum
quam dixit Geta:
ne quom hie non videant me conficere credant ar-
gentum suom.
sed ostium concrepuit abs te. 840
Anti. vide quis egreditur.
Phor. Getast.
Geta O Fortuna, o Fors Fortuna, quantis commoditatibus,
V.vi quam subito meo ero Antiphoni ope vostra hunc
onerastis diem!
Anti. quidnam hie sibi volt?
Geta nosque amicos eius exonerastis metu
sed ego nunc mihi cesso, qui non umerum hunc
onero pallio
atque hominem propero invenire, ut haec quae
contigerint sciat.
Anti. num tu intellegis quid hie narret?
Phor. num tu ?
Anti. nil.
Phor. tantundem ego.
Geta ad lenonem hinc ire pergam : ibi nunc sunt.
Anti. heus, Geta !
Geta em tibi :
num mirum aut novomst revocari, cursum quom
institeris ?
Anti. Geta.
Geta pergit hercle. numquam tu odio tuo me vinces.
Anti. non manes?
Geta vapula. 85C
Anti. id quidem-tibi iam fiet nisi resistis, verbero.
Geta familiariorem oportet esse hunc : minitatur malum.
96
PHORiMlO
away, tippling with me. I shall tell the old man
that I m off to the fair at Sunium to buy the lady s
maid that Geta told em of just now, else not seeing
me here they ll think I m running through their
money. I hear your house-door on the move.
See who s coming out.
It s Geta. [THEY RETIRE.
ENTER Geta HURRIEDLY.
eta (soliloquizes) O Fortune, O best of Fortunes, what
blessings all in a moment your help has heaped on
the head of my master Antipho !
(aside to Phormio) What does the fellow mean ?
And off us, his friends, cleared a load of anxiety !
But I m wasting time in not throwing my cloak over
my shoulder and hurrying to find him and inform
him what luck has befallen him.
iti. (as before) Do you know what he s talking about?
kor. Do you?
iti. Not a bit.
ior. As little here.
ita I m off to the slave-dealer s: that s where they are.
(starting)
iti. Hi, Geta !
?ta (not looking round) There now ! Anything new or
strange in being recalled after * away is cried?
iti. Geta !
zta Still at it, by Jove ! You shall never get over me
by your tiresome ways.
iti. Don t you mean to stop ?
?ia You be whipped!
iti. That ll be your fate, if you don t stop, rascal.
?ta He must be very much of the family, he threatens
punishment, (turns round) The man I m looking
97
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
sed isne est quern quaero an non ? ipsust. congre-
dere actutum.
AnlL quid est?
Geta o omnium, quantumst qui vivont, homo hominum
ornatissume !
nam sine controvorsia ab dis solus diligere, Antipho.
Anil. ita velim ; sed qui istuc credam ita esse mihi dici veliin.
Geta satine est si te delibutum gaudio reddo?
Anil. eiiicas.
Phor. quin tu hinc pollicitationes aufer et quod fers cedo.
Geta oh,
tu quoque aderas, Phormio?
Phor. aderam. sed tu cessas?
Geta accipe, em :
ut modo argentum tibi dedimus apud forum, recta
domain
sumus profecti ; intereamittit erusme aduxorern tuam. 8<)0
Anti. quam ob rem?
Gtta omitto proloqui; nam nil ad hanc remst, Antipho.
ubi in gyiiaeceum ire occipio, puer ad me adcurrit
Mida,
pone apprendit pallio, resupinat: respicio^ rogo
quam ob rem retineat me : ait esse vetitum iiitro ad
eram accedere.
Sophrona hue fratrem modo" inquit senis intro-
duxit Chremem"
eumque iiunc esse in bus cum illis. hoc ubi ego
audivi, ad fores
suspense gradu placide ire perrexi, accessi, astiti,
animam compressi, aurem admovi : ita animimi coepi
attendere,
lioc modo sermonem cap tans.
Phor, eu, Geta.
Geta hie pulcherrimum
98
PHORMIO
for or not? The man it is. (returning) You meet
me on the hop.
nti. What is it?
eta O Sir,, of all men living the most splendid in fortune !
Past disputing you are the only favourite of heaven.
nti. I wish I were! I should like you to tell me the
grounds for my thinking so.
eta Shall you be satisfied if I dip you over head and
ears in delight?
nti. Grant me patience !
kor. Confound your promises! Tell your news.
eta Oh, you re there too, Phormio.
kor. I m here. Why do you trifle?
eta Listen: here goes. After we gave you the money
just now in the Piazza, we started straight back
home. Presently master sends me to your wife.
nti. What for?
eta I omit that information, because it s not to the
point, Sir. I was just going into the ladies apart
ments, when the boy Mida runs up, catches me by
the cloak, pulls me back. I look at him and ask
him why he s stopping me. He says the orders are
no admission to the mistress room." My lady,"
says he, has just brought in master s brother
Chr ernes and he s in there with em now." When
he told me this, I started for the door on tip-toe
very quietly, got there, stood close, held my breath,
put my ear to the panels. So I listened hard,
trying, that way, to catch what they said.
kor. Bravo, Geta!
eta So then I heard something quite splendid, and
by Jove I nearly started for joy.
99
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
facinus audivi: itaque paeiie hercle exclamavi 870
gaudio.
Anil. quod ?
Geta quodnam arbitrare?
Anti. nescio.
Geta atqui mirificissumum :
patruos tuos est pater inventus Phanio uxori tuae.
Anti. quid ais?
Geta cum eius consuevit olim matre in Lemno clanculum.
Phor. somnium: utine haec ignoraret suom patrem?
Geta aliquid credito,
Phormio, esse causae. sed me censen potuisse omnia
intellegere extra ostium, intus quae inter sese ipsi
egerint ?
Anti. atque ego quoque inaudivi hercle illam fabulam.
Geta immo etiam dabo
quo magis credas : patruos interea inde hue egre-
ditur foras :
haud multo post cum patre idem recipit se intro
denuo :
ait uterque tibi potestatem eius adhibendae dari. 88C
denique ego sum missus, te ut requirerem atque
adducerem.
Anti. quin ergo rape me: quid cessas?
Geta fecero.
Anti. o mi Phormio,
vale
Phor vale, Antipho. bene, ita me di ament, factum : gaudeo.
V.vii Tan tarn fortunam de inproviso esse his datam!
summa eludendi occasiost mihi nunc senes
et Phaedriae curam adimere argentariam,
ne quoiquam suorum aequalium supplex siet.
nam idem hoc argentum, ita ut datumst, ingratiis
ei datum erit : hoc qui cogam, reapse repperi.
100
PHORMIO
nti. What was it?
eta What do you think?
nti Can t say.
da Oh, most wonderful ! Your uncle is discovered to
be father to Phanium your wife.
nti. Impossible !
eta He had an intrigue with the mother years ago in
Lemnos.
kor. Moonshine! Likely she wouldn t know her own
father !
eta You may be sure there s some way of accounting
for it, Phormio. Do you think I could follow every
word outside the door, all their private talk on the
other side?
nti. By Jove yes, I too have heard a word drop about
that story.
eta Yes, and I ll tell you something to make you believe
it more. Presently out comes your uncle, out here.
Soon afterwards back he trots with your father, and
in they go again. They say, both of em, that you
may keep your wife. To end all I am sent to look
for you and take you there.
nti. (eagerly) Take me ? Sweep me. How slow you are
eta In a trice.
nti. My dear Phormio, good bye.
hor. Good bye, Antipho. So help me, it s excellent:
I m delighted. [EXEUNT Antipho AND GetaJ] What
an unforeseen stroke of luck for them ! And what a
chance for me to outplay the old fellows and relieve
Phaedria of his trouble about the money, so that he
needn t go begging to his friends ! The money has
been given him, and the money he shall keep in
spite of their teeth. Circumstances have given me
101
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
nunc gestus mihi voltusque est capiundus novos. 890
sed hinc concedam in angiportum hoc proxumum,
inde hisce ostendam me, ubi erunt egressi foras.
quo me adsimularam ire ad mercatum, non eo.
Demi. Dis magnas merito gratias habeo atque ago,
V.viii quando evenere haec nobis, frater, prospere.
quantum potest, nunc conveniundust Phormio,
prius quam dilapidat nostras triginta minas
ut auferamus.
Phor. Demiphonem si domist
visam, ut quod
Demi. at nos ad te ibamus, Phormio.
Phor. de eadem hac fortasse causa? 900
Demi. ita hercle.
Phor. credidi :
quid ad me ibatis? ridiculum. an verebamini
ne non id facerem quod recepissem semel?
heus, quanta quanta haec mea paupertas est, tamen
adhuc curavi unum hoc quidem, ut mi esset fides.
Chr. estne ita uti dixi liberalis?
Demi. oppido.
Phor. idque adeo venio nuntiatum, Demipho,
paratum me esse: ubi voltis, uxorem date.
nam omnis posthabui mihi res, ita uti par fuit,
postquam id tanto opere vos velle animum advorteram.
Demi, at hie dehortatus est me ne illam tibi darem : 910
f nam qui erit rumor," inquit, id si feceris?
olim quom honeste potuit, turn non est data:
earn nunc extrudi turpest." ferme eadem omiiia,
quae tute dudum coram me incusaveras.
102
PHORMIO
the power to force em into it. Now for a change of
mien and look. I ll turn down the first alley here
and from there present myself when they come out.
My pretence of going to the fair I give up. [RETIRES
ENTER Demipho AND Chr ernes.
( )emi. I am heartily and deeply thankful to heaven,
brother, for this successful issue. Now I must see
Phormio, as soon as possible before he makes ducks
and drakes of our hundred and twenty pounds, so
that we may get it back.
(advancing and pretending not to see them) I m going to
see if Demipho s at home, so that
Demi, (interrupting) Ah, we were coming to see you Phormio.
D hor. On the old subject perhaps?
Demi. Yes indeed.
Phor. I thought so. Why should you be coming to me ?
What nonsense! Were you afraid I shouldn t do
what I had once engaged myself to? Gentlemen,
gentlemen, my means may be of the very very
smallest, but one thing I have always taken care to
be, and that s a man of my word.
?hr. (who has not been attending, addressing Demipho) Is she
not, as I said, a gentlewoman?
Demi. Quite so, quite so.
Phor. And so I am come expressly to tell you that I am
ready. As soon as you choose, hand me over the
wife. I postponed all my own business, as was
right, so soon as I saw how eager you were.
Demi, Yes, but my brother has talked me into not giving
her to you. Think/ says he, what the world
will say if you do. When you might have given her
without discredit, you did not: to shut the doors
on her now would be scandalous." He urged pretty
nearly what you yourself threw in my face just now.
103
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS A PER
Phor. satis superbe inluditis me.
Demi. qui ?
Phor. rogas ?
quia ne alteram quidem illam potero ducere ;
nam quo redibo ore ad earn quam contempserim ?
Ckr. turn auteni Antiphonem video ab sese amittere
invitum earn inque.
Demi. turn autem video filium
invitum sane mulierem ab se amittere.
sed transi sodes ad forum atque illud mihi
argentum rursum iube rescribi, Phonnio.
Phor. quodne ego discripsi porro illis quibus debui?
Demi, quid igitur fiet?
Phor. si vis mi uxorem dare
quam despondisti, ducam ; sin est ut velis
manere illam apud te,, dos hie maneat, Demipho.
nam non est aequom me propter vos decipl,
quom ego vostri honoris causa repudium alterae
remiserinx, quae dotis tantundem dabat.
Demi, in hinc malam rem cum istac magnificentia, 930
fugitive? etiam nunc credis te ignorarier
aut tua facta adeo ?
Phor. inritor
Demi. tune hanc duceres.
si tibi daretur?
Phor. fac periclum.
Demi. ut filius
cum ilia habitet apud te ! hoc vostrum consilium fuit.
Phor. quaeso quid narras?
Demi. quin tu mi argentum cedo.
Phor. immo vero uxorem tu cedo.
Demi. in ius ambuia.
104
PHORiMIO
hor. This is a pretty high-handed way of trifling with me.
Jemi. How so?
D hor. What a question ! Wl^, I shan t be able to marry
the other girl either. How can I have the face to
go back to her after jilting her?
Ihr. (whispering to Demipho) Say Besides I see Antipho is
unwilling to part with her/ 3
Demi. Besides I see that my son is distinctly unwilling to
part with the lady. Now be so good as to come
across to the Piazza and tell the banker to retransfer
the money to my account.
Phor. What ? The money on which I at once drew cheques
in favour of my creditors ?
Demi, (puzzled) What s to be done then?
Pkor. (with an affectation of dignity} If you choose to give me
the bride whom you betrothed to me, I will marry
her, but if it is the case that you choose she shall
still stop with you, the dowry must stop here,
Demipho. (points to himself) Yes, it isn t right that
I should be taken in to help you gentlemen, when
out of respect for you I have broken with another
girl who was to bring just as large a dowry.
Demi {angrily) Devil take you and your sublime airs, you
vagabond! Do you still think we don t know you
and your doings too ?
Phor. You are provoking me.
Demi. Would you marry her if she were offered you.
Phor. Try me.
Demi. For my son to live with her in your house ! That s
what you had schemed with him !
Phor. Pray, what are you talking about?
Demi. Just give me back my money.
Phor. No, just you give me my wife.
Demi, (seizing him) Come into court.
105
PUBLICS TERENT1US AFER
Phor. enim vero si porro esse odiosi pergitis
Demi, quid facies?
Phor. egone? vos me indotatis modo
patrocinari fortasse arbitramini :
etiam dotatis soleo. 940
Chr. quid id nostra?
Phor. nihil.
hie quandam noram, quoius vir uxorem
Chr. hern.
Demi. quidest?
Phor. Lemni habuit aliam
Chr. nullus sum.
Phor. ex qua filiam
suscepit, et earn clam educat.
Chr. sepultus sum.
Phor. haec adeo ego illi iam denarrabo.
Chr. obsecro,
ne facias.
Phor. oh, tune is eras?
Demi. ut ludos facit
Chr. missum te facimus.
Phor. fabulae.
Chr. quid vis tibi?
argentum quod habes condonamus te.
Phor. audio.
quid vos malum ergo me sic ludificamini
inepti vostra puerili inconstantia ?
nolo volo ; volo nolo rursum ; cape, cedo ; 950
quod dictum indictumst; quod modo ratum erat
inritumst.
Chr. quo pacto aut unde hie haec rescivit ?
Demi. nescio ;
nisi me dixisse nemini certo scio.
106
PHORM1Q
Phor. (threateningly) I can tell you that if you persist any
more in making yourself obnoxious (stops)
Demi. What will you do?
Phor. Aha! perhaps you think it s only dowerless girls
that I champion: dowered ones too, pretty often.
Ckr. What s that to us?
Phor. (ironically) Nothing, (slowly) I knew a lady here
whose hushand had another
Ckr. (in great alarm) Heaven above us!
Demi. What s the matter?
Phor. wife in Lemrios
Chr. (turning away in despair} There s an end of me !
Phor. by whom he had a daughter, whom he brings up
secretly.
Chr. A winding sheet!
Phor. This precise story I am now going to tell to the lady
in full.
Chr. (pitiably) For heaven s sake don t.
Phor. Oh-h-h are you the man?
Demi. What fools he makes of us !
Chr. We discharge you.
Phor. A pretty story!
Chr. What do you want? We forgive you the money
you ve got.
Phor. Of course you do. What the plague do you mean
by playing with me in this way, you silly things,
with your childish shilly-shallying? I won t, I will;
I will, I won t again; take, give back; what was
said unsaid, what was settled upset, (turns away)
Chr. (to Demipho) How or from whom did he find this
out?
Demi. I don t know, only I m sure / never told anyone.
107
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Ckr. monstri, ita me di ament, simile.
Phor. inieci scrupulum.
Demi. hem,
hicine ut a nobis hoc tantum argenti auferat
tarn aperte inridens? ernori hercle satius est.
animo virili praesentique ut sis para.
vides tuom peccatum esse elatum foras
neque iam id celare posse te uxorem tuam:
nunc quod ipsa ex aliis auditura sit, Chremes,
id nosmet indicare placabilius est.
turn hunc inpuratum poterimus nostro modo
ulcisci.
Phor. atattat, nisi mi prospicio, haereo.
hi gladiatorio animo ad me adfectant viarn
Ckr. at vereor ut placari possit.
Demi. bono animo es*.
ego redigam vos in gratiam, hoc fretus, Chremes,
quom e medio excessit unde haec suscepta c t tibi.
Phor. itaii agitis mecum? satis astute adgredimini.
non hercle ex re istius me instigasti, Demipho.
ain tu? ubi quae lubitum fuerit peregre feceris 970
neque huius sis veritus feminae primariae,
quin novo modo ei faceres contumeliam,
venias nunc precibus lautum peccatum tuom ?
hisce ego illam dictis ita tibi incensam dabo,
ut ne restinguas, lacrumis si exstillaveris. 975
Demi, tantane adfectum quemquam esse hominem audacia ! 977
non hoc publicitus scelus hinc asportarier
in solas terras!
C/ir. in id redactus sum loci
108
PHORMIO
Ckr. So help me, it looks as though the devil were in it.
Phor. {aside) Grit in their shoes f
Demi What! He to get all this money out of us and
laugh at us so openly? God! I d rather die on the
spot. Now then, courage forward, wits about you
You see your peccadillo is come out and you can no
longer hide it from your wife : now, as she is sure
to hear it from some one else, the better way to
appease her is to inform her ourselves. Then we
shall be able to punish this beast of a man in our
own way.
Phor. (to himself) Hollo, hollo, if I don t look out I m in
the mud. They re for a desperadoes march against
me.
Chr. But I am afraid it will be impossible to appease her.
Demi. Courage, man. / will make you friends on the
strength of the girl s mother being deceased.
Phor. (overhearing and coming forward) That s the way you
deal with me, is it ? A very cunning plan of attack !
I warn you, Demipho, that your way of driving me
hasn t been for your brother s good, (to Chremes)
What do you mean? You followed your fancy in
another land, no respect for your excellent wife
stopped you from wronging her after a novel pattern,
and are you now to come with prayers on your lips
to cleanse your offence ? I ll say things to her that
will set her in such a blaze that you couldn t put
it out by turning yourself into a bucket of tears.
Dcwi. (furiously) Who d have thought any man could be
possessed of such effrontery? Such a lump of
wickedness ought to be transported at the public
charge to a desert island.
Chr. I m reduced to such a state that I don t know in
the least how to deal with him.
109
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFEB
ut quid again cum illo nesciam prorsum. 980
Demi. ego scio:
in ius eamus.
Pkor. in ius? hue, si quid lubet.
Ckr. adsequere, retine, dum ego hue servos evoco.
Demi, enim nequeo solus: adcurre.
Phor. una iniuriast
tecum.
Demi. lege agito ergo.
Phor. alterast tecum, Chreines.
Chr. rape hunc.
Phor. sic agitis ? enim vero vocest opus
Nausistrata, exi.
Chr. os opprime inpurum: vide
quantum valet.
Phor. Nausistrata, inquam.
Demi. non taces?
Phor. taceam ? v
Demi. nisi sequitur, pugnos in ventrem ingere.
Phor. vel oculum exsculpe : est ubi vos ulciscar probe.
Nau. Qui nominat me? hem, quid istuc turbaest. obsecro, 990
V.ix mi vir?
Pher. ehem, quid nunc obstipuisti ?
Nau. quis hie homost?
non mihi respondes ?
Phor. hicine ut tibi respondeat,
qui hercle ubi sit nescit?
Chr. cave isti quicquam creduas.
Phor. abi, tange : si non totus friget, me enica.
110
PHORMiO
1 know: into court with him. (tries to seize him)
Into court? This court, if you ve no objection.
(moves towards Chremes door)
Chr. After him, hold him, while I call out the servants.
Demi, (seizing Phormio, who drags him along) 1 can t by
myself, I can t: come and help.
Phor. One action for assault against you.
Demi. Bring it then ! (Chremes seizes Phormios other arm)
Phor. Another against you, Chremes. (the two struggle
with him)
Chr. Drag him off!
Phor. Oh, that s it, is it? My word! I must use my
lungs, (shouts) Nausistrata, come out!
Chr. Gag the beast s mouth, man. What strength he s
got!
Phor. (shouts) Nausistrata, I say.
Demi. Won t you be quiet?
Phor. Quiet indeed?
Demi. If he won t come, punch him in the belt.
Phor. Knock an eye out if you like.
ENTER Nausistrata. Phormio WRENCHES HIMSELF FREE,
THROWING THE OLD MEN RIGHT AND LEFT, AND POINTS
EXULTANTLY TO Nausistrata . TABLEAU.
I ve the means for punishing you two in fine style.
Nau. Who calls me? (comes forward) Gracious! What s
this disturbance? In heaven s name tell me, my
dear.
Phor. (to Chremes) Aha! why struck dumb now?
Nau. Who is this person? (Chremes is silent) No answer?
Phor. He answer you ? Lord ! he doesn t know where he is.
Chr. (stuttering with fear) Don t believe a word that fellow
says.
Phor. Go and put your finger on him: if he isn t stone-
cold all through, have me hanged.
Ill
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFEK
Chr. nil est.
Nau. quid ergo? quid istic narrat?
Phor. [am scies:
ausculta.
Chr. pergin credere?
Nau. quid ego obsecro
huic credam, qui nil dixit?
Phor. delirat miser
timore.
Nau. non pol temerest quod tu tarn times.
Chr, egon timeo?
Phor. recte sane: quando nil times,
et hoc nil est quod ego dico, tu narra. 1000
Demi. scelus,
tibi narret?
Phor. ohe tu, factumst abs te sedulo
pro fratre.
Nau. mi vir, non mihi dices?
Chr. at
Nau. quid "at"?
Chr. non opus est dicto.
Phor. tibi quidem; at scito huic opust.
in Lemno
Nau. hem, quid ais?
Chr. non taces?
Phor. clam te
Chr. ei mihi!
Phor. uxorem duxit.
Nau. mi homo, di melius duint*
Phor. sic factumst.
Nau. perii misera !
Phor. et inde filiam
suscepit iam unam, duin tu dormis.
Chr. quid agimus?
112
PHORMIO
Chr. It s n-nothing.
Nau. What is n-nothing ? What has he to tell ?
Phor. You shall hear at once. Listen.
Chr. (to his wife) Are you set on believing him?
Nau. (icily) And pray in what am I to believe him when
he hasn t s;ud a word?
Phor. He s beside himself, poor creature, for fright.
Nau. (to Chremes) I am sure it is not for nothing that you
are in such a fright.
Chr. I in a f-fright?
Phor. Very pretty indeed! As your fright is nothing
and what I say is nothing, tell you the tale.
Demi. Scoundrel, at your desire?
Phor. You interfere, do you ? Nicely active youVe been
for your brother.
Nau. My dear husband, won t you tell me ?
Chr. B-but
Nau. But 1 what?
Chr. There s no need to tell it.
Phor. For you no, but need for your wife to know it. In
Lemnos
Nau. Ha, what s that?
Chr. (to Phormio) Won t you be quiet?
Phor. hiding it from you
Chr. Misery !
Phor. he married a wife.
Nau. (screams) Man alive! Heaven forbid
Phor. It s the truth.
Nau. (covering her face with her hands) Wretched woman
that I am!
Phor. And has one daughter by her already, while you
slept in ignorance.
Chr. (aside to Demipho) What s to be done?
Hi
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Nau. pro di inmortales, facinus miserandum et malum
Phor. hoc actumst.
Nau. an quicquam hodiest factum indignius?
qui mi, ubi ad uxores ventumst, turn fiunt senes. 1010
Demipho, te appello: nam cum hoc ipso distaedet
loqui :
haecine erant itiones crebrae et mansiones diutinae
Lemni ? haecine erat ea quae iiostros minuit fructus
vilitas ?
Demi. ego, Nausi strata, esse in hac re culpam meritum
non nego;
sed ea quin sit igiioscenda?
Phor. verba fiunt mortuo.
Demi, nam neque neclegentia tua neque odio id fecit tuo.
vinolentus fere abhinc annos quindecim mulierculam
earn compressit, unde haec uatast; neque postilla
umquam attigit.
ea mortem obiit ; e medio abiit, qui fuit in re hac
scrupulus.
quam ob rem te oro, ut alia facta tua sunt, aequo 1020
animo hoc feras.
Nau. quid ego aequo animo? cupio misera in hac re iam
defungier ;
sed qui id sperem ? aetate porro minus peccaturum
putem ?
iam turn erat senex, senectus si verecundos facit.
an mea forma atque aetas magis nunc expetendast,
Demipho ?
quid mi hie adfers, quam ob rem exspectem aut
sperem porro non fore?
Phor. exsequias Chremeti quibus est commodum ire, em
tempus est.
sic dabo : age nunc, Phormionem qui volet lacessito :
faxo tali sit mactatus infortunio atque hie est.
114
PHORMIO
Nau. Oh heavens ! what miserable baseness
Phor (to Chremes) To be done? Doing s over.
Nau. Was ever any more monstrous wickedness? And
when it s their wives, their youth is past! (turns
her back on Chremes) Demipho, I appeal to you : to
this man of mine I haven t patience to speak.
(^
is it?) of those frequent
voyages, those lengthened visits, to Lemnos ! These
are the low prices that brought down our rents !
Demi. I don t deny, Nausistrata, that he has been to
blame in this matter, but surely it is an offence
that should be forgiven.
Phor. A funeral oration!
Demi. He didn t do it out of disregard, much less dislike,
for you. Some fifteen years ago in his cups he
met the woman who bore this child and has had
no commerce with her since. She is dead and
gone, and thus the difficulty in the matter is
removed. So I beg you to show your usual good-
humour and put up with it.
Nau. Why should I show good humour? Wretch that
I am, I wish this were the end, but how can I
hope so ? Am I to think that years will make him
more innocent in the future ? He was grey-headed
already, if it s grey hairs that make men restrain
themselves. Is the attraction of youth and beauty
greater in me now than then, Demipho! What
reason do you give why I should expect or even
hope that in the future he will be a changed man ?
Phor. (loudly} Oyez ! oyez ! oyez ! All whom it concerns
are desired this very hour to attend the funeral of
Chremes! That s my style. Come now, anyone
want to challenge Phormio ? Let him. I ll make him
the victim of such disaster as Chremes has. (chang-
115
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
redeat sane in gratiam iam : supplici satis est mihi.
habet haec ei quod, dum vivat, usque ad aurein 1030
obganniat.
Nau at meo merito credo, quid ego nunc commemorem,
Demipho,
singulatim, qualis ego in hunc fuerim?
Demi. novi aeque omnia
tecum.
Nau. merito hoc meo videtur factum ?
Demi. minume gentium,
verum iam quando accusando fieri infectum non
potest,
ignosce : orat confitetur purgat : quid vis amplius ?
Phor. enim vero prius quam haec dat veniam, mihi pro-
spiciam et Phaedriae.
heus Nausistrata, huic prius quam respondes temere,
audi.
Nau. quid est?
Phor. ego minas triginta ab illo per fallaciam abstuli :
eas dedi tuo gnato : is pro sua arnica lenoni dedit.
Chr. hem, quid ais? 1040
Nau. adeone indignum hoc tibi videtur, filius
homo adulescens si habet unam amicam, tu uxores
duas?
nil pudere ? quo ore ilium obiurgabis ? responde mihi.
Demi, faciet ut voles.
Nau. immo ut meam iam scias sententiam,
neque ego ignosco neque promitto quicquam neque
respondeo
prius quam gnatum videro: eius iudicio permitto
omnia.
quod is iubebit faciam.
Phor. mulier sapiens es, Nausistrata.
116
PHORMIO
ing his tone) Well, well, let him be restored to favou r
now. My vengeance is satisfied : the lady has some
thing to growl at him for all his life long.
Nau. Can he say I have deserved this? What need to
recount now, Demipho, point by point what a wife
I ve been to him?
Demi. I know it as well as you do.
Nau. Does it look as if I had deserved this?
Demi. Not the least in the world. But now, since no
reproaches can undo it, forgive him. He throws
himself on your mercy with confession and apology :
what more do you desire ?
Phor. (aside) Indeed now before she pardons him I will
secure myself and Phaedria. (aloud) Madam,,
Madam, before you answer him heedlessly, a word
from me.
Nau. What is it?
Phor. I got a hundred and twenty pounds out of your
husband by a trick. I gave the money to your son ;
he has given it to a slave-dealer as the price of his
mistress.
Ckr. What s that? what s that?
Nau. (icily} Do you think it such a shocking thing for a
young man like your son to have one mistress when
you have two wives? Have you no shame? How
will you have the face to scold him? Answer me
that. \Chreme* RETIRES DUMBFOUNDED.
Demi. He will fall in with your wishes.
Nau. (to Chremes) No, to let you know my resolution at
once, I don t forgive you or make any promise or
any answer until I have seen my son. To his
decision I leave everything, what he recommends
I shall do.
Phor. Madam, you are a lady of wisdom.
117
PEBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Nau. Satin tibist?
Demi. satis.
Chr. immo vero pulchre discedo et probe
et praeter spem.
Nau. tu tuom nomen die mihi quid sit.
Phor. Phormio :
vostrae familiae hercle amicus et tuo summus
Phaedriae.
Nau. Phormio, at ego ecastor posthac tibi quod potero, 1050
quod voles
faciamque et dicam.
Phor. benigne dicis.
Nau. pol meritumst tuom.
Phor. van primum liodie facere quod ego gaudeam, Nausi-
strata,
et quod tuo viro oculi doleant?
Nau. cupio.
Phor me ad cenam voca.
Nau. pol vero voco.
Demi. eamus mtro hinc.
Nau. fiat, sed ubist Phaedria
iudex noster ?
Phor. iam hie faxo aderit.
Cantor vos valete et piauchte.
113
PHORMIO
Jan. Does that satisfy you.
(answering for Chremes) It does.
(aside) Yes, indeed, I get off finely and properly and
better than I hoped.
(to Phormio) Sir, please tell me your name?
Phormio, a friend, I assure you, of your family and
a devoted friend of your son.
V r flw. Well, Phormio, I vow that in future to the best of
my power I will forward your wishes by word and
deed.
y hor. You are very kind.
^au. I am sure you have deserved it.
D hor. Would you like to begin to-day with something
that would delight me, Madam, and give your
husband a pain in the eyes?
\ r au. With all my heart.
Phor. Invite me to dinner.
\ r au. Certainly I invite you.
Demi. Let us go indoors.
\au. By all means. But where is Fbaedria, our judge
Phar. I ll have him here in a moment.
Mus. Farewell and clap your hands. [EXEUNT OMNES
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
INC1PIT TERENTI HECVRA . ACTA LVDIS MEGALENSTBVS
IVLIO CAESARE CN . CORNELIO DOLABELLA AEDILIB
CVRVLIB . MODOS FECIT FLACCVS CLAVDI TIBIIS PAR1BVS .
TOTA GRAECA MENANDRV . FACTA V . ACTA PR1MO SINE
PROLOGO CN . OCTAVIO T . MANLIO COS RELATA EST L .
AEMELIO PAVLO LVDIS FVNERALIB . NON EST PLACITA .
TERTIO RELATA EST Q. FVLVIO L. MARCIO AEDILIB . CVRVLIB.
EGIT LVC , AMBIVIVS LVC . SERGIVS TVRPIO , PLACVIT 10
The Mother-in-law by Terence. Acted at the games
of the Mighty Mother in the Curule Aedileship of
Sextus Julius Caesar and Gnaeus Cornelius Dola-
bella. Pipe-music bass by Flaccus, servant to
Claudius. The whole from the Greek of Menander.
The adapter s fifth comedy. 1 Acted first without
a prologue in the Consulship of Gnaeus Octavius and
Titus Maniius. Reproduced at the funeral games
of Lucius Aemilius Paulus, it was not a success.
Produced a third time in the Curule Aedileship of
Quintus Fulvius and Lucius Marcius, under the
mai lagement of Lucius Ambivius and Lucius
Sergius Turpio, it proved a success.
This ignores the two unsuccessful performances.
B
C. SVLPICI APOLLINARIS
PERIOCHA
Uxorem ducit Pamphilus Philumenam,
cui quondam ignorans virgini vitium obtulit,
cuiusque per vim quern detraxit anulum
amicae dederat Bacchidi meretriculae.
profectus dein in Imbrum est : nuptam haud attigit.
hanc mater ut eo ex vitio gravidam comperit
ut aegram ad sese transfert. revenit Pamphilus,
deprendit partum, celat ; uxorem tamen
recipere non volt, pater incusat Bacchidis
amorem. dum se purgat Bacehis, anulum 10
mater vitiatae forte adgnoscit Myrrina.
uxorem recipit Pamphilus cum filio.
PERSONAE
PHILOTIS MERETRIX PHIDIPPVS SENEX
SYRA ANVS PAMPHILVS ADVLESCENS
PARMENO SERVOS SOSIA SERVOS
LACHES SENEX MYRRINA MATRONA
SOSTRATA MATRONA BACCHIS MERETRIX
CANTOR
124
SUMMARY OF THE PLAY
BY GAIUS SULPICIUS APOLL1NARIS
Pamphilus has married Philumena, whom he had
before wronged without knowing who she was. A
ring, which he had taken from her by force, he
presented to Bacchis, a courtesan. He then de
parted to Imbros without having lived with his wife.
When her mother found that as the result of the
outrage she was with child, under the pretence of
illness she took her back to her own house.
Pamphilus returning discovered the fact but kept
it secret, refusing however to receive her as his
wife. His father accused him of an intrigue with
Bacchis. Bacchis defended herself against the
charge, and this led to the ring being recognized
by Myrrina, the mother of the outraged girl.
Thereupon Pamphilus received his wife with their
son.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
r old gentlemen of Athens.
IDIPPUS )
LACHES
PHI
PAMPHILUS, son to Laches.
PARMENO, servant ( slave J to Laches and Pampfuius.
A boy and other servants.
SOSTRATA, wife to Laches.
MYRRINA, wife to Phidippus*
BACCHIS
PHILOTIS
SYRA, an old crone,
125
X
r courtesans.
PROLOGVS (I)
Hecyraest huic nomen fabulae. Hecyra quom datast
novae novom intervenit vitium et calamitas,
ut neque spectari neque cognosci potuerit :
ita populus studio stupidus in funambulo
animum occuparat. nunc haec planest pro nova,
et is qui scripsit hanc ob earn rem noluit
iterum referre, ut iterum posset vendere.
alias cognostis eius : quaeso hanc noscite.
126
FIRST PROLOGUE
This play is styled The Mother-in-law." On its
first presentation it was interrupted by a strange
and stormy scene, so that it could not be seen or
heard. In fact the people s thoughts were blindly
preoccupied by a rope-dancer. On this occasion
clearly it is on the footing of a new play. The
author would not have it repeated at the time,
his wish being to have the profits of another per
formance. . . . You have heard others of his
plays : now be so good as to hear this.
127
PROLOGVS(II)
L. AMBIVIVS
Orator ad vos venio ornatu prologi :
sinite exorator sim, eodem ut iure uti senein 10
liceat quo iure sum usus adulescentior,
novas qui exactas feci ut inveterascerent,
ne curn poeta script ura evanesceret.
in eis, quas primum Caecili didici novas,
partim sum earum exact us, partim vix steti.
quia scibam dubiam fortuiiam esse scaenicam,
spe incerta certum mihi laborem sustuli,
easdem agere coepi, ut ab eodem alias discerem
novas, studiose, ne ilium ab studio abducerem.
perfeci ut spectarentur : ubi sunt cognitae, 20
placitae sunt. ita poetam restitui in locum
prope iam remotum iniuria advorsarium
ab studio atque ab labore atque arte musica.
quod si scripturam sprevissem in praesentia
et in deterreiido voluissem operam sumere,
ut in otio esset potius quam in negotio :
deterruissem facile ne alias scriberet.
nuiic quid petam, mea causa aequo animo attendite.
Hecyram ad vos refero, quam mihi per silentium
numquam agere licitumst: ita earn oppressit 30
calamitas.
earn calamitatem vostra intellegentia
sedabit, si erit adiutrix nostrae industriae.
quom primum earn agere coepi, pugilum gloria,
cornitum conventus, strepitus, clamor mulierum,
fecere ut ante tempus exirem foras.
vetere in nova coepi uti consuetudine,
in experiundo ut essem : refero denuo,
128
SECOND PROLOGUE
SPOKEN BY LUCIUS AMBIVIUS
I come as a pleader in the shape of a prologue : let
me be a successful pleader, enjoying in my age a
privilege which I enjoyed at an earlier time of life
when I restored damned plays to life and saved
writer and writings from oblivion. In the case of the
new plays of Caecilius, presented by me, some were
hissed off the stage and some maintained their ground
with difficulty. With no surety of success I under
took a surety of toil, setting myself to produce the
same plays in order to secure new ones from the
same hand, and did it zealously that his efforts
might not be discouraged. I got them presented,
and the presentation was a success. Thus I restored
to the stage a playwright whom the wrongdoing of
his enemies had well nigh driven from his calling
and occupation of the dramatic art. Had I
rejected his plays at the moment and chosen to
take pains in scaring him away, commending him
rather to ease than to labour, I should easily have
scared him from writing other dramas.
Now for my sake listen fairly to my aim. I present
to you the Mother-in-law, for which I have never
been allowed a silent hearing for the storm that
nipped it in the bud. Your good-sense will lull
that storm if it co-operate with my zeal. When 1
started on the first presentation, the vaunting of
pugilists, the gatherings of their claque, the din,
the clamour of the ladies, drove me prematurely
from the boards. In the case of a new play I ven
tured on my old method of experiment, that is to
say. I produced it anew. The first act met with
129
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
primo actu placeo. quom interea rumor venit
datum iri gladiator es, populus convolat, 40
tumultuantur clamant pugnant de loco:
ego interea meum non potui tutari locum.
nunc turba non est: otium et silentiumst:
agendi tempus mihi datumst; vobis datur
potestas condecorandi ludos scaenicos.
nolite sinere per vos artem musicam
recidere ad paucos : facite ut vostra auctoritas
meae auctoritati fautrix adiutrixque sit.
si numquam avare pretium statui arti meae
et eum esse quaestum in animum induxi maxumum, 50
quam maxume servire vostris commodis :
sinite impetrare me, qui in tutelam meam
studium suom et se in vostram commisit fidem,
ne eum circumventum inique iniqui inrideant.
mea causa causam accipite et date silentium,
ut lubeat scribere aliis mihique ut discere
novas expediat posthac pretio emptas meo.
130
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
approval, but, on a cry that there was to be a
gladiatorial show, in flocked the people with uproar
and clamour and a struggle for seats with the result
that I could not hold my ground. Now there is no
disturbance but leisure and silence. I am allowed
the time to present the play, and you the means to
lend the befitting grace to these entertainments.
Do not allow any doing of yours to let dramatic art
fall into the hands of the few, but see that your
authority supports and assists mine. If I have
never been greedy enough to fix a price for my art
and have set myself to see the greatest profit in
serving your interests, grant that the playwright,
who has entrusted his calling to my protection and
to your honour, be not outwitted and mocked by
the unfair methods of an unfair clique. For my
sake listen to my plea and make a silent audience
that other playwrights may catch the desire to
write, and that it may be well for me in the future
to present new plays bought at my expense.
131
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
ACTVS I
Phito. Per pol quarn paucos repcrias meretricibus
fidelis evenire amatores, Svra.
vel hie Pamphilus iurabat quotieiis bacchidi, 60
quam sancte, ut quivis facile posset credere,
numquam ilia viva ducturum tixorem domum!
em, duxit.
Syra ergo propterea te sedulo
et moneo et hortor lie te quoiusquam misereat,
quin spolies mutiles laceres, quemque nacta sis.
Philo. utine eximium neminem habeam?
Syra neminern :
nam nemo illorum quisquam, scito, ad te venit
quin ita paret sese, abs te ut blanditiis suis
quam minumo pretio suam voluptatem expleat.
hiscine tu amabo non contra insidiabere? 70
Philo. tamen pol eandem iniuriumst esse omnibus.
Syra iniurium autem est ulcisci adversaries ?
aut qua via te captent eadem ipsos capi?
eheu me miseram, quor non aut istaec mihi
aetas et formast aut tibi haec sentential
Par Senex si quaeret me, modo isse dicito
I. ii ad portum percontatum adventum Pamphili.
audin quid dicam, Scirte? si quaeret me, uti
turn dicas; si non quaeret, nullus dixeris,
alias ut uti possirn causa hac integra. 80
132
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Scene: Athens. A street, on one side the house of
Laches , on the other that of Phidippus.
ACT I
ENTER Philotis AND Syra.
Philo. On my word, Syra, it s very few men that you
would find to be faithful lovers to women of my
class. For instance Pamphilus here, how often
he swore to Bacchis, so solemnly that anyone might
readily have believed him, that he would never take
a wife in her lifetime ! Now see, he has taken one.
Syra And on that account I earnestly urge and conjure
you to have no pity on any man. Plunder, worry,
harry every man you come across.
Philo. And make no exception?
Syra Not one. There is not one of em, you may be sure,
comes to you except with the intention of coaxing
you into sating his love of pleasure as cheaply as
ever he can. And then, my good girl, aren t you
to lay your snares for them?
Philo. Still I vow it s wrong to treat all alike.
Syra Wrong to avenge oneself upon one s enemies?
Wrong for them to be caught as they d catch you ?
Oh dear, dear, why haven t either I your youth and
beauty or you my sentiments?
ENTER Parmeno FROM Laches HOUSE.
Pa?. (at the door, speaking to a servant within) If our old
man asks for me, tell him I ve just stepped down
to the harbour to inquire about Pamphilus s arrival.
Do you hear what I say, Scirtus? I say, if he as/cs.
for me, you are to tell him that; if he doesn t ask,
never you tell him. I don t want to spoil an excuse
that would do another time, (turns round and comes
133
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
sed videon ego Philotium? unde haec adveiiit?
Philotis, salve multum.
Philo. o salve, Parmeno.
Syra salve mecastor, Parmeno.
Par. et tu edepol, Syra.
die mi, ubi, Philotis, te oblectasti tarn din ?
Philo. minume equidem me oblectavi, quae cum milite
Corinthum hinc sum profecta irihumanissumo :
bieimium ibi perpetuom misera ilium tuli.
Par. edepol te desiderium Athenarum arbitror,
Philotium, cepisse saepe et te tuom
consilium contempsisse. 90
Philo. non dici potest,
quam cupida eram hue redeundi, abeundi a milite
vosque hie videndi, antiqua ut consuetudine
agitarem inter vos libere convivium.
nam illi haud licebat nisi praefinito loqui
quae illi placerent.
Par. haud opinor commode
finem statuisse oration! militem.
Philo. sed quid hoc negotist modo quod narravit mihi
hie intus Bacchis? quod ego numquam credidi
fore, ut ille hac viva posset animum inducere
uxorem habere. 1 00
Par. habere autem?
Philo. eho tu, an non habet?
Par. habet, sed firmae haec vereor ut sint nuptiae.
Philo. ita di deaeque faxint, si in rem est Bacchidis.
sed qui istuc credam ita esse, die mihi, Parmeno.
Par. non est opus prolato hoc : percontarier
desiste.
Philo. nempe ea causa ut ne id fiat palam?
134
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
forward) Isn t that little Philotis? where is she
come from? Philotis, a very good day to you.
Philo. Good day, Parmeno.
Syra Glad to see you, Parmeno.
Par. And very glad to see you, Syra. Well, Philotis,
where have you been enjoying yourself all this
time?
Philo. Mighty little enjoyment I ve had, going away to
Corinth with a regular brute of a captain. Two
years I ve had of it there with him, unbroken
misery.
Par. Jove, yes, I expect, Philotium, you ve often been
seized with a longing for Athens and cursed yourself
for going away.
Philo. Words won t express my eagerness to return, to get
away from the Captain and see you all again and
keep up my old life of free and easy revelry among
you. At Corinth I wasn t allowed it except with
instructions beforehand to say nothing but what
might please him.
Par. A very inconvenient limit, I think, your Captain set
to conversation.
Philo. But what s this business Bacchis told me about just
now indoors ? Never did I believe your master could
bring himself to marry in her lifetime.
Par. Marry, you say?
Philo. Eh, what do you mean? Isn t he married?
Par. Married, yes, but I m riot so sure the marriage isn t
a shaky business.
Philo. Heaven grant it be, if that will help Bacchis. But
tell me, Parmeno, on what grounds I am to think
so.
Par. It s not a thing to let out: don t ask me any more.
Philo. For fear it should become public property, I suppose ?
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFEK
ita me di amabunt, baud propterea te rogo,
ut hoc proferam, sed tacita ut mecum gaud earn.
Par. numquam tarn dices commode ut tergum meum
tuam in fidem committam.
Philo. ah noli, Parmeno:
quasi tu lion multo malis narrare hoc mihi HO
quam ego quae percenter scire.
Par. vera haec praedicat
et illud mihi vitiumst maxumum. si mihi fidem
das te tacituram, dicam.
Philo. ad ingenium redis.
fidem do: loquere.
Par. ausculta.
Philo. istic sum.
Par. bane Bacchidem
amabat ut quom maxume turn Pamphilus,
quom pater uxorem ut ducat orare occipit
et haec commuiiia omnium quae sunt patrum,
sese senem esse dicere, ilium autem unicum:
praesidium velle se senectuti suae.
ille primo se riegare; sed postquarn acrius 120
pater instat, fecit animi ut incertus foret,
pudorin anne amori obsequeretur magis.
tundendo atque odio denique efFecit senex :
despondit ei gnatam huius vicini proxumi.
usque illud visumst Pamphilo ne utiquam grave,
donee iam in ipsis nuptiis, postquam videt
paratas nee moram ullam quin ducat dari :
ibi demum ita aegre tulit, ut ipsam Bacchidem,
si adesset, credo ibi eius commiseresceret.
ubiquomque datum erat spatium solitudinis, 130
ut conloqui mecum una posset Parmeno.
136
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
As I hope to be saved,, my purpose in asking is not
to let it out but to rejoice over it in secrecy and
silence.
Par. Talk as winningly as you can, but I ll never trust
my hide to your honour.
Philo. Now don t say that, Parmeno. I am sure your
eagerness to tell is much greater than mine to hear
the facts.
Par. (aside) It s the truth, and that s my worst fault.
(aloud) Swear you ll hold your tongue and I ll tell
you.
Philo. That s yourself again. I swear it : now speak out.
Par. Listen.
Philo. I m all ear.
Par. Pamphilus was in love with Bacchis here every bit
as much as ever when his father set about entreat
ing him to marry, talking just the strain of all
fathers, how he was old and had only that one son
and wanted a protection for his old age. At first
Pamphilus said No plump, but when his father
pressed it more hotly it put him between two minds,
whether to listen more to duty or to love. By
dinning at him till the lad was sick of it the old
man at last carried his point, and Pamphilus became
engaged to the daughter of our nearest neighbour
here, (points to the house) Pamphilus didn t take
it so very much to heart until on the brink of the
wedding, when he saw all was ready and marry he
must and no putting it off. Then his distress was
enough, I believe, to make Bacchis herself, had
she been there, take pity on him. Whenever he
had time to steal away and talk it over w r ith me,
Parmeno," he d cry. I m lost? What a thing to
137
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
peril, quid ego egi! in quod me conieci malum!
non potero ferre hoc, Parmeno: peril miser."
Philo. at te di deaeque faxint cum isto odio, Laches !
Par. ut ad pauca redeam, uxorem deducit domum.
nocte ilia prima virginem non attigit;
quae consecutast nox earn, nihilo magis.
Pkifa. quid ais? cum virgine una adulescens cubuerit
plus potus, sese ilia abstinere ut potuerit?
non veri simile dicis nee verum arbitror. 140
Par. credo ita videri tibi. nam nemo ad te venit
nisi cupiens tui; ille invitus illam duxerat.
Philo. quid deinde fit?
Par. diebus sane pauculis
post Pamphilus me solum seducit foras
narratque, ut virgo ab se integra etiam turn siet,
seque ante quam earn uxorem duxisset domum,
sperasse eas tolerare posse nuptias.
sed quam decrerim me non posse diutius
habere, earn ludibrio haberi, Parmeiio,
neque honestum mihi neque utile ipsi virginist, 151
quin integram itidem reddam, ut accepi a suis." 150
Philo. pium ac pudicum ingenium narras Pamphili.
Par. hoc ego proferre incommodum mi esse arbitror;
reddi patri autem, quoi tu nil dicas viti,
superbumst. sed illam spero, ubi hoc cognoverit
non posse se mecum esse, abituram denique."
Philo. quid? interea ibatne ad Bacchidem?
Par. cottidie.
sed ut fit, postquam hunc alienum ab sese videt,
maligna multo et magis procax facta ilico est.
138
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
have arranged! What a misery to have hurled
myself into ! I shan t be able to bear it, Parmeno ;
I m undone, I m wretched !
Pkilo. And heaven make you wretched, Laches, for your
odious treatment of him !
Par. In short he marries and takes the wife home but
did not consummate the marriage either that night
or the next.
Philo. Impossible ! Half drunk and so abstinent ? It s an
improbable story and I don t believe it.
Par. Very likely riot. You speak from your own experi
ence, but you must remember he was no willing
bridegroom.
Philo. Well, what next?
Par. Only a day or two later Pamphilus took me aside
out here arid explained how matters stood. Before
the wedding he had hoped he might be able tc
endure such a married life. But," says he, * now
I am resolved that I can live with her no longer,
it wouldn t be creditable to me nor w r ell for her to
make scorn of her. and I must restore her to her
people as I received her from them."
Philo. He must be of a conscientious and modest nature,
your young master.
Par. f lt wouldn t be well for me I think/ he went on,
to state the facts, and to return on her father s
hands a wife in whom you allege no fault is arrogance.
My hope is that, as soon as she recognizes the im
possibility of the marriage, she will end it by leaving
>
me.
Philo. Did he, did he visit Bacchis during this time ?
Par. Every day, but naturally, seeing he was no longer
her own, she at wice bf canie much more unamiable
and mercenary
139
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFEH
P////O. non edepol mirum.
Pur. atque ea res multo maxume
diumxit ilium ab ilia, postquam et ipse se
et illam et hanc quae domi erat cognovit satis. 162
haec, ita uti liberali esse ingenio decet, 164
pudens modesta, incommoda atque iniurias
viri omnis ferre et tegere contumelias.
hie animus partim uxoris misericordia
devinctus, partim victus huius iniuriis
paulatim elapsust Bacchidi atque hue transtulit
amorem, postquam par ingenium nactus est. 170
interea in Imbro moritur cognatus senex
horunc: ea ad hos redibat lege hereditas.
eo amantem invitum Pamphilum extrudit pater,
relinquit cum matre hie uxorem; nam senex
rus abdidit se, hue raro in urbem commeat.
Philo. quid adhuc habent infirmitatis imptiae?
Par. nunc audies. primo hos dies conplusoulos
bene convenibat sane inter eas. interim
miris modis odisse coepit Sostratam :
neque lites ullae inter eas, postulatio 1 80
numquam.
Philo. quid igitur ?
far. si quando ad earn accesserat
confabulatum, fugere e conspectu ilico,
videre nolle : denique ubi lion quit pati,
simulat se ad matrem accersi ad rem divinam, abit.
ubi illic dies est compluris, accersi iubet:
dixere causam nescio quam turn, iterum iubet :
nemo remisit. postquam accersunt saepius,
140
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Philo. No wonder indeed.
Par. And that, much more than anything else, detached
him from her when he realized his own character
and hers and that of his wife at home. In the true
spirit of a gentlewoman, retiring and modest, his
wife put up with all her husband s unpleasantnesses
and outrages and concealed his affronts. Thereupon,
in part constrained by compassion for his wife and
in part worn out by the other s outrages, little by
little he shooed away from Bacchis and transferred
his love to one in whom he found a nature like his
own. Presently there dies at Imbros an old man
who was a relation of the family, and by the law
his property would come to them. Off to Imbros
Pamphilus is packed by his father, much against
his will as a lover. The wife was left with her
mother-in-law, for the old man has buried himself
in the country arid seldom comes up to town.
Philo. So far I fail to see anything shaky in the marriage.
Par. Now you shall be told. At first for some days the
two got on quite well together. Afterwards the
bride conceived a strange dislike for Sostrata, not
that there was any to-do between them, never a
complaint on either side.
Philo. What was it then?
Par. If the old lady ever went to have a chat with her,
she d run away from her at once, wouldn t see her.
Finally, when she could stand it no more, she pre
tended her mother had summoned her to a family
ceremony and off she went. When she d been
away some days, the old lady had her sent for.
That time some excuse was made, I don t know
what. She sent again; again no lady. On the
message being repeated several times, a pretence
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFEK
aegram esse simulant mulierem. nostra ilico
it visere ad earn : admisit nemo, hoc ubi senex
rescivit, heri ea causa rure hue advenit, 190
patrem continue convenit Philumenae.
quid egerint inter se non dum etiam scio;
nisi sane curaest quorsum eventurum hoc siet.
habes omnem rem: pergam quo coepi hoc iter.
Pkilo. et quidem ego; nam constitui cum quodam hospite
me esse ilium conventuram.
Par. di vortant bene
quod agas !
Pkilo. vale.
Par. et tu bene vale, Philotium.
ACTVS II
Laches Pro deum fidem atque hominum, quod hoc genus
est, quae haec coniuratiost !
utin omnes mulieres eadem aeque studeant nolint-
que omnia
neque declinatam quicquam ab aliarum ingenio ullam 200
reperias !
itaque adeo uno anhno omnes somis oderunA, ode-
runt nurus.
viris esse advorsas aeque studiumst, similis perti-
naciast,
in eodemque omnes mihi videiitur ludo doctae ad
malitiam :
ei ludo, si ullus est, magistram hanc esse satis
certo scio.
So. me miseram, quae nunc quam ob rem accuser nescio.
Laches hem,
tu nescis?
So. non, ita me di bene ament, mi Laches,
142
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
was made that the lady was ill. On that my mis
tress went straight to call on her but was refused
admittance. The old man heard of it and it-
brought him up to town. That was yesterday.
He called at once on Philumena s father. What
passed between them I don t know as yet, but I
am eager to learn what it will end in. That s the
whole story : now I ll go on my errand.
Philo. And I on mine. I have an assignation with a
gentleman from abroad.
Par. I wish you success in your enterprise.
Philo. Good bye.
Par. Good bye, good bye, little Philotis.
[EXEUNT SEVERALLY.
ACT II
\A few minutes have elapsed?)
ENTER Laches AND Sostrata FROM THEIR HOUSE.
Laches (testily) Heaven and earth, what a tribe they are,
what a conspiracy between them! What a thing
it is that all women are set on the same thing and set
against the same thing, and not one of them can you
find an inch different from the bent of the rest!
Mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law they are all of
one mind in hating each other. Their keenness in
opposing their husbands is all of a match, their
obstinacy in it all of a pattern, and it seems to me
they ve all been at the same school taking lessons
in mischief. If there is such a school, I am quite
sure this wife of mine is head-mistress.
So. Oh dear, oh dear, and why I m accused now 1
haven t a notion.
Laches Oh, you haven t a notion, haven t you ?
So. No, as I hope to be saved, my dear Laches, and I
hope we may be spared to live our days out together.
143
PUBLICS TERENT1US AFER
itaque una inter nos agere aetatem liceat.
Laches di mala prohibeant.
So. meque abs te inmerito esse accusatam post modo
rescisces, scio.
Laches te inmerito? an quicquam pro istis factis dignum
te dici potest?
quae me et te et familiam dedecoras, filio luctum 210
paras ;
turn autem ex amicis inimici ut sint nobis adfines facis,
qui ilium decrerunt dignum suos quoi liberos com-
mitterent.
tu sola exorere, quae perturbes haec tua inpudentia.
So. egon ?
loaches tu in quam, mulier, quae me omnino lapidem,
non hominem putas.
an, quia ruri crebro esse soleo, nescire arbitramini,
quo quisque pacto hie vitam vostrarum exigat?
multo melius hie quae fiunt quam illi ubi sum 217
adsidue scio.
iam pridem equidem audivi cepisse odium tui 219
Philumenam,
minumeque adeo est mirum, et ni id fecisset, magis 220
mirum foret ;
sed non credidi adeo, ut etiam totam hanc odisset
domum :
quod si scissem, ilia hie maneret potius, tu hinc
isses foras.
at vide, quam inmerito aegritudo haec oritur mi
abs te, Sostrata:
rus habitatum abii, concedens vobis et rei serviens,
sumptus vostros otiumque ut nostra res posset pati,
meo labori haud parcens praeter aequom atque
aetatem meam.
non te pro his curasse rebus, ne quid aegre esset mi hi !
144
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Laches {aside) God avert misfortune!
So. And some day you ll find out that you have accused
me without a reason, I know that.
Laches Without a reason? You? Can words be found hard
enough for what you ve done ? Disgracing me arid
yourself and the family, and building up sorrow for
your son ! And then turning friends into enemies,
as you do his wife s kindred, and that when they had
thought him a fit man to trust their child to ! You
alone come on the scene to make the marriage a
failure by your shameless doings.
So. I?
Laches You 1 say, woman, who take me for a stone instead
of flesh and blood. Do you women think that,
because I am mostly in the country, I don t know
how every one of you passes her days here? 1
know much better what goes on here than what
goes on there, though I am there continually.
Weeks ago I was told that Philumena had taken a
dislike to you, and not the least wonder; it would
have been more wonderful if she hadn t. But what
I didn t suppose was that she went the length of
disliking all our family. If I had known it, choice
for choice she should have stopped here and out you
should have gone, {changing his tone) Woman,
woman, think how little cause I ve given you to
bring this distress on me. 1 went off to live in
the country, falling in with your likings and doing
the economical thing, so that our income might
stand the expenses and the idle ways of you and
the boy, and I didn t stint labour that went beyond
reason and my years. The least return you could
make was to save me all vexations.
145
PUBLIUS TEHENTIUS AFER
So. non mea opera neque pol culpa evenit.
Laches immo maxume:
sola hie fuisti : in te omiiis haeret culpa sola, Sostrata.
quae hie erant curares, quom ego vos curis solvi 230
ceteris.
cum puella anum suscepisse inimicitias non pudet?
ill i us dices culpa factum ?
So. baud equidem dico, mi Laches.
Laches gaudeo, ita me di ament, giiati causa; nam de te
quidem
satis scio peccando detrimenti fieri nil potest.
So. qui scis an ea causa, mi vir, me odisse adsimulaverit,
ut cum matre plus una esset ?
Laches quid ais ? non signi hoc sat est,
quod heri nemo voluit visentem ad earn te intro
admittere ?
So. enim lassam oppido turn esse aibant : eo ad earn non
admissa sum.
Laches tuos esse ego illi mores morbum magis quam ullam
aliam rem arbitror,
et merito adeo ; nam vostrarum nullast quin gnatum
velit 240
ducere uxorem ; et quae vobis placitast condicio datur :
ubi duxere inpulsu vostro, vostro inpulsu easdem
exigunt.
Phi. Etsi scio ego, Philumena, meum ius esse ut te cogam
Il.ii quae ego imperem facere, ego tamen patrio ammo
victus faciam
ut tibi concedam, neque tuae lubidini advorsabor.
146
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
o. (crying) It s not my doing, not my fault it happened,
I swear it isn t.
Caches Your fault and very much your fault. You were
sole mistress here, and to you clings the sole
blame, Sostrata. You should have taken care of
the house here, since of all other cares I relieved
the pair of you. Aren t your grey hairs ashamed
of having come to feud with a girl ? Will you say
it was her fault?
m No indeed, I don t say so, my dear Laches.
Caches I m glad of that, by heaven yes, for our son s sake.
As for you, I am well assured, sin as you will you
can t grow worse.
?o. Are you quite sure, my dear husband, that her
dislike of me wasn t a mere pretence, only that she
might see more of her mother ?
Laches Don t be absurd. Isn t it proof enough that, when
you went to call on her yesterday, you were abso
lutely refused admission?
So. No, no ; they said that at the moment she was sadly
out of sorts : that s why I wasn t admitted to see
her.
Lachct I expect her indisposition was more your humours
than anything else, and right enough too. There
isn t one of you women but wants her son to
marry : the match you set your fancy on is arranged :
your sons marry at your instigation, and at your
instigation they cast off their wives.
ENTER PhidippUS FROM HIS HOUSE.
(speaking to his daughter within) Although I know,
Philumena, that I have the right to compel you to
do my bidding, still my fatherly tenderness is
strong enough to make me give way to you and
not oppose your desire.
147
PUBL1US TERENTIUS AFER
Laches atque eccum Phidippum optume video: hinc iam
scibo hoc quid sit.
Phidippe, ego me meis omnibus scio esse adprime
obsequentem,
sed non adeo ut mea facilitas corrumpat illorum
animos :
quod tu si idem faceres, magis in rem et vostram
et nostram id esset.
nunc video in illarum esse te potestate. 250
Phi, heia vero.
Laches adii te heri de filia : ut veni, itidem incertum amisti.
hand ita decet, si perpetem hanc vis esse adfini-
tatem,
celare te iras. si quid est peccatum a nobis, profer :
aut ea refeUendo aut purgando vobis corrigemus
te iudice ipso. sin east retinendi causa apud vos,
quia aegrast : te mi iniuriam facere arbitror, Phidippe,
si metuis satis ut meae domi curetur diligenter.
at ita me di ament, haud tibi hoc concede, etsi illi
pater es,
ut tu illam salvam magis velis quam ego : id adeo
gnati causa,
quern ego intellexi illam haud minus quam se ipsum 260
magni facere.
neque adeo clam me est quam esse eum graviter
laturum credam,
hoc si rescierit : eo domum studeo haec prius quam
ille ut redeat.
Phi. Laches, et diligentiam vostram et benignitatem
novi et quae dicis omnia esse ut dicis animum in-
duco,
et te hoc mihi cupio credere : illam ad vos red ire
studeo,
148
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Caches Here conies Phidippus: how lucky! From him 1
shall find out all about it. (Phidippus comes forward)
Phidippus,, I am aware of my remarkable indulgence
to all my family, still my good-nature doesn t run
to the extreme of corrupting their hearts. If you
acted like me,, it would be better for both our families.
As it is, I see that you are under the control of your
womankind.
% . (scornfully) Oh, really now?
Caches I called on you yesterday about your daughter : you
let me go away no clearer than I came. It s not
the thing to do, if you wish for a lasting alliance
between us, to leave your resentment unexplained.
If there has been any fault on our side, name it.
Either by refutation or by apology we shall make
such amends as you will own may satisfy you. If
your reason for detaining your daughter is that she
is ill, I consider that you do me a wrong if you fear
that she will lack any attention in my house. As
I hope to be saved, I don t concede to you, her
father though you are, that you are more interested
in her welfare than I am. My interest is for my
son s sake, who, I have seen well enough, esteems
her no less than his own self. And I don t conceal
from myself how deeply he will be affected if he
comes to know it. That is why I am eager for her
to return home before he gets back.
Phi. Laches, I am acquainted with your care and your
kindness, and I am ready to believe that what you
say is as you say, and I hope you will believe me in
turn when I tell you that I am eager she should
return, if I can in any way bring it about.
149
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
si facere possim ullo modo.
Laches quae res te facere id prohibet?
eho, num quid nam accusat virum?
Phi. minume. nam postquam attendi
magis et vi coepi cogere ut rediret, sancte adiurat
non posse apud vos Pamphilo se absente perdurare.
aliud fortasse aliis viti est: ego sum animo leni 270
natus :
non possum advorsari meis.
Laches em, Sostrata.
So. lieu me miseram
Laches certumne est istuc?
Phi. nunc quidem ut videtur: sed num quid vis?
nam est quod me transire ad forum iam oportet.
Laches eo tecum una.
So. Edepol lie nos sumus inique aeque onines invisae
n
.111 viris
propter paucas, quae omnes faciunt dignae ut vide-
amur malo.
nam ita me di ament, quod me accusat nunc vir,
sum extra noxiam.
sed non facilest expurgatu : ita animum induxerunt
socrus
omnis esse iniquas: hand pol me quidem; nam
numquam secus
habui illam ac si ex me nata esset, nee qui hoc mi
eveniat scio;
nisi pol filium multimodis iam exspecto ut redcat 280
domum.
ACTVS III
Pant. Nemini ego plura ex amore acerba credo homini
umquam oblata
150
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Laches What is it prevents your bringing it about? What,
you don t mean to say she has anything against her
husband ?
Phi No, no, no. When I pressed it and set about
coercing her into a return, she most solemnly
averred that she couldn t endure staying in your
house while Pamphilus was away. Different men
perhaps have different faults : I am of a mild dis
position and cannot bring myself to thwart my
family.
Laches (aside to his wife) You see, Sostrata.
So. (nearly weeping) Oh dear, oh dear!
Laches (to Phidippus) Is that irrevocable?
Phi. For the time apparently. Is there anything more
I can do for you ? Some business calls me down to
the Piazza.
Laches. I will go with you. [EXIT WITH Phidippus.
So. (soliloquises) Oh heavens, how unfair it is that we
should be all alike hated by our husbands on account
of a few wives whose doings make us all be thought
to deserve ill treatment ! So help me heaven, about
my husband s present accusation I am blameless.
But it s not so easy to clear myself: they have made
themselves believe that all mothers-in-law are harsh.
I m sure / am not. I have always treated her as
my own daughter, and I can t think why this should
befall me. Oh, how eagerly I do look for my boy
to come home. [EXIT INTO HER HOUSE.
ACT III
(A Jew minutes have elapsed?)
ENTER PamphlluS AS FROM THE HARBOUR WITH
Parmeno.
Pam. Was ever a man that met with more bitternesses from
151
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
quam mi. heu me infelicem, hancine ego vitam
parsi perdere!
hacine causa ego eram tanto opere cupidus redeimdi
domum! hui,
quanto fuerat praestabilius ubivis gentium agere
aetatem
quam hue redire atque haec ita esse miserum me
resciscere !
nam nos omnes quibus est alicunde aliquis obiectus
labos,
omne quod est interea tempus prius quam id resci-
tumst lucrost.
Par. at sic citius qui te expedias his aerumnis reperias :
si non rediisses, haec multo factae irae essent
ampliores.
sed nunc adventum tuom ambas, Pamphile, scito 290
reverituras :
rem cognosces, iram expedies, rursum in gratiam
restitues.
leviasunt quae tu pergravia esse in animum induxti tuom.
Pain. quid consolare me ? an quisquam usquam gentiumst
aeque miser ?
prius quam hanc uxorern duxi, habebam alibi
animum amori deditum :
tamen numquam ausus sum recusare eain quam mi
obtrudit pater :
iam in hac re, ut taceam, quoivis facile scitu est
quam fuerim miser.
vix me illim abstraxi atque irpeditum in ea expedivi
animum meum,
vixque hue contuleram : em, nova res ortast, porro
ab hac quae me abstrahat.
nam aut matrem ex ea re me aut uxorem in culpa
inventurum arbitror :
152
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
love than I have? Distraction! was this the life for
which I was so careful to save myself? Was this the
reason that made me so eager to return home?
Bah ! how much better to live in the worst hole in
the world than to come back here and learn to my
misery that things were like this ! If our path ahead
is blocked with any trouble,, all the time before we
find it out is always pure gain.
ar. Maybe, sir ; but this way you will quicker hit on a
path out of these distresses. If you hadn t come
back, these resentments would have grown im
mensely. As it is, you may be sure that both
ladies will respect your arrival. You will learn
the facts, clear away the resentment, make them
friends again. They are really trifles, the things
you ve made yourself to imagine very serious.
am. Why try to comfort me ? Is anyone in the wide
world as wretched as I am ? Before I married this
girl, my heart had a devotion elsewhere : still I
couldn t for a moment bring myself to refuse the
wife that my father thrust on me. That s an affair
in which anyone can see without my telling him
how wretched I must have been. I had hardly
weaned myself from the old love and cleared my
thoughts of that entanglement, hardly given my
heart to my wife, when, behold, up turns a new
calamity to drag me clean away from her. Yes, I
expect to find either my mother or my wife in
fault here, and when I do what is left but further
misery ? To bear with wrongs from my mother,
153
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
quod quom ita esse invenero, quid restat nisi porro 300
ut fiam miser ?
nam matris ferre iniurias me, Parmeno, pietas iubet ;
turn uxori obnoxius sum : ita olim suo me ingenio
pertulit,
tot meas iniurias quae numquam in ullo patefecit loco,
sed magnum nescio quid necessest evenisse, Parmeno,
unde ira inter eas intercessit quae tarn permansit diu.
Par. aut quid, ere, parvom. si vis vero veram rationem
exsequi,
noil maxumae eas quae maxumae sunt interdum
irae iniuriae
faciunt ; nam saepe est, quibus in rebus alius lie
iratus quidem est,
quom de eadem causast iracundus factus inimicissu-
mus.
pueri inter sese quam pro levibus noxiis iras gerunt ! 310
quapropter ? quia enim qui eos gubernat animus
eum infirmum gerunt.
itidem illae mulieres sunt ferme ut pueri levi
sententia :
fortasse unum aliquod verbum inter eas iram hanc
concivisse ita.
Pam. abi, Parmeno, intro ac me venisse nuntia.
Par. hem, quid hoc est ?
Pam. tace.
trepidari sentio et cursari rursum prorsum.
Par. age dum, ad fores
accedo propius. em, sensistin ?
p am . noli fabularier.
pro luppiter, clamor em audivi.
p ar tute loquere, me vetas.
Myr. tace obsecro, mea gnata.
p am . matris vox visast Philumenae.
154.
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Parmeno, is prescribed me by filial duty : 011 the
other hand I owe much to my wife, who in the
first days had the patience to bear with me, and
never at any time breathed a word of all my
affronts. Whatever you say it must have been
something very serious to occasion a quarrel which
has lasted all this time.
Par. Or else, Sir, something trivial. If you choose to
make a right calculation, it s not the greatest
wrongs that give rise to the greatest resentments.
No, Sir, it s often the case that, where another man
wouldn t even be irritated, your passionate man on
the same grounds becomes your bitter enemy.
Look at the trifling offences which set children
fiercely by the ears. Why so ? To be sure, because
the mind which guides them is a thing of weakness.
Those womenfolk are just the same as children, no
weight in their judgement. I shouldn t wonder if
it were a single word that stirred up all this
enmity.
?am. In with you, Parmeiio, and report my arrival, (a
noise is heard from Phidippus s house)
ar. Hollo, what s up ?
Pain. Hush ! I hear a bustle and a running to and fro.
Par. Come, I m going nearer the door, (does so, noise
again)
There, did you hear ?
am. Don t tell stories, (shriek within) God ! I heard a
shriek.
ar. You talk yourself and won t let me.
Myr. (within) Hush, my child, pray, now
Pam. It was like her mother s voice. I am lost
155
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
nullus sum.
Par. quidum ?
Pam. peril.
Par. quam ob rem ?
Pam. nescio quod magnum malum
profecto, Parmeno, me celas.
Par. uxorem Pliilumenam 320
pavitare nescio quid dixerunt : id si forte est nescio.
Pam. interii ; quor id mihi non dixti ?
Par. quia non poteram una omnia.
Pam. quid morbi est?
Par. nescio.
Pam. quid? nemon medicum adduxit?
Par. nescio.
Pam. cesso hinc ire intro, ut hoc quam primum quidquid
est certo sciam?
quonam modo, Philumena mea, nunc te offendam
adfectam ?
nam si periclum ullum in te inest, perisse me una
baud dubiumst.
Par. non usus factost mihi nunc hunc intro sequi;
nam invisos omnis nos esse illis sentio :
heri nemo voluit Sostratam intro admittere.
si forte morbus amplior factus siet 33C
(quod sane nolim, mei eri causa maxume),
servom ilico intro iisse dicent Sostratae,
aliquid tulisse comminiscentur mail
capiti atque aetati illorum, morbus qui auctus sit:
era in crimen veniet, ego vero in magnum malum.
So. Nescio quid iam dudum audio hie tumultuari misera
III. ii male metuo ne Philumenae magis morbus adgrave-
scat :
quod te, Aesculapi, et te, Salus, ne quid sit huius oro
156
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Par. How so.
Pam. Ruined *
Par. Why ?
Pam. (clutching Parmeno s arm) It s something terrible
you re hiding from me, Parmeno ; I m sure of it.
Par. They said your wife had something of shivering
fits. I don t know how that may be.
Pam. Death ! why didn t you tell me ?
Par. I couldn t tell you everything at once.
Pam. What s she ill of?
Par. I don t know.
Pam. What? Haven t they called iiTa doctor
Par. I don t know.
Pam. I must go in at once to learn the worst straight off.
(goes to the door and stops) In what condition shall
I find you now, my Philumena? If you are in danger,
my life is gone with yours, is gone with yours.
[EXIT INTO THE HOUSE.
Par. It s no good my going in now after him. I know
we re all odious to them : yesterday they positively
refused to let in my mistress. If her illness chances
to get worse (as I hope it won t, chiefly for my
young master s sake) they ll cry out at once that a
servant of Sostrata s came into the house and swear
he brought in something dangerous to their lives
and so her illness was made worse. The mistress
will get hotly blamed and I hotly punished.
ENTER Sostrata.
So. (not seeing Parmeno) Oh dear, for some time I ve
heard some disturbance going on over the way.
I am sadly afraid Philumena s illness is getting
worse, (lifting her hands) I pray all the powers of
health may avert it. Now I shall go and visit her.
157
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
nunc ad earn visam.
Par. heus, Sostrata.
So. hem.
Par. iterum istinc excludere.
So. ehem Parmeno, tun hie eras? peril, quid faciam 340
misera ?
noil visam uxorem Pamphili, quom in proxumo hie
sit aegra?
Par. non visas? ne mittas quidem visendi causa quem-
quam.
nam qui amat quoi odio ipsust, eum bis facere stulte
duco:
laborem inanem ipsus capit et illi molestiam adfert.
turn films tuos intro iit videre, ut venit, quid agat.
So. quid ais? an venit Pamphilus?
Par. venit.
So. dis gratiam habeo.
hem, istoc verbo animus mihi redit et cura ex corde
excessit.
Par, iam ea te causa maxume mine hoc intro ire nolo ;
nam si remittent quidpiam Philumenae dolores,
omnem rem narrabit, scio, continue sola soli, 350
quae inter vos inter venerit, unde ortumst initium
irae.
atque eccum video ipsum egredi : quam tristist !
So. o mi gnate!
Pam. mea mater, salve.
So. gaudeo venisse salvom. salvan
Philumenast ?
Pam. Meliusculast.
So. utinam istuc ita di faxint
quid tu igitur lacrumas? aut quid es tarn tristis?
Pam. recte, mater.
So. quid fuit tumulti ? die mihi : an dolor repente invasit?
158
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Par. (coming forward) Please, Ma am.
S o. (turning round to him) Who s there?
Par. You ll be refused admittance a second time.
?o. Ah Parmeno, are you there ? Oh dear, it s dreadful,
what can I do ? Am I not to visit Pamphilus s wife
when she s lying ill over the way?
Par, Visit her, Ma am ? You mustn t even send anyone to
inquire. To love one who dislikes you is double
folly, / think : you lose your labour and you annoy
the other person. Besides your son went in, the
moment he arrived, to see how she is.
>o. What, is Pamphilus come back?
ar. Yes, Ma am.
?o. (lifting her hands) Thank heaven! Oh, your words
put heart in me again and all my anxiety is de
parted.
Par. Now that s my chief reason for wanting you not to
go in, for, if the lady s pains get at all easier, she ll
tell him all, I m sure, the moment they two are
alone together, all the trouble between you and
what her resentment started from. Here he is,
coming out. How sorrowful he looks !
ENTER Pamphilus.
?o. (throwing herself into his arms) My dearest boy!
?am. Mother mine, I hope you re well.
>o. I am so glad you are come back well. Is Philu-
mena well?
am. (in much disorder) A little better.
>o. Heaven grant it ! Why are you in tears then ? Why
so sorrowful?
9am. I m all right, mother.
?o. What was the bustle about? Tell me. A sudden
attack of pain ?
159
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Pam. ita factumst.
So. quid morbi est?
Pam. febris.
So. cottidiana ?
Pam. ita aiunt.
i sodes intro, consequar iam te, mea mater.
So. fiat.
Pam. tu pueris, Parmeno, obviam curre atque eis onera
adiuta.
Par. quid? non sciunt ipsi viam domum qua veniant? 360
Pam. cessas ?
III. iii Nequeo mearum rerum initium ullum invenire
idoneum,
unde exordiar narrare quae necopinanti accidunt ;
partim quae perspexi hisce oculis, partim percepi
auribus :
qua me propter exanimatum citius eduxi foras.
nam modo intro me ut corripui timidus, alio suspicans
morbo me visurum adfectam ac sensi esse uxorem :
ei mihi!
postquam me aspexere ancillae, advenisse omnes ilico
simul exclamant laetae, id quod me derepente
aspexerant.
sed continue voltum earum sensi inmutari omnium,
quia tarn incommode illis fors obtulerat adveiitum 370
meum.
una illarum interea propere praecucurrit nuntians
ine venisse : ego eius videndi cupidus recta consequor.
postquam intro adveni, extemplo eius rnorbum co-
gnovi miser;
nam neque ut celari posset tempus spatium ullum dabat
neque voce alia ac res monebat ipsa poterat conqueri.
post luam aspexi, o facinus indignum" inquam et
corripui ilico
160
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Pam. That was so.
?o. What is her complaint?
art. A fever.
>o. A quotidian?
am. They say so. Please go in now, I shan t be long
after you, mother dear.
>o. Very well, dear. [EXIT INTO HER HOUSE.
D am. Run and meet the servants,, Parmeno, and help
them with the luggage.
D ar. Well, Sir, I should think they know the way home.
am. (angrily) Go at once. [EXIT Parmeno.] What a cata
strophe! How to start upon it? How to begin the
story of this miserable surprise ? Part of it my eyes
told me, part of it my ears. Oh, it made me rush
wildly out of the house. When just now I hurried
in so anxiously, expecting to find my wife suffering
from a far different complaint from what, alas ! I
found, the maidservants catching sight of me at
once cried out joyfully, every one of them together,
He is come," the very moment they saw me.
The moment after I saw a change in the looks of
all of them, because chance had timed my arrival so
inopportunely. Presently one of them hurried away
to report that I was come. Eager to see my wife
I followed at her heels. When I came into the
room I instantly recognized her complaint to my
utter misery. They had had no time to conceal it,
and she could find voice only for involuntary cries.
When I saw it Oh monstrous ! monstrous ! I cried
161
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
me iiide lacrumans, incredibili re atque atroci
percitus.
mater consequitur : iam lit limen exieram, ad genua accidit
lacrumans misera: miseritumst. profecto hoc sic est> ut puto:
omnibus nobis ut res dant sese, ita magni atque 380
humiles sumus.
hanc habere orationem mecum principio institit :
1 o mi Pamphile, abs te quam ob rem haec abierit
causam vides ;
nam vitiumst oblatum virgini olim ab nescio quo
inprobo.
nunc hue confugit, te atque alios partum ut celaret suom.
sed quoin orata huius reminiscor, nequeo quin
lacrumem miser,
quaeque fors fortunast" inquit nobis quae te
hodie obtulit,
per earn te obsecramus ambae_, si ius, si fas est, uti
advorsa eius per te tecta tacitaque apud omnis sient.
si umquam erga te esse animo amico seiisisti earn,
mi Pamphile,
sine labore hanc gratiam te ut sibi des pro ilia nunc 390
rogat.
ceterum de redducenda id facias quod in rem sit tuam.
parturire earn nee gravidam esse ex te solus
consciu s :
n im aiunt tecum post duobus concubuisse merisibus.
turn, postquam ad te venit, mensis agitur hie iam
septumus :
quod te scire ipsa indicat res. nunc si potis est,
Pamphile,
maxume volo doque operam ut clam eveniat partus patrem
atque adeo omnis. sed si id fieri non potest quin
sentiant,
dicam abnrtum esse : scio nemini aliter suspectum fore
162
THE MOTHKR-lN-LAVtf
and hurried away in tears, overwhelmed by such an
incredible, such a dreadful, fact. Her mother came
after me. I had got to the door when she threw
herself on her knees, poor woman. I was touched.
The fact is, I think, that we are all proud and
humble according to our circumstances. Then she
began addressing me in this strain: " O my dear
Pamphilus, you see the reason why she left your
house. Yes, an outrage was offered some time ago
to my virgin daughter by some reprobate : now she
has fled hither to hide the consequences from you
and the world." Remembering her words I cannot
help breaking into tears. Whatever chance," she
went on, has brought you here to-day, by that
chance we conjure you, if the laws of man and God
allow it, to keep her misfortune an absolute secret
before all. If you have ever been conscious of any
affection for you in her heart, my dear Pamphilus,
she begs you not to grudge her this return for it.
As to taking her back or not, you must be guided
by your own interests. No one else knows that she is
with child and not by you. It might be you for all
that is known, for it is the seventh month of the
union, and of course you know it. Now, if possible,
Pamphilus, I am greatly desirous and I am doing
my best to keep the birth secret from her father and
from everybody. If they can t be prevented from
becoming aware of it, I shall say there has been a
miscarriage. I am sure no one will have any sus-
163
PUJ^LIUS TERENT1US AFER
quhr, quod veri similest, ex te recte eum natum putent.
continue exponetur: hie tibist nil quicquam in- 400
commodi,
et illi niiserae indigne factam iniuriani contexeris."
pollicitus sum et servare in eo certumst quod dixi fidem.
nam de redducenda, id vero ne utinam honestum
esse arbitror,
nee faciam, etsi amor me graviter consuetudoque
eius tenet.
lacrumo, quae posthac futurast vita quom in mentem
venit
solitudoque. o fortuna, ut numquam perpetuo es bona!
sed iam prior amor me ad hanc rem exercitatum
reddidit,
quem ego turn consilio missum feci: idem hunc
operam dabo.
adest Parmeno cum pueris : hunc minumest opus
in hac re adesse; nam olim soli credidi, 410
ea me abstinuisse in principio, quom datast.
vereor, si clamorem eius hie crebro audiat,
ne parturire intellegat. aliquo mihist
lll.iv hinc ablegandus, dum parit Philumena.
Par. Ain tu tibi hoc incommodum evenisse iter?
Sosia non hercle verbis, Parmeno, dici potest
tan turn quam reapse navigare incommodurnst.
Par. itan est?
Sosia o fortunate, nescis quid mail
praeterieris, qui numquam es ingressus mare.
nam alias ut mittam miser ias, unam hanc vide : 420
164
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
picion, since it looks so like it, but that the child
is yours. It shall be at once exposed : it will cause
you no inconvenience, and you will have concealed
the shameful wrong done to my unhappy child. 3 I
gave the promise and am resolved to keep my
word. As to taking her back I don t think that
would look at all well, and I shan t do it, though
my love and the time we spent together makes a
strong bond upon me. It makes me weep to think
of her life in the future and the loneliness of it. Oh
Fortune, Fortune, so fickle in your smiles ! But to
this I have been schooled by my former passion
which at the time I deliberately got rid of: I will
try to do the same now with this.
Here comes Parmeno with the servants. lie
certainly must have no hand in the matter, for at the
time he alone was trusted with my secret. I am
afraid if he stays about here he may perceive the
truth. I must send him off on some errand till the
danger is over, (stands aside)
ENTER BEHIND Parmeno WITH Sosia AND OTHERS
CARRYING LUGGAGE.
So you say you had an unpleasant voyage.
By Jove, Parmeno, words won t express up to the
reality of it the unpleasantness of being aboard ship.
Bad as that, is it?
Lucky dog, you don t know ^vhat evil you ve
escaped by never going to sea. To say nothing of
other miseries, look at this one: a whole month or
165
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
dies triginta aut plus eo in navi fui,
quom interea semper mortem exspectabam miser;
ita usque advorsa tempestate usi sumus.
Par. odiosum.
Sosia baud clam me est. denique hercle aufugerim
potius quam redeam, si eo mibi redeundum sciam.
Par. olim quidem te causae inpellebant leves,
quod nunc minitare facere, ut faceres, Sosia.
sed Pampbilum ipsum video stare ante ostium :
ite intro ; ego bunc adibo, si quid me velit.-
ere, etiam tu bic stas? 430
Pam. equidem te exspecto.
Par. quid est?
Pam. in arcem transcurso opus est.
Par. quoi bomini?
Pam. tibi.
Par. in arcem? quid eo?
Pam. Callidemidem hospitem
Myconium, qui mecum una vectust, conveni.
Par. perii. vovisse hunc dicam, si salvos domum
redisset umquam, ut me ambulando rumperet?
Pam. quid cessas?
Par. quid vis dicam ? an conveniam modo ?
Pam. immo quod constitui bodie conventurum eiim,
non posse, ne me frustra illi exspectet. vola.
Par. at non novi bominis faciem.
Pam. at faciarn ut noveris:
magnus, rubicundus, crispus, crassus, caesius, *40
166
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
more I was aboard ship and all the time I was
looking forward to death, poor devil ; the weather
was that bad all the voyage through.
Par. Sickening !
Sosia I know it was sickening. In fact,, by Jove, I should
run away rather than go back home if I were told
I must go back there.
Par. {sneering) Before now small causes have prompted
you to do what you now threaten to do, Sosia. Ah,
there s Pamphilus himself standing at fhe door:
go you indoors, I ll step across and see if he wants
me for anything. [EXEUNT Sosia AND SERVANTS.
Still standing here, Sir?
Pam. Yes, I ve been waiting for you.
Par. What for, Sir?
Pam. I want to send a message at once to the Citadel.
Par. (sulkily) Who s to go?
Pam. You.
Par. To the Citadel ? Why there ?
Pam. Find out Callidemides with whom I stayed at My-
conus and who came over in the ship with me.
Par. (aside) Damn ! You might think he d vowed if he got
home safe to make me broken-winded by his
errands.
Pam. Why don t you start?
Par. What do you want me to tell him ? Am I to find
him out and nothing more ?
Pam. No, I had an appointment with him to-day ; tell him
I can t come, to save his waiting for me in vain.
Away on wings.
Par. But I don t know the gentleman by sight.
Pam. I ll describe him so that you can t miss him: a tall,
ruddy, curly-headed, burly, blear-eyed fellow with
a face like a corpse.
167
PUBLIUS TE11ENTIUS AFER
cadaverosa facie.
Par. di ilium perduint!
quid si non veniet? maneamiie usque ad vesperuin?
Pain. maneto: curre.
Par. non queo: ita defessus sum.
Pam. ille abiit. quid agam infelix? prorsus nescio
quo pacto hoc celem quod me oravit Myrrina,
suae gnatae partum ; nam me miseret mulieris.
quod potero faciam, tamen ut pietatem colam;
nam me parenti potius quam amori obsequi
oportet. attat eccum Phidippum et patrem
video : horsum pergunt. quid dicam hisce incertus 450
sum.
Laches Dixtin dudum illam dixisse se exspectare filium?
lll.v
Phi. factum.
tr
Laches venisse aiunt : redeat.
Pam. causam quam dicam patri
quam ob rem non redducam?
Laches nescio quern ego hie audivi loqui.
Pam. certum offirmare est viam me quam decrevi persequi.
Laches ipsus est de quo hoc agebam tecum.
Pam. salve, mi pater.
Laches gnate mi, salve.
Phi. bene factum te advenisse, Pamphile ;
atque adeo, id quod maxumumst, salvom atque
validum.
Pam. creditur.
Laches advenis modo?
Pam. admodum.
Laches cedo, quid reliquit Phaiiia
consobrinus noster?
Pam. sane hercle homo voluptati obsequens
168
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Par. (aside) Damn him ! (aloud) What if he doesn t come ?
Am I to wait till sunset?
Pam. Yes, wait: now be quick.
Par. Can t be quick : I m dead tired. [EXIT.
Pam. He s got rid of. What on earth am I to do?
1 can t in the least see how to hush it up as
Myrrina has entreated me, and as I fain would, for
I am sorry for the poor lady. I will do what I can
consistently with my duty to my parents, for I
ought to respect my father before my love. Ah,
here are Phidippus and my father: they re coming
this way. I can t think what to say to them.
ENTER Laches AND Phidippus.
Laches I understood you to say that she was waiting for
my son s arrival.
Phi. That is so.
Laches They tell me he is arrived : let her come back.
Pam. (aside) What reason can I give my father for not
taking her back?
Laches I hear some one speaking there.
Pam. (aside) I am resolved to declare my persistence in
the course on which I have determined.
Laches It s the very man we were speaking of.
Pam. A blessing on you, father.
Laches Bless you, my son.
Phi. It is well you are come, Pamphilus, all the more
that you are in perfect health, the chief thing of all.
Pam. Not doubted, Sir.
Laches Just arrived?
Pam. Just now.
Laches Tell me, how much has our cousin Phania left?
Pam. Upon my word, Sir, he was a man given to pleasure
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
fuit, dum vixit; et qui sic sunt baud multum 460
heredem iuvant,
sibi vero bane laudem relinquont vixit, dum vixit,
bene."
Laches turn tu igitur nil attulisti plus una hac sententia ?
Pam. quidquid est id, quod reliquit, profuit.
Laches immo obfuit;
nam ilium vivom et salvom vellem.
Phi. inpune optare istuc licet :
ille reviviscet iam numquam; et tamen utrum malis
scio.
Laches beri Pbilumenam ad se accersi bic iussit die ius-
sisse te.
Phi. noli fodere. iussi.
Laches sed earn iam remittet.
Phi. scilicet.
Pam. omnem rem scio ut sit gesta: advenieiis audivi
modo.
Laches at istos invidos di perdant, qui baec lubenter nun-
tiant.
Pam. ego me scio cavisse ne ulla merito contumelia 470
fieri a vobis posset; idque si nunc memorare bic
velim,
quam fideli animo et benigno in illam et dementi
fui,
vere possum, ni te ex ipsa baec magis velim resci-
scere ;
namque eo pacto maxume apud te meo erit ingenio
fides,
quom ilia, quae nunc in me iniquast, aequa de me
dixerit.
neque mea culpa boc discidium evenisse, id tester
deos.
sed quando sese esse iudigiiam deputat, matri meae
170
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
all his life,, and men of that kind don t do much for
their heirs ; for themselves they leave one encomium,
While he lived he lived well."
Laches So you ve brought us nothing beyond that senti
ment ?
Pam. He hasn t left much, but what there is is to the
good.
Laches No, to the bad : I could have wished he were alive
and well.
Phi. You may wish that with impunity : he ll never come
to life again now. (aside) I know though which
you d like best.
Laches Phidippus ordered Philumena to be sent over to his
house yesterday, (aside to Phidippus, digging him in
the ribs) Say you ordered it.
Phi. Don t dig me in the ribs. I ordered it.
Laches But now he ll send her back.
Phi. Of course.
Pam. I know all about it: I was told just now when I
landed.
Laches Confound the mischief-makers who jump to tell
news of this sort !
Pam. I am conscious of having taken care not to deserve
any affront from your family, and if I chose to
dilate oil my fidelity, my kindness, my gentleness
to your daughter, I could do so with truth, were it
not that I preferred you should hear it from her
own lips, as the surest way of winning credit with
you for my disposition, since, though now at variance
with me, she will speak me fair. That it is not my
fault that a separation has taken place I call heaven
to witness. Since she thinks fit not to comply with
171
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
quae concedat eiusque mores toleret sua modestia,
neque alio pacto componi potis inter eas gratiast :
segreganda aut mater a me est, Phidippe, aut 480
Philumena.
nunc me pietas matris poti-us commodum suadet
sequi.
Laches Pamphile, baud invito ad auris sermo mi accessit
tuos,
quom te omnis res postputasse prae parente in t el-
lego;
verum vide ne inpulsus ira prave insistas, Pamphile.
Pam. quibus iris nunc inpulsus in illam iniquos sim ?
quae numquam quicquam erga me commeritast,
pater,
quod nollem, et saepe quod vellem meritam scio;
amoque et laudo et vementer desidero.
nam fuisse erga me miro ingenio expertus sum,
illique exopto ut relicuam vitam exigat 4-90
cum eo viro, me qui sit fortunatior,
quandoquidem illam a me distraint necessitas.
Phi. tibi id in manust ne fiat.
Laches si sanus sies:
iube illam redire.
Pam. non est coiisilium, pater:
matris servibo commodis.
Laches quo abis? ades?
mane, inquam: quo abis?
Phi. quae haec est pertinacia?
Laches dixin, Phidippe, hanc rem aegre laturum esse eum ?
quam ob rem te orabam filiam ut remitteres.
Phi. non credidi edepol adeo inhumanum fore.
ita nunc is sibi me supplicaturum putat? 500
172
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
my mother, not to have respect enough to tolerate
her ways, and there is no other possible means of
reconciling them, I must, Phidippus, part either
with my mother or with Philumena. Now my
filial respect urges me to prefer the happiness of my
mother.
Laches Pamphilus, your words are not unwelcome to my
ears, seeing as I do that you have set a parent
before everything; but are you sure that it isn t
resentment driving you into a wrongful per
sistence, Pamphilus?
Pam. What resentment is there that should now drive me
into variance with her? She never did anything
that I could dislike, and I know she often did things
to fit my wishes : I love her, I praise her, I have a
strong yearning for her. I found in her a wonder
ful tenderness for me and my earnest prayer for her
is that she may live out her days with a husband
more fortunate than I, since an inevitable force tears
her away from me*
Phi. It is in your power to prevent it.
Laches If your mind were right. Tell her to comt,
back.
Pam. That is not in my mind, father: I shall devote
myself to my mother s happiness, (going)
Laches Where are you going ? Stop, stay here, I say : where
are you going? [EXIT Pamphilus
Phi. (angrily) What obstinacy this is!
Laches Didn t I tell you, Phidippus, that he would take
this affair ill? That s why I begged you to sencJ
your daughter back.
Phi. By heaven, I didn t think he d be so irrational.
Does it mean he imagines I shall go on my knee*
to hina? If so be he chooses to take back his wife,
175
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
si est ut velit redducere uxorem, licet;
sin aliost animo, renumeret dotem hue, eat.
Laches ecce autem tu quoque proterve iracundus es f
Phi. percontumax redisti hue nobis, Pamphile!
Laches decedet iam ira haec, etsi merito iratus est.
Phi. quia accessit vobis paululum pecuniae,
sublati sunt animi.
Laches etiam mecum litigas?
Phi. deliberet renuntietque hodie mihi
velitne an non: ut alii, si huic non est, siet.
Laches Phidippe, ades, audi paucis. abiit. quid mea? 510
postremo inter se transigant ipsi, ut lubet,
quaiido nee gnatus neque hie mi quicquam obtem-
perant,
quae dico parvi pendunt. porto hoc iurgium
ad uxorem, quoius haec fiunt consilio omnia,
atque in earn hoc omne quod mihi aegrest evomam.
ACTVS IV
Myr. Perii, quid agam ? quo me vortam ? quid viro mco
respondebo
misera ? nam audivisse vocem pueri visust vagientis :
ita corripuit derepente taeitus sese ad filiam.
quod si rescierit peperisse earn, id qua causa clam
me habuisse
dicam non edepol scio. 50
sed ostium concrepuit. credo ipsum exirc ad me :
nulla sum,
174
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
he may : if he is otherwise minded, let him pay me
back her dowry, let him go his way.
Laches There now, now you are perversely passionate.
Phi. A pretty obstinate state of mind you ve come back
in, Pamphilus!
Laches His resentment will soon pass away, not but what
it s a justifiable resentment.
Phi. Because you people have had a petty addition to
your fortune, you are grown proud.
Laches Quarrelling with me as well ?
Phi. Let him weigh it and send me word before night
whether he will or not, that she may be another s
wife if she s not to be his. (going)
Laches Phidippus, stop: one word. [EXIT Phidippus.} He s
gone. What does it matter to me ? (angrily) Let
em take their time and settle it between em as
they like : neither he nor my son listens the least
bit to me, they don t mind a word I say. I ll carry
this squabble to my wife, who is the author of all
this mischief, and pour out all my vexation on her.
[EXIT.
ACT IV
(A quarter of an hour has elapsed.)
ENTER Myrrina FROM HER HOUSE.
Myr. Oh dear, dear, what am I to do, which way to turn ?
What answer shall I make to my husband, wretched
woman that I am ? I think he heard the child, he
went in such haste and without a word to our
daughter s room. If he finds it out, what reason to
give for having kept it secret I can t for the life of
me tell. I hear the door, I believe he s coming out,
I m undone.
175
PUBJLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Phi. uxor ubi me ad filiam ire sensit, se eduxit foras :
atque eccam : video, quid ais, Myrrina ? heus tibi
dico.
Afyr, mihine, mi vir ?
Phi. vir ego tuos sim ? tun virum me aut hominem
deputas adeo esse ?
nam si utrumvis horum, mulier, umquam tibi visus
forem,
non sic ludibrio tuis factis habitus essem.
Myr. quibus ?
Phi. at rogitas ?
peperit filia : hem, taces ? ex quo ?
Myr. patrem istuc rogitare aequomst ?
peril ! ex quo nisi ex illo censes quoi datast nuptum
obsecro ?
Phi. credo : neque adeo arbitrari patris est aliter. sed
demiror
quid sit quam ob rem tanto opere omnis nos celare 530
volueris
partum, praesertim quom et recte et suo pepererit
tempore.
adeon pervicaci esse animo ut puerum praeoptares
perire,
ex quo nrmiorem inter nos fore amicitiam posthac
scires,
potius quam advorsus lubidinem animi tui esset
cum illo nupta !
ego etiam illorum esse hanc culpam credidi, quae
te est penes.
Myr. misera sum.
Phi utinam sciam ita esse istuc ! sed nunc
mi in mentem venit
de hac re quod locuta es olim, quom ilium generum
cepimus ;
176
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
ENTER Phidippus.
Phi. When my wife saw I was going to our daughter s
room, she took herself out of doors. There she is,
I see. Well,, Myrrina. Myrrina, I say.
Myr Are you talking to me, my dear husband ?
Phi Am I your husband ? do you account me your
husband or even a fellow creature ? If you had
ever thought me either, woman, you would never
have played upon me with these doings.
Myr. What doings ?
Phi A pretty question. My daughter has been brought
to bed. What, not a word ? Who is the father ?
Myr. Is that a question for a father to ask ? Good
gracious, whom do you suppose to be the father
except the man to whom she was given in marriage ?
Phi. I believe so ; indeed a father cannot think other
wise. What astonishes me is the extraordinary
desire you have shown to conceal the birth from us
all, and the more so that all is well and the delivery
at the right time. Were you so wrong-headed as
to prefer the death of a child, who you knew
would strengthen for the future the bond of friend
ship between the families, to seeing the con
tinuance of a union which was not to the liking of
your fancy ? I positively thought it was their
fault when it is all yours.
Myr. I am so unhappy.
Phi. I would to God I were sure of that, but it has just
struck me what you said at the time when we
accented him as a son-in-law : you said that you
17?
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
nam negabas nuptam posse filiam tuam te pati
cum eo qui meretricem amaret, qui penioctaret
foris.
My c^uamvis causam hunc suspicari quam ipsam veram 540
mavolo.
PM. multo prius quam tu scivi ilium habere amicam,
Myrrina ;
verum id vitium numquam decrevi esse ego
adulescentiae ;
nam id innatumst. at pol iam aderit, se quoque
etiam quom oderit.
sed ut olim te ostendisti, eadem esse nil cessavisti
usque adhuc,
ut filiam ab eo abduceres neu quod ego egissem
esset ratum.
id nunc indicium haec res facit, quo pacto factum
volueris.
Myr. adeon me esse pervicacem censes, quoi mater siem,
ut eo essem ammo, si ex usu esset nostro hoc
matrimonium ?
Phi. tun prospicere aut iudicare nostram in rem quod sit
potes ?
audisti ex aliquo fortasse, qui vidisse eum dicerct 560
exeuiitem aut intro euntem ad amicam. quid turn
postea ?
si modeste ac raro fecit, nonne ea dissimulare nos
magis humanumst quam dare operam id scire, qui
nos oderit ?
nam si is posset ab ea sese derepente avellere,
quacum tot consuesset annos, non eum hominem
ducerem
nee virum satis firmum gnatae.
Myr. mitte adulescentem obsecro
et quae me peccasse ais. abi, solus solum conveni,
178
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
couldn t bear to see your daughter married to a
man with a mistress, a man who stayed out at
night.
Myr. (aside} Better he suspect any cause than the right one.
Phi. That was a fact which I knew long before you did,
Myrrina ; but I didn t regard it as a grievous
offence, it s a thing young men do. I tell you the
time will soon come when he will hate to think of
it. But the spirit you showed to start with you
have shown unceasingly ever since : you have set
yourself to get your daughter away from him and
upset the arrangement which I, yes I, had made.
What has happened now lets out what your object
was.
Myr. Do you think a mother would be so wrong-headed
as to show that spirit towards her own child, if she
thought the marriage were good for us ?
Phi. Has this mother the wits to foresee or judge what
is for our benefit ? Perhaps you heard somebody
say he had seen him coming out of the woman s
house or going in. What if he did ? If his visits
were discreet and occasional, wasn t it more reason
able for us to wink at it than set ourselves to know
all about it only to make him hate us ? If he could
have torn himself away all in a moment from a woman
he had know r n years and years, I shouldn t have
thought him human, nor a man of constancy enough
to marry my daughter.
. No more of the young man, pray, or of what you
call my offence. Go and have a private interview
179
PUBLICS TERKNTIUS AFER
roga velitne an non uxorem : si est ut dicat velle se,
redde ; sin est autem ut nolit, recte ego consului
meae.
Phi. siquidem ille ipse non volt et tu sensti in eo esse, 560
Myrrina,
peccatum, aderam, quoius corisilio fuerat ea par
prospici.
quam ob rem incendor ira, esse ausam facere haec
te iniussu meo.
interdico ne extulisse extra aedis puerum usquam
velis.
sed ego stultior, meis dictis qui parere hanc postulem.
ibo intro atque edicam servis, ne quoquam ecferri
sinant.
\Iyr. nullam pol credo mulierem me miseriorem vivere :
nam ut hie laturus hoc siet, si rem ipsam ut sit
resciverit,
non edepol clam me est, quom hoc quod leviust
tarn animo iracundo tulit ;
nee qua via sententia eius possit mutari scio.
hoc mi unum ex plurimis miseriis relicuom fuerat 570
malunr,
si puerum ut toll am eogit, quoius nos qui sit ne-
scimus pater.
nam quom compressast gnata, forma in tenebris
nosci non quitast,
neque detractum ei turn quicquamst, qui post possit
nosci qui siet ;
ipse eripuit vi, in digito quern habuit, virgini abiens
anulum.
simul vereor Pamphilum ne orata nostra nequeat
diutius
j quom sciet alienum nuerum tolli pro suo.
180
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
with him. Ask him whether he wishes to take her
back or not. If so be he says he does, give her
back ; if he doesn t, then I have taken the right
course for my daughter.
Phi. Granted that the unwillingness is really on his side
and that you, Myrrina, perceived the fault in him,
still I was there and I ought to have been consulted
on the prospect. It makes me mad that you have
dared to act in this way without my orders. I for
bid you to remove the child anywhere out of the
house, (turns away) But I am the worse fool of the
two for expecting her to obey my commands. I
will go in and charge the servants not to let it be
removed. [EXIT.
Myr. I do verily believe I am the most miserable woman
alive. How he s likely to bear it, if he finds out
the facts, is plain enough, when a much less serious
thing like this has put him in such a passion. And
how to change his view of it I can t tell. After all
these miseries it s the crowning disaster if he com
pels me to recognize a child of whose father we
are in utter ignorance. It was too dark for my
child to tell the man by sight, and nothing of his
was seized that might lead to an identification.
It was he seized on something, for he went off with
the ring from her finger. I am afraid too that
Pamphilus won t bring himself to keep our appeal
secret any longer when he knows that another man s
child is to be acknowledged as his. [EXIT.
181
PUBLTUS TERENT1US AFER
So. Non clam me est, gnate mi, tibi me esse suspectam,
IV. ii uxorem tuam
propter meos mores hinc abisse, etsi ea dissimulas sedulo.
verum ita me di ament itaque optingant ex te quae
exoptem mi, uti
numquam sciens commerui, merito ut caperet odium 580
illam mei.
teque ante quod me amare rebar, ei rei firmasti fidem ;
nam mi intus tuos pater narravit modo, quo pacto
me habueris
praepositam amori tuo : nunc tibi me certumst
contra gratiam
referre, ut apud me praemium esse positum pietati scias.
mi Pamphile, hoc et vobis et meae commodum
famae arbitror :
ego rus me abituram hinc esse cum tuo certo decrevi patre,
ne mea praesentia obstetneu causa ulla restet relicua,
quin tua Philumena ad te redeat.
Pam. quaeso quid istuc con si list ?
stultitia illius victa ex urbe tu rus habitatum migres ?
hand facies, neque sinam ut qui nobis, mater, male 590
dictum velit,
mea pertinacia esse dicat factum, haud tua modestia.
turn tuas arnicas te et cognatas deserere et festos dies
mea causa nolo.
So nil iam istae res mihi voluptatis ferunt:
dum aetatis tempus tulit^ perf uncta satis sum : satias
iam tenet
studiorum istorum. haec mihi nunc curast maxuma,
ut ne quoi mea
longinquitas aetatis obstet mortem ve expectet meam.
hie video me esse invisam inmerito: tempust me
concedere.
sic optume, ut ego opinor, omnis causas praecidam omnibus ;
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
ENTER Sostrata AND Pamphilus.
So. It has not escaped me, my son, that you have a
suspicion against me that it was my ways caused
your wife s departure,, careful though you are not
to show it. But, as I hope to prosper and be blessed
in you according to my earnest prayers, I have
never knowingly done anything to justify her in
taking a dislike to me. I always thought you loved
me and to-day you have confirmed my belief. Your
father has just told me indoors how you set me
before your love. Now I am resolved to make you
a return so that you may know that in my heart a
son s affection has its reward. My dear Pamphilus,
what I consider the best course for you and your
wife and for my good name is this : I am firmly
resolved to go off into the country with your father
that my presence may be no bar, and no reason may
be left why your Philumena should not return to
you.
Pam. Mother mine, what thoughts are these ? You to
give way to her foolishness and leave town to settle
in the country ? It shall not be, nor will I allow any
backbiting enemy to say that the cause was my
obstinacy, not your good-nature. I couldn t think
of your giving up for my sake your friends and re
lations and all your diversions.
So. I have no longer any delight in what you talk of.
When I was young enough, I had my full share in
them : now I have had enough of such interests.
What I care most for now is that no one should
feel my length of days to be a bar to him or look
forward for my death. Here I am, as I see, dis
liked, though I don t deserve it: it is time I retired.
That is the best way, I think, to cut off all reasons
18*
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFEK
et me hac suspicione exsolvam et illis morem gessero.
sine me obsecro hoc ecfugere, volgus quod male 600
audit mulierum.
Pam. quam fortunatus ceteris sum rebus, absque una hac
foret,
hanc matrem habens talem, illam autem uxorem !
So. obsecro, mi Pamphile,
non tute incommodam rem, ut quaeque est, in
animum induces pati?
si cetera ita sunt ut vis itaque uti esse ego ilia existumo,
mi gnate, da mi hanc veniam, redduc illam.
Pam. vae misero milii !
So. et mihi quidem ; nam haeo res non minus me male
habet quam te^ gnate mi.
Laches Quern cum istoc sermonem habueris, procul hinc
IV.iii stans accepi, uxor.
istuc sapere est, qui ubi quomque opus sit ariimum
possit flectere.
quod faciendum sit post fortasse, idem hoc nunc
fecerit sic ultro.
So. fors fuat pol.
Laches abi rus ergo hinc : ibi ego te et tu me feres. 6l
So. spero mecastor.
Laches i ergo intro et compone quae tecum simul
ferantur: dixi.
So. ita ut iubes faciam.
Pam. pater.
Laches quid vis, Pamphile ?
Pam. hinc abire matrem? minume.
Laches quid ita tu istuc ?
Pam. quia de uxore incertus sum etiam quid sim facturus.
Laches quid est ?
quid vis facere nisi redducere?
Pam. equidem cupio et vix contineor ;
184
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
for discontent, to clear myself from this suspicion,
and gratify you know whom. Pray let me avoid
this common scandal of my sex.
Pam. How fortunate I am in every thing but one, having
so good a mother and such a wife !
So. Pray now, my dear boy, can t you put up with one
unpleasantness, for there s always one ? If every
thing else is as you wish and as I take it to be, my
dear, do one thing for me, take her back.
Pam. Oh, I m so unhappy!
So. And so am I, my son ; it s as great a distress to me
as to you.
ENTER Laches.
Laches I have been standing within earshot and heard
your conversation, wife. It is true wisdom to bend
one s mind in the necessary direction. What he
would perhaps be obliged to do later on he will
now have done of his own free will.
So. With the blessing of fortune.
Laches Come off to the country then: there you shall put
up with me, and I wi&i you.
So. Honestly I hope so.
Laches Go indoors then and get ready what you want to
take with you. Away.
So. I will do your bidding. [EXIT.
Pam. Father.
Laches Well, Pamphilus?
Pam. My mother leave town ? It mustn t be.
Laches Why are you against it?
Pam. Because I am still uncertain what I mean to do
about my wife.
Laches What? Wliat do you want to do if not take her
back?
Pam. Indeed I desire it and can scarcely refrain from it,
185
PUBU.US rERENTIUS AFER
sed Don minuain meum consilium: ex usu quod est,
id persequar:
non credo ea gratia Concordes magis, si redducam, fore.
Laches nescias: verum tua re fert nil, utrum illaec fecerint,
quando haec aberit. odiosa haec est aetas adule-
scentulis.
e medio aequom excedere est: postremo nos iam 620
fabula
sumuSj Pamphile, * senex atque anus."
sed video Phidippum egredi per tempus : accedamus.
Phi. Tibi quoque edepol sum iratus, Philumena,
I V.iv graviter quidem ; nam hercle factumst abs te turpiter.
etsi tibi causast de hac re: mater te inpulit.
huic vero nullast.
Laches opportune te mihi,
Phidippe, in ipso tempore ostendis.
Phi. quid est?
Pam. quid respondebo his ? aut quo pacto hoc operiam ?
Laches die filiae rus concessuram hinc Sostratum :
ne revereatur, minus iam quo redeat domum. 630
Phi. ah,
nullam de his rebus culpam commeruit tua :
a Myrrina haec sunt mea uxore exorta omnia.
Pam. mutatio fit.
Phi. ea nos perturbat, Laches.
Pam. dum ne redducam, turbent porro quam velint.
Phi. ego, Pamphile, esse inter nos, si fieri potest,
adfinitatem hanc sane perpetuam volo;
sin est ut aliter tua ista sit sententia,
186
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
but I shall not break in upon my resolution. I shall
take what course is best. I don t think this will
make them any the better friends if I do take her
back.
Laches You can t tell. Anyhow it doesn t make any
difference to you which line they take, as your
mother will be away. We old folks are distasteful
to the young, it is fair we should go into the back
ground. In short, my boy, we are fit only to play
Darby and Joan." But here comes Phidippus in
the nick. Let us meet him. (starts to cross the street)
ENTER PhldippUS FROM HIS HOUSE.
Phi. (to his daughter within) I am angry with you too,
Philumena, I can tell you, very angry indeed: your
behaviour has been disgraceful. You, though, have
some excuse : your mother set you on : she has none.
(turns round)
Laches You come at the right moment, Phidippus.
Phi. How is that?
Pam. (aside) What answer shall I make them ? How am I
to keep it dark?
Laches Tell your daughter that Sostrata means to retire into
the country, so she needn t be afraid to return home.
Phi. Ah, your wife has been entirely blameless all
through. It was my wife Myrrina was at the
bottom of it all.
Pam. (aside) The tables turned
Phi. It s she that upsets us, Laches.
Pam. (aside) Provided I haven t to take her back, no
matter who upsets them.
Phi. My own wish, Pamphilus, is that the connexion
between us should, if possible, remain unbroken:
if your sentiments are different, you must take the
child.
1S7
Q
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
accipias puerum.
Pam. sensit peperisse : occidi.
Laches puerum? quern puerum?
Phi. riatus est nobis nepos.
nam abducta a vobis praegnas fuerat filia, 64-0
neque fuisse praegnatem umquam ante hunc scivi
die in.
Laches bene, ita me di ament, nuntias, et gaudeo
natum ill urn et tibi illam salvam. sed quid mulieris
uxorem babes aut quibus moratam moribus?
iiosne hoe celatos tarn diu ! nequeo satis,
quam hoc mihi videtur factum prave, proloqui.
Phi. non tibi illud factum minus placet quam mihi,
Laches.
Pam. etiam si dudum fuerat ambiguom hoc mihi,
iiunc non est,, quom earn sequitur alienus puer.
Laches mil la tibi, Paraph ile. hie iam conultatiost. 650
Paw. peril.
Laches hunc videre saepe optabamus diem,
quom ex te esset aliquis, qui te appellaret patrem.
evenit : habeo gratiam dis.
Pam. nullus sum.
Laches redduc uxorem ac noli advorsari mihi.
Pam. pater, si ex me ilia liberos vellet sibi
aut se esse mecum nuptam, satis certo scio,
non clam me haberet quod celasse intellego.
nunc quom eius alienum a me esse animum sentiam-
nee conventurum inter nos posthac arbitror,-
quam ob rem redducam?
Laches mater quod suasit sua, 660
adulescens mulier fecit, mirandumne id est ?
censen te posse reperire ullam mulierem,
quae careat culpa? an qui non delincunt viri?
188
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Pam. (aside) He knows of the birth ! Damnation
Caches Child? What child?
Phi. We have a grandson born. My daughter was with
child when she was removed from your house,
though till this very day I never knew it.
Laches Good new r s, as I hope to be saved! I rejoice that
it s born and that your daughter does well. But
what sort of lady is your wife ? Rather a strange
disposition, eh? It s odd we should have been kept in
the dark all this time. I can hardly express my
sense of the impropriety.
Phi. I am every bit as much displeased with her conduct
as you are, my good friend.
Pain. (aside) Even if I had any hesitation before I have
none now, since she brings with her another man s
child.
Laches You have no longer any room for choice, Pamphilus.
Pam. (aside) Confound it all !
Laches This is a day we often prayed to see, when you
should have a child of your own to call you father.
It s come, and I thank heaven for it.
Pam. (aside) There s an end of me !
Laches Take back your wife and don t set yourself against
me.
Pam. Father, if she had desired to have a child by me or
to remain as my wife, I am perfectly sure she would
never have concealed from me what I perceive she
has kept dark. Now, feeling as I do that her heart
is estranged from me- -what s more, I don t think
we shall ever agree- -why should I take her back?
Laches She was quite under her mother s thumb ; she s very
young, remember; anything strange in that? You
don t think you can find any woman quite free from
blame, do you ? or any men that don t sin at times?
18P
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Pki. vosmet videte iam. Laches et tu Pamphile,
remissan opus sit vobis^ redductan domum:
neutra in re vobis difficultas a me erit.
uxor quid faciat, in manu non est mea.
sed quid faciemus puero?
Laches ridicule rogas:
quidquid futurumst, huic suom reddas scilicet,
ut alamus nostrum. 670
Pam. quern ipse neglexit pater,
ego alam?
Laches quid dixti ? eho an non alemus, Pamphile ?
prodemus quaeso potius? quae haec amentiast?
eiiim vero prosus iam tacere non queo;
nam cogis ea quae nolo ut praesente hoc loquar.
ignarum censes tuarum lacrumarum esse me?
aut quid sit id quod sollicitere ad hunc modum?
primum hanc ubi dixti causam, te propter tuam
matrem non posse habere hunc uxorem domi,
pollicitast ea se concessuram ex aedibus.
nunc postquam ademptam hanc quoque tibi causam 680
vides,
puer quia clam te est natus, nactus alteram es.
erras, tui animi si me esse ignarum putas.
aliquando tandem hue animum ut adiungas tuoin,
quam longum spatium amandi amicam tibi dedi !
sumptus quos fecisti in earn quam animo aequo
tuli!
egi atque oravi tecum uxorem ut duceres,
tempus dixi esse : iiipulsu duxisti meo.
quae turn obsecutus mihi fecisti ut decuerat.
nunc animum rursum ad meretricem adduxti
tuom:
cui tu obsecutus facis huic adeo iniuriam. 690
nam in eandem vitam te revolutum deiiuo
1 90
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Phi. Settle it between you, Laches, and you, Pamphilus,
whether you require her to be left with us or taken
back. You will find on my side no obstacle to
either course. What my wife does, that I can t
help. But what shall we do with the child *
Laches An absurd question ! Whatever s done, you must oi
course surrender the child to its father for us to
bring up our own.
Pam. (forgetting himself) When its own father has slighted
it, am I to bring it up?
Laches (hearing only the last words) What do you say?
What, boy? Are we not to bring it up? Pray,
shall we abandon it? W T hat madness is all this?
Upon my word I can hold my tongue no longer;
you compel me to say what I am unwilling to say
in your father-in-law s presence. Do you think I m
not the man to know what your tears mean ? or why
you are upset in this fashion? When you first
alleged it was for your mother s sake you couldn t
keep your wife at home, she promised to leave the
house. Now, when you see yourself deprived of
this pretext even, the child s birth being kept secret
has enabled you to hit on another. You are in
error if you imagine me ignorant of what s in your
mind. In order that you might some day devote
yourself to your wife, what a time I allowed you to
keep up your amour ! The money you spent on it,
how patiently I bore it f I urged and entreated you
to marry, I said it was time you did: at my in
stigation you married. In complying with my wishes
then you did as became you, now your heart is gone
back to your mistress, and your compliance with
her is a grievous insult to your wife. Yes, I see
that you ve slid back again into your former life.
[91
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
video esse.
Pam. mene ?
Laches te ipsum : et facis iniuriam :
confingis falsas causas ad discordiam,
ut cum ilia vivas, testem hanc quom abs te amoveris.
sensitque adeo uxor ; nam ei causa alia quae fuit,
quam ob rem abs te abiret?
Phi. plane hie divinat: iiam id est.
Pam. dabo ius iurandum nil esse istorum mihi.
Laches ah,
redduce uxorem, aut quam ob rem non opus sit cedo.
Pam. non est nunc tempus.
Laches puerum accipias; iiam is quidem
in culpa non est: post de matre videro.
Pam. omiiimodis ego miser sum nee quid agam scio:
tot me iiunc rebus miserum concludit pater.
abibo hinc, praesens quando promoveo parum.
nam puerum iniussu credo non toilet meo,
praesertim in ea re quom sit mi adiutrix socrus.
Laches fugis? hem, nee quicquam certi respondes mihi ?
num tibi videtur esse apud sese? sine:
puerum, Phidippe, mihi cedo : ego alam.
Phi. maxume.
non mirum fecit uxor, si hoc aegre tulit:
amarae mulieres sunt, non facile haec ferunt.
propterea haec irast ; nam ipsa narravit mihi.
id ego hoc praesente tibi nolueram dicere,
neque illi credebam primo: nunc verum palamst.
nam omnino abhorrere animum huic video a nuptiis.
Laches quid ergo agam, Phidippe? quid das consili?
Phi. quid agas? meretricem hanc primum adeundam
700
710
censeo:
192
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Pam. I have ?
Laches Yes, you, and you act wickedly. You concoct false
pretexts for a quarrel that you may live with your
mistress as soon as you have cleared your wife s
observation of it from your path. Yes, and your
wife has noticed it: what other reason had she for
leaving you ?
Phi. He has the seer s eye: what he says is the fact.
Pam. I ll take my oath it was none of these things.
Laches So? Then take your wife back or else tell us why
you can t.
Pam. It isn t a convenient moment.
Laches Take the child ; he at any rate is not to blame. I
will see about the mother later on.
Pam. (aside) Wretched every way, and I can t tell what to
do, wretchedly hemmed in by my father at so many
points. I ll be off, as my presence doesn t* help
matters. I don t think he ll acknowledge the child
in defiance of me, especially as on that point my
mother-in-law will back me up. (going)
Laches Running away? What? and no definite answer for
me ? [EXIT Pamphilus.] Do you think he s in his right
mind? Never mind him. As to the child, Phidippus,
give it to me ; I will bring it up.
Phi. By all means. I don t wonder the wife was vexed :
women are bitter on this point and don t easily put
up with such things. This is the reason of her
resentment ; she told me about it herself. I shrank
from telling you in your son s presence ; in fact at
first I didn t believe her, but now the truth is out.
I see he is utterly set against married life.
Laches What s my course then, Phidippus? What do you
suggest ?
Phi. Let me see. I think we had better first go to the
193
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
oremus, accusemu r , gravius denique
minitemur, si cum illo habuerit rem postea.
Laches faciam ut mones. eho puere, curre ad Bacchidem
hanc
vicinam nostram: hue evoca verbis meis. 720
at te oro porro in hac re adiutor sis inihi.
Phi. ah,
iam dudum dixi idemque nuiic dico, Laches :
manere adfinitatem hanc inter nos volo,
si ullo modo est ut possit : quod spero fore,
sed vin adesse me una, dum istam convenis?
Laches immo vero abi, aliquam puero nutricem para.
ACTVS V
Bacchis Nun hoc de nihilost, quod Laches me nunc con-
ventam esse expetit;
nee pol me multum fall it, quin quod suspicor sit
quod velit.
Laches videndumst ne minus propter iram hinc inpetrem
quam possiem,
aut ne quid faciam plus, quod minus me post fecisse 730
satius sit.
adgrediar. Bacchis, salve.
Bacchis salve, Laches.
Laches credo edepol te non nil mirari, Bacchis,
quid sit quapropter te hue foras puerum evocare iussi.
Bacchis ego pol quoque etiam timida sum, quoin venit in
mentem quae sim,
ne nomen mihi quaesti obsiet; nam mores facile
tutor.
Laches si vera dicis, nil tibi est a me pericli, mulier ;
nam ea aetate iam sum, ut non siet peccato
mi igiiosci aequom :
194
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
woman. Let us appeal to her, expostulate with her,
if necessary threaten her pretty hotly, if she has
anything more to do with him.
Laches I will follow your advice, (goes to his door) Boy,
boy! [ENTER A PAGE.] Run across to Bacchis s over
there, ask her in my name to come out here. [EXIT
PAGE.] But I must beg you still to back me up.
Phi. Ah, my friend, I said before, and I now repeat it, I
want our connexion to continue if it s anyway
possible, and I hope it will. You don t want me to
be present at your interview with this person ?
Laches Oh no: go away and find a nurse for the child.
[EXIT Phidippus.
ACT V
(A few minutes have elapsed. Laches on the stage.}
ENTER Bacchis WITH ATTENDANTS AT A DISTANCE.
Bacchis (to her maid} It s not for nothing Laches has begged
me to come and see him, and on my word I m much
mistaken if I don t guess his object.
Laches (aside) I must take care that anger doesn t make me
gain less than I might or do some foolish thing I
should afterwards be sorry for. I will approach
her. (advances) Good day, Bacchis.
Bacchis Good day, Laches.
Laches I can well suppose you wonder what made me tell
the boy to ask you to come out here and see me.
Bacchis I assure you I too have some fears, remembering
what I am, that the name of my profession may
prejudice you against me : my conduct I can entirely
justify.
Laches My good woman, if you speak the truth you are in
no danger from me. I am now of an age when a
fault cannot expect forgiveness, and so I habitually
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
quo magis omnis res cautius ne temere faciam adcuro.
nam si id facis facturave es, bonas quod par est facer e :
iiiscitum ofterre iniuriam tibi inmerenti iniquom est. 740
Bacchis est magnam ecastor gratiam de istac re quod tibi
habeam ;
nam qui post factam iniuriam se expurget, parum
mi prosit.
sed quid istuc est ?
[Caches meum receptas filium ad te Pamphilum.
Bacchis ah.
Laches sine dicam : hie hanc prius quam duxit, vostrum
amorem pertuli.
mane : nondum etiam dixi id quod te volui. hie
runic uxorem liabet :
quaere alium tibi firmiorem aniicum, dum tibi tern-
pus est ;
nam neque ille hoc animo erit aetatem neque pol
ista aetas tibi.
B ace his quis id ait ?
Laches socrus.
Bacchis mene ?
Laches te ipsam : et filiam abduxit suam,
puerumque ob earn rem clam voluit, natus qui est,
extinguere.
Bacchis alid si scirem qui firmare meam apud vos possem 750
fidem,
sanctius quam ius iurandum, id pollicerer tibi, Laches,
segregatum habuisse uxorem ut duxit a me Pam
philum.
Laches lepida es. sed scin, quid volo potius socles facias ?
Bacchis quid? cedo.
Laches eas ad mulieres hue intro atque istuc ius iurandum
item polliceare illis. exple animum eis teque hoc
crimine expedi.
196
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
employ such caution as may avoid a rash act. If
you act or mean to act as good women should, to
offer you any blundering insult when you don t
deserve it would be unjust.
\jacchis I do assure you that for that I am sincerely grateful
to you ; an apology after an insult would not be
much use to me. What is it that you wish ?
Laches You receive visits from my son Pamphilus.
B ace his Ah
Laches (interrupting) Please let me speak. Before he
married I put up with this. (Bacchis is about to
interrupt) One moment ; I haven t yet told you
what I wanted with you. He is now married.
Look out for some friend who will stick closer to
you before it is too late. He won t be of the same
mind all his life, and you won t always be as young
as you are.
Bacchis Whose story is that ?
Laches His mother-in-law s.
Bacchis About me ?
Laches No other, and she has carried off her daughter and
she wished on this account privately to make away
with the child that is born.
Bacchis If I knew any other means of strengthening your
belief in my word, anything more sacred than an
oath, I would promise to take it to assure you that
ever since Pamphilus married I have kept him at
a distance.
Laches You are a good girl, but do you know what I d
still sooner have you do if you don t mind ?
Bacchis What ? Tell me.
Laches Go and visit the women here and promise them as
well to take this oath. Satisfy their minds and
clear yourself of the accusation.
197
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Bacchis faciam, quod pol, si esset alia ex hoc quaestu, baud
faceret, scio,
ut de tali causa nuptae mulieri se ostenderet.
sed nolo esse falsa fama gnatum suspectum tuom,
nee leviorem vobis, quibus est minume aequom,
eum viderier
inmerito ; nam meritus de me est, quod queam ilii 760
ut commodem.
Laches facilem benivolumque lingua tua iam tibi me red-
didit :
nam non sunt solae arbitratae haec ; ego quoque
etiam credidi.
nunc quam ego te esse praeter nostram opinionem
comperi,
fac eadem ut sis porro : nostra utere amicitia, ut
voles,
aliter si facias reprimam me, ne aegre quicquam
ex me audias.
verum hoc te moneo unum, amicus qualis sim aut
quid possiem
potius quam inimicus, periclum facias.
Phi. Nil apud me tibi
V. ii defieri patiar, quin benigne quod opust praebeatur.
sed quom tu satura atque ebria es, puer ut satur
sit facito.
Laches noster socer, video, venit: puero nutricem adducit. 770
Phidippe, Bacchis deierat persancte.
Phi. haecine east?
Laches haec est.
Phi. nee pol istae metuont deos neque eas respiccre decs
opinor.
Racchis ancillas dedo : quolubet cruciatu per me exquire.
198
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Bacchis I will do what on my word there isn t anothei
woman of my profession that would, I m sure of
that ; I mean show herself before a married woman
for such a purpose. But I don t like your son to
be under suspicion because of a baseless story, 01
to appear to his parents, the last persons to whom
he should so appear, to be deficient in principle.
He has deserved at my hands anything I can do
for his convenience.
Laches Well inclined and well disposed to you is what
your remarks have made me. I must own the
women were not alone in their opinion, I shared
it myself. Now I have found you quite different
from my expectation, and I hope you will continue
to be so. In that case you shall make such use of
our friendship as you choose. If you act other
wise no, I will restrain myself and say nothing
that might vex you. My one piece of advice to
you is to try my character and my power rather as
your friend than as your enemy.
ENTER PhldippUS WITH A NURSE.
Phi. (to the Nurse) I shall see that you want for nothing in
my house and have a bountiful supply of all that is
necessary. But when you have had your fill of
eating and drinking, mind the child too is satisfied.
[CONDUCTS THE NURSE TO HIS DOOR. ^.XIT NURSE.
Laches I see my son s father-in-law. He s bringing a nurse
for the child. Phidippus, Bacchis takes her solemn
oath that it isn t true.
Phi. Is this she?
Laches This is she.
Phi. On my word such women have no fear of heaven,
and heaven, I think, has no regard for them.
Bacchis Here are my maidservants ; I give you leave to use
199
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
liaec res hie agitur: Pamphilo me facere ut redeat
uxor
oportet : quod si perficio, non paenitet me fainae,
solam fecisse id quod aliae meretrices facere fugitant.
Laches Phidippe, nostras mulieres suspectas fuisse falso
nobis in reapse invenimus : porro hanc mine expe-
riamur.
nam si compererit crimini tua falso credidisse,
missam iram faciet; sin ut est ob earn rem iratus 780
gnatust,
quod peperit uxor clam, id levest : cito ab eo haec
ira abscedet.
profecto in hac re nil malist, quod sit discidio
dignum.
Phi. velim quidem hercle.
Laches exquire : adest : quod satis sit, faeiet ipsa.
Phi. quid mi istaec narras ? an quia non tute ipse dudum
audisti,
de hac re animus meus ut sit, Laches? illis modo
explete animum.
Laches quaeso edepol, Bacchis, quod mihi es pnllicita tute
ut serves.
BaccMs ob earn rem vin ergo iritro earn ?
Laches i, exple animum eis, coge ut credant.
Bacchis eo, etsi scio pol eis fore meum conspectum invisum
hodie.
nam nupta meretrici hostis est, a viro ubi segregatast.
Laches at haec amicae erunt, ubi quam ob rem adveneris 790
resciscent :
n#*u illas errore et te simul suspicione exsolves.
Bacchis peiii, pudet Philumenae. me sequimini intro hue
ambae.-
200
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
any torture on them in your inquiry. Our present
business is this: I have to make Pamphilus s wife
return to him : if I succeed I have nothing to regret
in the reputation of standing alone as having done
what other women of my class studiously avoid.
Laches Phidippus, we have discovered by actual proof that
we suspected our wives without a cause : let us now
go on to test Bacchis. If your wife finds out that
she had no cause for believing the accusation, she
will drop her resentment. If the cause of my son s
resentment is, as it is, the secrecy of the delivery,
that s a trifle ; his resentment on that account will
soon fall from him. Clearly there is no mischief in
the matter to justify a divorce.
Phi. I m sure I hope so.
Laches Make your examination; here she is; she will give
you satisfaction.
Phi. Why all this to me? Surely you heard from my
own lips what is my mind on the matter; it is only
the women you two have to satisfy. [EXIT.
Laches Now, Bacchis, I beg you to keep the promise you
made me.
Bacchis You wish me to go in with that object?
Laches Yes, go and satisfy them, compel them to believe.
Bacchis I go then, though I know they will absolute!} loathe
the sight of me. In the circumstances we are
natural enemies.
Laches No, no, they will be friendly enough when they
find out the object of your visit, for by freeing
them from their mistake you will free yourself from
suspicion.
Bacchis Oh dear, dear, I m ashamed to appear before Phi-
lumena. Come you two with me.
[EXIT WITH HER MAIDSERVANTS.
201
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Laches quid est mihi quod malim quam quod huic intellego
evenire,
ut gratiam ineat sine suo dispendio et mihi prosit?
nam si est ut haec nunc Pamphilum vere ab se
segregarit,
scit sibi nobilitatem ex ea re natam et gloriam esse
feret gratiam eius unaque nos sibi opera amicos
iunget.
Par. Edepol lie meam erus esse operam deputat parvi preti,
V.iii qui ob rem nullam misit, frustra ubi totum desedi 800
diem,
Myconium hospitem dum expecto in arce Callide-
midem.
itaque ineptus hodie dum illi sedeo, ut quisque
venerat,
accedebam : adulescens, die dum mihi quaeso, es
tu Myconius?
nonsum." f at Callidemides ? *non." hospitem
ecquem Pamphilum
hie habes? omnes iiegabant: neque eum quem-
quam esse arbitror.
deiiique hercle iam pudebat: abii. sed quid Bac-
chidem
ab nostro adfine exeuntem video ? quid huic hie est
rei?
Bacchis Parmeiio, opportune te offers : propere curre ad
Pamphilum.
Par. quid eo?
Bacchis die me orare ut veniat.
Par. ad te?
Bacchis immo ad Philumenanx
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Laches Could anything be better for me than what I per
ceive is going to be the result for Bacchis, gaining
favour at no cost and doing me a service ? If it is
really a fact that she has actually all this time left
Pamphilus at a distance, she knows that it will
redound to her credit, even to her glory. She will
win gratitude on that account and at the same
time link us to her in friendship [EXIT.
ACT VI
(Half an hour has elapsed.)
ENTER Parmeno OUT OF TEMI-ER.
Par. Upon my word my master doesn t think my labour
worth much, sending me this way on a fool s
errand, where I ve been loitering the whole day for
nothing, waiting in the Citadel for his friend Cal-
lidemides from Myconus. So as I sat there gaping
like a fool, if anyone appeared, up I w r ent to him ;
Sir," says I, please are you from Myconus?
No/ says he. f Not Callidemides ? " say I. No,"
says he. Have you a friend here named Pam
philus ? Everybody said no, in fact I don t believe
there s any such man. At last, by Jove, I grew
ashamed of it and was off. Hollo, why is Bacchis
coming from our connexions house ? What s her
business there?
ENTER Bacchis.
Bacchis Parmeno, I am glad to have met you : run straight
off to Pamphilus.
Bar. Why to Pamphilus?
pacchis Tell him I beg him to come here.
I ar. To you?
Bacchis No, to Philumena.
SOS
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFER
Pat. quid rei est? 810
Bacchis tua quod nil re fert, percontari desinas.
Par. nil dicam aliud?
Bacchis etiam: cognosse anulum ilium Myrrinam
gnatae suae fuisse, quern ipsus olim mi dederat.
Par. scio.
tantumne est?
Bacchis tantum : aderit continue, hoc ubi ex te audiverit.
sed cessas?
Par. minume equidem ; nam hodie mihi potestas baud
datast :
ita cursando atque ambulando totum hunc contrivi
diem.
Bacchis quantam obtuli adventu meo laetitiam Pampbilo
bodie !
quot conimodas res attuli ! quot autem ademi curas !
gnatum ei restituo, paene qui barum ipsiusque opera
periit ;
uxorem, quam numquam est ratus posthac se habi-
turum, reddo;
qua re suspectus suo patri fuit et Phidippo, exsolva : 820
hie adeo bis rebus anulus fuit mitium inveniundis.
nam memini abhinc mensis decem fere ad me nocte
prima
confugere anhelantem doniuni sine comite, vini
plenum,
cum hoc anulo: extimui ilico: mi Pamphile,"
inquam amabo,
quid exanimatus obsecro es? unde anulum istum
nactu s?
die mi." ille alias res agere se simulare. postquam
id video,
nescio quid suspicarier, magis coepi instare ut dicat.
homo se fatetur vi in via nescio quam compressisse,
204
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Par. What s the matter?
Bacchis Nothing to do with you, don t be inquisitive.
Par. Is that all I am to say ?
Bacchis No, tell him Myrrina has recognized as her daugh
ter s the ring he gave me some time ago.
Par. I know. Is that all?
Bacchis That s all. He ll be here in no time when you tell
him that. Why are you loitering ?
Par. (sulkily) I m not loitering at all. never had a chance of
it all day, everlastingly running and walking, that s
the day I ve had of it. [EXIT.
Bacchis What happiness my visit has secured to Pamphilus,
what blessings it has brought and what troubles
cleared away ! I give him back a child who by the
women s doing and his own was within an ace of
destruction; I restore him a wife with whom he
never expected to live again ; I have freed him from
what made his father and Phidippus look askance
at him; and all these good things come from the
ring. For I remember about ten months ago just
after dark he came running out of breath to my
house, all by himself and far gone in wine, with this
ring. Struck with alarm, My dear Pamphilus," I
cried, for heaven s sake what has put you into this
excited state? Where did you get that ring from?
Tell me." He made as if he weren t attending
Seeing this made me a little suspicious, and so I
was more urgent with him to tell me. He owned
UD to having had an adventure in the street with a
205
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
dicitque sese illi aiiulum, dum luctat, detraxisse.
eum haec cognovit Myrrina, in digito modo me 830
habente.
rogat unde sit : narro omnia haec : inde est cognitio
facta,
Philumenam compressam esse ab eo et filium inde
hunc natum.
haec tot propter me gaudia illi contigisse laetor :
etsi hoc meretrices aliae nolunt ; neque enim est in
rem nostram
ut quisquam amator nuptiis laetetur. verum ecastor
numquam animum quaesti gratia ad malas adducam
partis.
ego illo dum licitumst usa sum benigno et lepido et comi.
incommode mihi nuptiis evenit, factum fateor:
at pol me fecisse arbitror, ne id merito mi eveniret.
multa ex quo fuerint commoda, eius incommoda 840
aequomst ferre.
Pam. Vide, mi Parmeno, etiam sodes, ut mi haec certa
V. iv et clara attuleris,
ne me in breve conlicias tempus gaudio hoc falso frui.
Par. visumst.
Pam. certen ?
Par. certe.
Pain. deus sum, si hoc itast.
Par. verum rep cries.
Pam. mane dum sodes : timeo ne aliud credam atque
aliud nunties.
Par. maneo.
Pam. sic te dixe opinor, invenisse Myrrinam
Bacchidem anulum suom habere.
Par. factum.
Pam. eum quern olim ei dedi :
eaque hoc te mihi nuntiare iussit. itane est factum ?
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
girl from whom, he said, in a struggle he had pulled
off this ring. Myrrina recognized it just now on
my finger. She asked me where I got it and I told
her the whole story. This led to a recognition:
Philumena was the girl and the child is her husband s.
I am glad to have been the occasion of all this happi-
fiess befalling them. It is not what others of my class
would like, for it is not to our interest to have mar
riages happy. For my part I vow I will never lei
mercenary motives induce me to play a wicked part.
So long as I fairly might I found him liberal, charming,
and good-humoured. The marriage was inconvenient
for me, I admit, but I think I have so acted as not
to deserve the inconvenience. When a thing brings
many advantages it is only fair to put up with the
disadvantages which it involves, (goes aside]
ENTER Pamphilus AND Parmeno.
Pam. Be sure now, my good Parmeno, be quite sure that
your news is certain and definite, else you may allure
me into a delight that is but momentary and
groundless.
Par. Sure I am.
Pam. Absolutely ?
Par. Absolutely.
Pam. I am in heaven if this is so.
Par. You ll find it true.
Pam. Stop now, stop, please : I am afraid that I may be
believing one thing and you reporting another.
Par. Well.
Pam. What I understand you to have said is that Myrrina
has discovered that Bacchis has her ring.
Par. That is so.
Pam. The ring I gave her some time ago, and she told
you to report this to me : is that so ?
207
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
ita, inquam.
Par. quis me est fortunatior venustatisque adeo plenior?
Pam. eho tu, pro hoc te nuntio qui donem? qui? qui?
nescio.
Par. at ego scio. 850
Pam. quid ?
Par. nil enim;
nam neque in nuntio neque in me ipso tibi boni
quid sit scio.
Pam. egon qui ab orco mortuom me reducem in lucem feceris
sinam sine munere a me abirer ah, nimium me in-
gratum putas.
sed Bacchidem eccam video stare ante ostium :
me expectat credo : adibo.
Bacchis salve, Pamphile.
Pam. o Bacchis, o mea Bacchis, servatrix mea !
Bacchis bene factum et volup est.
Pam. factis ut credam facis;
antiquamque adeo tuam venustatem obtines,
ut voluptati obitus, sermo, adveiitus tuos, quo
quemque adveneris,
semper sit. 860
Bacchis at tu ecastor morem antiquom atque ingenium
obtines,
ut unus omnium homo te vivat nusquam quisquarn
blandior.
Pam. hahahae. tun mi istuc?
Bacchis recte amasti, Pamphile, uxorem tuam ;
nam nuruquam ante hunc diem meis oculis earn,
quod nossem, videram:
perliberalis visast.
Pam. die verum.
Bacchis ita me di ament, Pamphile.
208
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Par. That is so, I tell you.
Pam. Who more fortunate than I or more blessed in love ?
Man, man, what am I to give you in reward for
your news? what? what? I can t tell.
Par. But I can.
Pam. What ?
Par. Why nothing, for I don t know what good there is
for you in the news or in me either.
Pam. What? When I was dead and buried and you
brought me back into the light of day, could I let
you go off without a reward ? Man, you must think
me very ungrateful. Ah, there s Bacchis standing
at our door : she s waiting for me, I fancy : now to
her.
Bacc/iis Good day, Pamphilus.
Pam. O Bacchis, oh my dear Bacchis, my preserver.
Bacchis All s well arid I m delighted at it.
Pam. Your acts make me believe your words. Yes, and
you keep your old charm. To meet you, to hear
you, to see you come, is a delight always and
everywhere.
Bacchis (laughing) Yes, and on my word you keep your old
way and character of being absolutely the most
winsome man in the wide world.
Pam. Ha, ha, ha ! That from you to me ?
Bacclds You were quite right to love your wife, Pamphilus.
I couldn t say so before, for till to-day I had never
seen her to know her. Quite the lady, I see.
Pam. Honestly ?
Bacchis Yes, Pamphilus, as I hope to be saved.
209
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Pam. die mi, harum rerum num quid dixti meo patri ?
Bacchis nil.
Pam. neque opus est
adeo muttito. non placet fieri hoc item ut in
comoediis,
omnia omnes ubi resciscunt. hie quos fuerat par
resciscere,
sciunt; quos autem non scire aequomst, neque
resciscent neque scient.
Bacchis. immo etiam qui hoc occultari facilius credas dabo.
Myrrina ita Phidippo dixit iure iurando meo 870
se fidem habuisse et propterea te sibi purgatum.
Pam. optumest :
speroque hanc rem esse eventuram nobis ex
sententia.
Par. ere, licetne scire ex te hodie, quid sit quod feci
boni?
aut quid istuc est quod vos agitis?
Pam. non licet.
Par. tamen suspicor:
ego hunc ab orco mortuom quo pacto . . ?
Pam. nescis, Parmeno,
quantum hodie profueris mihi et ex quanta aerumna
extraxeris.
Par. immo scio, neque hoc inprudens feci.
Pam. ego istuc satis scio.
Par. ah,
temere quicquam Parmeno praetereat quod facto
usus sit?
Pam. sequere me intro, Parmeno.
Par. sequor. equidem plus hodie boni
feci inprudens quam sciens ante hunc diem 880
umquam.
Cantor plaudite !
210
THE MOTHER-IN-LAW
Pam. Tell me, have you said anything of all this to mj
father ?
Bacckis Not a word.
Pam. No, and there s no need to breathe a syllable of it.
I have no wish for it to be as in the comedies where
everybody gets to know everything. In our case
those who might rightly get to know do know :
those who oughtn t to know shan t get to know
and shan t know.
Bacckis And I ll tell you something to make you more ready
to believe that the secret s a secret. Myrrina told
Phidippus that she had confidence in my oath and
consequently you were cleared in her eyes.
Pam. Excellent, and I hope the issue will be satisfactory
to us all. EXIT Bacchis.
Par. May I learn from you, I wonder, Sir, what the good
is that 1 have done? What have you two been
talking about ?
Pain. You mayn t.
Par. Still I have my suspicions. Dead and buried
and you brought me back." How was that, Sir ?
Pam. Parmeno, you don t know how much you have done
for me to-day and from what trouble you drew me
out.
Par. Oh, but I do know, Sir, and I didn t act blindly
either.
Pam. (ironically) That I m quite sure you didn t.
Par. Ah, could Parmeno ever slip doing anything that
w r as wanted !
Pam. Come indoors with me, Parmeno.
Par. Yes, Sir. [EXIT Pamphilus.] By Jove, I ve done
more good to-day without knowing it than I ever
deliberately did before. [EXIT.
Mus. Clap your hands.
211
THE BROTHERS
INCIPIT TERENTI ADELPHOE . ACTA LVDIS FVNERALIBUS
L . AEMILIO PAVLO QVOS FECERE Q . FABIVS MAXVMVS P.
CORNELIVS AFRICANVS . EGERE L. AMBIVIVS TVRPIO L.
HATILIVS PRAENESTINVS . MODOS FECIT FLACCVS CLAVDI
TIBIIS SARRANIS TOTA GRAECA MENANDRV . FACTA
SEXTA M CORNELIO CETHEGO L ANICIO GALLO COS
The Brothers by Terence. Acted at the Funeral
Games of Lucius Aemilius Paullus which were given
by Quintus Fabius Maximus and Publius Cornelius
Africanus. Under the management of Lucius
Ambivius Turpio and Lucius Hatilius of Palestrina.
Pipe-music bass by Flaccus, servant to Claudius.
The whole from the Greek of Menander. The
adapter s sixth Comedy. Produced in the Consul
ship of Marcus Cornelius Cethegus and Lucius
Ajiicius Gallus.
C. SVLPICI APOLL1NAR1S
PERIOCHA
Duos cum haberet Demea aduleseentulos,
dat Micioni fratri adoptandum Aeschinum,
sed Ctesiphonem retinet. hunc citharistriae
lepore captum sub duro ac tristi patre
frater celabat Aeschinus ; famam rei,
amorem in sese transferebat ; denique
fidicinam lenoni eripit. vitiaverat
idem Aeschinus civem Atticam pauperculam
fidemque dederat hanc sibi uxorem fore.
Demea iurgare^ graviter ferre ; mox tamen 1
ut veritas patefactast, ducit Aeschinus
vitiatam, potitur Ctesipho citharistriam.
PERSONAE
MICIO SENEX SOSTRATA MATRON
DEMEA SENEX CANTHARA ANVS
SANNIO LENO GETA SERVOS
AESCHINVS ADVLESCENS HEGIO SENEX
SYRVS SERVOS DROMO PVER
CTESIPHO ADVLESCENS CANTOR
MVTAE
MERETRIX BACCHIS PABMENO SEBVOS
PAMPHILA VIRGO
SUMMARY OF THE PLAY
BY GAIUS SULPICIUS APOLLINARIS
Demea having two sons, Aeschinus and Ctesipho,
allowed the one to be adopted by his brother Micio
but kept the other. Demea was a grim and harsh
father, and Ctesipho being captivated by the charms
of a cithern-player was sheltered by his brother
Aeschinus, who allowed rumour to ascribe the
intrigue to himself. Further he carried off the
girl from the slave-dealer who owned her. Aeschinus
had himself seduced an Athenian lady of scanty
means and pledged Himself to marry her. Demea
angrily protested against the affair, but on the truth
becoming known Aeschinus married the lady and
Ctesipho was left in possession of the fiddle-girl.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
MICIO, an old gentleman of Athens.
DEMEA, brother to Micio, resident in the country
AESCHINUS, son to Demea, adopted by Micio.
CTESIPHO, son to Demea.
HEGIO, an old gentleman of Athens.
SANNIO, a slave-dealer.
SYRUS, servant (slave) to Micio and Aeschinus.
DROMO, servant (slave) to Micio.
GETA, servant (slave) to Sostrata.
SOSTRATA, a lady of Athens.
CANTHARA, an old crone, servant to Sostrata
PERSONAE MUTAE
PARMENO, servant (slave) to Aeschinus.
PAMPHILA, beloved by Aeschinus.
BACCHIS, a cithern-player.
21?
PROLOGVS
Postquam poeta sensit scripturam suam
ab iniquis observari et adversaries
rapere in peiorem partem quam acturi sumus :
indicio de se ipse erit, vos eritis indices,
laudin an vitio duel id factum oporteat.
Synapothnescontes Diphili comoediast:
earn Comniorientis Plautus fecit fabulam.
in Graeca adulescens est, qui lenoni eripit
meretricem in prima fabula : eum Plautus locum
reliquit integrum. eum hie locum sumpsit sibi 1
in Adelphos, verbum de verbo expressum extulit.
earn nos acturi sumus novam : pernoscite
furtumne factum existumetis an locum
reprensum, qui praeteritus neclegentiast.
nam quod isti dicunt malivoli, homines nobilis
hunc adiutare adsidueque una scribere :
quod illi maledictum vehemens esse existumaiit,
earn laudem hie ducit maxumam, quom illis placet,
qui vobis univorsis et populo placent,
quorum opera in bello, in otio, in negotio 20
suo quisque tempore usust sine superbia.
dehinc ne expectetis argumentum fabulae:
senes qui primi venient, ei partem aperient,
in agendo partem ostendent. facite aequanimitas
poetae ad scribendum augeat industriam.
*18
PROLOGUE
Our playwright, having become aware that his
composition is unfairly criticized and that his
enemies carp at the play which we are about to
present,, will give evidence in his own case and you
shall be the court to decide whether the line he has
taken ought to redound to his honour or to his
discredit. Linked in Death* is a comedy by
Diphilus. Plautus turned it into Latin without
change of title. In the Greek play there is a
young man who in the first act carries off a girl from
a slave-dealer. Plautus omitted this incident.
Our playwright has introduced it, translated word
for word, into his Brothers." This is the new
play which we are about to present. It is for you to
scrutinize whether in your view this is a theft or
the recovery of an incident which was negligently
omitted.
As for the malignant accusation that our play
wright is assisted by men of high rank who perpetu
ally aid him with the pen, his enemies may regard
it as a bitter reproach, but he himself considers it as
a high honour that he finds favour with those who
are in favour with all of you and with the country
at large, men of whose assistance in war and in the
various occupations of peace every one has at his
need availed himself and thought no shame.
I will not detain you on the plot of the play.
Part of it will be opened by the old men who first
come on the stage, the rest will appear in the course
of the action. See that your candour stimulates
the poet s zeal in his calling.
219
u
PUBL1US TERENTIUS AFER
ACTVS I
Micio Storax ! non rediit hac nocte a cena Aeschinus
neque servolorum quisquam, qui advorsum iverant.
profecto hoc vere dicimt: si absis uspiam
aut ibi si cesses, evenire ea satius est
quae in te uxor dicit et quae in animo cogitat 30
irata quani ilia quae parentes propitii.
uxor, si cesses, aut te amare cogitat
aut tete amari aut potare atque aiiimo obsequi,
et tibi bene esse soli, sibi quom sit male.
ego quia non rediit films quae cogito !
quibus nunc sollicitor rebus ! ne aut ille alserit
aut uspiam ceciderit aut praefregerit
aliquid. vah, quemquaimie homiiiem in animo in-
stituere aut
parare quod sit carius quani ipse est sibi !
atque ex me hie natus non est, sed ex fratre. is adeo 40
dissimili studiost iam inde ab adulescentia :
ego hanc clenientem vitam urbanam atque otium
secutus sum et, quod fortunatum isti putant,
uxorern numquam habui. ille contra haec omriia:
ruri agere vitam ; semper parce ac duriter
se habere; uxorem duxit; nati filii
duo: inde ego hunc maiorem adoptavi mihi;
210
THE BROTHERS
Scene : Athens, a place where four streets meet. On
one side the house of Micio, next to it that of Sostrata.
ACT I
(Time, Early Morning?)
ENTER Mido FROM HIS HOUSE.
Micto (calling through the door) Storax ! (after a pause he
turns round and advances) Then Aeschinus never
came back last night after dinner nor any of the
servant lads who went to escort him. I am sure it
is a true saying that if you are away anywhere or
at least slow to return it is better to have happen
to you what your wife says at you, even what she
thinks in her heart, when she is in a temper, than
what indulgent parents fear. The wife, if you are
late, thinks you are after another woman or another
woman after you, or that you are at a drinking-
party and making merry, enjoying yourself without
her while she is miserable. I know, what things I
imagine from my son s not returning, what anxieties
harry me ! I dread his having caught a chill or
fallen in the street or broken a limb. Bah! why
should a man take it into his head to procure a
thing to be dearer to him than his own self? Yes,
and this lad isn t my own son but my brother s.
My brother s bent has differed from mine right
away from boyhood. I have led this easy life of
town without a calling and, a thing which men at
the clubs call a blessing, without even taking a
wife. His career has been the very opposite. He
has passed his days in the country, always lived a
sparing and hard life, married, and had two sons.
221
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
eduxi a parvolo, habui, amavi pro meo;
in eo me oblecto, solum id est carum mihi.
ille ut item contra me habeat facio sedulo 50
do, praetermitto, non necesse habeo omnia
pro meo iure agere ; postremo, alii clanculum
patres quae faciunt, quae fert adulescentia,
ea ne me celet consuefeci filium.
nam qui mentiri aut fallere insuerit patrem aut
audebit, tanto magis audebit ceteros.
pudore et liberalitate liberos
retinere satius esse credo quam metu.
haec fratri mecum non conveniunt neque placent.
venit ad me saepe clamans quid agis, Micio ? 60
quor perdis adulescentem nobis ? quor amat ?
quor potat ? quor tu his rebus sumptum suggeris,
vestitu nimio indulges ? nimium ineptus es.
nimium ipse est durus praeter aequomque et bonum,
et errat longe mea quidem sententia,
qui imperium credat gravius esse aut stabilius
vi quod fit quam illud quod amicitia adiungitur.
mea sic est ratio et sic animum induco meum :
malo coactus qui suom officium facit,
dum id rescitum iri credit, tantisper pavet ; 70
si sperat fore clam, rursum ad ingenium redit.
ille quern beneficio adiungas ex animo facit,
studet par referre, praesens absensque idem erit.
222
THE BROTHERS
The elder of them I have adopted. I have brought
him up from his childhood, regarded him and loved
him as rny own son. In that is the joy of my life,
the one thing I hold dear. I am zealous that he
should show the same spirit towards me. I give
him money, overlook his peccadilloes, don t feel
compelled to exercise full authority over him In
fact, whereas other sons hide their youthful pranks
from their fathers, I have trained my son not to
keep his a secret from me ; for if a lad has got
accustomed or brings himself to meet his father with
falsehoods or tricks, all the more will he so meet
others.
In my view honour and gentlemanly feeling
are better curbs on a gentleman s son than fear.
My brother and I disagree in this, he is quite a-
gainst this view. He comes to me perpetually,
crying What are you about, Micio ? Why are you
bringing the boy to ruin on our hands? Why this
licence ? Why these drinking parties ? Why do you
pile him up the guineas for such a life and let him
spend so much at the tailor s? It s extremely silly
of you." He himself is extremely hard, past right
and sense, and in my opinion it s a great mistake
to suppose that the authority which is founded on
force has more weight and stability than that which
hangs by the link of friendliness. My system, my
theory, is this : he who does his duty under the lash
of punishment has no dread except in the thought
of detection ; if he thinks he won t be found out,
back he goes to his natural bent. When you link
a son to you by kindness, there is sincerity in all
his acts, he sets himself to make a return, and
will be the same behind your back as to your face.
223
\
\
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
hoc patriumst; potius consuefacere nlium
sua sponte recte facere quam alieno metu :
hoc pater ac dominus interest, hoc qui nequit,
fateatur nescire imperare liberis.
sed estne hie ipsus, de quo agebam ? et certe is est.
nescio quid tristem video : credo,, iam ut solet
iurgabit. salvom te ad venire, Demea, 80
I. ii gaudemus.
Demea Ehem, opportune : te ipsum quaerito.
Micio quid tristis es ?
Demea rogas me^ ubi nobis Aeschinus
siet, quid tristis ego sim ?
Micio dixin hoc fore ?
quid fecit ?
Demea quid ille fecerit ? quern neque pudet
quicquam nee metuit quemquam neque legem
putat
tenere se ullam. nam ilia quae antehac facta suiit
omitto : modo quid designavit ?
Micio quid nam id est ?
Demea fores ecfregit atque in aedis inruit
alienas ; ipsum dominum atque omnem familiam
mulcavit usque ad mortem ; eripuit mulierem 90
quam amabat : clamant omnes indignissume
factum esse. hoc advenienti quot mihi, Micio,
dixere ! in orest omni populo. denique,
si conferendum exemplumst, non fratrem videt
rei dare operam, ruri esse parcum ac sobrium ?
nullum huius simile factum. haec quom illi, Micio,
dico, tibi dico : tu ilium corrumpi sinis.
Micio homine imperito numquam quicquam iniustiust,
qui nisi quod ipse fecit nil rectum putat.
224.
THE BROTHERS
That s the spirit of a true father, to accustom his
son to do right rather by his own inclination than
by fear of another,, and that s the difference be
tween the parent of sons and the owner of slaves.
A man who can t do this should own that he doesn t
know how to rule a gentleman s sons. Ah, is that the
man I was talking of? It is. He looks a bit glum.
I suppose we shall now have the usual scolding.
ENTER Demea AS FROM THE COUNTRY.
Glad to see you well, Demea.
Demea (bluntly) Ah, well met ! you re the man I m hunting
up.
Micio Why are you so glum ?
Demea A pretty question ! Asking why I m glum when we
have an Aeschinus on our hands !
Micio (aside) Didn t I say so ? (aloud) What s he done ?
Demea Done ? Ashamed of nothing, afraid of nobody,
holding himself above the check of law ! Of his old
doings I say nothing : what is his last outrage ?
Micio What is it ?
Demea Broken a door-lock, forced his way into a strange
house, beaten the owner and all the household
almost to death, carried off the girl he loved. All
the town is crying out at it as a most scandalous
business. Man after man has told me of it in the
streets, it s on everybody s lips. Bad enough that,
and, if he wants a pattern set him. doesn t he see
how his brother attends to business and leads a
thrifty and sober life in the country on quite other
lines ? My reproaches to him are reproaches to you,
Micio : it s you that let him grow debauched.
Micio (calmly) There is nothing more unjust than a man
without knowledge of the world : he thinks nothing
right except what he has done himself.
225
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Demea quorsum istuc ?
Micio quia tu, Demea, haec male iudicas. 100
non est flagitium, mihi crede, adulescentulum
scortari neque potare : non est ; neque fores
ecfringere. haec si neque ego neque tu fecimus,
non siit egestas facere nos. tu nunc tibi
id laudi ducis quod turn fecisti inopia ?
iniuriumst ; nam si esset unde id fieret,
faceremus. et tu ilium tuom, si esses homo,
sineres nunc facere, dum per aetatem licet,
potius quam, ubi te expectatum eiecisset foras,
alieniore aetate post faceret tamen. 1 1
Demea pro luppiter, tu homo adigis me ad insaniam !
non est flagitium facere haec adulescentulum ?
Micio ah,
ausculta^ ne me optundas de hac re saepius :
tuom filium dedisti adoptandum mihi ;
is meus est factus : si quid peccat, Demea,
mihi peccat ; ego illi maxumam partem fero.
obsonat, potat, olet unguenta : de meo ;
V
amat : dabitur a me argentum, dum erit com-
modum ;
ubi non erit, fortasse excludetur foras.
fores ecfregit ; restituentur : discidit 120
vestem ; resarcietur : est dis gratia
est unde haec fiant, et adhuc non molesta sunt.
226
THE BROTHERS
Demea (gruffly) And the point of that observation ?
Micio Is that you, Demea, misjudge these matters
There is 110 heinous crime, believe me, in a stripling s
having an amour or attending a drinking party.
(Demea makes a gesture of dissent) No, there isn t,
nor in his breaking a door-lock. If neither you nor
I did these things, it was our poverty wouldn t let
us. Do you now take credit for an abstinence
which at the time was due only to lack of
means ? It s not just, for if we had had the
wherewithal ws should have done the same.
And if you were flesh and blood you d allow
that son of yours to do it now, while his youth
makes it reasonable, rather than have him look
forward to tumbling your corpse out of doors and
then at a less fitting time of life run riot for all
your care.
Demea (furiously) Good God ! you re a man to drive one
to Bedlam ! Not a heinous crime for these things
to be done by a stripling ?
Micio (stopping his ears) Oh ! listen to me instead of
stunning me by your perpetual repetitions. You
gave me your son to adopt ; he is become mine : it
he commits an offence, Demea, it s an offence
against me, the chief share in the matter is mine.
His dinner parties, drinking parties, reeking of
perfumes, are at my cost. He has an amour, I
shall give him the money so long as it s convenient ;
when it isn t, possibly his mistress will shut her
door against him. He has broken a door-lock, I ll
send a locksmith : he has torn a man s coat, I ll
send a tailor. The means for this, thank God,
the means I have, and up to now it isn t irksome.
To end all, either have done or else name an
22?
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
postremo aut desine aut cedo quemvis arbitrum :
te plura in hac re peccare ostendam.
Demea ei mihi,
pater esse disce ab illis, qui vere sciunt.
Micio natura tu illi pater es, consiliis ego.
Dcmea tun consiliis quicquam ?
Micio ah, si pergis, abiero.
Demea sicine agis :
Micio an ego totiens de eadem re audiam ?
Demea curaest niihi
Micio et mihi curaest. verum, Demea,
curemus aequam uterque partem : tu alterum, \ 30
ego item alterum ; nani ambos curare propemodum
reposcere ilium est quein dedisti.
Demea all, Micio f
Micio mihi sic videtur.
Demea quid istic ? si tibi istuc placet.
profundat perdat pereat, nil ad me attinet
iam si verbum unum posthac
Micio rursum, Demea,
irascere ?
Demea an non credis ? repeton quern dedi ?
aegrest ; alienus non sum ; si obsto em, desino.
unum vis curem : euro ; et est dis gratia,
quom ita ut volo est. iste tuos ipse sentiet
posterius . nolo in ilium gravius dicere.- 140
Micio nee nil neque omnia haec sunt quae dicit : tanien
non nil molesta haec sunt mihi, sed ostendere
me aegre pati illi iiolui. nam itast homo
quom placo, advorsor sedulo et deterreo,
THE BROTHERS
arbitrator. I shall show that you are the worse
offender in the matter.
Demea Man, man, learn to be a father from those who
know what it is.
Micio You are his father by mture, but by design I am.
Demea (sneering) Design ? You and design ?
Micio Oh, if you are going on, I m off.
Denied (in remonstrance) Is that the way you treat me ?
Micio Am I to hear the same story over and over again ?
Demea It touches me.
Micio It touches me too. But, Demea, let the concern
for it be divided between us, you looking after one
and I after the other. Your looking after both is
as good as asking back the son you gave me.
Demea No, no, Micio.
Micio Well, / think so.
Demea Very w r ell then. If that s your pleasure, let him
squander, ruin and be ruined, it s no concern of
mine. Now if ever again one single word-
Micio (interjecting) Again going into a passion, Demea ?
Demea Don t you take my word ? Do I ask back the son
I gave you ? It troubles me : his blood is mine.
If I oppose (Micio makes a gesture of remonstrance)
Well, well, I have done. You wish me to look after
one : so I do, and I thank God he is a son after
my heart. That fellow of yours will find out some
d av well, harsher words against him I won t use.
[EXIT.
Micio There s something in what he says, but it isn t
everything. Not but what these doings annoy me,
still I wouldn t let him see my vexation. This
is the nature of the man : to pacify him I must
229
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFEH
tamen vix humane patitur ; verum si augeain
aut etiam adiutor sim ems iracundiae,
insaniam profecto cum illo. etsi Aeschinus
non nullam in hac re nobis facit iniuriam.
quam hie non amavit meretricem, aut quoi non
dedit
aliquid ? postremo nuper (credo iam omnium 1 50
taedebat) dixit velle uxorem ducere.
sperabam iam defervisse adulescentiam :
gaudebam. ecce autem de integro ! nisi quidquid
est,
volo scire atque hominem convenire, si apud forumst.
ACTVS II
Sannio Obsecro, populares, ferte inisero atque iniiocenti
auxilium :
subvenite inopi.
Aes. otiose : nunciam ilico hie consiste.
quid respectas ? nil periclist : numquam, dum ego
adero, hie te tanget.
Sannio ego istam invitis omnibus . .
Aes. quamquamst scelestus, non committet hodie um-
quam iterum ut vapulet,
Sannio Aeschine, audi, ne te ignarum fuisse dicas meorum 1 60
morum :
leno ego sum.
Aes. scio.
Sannio at ita, ut usquam fuit fide quisquam optuma.
tu quod te posterius purges, hanc iniuriam mihi nolle
230
THE BROTHERS
earnestly thwart him and scare him off, though
even that hardly brings him to human patience.
Still,, if I inflamed or even fell in with his passion
ate temper, I should surely give him another
madman for company. Mr>t but what Aeschinus
does me no little wrong in this matter. His love
affairs have been innumerable, and every one of
them lias cost a pretty penny. At last only the
other day, weary, I suppose, of them all he an
nounced a desire to marry. I hoped his hot blood
had cooled down and I was delighted. And now,
bless us, he starts again. But in any case 1 Miould
like to know the facts and for that end to see my
gentleman. He may be in the Piazza. [EXIT.
ACT II
(Half an hour has elapsed. Aeschinus had the night
before carried off the girl to the house where he dined.
He is now bringing her to Micios house and Sannio
has intercepted him. He enters with Parmeno and the
girl followed by a small crowd.}
Sannio In heaven s name, good people, help an unfortunate
and innocent man, assist the distressed.
Aes. (to the girl) Don t be afraid, stand just there. Why
look over your shoulder ? There s no danger, he
shall never lay a finger on you while I am by.
Sannio In spite of all the world, I ll-
Aes. Rogue as he is, he ll never make the mistake of
getting a second cudgelling.
Sannio One word, Aeschinus. You shan t say you didn t
know my character. I am a slave-dealer.
Aes. (drily) I know it.
Sannio But as honest a man at that as ever man was any
where. As for your apologizing afterwards and
231
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
factam esse, hums non faciam. crede hoc, ego
meum ius persequar,
neque tu verbis solves umquam, quod mihi re male
feceris.
novi ego vostra haec nollem factum : ius iurandum
iniuria hac
dabitur te esse indignum," indignis quom egomet
sim acceptus modis.
Acs. abi prae strenue ac fores aperi.
Sannio ceterum hoc nili facis?
Aes. i intro nunciam tu.
Sannio enim non sinam.
Aes. accede illuc, Parmeno ;
nimium istuc abisti : hie propter hunc adsiste : em,
sic volo.
cave nunciam oculos a meis oculis quoquam demo- 170
veas tuos,
ne mora sit, si innuerim, quin pugnus continuo in
mala haereat.
Sannio istuc volo ergo ipsum experiri.
A en. em, serva. omitte mulierem.
Sannio o facinus indignum!
Aes. geminabit nisi caves.
Sannio ei misero mihi !
Aes. non innueram; verum in istam partem potius pec-
cato tamen.
i nunciam.
Sannio quid hoc reist ? regnumrie, Aeschine, hie tu possides ?
232
THE BROTHERS
saying you are sorry, I shan t care that for it.
(snaps his fingers) You may take it from me that
I shall go to law for my rights, and it s not words
will pay for your maltreatment of me. I know
your ways: Sorry," you ll say, "sorry; I ll take an
oath you re a man it was a shame to wrong like
that/ and that when I have been treated in the
most shameful way.
Acs. (to Parmeno) Go on, be brisk, open the door.
Sannio What? No regard for what I say? (Parmeno opens
the door of Micios house)
Aes. (to the girt) In with you straight.
Sannio (getting between her and the door) I tell you I won t
have it.
Aes. Stand near him, Parmeno : you ve got too much thir
way. Here, stand here close to the fellow. (Par
meno does so) Yes, that s right. Now take care you
never take your eyes off mine, so that, if I nod to
you, you may be quick and plant your fist on his
jaw that very instant.
Sannio I should just like to see him try. (the girl goes
towards the door and Sannio clutches her}
Aes. There, look out; let go the girl, (nods to Parmeno
who gives Sannio a violent blow)
Sannio Shameful, shameful!
*
Aes. He ll give you another if you don t look out. (Par-
meno repeats the blow)
Sannio Oh, oh !
Aes. I hadn t nodded but it s better to err on that side,
it s true, (to the girl) Now in with you.
[EXEUNT THE GIRL AND Parmeno INTO THE HOUSE.
Sannio What s all this? Are you a monarch here, Aes-
chinus ?
233
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Aes. si possiderem, ornatus esses ex tuis virtutibus.
Sannio quid tibi rei mecumst
Acs. nil.
Sannio quid ? nostin qui sini ?
Aes. non desidero.
Sannio tetigin tui quicquam?
Aes. si attigisses, ferres infortunium.
Sannio qui tibi magis licet meam habere, pro qua ego ar-
gentum dedi?
responde.
Aes. ante aedis non fecisse erit melius hie convicium; 180
nam si molestus pergis esse, iam intro abripiere
atque ibi
usque ad necem operiere loris.
Sannio loris liber?
Aes. sic erit.
Sannio o hominem inpurum! hicine libertatem aiunt esse
aequam omnibus?
Aes. si satis iam debacchatus es, leno, audi si vis nunciam.
Sannio egori debacchatus sum autem an tu in me ?
Aes. mitte ista atque ad rem redi.
Sannio quam rem ? quo redeam ?
Aes. iamne me vis dicere id quod ad te attinet ?
Sannio cupio, aequi modo aliquid.
Aes. vah, leno iniqua me non volt loqui.
Sannio leno sum, fateor, pernicies communis adulescentium,
periurus, pestis ; tamen tibi a me nulla ortast iiiiuria.
Aes. nam hercle etiam hoc restat. 1 90
Sannio illuc quaeso redi, quo coepisti, Aeschine.
234
THE BROTHERS
Aes. (drily) If I were a monarch, you should have a place
to suit your qualities.
Sannio What have you to do with me?
Aes. Nothing.
Sannio Do you know what sort of man I am?
A en. I have no yearning for that knowledge.
Sannio Have I laid a finger on anything of yours ?
Aes. If you had, you d have been suffering for it.
Sannio What greater right have you to detain my girl
whom I bought and paid for? Answer me that.
Aei. You will find it just as well not to bellow in front
of the house. Ay, if you persist in your annoyance,
you shall be haled in straight away and be covered
with stripes till you re half dead.
Sannio Stripes to a free man?
Aes. You ll find it so.
Sannio Beast of a man ! And this is Athens, where they
say all free men are equal!
Aes. If you have brawled enough, master slave-dealer,
now be so good as to listen.
Sannio Who s the brawler? I or you?
Aes. Drop that, come to business.
Sannio What business? What am I to come to?
Aes. Are you ready yet for me to tell you what concerns
you?
Sannio Ready? Eager; it must be a fair proffer, though.
Aes. Bah A slave- dealer and wants me to make no
unfair proffer.
Sannio Slave-dealer I am, the common bane, I own it, of
youth, liar, and nuisance ; still / didn t start out
raging you.
Ae*. (sarcastically) Pugh! that s to come, is it?
Sannio Please go back to your starting point, Aeschinus.
235
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Aes. minis viginti tu illam emisti (quae res tibi vortat male l) :
argenti tantum dabitur.
Sannio quid ? si ego tibi illam nolo vendere,
coges me?
Aes. minume.
Sannio namque id metui.
Aes. neque vendundam censeo,
quae liberast; nam ego liberali illam adsero causa
manu.
nunc vide utrum vis, argentum accipere an causam
meditari tuam.
delibera hoc, dum ego redeo, leno.-
Sannio pro supreme luppiter,
minume miror qui insanire occipiurit ex iniuria.
domo me eripuit, verberavit; me invito abduxit
meam ;
homini misero plus quingentos colaphos infregit
mihi.
ob malefacta haec tantidem emptam postulat sibi 200
tradier.
veruin enim quando bene promeruit, fiat : suom ius
postulat.
age iani cupio, si modo argentum reddat. sed ego
hoc hariolor:
ubi me dixero dare tanti, testis faciet ilico
vendidisse me; de argento somnium: mox; eras
redi."
id quoque possum ferre, modo si reddat, quamquam
iiiiuriumst.
verum cogito id quod res est : quando eum quae-
stum occeperis,
accipiunda et mussitanda iniuria adulescentiumst.
sed nemo dabit : frustra egomet mecum has rationes
puto.
236
THE BROTHERS
Aes. You gave a hundred pounds for her (curse on your
purchase !) You shall have the sum.
Sannio What ? If I refuse to sell, will you force me ?
des. Not at all.
Sannio Oh, I was afraid you would.
Aes. And I don t think she ought to be sold, being a
free woman. Yes, I enter a plea that free she is.
Now then consider your choice, getting the money
or getting up your case. Think it over till I come
back, {sneering) master slave-dealer.
[EXIT INTO HIS HOUSE
Sannio God in heaven ! I don t wonder that outrage drives
men into Bedlam. He tore me out of my house,
cudgelled me, carried off my girl in spite of my
teeth, showered a thousand blows or more on an
unhappy creature, and in requital for these enor
mities he demands to have the girl at cost price.
(ironically) However in return for all his noble ser
vices to me, so be it : he has a right to be gratified.
Come now, come, I am eager for it, if only he would
pay me. But I talk like a fool. As soon as I agree
to the price he will have witnesses to prove that I
have sold her and the money will be moonshine.
"I ll pay you before long, come again to-morrow."
Even that I could put up with, provided he does
pay, outrage though it is. But I face facts : when
you set up in my line, you must receive arid pocket
outrages from young men. Still here nobody will
pay me, so these private calculations are all beside
the mark.
237
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AJKER
Syrus Tace, egomet conveniam ipsum: cupide accipiat
II. ii iam faxo ac bene v \^
dicat secum etiam esse aclum. quid istuc, Sannio, 210
est quod te audio
* s *^jCAf nescio quid concertasse cum ero?
Sannio numquam vidi iniquius
certationem cbmparatam, quam haec hodie inter
nos fuit:
ego vapulando, ille verberando, usque ambo defessi
sumus. uXVe^fc-*/*"
Syrus tua culpa.
Sannio quid facerem?
Syrus adulescenti morem gestum oportuit.
Sannio qui potui nielius, qui hodie usque os praebui ? T
Syrus age, scis quid loquar?
pecuniam in loco neclegere maxumum interdumst
lucrum. hui, s ****
metuisti, si nunc de tuo iure concessisses paululum,
adulescenti esses morigeratus, hominum homo stul-
tissume,
ne non tibi istuc faeneraret. f&Y ^ / i
Sannio ego spem pretio non emo.
Syrus numquam rem facies : abi, inescare nescis homines, 220
Sannio. 3* CA ^- ^^P
Sannio credo istuc melius esse ; verum ego numquam adeo
astutus fui. ^ ..^v *
sMVtfAwiV \. cc-xA . ^JP^ 65 * 1 ;.
- <* ^^ quin quidquia possem mall em auferre potms in praesen tia.
Syrus age, novi tuom animum : quasi iam usquam tibi sint
viginti minae^ Ve$\<U$
dum huic obfeequfrre. praeterea autem te aiuiit
proficisci Cyprum,
Sannio ^ ^ x Jtt t>^ ^ ^^ hem.
Syrus coemisse hinc quae illuc veheres multa, navem con-
ductam: hoc, scio,
THE BROTHERS
ENTER Syrus FROM Micio s HOUSE.
Syrus (to Aeschinus within) No more, Sir: I ll see him in
person, I ll soon make him eager to treat and say
he has been well treated besides. (co?nes forward}
What s this I hear, Sannio, of your having a bit of
a fight with my master?
Sannio The unfairest match that ever I saw, that between
us to-day. I taking, he giving, a drubbing, we re
both fairly worn out.
Syrus It was your fault.
Sannio What ought I to have done?
Syrus Humoured him, being he s young.
Sannio How could I better, man? Why, I let him hit me
on the mouth.
Syrus Come now, do you know what I say about it?
Slighting money at the rignt moment is sometimes
the way to make it. Phew 1 you were afraid that
if you gave up an inch or two of your rights and
humoured our young gentleman, you silliest of all
silly fellows, that it wouldn t come back to you
with interest.
Sannio Pay cash for expectations? Not I.
Syrus You ll never make your fortune. Go along with
you, you don t know the baits to catch men with,
Sannio.
Sannio (ironically} No doubt yours is the better way, but I
never had sharpness enough not to prefer all I
could get on the nail.
Syrus Come, I know your spirit. Surely a hundred pounds
is neither here nor there to you if you can oblige
our man. Besides, they tell me you re bound on a
voyage to Cyprus.
Sannio (aside) The devil!
Syrus That you ve got together a pile of purchases to
239
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
animus tibi pendet. ubi illinc, spero, redieris
tamen, hoc ages.
Sannio nusquam pedem. peril hercle: hac illi spe hoc
inceperunt. +Vsz^ <A>ere &\ rO"^V\*)
Syrus timet :
inieci scrupulum honiini.
Sannio o scelera: illud vide,
aVcnYu^o.^ ^ kv K ^ c ^ w^
ut in ipso articulo oppressit. emptae muheres
complures et item hinc alia quae pprto Cyprum. 230
. . i , ,v> <_ <t re<xir lei 3
nisi eo ad mercatum venio, damnum maxumumst.
mine si hoc omitto acjum agam ubi illinc rediero,
teO>"*na5> \*j*\\ K^QrfCCrv-c oci<i
ml est : remxerit res : nunc demum vems r
, ^NltC o V?C<i^ ,
%iw quor passu s r ubi eras r ut sit satius perdere
quam aut nunc manere tarn diu aut turn persequi.
c . , ,
byrus lamiie enumerasti id quod ad fe rediturum putes r
Sannio hocine illo dignumsfc ? hocine incipere Aeschinum,
per oppressionem ut hanc mi eripere postulet ? >
Struts labascit. unum hoc habeo : vide si satis placet :
potius quam venias in periclum, Sannio^ 240
servesiie an perdas totum,, dividuom face ; &\\
minas decem conradet alicunde.
icrope Icyi^Wr- . ., .
banmo ei mini^
etiam de sorte nunc venio in dubium miser ?
pudet nil ? omnis dentis labefecit mihi,
praeterea colaphis tuber est totum caput :
etiam insuper defraudat ? nusquam abeo.
Syrus ut iubet
240
THE BROTHERS
take tli ere and chartered a merchantman. I m
sure this puts you in two minds between this and
that. Anyhow, when you are come back you ll
attend, I hope, to this.
fannio Not a step do I budge, (aside) Damnation! that
was the hope that set em on this.
Syrus (aside) He s frightened: grit in his shoes!
Sannio (aside} The scoundrels I Look at that now, he s hit
me on the very joint. I ve bought a shipload of
women and other goods here to export to Cyprus.
If I m too late for the fair, it s a devil of a loss. If
I drop this business now and take it up again when
I get back, it s no go, it will be a frost. Tne court
will say " What ? After all this time ? Why did
you put up with it? Where have you been? In
fact I d better lose it than either stop here ever so
long or go into court so late.
Syrua Reckoned up yet what you may count your gain ?
Sannio Is this conduct worthy of the party ? A gentleman
like Aeschinus scheming to get the girl from me
by a surprise attack ?
Syrus (aside) He s on the seesaw, (aloud) I ve only one
word more, see if it satisfies you. Rather than take
the hazard of getting or losing the whole, halve it,
Sannio. Fifty pounds he ll scrape up from some
where or other.
Sannio Good heavens ! is a poor wretch put in doubt about
his principal even ? Is your man utterly shameless ?
He s loosened every tooth in my head, beside my
skull being all swellings fiom his blows, and on the
top of it all is he to cheat me ? (stamping his foot)
Here I stop.
Syrus (turning to go) As you please. Anything more I can
do for you before leaving you ?
241
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
\ffcv <4CnV <v\W\^U
num quid vis quin abeam ?
Sannio immo hercle hoc quaeso, Syre :
utut haec sunt acta, potius quam litis sequar,
meum mihi reddatur, saltem quanti emptast, Syre.
scio te antehac non esse usum amicitia mea : 250
memorem me dices esse et gratum.
Syrus sedulo
faciam. sed Ctesiphonem video : laetus est
de arnica.
Sannio quid quod te oro ?
Syrus paulisper mane.
Cte. Abs quivis homine^ quom est opus, beneficium
Il.iii accipere gaudeas ;
verum enim vero id demum iuvat, si quern aequomst
facere is bene faeit.
o frater frater, quid ego nunc te laudem ? satis certo scio :
numquam ita magnifice quicquam dicam, id virtus
quin superet tua.
itaque unam hanc rem me habere praeter alios
praecipuam arbitror,
fratrem homini nemini esse primarum artium rnagis
principem.
Syrus o Ctesipho. 260
Cte. o Syre, Aeschinus ubist ?
Syrus ellum, te expectat domi.
Cte. hem.
Syrus quid est ?
Cte. quid sit ? illius opera, Syre, nunc vivo, festivom caput,
qui quom omnia sibi post putarit esse prae meo com-
modo,
maledicta, famam, meum laborem et peccatum in
se transtulit.
nil pote supra, quidnam foris crepuit?
Synis mane, mane : ipse exit foras.
THE BROTHERS
Sannio No, no, hang it! please, Syrus, please. Never
mind how I ve been treated, rather than go to law
let me have my own repaid me, cost price anyhow,
Syrus. (wheedling) I know you ve had no tokens of
my friendship up to now : (giving him moneys) you
shall have cause to say that I don t forget and am
grateful.
Syrus I ll put my back into it. Ah, here comes Ctesipho :
he s in joy about his mistress.
Sannio But about my request ?
Syrus One moment.
ENTER Ctesipho IN RAPTURES.
Cte. (not seeing the others) To get a good thing from anyone,
when you want it, may give you joy, but the only
real delight is when your benefactor is the right
man. O brother, brother mine, how can I find
words to praise you ? / This I am sure of, my most
splendid phrases must fall short of your goodness.
So there s one thing in which I think I take first
place of all : there isn t a man with a brother sucli
a complete master in every good quality.
Syrus (coming forward) You, Sir, is it ?
Cte. Oh Syrus, where is Aeschinus ?
Syrus At home there, waiting for you.
Cte. (ecstatically) Oh heaven
Syrus What do you mean ?
Cte. Don t you know ? O Syrus, it s his doing that I m
now alive. A pearl of a man ! Why he sacrificed
all his interests to mine : the hard words, the dis
repute, my trouble and offence, he took ern all on
himself. It s beyond anything. Why s the door
on the move ? (turns to go)
Syrus Stop, stop, it s your brother himself.
243
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
II. iv
Aes. Ubist ille sacrilegus ?
Sannio me quaerit. num quidnam ecfert? ocoidi:
nil video.
Aes. ehem opportune : te ipsum quaero : quid fit, Ctesipho ?
in tutost omnis res : omitte vero tristitiem tuam.
Cte. ego illam hercle vero omitto, qui quidem te habeam
fratrem : o mi Aeschine,
o mi germane ! ah, vereor coram in os te laudare
amplius,
ne id adsentandi magis quam quo habeam gratum 270
facere existumes.
Aes. age inepte, quasi nunc non norimus nos inter nos,
Ctesipho.
hoc mihi dolet, nos sero rescisse et rem paene in
eum locum
redisse, ut si omnes cuperent tibi nil possent auxi-
liarier.
Cte. pudebat.
Aes. ah, stultitiast istaec, non pudor. tarn ob parvolam
rem paene e patria! turpe dictu. deos quaeso ut
istaec prohibeant.
Cte. peccavi.
Aes. quid ait tandem nobis Sannio f
Syrus iam mitis est.
Aes. ego ad forum ibo, ut hunc absolvam; tu intro ad
illam, Ctesipho.
Sannio Syre, insta.
Syrus eamus ; namque hie properat in Cyprum.
Sannio non tarn quidem,
quam vis : etiam maneo otiosus hie.
Syrus reddetur: ne time.
244
THE BROTHERS
ENTER Aeschinus.
Aes. Where s that piece of impiety ?
Sannio (starting forward) It s me he means. Anything in
his hand ? Damn 1 I can t see anything.
Aes. (to Ctesipho) Ah, well met : I was looking for you.
How goes it Ctesipho ? All s secure : no more of
your glum looks !
Cte. No more indeed, by Jove no, with a brother like
you. My dear Aeschinus, my true brother ! Oh,
I dare not praise you more to your face ; you might
take it for flattery else instead of gratitude.
Aes. Silly boy! Surely at this time we know one
another, Ctesipho. What pains me is that on this
side the discovery was so late and things were almost
come to the pass where the best will of the whole
world couldn t have helped you.
Cte. (bashfully) I was too modest.
Aes. Folly, dear boy, not modesty. A trifle like that
almost make you flee the country ? Scandalous !
God forbid such a thing !
Cte. I was wrong.
Aes. (to Syrus) Pray, what says our friend Sannio.
tiyrus He s tamed down.
Aes. I m going to the Piazza to pay him. In with you,
Ctesipho, to your love.
[EXIT Ctesipho INTO THE HOUSE.
Sanmo (aside to Syrus) Press it, Syrus.
Syrus (airily) Let s be off: our friend s for Cyprus and in
haste, (teasing him)
Sannio (angrily) Not so much as you want. I ve plenty of
time and here I stop.
Syrus You shall be paid, never fear.
245
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Sunnio at ut oinne reddat. 280
Syr-us omne reddet ; tace modo ac sequere hac.
Sannio sequor.
Cie. heus hens, Syre.
Syrus quid est?
Cte. obsecro te hercle, hominem istum inpurissumum
quam primum absolvitote, ne, si magis inritatus siet,
aliqua ad patrem hoc permanet atque ego turn per-
petuo perierim.
Synis non net, bono animo es : tu cum ilia te intus oblecta
interim
et lectulos iube sterni nobis et parari cetera,
ego iam transacta re convortam me domum cum
obsonio.
Cte, ita quaeso. quando hoc bene successit, hilare hunc
suniamus diem.
ACTVS III
So. Obsecro, mea nutrix, quid nunc fiet?
Can. quid fiat rogas ?
recte edepol spero. modo dolores, mea tu, occipiunt
primulum.
iam nunc times, quasi numquam adfueris, numquair 290
tute pepereris?
.S o. miseram me, neminem habeo, solae sumus; Geta
autem liic non adest;
nee quern ad obstetricem mittam, nee qui accersat
Aeschinum.
THE BROTHERS
Sannio But will he pay in full ?
Syrus He ll pay in full. Only hold your tongue and go
along with him.
Sannio I m with you. [EXEUNT Aeschinus AND Sannio.
Syrus is FOLLOWING WHEN Ctesipho REAPPEARS AT THE
DOOR
Cie. Hi, hi, Syrus!
Syrus (stopping) What s the matter ?
Cte. In heaven s name pay that beast of a man as soon
as possible, else, if his rage increases, it may leak
through by some channel to my father and then
I m ruined for good and all.
Syms It won t : courage, Sir ! Enjoy yourself with the
lady indoors and have dinner laid for us and so on.
As soon as the business is settled I shall come back
with the fish and vegetables.
Cte. Please do : as things have gone so well with us let
us make merry for the day.
[GOES BACK INTO THE HOUSE EXIT Syrus.
ACT III
(About a quarter of an hour has elapsed.}
ENTER Sosirata FROM HER HOUSE WITH Canthara.
So. Nurse, dear nurse, how will it go with her ?
Can Go with her ? Quite well, I warrant you. (looking
towards the house) My poor dear, your first throes
are just beginning, (turning to Sostrata) Afraid
now, as though you d never been present at a child
birth or borne a child yourself.
So. Oh dear, we have no friend, we have only ourselves.
And then Geta is out and there s no one to send
for the midwife or fetch Aeschinus.
247
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFER
Can. pol is quidem iam hie aderit ; nam numquam unum
intermittit diem
quiii semper veniat.
So. solus mearum miseriarumst remediurn.
Can. e re nata melius fieri baud potuit quam factumst,, era,
quando vitiuin oblatumst, quod ad ilium attinet
potissumum,
talem, tali ingenio atque animo, natum ex tanta
familia.
So. ita pol est ut dicis : salvos nobis deos quaeso ut siet.
Geta Nunc illud est, quom, si omnia omnes sua consilia
lll.ii conferant
atque huic malo salutem quaerant, auxili nil adferant, 30C
quod mihique eraeque filiaeque erilist. vae misero mi hi
tot res repente circumvallant se unde emergi non
potest :
vis egestas iniustitia solitudo infamia.
hocine saeclum ! o scelera, o genera sacrilega, o
hominem inpium !
0. me miseram, quidiiam est quod sic video timid um
et.properantem Getam ?
Geta quern neque fides neque ius iurandum neque ilium
misericordia
repressit neque reflexit neque quod partus instabat
prope,
quoi miserae indigne per vim vitium obtulerat.
So. non intellego
satis quae loquitur.
Can. propius obsecro accedamus, Sostrata.
Geta ah
me miserum, vix sum compos animi, ita ardeo 310
iracundia.
nil est quod malim quam illam totam familiam dari
mi obviarn,
248
THE BROTHERS
Can. Bless you, he ll be here in a minute : he never
misses a day, he always comes.
So. He s my only stay in my troubles.
Can. Considering the circumstances things are as well as
they could be, Ma am. It s well the lover was a man
like that, such a character and such a good heart,
and of such a high family too.
So. Indeed he is what you call him : Heaven preserve
him to us !
ENTER Geta IN MUCH EXCITEMENT.
Geta (pacing up and down and not seeing the others) Now it s
come to this that if all the world put all their heads
together to find a way out of this trouble, they
couldn t help us the least bit, trouble to me and
my mistress and my mistress s daughter. Lord
deliver us I a bristling wall of evils and not a way
over it ! Violence, poverty, wickedness, helpless
ness, disgrace ! What a world ! Oh the sins of it,
the tribes of impiety, the unnatural wretch !
So. (aside to Canthara) Mercy on us, why is Geta so
terrified and so agitated ?
Gt Aa (as before) His honour, his oath, compassion, not one
of them kept him or turned him back, not even the
throes, so near at hand, of the poor lady whom he
had so shamefully and violently outraged.
So. (as before) I can t quite follow what he says.
Can. Let us go nearer, Ma am, pray, (they come more
forward)
Geta (as before) Heavens ! I m almost off my head, I m
such a blaze of passion. There s nothing I should like
better than to have that whole household put in
front of me so as to disgorge all my fury on them
249
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
ut ego hanc iram in eos evomam omneiu, clum 312
aegritudo haec est recens.
seni animam primum exstinguerem ipsi, qui illud 314-
produxit scelus ;
turn autem Syrum inpulsorem, vah, quibus ilium
lacerarem modis !
sublimem medium arriperem et capite pronum in
terra statuerem,
ut cerebro dispergat viam.
adulescenti ipsi eriperem oculos^ post haec praecipi-
tem darem.
ceteros ruerem agerem raperem tuiiderem et pro-
sternerem.
sed cesso eram hoc malo inpertire propere ? 320
So. revocemus : Geta.
Geta hem,
quisquis es, sine me.
So. ego sum Sostrata.
Geta ubi east ? te ipsam quaerito,
te expecto ; oppido opportune te obtulisti mi
obviam.
era . .
So. quid est ? quid trepidas ?
Geta ei nr !
Can. quid festinas, mi Geta ?
animam recipe.
Geta prorsus .
So. quid istuc prorsus ergost ?
Geta periimus.
actumst.
So. eloquere, obsecro te, quid sit ?
Geta iam . .
So. quid iam/ Geta ?
250
THE BROTHERS
while the smart is fresh. First I cl crush the
breath out of the old man, the master,, him that
brought the monster up. Then as for Syrus who
set him on, God ! how I d mangle him ! I d catch
him by the waist, lift him up, and dash his skull
right on the ground to scatter his brains over the
pavement. For the young man I d tear out his
eyes and then hurl him over a precipice. The
rest of em I d knock down, worry to bits, trample
and crush under my feet. But why don t I hurry
and tell the mistress about this disaster ? (moves
towards the door)
So. (behind him) Let s call him back. Geta !
Geta No, I shan t stop whoever you are.
So. It s me, Sostrata.
Geta (turning round) Where ? Oh, I ve been looking for
you, seeking for you, Ma am. Very lucky you met
me. Ma am (hesitates)
What s the matter ? Why are you panting ?
Oh dear !
Why so excited, my dear Geta ? Get your breath
back.
Geta We are utterly- -(hesitates)
So. Utterly what, then ?
Geta Undone : all s over.
So. For heaven s sake explain
Geta Now- -(hesitates)
So. "Now" what, Geta?
251
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Geta Aescbinus . .
So. quid is ergo ?
Geta aliemis est ab nostra familia.
So. hem,
perii. qua re ?
Geta amare occepit aliam.
So. vae miserae mihi !
Geta neque id occulte fert, a lenone ipsus eripuit palam.
So. satine hoc cert must ?
Geta certum. hisce oculis egomet vidi, Sostrata.
So. ah,
me miseram ! quid iam credas ? aut quoi credas ? 330
nostrumne Aeschiiium,
nostram vitam omnium, in quo nostrae spes opesque
omnes sitae
erant ? qui sine hac iurabat se unum mimquam
victurum diem ?
qui se in sui gremio positurum puerum dicebat
patris,
ita obsecraturum ut liceret hanc sibi uxorem ducere ?
Geta era, lacrumas mitte ac potius quod ad hanc rem
opus est porro prospice :
patiamurne an narremus quoipiam ?
Can. au au, mi homo, sanun es ?
an hoc proferendum tibi videtur usquam ?
Geta mihi quidem non placet,
iam primum ilium alieno ammo a nobis esse res ipsa
indicat.
nunc si hoc palam proferimus, ille infitias ibit, sat
scio :
tua fama et gnatae vita in dubium veniet. turn si 340
max ume
fateatur, quorn amet aliam, non est utile hanc illi
dari.
252
THE BROTHERS
Geta Aeschinus
So. What of Aeschinus ?
Geta has cut himself off from our family.
So. What ? Heaven save us ! (buries her face in her hands)
Ah, why ?
Geta He s fallen in love with some one else.
So. Heaven help me !
Geta And makes no secret of it, carried her off himself
from a slave-dealer s with no concealment.
So. Are you quite sure of it ?
Geta Quite. I saw it myself, Ma am.
So. (crying bitterly) Unhappy woman that I am ! What
is one to believe any longer ? Whom can one trust ?
What, our Aeschinus, the life of all of us, on whom
all our hopes and chances lay ? He who swore that
without my daughter he wouldn t live a single day ?
He who said he would put his baby in his father s
arms and thus implore his leave to marry her ?
Geta Stop weeping, Ma am ; rather look to the future
and see what we must do. Are we to sit down
under it or tell the facts to some one ?
Can. Gracious goodness, man alive, are you in your
senses? Do you think it ought to be disclosed
anywhere ?
Geta No, I don t for one. In the first place the facts
show that he is estranged from us : now, if we dis
close the thing, he ll deny it, I m sure of that ;
consequently your good name, Ma am, and your
daughter s life will fall into hazard. What s more,
even if he owned up to the full, as he s in love with
some one else, it would be a bad thing for her to be
married to him. So, take it as you will, we must
hold our tongues.
253
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
quapropter quoquo pacto tacitost opus.
So. ah, minume gentium :
non faciam.
Geta quid ages ?
So. proferam.
Can. hem, mea Sostrata, vide quam rem agas.
So. peiore res loco non potis est esse quam in quo nunc
sitast.
primum indotatast ; turn praeterea, quae secunda
ei dos erat,
peril t : pro virgin e dari nuptum non potest. hoc
relicuomst :
si infitias ibit, testis mecum est anulus quern amiserat.
postremo quando ego conscia mihi sum a me culpani
esse hanc procul
neque pretium neque rem ullam intercessisse ilia
aut me indignam, Geta,
experiar. 350
Geta quid istic ? cedo ut melius dicis.
So. tu quantum potes
abi atque Hegioni cognato eius rem enarrato omnem
ordine ;
nam is nostro Simulo fuit summus et nos coluit
maxume.
Geta nam hercle alius nemo respicit nos.
So. propera tu, mea GUI thai a,
eurre, obstetricem accerse, ut quom opus sit ne in
mora nobis siet.
Demea Disperii ! Ctesiphonem audivi filium
171. iii una fuisse in raptione cum Aeschino.
id misero restat mihi mali, si ilium potest,
(mi aliquoi reist etiam, eum ad nequitiem adducere.
254
THE BROTHERS
So. No, no, not for the world : I won t.
Geta What shall you do ?
So. Disclose it.
Can. Oh dear, my dear lady, are you sure what you are
about ?
So. Things can t be in a worse position than they are
now. In the first place she has no dowry : next
what s worse, that which was next best to a dowry is
lost; She can t be married with an untarnished name.
There s only one way left : if he denies the fact, I
have a witness in the ring which he let drop. Lastly
as my conscience tells me that with this fault I have
no connexion and that there has been no payment
of money or anything else unfitting my daughter
or me, Geta, I will go to court.
Geta Very well, Ma am, I give in, your suggestion is the
better.
So. Off with you quick as you can and give her kinsman
Hegio a full account of the facts. He was my poor
dear Simulus s nearest friend and has always been
most attentive to us.
Geta (bitterly) Most indeed There s no one else regards us
at all. . L EXIT -
So, Now, dear Canthara, make haste, run and call the
midwife that she may be at hand when she s
wanted.
[EXEUNT, Sostrata INTO HER HOUSE, Canthara DOWN
THE STREET.
ENTER Demea MUCH AGITATED.
Demea Death and destruction ! I have learnt that Ctesiphd
had a hand with Aeschinus in this affray,
crown of my miseries if the son who is still good
for something can be enticed by the other into
debauchery. Where am I to look for the boy
255
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
ubi ego ilium quaeram ? credo abductum in ganeuni
aliquo : persuasit ille inpurus, sat scio. 360
sed eccum Syrum ire video : iam hinc scibo ubi
siet.
atque hercle hie de grege illost : si me senserit
eum quaeritare, numquam dicet carnufex.
non ostendam id me velle.
Syrus omnem rem modo sem
quo pacto haberet enarramus ordine :
nil quicquam vidi laetius.
Dernea pro luppiter,
hominis stultitiam
Syrus conlaudavit filium :
mihi, qui id dedissem consilium, egit gratias.
Demea disrumpor .
Syrus argentum adnumeravit ilico ;
dedit praeterea in sumptum dimidium minae ; 370
id distributum sane est ex sententia.
Demea hem,
huic mandes, si quid recte curatum veils.
Syrus ehem Demea, haud aspexeram te. quid agitur ?
Demea quid agatur ? vostram nequeo mirari satis
rationem.
Syrus est hercle iriepta ; ne dicarn dolo,
absurda. piscis ceteros purga, Dromo ;
gongrum istum maxumum in aqua sinito hide re
tantisper : ubi ego rediero, exossabltur ;
prius nolo.
Demea haecin flagitia ?
Syrus mi quidem non placent
et clamo saepe. salsamenta haec, Stephanio, 380
256
THE BROTHERS
Drawn, I suppose, into some home of iniquity,
allured by that profligate, that I m sure of! Ah here
comes Syrus : he ll tell me at once where he is. Yet,
by heaven, he s one of that gang. If he smells out
that I m on the hm/c for him, he ll never tell me,
the villain.
ENTER SyrUS CARRYING A FISHBASKET.
I won t let out my wishes.
Syrus (making as if he did not see Demea) I ve just told this
whole story to our old gentleman, every point in it
as it fell out. I never saw a body more delighted.
Demea (aside) Powers above us ! what a fool of a man !
Syrus (as before) He praised his son to the skies, and me
he thanked for having given him that advice.
Demea (aside) I burst with rage.
Syrus The coins he counted down on the spot, and gave
me a couple of sovereigns besides for an entertain
ment : that I ve laid out quite satisfactorily, (looking
into the basket)
Demea (aside) See there ! This is the fellow for a commission,
if you want it rightly executed, (comes forward)
Syrus (pretending surprise} O Sir, I didn t see you were
there. What s going on ?
Demea Going on? I can t enough wonder at the manage
ment of you people.
Syrus Yes on my word, Sir it is silly ; to be frank with
you it s ridiculous, (goes to the door and hands in
the basket) Gut these fish, Dromo, except the biggest
conger, let that play in the water for a bit ; when
I come back it shall be filleted, not before, mind.
Demea Perfectly scandalous !
Svru* (turning round) It doesn t satisfy me either, ,
often protest, (turning again to the door) Those salt
fish. Stephanie, see they re properly soaked.
257
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
fac macerentur pulchre.
Demea di vostram fidem,
utrum studione id sibi habet an laudi putat
fore, si perdiderit gnatum? vae misero milii 1
videre videor iam diem ilium, quom hinc egens
profugiet aliquo militatum.
Syrus o Demea,
istuc est sapere, non quod ante pedes modost
videre sed etiam ilia quae futura sunt
prospicere.
Demea quid ? istaec iam penes vos psaltriast ?
Syrus ellam intus.
Demea eho, an domist habiturus ?
Syrus credo, ut est
dementia. 390
Demea haecin fieri I
Syrus inepta lenitas
patris et facilitas prava.
Demea fratris me quidem
pudet pigetque.
Syrus nimium inter vos, Demea,
(non quia ades praeseiis dico hoc) pernimium in
terest.
tu, quantus quantu s, nil nisi sapientia es,
ille somnium. num sineres vero ilium tuom
facere haec?
Demea sinerem ilium? aut non sex totis mensibus
prius olfecissem quam ille quicquam coeperet?
Syrus vigilantiam tuam tu mihi narras?
Demea sic sict
modo ut nunc est, quaeso.
Syrus ut quisque suom volt esse, itasV,
Demea quid eum? vidistin hodie? 4-00
Syrus tuomne fill um ?
258
THE BROTHERS
Demea Good heavens ! does he do it on purpose or think
it will be a credit to him if he ruins the boy ? Lord
help me ! I think I see the day when he will flee
the country a beggar and enter some foreign service.
Syrus (mockingly) Ah Sir, that is indeed wisdom, not only
seeing what is in front of your nose but foreseeing
what is to come.
Demea Here you, is that cithern-girl still in your house?
Syrus That s what she is, Sir.
Demea Lord bless us ! is he to keep her there at home ?
Syrus I suppose so : there s lunacy enough for it.
Demea Incredible!
Syrus His father s foolish mildness, Sir, so easy-going,
quite wicked.
Demea I am sick and ashamed of my brother.
Syrus The difference between you, Sir (it s not because
you are on the spot that I say it), the enormous
difference ! You, Sir, from top to toe (bowing low)
are nothing but wisdom, he s a dotard. You
wouldn t have been likely to let that son of yours
do such things, would you now ?
Demea Let him ? Shouldn t I have smelt it out six months
before he started anything?
Syrus You talk to me of your all-aliveness ? Really now.
Sir!
Demea My only prayer is that he may remain what he is
now.
Syrus Each of you finds his son what he would like him
to be.
Demea What of my son? Have you seen him to-day?
Syrus Your son, Sir ! (aside) I ll pack the old boy into the
259
PUBLIUS TEUENTIUS AFER
abigam hunc rus. iam dudum aliquid ruri agere
arbitror.
Demea satin scis ibi esse?
Syrus oh, qui egomet produxi.
Demea optumest:
metui ne haereret hie.
Syrus atque iratum admodum.
Demea quid autem?
Syrus adortust iurgio fratrem apud forum
de psaltria ista.
Demea ain vero?
Syrus vah, nil reticuit.
nam ut numerabatur forte argentum, intervenit
homo de inproviso : coepit clamare Aeschine,
haeciii flagitia facere te ! haec te admittere
indigna genere nostro !
Demea oh, lacrumo gaudio!
Syrus lion tu hoc argentum perdis, sed vitam tuam." 4-10
Demea salvos sit ! spero, est similis maiorum suom.
Syrus hui.
Demea Syre, praeceptorum plenust istorum ille.
Syrus phy.
domi habuit unde disceret.
Demea fit sedulo:
nil praetermitto ; consuefacio; deriique
inspicere tamquam in speculum in vitas omnium
iubeo atque ex aliis sumere exemplum sibi:
hoc facito."
Symx recte oane.
a
Demea hoc fugito.
Syrus callide.
Demea hoc laudist."
Syrus istaec res est.
Deniea *hoc vitio datur."
"
THE BROTHERS
country, (aloud) I think he s been some time in
the country on some farm job.
Demea Are you sure he s there ?
Syrus Oh yes, Sir: I walked out with him myself.
Demea Good; I was afraid he was hanging about here.
Syrus And a pretty temper he was in.
Demea What about?
Syrus He attacked his brother with hard words in tlu
Piazza about that cithern-girl.
Demea (delighted) Really?
Syrus Dear me, yes, he didn t mince matters. Just as
the money was counting out, up comes our gentle
man unexpectedly and cries out *O Aeschinus,
you to do such wicked things! You to bring dis
grace upon the family."
Demea Oh, it makes me weep for joy.
Syrus it s not money you re squandering, it s your life."
Demea Bless him, bless him! The good old blood comes
out.
Syrus Good indeed!
Demea Syrus, he s full of those maxims, my boy is.
Syrus No wonder, Sir : he had some one at home to learn
from.
Demea I m a zealous teacher, never let a point slide, train
him to it. In fine I tell him to look into all men s
ways of living as into a looking-glass, and draw
from others a model for himself. Do this I say.
Syrus Very right and proper.
Demea Avoid that."
Syrus A skilful lesson.
Demea That is a credit to you."
Syrv-s Hits the nail.
Demea That is reprehensible."
261
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Syrus probissume.
Dcmea porro autem. . .
Syrus non. hercle otiumst
nunc mi auscultandi. piscis ex sententia 420
nactus sum : ei mihi ne corrumpantur cautiost.
nam id nobis tain flagitiumst quam illa^ Demea,
non facere vobis quae niodo dixti ; et quod queo
coiiservis ad eundem istunc praecipio modum:
" hoc salsunist, hoc adustumst, hoc lautumst parum ;
illudrecte: iterum sic memento." sedulo
moiieo quae possum pro mea sapiential
postremo tamquam in speculum in patinas,, Demea,
inspicere iubeo et moneo quid facto usus sit.
mepta haec esse nos quae facimus sentio ; 430
verum quid facias ? ut homost, ita morem geras.
imm quid vis?
Demea mentem vobis meliorem dari.
Syrus tu rus hinc ibis?
Demea recta.
Syrus nam quid tu hie agas,
ubi si quid bene praecipias, nemo obtemperet?
Dcmea ego vero hinc abeo, quaiido is quam ob rem hue ve-
neram
rus abiit: ilium euro unum, illi ad me attinet:
quan do ita volt f rater, de istoc ipse viderit.
sed quis illic est quern video procul ? estne Hegio
tribulis iioster ? si satis cerno,, is est hercle. vali,
homo amicus nobis iam inde a puero : o di boni, 440
ne illius modi iam nobis magna civium
penuriast antiqua virtu te ac fide !
hand cito mail quid or hi in ex hoc sit publice.
262
THE BROTHERS
Xyru.s Perfect.
Demea Then moreover-
Syrus (interrupting) Lord, Sir, I haven* t time to listen at
trie moment. I have hit on a good bargain in fish
and must see they re not spoiled in the cooking.
Yes, it s just as much a sin in us servants not to do
this as it is in you masters, Sir, not to do what you
said just now, and as far as I can I school my fellow
servants after that same pattern of yours, (imitating
Demea) "That s too salt," I say, "that s roasted to
a cinder, that s not properly cleaned; that one s
right, remember to do like that again." I m a
zealous teacher up to my lights. Lastly I tell em
to look into the dishes as into a looking-glass, Sir,
and I teach em what ought to be done. Silly
enough these doings of ours I m aware, but what
can one do ? As a man s made, so you should humour
him. Anything more I can do for you, Sir ?
Demea (gruffly} Get yourself supplied with a better mind.
Syrus You ll be off to the country, Sir?
Demea Straight away.
Sums Yes, what should you do in town where your good
instructions fall on deaf ears? [EXIT INTO THE HOUS
Demea Off to the country? 1 should think so, as 1 boy
I came about is off there already. He is my sole car
he is my possession. As my brother so desires it, lei
him look to the other fellow himself. But who s fcat
down the street? Is it my connexion
my eyes speak truth, Hegio it certainly is. Ah,
a man who has been a friend of ours from a boy
Bless us all, we have a sore lack of men of
stamp, men of the old worth and honour,
be long before any harm to the eoiui^RiW *
of him. What a pleasure to see him ! When ]
PUBL1US TERENTIUS AFER
quani gaudeo ! ubi etiam huius generis reliquias
restare video, ah, vivere etiam nunc lubet.
opperiar hominem hie, ut salutem et conloquar.
Hegio Pro di inmortales, facinus indignum, Geta !
Ill.iv quid narras ?
Geta sic est factum.
Hegio ex illan familia
tarn inliberale facinus esse ortum ! Aeschine,
pol haud paternum istuc dedisti ! 4>50
Demea videlicet
de psaltria hac audivit : id illi nunc dolet
alieno, pater eius nili pendit. ei mihi,
u Jnam hie prope adesset alicubi atque audiret haec !
llegio nisi facient quae illos aequomst, haud sic auferent.
Geta in te spes ornnis, Hegio, nobis sitast :
te solum habemus, tu es patronus, tu pater :
ille tibi moriens nos commendavit senex :
si deseris tu, periimus.
Hegio cave dixeris :
neque faciam neque me satis pie posse arbitror
Demea adibo. salvere Hegionem plurimum 460
iubeo.
Hegio oh, te quaerebam ipsum : salve, Demea.
Demea quid autem ?
Hegio mnior filius tuos Aeschinus,
quern fratri adnptandum dedisti, neque boni
neque liberalis functus officiumst viri.
Demea quid istuc est ?
Hegio nostrum amicum noras Simulum
aequalem ?
Demea quid ni ?
Hegio filiam eius virginem
264
THE BROTHERS
on the remains of that breed still among us, ah
there s joy in life yet. I ll stop to greet him and
talk with him.
ENTER HeglO AND Geta IN CONVERSATION.
Hegio (not seeing Demea) Great heavens ! a monstrous act,
Geta : can it be so ?
Geta It s a fact, Sir.
Hegio That house the source of such an ungentlemanly
action! Aeschinus, Aeschinus, I swear you ve not
trodden in your father s steps.
Demea (aside) Obviously he has heard about this cithern-
girl. It s painful to him though he s a stranger in
blood, the father doesn t care a jot. Dear, dear, I
wish he d been by somewhere to hear this.
Hegio If they don t take the righteous line, they shan t
carry it off like this.
Geta Oh Sir, all our hope rests on you, there s no one
else, you are her champion, her father. My old
master entrusted us to you with his last breath : if
you forsake us, we are undone.
Hegio Don t name it : I won t do it : I should think myself
deaf to the call of affection.
Demea (aside) I will go up to him. (aloud, coming forward)
The best of health to you, Hegio.
Hegio (coldly) Ah, the very man I was looking for. Good
day to you, Demea.
Demea You were looking for me ?
Hegio Yes. Your elder son Aeschinus, whom you gave
to your brother to adopt, has acted very unlike an
honest man and a gentleman.
Demea How is that ?
Hegio You knew our friend and contemporary Simulus ?
Demea Of course I did.
Hegio His daughter has been wronged by your son.
265
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
vitiavit.
Demea hem.
Ilegio mane : non dum audisti, Demea,
quod est gravissumum.
Demea an quicquam est etiam amplius ?
Ilegio vero amplius ; nam hoc quidem ferundum aliquo
modost :
persuasit nox amor vinuni adulescentia : 470
humanumst. ubi scit factum, ad matrem virgiiiis
venit ipsus ultro lacrumans orans obsecrans
fidem dans, iurans se illam ducturum domum.
ignotumst, tacitumst, creditumst. virgo ex eo
compressu gravida factast : mensis decumus est :
ille bonus vir nobis psaltriam, si dis placet,
paravit quicum vivat ; illam deserit.
Demea pro certon tu istaec dicis ?
Ilegio mater virginis
in mediost, ipsa virgo, res ipsa, hie Geta
praeterea, ut captus est servorum, non malus 4-80
neque iners : alit illas, solus omnem familiam
sustentat : huiic abduce, vinci, quaere rem.
Geta immo hercle extorque, nisi ita factumst, Demea.
postremo non negabit : coram ipsum cedo.
Demea pudet : nee quid agam neque quid huic respoiideam
scio.
Pam. miseram me, difteror doloribus !
luno Lucina, fer opem ! serva me obsecro !
Hegio hem,
num nam ilia quaeso parturit ?
Geta certe, Hegio.
Hegio em,
illaec fidem mine vostram inplorat, Demea:
quod vos vis cogit id voluntate imp.etret. 490
haec primum ut fiant deos quaeso ut vobis decet.
266
THE BROTHERS
Demea Heaven above us
Hegio One moment: you haven t yet heard the worst.
De-mea Can there be anything worse to tell ?
Hegio Indeed there is. So much must in some way be
put up with. There were the inducements of
darkness, passion, wine, young blood : it s human
nature. On realizing what he had done he came
of his own accord to the girl s mother, weeping,
begging, beseeching, promising, swearing to marry
her. He was forgiven, the matter was hushed up,
his word was taken. The girl is now with child,
it s the tenth month. Our honest gentleman, bless
us all, has bought a cithern-player to live with :
the other he deserts.
Demea Are you quite sure of your facts ?
llegio The girl s mother can be produced, there s the girl
herself, there s the obvious fact, and here s Geta
too, not a bad fellow as slaves go and active enough.
He finds them a livelihood, he s the sole prop of
the whole house. Take him off, put him in fetters,
have the truth out of him.
Geta Ay, put me on the rack if it isn t the truth, Sir
Put him to it and he won t deny it. Have him up
before you.
Demea (aside) I m ashamed. I don t know what to do or
how to answer him.
Pam. (within) Oh the pain, the pain ! Help, Madonna
Save me for mercy s sake.
Hegio What, is her time come ?
Geta Certainly, Sir.
Hegio See now, there she is, appealing to the honour ol
your house, Demea. Let what you are forced to
do be done of your good will. I pray heaven that,
if possible, your course may be such as becomes
PUBLIUS TERENT1US A FEU
sin a liter animus voster est, ego, Demea,
sun ana vi defendam hanc atque ilium mortuom.
cognatus mihi erat ; una a pueris parvolis
sumus educti ; una semper militiae et domi
fuiinus; paupertatem una pertulimus gravem.
quapropter nitar, faciam, experiar, denique
animam relinquam potius quam illas deseram.
quid mihi respondes?
Demea fratrem conveniam, Hegio.
Hegw sed, Demea, hoc tu facito cum animo cogites : 500
quam vos facillume agitis, quam estis maxume
potentes dites fortunati nobiles,
tarn maxume vos aequo animo aequa noscere
oportet, si vos voltis perhiberi probos.
Demea redito: fient quae fieri aequomst omnia.
Hegio decet te facere. Geta, due me intro ad Sostratam.
Demea 11011 me indicente haec fiunt : utinam hie sit modo
defunctum ! verum nimia illaec licentia
profecto evadet in aliquod magnum malum.
ibo ac requiram fratrem, ut in eum haec evomam. 510
Hegio Bono animo fac sis, Sostrata, et istam quod potes
III.v fac consolere. ego Micionem, si apud forumst,
conveniam atque ut res gestast narrabo ordine :
si est is facturus ut sit officium suom,
faciat ; sin aliter de hac re est eius sententia,
respondeat mi, ut quid agam quam primum sciain.
268
THE BROTHERS
you all, but if your intentions are different, 1,
Demea, will strain every nerve in support of the
girl and my departed friend. He was my kinsman,
we were brought up together from our earliest
infancy,, we stood side by side in war and in peace,
side by side we wore through the bitterness of
poverty. For that cause I shall toil, be active,, go
to law,, yes lay down my very life rather than
forsake them. What is your answer?
Demea I will see my brother, Hegio.
Hegio Yes, Demea, but see that you take this thought to
heart: the more easy your life and your brother s, the
greater your influence, riches, prosperity, rank, the
more are you bound in the spirit of justice to
recognize what is just, if you wish to have a repu
tation for probity.
Demea You may go back home : everything that is just
shall be done.
Hegio That course befits you. Geta, take me in to
Sostrata. [EXIT WITH Geta INTO Sostrata s HOUSE.
Demea I foretold as much. Would to heaven this were
the end of it! but that excessive licence will
certainly end in some grievous catastrophe. I will
go and find my brother to pour out this iniquity
on him. [EXIT.
RE-ENTER HeglO.
Hegio (at the door) Keep a good heart, Sostrata, and do
what you can to comfort your daughter. I will see
Micio, if he s in the Piazza and tell him the whole
course of events. If it prove that he means to do
his duty, let him do it. If he takes a different view
of the situation, let him give me an answer so that
I may know as soon as possible what steps to take.
[EXIT.
269
PUBLIUS TERENT1US AFER
ACTVS IV
Cte. Am patrem liinc abisse rus ?
Syrus iam dudum.
Cte. die sodes.
Syrus apud villamst:
nunc quom maxume operis aliquid facere credo.
Cte. utinam quidem !
quod cum salute eius fiat, ita se defetigarit velim
ut triduo hoc perpetuo prorsum e lecto nequeat 520
surgere.
Syrus ita fiat, et istoc siqui potis est rectius.
Cte. ita ; nam hunc diem
misere nimis cupio, ut coepi, perpetuom in laetitia
degere.
et illud rus nulla alia causa tarn male odi nisi quia
propest :
quod si abesset longius,
prius nox oppressisset illi quam hue revorti posset
iterum.
nunc ubi me illic non videbit, iam hue recurret,
sat scio :
rogitabit me ubi fuerim : ego hodie toto rion vidi die."
quid dicam ?
Syrus nilne in mentemst ?
Cte. numquam quicquam.
Syrus tanto nequior.
cliens amicus hospes nemost vobis ?
Cte. sunt : quid postea ?
Syrus hisce opera ut data sit ? 530
Cte. quae non data sit ? non potest fieri.
Syrus potest.
Cte. interdius ; sed si hie pernocto, causae quid dicam, Syre ?
270
THE BROTHERS
ACT IV
(Half an hour has elapsed.)
ENTER Ctesipho AND Syrus FROM Micio s HOUSE.
Cte. Do you really mean that my father is gone of! to
the country ?
Syrus Some time ago.
Cte. No, but really ?
Syrus He s at your country house, (grinning) I expect at
this very moment he s on some farm job.
Cte. I hope to heaven he is ! Short of hurting his
health I should like him to get so tired out that
for the next three days he couldn t get out of bed.
Syrus That I desire, or, if possible, something better.
Cte, Just so, for I m dreadfully eager to pass the whole
day as I have begun it in unbroken delight. And
the chief spite I have against our country place is
that it s so near. If it were further off, night would
have overtaken him before he could get back here
a second time. As it is, not finding me there,
he ll trot back here in a moment, I am sure of
that. There ll be a volley of questions where I ve
been : I haven t had a sight of you all day."
What s to be my answer?
Syrus Nothing occur to you?
Cte. (blankly) Nothing at all.
Syrus The more good for nothing you! Is there no
dependant, acquaintance, family friend?
Cte. There are : what follows ?
Syrus So that you had business with em?
Cte. When I hadn t? Not to be said!
Syrus To be said.
Cte. (dubiously) For the daytime, but if I stop the night
here, what excuse can 1 make, Syrus?
271
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Syrus vah, quam vellem etiam noctu amicis operam mos
esset dari
qum tu otiosus esto : ego illius sensum pulchre
caileo.
quom fervit maxume, tarn placidum quasi ovem
reddo.
Cte. quo niodo ?
Syrus laudarier te audit lubenter : facio te apud Ilium deum.
virtutes narro.
Cte. meas ?
Syrus tuas : homini ilico lacrumae cadunt
quasi puero gaudio. em tibi autem !
Cte. quidnam est ?
Syrus lupus in fabula.
Cte. pater est ?
Syrus is ipstist.
Cte. Syre, quid agimus ?
Syru.s fuge modo intro, ego videro.
Cte. si quid rogabit, nusquam tu me : audistin ?
Syrus potine ut desinas ?
Demea Ne ego homo sum infelix : fratrem nusquam invenio 540
IV.ii gentium ;
praeterea autem, dum ilium quaero, a villa mer-
cennarium
vidi : is filium negat esse ruri. nee quid agam scio.
Cte. Syre.
Syrus quid est?
Cte. men quaerit?
Syrus verum.
Cte. peril.
Syrit* quin tu animo bono es.
Demea quid hoc, malum, infelicitatis ? nequeo satis decernere ;
272
THE BROTHERS
tyrus Bah, how I could have wished it were the custom
to attend to one s friends business by night as
well ! Never mind, be you easy : I ve got the hang
of his disposition finely. When he s at his hottest
I make him as gentle as a ewe.
Cte. How ?
tyrus He s delighted to hear you praised. I make you
out to him to be an angel. Virtues are my theme.
Cte. (astonished) Mine?
Syrus Yours. The tears start at once down his old
cheeks like a boy s for delight, (points up the street)
There s for you now !
Cte. What is it ?
Syrus The wolf in the story.
Cte, Is it my father?
Syrus Your father it is.
Cte. (alarmed) Syrus/ what are we to do ?
Syrus Run away indoors, I ll see to it.
Cte. If he asks, you haven t seen me anywhere, do you
hear?
Syrus Can t you shut up ? (pushes him off)
ENTER Demea.
Demea (not seeing Syrus) On my word I m an unfortunate
creature ! I can t find my brother anywhere in the
world. More, while I was looking for him, I caught
sight of one of my farm servants : he says my son
is not in the country, and I don t know what to do.
Cte. (putting his head out at the door and whispering) Syru s
Syrus (whispering) What s the matter ?
Cte. Is it me he s looking for ?
Syrus Yes.
Cte. Confound it !
Syrus Just you keep your heart up. (Ctesipho disappears)
Demea (as before) What the plague does this ill luck
273
PUBLIUS TEUENTIUS AFER
nisi me credo huic esse natum rei, ferundis miseriis.
primus sentio mala nostra, primus rescisco omnia;
primus porro obnuntio ; aegre solus si quid fit fero.
Syrus rideo hunc: primum ait se scire : is solus nescit
omnia.
Demea mine redeo : si forte frater redierit viso.
Cte. Syre,
obsecro, vide ne ille hue prorsus se inruat. 550
Syrus etiam taces ?
ego cavebo.
Cte. numquam hercle hodie ego istuc committam tibi ;
nam me iam in cellam aliquam cum ilia concludam :
id tutissumumst.
Syrus age, tamen ego hunc amovebo.
Demea sed eccum sceleratum Syrum.
Syrus non hercle hie qui volt durare quisquam, si sic fit,
potest.
scire equidem volo quod mihi sint domini: quae
haee est miseria!
Demea quid ille gaimit ? quid volt ? quid ais, bone vir ? est
frater domi?
Syrus quid, malum, bone vir mihi narras ? equidem
perii.
Demea quid tibist ?
Syrus rogitas ? Ctesipho me pugnis miser um et istam
psaltriam
usque occidit.
Demea hem, quid narras ?
Syrus em, vide ut discidit labrum.
274
THE BROTHERS
mean? I can t account for it, only I believe that s
what I was born for,, enduring distresses. I m the
first to become aware of our troubles, the first to
find everything out, the first too to give the bad
news. Any trouble, and I alone bear the annoyance.
Syrus (aside) He makes me laugh : he says he s the first
to know : he s the only one that s quite in the dark.
Demea Now I come back to see if my brother happens to
be back.
Cte. (reappearing at the door} Syrus, for mercy s sake
don t let him dash straight in here.
Syrus Will you be quiet? I ll take care.
Cte. By Jove I won t, no I won t, trust that to you. I ll
lock myself up in some room with her. That s the
safest way.
Syrus All right: I ll clear him away from here all the
same. [Ctesipko DISAPPEARS.
Demea Ah, there s that scoundrel Syrus.
Syrus (whining, as if to himself) By Jove, there isn t a soul
can endure living here if this is to go on. I should
like to know for my part how many masters I ve
got. Pretty misery this is !
Demea What s the fellow grunting about ? What does he
want ? (louder and sneering) Now then, my worthy
Sir, is my brother at home ?
Syrus Why the plague do you say worthy Sir to me ?
I m a dead man, I arn.
Demea What s happened to you ?
ynts Happened ? Ctesipho s fists have pretty nearly
been the death of poor me and that cithern-girl.
Demea What ? What s that, ?
Syrus There, see how he s cut my lip. (shows it)
275
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Demea quam ob rein ? 560
Syrus me inpulsore hanc emptam esse ait.
Demea non tu eum rus hinc modo
produxe aibas ?
Syrus factum ; verum venit post insaniens :
nil pepercit. non puduisse verberare hominem senem
qu em ego modo puerum tantillum in manibus ge-
stavi meis.
Demea laudo : Ctesipho^ patrissas : abi, virum te iudico.
Syrus laudas? ne ille continebit posthac, si sapiet, manus.
Demea fortiter.
Syrus perquam^quia miseram mulierem et me servolum,
qui referire non audebam, vicit: hui, perfortiter.
Demea non pot-uit melius. idem quod ego sentit te esse
huic rei caput.
sed estne frater intus?
Syrus non est.
Demea ubi ilium inveniam cogito.
Syrus scio ubi sit, verum hodie numquam monstrabo. 570
Demea hem quid ais ?
Syrus ita.
Demea iimminuetur tibi quidem iam cerebrum.
Syrus a t riomen nescio
ilh us hominis, sed locum novi ubi sit.
Demea die ergo locum.
Syru.s nostin porticum apud macellum hac deorsum ?
Demea quid ni noverim ?
Syrus praeterito hac recta platea sursum : ubi eo veneris,
Clivos deorsum vorsum est : hac te praecipitato.
postea
276
f THE BROTHERS
Demea What for ?
Syrus He says it was I prompted buying the girl.
Demea Didn t you say just now that you d gone with him
into the country ?
Syrus So I did, but he came back here raving. He had
no mercy. Fancy not being ashamed to drub an
old fellow, and when he was an urchin no bigger
than that (illustrates) I carried him in my arms.
Demea Bravo, Ctesipho ! Good, good ! A man, I warrant
you !
Syrus Bravo indeed ! My word, in future, if he s wise,
he ll keep his fists to himself.
Demea Bravely done !
Syrus Oh very ! Because he got the best of a poor lady
and a bit of a slave who daren t hit him back, phew,
mighty bravely !
Demea It couldn t have been better. He sees as I do that
you are at the bottom of this business. But is my
brother at home ?
Syrus (sulkily) No, he ain t.
Demea I wonder where I can find him.
Syrus I know where he is, (half aside) but hang me if I
ever tell you.
Demea What s that you say ?
Syrus What I say.
Demea I ll break your head on the spot.
Syrus (still affecting the sulks) Well, I don t know the man s
name, but I know the place where he is.
Demea Tell me the place then.
Syrus Do you know the colonnade by the meat-market,
down that way ? (points)
Demea Of course I do.
Syrus Go that way straight up the street. When you
get there the Slope is right down in front of you :
277
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
est ad hanc manum sacellum : ibi angiportum
propter est.
Demea quodnam ?
Syrus illi ubi etiam caprificus magna est.
Demea novi.
Syrus hac pergito.
Demea id quidem angiportum non est pervium.
Syrus verum hercle. vah,
censen hominem me esse ? erravi : in porticum
rursum redi :
sane hac multo propius ibis et minor est erratic. 580
scin Cratini huius ditis aedis ?
Demea scio.
Syrus ubi eas praeterieris,
ad sinistram hac recta platea ; ubi ad Dianae veneris,
ito ad dextram. prius quam ad portam veiiias,
apud ipsum lacum
est pistrilla et exadvorsum fabrica : ibist.
Demea quid ibi facit ?
Syrus lecttilos in sole ilignis pedibus faciundos dedit.
Demea ubi potetis vos : bene sane, sed cesso ad eum
pergere ?
Syrus i sane : ego te exercebo hodie, ut dignus es,
silicernium.
Aeschinus odiose cessat : prandium corrimipitur ;
Ctesipho autem in amorest totus. ego iam pro-
spiciam mihi :
nam iam abibo atque unum quicquid, quod quidem 590
erit bellissumum,
carpam et cyathos sorbilans paulatim huiic pro-
ducain diem.
278
[ THE BROTHERS
down it you go. At the end there s a chapel on
this side. Just by the side of it there s an alley.
Demea Which ?
Syrus That where the great wild-fig-tree is.
Demea I know it.
Syrus Take that way.
Demea (reflecting) That s a blind alley.
Syrus So it is, by Jove. Tut, tut, you must think me a
fool. I made a mistake. Come back to the
colonnade : yes, yes, that s a much nearer way and
much less chance of missing it. Do you know
Cratinus s house, the millionaire man there ?
Demea Yes.
Syrm When you are past it turn to your left, go straight
along the street and when you come to the Church
turn to the right. Before you come to the town-
gate, close by the pool there s a baker s shop and
opposite it a workshop. That s where he is.
Demea What s he doing there ?
Syrus Giving an order for some garden seats with
hoi moak legs.
Demea (sneering as at extravagance) For one of your
drinking-parties, quite so, quite so. I d better go
to him at once. [EXIT.
Syrus (looking after him) Yes, go your way. I ll give you
the exercise you deserve, I swear I will, (with a loud
cackle) old Dry bones ! (turning round and yawning)
Aeschinus is cursedly late, this dinner s spoiling,
Ctesipho is drowned in love. Now I ll look out
for myself, for I ll go off at once and pick out
every blessed titbit and with one glass after
another I ll lazily lengthen out the day.
[EXIT INTO THE HOUSE,
279
PUBLICS TEEENTIUS AFER
Micio Ego in hac re nil reperio, quam ob rem lauder tanto
IV. iii opere, Hegio :
meuin officium facio : quod peccatum a nobis
ortumst corrigo.
nisi si me in illo credidisti esse hominum numero,
qui ita putant,
sibi fieri iniuriam ultro, si quam fecere ipsi expostules,
et ultro accusant. id quia non est a me factum,
agis gratias ?
Hegio ah, minume : numquam te aliter atque es esse
animum induxi meum.
sed quaeso ut una mecum ad matrem virginis eas ? Micio,
atque istaec eadem quae mihi dixti tute dicas
mulieri :
suspicionem haiic propter fratrem esse : eius esse
illam psaltriam. 6 00
Micio si ita aequom censes aut si ita opus est facto, eamus.
Hegio bene facis :
nam et illi ita animum iam relevabis, quae dolore
ac miseria
tabescit, et tuom officium fueris functus. sed si
aliter putas,
egomet narrabo quae mihi dixti.
Micio immo ego ibo.
Hegio bene facis :
omnes, quibus res sunt minus secundae, niagis sunt
nescio quo modo
suspiciosi : ad contumeliam omnia accipiunt magis :
propter suarn inpotentiam se semper credunt
ludier.
quapropter te ipsum purgare ipsi coram placabilius est.
Micio et recte et verum dicis.
Hegio sequere me ergo hac intro.
Micio maxume.
280
THE BROTHERS
ENTER Micio AND Hegio.
Micio Really,, Hegio, I see no reason in this matter why
you should belaud me so much. I am only doing
my duty. The offence was ours and I make amends.
You can hardly have reckoned me with the class of
men who take the view that it is an unprovoked
wrong if you protest against a wrong done by them
selves and themselves positively attack you. Is it
oecause I have not acted thus that you thank me ?
Hegio Not at all, not at all. I have never imagined your
disposition to be other than it is. Now be so good
as to come with me and see the girl s mother,
Micio, and say in person to the lady just what you
have said to me, that what has caused her suspicion
was done for his brother s sake, that the cithern-girl
is Ctesipho s.
Micio If you think it the right course or if it is necessary,
let us go.
Hegio That is right. Not only will it be a relief to her
mind, wasting away as she is, under pain and
affliction, but you will have done your duty. If
you don t take this view, I will myself repeat to her
what you have said.
Micio Oh no, I will go.
Hegio That is right. When people are not so prosperous
as they might be, they are always somehow
more inclined to take offence, to imagine that a
slight is intended. Their want of means always
makes them think that you are toying with them.
Hence an apology made in person is the better waj
to sooth them.
Micio A just and true observation.
Hegio Then come with me indoors.
Micio By all means. [EXEUNT INTO Sostratas.
281
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Aes. Discrucior animi : (J10 a
IV. iv hocine de inproviso mall mihi obici tan turn 6lO b
ut neque quid me faciam nee quid again certum sit !
membra metu debilia sunt ; animus timore
obstipuit ; pectore consistere nil consili quit.
vah, quo modo hac me expediam turba ? tanta mine
suspicio de me incidit;
neque ea inmerito : Sostrata
credit mihi me psaltriam hance emisse ; id anus mi
indicium fecit.
nam ut hinc forte ad obstetricem erat missa, ubi
earn vidi, ilico
accedo, rogito Pamphila quid agat, iam partus adsiet,
eon obstetricem accersat. ilia exclamat abi, abi : 620
iam, Aeschine,
satis diu dedisti verba : sat adhuc tua nos frustratast
fides.
> i
hem, quid istuc obsecro inquam est? valeas,
habeas illam quae placet."
sen si ilico id illas suspicari, sed me reprehendi
tamen,
ne quid de fratre garrulae illi dicerem ac fieret
palam.
nunc quid faciam? dicam fratris esse hanc? quod
minumest opus
usquam ecferri. ac mitto : fieri potis est ut lie qua
exeat :
id ipsum metuo ut credant. tot concurrunt veri
similia :
egomet rapui ipse ; egomet solvi argentum ; ad me
abductast domum.
haec adeo mea culpa fateor fieri, non me hanc rem
patri,
utut erat gesta, indicasse ! exorassem ut earn ducerem. 630
282
THE BROTHERS
ENTER Aeschinus IN MUCH DEJECTION.
ies. What torture this is To be suddenly confronted
with such disaster ! What to do with myself, what
line to take, I can t see. Apprehension brings
palsy on my limbs, fear has dazed my thoughts.
Confound it, how am I to clear myself from this
coil ? To what a horrible suspicion I am exposed !
And such a natural one ! Sostrata thinks I have
bought this cithern- girl for myself: the old crone
let me into that. I happened to catch sight of
her on her w r ay to the midwife s, ran up and asked
her how Pamphila was, whether the birth was
imminent, whether that was the cause of her
errand. Go away," cries she, go away; you
have deceived us long enough, young Sir ; we
want no more of your broken promises." What ?
I said : for heaven s sake what do you mean by
that ? Good-bye," says she, stick to the girl
of your choice." I saw in a flash the suspicion they
had, but I checked myself, for one word about my
brother to that chatterbox and all would be out.
What am I to do now? Say the girl is my
brother s? That secret must be kept at all
hazards. I won t breathe a word of it. Absolute
secrecy is still possible. Besides I doubt if they
would ever believe the truth. All the probabilities
are against it : it was I that carried her off, I that
paid the money, it was to our house she was taken.
It was all my own fault, I own it. Badly as I may
have acted, why didn t J tell my father all about it?
28$
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
cessatum usque adhuc est: nunc porro, Aeschine,
expergiscere !
nunc hoc primumst : ad illas ibo, ut purgem me.
accedam ad fores.
perii : horresco semper ubi pultare hasce occipio miser.
heus heus: Aeschinus ego sum. aperite aliquis
actutum ostium.
prodit nescio quis : concedam hue.
Micio Ita uti dixi, Sostrata,
IV.v facite; ego Aeschinum conveniam, ut quo modo
acta haec sint sciat.
sed quis ostium hie pultavit?
Aes. pater hercle est : perii.
Micio Aeschine
Aes. quid huic hie negotist?
Micio tune has pepulisti fores?
tacet. quor non ludo hunc aliquantisper ? melius est,
quandoquidem hoc numquam mi ipse voluit dicere. 640
nil mihi respondes?
Aes. non equidem istas, quod sciam.
Micio ita? nam mirabar quid hie negoti esset tibi.
erubuit: salva res est.
Aes. die sodes, pater,
tibi vero quid istic est rei?
Micio nil mi quidem.
amicus quidam me a foro abduxit modo
hue advocatum sibi.
Aes. quid?
Micio ego dicam tibi:
habitant hie quaedam mulieres pauperculae ;;
ut opinor eas non iiosse te, et certo scio ;
neque enim diu hue migrarunt.
Aes. quid turn postea ?
284
THE BROTHERS
T could have won him over to let me marry her.
I have been dilatory all this time: from this
moment,, Aeschinus, wake up ! The first thing to
do is to go to the women and clear myself. There s
the door, (moves towards it, then stops) Confusion !
I m always of a shudder when I start knocking at
this door, poor wretch, (knocks) Anyone there ?
It s Aeschinus. Open the door some one at once.
(the door opens) Some one coming out ? I ll stand
aside, (goes behind the door)
ENTER MiciO THROUGH THE DOORWAY.
Micio (at the door) Do as I have told you,, Sostrata, both
of you. I will see Aeschinus to let him know
of these arrangements, (turns round) Some one
knocked : who was it ?
Aes. (aside) Heavens ! it s my father. Destruction !
Micio Aeschinus !
Aes. (aside in confusion) What s the meaning of this ?
Micio Was it you knocked here ? (aside) No answer ?
Why shouldn t I play with him a bit ? He deserves
it for never choosing to tell me himself, (aloud)
Have you no answer for me ?
Aes. N-n-not there, Sir, as far as I know.
Micio So ? I wondered what business you could have
there, (aside) He blushed : all s well.
Aes. Tell me, father, please what takes you there ?
Micio No business of my own : a friend of mine brought
me here just now to help him in a law affair.
Aes. What affair ?
Micio I will tell you. There are some ladies living here
in a very small way. I think you don t know
them, in fact I m sure you don t : it isn t long since
they moved here.
Aes. What follows ?
285
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Micio virgo est cum matre. 6 50
Aes. perge.
Micio haec virgo orbast patre ;
hie meus amicus illi genere est proxumus :
huic leges cogunt nubere hanc.
Aes. perii
Micio quid est ?
Aes. nil : recte : perge.
Micio is venit ut secum avehat :
nam habitat Mileti.
Aes. hem, virginem ut secum avehat ?
Micio sic est ?
Aes. Miletum usque obsecro ?
Micio ita.
Aes. animo malest.
quid ipsae ? quid aiunt ?
Micio quid illas censes ? nil enim.
commenta mater est esse ex alio viro
nescio quo puerum natum, neque eum nominat ;
priorem esse ilium, non oportere huic dari.
Aes. eho, nonne haec iusta tibi videntur poscier ? 660
Micio non.
Aes. obsecro non ? an illam hinc abducet, pater ?
Micio quid illam ni abducat ?
Aes. factum a vobis duriter
inmisericorditerque atque etiam, si est, pater,
dicendum magis aperte, inliberaliter.
Micio quam ob rem ?
Aes. rogas me ? quid illi tandem creditis
fore animi misero qui ilia consuevit prior,
qui infelix haud scio an illam misere mine
amet,
quom hanc sibi videbit praesens praesenti eripi.
abduci ab oculis ? facinus indignum, pater !
286
THE BROTHERS
Micio There s a girl and her mother.
Acs. Yes, and ?
Micio The girl has lost her father, my friend is next of
kin, and the law enjoins a marriage between them.
Acs. (aside but overheard) Destruetion !
Micio What s the matter ?
Aes. Nothing, nothing ; it s all right : well ?
Micio He is come to take her with him : Miletus he lives at.
Aes. What ! Take the girl with him ?
Micio That is so.
Aes. O heavens, all the way to Miletus ?
Micio Yes.
Aes. (aside) Oh my heart ! (aloud} And the ladies ?
what do they say ?
Micio What do you expect them to say ? Some nonsense.
The mother has faked up a story about a child by
some other man, but she doesn t give him a name.
He came first, she says, and her daughter oughtn t
to be married to my friend.
Aes. Good Lord ! and don t you think the claim is just !
Micio No, I don t.
Acs. You don t ? Oh heavens ! and is he to take her
away, father ?
Micio Why shouldn t he ?
Aes. Your side has acted harshly and barbarously and
what s more, if I must speak more openly, father,
not like gentlemen.
Micio How so ?
Aes. Can you ask ? Pray what do you suppose will be
the feelings of the unhappy man who loved her
first and for all I know is desperately in love with
her still, poor wretch, when he sees her snatched
off before his very eyes, dragged out of his sight ?
A monstrous act, father
287
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
Micio qua ration e istuc ? quis despondit ? quis dedit ?
quoi quando nupsit ? auctor his rebus quis est ?
quor duxit alienam ?
Acs. an sedere oportuit
domi virginem tarn grandem, dum cognatus hue
illinc veniret exspectantem ? haec, mi pater,
te dicere aequom fuit et id defendere.
Micio ridiculum : advorsumne ilium causam dicerem
quoi veneram advocatus ? sed quid ista, Aeschine,
nostra ? aut quid nobis cum illis ? abeamus. quid est ?
quid lacrumas ?
Aes. pater, obsecro, ausculta.
Micio Aeschine, audivi omnia
et scio ; nam te amo : quo magis quae agis curae 680
sunt mihi.
Aes. ita velim me promerentem ames, dum vivas, mi
pater,
ut me hoc delictum admisisse in me, id mihi vehe-
menter dolet
et me tui pudet.
Micio credo hercle ; nam ingeiiium iiovi tnm
liberale ; sed vereor ne indiligens nimium sies.
in qua civitate tandem te arbitrare vivere ?
virginem vitiasti quam te non ius fuerat tangere.
iam id peccatum primum magnum, magnum, at
humanum tamen :
fecere alii saepe item boni. at postquam id even it,
cedo
num quid circumspexti ? aut num quid tute pro-
spexti tibi,
quid fieret ? qua fieret ? si te mi ipsum puduit 690
proloqui,
qua resciscerem ? haec dum dubitas, menses abierunt
decem.
288
THE BROTHERS
How do you make that out ? Who betrothed her ?
Who gave her in marriage ? Who is her husband ?
When was the wedding? Who gave consent?
Why did the man marry another s bride ?
Acs. Was a girl of that age to sit at home and wait for
a kinsman to turn up from Miletus ? That s what
in justice you ought to have said, my dear father,
and stood to the point too.
Micio Absurd ! Was I to plead against the man for whom
I was briefed ? However, my boy, how does this
concern us ? Let us come away. (Aeschimts bursts
into tears) What s the matter ? What are you
weeping for ?
Aes. Father, in heaven s name hear me.
Micio My boy, I have heard all, I know all, for I love
you, and so all your doings touch me the more.
Aes. May I never deserve your love in all your life,
father mine, if my fault against you doesn t cause
me grievous pain and I can t look you in the face.
(hides his face in his hands)
Micio By heaven, I believe it : I know you have a
gentleman s heart, but I am afraid you are very
heedless. Pray, w r hat country do you think you
are living in ? You have wronged a girl contrary
to all law. That s a great fault to start with, a
great fault, but still not unnatural : honest men
have often done it before you. But after it hap
pened, tell me, had you any consideration, any
forethought for yourself, what was to be done, how
it was to be done ? If you were ashamed to telJ
me openly yourself, did you ever think how I was
to find it out ? You hesitated and hesitated and
ten months passed away. You have been false to
yourself and to the poor lady and to the child, as
289
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
prodidisti et te et illam miseram et gnatum, quod
quidem in te fuit.
quid? credebas dormienti haec tibi confecturos deos?
et illam sine tua opera in cubiculum iri deductum
domum ?
nolim ceterarum rerum te socordem eodem modo.
bono animo es, duces uxorem hanc.
Aes. hem.
Micio bono inquam animo es.
Aes. pater,
obsecro, num ludis mine tu me ?
Micio ego te ? quam ob rem ?
Aes. riescio :
quia tarn misere hoc esse cupio verum, eo vereor
magis.
Micio abi domum ac deos conprecare ut uxorem accersas : abi.
Aes. quid ? iam uxorem ? 700
Micio iam.
Aes. iam ?
Micio iam quantum potes.
Aes. di me, pater,
omnes oderint, ni magis te quam oculos nunc amo
meos.
Micio quid ? quam illam ?
Aes aeque.
Micio perbenigne.
Aes. quid ? ille ubist Milesius ?
Micio periit : abiit, navem ascendit. sed quor cessas ?
Aes. abi, pater :
tu potius deos conprecare ; nam tibi eos certo scio,
quo vir melior multo es quam ego, obtemperaturos
magis.
Micio ego eo intro, ut quae opus sunt parentur : tu fac ut
dixi, si sapis.
290
THE BROTHERS
far as it lay with you. What, did you think heaven
would do your work while you slept, that without
your lifting a finger the wife would be brought
home to the bridal chamber? I should be sorry
to see you so thoughtless in the rest of your affairs.
(a pause) Be of good heart : you shall marry her.
Aes. What, Sir !
Micio Be of good heart, I say.
Aes. Father, in honour s name, you re not mocking me,
are you ?
Micio No indeed : why should I ?
Aes. I don t know ; I m so desperately eager for this to
be true, and that makes me fear the more.
Micio Go off home, pray for heaven s favour in fetching
your wife. Off with you.
Aes. W T hat ? My wife at once ?
Micio At once.
Aes. At once ?
Micio As soon as ever you can.
Aes. All the anger of heaven on my head, father, if I
don t love you more than my own eyes !
Micio What ? More than- eh ? (smiles and points to Pam-
philas house)
Aes. Just the same.
Micio Very kind of you.
Aes. (starting) But by the way, where s that Milesian ?
Micio Lost, vanished, gone aboard ship. Why are you
lingering ?
Aes. You go, father : you are more likely to gain heaven s
favour. I am sure you are a much better man
than I am and they will have more ear for your
prayers.
Micio I am going indoors to make the necessary prepara
tions. Do as I tell you if you are wise.
PUBLICS FERENTIUS AFER
Aes. quid hoc est negoti ? hoc est patrem esse aut hoc
est filium esse ?
si frater aut sodalis esset, qui magis morem gereret r
hie non amandust ? hicine non gestandus in sinust ?
hem.
itaque adeo magnam mi inicit sua commoditate 710
curam,
ne inprudens forte faciam quod nolit : sciens cavebo.
sed cesso ire intro, ne morae meis nuptiis egomet
si em ?
Demea Defessus sum ambulaiido : ut, Syre, te cum tua
IV.vi monstratione magnus perdat luppiter !
perreptavi usque omne oppidum : ad portam, ad
lacuin,
quo non ? neque fabrica illi ulla erat nee fratreni
homo
vidisse se aibat quisquam. nunc vero domi
IV.vii certum obsidere est usque, donee redierit.
Micio I bo, illis dicam nullam esse in nobis moram.
Demea sed eccum ipsum. te iam dudum quaero, Micio 720
Micio quidnam ?
Dcwea fero alia flagitia ad te ingentia
boni illius adulescentis.
Micio ecce autein !
Demea nova
292
THE BROTHERS
Acs. Did ever anyone hear the like? Is this to be a
father or this to be a son ? Had he been my
brother or my friend could he have been more
complaisant ? Is he not a man to be loved, to be
next one s heart ? It s wonderful, and so his kind
ness fills me with the most vehement desire not to
do from want of thought anything to displease him.
Forewarned is forearmed. But I must go in at
once or I shall be myself a hindrance to my own
speedy marriage. [EXIT.
ACT V
(About an hour has elapsed.)
ENTER Dvmea WEARILY.
Deinea I ve walked and walked till I m dead tired. Devil
take you, Syrus, and your directions ! I ve hob
bled all over the town, to the gate, to the pool,
where not ? Deuce a workshop there, and not a
soul could speak of having seen my brother. Now
I m determined to sit on blockading his house till
he comes back.
ENTER Micio.
Micio (at the door to Aeschinus within) I ll go and tell them
we are quite ready to receive her.
Demea There he is. I ve been looking for you ever so
long, Micio.
Micio What for ?
Demea I have news for you of other crimes, monstrous
crimes, of your good young man.
Mrjcto At it again !
Demea Fresh ones, of the worst
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFEK
capitalia.
Micio ohe iam !
Demea nescis qui vir sit.
Micio scio.
Demea a stulte, tu de psaltria me sonmias
agere : hoc peccatum in virginemst civem.
Micio scio.
Demea oho, scis et patere ?
Micio quid iii patiar ?
Demea die mihi,
non clamas ? non insanis ?
Micio non : malim quidem ....
Demea puer natust.
Micio di bene vortant !
Demea virgo nil habet.
Micio audivi.
Demea et ducenda indotatast.
Micio scilicet.
Demea quid nunc futurunist ? 730
Micio id enim quod res ipsa fert :
illinc hue traiisferetur virgo.
Demea o luppiter,
istocine pacto oportet ?
Micio quid faciam amplius ?
Demea quid facias ? si non ipsa re tibi istuc dolet,
sirnulare certe est hominis.
Micio quin iam virginem
despondi ; res compositast ; fiunt nuptiae ;
dempsi metum omnem : haec magis sunt hominis.
Demea ceterum
placet tibi factum, Micio ?
Micio non, si queam
mutare. nunc quom non queo, animo aequo fero.
ita vitast hominum quasi quom ludas tesseris :
THE BROTHERS
Micio You bore me, man.
Demea You don t know what he is.
Micio I do.
Demea Fool of a man, you fancy I m talking about the
cithern-girl. This wrong is against an Athenian born.
Micio I know.
Demea Good heavens, you know it and allow it ?
Micio Why shouldn t I ?
Demea Just tell me, don t you burst out ? don t you go
mad ?
Micio I don t. It s true I should prefer
Demea (interrupting) There s a child born.
Micio Heaven bless it !
Demea The girl hasn t a penny.
Micio So I m told.
Demea And must be married without a dowry.
Micio Undoubtedly.
Demea What s to happen now ?
Micio What the circumstances suggest. The lady shall
be moved across from that house to this, (points)
Demea Heaven above us ! is that the proper thing ?
Micio What more can I do ?
Demea Why, if the thing doesn t cause you genunie
anguish, it is unnatural not at least to affect that it
does.
Micio No, I have already betrothed the lady to him, the
matter is settled, the wedding goes on, I have
removed all their apprehensions. That is the more
natural course.
Demea But, but are you pleased with the transaction,
Micio ?
Micio No, not if I could alter it. As it is I can t, so I
bear it with equanimity. Human life is like a
game with dice ; if you don t get the throw you
295
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFEll
si illud quod maxume opus est iactu non cad it, 740
illud quod cecidit forte, id arte ut corrigas.
Demea corrector ! nempe tua arte viginti minae
pro psaltria peri ere : quae quantum potest
aliquo abiciundast, si non pretio, gratiis.
Micio neque est neque illam sane studeo vendere.
Demea quid igitur facies ?
Micio domi erit.
Demea pro divom fidem,
meretrix et mater familias una in domo ?
Micio quor non ?
Demea sanum te credis esse ?
Micio equidem arbitror.
Demea ita me di ament, ut video tuam ego ineptiam :
facturum credo ut habeas quicum cantites. 730
Micio quor non ?
Demea et nova nupta eadem haec discet.
Micio scilicet.
Demea tu inter eas restim ductans saltabis.
Micio probe.
Demea probe ?
Micio et tu nobiscum una, si opus sit.
Demea ei mihi !
non te haec pudent ?
Micio iam vero omitte, Demea,
tuam istanc iracundiam, atque ita uti decet
hilarum ac lubentem fac te gnati in nuptiis.
ego hos convenio : post hue redeo.
Demea o luppiter,
hancine vitam hoscin mores ! hanc demeritiam
296
THE BROTHERS
most want, you must show your skill in making
the best of the throw which you do get.
Demea Make the best, you ? By your skill you ve thrown
away a hundred pounds on the cithern-girl, for she
must be sold out of hand and if no one bids be
given away.
Micio Sold she can t be, arid I admit I m not keen on
selling her.
Deim a What shall you do then ?
Micio She will remain in my house.
Demca {astounded) Heaven above us ! A concubine and a
married wife under one roof?
Micio Why not ?
Demea Do you suppose you are in your senses ?
Micio I imagine so.
Demca As I hope to be saved, I see your tomfoolery.
I believe your object is to sing to her accompani
ment.
Micio Why not ?
Demea And the new bride will be taught the same songs.
Micio Undoubtedly.
Demea And you ll dance with a string and one of them
on each side of you. (imitates such a dance)
Micio To be sure.
Demea To be sure ?
Micio And you shall make a fourth if we want one.
Demea Heaven save us, aren t you ashamed of yourself ?
Micio Enough, Demea, enough; drop your ill temper,
think of the occasion, be merry and sociable at
your son s wedding. I m going to call there.
(points to Sostratas) Afterwards I m coming back
here. L EX1T -
Demea Heaven above us . What a life ! What morals !
What lunacy ! The bride won t bring a halfpenny,
297
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
uxor sine dote veniet ; intus psaltriast ;
domus sumptuosa ; adulescens luxu perditus ; 760
senex delirans. ipsa si cupiat Salus^
servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam.
ACTVS V
Syrus Edepol, Syrisce, te curasti molliter
lauteque munus admiiiistrasti tuom :
abi. sed postquam intus sum omnium rerum satur,
prodeambulare hue lubitumst.
Demea illud sis vide :
exemplum disciplinae ?
Syrus ecce autem hie adest
seiiex iioster. quid fit ? quid tu es tristis ?
Demea oil seel us f
Syrus ohe iam ! tu verba fundis hie, sapientia !
Demea tun si meus esses . . . 770
Syrus dis quidem esses, Demea,
ac tuam rem constabilisses.
Demea exemplo omnibus
curarem ut esses.
Syrus quani ob rem ? quid feei ?
Demea rogas ?
in ipsa turba atque in peccato maxumo,
quod vix sedatum satis est, potasti, scelus,
quasi re bene gesta.
Syrus sane noil em hue exitum.
V.ii.
Dromo Heus Syre, rogat te Ctesipho ut redeas.
Syrus abi.
298
THE BROTHERS
the cithern-girl s in the house, a home of extrava
gance, a son ruined by luxury, and the head of the
house a maniac ! It is absolutely beyond the powei
of Providence itself to save this household.
RE-ENTER Syrus TIPSY.
Syrus S help me, little Syrus, you ve taken downy care oi
yourself and filled your office in fine style. G along.
Still, as Fve filled my belly indoors from all the
dishes, taking a stroll out here has caught my fancy.
Demea Look at that, so please you : a pattern of domestic
discipline !
Syrus (seeing Demea) Hollo now, here s our old man.
(staggers up to him) What s going on ? Why are
you s glum ?
Demea You scoundrel !
Syrus That ll do. So you re pouring out your maxims here,
old Wisdom ?
Demea If you were my man-
Syrus (interrupting) You d be rich, you would, Master,
and have put your fortunes on a firm footing, (lurches)
I should have made an example of you to the
whole household.
Syrus What for ? What have I done ?
Demea Done r In the very middle of this trouble, with a
great wrong committed and hardly settled yet,
you ve been drinking, you scoundrel, as if you were
celebrating a great achievement.
Syrus (aside) Sorry I came out, that I am.
Dromo APPEARS AT Micio s DOOR.
Dromo Hi, Syrus ! Ctesipho wants you to come back.
Syrus Go along. [Dromo DISAPPEARS.
299
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Demea quid Ctesiphonem hie narrat ?
Syrus nil.
Demea eho, carnufex,
est Ctesipho intus ?
Syrus non est.
Demea quor hie nominat ?
Syrus est all us quidam, parasi taster paululus :
nostin ? 780
Demea iam scibo.
Syrus quid agis ? quo abis
Demea mitte me.
Syrus noli iiiquam.
Demea non manum abs tines, mastigia ?
an tibi iam mavis cerebrum dispergarn hie ?
Syrus abit.
edepol comissatorem haud sane commodum,
praesertim Ctesiphoni ! quid ego nunc agam ?
nisi, dum haec silescunt turbae, interea in angulum
aliquo abeam atque edormiscam hoc villi : sic agam.
Micio Parata a nobis sunt, ita ut dixi, Sostrata,
V.iii ubi vis. quisnam a me pepulit tarn graviter fores ?
Demea ei mini, quid faciam ? quid agam ? quid clamem aut
querar ?
o caelum, o terra, o maria Neptuni ! 790
Mtcio em tibi :
rescivit omnem rem : id nunc clamat : ilicet ;
300
THE BROTHERS
Demca What does he say of Ctesipho ?
Syr us It s nothing.
Demea What, you gallows-bird, is Ctesipho in there ?
Syrus No, he isn t.
Demea Why does that fellow speak of him ?
Syrus It s another person, a bit of an adventurer fellow :
d you know him ?
Demea I shall soon find out. {going towards the door)
Syrus (catching hold of him) What are you about ? Where
are you going ?
Demea Let go of me.
Syrus Don t, I say.
Demea Hands off, whipping-post! Would you rather I
knocked your brains out on the spot ? (strikes him 9
wrenches himself free, and dashes into the house)
Syrus (looking stupidly after him) He s gone ! A noisy
unbidden guest, and a damnably unwelcome one
too, especially to Ctesipho r What am I to do now ?
Till this to-do quiets down, best go off to a corner
somewhere and sleep off this little drop of wine.
That s what I ll do. [EXIT DRUNKENLY.
RE-ENTER MictO FROM Sostmttt S.
Micio (at the door) Yes, as I have told you, Sostrata, we
have everything ready, when you like, (turns round.
Micio s door is thrown violently open) Who s making
all that noise at my door ?
ENTER Demea HASTILY
Demea Great heavens, what shall I do ? How shall I act ?
What cries and protests are enough ? O heaven
and earth ! O great sea !
Micio (aside} There you are. He has found it all out:
that s what he s crying out about. Ring down the
curtain ! Now for v row I I must go to the rescue.
301
PUBLIUS TEKENTiUS AFEK
paratae lites : succurrendumst.
Demea eccum adest
coinmunis corruptela nostrum liberum.
Micio tandem reprime iracundiam atque ad te redi.
Demea repress!, redii, mitto maledicta omnia :
rem ipsam putemus. dictum hoc inter nos fait
(ex te adeo est ortum), ne tu curares meum
neve ego tuom ? responde.
Micio factumst, non nego.
Demea quor nunc apud te potat ? quor recipis meum ?
quor emis amicam, Micio ? num qui minus 800
mihi idem ins aequornst esse quod mecumst tibi ?
quando ego tuom lion euro, ne cura meum.
Micio non aequom dicis.
Demea non ?
Micio nam vetus verbum hoc quidemst,
communia esse amicorum inter se omnia.
Demea facete ! nunc demum istaec nata oratiost.
Micio ausculta paucis nisi molestumst, Demea.
principio, si id te mordet, sumptum filii
quern faciunt. quaeso hoc facito tecum cogites:
tu illos duo olim pro re tollebas tua,
quod satis putabas tua bona ambobus fore, 810
et me turn uxorem credidisti scilicet
ducturum. eandem illam rationem antiquam
obtine :
conserva, quaere, parce, fac quam plurimum
illis relinquas: gloriam tu istam obtine.
mea, quae praeter spem evenere, utantur sine,
de summa nil decedet : quod hinc accesserit,
id de lucro putato esse omne. haec si voles
S02
THE BROTHERS
Dcmea (seeing Micio) There he is, the corrupting spirit oi
both our sons !
Micio Do, pray, curb your passion and be yourself again.
Demca I have curbed it, I am myself again ; not another
hard word from me. Let us look at the facts.
Was it agreed between us (the proposal, remember,
came from you) that you should not look to my boy
nor I to yours ? Answer me that.
Micio It was so agreed, I don t deny it.
Demea Why is he now at his cups in your house ? Why
do you harbour the boy that is mine ? Why do you
buy him a mistress, Micio ? Is it not right that I
should have my due from you as you have yours
from me ? As I don t look to your boy, don t you
look to mine.
Micio You don t put it fairly.
Demea I don t ?
Micio No, it s an old saying that friends have all things
in common.
Demea Smart ! The sentiment comes to birth a little late.
Micio Listen to me for a minute if it doesn t annoy you,
Demea. To start with, if what grieves you is the
money which the boys spend, please reflect on it in
this light : in days past you chose to bring up two
sons as a thing your means would stand, reckoning
that your own property would be enough for the
pair,, and of course at that time you expected me to
marry. Now keep to your original reckoning-
hoard, get, save, endeavour to have as much as
possible to leave them ; hold to that as your glory
My property, coming as a windfall, let them enjoy
There will be no loss in your capital, the addition
from me should be reckoned a clear gain. If you
will think this over in a true light, Demea, you will
SOS
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
in animo vere cogitare, Demea,
et mi et tibi et illis dempseris molestiam.
Demea mitto rem : consuetudinein amborum. . .
Micio mane 820
scio : istuc ibam. multa in homine, Demea,
signa insunt ex quibus coniectura facile fit,
duo quom idem faciunt, saepe ut possis dicere
hoc licet inpune facere huic, illi non licet,"
non quo dissimilis res sit sed quo is qui facit.
quae ego inesse in illis video, ut confidam fore
ita ut volumus. video eos sapere, intellegere, in loco
vereri, inter se amare. siris liberum
ingenium atque animum : quo vis illos tu die
redducas. at enim metuas ne ab re sint tamen 830
omissiores paulo. o noster Demea,
ad omnia alia aetate sapimus rectius ;
solum unum hoc vitium adfert senectus hominibus :
adtentiores sumus ad rem omnes quam sat est:
quod illos sat aetas acuet.
Demea ne nimium modo
bonae tuae istae nos rationes, Micio,
et tuos iste animus aequos subvortat.
Micio tace:
non fiet. mitte iam istaec: da te hodie mihi:
exporge frontem.
Demea scilicet ita tempus fert .
fariundumst. ceterum ego rus eras cum filio 840
cum primo luci ibo hinc.
Micio de nocte censeo:
hodie modo hilarum fac te.
et istam psaltriatn
.H04
THE BROTHERS
find that you have relieved me and yourself and
them of a world of trouble.
Dwnea Property I say nothing of: it s the way of life
which both of them-
Micio (interrupting) One moment ; I know, I was coming
to that. There are many tokens in a man,, Demea,
which facilitate an inference ; I mean that in the
case of two doing the same thing you can often say
" The one may, the other may not, do this without
harm/ the difference lying not in the deed but in
the doer. I see in our boys tokens which give me
confidence that they will come up to our wishes con
cerning them. I see in them sense, intelligence,
reverence at the right time, mutual affection. You
may leave their natural inclinations a free scope,
being sure that any day you can call them to hand.
You may tell me you would fear them being a little
careless in money matters. Oh my dear Demea,
in all other respects we get wiser as we grow older :
there is only this one flaw that old age brings on a
man, we all think too much of money. In this
point years will make them sharp enough.
Demea (bitterly) Only see that these fine reasonings of yours,
Micio, and your easiness of temper do not prove our
ruin.
Micio Hush, man, it won t be so. Now away with yoi
fears, for this day be ruled by me, smooth your
brow.
Demea (half unwillingly) Undoubtedly the occasion requires
it. I must do it. Still to-morrow
with my son to the country at daybreak.
Micio Before daybreak I should say, only make yourself
pleasant to-day.
Demea And that cithern-girl shall be haled off with im>.
PUBJL1US TERENTIUS AFER
una illuc mecum hinc abstraham.
Micto pugnaveris :
eo pacto prorsum illi adligaris filium.
modo facito ut illam serves.
Demea ego istuc videro
atque ibi favillae plena, fumi ac pollinis
coquendo sit faxo et molendo ; praeter haec
meridie ipso faciam ut stipulam conligat :
tam excoctam red dam atque atram quam carbost.
Micio placet :
nunc mihi videre sapere. atque equidem filium 850
turn etiam si nolit cogam ut cum ilia una cubet.
Demea derides ? fortunatu s qui isto animo sies.
ego seiitio. . .
Micio ah, pergisne ?
Demea iam iam desino.
Micio i ergo intro, et quoi rei est, ei rei nunc sumamus
diem.
Demea Numquam ita quisquam bene subducta ratione ad
V.iv vitarn fuit
quin res aetas usus semper aliquid adportet novi,
aliquid moneat : ut ilia quae te scisse credas nescias,
et quae tibi putaris prima, in experiundo ut repu-
dies.
quod nunc mi evenit ; nam ego vitam duram quam
vixi usque adhuc
prope iam excurso spatio omitto. idquamobrem? 860
re ipsa repperi
facilitate nil esse homini melius neque dementia.
id esse verum ex me atque ex fratre quoi vis facilest
noscere.
ille suam egit semper vitam in otio 5 in conviviis,
306
THE BROTHERS
Micio (smiling) You ll have hit it there, for in that way
you ll keep your son tied at home for the future.
Only mind she doesn t run away.
Demea I ll see to that, and when she s there, what with
cooking and with grinding corn I ll take care she s
a mass of ashes, smoke, and meal. Yes, and I ll
set her gathering stubble under the midday sun, I ll
make her as dry and as black as a lump of charcoal.
Micio (laughing) Good ! Now I count you wise. And for
my part I d make your son then, even against his
will, treat her as his wife.
Demea (bitterly) Laughing at me, are you ? Lucky you to
have that disposition. I feel-
Micio (interruping) Ah, again ?
Demea Well, well, I ve done.
Micio In w r ith you then and let us spend to-day as it
ought to be spent. [EXEUNT.
ACT VI
(An hour has elapsed.)
ENTER Demea IN TOWN DRESS.
Demea However well a man may have calculated his scheme
of life, still circumstances, years, experience, always
introduce a new element and teach new lessons.
You find that you don t know what you thought you
did know, and what you thought of primary im
portance that in practice you reject. That s what
has happened to me. The hard life, which up to
now I have lived, now that my race is almost run I
renounce. And why? Hard facts have taught
me that a man can have no better qualities than
mildness and complaisance. The truth of this
anyone can see by looking at me and my brother.
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
clemens, placidus, nulli laedere os, adridere
omnibus
sibi vixit, sibi sumptum fecit : omnes bene dicunt,
amant.
ego ille agrestis, saevos, tristis, parcus, truculentus,
tenax
duxi uxorem : quam ibi miseriam vidi ! nati filii :
alia cura. heia autem, dum studeo illis ut quam
plurimum
facerem, contrivi in quaerundo vitam atque aetatem
meam :
nunc exacta aetate hoc fructi pro labore ab eis fero, 870
odium ; ille alter sine labore patria potitur commoda.
ilium amant, me fugitant ; illi credunt consilia
omnia,
ilium diligunt, apud ilium sunt ambo, ego desertus
sum;
ilium ut vivat optant, meam autem mortem ex-
spectant scilicet.
ita eos meo labore eductos maxumo hie fecit suos
paulo sumptu : miseriam omnem ego capie, hie
potitur gaudia.
age age nunciam experiamur contra, ecquid ego
possiem
blande dicere aut benigne facere, quando hoc
provocat.
ego quoque a meis me amari et magni fieri postulo:
si id fit dando atque obsequendo, non posteriores 880
feram.
deerit : id mea minume re fert qui sum natu
maxumus.
Syrus Heus Demea, orat frater ne abeas longius.
V.v
308
THE BROTHERS
He has spent all his days without a calling, given
up to society, complaisant, easy-going, affronting
no man and having a smile for everybody. He has
lived for himself and spent his money on himself,
all the world speaks well of him and loves him. I
the rugged countryman, sour and thrifty, hot-headed
and close-fisted, took a wife. What a world of
misery that brought me ! Sons were born to me :
another anxiety ! Heigho ! struggling to make all
the money I could for them I have worn out the
prime of my life in getting it. Now in this last act
of life s drama the reward that my toil for them
receives is dislike ! That brother of mine with
no effort enjoys all a father s comforts. They love
him, they skulk from me. To him they confide all
their designs, on him they bestow their affection, in
his house the pair of them spend their time., and I am
left desolate. They pray for his life, with me it s
death they are waiting for, not a doubt of it. To me
it has been an endless toil to bring them up, and
he has made them his at an insignificant cost. I
endure all the misery, he enjoys all the delight.
Come then, come, let us now adventure the opposite
course and see whether / have any power of win
ning speech and kind act, since he challenges me
to it. Like him I desire to be loved and valued by
my own kin. If the means to that end be liberality
and complaisance, I will play none but the leading
part. The money will fail, but that matters least
to me who am the oldest of the four.
ENTER Syrus.
Syrus Please, Sir, your brother begs you not to go and
leave us.
309
PUBLICS TERENT1US AFER
Demea quis homo ? o Syre noster, salve : quid fit ? quid
agitur ?
Syr us recte.
Demea optumest. iam nunc haec tria primum addidi
praeter naturam : o nosier, quid fit? quid agitur?"
servom baud inliberalem praebes te et tibi
lu bens bene faxini.
Syrus gratiam habeo.
Demea atqui, Syre,
hoc verumst et ipsa re experiere propediem.
Geta Era, ego hue ad hos proviso quam mox virginem
V.vi accersant. sed eccum Demeam. salvos sies. 890
Demea o qui vocare ?
Geta Geta.
Demea Geta, hominem maxunii
preti te esse hodie iudicavi aninio meo ;
nam is mihi profectost servos spectatus satis
quoi dominus curaest, ita uti tibi sensi, Geta,
et tibi ob earn rem, si quid usus venerit,
lubens bene faxim. meditor esse adfabilis
et bene procedit.
Geta bonus es, quom haec existumas.
Demea pmilatim plebem primulum facio meam.
S10
THE BROTHERS
Demea (affecting great politeness) Whom do I see ? My good
Syrus, good evening to you. What s doing? What s
in hand ?
Syrus (astonished) All well, Sir.
Demea Excellent ! (aside) I have already used three new
phrases which are not natural to me, my good,"
what s doing," what s in hand." (aloud) You
are a servant but you have something of the
gentleman about you, and I should be delighted to
do you a good turn.
Syrus (bowing but incredulous) Thank you. Sir.
Demea But, Syrus, I really mean it and you will find it so
directly. [EXIT Syrus.
ENTER Geta FROM Sostrata s.
Geta (at the duo*-) I m stepping round, Ma am, to see
how soon they are ready to send for the bride. Ah,
there s Demea. (comes forward) Good evening, Sir.
Demea Ah, what is your name ?
Geta Geta, Sir.
Demea Geta, I assure you I have settled in my mind that
you are a very valuable person. Dear me, yes, it s
a tried and proved servant that looks after his
master s interests, as I have perceived you to do,
Geta, and for this reason I shall be glad of the
opportunity of doing you a good turn, (aside) I am
practising affability, and with much success.
Geta A kind gentleman you are, Sir, to think so well of me.
Demea (aside) Man by man I make a start in winning over
the masses.
311
PUBLIUS TEUENTIUS AFER
Acs. Occidunt me equidem, dum nimis sanctas imptias
V.vii student facere : in adparando consumunt diem. 900
Demea quid agitur, Aeschine ?
Aes. ehem, pater mi, tu hie eras ?
Demea tuos hercle vero et animo et natura pater,
qui te amat plus quam liosce oculos. sed quor non
domum
uxorem aceersis ?
Aei cupio ; verum hoc mihi moraest,
tibicina et hymenaeum qui cantent.
Demea eho,
vin tu huic seni auscultare ?
Aes. quid ?
Demea missa haec face,
hymenaeum turbas lampades tibiciiias,
atque hanc in horto maceriam iube dirui
quantum potest : hac transfer ; unam fac domum ;
traduce et matrem et familiam omnem ad nos. 910
Aes. placet,
pater lepidissume.
Demea euge, iam lepidus vocor.
fratri aedes fient perviae, turbam domum
adduce t, sumptu amittet multa : quid mea ?
ego lepidus ineo gratiam. iube mmciam
dinumeret ille Babylo viginti minas.
Syre, cessas ire ac facere ?
Syrus quid ego ?
Demea dirue.
tu illas abi et traduce.
Geta. di tibi, Demea^
bene faciant, quom te video nostrae familiae
tarn ex animo factum velle.
Demea dignos arbitror.
312
THE BROTHERS
ENTER Aeschinus.
Aes. (not seeing the others) They bore me to death with
their anxiety over all the ceremonies of the wedding.
They re wasting the whole day over the arrange
ments.
Demea What s in hand, Aeschinus ?
Aes. Ah, father dear, are you there ?
Demea Yes indeed your father in heart no less than by
nature, who loves you more than his own eyes.
But why don t you fetch your wife across ?
Aes. I m keen on it, but there s a hitch. They re waiting for
the musician and the choir for the marriage hymn.
Demea I say, my boy, will you listen to an old man ?
Aes. What is it, Sir ?
Demea Drop all this, the hymn, the to-do, the lanterns,
the musicians, and have a hole knocked in the
garden-wall this very moment. Bring her in that
way, make one house of the two, bring mother and
household and all into ours.
Aes. Agreed, you old dear of a father !
Demea (aside) Bravo ! I m called an old dear now. My
brother s house will be turned into a thoroughfare,
he ll have no end of people in, and it ll cost him
heaven knows what. What does it matter to me ?
I m an old dear and step into favour. Now that
Don Magnifico may pay down his hundred at a time.
(aloud} Syrus, why don t you go and do it ?
Syrus Do what, Sir ?
Demea Knock a hole in the wall, (to Aeschinus) You go
round and bring em through. [EXIT Syrus.
Geta Heaven bless you, Sir! I see you re a hearty
well-wisher to our family.
Demea I think they deserve it. (to Aeschinus) What do
you say to it? [EXIT OVte.
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
quid tu ais ? p20
Acs. sic opinor.
Demea multo rectiust
quam illam puerperam hue nunc duci per viam
aegrotam.
Aes. nil enim vidi melius,, mi pater.
Demea sic soleo. sed eccum Micio egreditur foras.
Micio lubet frater ? ubi is est ? tun iubes hoc, Demea ?
V. .
.Vlll
Demea ego vero iubeo et hac re et aliis omnibus
quam maxume unam facere nos hanc familiam,
colere adiuvare adiungere.
Aes. ita quaeso, pater.
Micio haud aliter censeo.
Demea immo hercle ita nobis decet.
primum huius uxorist mater.
Micio est. quid postea ?
Demea proba et modesta. 930
Micio ita aiunt.
Demea natu grandior.
Micio scio.
Demea parere iam diu haec per annos non potest ;
iiec qui earn respiciat quisquam est : solast.
Micio quam hie rem agit ?
Demea hanc te aequomst ducere, et te operam ut fiat dare.
Micio me ducere autem ?
Demea te.
Micio me ?
Demea te inquam.
Micio iiieptis.
Demea si tu sis homo,
314
THE BROTHERS
Aes. I am quite of your mind.
Demea Much better than for a mother in her weak state
to be carried along the street.
Aes. Yes, I never saw anything better done, father.
Demea {off-hand) My way, my way. Ah, here comes Micio.
ENTER Micio MUCH SURPRISED.
Micio My brother s orders ? Where is he ? (comes forward)
Your orders, Demea ?
Demea Yes, my orders. In this way and in every other
way I would have us make one household of it,
support, assistance, union, everything.
Aes. Yes, please, father.
Micio I m not against it.
Demea I should think not: it s the thing for us to do.
Now in the first place our boy s wife has a mother.
Micio True : what follows ?
Demea An honest and reputable person.
Micio They tell me so.
Demea Not quite young.
Micio That s evident.
Demea Too old to be a mother and with no one to look
after her. She s alone in the world.
Micio What s he got in his head ?
Demea The right thing is for you to marry her, and you
(to Aeschinus) ought to bring him to it.
Micio (horrified) /marry?
Demea You.
Micio I ?
Demea You, I say.
Micio How silly you are !
Demea (to Aeschinus) If you were worth your salt he d do it.
315
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
hie faciat.
Acs. mi pater !
Micio quid tu autem huic, asine, auscultas ?
Demea nil agis :
fieri aliter non potest.
Micio deliras.
Aes. sine te exorem, mi pater.
Micio insanis : aufer.
Demea age, da veniam filio.
Micio satin sanus es ?
ego novos maritus anno demum quinto et sexagen-
sumo
fiam atque anum decrepitam ducam ? idrie estis
auctores mihi ?
Aes. fac : promisi ego illis. 94-0
Micio promisti autem ? de te largitor, puer.
Demea age, quid si quid te maius oret ?
Micio quasi non hoc sit maxumum.
Demea da veniam.
Aes. ne gravare.
Demea fac, promitte.
Micio non omittitis ?
Aes. non, nisi te exorem.
Micio vis est haec quidem.
Demea age prolixe, Micio.
Micio etsi hoc mihi pravom ineptum absurdum atque
alienum a vita mea
videtur, si vos tanto opere istuc voltis, fiat.
Aes. bene facis.
Demea merito te amo. verum . .
Micio quid ?
Demea ego dicam, hoc quom confit quod volo.
Micio quid nunc quod restat ?
Demea Hegio est hie his cognatus proxumus,
Slfi
THE BROTHERS
Acs. (to Micio coaxingly) Father mine.
Micio And why do you listen to him, donkey ?
Demea It s no good objecting,, you can t help it
Micio You re clean mad.
Acs. Do it for my sake, father, (lays his hand on Micio s
shoulder)
Micio You re daft, off with you ! (shakes him off)
Demea Come now, oblige your son.
Micio Arj you in your senses? /.become a bridegroom
after five and sixty years and marry a broken-down
old woman ? Is that what you advise me ?
Acs. Do, please ; I have promised them.
Micio Promised them, have you ? Be bountiful with your
own self, child.
Demea Come, what if he asked for something bigger ?
Micio Bigger ? Could there be anything bigger ?
Demea Do comply.
Acs. Don t be obdurate.
Demea Do it, promise now. (Demea and Aeschinus have each
a hand on a shoulder of Micio)
Micio Won t you leave me alone ?
Aes. Not till you re won over.
Micio This is direct violence.
Demea, Come, be generous, Micio. (a pause)
Micio (unwillingly) Though this seems to me wrong, silly,
ridiculous, and foreign to my way of life, still, if
you are both so bent on it, be it so.
Aes. You are very kind.
Demea You deserve my affection, but- - (pauses)
Micio Well ?
Demea I will tell you, since so far my wishes are answered.
Micio What else is there ?
Demea There is Hegio, their nearest relative, now a eon-
317
PUBLICS TERENTIUS AFER
adfinis nobis pauper : beiie nos aliquid facere illi
decet.
Micio quid facere ?
Demea agellist hie sub urbe paulum quod locitas foras .
huic demus qui fruatur. 959
Micio paulum id autemst ?
Demea si multumst, tamen
faciundumst : pro patre huic est, bonus est, noster
est, recte datur.
postremo nunc meum illud verbum facio quod tu,
Micio,
beiie et sapienter dixti dudum : vitium commune
omniumst,
quod nimium ad rem in senecta attenti sumus " :
hanc maculam nos decet
ecfugere. et dictumst vere et reapse fieri oportet.
Acs. mi pater !
Wicio quid istuc ? ager dabitur Hegioni quandoquidem
hie volt.
Aes. gaudeo.
Demea nunc tu mihi es germanus frater pariter animo et
corpore.
V.ix suo sibi gladio hunc iugulo.
Syrus Factumst quod iussisti, Demea.
Demea frugi homo s, ergo edepol hodie mea quidem sen-
tentia
iudico Syrum fieri esse aequom liberum. 960
Micio istunc liberum ?
quodnam ob factum ?
Demea multa.
Syrus noster Demea, edepol vir bonu s
ego istos vobis usque a pueris curavi ambos sedulo :
docui, monui, bene praecepi semper quae potui
omnia.
318
THE BROTHERS
nexion of ours, not a rich man : we ought to do
something for him.
Micio Do what ?
Demea You have something of a small farm a little way
out of town which you are by way of letting : let
us give it to him for an income.
Micio Small do you call it ?
Demea If it s a big one, still it must be done. He has
been a father to her, he s a worthy person, he s
one of ourselves ; it s right to give it. In fact I
adopt as mine the sound and wise saying which
you uttered some time ago : " It s a flaw common to
us all that in old age we think too much of money."
That is a stain we ought to avoid. The saying
was sound and should be carried out in action.
Aes. Do, father.
Micio Very well : Hegio shall have the farm as the boy
desires it.
Aes. How glad I am
Demea Now you re my real brother, soul as well as body.
(aside chuckling) I cut his throat with his own sword.
ENTER Syrus.
Syrus (to Demea) Your instructions have been carried out,
Sir.
Demea That s an honest fellow, (to Micio) Well then on
my word here s one juryman at any rate says it s
right Syrus should be made a free man.
Micio That fellow made a free man ? Why ?
Demea For many reasons.
Syrus (to Demea) O Sir, you are a good man, Sir, I vow
you are. I have looked after both the young
gentlemen since their boyhood, zealously I have
I ve taught em, counselled em, always given em
good instructions as far as my power went.
319
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
Demea res apparet. et quidem porro haec, obsonare cum
fide,
scortum adducere, adparare de die convivium :
non mediocris hominis haec sunt officia.
Syrus o lepidum caput
Demea postremo hodie in psaltria ista emunda hie adiutor
foit,
hie curavit : prodesse aequomst : alii meliores erunt.
denique hie volt fieri.
Micio vin tu hoe fieri ?
Acs. cupio.
Micio si quidem
tu vis : Syre, eho accede hue ad me : liber esto. 970
Syrus bene facis.
omnibus gratiam habeo et seorsum tibi praeterea,
Demea.
Demea gaudeo.
Acs. et ego.
Syrus credo, utinam hoc perpetuom fiat gaudium,
Phrygian! ut uxorem meam una mecum videam
liberam !
Demea optumam quidem mulierem.
tyrus et quidem tuo nepoti huius filio
hodie prima mammam dedit haec.
Demea hercle vero serio,
siquidem prima dedit, haud dubiumst quin emitti
aequom siet.
Micio ob earn rem ?
Demea ob earn, postremo a me argent um quantist sumito
Syrus di tibi, Demea, omnes semper omnia optata offerant !
Micio Syre, processisti hodie pulchre.
Demea siquidem porro, Micio,
tu tuom officium facies, atque huic aliquid paulum 9^0
prae manu
320
THE BROTHERS
Demea The thing s manifest. Why, such things as honest
marketing, helping in a love affair, supplying a
dinner at short notice, call for no mean fellow to
do them.
Syrus Oh, what a dear old gentleman !
Demea To crown all to day in buying the cithern-girl he
was chief helper, it was he that got it done. It s
right to do him some good, it ll improve the other
fellows. Besides the boy desires it."
Mi^io (to Aeschinus) Do you desire it ?
Aes, Immensely.
Micio (ironically) Of course if you wish it- -Here, Syrus,
come here, (turns Syrus round and boxes his ear) Be
free on that.
Syrus Thank you, Sir, thank you. I am grateful to
everybody and especially to you, Sir. (to Demea}
Demea I am delighted.
Aes. So am I.
Syrus I am sure of it. (wheedling) To make my joy com
plete, oh if I could only see my wife Phrygia free
with me !
Demea Yes, an excellent woman.
Syrus Indeed, Sir, she was the first to act as wet nurse to
your grandson, your son s son, Sir, she was indeed.
Demea Then by Jove in real earnest, as she was the first,
beyond all doubt it is just that she should be
emancipated.
Micio For that ?
Demea For that. To end it let me pay you her value.
Syrus O Sir, may heaven always give you every blessing
you pray for !
Micio Syrus, you ve done pretty well for yourself to-day.
Demea Yes, if only, Micio, you will complete your duty
PUBLIUS TERENTIUS AFER
dederis, unde utatur : reddet tibi cito.
Micio istoc vilius.
Acs. frugi homos t.
Syrus reddam hercle, da modo.
Acs. age, pater !
Micio post consulam.
Demea faciet.
Syrus o vir optume
Acs. o pater mi festivissume !
Micio quid istuc ? quae res tam repente mores mutavit
tuos ?
quod prolubium ? quae istaec subitast largitas ?
Demea dicam tibi :
ut id ostenderem, quod te isti facilem et festivom
putant,
id non fieri ex vera vita neque adeo ex aequo et bono,
sed ex adsentando, indulgendo, largiendo, Micio.
nuiic adeo si ob earn rem vobis mea vita invisa,
Aeschine, est,
quia non iusta iniusta prorsus omnia omnino obsequor, 990
missafacio: ecfundite,emite,facite quod vobis lubet.
sed si id voltis potius, quae vos propter adulescentiam
minus videtis, magis inpense cupitis , consulitis parum,
haec reprehendere et corrigere et obsecundare in
loco :
ecce me, qui id faciam vobis.
Aes. tibi, pater, permittimus :
plus scis quid opus factost. sed de fratre quid fiet ?
Demea sino :
habeat : in istac finem faciat.
Micio istuc recte.
Cantor ^ plaudite
322
THE BROTHERS
and advance the man something in hand to live
on. He ll repay you before long.
Micio Less than that ! (snaps his fingers)
Acs. He s a good creature.
Syrus I ll repay it, I swear I will. Do but give it, Sir.
Aes. Do now, father.
Micio I ll think about it.
Demea (to Aeschinus) He ll do it.
Syrus The best of men you are, Sir.
Aes. Oh my dear delightful father ! [EXIT Syrus.
Micio What s the meaning of this ? What has brought
about this sudden change in your ways ? What s the
whim of it ? What s this sudden openness of hand ?
Demea I will tell you. I did it to show that what our
boys account your good nature and pleasant ways
doesn t spring from sincerity, no nor from justice
and goodness, but from complaisance, from indul
gence, from an open hand, Micio. Now if the
reason why my life is odious to you, Aeschinus,
and to your brother is that I do not at once wholly
fall in with all your desires, right or wrong, I wash
my hands of it. Squander, spend, indulge every
caprice. But if you choose rather, in points where
your youthful eyes cannot see so far, where your de
sires are stronger and your consideration inadequate,
to have one to reprove and correct you and to indulge
you when it is right, here am I to do it for you.
Aes. We submit to you, father : you know better what
is needful for us. But what is to be done about
my brother ?
Demea I consent, let him have his will, but let it be the
last thing of the kind.
Micio A right decision.
Mus. Clap your hands. [EXEUNT OMNES.
323
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4
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II. 8th Imp., Vol. III. 6th Imp.) Verse trans.
EUSEBIUS: ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOBY. Kirsopp Lake and
J. E. L. Oulton. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vol. II. 5th Imp.)
GALEN: ON THE NATURAL FACULTIES. A. J. Brock. (4th Imp.)
THE GREEK ANTHOLOGY. W. R. Pa ton. 5 Vols. (Vols. I.-IV.
5th Imp., Vol. V. 3rd Imp.)
GREEK ELEGY AND IAMBUS with the ANACREONTEA/ J. M.
Edmonds. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vol. II. 2nd Imp.)
THE GREEK BUCOLIC POETS (THEOCRITUS, BION, MOSCHUS).
J. M. Edmonds, (lih Imp. revised.)
GREEK MATHEMATICAL WORKS. Ivor Thomas. 2 Vols. (3rd
Imp.)
HERODES. Cf. THEOPHRASTUS : CHARACTERS.
HERODOTUS. A. D. Godley. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. 4th Imp., Vols.
II. and III. 5th Imp., Vol. IV. 3rd Imp.)
HESIOD AND THE HOMERIC HYMNS. H. G. Evelyn White.
(1th Imp. revised and enlarged.)
HIPPOCRATES and the FRAGMENTS OF HERACLEITUS. W. H. S.
Jones and E. T. Withington. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. 4th Imp.,
Vols. II.-IV. 3rd Imp.)
HOMER: ILIAD. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. (1th Imp.)
HOMER: ODYSSEY. A. T. Murray. 2 Vols. (8th Imp.)
ISAEUS. E. W. Forster. (3rd Imp.)
ISOCRATES. George Norlin and LaRue Van Hook. 3 Vols.
(2nd Imp.)
ST. JOHN DAMASCENE: BARLAAM AND IOASAPH. Rev. G. R.
Woodward and Harold Mattingly. (3rd Imp. revised.)
JOSEPHUS. H. St. J. Thackeray and Ralph Marcus. 9 Vols.
Vols.I.-VII. (Vol. V. 4th Imp., Vol. VI. 3rd Imp., Vols .I.-IV.
and VII. 2nd Imp.)
JULIAN Wilmer Cave Wright. 3 Vols. (Vols. I. and II.
3rd Imp., Vol. III. 2nd Imp.)
LUCIAN. A. M. Harmon. 8 Vols. Vols. I.-V. (Vols. I. and
II. 4th Imp., Vol. III. 3rd Imp., Vols. IV. and V. 2nd Imp.)
LYCOPHRON. Cf. CALLIMACHUS.
LYRA GRAECA. J. M. Edmonds. 3 Vols. (Vol. I. 5th Imp.
Vol. 11 revised and enlarged, and III. 4th Imp.)
LYSIAS. W T . R. M. Lamb. (3rd Imp.)
MANETHO. W. G. Waddell: PTOLEMY: TETRABIBLOS. F. E.
Robbins. (3rd Imp.)
MARCUS AURELIUS. C. R. Haines. (4th Imp. revised.)
MENANDER. F. G. Allinson. (3rd Imp. revised.)
MINOR ATTIC ORATORS (ANTIPHON, ANDOCIDES, LYCURGUS,
DEMADES, DINARCSHUS, HYPEREIDES). K. J. Maidment and
J. O. Burrt. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 2nd Imp.)
NONNOS: DIONYSIACA. W. H. D. Rouse. 3 Vols. (2nd Imp.)
OPPIAN, COLLUTHUS, TRYPHIODORUS. A. W. Mair. (2nd Imp.)
PAPYRI. NON-LITERARY SELECTIONS. A. S. Hunt and C. C.
Edgar. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.) LITERARY SELECTIONS.
(Poetry). D. L. Page. (3rd Imp.)
6
PARTHENIUS. Cf. DAPHNIS AND CHLOE.
PAUSANIAS: DESCRIPTION OF GREECE. W. H. S. Jones. 5
Vols. and Companion Vol. arranged by R. E. Wycherley.
(Vols. I. and III. 3rd Imp., Vols. II., IV. and V. 2nd Imp.)
PHILO. 10 Vols. Vols. I.-V.; F. H. Colson and Rev. G. H.
Whitaker Vola. VI.-IX.; F. H. Colson. (Vols. I-IL, V.-
VII., 3rd Imp., Vol. IV. Uh Imp., Vols. III., VIII., and IX.
2nd Imp.)
PHILO: two supplementary Vols. (Translation only.) Ralph
Marcus.
PHILOSTRATUS : THE LIFE OF APPOLLONIUS OF TYANA. F. C.
Conybeare. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 4tth Imp., Vol. II. 3rd Imp.)
PHILOSTRATUS : IMAGINES; CALLISTRATUS : DESCRIPTIONS.
A. Fairbanks. (2nd Imp.)
PHILOSTRATUS and EUNAPIUS: LIVES OF THE SOPHISTS.
Wilmer Cave Wright. (2nd Imp.)
PINDAR. Sir J. E. Sandys. (8th Imp. revised.)
PLATO: CHARMIDES, ALCIBIADES, HIPPARCHUS, THE LOVERS,
THEAGES, MINOS and EPINOMIS. W. R. M. Lamb. (2nd
Imp.)
PLATO: CRATYLUS, PARMENIDES, GREATER HIPPIAS, LESSER
HJPPIAS. H. N. Fowler. (Uh Imp.)
PLATO: EUTHYPHRO, APOLOGY, CRITO, PHAEDO, PHAEDRUS.
H. N. Fowler. ( 1 \th Imp.)
PLATO: LACHES, PROTAGORAS, MENO, EUTHYDEMUS. W. R. M.
Lamb. (3rd Imp. revised.)
PLATO: LAWS. Rev. R. G. Bury. 2 Vols. (3rd Imp.}
PLATO: LYSIS, SYMPOSIUM GORGIAS. W. R. M. Lamb. (5th
Imp. revised.)
PLATO: REPUBLIC. Paul Shorey. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. 5th Imp.,
Vol. II. th Imp.)
PLATO: STATESMAN, PHILEBUS. H. N. Fowler; ION. W. R. M.
Lamb. (th Imp.)
PLATO: THEAETETUS and SOPHIST. H. N. Fowler. (Uh Imp.)
PLATO: TIMAEUS, CRITIAS, CLITOPHO, MENEXENUS, EPISTULAE.
Rev. R. G. Bury. (3rd Imp.)
PLUTARCH: MORALIA. 14 Vols. Vols. I.-V. F. C. Babbitt.
Vol. VI. W. C. Helmbold. Vol. VII. P. H. De Lacy and
B. Einarson. Vol. X. H. N. Fowler. Vol.
Cherniss and W. C. Helmbold. (Vols. I. -VI. and X. 2nd Imp.)
PLUTARCH: THE PARALLEL LIVES. B. Perrin. 11 Vols.
(Vols. I., II., VI., VII., and XI. 3rd Imp., Vols. III.-V. and
VIII.-X. 2nd Imp.)
POLYBIUS. W. R. Paton. 6 Vols. (2nd Imp.)
PROCOPIUS: HISTORY OF THE WARS. H. B. Dewing. 7 VoU.
(Vol. I. 3rd Imp., Vols. II.- VII. 2nd Imp.)
PTOLEMY: TETRABIBLOS. Cf. MANETHO.
QUINTUS SMYRNAEUS. A. S. Way. Verse trans. (3rd Imp.)
SEXTUS EMPIRICUS. Rev. R. G. Bury. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. 4tt
Imp., Vols. II. and III. 2nd Imp.)
SOPHOCLES. F. Storr. 2 Vols. (Vol. I. IQth Imp. Vol.]
Imp.) Verse trans.
7
STRABO: GEOGRAPHY. Horace L. Jones. 8 Vols. (Vols. I., V.,
and VIII. 3rd Imp., Vols. II., III., IV., VI., and VII. 2nd Imp.)
THEOPHRASTUS: CHARACTERS. J. M. Edmonds. HEROD ES,
etc. A. D. Knox. (3rd Imp.)
4 THEOPHRASTUS: ENQUIRY INTO PLANTS. Sir Arthur Hort,
Bart. 2 Vols. (2nd Imp.)
THUG YD IDES. C. F. Smith. 4 Vols. (Vol. I. 5th Imp., Vols.
II. and IV. 4th Imp., Vol. III., 3rd Imp. revised.)
TRYPHIODORUS. Cf. OPPIAN.
XENOPHON: CYROPAEDIA. Walter Miller. 2 Vols. (Vol. I.
4th Imp., Vol. II. 3rd Imp.)
XENOPHON: HELLENIC A, ANABASIS, APOLOGY, and SYMPOSIUM.
C. L. Brownson and O. J. Todd. 3 Vols. (Vols. I. and III
3rd Imp., Vol. II. 4th Imp.)
XENOPHON: MEMORABILIA and OECONOMICUS. E. C. Marchant
(3rd Imp.)
XENOPHON: SCRIPTA MINORA. E. C. Marchant. (3rd Imp.)
IN PREPARATION
Greek Authors
ARISTOTLE: HISTORY OF ANIMALS. A. L. Peck.
PLOTINUS: A. H. Armstrong.
Latin Authors
BAERIUS AND PHAEDRUS. Ben E. Perry.
DESCRIPTIVE PROSPECTUS ON APPLICATION
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