P. TERENTI ADELPHOE.
LATIN AND ENGLISH.

A C T E D BY S T U D E N T S
OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN.
JUNE, 1882.

M: S. SMITH & CO., Importers of Diamonds and Fine Colored Gems, dealers
in Fine Gold Jewelry and Sterling Silver
Ware.
State Agents for Newmans College
Soeiety Badges.
Detroit, Michigan.

INTRODUCTION.
T h e Adelphi is generally conceded to be the finest of the six comedies of Terence that have come down to us. Its name, " T h e Brothers,"
is derived from the two pairs of brothers with whose fortunes the play
is chiefly concerned, Micio a town-bred, good-natured old bachelor,
Demea, a thrifty farmer and stern parent, and the two sons of the latter.
One of these, JEschinus, adopted by Micio, had been allowed by his
indulgent uncle to fall into all kinds of excesses; the other, Ctesipho,
brought up on the farm, was believed by his rigorous father to be a pattern of all virtues, but had in fact fallen in love with a music-girl in the
city. ^Eschinus, whose fondness for his brother is one of the happiest
touches in the play, in order to put the girl in Ctesipho's possession and
shield him from exposure, removes her by force from the slave-merchant's
house. It is at this point of time, that the play begins. Demea, who has
just heard the story of the abduction, meets Micio and lays upon* him
the blame of iEschinus' misdeeds. At the same time Sostrata, hearing
the rumor, infers that he has deserted her daughter Pamphila whom he
had promised to marry, and appeals to Hegio, an old friend of the family,
to see that iEschinus is brought to a sense of his duty. Demea on his
way back to the farm learns from Hegio of iEschinus' relations with
«Pamphila, and returning to find Micio is sent on a fool's errand to various
parts of the city by the cunning slave Syrus. Upon his return to the house
of Micio he finds that the latter has given his consent to the marriage of
iEschinus with Pamphila, and also discovers, to his great astonishment,
that Ctesipho has outwitted him and has been all the time at his uncle's.
In the fifth Act, Demea, becoming convinced that his brother is in the
right, suddenly changes character, becomes the most indulgent of fathers,
and the comedy ends, as all comedies should, with the marriage of the
parties most interested.
So much for the play itself. As the production of the Adelphce at
University Hall by the class of '84 is probably the first attempt that has
ever been made in this country to bring out a Latin play, it may be
worth while to give some information as to the setting of the play. Since
the Adelphce belongs to the class of plays known as the fabuloe palliatce,
the costumes are Grecian. In the present instance they have been made
in accordance with the best classical authority, and in most cases from
suggestions kindly furnished by Dr. Scott, the headmaster of Westminster
School. T h e costumes of the various actors are somewhat as follows:
^Eschinus, white chiton, garnet chlamys; Ctesipho, white chiton, lightblue chlamys; Micio, gold chiton, purple pallium; Demea, gray chiton,
sage-green pallium; Sannio, chiton and pallium of orange and black;
Hegio, chiton white, pallium white bordered with r e d ; Sostrata, chiton
of white, palla pink; slaves wear dresses less elaborate. In all cases
attention has been paid to the selection of such colors as shall be effective
in grouping.
The scene, which represents the street in front of the houses of Micio
and Sostrata, does not change during the play.
In the delivery of the L a t i n , rules of Elision and Synalcepha have
been strictly observed, excepting in cases where they would interfere with
proper emphasis and clearness of enunciation.
The text of the Libretto is Chase & Stuart's; the translation Coleman's.

DRAMATIS PERSONS.
DEMEA,
MICIO,

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F A T H E R O F y3£scHiNUS AND C T E S I P H O

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^ESCHINUS,

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CTESIPHO,

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A YOUNG M A N
A YOUNG M A N

HEGIO,

A N OLD MAN

SANNIO,

A SLAVE-DEALER

SYRUS,
GETA,

B R O T H E R TO D E M E A

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SERVANT OF MICIO

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SERVANT OF SOSTRATA

DROMO,

A SERVANT

P A R M E N O , O T H E R SERVANTS, E T C .
SOSTRATA,

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A MATRON, MOTHER OF PAMPHILA

CANTHARA,

A NURSE

MUSIC-GIRL,
PAMPHILA,

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SCENE—ATHENS.
B. C. ABOUT 300.

L O V E D BY C T E S I P H O
L O V E D BY ^ S C H I N U S

CAST OF CHARACTERS.
MlCIO,

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W. B. CHAMBERLAIN
J. M. ZANE

DEMEA,

F. N. SCOTT

CTESIPHO,

./EsCHINUS,

A. S. VAN VALKENBURGH
W. C. FOOTE

SYRUS,
PAMPHILA,

A. H. WILLIAMS

SoSTRATA,

WM. SAVIDGE

CANTHARA,
G E T A,
HEGIO,
SANNIO,

<
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W. F. WORD

F. M. McMURRAY
CHAS. ASHLEY
A. E. MILLER

PROLOGVS.
Postquam poeta sensit scripturam suam
A b iniquis obseruari et aduorsarios
Rapere in peiorem partem quam acturi s u m u s :
Indicio de sese ipse erit, uos iudices,
Laudin an uitio duci id factum oporteat.
Synapothnescontes Diphili comoediast:
Earn Commorientis Plautus fecit fabulam.
In Graeca adulescens est, qui lenoni eripit
Meretricem in prima fabula : eum, Plautus locum
Reliquit integrum, eum hie locum sumpsit sibi
In Adelphos, uerbum de uerbo expressum extulit.
Earn nos acturi sumus nouam : pernoscite
Furtumne factum existumetis an locum
Reprensum, qui praeteritus neglegentiast.
N a m quod isti dicunt maliuoli, homines nobiiis
E u m adiutare adsidueque una scribere :
Quod illi maledictum uemens esse existumant,
Earn laudem hie ducit maxumam, quom illis placet,
Qui uobis uniuorsis et populo placent,
Quorum opera in bello, in otio, in negotio
Suo quisque tempore usust sine superbia.
Dehinc ne expectetis argumentum fabulae:
Senes qui primi uenient, ei partem aperient,
In agendo partem ostendent. facite aequanimitas
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Poetae ad scribendum augeat industriam.

PROLOGUE.
T h e Bard, perceiving his piece caviird at
By partial critics, and his adversaries
Misrepresenting what we're now to play,
Pleads his own cause : and you shall be the judges,
Whether he merits praise or condemnation.
T h e Synapothnescontes
is a piece
By Diphilus, a comedy which Plautus,
Having translated, call'd COMMORIENTES.
In the beginning of the Grecian play
There is a youth, wTho takes a girl perforce
From a procurer: and this incident,
Untouch'd by Plautus, render'd word for word,
H a s our bard interwoven with his Brothers,—
T h e new piece which we represent to-day.
Say then if this be theft, or honest use
Of what remain'd unoccupied.—For that
Which malice tells, that certain noble persons
Assist the bard, and write in concert with h i m ;
T h a t which they deem a heavy slander, he
Esteems his greatest praise : that he can please
Those who please you, who all the people please;
Those who in war, in peace, in council, ever
Have rendered you the dearest services,
And ever borne their faculties so meekly.
Expect not now the story of the p l a y :
Part in act will be shewn.—Be favourable;
Part the old men, who first appear, will o p e n ;
And let your candour to the poet now
Increase his future earnestness to w r i t e !

P. TEKEOTI ADELPHOE.
ACTVS I.
MICIO.
Storax! Non rediit hac nocte a cena Aeschinus
Neque seruolorum quisqnam, qui aduorsum ierant.
Profecto hoc uere dicunt: si absis uspiam,
[Aut ibi si cesses] euenire ea satius est
Quae in te uxor dicit [et quae in animo cogitat]
Irata quam ilia quae parentes propitii.
Vxor, si cesses, aut te amare cogitat
Aut tete amari aut potare atque animo obsequi.
[Et tibi bene esse, soli sibi quom sit male.]
Ego quia non rediit filius quae cogito !
Quibus nunc sollicitor rebus! ne aut ille alserit
Aut uspiam ceciderit aut praefregerit
Aliquid. Uah, quemquamne hominem in animum instituere aut
Parare quod sit carius quam ipse est sibi!
Atque ex me hie natus non est, sed ex fratre meo.
Dissimili is studiost iam inde ab adulescentia.
Ego hanc clementem uitam urbanam atque otium
Secutus sum et quod fortunatum isti putant,
Vxorem numquam habui. ille contra haec omnia :
Ruri agere uitam : semper parce ac duriter
Se habere : uxorem duxit: nati fllii
Duo : inde ego hunc maiorem adoptaui m i h i :
Eduxi a paruolo, habui, amaui pro m e o ;
In eo me oblecto: solum id est carum mihi.
Ille ut item contra me habeat facio sedulo:
Do, praetermitto : non necesse habeo omnia
Pro meo iure a g e r e : postremo, alii clanculum
Patres quae faciunt, quae fert adulescentia,
E a ne me celet consuefeci filium.
N a m qui mentiri aut fallere insuerit patrem,
JFraudare tanto magis audebit ceteros,
Pudore et liberalitate liberos
Retinere satius esse credo quam metu.
Haec fratri mecum non conueniunt neque placent.
Venit ad me saepe clamans ' quid agis, Micio ?

THE BROTHERS.
ACT I.
S C E N E I.
ENTER MICIO.

H o , Storax—./Eschinus did not return
Last night from supper; no, nor any one
Of all the slaves, who went to look for him.
— ' T i s commonly—and oh how truly !—said,
If you are absent, or delay, 'twere best
T h a t should befall you which your wife denounces,
Or which in anger she calls down upon you,
T h a n that which kindest parents fear.—Your wife,
If you delay, or thinks that you're in love,
Or lov'd, or drink, or entertain yourself,
Taking your pleasure, while she pines at home,
—And what a world of fears possess me n o w !
H o w anxious that my son is not return'd ;
Lest he take cold, or fall, or break a l i m b !
—Gods, that a man should suffer any one
T o wind himself so close about his heart,
A s to grow dearer to him than himself!
And yet he is not my son, but my brother's,
Whose bent of mind is wholly different.
I, from youth upward even to this day,
Have led a quiet and serene town-life ;
And, as some reckon fortunate, ne'er married.
H e , in all points the opposite of this,
H a s pass'd his days entirely in the country
With thrift, and labour ; married ; had two sons ;
T h e elder boy is by adoption mine ;
I've brought him up ; k e p t ; lov'd him as my own ;
Made him my joy, and all my soul holds dear,
Striving to make myself as dear to him.
I give, o'erlook, nor think it requisite
That all his deecls should be controli'd by me,
Giving him scope to act as of himself;
So that the pranks of youth, which other children

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Quor perdis adulescentem nobis? quor amat?
Quor potat? quor tu his rebus sumptum suggeris?
Vestitu nimio indulges: nimium ineptus es.'
Nimium ipsest durus praeter aequomque et bonum :
E t crrat longe mea quidem sententia,
Qui inperium credat grauius esse aut stabilius,
Vi quod fit, quam illud quod amicitia adiungitur.
Mea sic est ratio et sic animum induco m e u m :
Malo coactus qui suom officium facit,
Dum id rescitum iri credit, tantisper p a u e t :
Si sperat fore clam, rursum ad ingenium redit.
Ille quern beneficio adiungas ex animo facit,
Studet par referre, praesens absensque idem erit.
Hoc patriumst, potius consuefacere filium
Sua sponte recte facere quam alieno metu :
H o c pater ac dominus interest: hoc qui nequit,
Fateatur nescire inperare liberis.
Sed estne hie ipsus, de quo agebam? et certe is est.
Nescio quid tristem uideo: credo iam, ut solet,
Iurgabit. saluom te aduenire Demea,
Gaudemus.
DEMEA. MICIO.
De. E h e m opportune: te ipsum quaerito.
Mi. Quid tristis es? De. Rogas me.' ubi nobis Aeschinust?
Scin iam quid tristis ego sim? Mi. Dixin hoc fore?
Quid fecit? De. Quid ille fecerit? quern neque pudet
Quicquam, nee metuit quemquam, neque legem putat
Tenere se ullam. nam ilia quae antehac facta sunt
Omitto : modo quid designauit? Mi. Quid nam id est?
De. Foris ecfregit atque in aedis inruit
A l i e n a s : ipsum dominum atque omnem familiam
Mulcauit usque ad mortem: eripuit mulierem
Quam amabat.
clamant omnes indignissume
Factum esse: hoc aduenienti quot mihi, Micio,
Dixere ! in orest omni populo. denique,
Si conferendum exemplumst, non fratrem uidet
Rei dare operam ruri parcum ac sobrium?
Nullum huius simile factum, haec quom illi, Micio,
Dico, tibi dico: tu ilium corrumpi sinis.
Mi. Homine inperito numquam quicquam iniustiust,
Qui nisi quod ipse fecit nil rectum putat.
De. Quorsum istuc? Mi. Quia tu, Demea, haec male iudicas.
Non est flagitium mihi crede, adulescentulum
Scortari, neque potare : non est: neque foris
Ecfringere. H a e c 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,

Hide from their father, I have us'd my son
Not to conceal from me. For whosoe'er
Hath won upon himself to play the false one,
And practice impositions on a father,,
-Will do the same with less remorse to others ;
And 'tis in my opinion better far
To bind your children to you by the ties
Of gentleness and modesty, than fear.
And yet my brother don't accord in this,
Nor do these notions, nor this conduct please him.
Oft he comes open mouth'd—Why how now, Micio?
W h y do you ruin this young lad of ours?
W h y does he love ? why drink ? and why do you
Allow him money to afford all this?
You let him dress too fine. ' T i s idle in you.
—, Tis hard in him, unjust and out of reason.
And he, I think, deceives himself indeed,
W h o fancies that authority more firm
Founded on force, than what is built on friendship ;
For thus I reason, thus persuade myself:
H e who performs his duty driven to't
By fear of punishment, while he believes
His actions are observ'd, so long he's wary ;
But if he hopes for secrecy, returns
T o his old ways again. But he whom kindness,
H i m also inclination makes your own :
H e burns to make a due return, and acts,
Present or absent, evermore the same.
' T i s this then is the duty of a father;
To make a son embrace a life of virtue,
Rather from choice than terror or constraint.
Here lies the mighty difference between
A father and a master. H e who knows not
H o w to do this, let him confess he knows not
H o w to rule children.—But is this the man,
W h o m I was speaking of ? Yes, yes, 'tis he.
H e seems uneasy too, I know not why,
And I suppose, as usual, comes to wrangle.
S C E N E II.
ENTER DEMEA.

Mi. Demea, I'm glad to see you well.
De. O h o !
Well m e t : the very man I came to seek.
Mi. But you appear uneasy. What's the matter?
De. Is it a question, when there's yEschinus
T o trouble us, what makes me so uneasy ?
B

— 10 —
f^aceremus. et ilium tu tuom, si esses homd,
Sineres nunc facere, dum per aetatem licet,
Potius quam, ubi te expectatum eiecisset foras,
Alieniore aetate post faceret tarnen.
De. Pro Iuppiter, tu homo adigis me ad insaniam.
Non est flagitium facere haec adulescentulum ? Mi. A h ,
Ausculta, ne me obtundas de hac re saepius,
Tuom fllium dedisti adoptandum m i h i :
Is meus estfactus: siquid peccat, Demea,
Mihi peccat: ego illi maxumam partem feram.
Obsonat, potat, olet unguenta: de meo ;
A m a t : dabitur a me argentum, dum erit commodum.

— 11 —
Mi. I said it would be so.—What has he done?
De. W h a t has he done ? a wretch, whom neither ties
Of shame, nor fear, nor any law can bind!
For not to speak of all his former pranks,
W h a t has he been about but even n o w !
Mi. W h a t has he done?
De. Burst open doors, and forc'd
His way into another's house, and beat
T h e master and his family half dead ;
And carried off a wench whom he was fond of.
T h e whole town cries out shame upon him, Micio.
I have been told of it a hundred times
Since my arrival. ' T i s the common talk.
And if we needs must draw comparisons,
Does not he see his brother, thrifty, sober,
Attentive to his business in the country ?
Not given to these practices; and when
I say all this to him, to you I say it.
You are his ruin, Micio.
Mi. H o w unjust
Is he who wants experience! who believes
.Nothing is right but what he does himself!
De. W h y d'ye say that?
Mi. Because you, Demea,
Judge wrongly of these matters. ' T i s no crime
For a young man to love, or drink.—'Tis not,
Believe me !—nor to force doors open.—This
If neither you nor I have done, it was
T h a t poverty allow'd us not.
And now you claim a merit to yourself, from that
Which want c o n s t r a i n t you to. It is not fair.
For had there been but wherewithal to do't,
W e likewise should have done thus. Wherefore you,
W e r e you a man, would let your younger son,
Now, while it suits his age, pursue his pleasures;
Rather than, when it less becomes his years,
When, after wishing long, he shall at last
Be rid of you, he should run riot then.
De. O J u p i t e r ! the man will drive me mad.
Is it no crime, d'ye say, for a young man
T o take these courses?
Mi. Nay, nay ; do but hear me,
Nor stun me with the self same thing for ever!
Your elder son you gave me for adoption:
He's mine then, D e m e a ; and if he offends,
' T i s an offence to me, and I must bear
T h e burden. Does he treat? or drink? or dress?
?

Ti§ at my cost.—~Or love? I will supply him.

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Mi.
De.
De.
De.

Mi.

Mi.

Vbi non erit, fortasse excludetur foras.
Foris ecfregit: restituentur ; discidit
Vestem : resarcietur. et (dis gratia)
Est unde haec fiant, et adhuc non molesta sunt.
Postremo aut desine aut cedo quernuis arbitrum :
T e plura in hac re peccare ostendam. De. Ei mihi,
Pater esse disce ab illis, qui uere sciunt.
Natura tu illi pater es, consiliis ego.
Tun consulis quicquam? Mi. Ah, si pergis, abiero.
Sicine agis? Mi. An ego totiens de eadem re audiam?
Curaest mihi. Mi. E t mihi curaest. uerum, Demea,
Curemus aequam uterque partem : tu alterum,
Ego item alterum. N a m curare ambos propemodum
Reposcere illumst quern dedisti. De. Ah, Micio.
Mihi sie uidetur. De. Quid istic? si tibi istuc placet,
Profundat perdat pereat, nil ad me attinet.
lam si uerbum ullum posthac. . . Mi. Rursum, Demea,
Irascere ? De. An non credis ? repeton quern dedi ?
Aegrest: alienus non s u m ; si obsto . . em, desino.
V n u m uis curem, euro, et est dis gratia,
Qiiom ita ut uolo est; iste tuos ipse sentiet
Posterius : nolo in ilium grauiusdicere.
Nee nil neque omnia haec sunt quae dicit; tamen
Non nil molesta haec sunt m i h i : sed ostendere
Me aegre pati illi nolui: nam itast homo :
Quom placo, aduorsor sedulo et deterreo ;
Tamen uix humane patitur: uerum si augeam
Aut etiam adiutorsim eius iracundiae,
Insaniam profecto cum illo. etsi Aeschinus
Non nullam in hac re nobis facit iniuriam.
Quam hie non.amauit meretricem? aut quoi non dedit
Aliquid? postremo nuper (credo iam omnium
Taedebat) dixit uelle uxorem ducere.
Sperabam iam deferuisse adulescentiam :
Gaudebam. ecce autem de integro : nisi quidquid est
Volo scire atque hominem conuenire, si apud forumst.

— 13 —
While 'tis convenient to me ; when 'tis not,
His mistresses perhaps will shut him out.
— H a s he broke open doors? we'll make them good.
Or torn a coat? it shall be mended. I,
Thank heaven, have enough to do all this,
And 'tis as yet not irksome.—In a word,
Or cease, or choose some arbiter between u s :
I'll prove that you are more in fault than L
De. Ah, learn to be a father ; learn from those
W h o know what 'tis indeed to be a parent!
Mi. By nature you're his father, I by counsel.
De. You ! do you counsel any thing?
Mi. Nay, nay ;
If you persist I'm gone.
De. Is't thus you treat me ?
Mi. Must I still hear the same thing o'er and o'er.
De. It touches me,
Mi. And me it touches too.
But, Demea, let us each look to our own :
Let me take care of one, and mind you t'other:
For to concern yourself with both, appears
As if you'd re-demand the boy you gave.
De. Ah, Micio !
Mi. So it seems to me.
De. Well, well;
Let him, if 'tis your pleasure, waste, destroy,
And squander; it is no concern of mine.
If henceforth I e'er say one word—
Mi. Again?
Angry again, good Demea ?
De. You may trust me.
Do I demand him back again I gave you ?
—It hurts me. I am a stranger to him.
—But if I once opposeWell, well, I've done.
You wish 1 should take care of one. I do
Take special care of him ; and he, thank heav'n,
Is as I wish he should be : which your ward,
I warrant, shall find out one time or other.
I will not say ought worse of him at present.
SCENE III.
MICIO ALONE.

Though what he says be not entirely true,
There's something in it, and it touches me.
But I dissembled my concern with him,
Because the nature of the man is such.
T o pacify, I must oppose and thwart h i m ;

\_Exit\.

— 14 —

ACTVS II.
SANNIO.
AESCHINVS.
(PARMENO.
PSALTRIA.)
Sa. Obsecro, populares, ferte misero atque innocenti auxilium :
Subuenite inopi. A e . Otiose, nunciam ilico hie consiste.
Quid respectas? nil periclist: numquam, dum ego adero, hie
te tanget.
Sa. Ego istam inuitis omnibus.
Ae. Quamquamst scelestus, non committet hodie umquam iterum
ut uapulet.
Sa. Aeschine, audi, ne te ignarum fuisse dicas meorum morum,
Leno ego sum. Ae. Scio. Sa. At ita, ut usquam fuit fide
quisquam optuma.
T u quod te'posterius purges, banc iniuriam mihi nolle
Factam esse, huius non faciam.
crede hoc, ego meum ius
persequar:
Neque tu verbis solues umquam, quod mihi re male feceris.
Noui ego uostra haec 'nollern factum: dabitur ius iurandum,
indignum
T e esse iniuria h a c / indignis quom egomet sim acceptus
modis. •
A e . Abi prae strenue ac foris aperi. Sa. Ceterum hoc nili facis?
Ae. I intro nunciam. Sa. At enim non sinam.
A e . Accede
illuc, Parmeno :
Nimium istoc abisti: hie propter nunc adsiste : em, sic uolo,
Caue nunciam oculos a meis oculis quoquam demoueas tuos,
Ne mora sit, si innuerim, quin pugnus continuo in mala
haereat.

- 1 5 And even thus I scarce can teach him patience.
But were I to inflame or aid his anger,
I were as great a madman as himself.
Yet yEschinus, 'tis true, has been to blame.
W h a t girl is there he has not lov'd? to whom
H e has not made some present——And but lately
(Tir'd I suppose, and sick of wantonness)
H e told me he propos'd to take a wife.
I hop'd the hey-day of the blood was over,
And was rejoic'd : but his intemperance
Breaks out afresh.
Well, be it what it may,
I'll find him out, and know it instantly,
If he is to be met with at the Forum.

[Exit\

ACT II.
S C E N E I.
E N T E R ^ E S C H I N U S , S A N N I O , P A R M E N O , the
and a crowd of people.

Music-girl,

Sa. Help, help, dear countrymen, for heaven's s a k e !
Assist a miserable harmless man !
Help the distress'd!
A e . [To thegirl\
Fear nothing : stand just there !
W h y d'ye look back ? you're in no danger. Never,
While I am by, shall he lay hands up you.
Pa. Ay, but I will, in spite of all the world.
A e . Rogue as he is, he'll scarce do anything
T o make me cudgel him again to-day.
Sa. One word, Sir yiEschinus ! that you may not
Pretend to ignorance of my profession ;
I'm a procurer.
A e . True.
Sa. And in my way
Of as good faith as any man alive.
Hereafter, to absolve yourself, you'll cry,
That you repent of having wronged me thus.
I shant't care that for your excuse [snapping his jingers\
Be
sure,
I'll prosecute my right; nor shall fine words
Atone for evil deeds. I know your way,
u
I'm sorry that I did i t : and I'll swear
You are unworthy of this injury"
Though all the while I'm us'd most scurvily.
Ae. [to Par.~] Do you go forwards, Parmeno, and throw
T h e door wide open.

— 16 —
Sa. Istuc uoio ergo ipsum experiri. Ae. E m , serua: omitte'
mulierem.
Sa. O indignum facinus. A e . Nisi caues, geminabit.
Sa. Ei
misero mihi.
Ac. Non innueram : uerum in istam partem potius peccato tamen.
I nunciam. Sa. Quid hoc reist? regnumne, Aeschine, hie
tu possides?
Ae. Si possiderem, ornatns esses ex tuis uirtutibus.
Sa. Quid tibi rei mecumst? A e . Nil. Sa. Quid? nostin qui
sim? Ae. Non desidero.
Sa. Tetigin tui quicquam? A e . Si attigisses, ferres infortunium.
Sa. Qui tibi magis licet me am habere, pro qua ego argentum
dedi ?
Responde.
Ae. Ante aedis non fecisse erit melius hie
conuitium :
N a m si molestus pergis esse, iam intro abripiere atque ibi
Vsque ad necem operiere loris. Sa. Loris liber? Ae. Sic
erit.
Sa. O homirtem inpurum : hicin libertatem aiunt esse aequam
omnibus?
A e . Si satis iam debacchatus es, leno, audi si uis nunciam.

— 17Sa. T h a t sha'n't signify.
A e . [to Par.] N o w in with her.
Sa. [stepping between] I'll not allow it.
Ae. [to Par7\ H e r e !
Come hither, Parmeno !—you're too far off.—
Stand close to that man's side—There—there—just there !
And now be sure you always keep your eyes
Stedfastly fix'd on mine ; and when I wink,
T o drive your fist directly in his face.
Sa. Ay, if he dare.
Ae. [to Par.] N o w mind! [to Sa.] Let go the girl.
[Sannio still struggling
with the girl,
^iEschinus
winks, and Parmeno strikes
Sannio.~\
Sa. Oh monstrous!
Ae. H e shall double it, unless
You mend your manners. [Par. strikes Sannio again.~]
Sa. Help, help ! murder, murder !
Ae. [to Par.] I did not w i n k ; but you would better err
T h a t way than t'other.
Now go in with her.
[Parme?io leads the girl into Micids
house.]
Sa. How's this?—Do you reign king here, yEschinus?
Ae. Did I reign king, you should be recompensed
According to your virtues, I assure you.
Sa. W h a t business-have you with me?
Ae. None.
Sa. D'ye know
W h o I am, yEschinus?
A e . Nor want to know.
Sa. Have I touch'd ought of yours, sir?
Ae. If you had
You should have suffer'd for't.
Sa. W h a t greater right
Have you to take away my slave, for whom
I paid my money ? answer me !
A e . 'Twere best
You'd leave off bellowing before our door ;
If you continue to be troublesome,
I'll have you dragg'd into the house, and there
Lash'd without mercy.
Sa. H o w , a freeman lash'd !
A e . Ev'n so.
Sa. Oh monstrous tyranny ! Is this,
Is this the liberty they boast of here,
Common to all?
A e . If you have brawl'd enough,
Please to indulge me with one word, you brute.
Sa. W h o has brawl'd most, yourself or I ?
A e . Well, well!
c

— IS —
Sa. Egon debacchatus sum autem an tu in me? A e . Mitte ista
atque ad rem redi.
Sa. Quam rem? quo redeam? A e . Iamne me uis dicere id
quod ad te attinet?
Sa. Cupio, aequi modo aliquid. A e . Vah, leno iniqua me non
uolt loqui.
Sa. Leno sum, pernicies communis, fateor, adulescentium,
Periurus, pestis : tamen tibi a me nullast orta iniuria.
A e . N a m hercle etiam hoc restat. Sa. Illuc quaeso redi, quo
coepisti, Aeschine.
A e . Minis uiginti tu illam emisti?
Sa. Loqueris. Ae. Tibi
uortat male.
Argenti tantum dabitur. Sa. Quid ? si ego tibi illam nolo
uendere,
Coges me?
A e . Minume. Sa. Namque id metui. Ae.
Neque uendundam censeo,
Quae liberast: nam ego liberali illam adsero causa manu.
Nunc uide utrum u i s : argentum accipere an causam meditari tuam.
Delibera hoc, dum ego redeo, leno. Sa. Pro supreme
Iuppiter,
Minume miror qui insanire occipiunt ex iniuria.
Domo me eripuit, uerberauit: me inuito abduxit meam :
Homini misero plus quingentos colaphos infregit mihi.
Ob malefacta haec tantidem emptam postulat sibi tradier.
Verum enim quando bene promeruit, fiat: suom ius postulat.
Age iam cupio, modo si argentum reddat. Sed ego hoc
hariolor:
Vbi me dixero dare tanti, testis faciet ilico,
Vendidisse me, de argento somnium: ' m o x : eras redi.'
Id quoque possum ferre, modo si reddat, quamquam
iniuriumst.

— 19 —
No more of that, but to the point!
Sa. W h a t point?
W h a t would you have?
Ae. Will you allow me then
T o speak of what concerns you ?
Sa. Willingly:
Speak, but in justice.
Ae. Very fine ! a procurer,
And talks of justice !
Sa. Well, I am a procurer,
The common bane of youth, a perjurer,
A public nuisance, I confess i t : yet
I never did you wrong.
Ae. N o , that's to come.
Sa. Prithee return to whence you first set out, sir!
A e . You, plague upon you for it! bought the girl
For twenty minae ; which sum we will give you.
Sa. W h a t if I do not choose to sell the girl?
Will you oblige me?
Ae. No.
Sa. I fear'd you* would.
A e . She's a free woman, and should not be sold,
And, as such, by due course of law I claim her.
N o w then consider which you like the best,
To take the money, or maintain your action.
Think on this, beast, till I come back again.
\_Exit\
S C E N E II.
SANNIO ALONE.

O Jupiter ! I do not wonder now
That men run mad with injuries. H e drags me
Out of my own house ; cudgels me most soundly,
And carries off my slave against my w i l l :
And after this ill treatment, he demands
T h e music-girl to be made over to him
A t the same price I bought her.—He has pour'd
His blows upon me, thick as h a i l ; for which,
Since he deserves so nobly at my hands,,
H e should no doubt be gratified.—Nay, nay,
Let me but touch the cash, I'm still content.
But this I guess will be the case : as soon
A s I shall have agreed to take his price,,
He'll produce witnesses immediately, ,
To prove that I have sold her—And the money
Will be mere moon-shine,—"By and by,"—" To-morrow."
—Yet I could bear that too, although much wrong,
Might I but get the money after a l l :

— 20 —
Verum cogito id quod res est; quando eum quaestum occeperis,
Accipiunda et mussitanda iniuria adulescentiumst.
Sed nemo dabit: frustra egomet mecum has rationes puto.
SYRVS.

SANNIO.

Sy. Tace, egomet conueniam ipsum : cupide accipiat faxo atque
etiam
Bene dicat secum esse actum, quid istuc, Sannio, est quod
te audio
Nescio quid concertasse cum ero?
Sa. N u m q u a m uidi
iniquius
Certationem comparatam, quam haec hodie inter nos fuit:
Ego uapulando, ille uerberando usque, ambo defessi sumus.
Sy. Tua culpa.
Sa. Quid facerem?
Sy. Adulescenti morem
gestum oportuit.
Sa. Qui potui melius, qui hodie usque os praebui ? Sy. Age,
scis quid loquar?
Pecuniam in loco neglegere maxumum interdumst lucrum :
hui,
Metuisti, si nunc de tuo iure concessisses paululum
Atque adulescenti m o r i g e r a ^ ^ , hominum homo stultissume,
N e non tibi istuc faeneraret. Sa. Ego spem pretio non emo.
Sy. N u m q u a m rem facies: abi, inescare nescis homines, Sannio.
Sa. Credo istuc melius esse: uerum ego numquam adeo astutus
fui,
Quin quidquid posse m mallem auferre potius in praesentia.
Sy. Age noui tuom animum : quasi iam usquam tibi sint uiginti
minae,
Dum huic obsequare. praeterea autem te aiunt proficisci
Cyprum. Sa. H e m .
Sy. Coemisse hinc quae illuc ueheres multa, nauem conductam:
hoc scio,
Animus tibi pendet. ubi illinc spero redieris tamen hoc
ages.
Sa. Nusquam pedem. perii hercle : hac illi spe hoc inceperunt.

— 21 —
For thus it is, friend Sannio; when a man
H a s taken np this trade, he must receive
And pocket the affronts of young gallants.
—But nobody will pay me, and I draw
Conclusions to no purpose.
S C E N E III.
ENTER SYRUS.

. Sy. [to Ae. within] Say no more !
Let me alone to talk with him ! I warrant
I'll make him take the money ; aye , and own
T h a t he's well treated too.
[comingforward\]
W h y , how now, Sannio?
What's the dispute I overheard just now
'Twixt you and my young master?
Sa. Never was
Any dispute conducted more unfairly,
Than that between us two to-day ! Poor I
With being drubb'd, and he with drubbing me,
'Till we were both quite weary.
Sy. All your fault.
Sa. W h a t could I do !
Sy. Give a young man his way.
Sa. W h a t could I give him more, who gave my face?
Sy. Nay, but d'ye know my meaning, Sannio?
To seem upon occasion to slight money,
Proves in the end, sometimes, the greatest gain.
W h y prithee, blockhead, could you be afraid,
H a d you abated somewhat of your right,
And humour'd the young gentleman, he would not
Have paid you back again with interest?
Sa. I never purchase hope with ready money.
Sy. Away ! you'll never thrive. You do not know
H o w to ensnare men, Sannio.
Sa. Well, perhaps,
Your way were best: yet I was ne'er so crafty
But I had rather, when 'twas in my power,
Receive prompt payment.
Sy. Pshaw ! I know your spirit :
A s if you valued twenty minae now,
So you might do a kindness to my master!
—Besides they say you're setting out for Cyprus,
[carelessly.']
Sa. H a !
[alarmed.]
Sy. And have bought up a large stock of goods
T o carry over thither.
Hir'd a vessel.
T h a t 'tis, I know, which keeps you in suspense :
W h e n you return, I hope, you'll settle this.
Sa. I shall not budge a foot.—Undone, by heav'n!

— 22 —
Sy. T i m e t :
Inieci scrupulum homini. Sa. O scelera: illud uide,
V t in ipso articulo oppressit. emptae mulieres
Complures et item hinc alia quae porto Cyprum.
Nisi eo ad mercatum uenio, damnum maxumumst.
Nunc si hoc omitto ac turn agam ubi illinc rediero,
Nil est; refrixerit r e s : ' n u n c demum uenis?
Qiior passu's? ubi eras?' ut sit satius perdere
Quam aut nunc manere tarn diu aut turn persequi.
Sy. Iamne enumerasti id quod ad te rediturum putes?
Sa. Hocine illo dignumst? hocine incipere Aeschinum?
Per oppressionem ut banc mi eripere postulet?
Sy. Labascit. unum hoc habeo : uide si satis placet:
Potius quam uenias in periclum, Sannio,
Seruesne an perdas totum, diuiduom face.
Minas decern conradet alicunde. Sa. Ei mihi,
Etiam de sorte nunc uenio in dubium miser?
Pudet nil? omnis dentis labefecit m i h i :
Praeterea colaphis tuber est totum c a p u t :
Etiam insuper defrudet? nusquam abeo. Sy. Vt lubet :
Numquid uis quin abeam ? Sa. Immo hercle hoc quaeso,
Syre,
Vt ut haec sunt acta, potius quam litis sequar,
Meum mihi reddatur, saltern quanti emptast, Syre.
Scio te noh usum antehac amicitia m e a :
Memorem me dices esse et gratum. Sy. Sedulo
Faciam. sed Ctesiphonem uideo : laetus est
De arnica. S. Quid quod te oro? Sy. Paulisper mane.
CTESIPHO.

SYRVS.

(SANNIO).

Ct. Abs quiuis homine, quomst opus, beneficium accipere gaudeas:

— 23
Urg'd by these hopes they've undertaken this.
[aside,']
Sy. H e fears I've thrown a small rub in his way.
[aside.]
Sa. [to himself.] Confusion ! they have nick'd me to a hair !
I've bought up sev'ral slaves, and other wares,
For exportation ; and to miss my time
At Cyprus-fair would be a heavy loss.
Then if I leave this business broken thus,
All's over with me ; and at my return
'Twill come to nothing, grown quite cold and stale.
" — W h a t ! come at last? W h y did you stay so long?
W h e r e have you been ?"—that it were better lose it,
Than wait for it so long, or sue for't then.
Sy. [coming up. to him.] Well, have you calculated what's
your due ?
Sa. Monstrous oppression ! Is this honourable,
Or just in ./iEschinus, to take away
My property by force ?
Sy. So, so ! he comes.
[aside.]
—I have but one word more to say to you :
See, how you like it.—Rather, Sannio,
Than run the risk to get or Jose the whole,
E'en halve the matter: and he shall contrive
T o scrape together by some means ten minae.
Sa. Alas, alas ! am I in danger then
Of losing ev'n my very principal?
Shame on him ; he has loosen'd all my teeth :
My head is swell'd all over like a mushroom :
And will he cheat me too ?—I'm going nowhere.
Sy. Just as you please.—Have you ought else to say
Before I go ?
Sa. Yes, one word, prithee S y r u s !
However things have happen'd, rather than
I should be driven to commence a suit,
Let him return me my bare due at least;
T h e sum she cost me, Syrus.—I'm convinc'd
You've had no tokens of my friendship yet;
But you shall find I will not be ungrateful.
Sy. I'll do my best. But I see Ctesipho.
H e is rejoic'd about his mistress.
Sa. Say,
Will you remember me ?
Sy. Hold, hold a little !
[Syrus and San.
retire.]
S C E N E TV.
E N T E R C T E S I P H O at another fart of the stage.
Ctes. Favours are welcome in the hour of need
From any hand ; but doubly welcome when
Conferr'd by those from whom we most expect them.

— 24 —
Verum enim uero id demum iuuat, si quern aequomst facere
is bene facit.
O frater frater, quid ego nunc te laudem ? satis certo scio:
Numquam ita magnifice quicquam dicam, id uirtus quin
superet tua.
Itaque unam hanc rem me habere praeter alios praecipuam
arbitror,
Fratrem homini nemini esse primarum artium magis principem.
Sy. O Ctesipho. Ct. O Syre, Aeschinus ubist? Sy. Ellum, te
expectat domi. Ct. H e m .
Sy. Quid est? Ct. Quid sit? illius opera, Syre, nunc u i u o :
festiuom caput,
Qui ignominias sibi post putauit esse prae meo commodo,Maledicta, famam, meum laborem et peccatum in se transtulit:
Nil potis supra, quid nam foris crepuit? Sy. Mane, mane :
ipse exit foras.
AESCHINVS.

SANNIO.

CTESIPHO.

SYRVS.

A e . Vbist ille sacrilegus? Sa. Me quaerit. numquid nam
ecfert ? occidi:
Nil uideo. A e . Ehem opportune: te ipsum q u a e r o : quid
fit Ctesipho ?
In tutost omnis r e s : omitte uero tristitiem tuam.
Ct. Ego illam hercle uero omitto, qui quidem te habeam fratrem :
o mi Aeschine,
O mi g e r m a n e : ah uereor coram in os te laudare amplius,
N e id adsentandi magis quam quo habeam gratum facere
existumes.
Ae. Age inepte, quasi nunc non norimus nos inter nos, Ctesipho.
Hoc mihi dolet, nos sero r^scisse et paene in eum rem locum
Redisse, ut si omnes cuperent nil tibi possent auxiliarier.
Ct. Pudebat. A e . A h , stultitiast istaec, non p u d o r : tarn ob
paruolam
R e m paene e patria! turpe dictu. deos quaeso ut istaec
prohibeant.
Ct. Peccaui. A e . Quid ait tandem nobis Sannio? Sy. l a m
mitis est.

— 25 —
0 brother, brother, how shall I applaud thee?
Ne'er can I rise to such a height of praise
But your deservings will out-top me still:
For in this point I am supremely bless'd,
That none can boast so excellent a brother,
So rich in all good qualities, as I.
Sy.
[coming forward]
O Ctesipho !
Ctes. [turning round~\ O Syrus ! where's my brother?
Sy. At home, where he expects you.
Cies. H a ! \
"
[Joyfully.']
Sy. W h a t now ?
Ctes. W h a t now?—6y his assistance I live, Syrus.
A h , he's a friend indeed ! who disregarding
All his own interests for my advantage,
The scandal, infamy, intrigue, and blame,
All due to me, has drawn upon himself!
W h a t could exceed it?—But who's there? T h e door
Creaks on the hinges.
\pffer^nS
to go off.]
Sy. Hold ! 'tis yEschinus.
S C E N E V.
E N T E R yEschinus.

A e . Where is that rascal?
Sa. [behind.] H e inquires for me.
Has he brought out the cash with him ?—Confusion !
1 see none.
A e . [to Ctes.] H a ! well m e t : I long'd to see you.
H o w is it, Ctesipho ? All's safe ; away
With melancholy !
Ctes, Melancholy ! I
Be melancholy, who have such a brother?
0 my dear ./Eschinus ! thou best of brothers,
—-Ah, I'm asham'd to praise you to your face,
Lest it appear to come from flattery
Rather than gratitude !
A e , Away, you fool!
As if we did not know each other, Ctesipho.
It only grieves me, we so lately knew this,
W h e n things were almost come to such a pass,
T h a t all the world, had they desir'd to do it,
Could not assist you.
Ctes. ' T w a s my modesty.
A e . Pshaw 1 it was folly, and not modesty.
For such a trifle, almost fly your country?
Heaven forbid it!—fie, fie, Ctesipho !
Ctes, I've been to blame,
Ae, Well, what says Sannio?
D

— 26 —
A e . Ego ad forum ibo, ut hunc absoluam : tu intro ad illam,
Ctesipho.
Sa. Syre, insta. Sy. Eamus : namque hie properat in Cyprum.
Sa. Ne tam quidem :
Quamuis etiam raaneo otiosus hie. Sy. Reddetur : ne time.
Sa. A t ut omne reddat. Sy. Omne reddet: tace modo ac
seqnere hac. Sa. Sequor.
Ct. Heus heus, Syre. Sy. Qnid est! Ct. Obsecro hercle te,
hominem istum inpurissumum
Quam primum absoluitote, ne, si magis inritatus siet,
Aliqua ad patrem hoc permanet atque ego turn perpetuo
perierim.
Sy. Non flet, bono animo e s : tu cum ilia te intus oblecta interim
E t lectulos iube sterni nobis et parari cetera.
Ego iam transacta re conuortam me domum cum obsonio.
Ct. Ita quaeso : quando hoc bene successit, hilare hunc sumamus
diem.

ACTVS III.
SOSTRATA.

CANTHARA.

So. Miseram me, neminem habeo, solae snmus: Geta autem hie
non adest:
Nee quern ad obstetricem mittam, nee qui arcessat Aeschinum.
Ca. Pol is quidem iam hie aderit: nam numquam unum intertit diem,
Quin semper ueniat. So. Solus mearum miseriarumst remedium.
Ca. E re nata melus fieri haud potuit quam factumst, era,
Quando uitium oblatumst, quod ad ilium attinet potissumum,
Talem, tali zngem'o atque animo, natum ex tanta familia.
So. Ita pol est ut dicis: saluos nobis deos quaeso ut siet.

— 27 —
Sy. He's pacified at last,
A e . I'll to the Forum,
And pay him off.—You, Ctesipho, go in
To the poor girl.
Sa. Now urge the matter, S y r u s ! \aftart to Syrus~\.
Sy. Let's go ; for Sannio wants to be at Cyprus.
Sa. Not in such haste : though truly I have no cause
To loiter here.
Sy. You shall be paid : ne'er fear !
Sa. But all?
Sy. Yes, all: so hold your tongue, and follow !
Sa. I will. \^Exit after yEschimis—Syrus
going\
Ctes. H i s t ! hark ye, Syrus !
Sy. \_turning back~\. Well, what now?
Ctes. For heaven's sake discharge that scurvy fellow
Immediately ; for fear, if further urg'd,
This tale should reach my father's e a r s : and then
I am undone forever.
Sy. It sha'nt be.
Be of good courage ! meanwhile, get you in,
And entertain yourself with h e r ; and order
The couches to be spread, and all prepar'd,
For these preliminaries once dispatch'd,
I shall march homewards with provisions.
Ctes. D o !
And since this business has turn'd out so well.
Let's spend the day in mirth and jollity?
\_JBxeunt
severally].

ACT III.
S C E N E I.
SOSTRATA, CANTHARA.
So. Alas, I've no soul h e r e : we're all alone.
Geta is absent; nor is there a creature
T o fetch a nurse, or even /Eschinus.
Ca, He'll be here presently, I promise you :
For he, good man, ne'er lets a single day
Go by, but he is sure to visit us.
So. H e is my only comfort in my sorrows,
Ca. Troth, as the case stands, madam, circumstances
Could not have happen'd better than they have :
And since your daughter is no more a maid,
' T w a s well she met with such a man as t h i s ;
A man of honour, rank, and family.
So. H e is, indeed, a worthy gentleman :
The gods preserve him to u s !

— 28 —
GETA.

SOSTRATA.

CANTHARA.

Ge. Nunc illud est, quom, si omnia omnes sua consilia conferant
Atque huic malo salutem quaerant, auxili nil adferant,
Quod mihique eraeque filiaeque erilist. uae misero m i h i :
Tot res repente circumuallant, unde emergi non potest :
Vis egestas iniustitia solitudo infamia.
Hocine saeclum ! o scelera, o genera sacrilega, o hominem
inpium,
So. Me miseram, quid namst quod sic uideo timidum et properantem Getam?
Ge. quern neque fides nequ ius iurandum neque ilium misericordia
Repressit neque reflexit neque quod partus instabat prope,
Quoi miserae indigne per uim uitium obtulerat. So. Non
intellego
Satis quae loquatur. Ca. Propius obsecro accedamus, Sostrata. Ge. A h
Me miserum, vix sum compos animi, ita ardeo iracudia.
Nil est quod malim quam illam totam familiam dari mi
obuiam,
V t ego iram hanc in eos euomam omnem, dum aegritudo
haec est recens.
Satis mihi habeam supplici, dum, illos ulciscar meo modo.
Seni animam primum extinguerem ipsi, qui illud produxit
scelus:
Turn autem Syrum inpulsorem, uah, quibus ilium lacerarem modis!
Sublimem medium arriperem et capite promim in terram
statuerem,
Vt cerebro dispergat uiam.
Adulescenti ipsi eriperem oculos, post haec praecipitem
darem.
Ceteros ruerem agerem raperem tunderem et prosternerem.
sed cesso eram hoc malo inpertiri propere? So. Reuocemus. Geta.
Ge. H e m , quisquis es, sine me. So. Ego sum Sostrata. Ge.
Vbi east? te ipsam quaerito,
T e expecto : oppido opportune te obtulisti mi obuiam,

— 29 —
S C E N E II.
E N T E R G E T A hastily at another part of the stage.
Ge. W e are now
So absolutely lost, that all the world
Joining in consultation to apply
Relief to the misfortune that has fallen
On me, my mistress, and her daughter, all
Would not avail.
A h me, so many troubles
Environ us at once, we sink beneath them.
Force, poverty, oppression, solitude,
And infamy ! Oh, what ?n age is this !
Oh wicked, oh vile race !—oh impious man !
So. [to Canthara] A h , why should Geta seem thus terrified
And agitated?
Ge. [to himself]
Wretch ! whom neither honour,
Nor oaths, nor pity could control or move !
Nor her approaching labour ; her, to whom
He vowed his love increasing through the years.
So. I don't well understand him.
Ca. Prithee then
Let us draw nearer, Sostrata !
Ge. [to himself]
Alas,
I'm scarcely in my perfect mind, I burn
In such fierce anger.—Oh, that I had all
That villain-family before me now,
That I might vent my indignation on them.
While yet it boils within me.—There is nothing
Fd not endure to be reveng'd on them.
First Fd snuff out the sputtering brand, his father,
W h o gave the monster being.—And then, Syrus,
W h o urg'd him to it,—how I'd tear him !—First
Fd seize him round the waist, and lift him high,
Then dash his head against the ground, and strew
The pavement with his brains.—For yEschinus,
Fd tear his eyes out, and then tumble him,
Head foremost, down some precipice.—-The rest
Fd rush on, drag, crush, trample under foot.
But why do I delay to tell my mistress
This heavy news as soon as possible !
[going].
So. Let's call him back.—Ho, Geta !
Ge. Whosoe'er
You are, excuse me.
So. I am Sostrata.
Ge. Where, where is Sostrata? [turns about].
I sought
you, madam ;
Impatiently I sought you : and am glad
To have encountered you thus readily.

— 30 —
Era.

Ge.

Ge.
So.

Ge.

So.

So. Quid est? quid trepidas? Ge. Ei mi. Ca. Quid
festinas, mi Getar
Animam recipe. Ge. Prorsus. So. Quid istuc ' p r o r s u s '
ergost? Ge. periimus:
Actumst. So. Eloquere, obsecro te, quid sit. Ge. l a m .
So. Quid ' i a m ' , Geta?
Aescbinus So. Quid is ergo? Ge. alienus est ab nostra
familia. So. H e m ,
Perii. qua re? Ge. Amare occepit aliam. So. Vae miserae mihi.
Neque id occulte fert, ab lenone ipsus eripuit palam.
Satin hoc certumst? Ge. C e r t u m : hisce oculis egomet uidi,
Sostrata. So. A h
Me miseram. quid iam credas? aut quoi credas? nostrumne
Aescbinum?
Nostram omnium uitam, in quo nostrae spesbbesque omnes
sitae ?
Qui sine hac iurabat se unum numquam uicturum diem?
Qui se in sui gremio positurum puerum dicebat patris?
Ita obsecraturum, ut liceret hanc se uxorem ducere?
Era, lacrumas mitte ac potius quod ad hanc rem opus est
porro prospice :
Patiamurne an narremus quoipiam? Ca. A u au, mi homo,
sanun es?
A n hoc proferendum tibi uidetur usquam? G e . Mihi quidem
hau placet.
Iam primum ilium alieno animo a nobis esse res ipsaindicat
Nunc si hoc palam proferimus, ille inrltias ibit, sat scio :
Tua fama et gnatae uita in dubium ueniet. turn si maxume
Fateatur, quom amet aliam, non est utile hanc i 11 i dari.
Quapropter quoquo pacto tacitost opus. So. A h minume
gentium :
Non faciam. Ge. Quid ages? So. Proferam. Ca. H e m ,
mea Sostrata, uide quam rem agas.
Peiore res loco non potis est esse quam in quo nunc sitast.

— 31 —
So. W h a t is the matter? why tremble thus?
Ge. A l a s !
So. Take breath !—But why thus mov'd, good Geta?
Ge. We're quite
So. Quite what?
Ge. Undone : we're ruined, madam.
So. Explain, for heaven's sake !
Ge. Ev'n now
So. W h a t now?
Ge. yEschinus
So. W h a t of ^Eschinus?
Ge. Has quite
Estrang'd himself from all our family.
So. How's that? confusion! why?
Ge. He loves another
So. Wretch that I am !
Ge. Nor that candestinely ;
But snatch'd her in the face of all the world
From a procurer.
So. Are you sure of this ?
Ge. Sure ? with these very eyes I saw it, madam.
So. Alas, alas ! W h a t then can we believe ?
To whom give credit?—What? our yEschinus !
Our very life, our sole support and hope !
W h o swore he could not live one day without her,
And promis'd he would place the new-born babe
Upon his father's lap, and in that way
Wring from him his consent to marry h e r !
Ge. Nay, weep not, mistress; but consider rather
What course were best to follow : to conceal
This wrong, or to disclose it to some friend?
Ca. Disclose it! Are'you mad? Is this a thing
To be disclos'd, d'ye think ?
Ge. I'd not advise it.
For first, that he has quite abandoned us
The thing itself declares. If we then make
The story known, ho doubt but he'll deny it.
Your reputation and your daughter's life
Will be endanger'd : or if he confess,
Since he affects another, 'twere not good
T h a t he should wed your daughter ; for which reasons
Silence is requisite.
So. A h , no ; not I.
Ge. W h a t mean you ?
Ga. H o w , madam !
Think what you are about.
So. Whatever happens,
T h e thing can't be in a worse state than now.

— 32 —
Primum indotatast: turn praeterea, quae secunda ei dos erat,
Periit: pro uirgine ea dari nuptum hau potest, hoc relicumst:
Si infitias ibit testis mecum est anulus quern amiserat.
Postremo quando ego conscia mihi sum, a me culpam esse
hanc procul,
Neque pretium neque rem ullam intercessisse ilia aut me
indignam, Geta,
Experiar. Ge. Quid istic? cedo, ut melius dicis. So. Tu
quantum potest
Abi atque Hegioni cognato huius rem enarrato omnem
ordine :
Nam is nostro Simulo fuit summus et nos coluit maxume.
Ge. Nam hercle alius nemo resoicit nos. So. Propere tu, mea
Canthara,
Curre, obstetricem arcesse, ut quom opus sit ne in mora
nobis siet.
DEMEA. SYRVS.
De. Disperii: Ctesiphonem audiui filium
Vna fuisse in raptione cum Aeschino.
Id misero restat mihi mali, si ilium potest,
Qui aliquoi restat, etiam meum ad nequitiem adducere.
Vbi ego ilium quaeram? credo abductum in ganeum
Aliquo : persuasit ille inpurus, sat scio.
Sed eccum Syrum ire video : hinc scibo iam ubi siet.
Atqui hercle hie de grege illost: si me senserit
Eum quaeritare, numquam dicet carnufex.
Non ostendam id me uelle. Sy. Omnem rem modo seni
Quo pacto haberet enarramus ordine.
Nil quicquam uidi laetius. D e . Iuppiter,

In the first place my daughter has no portion,
And that which should have heen her dowry
Is also lost; and she can ne'er be given
In marriage as a virgin. For the rest,
If he denies his former love of her,
I have the ring he lost to vouch the fact.
In short, since I am conscious to myself,
That I am not to blame in this proceeding,
And that no sordid love of gain, nor aught
Unworthy of my daughter or myself,
Has mixt in this affair, I'll try it, Geta.
Ge. Well, I agree, 'twere better to disclose it.
So. You then away, as fast as possible,
And run to Hegio, our good friend and kinsman,
To let him know the whole affair: for he
W a s the chief friend of my dear Simulus,
And ever shew'd a great regard for us.
Ge. And well he does, for no one else cares for us.
So. And you, good Canthara, away with haste,
And call a nurse h e r e ; that we may be sure
Of her assistance in the time of need.
[Exeunt
severally].
S C E N E III.
ENTER DEMEA.

De. Confusion! I have heard that Ctesipho
W a s present with his brother at this riot.
This is the sum of all my miseries,
If he, even he, a sober, hopeful lad,
May be seduc'd into debaucheries.
—But where shall I inquire for him? I warrant
They have decoy'd him into some vile hole.
That profligate persuaded him, I'm sure.
—But here comes S y r u s ; he can tell me all.
And yet this slave is of the g a n g ; and if
H e once perceives that I'm inquiring for him
He'll never tell me anything ; a rogue !
I'll not discover my design.
S C E N E IV.
E N T E R S Y R U S at another part
Sy. \to himself;] We've just
Disclos'd the whole of this affair to Micio,
Exactly as it happen'd. I ne'er saw
The good old gentleman more pleas'd.
De. Oh heav'n,
The folly of the m a n !
E

of the

stage.

[listening."]

— 34r-

De.

Sy.
De.

Sy.

Hominis stultitiam. Sy. Conlaudauit filium i
Mihi, qui id dedissem consilium, egit gratias.
Disrumpor. Sy. Argentum adnumerauit. ilico :
Dedit praeterea in sumptum dimidium minae :
Id distributum sanest ex sententia. De. H e m ,
Huic mandes, siquid recte curatum uelis.
E h e m Demea, haud aspexeram te ; quid agitur ?
Quid agatur? uostram nequeo mirari satis
Rationem. Sy. Est hercle inepta, ne dicam dolo,
Absurda. piscis ceteros purga, Dromo :
Congrum istum maxumum in aqua sinito ludere
Tantisper : ubi ego rediero, exossabitur :
Prius nolo. De. Haecin flagitia! Sy. Mihi quidem hau
placent.
E t clamo saepe. salsamenta haec, Stephanio.
F a c macerentur pulchre. De. Di uostram fidem,
Vtrum studione id sibi habet an laudi putat
Fore, si perdiderit gnatum? uae misero mihi.
Videre uideor iam diem ilium, quom hinc egens
Profugiet aliquo militatum. Sy. O Demea.
Istuc est sapere, non quod ante pedes modost
Videre, sed etiam ilia quae futura sunt
Prospicere. De. Quid.'' istaec iam penes uos psaltriast?
Ellam intus. E e . Eho, an domist habiturus? Sy. credo,
ut est
Dementia. De. Haecin fieri! Sy. Inepta lenitas
Patris et facilitas praua. De. Fratris me quidem.
Pudet pigetque. Sy. Minimum inter uos, Demea,
(Non quia ades praesens dico hoc) pernimium inter est.
T u , quantu's, nil nisi sapientia es,
Hie somnium. num sineres uero ilium tuom

— 35 —
Sy. [to himself.]
H e prais'd his son ;
Me, who concerted the whole scheme, he thank'd.
De. I burst with rage.
[listening,]
Sy. to himself.] H e told the money down
Immediately, and threw us in beside,
To make an entertainment, a half-mina:
Which I've laid out according to my liking.
De. So ! if you'd have your business well ta'en care of,
Commit it to this fellow !
Sy. overhearing.]
Who's there ? Demea !
I did not see you, sir. H o w goes it?
De. H o w ?
I can't sufficiently admire your conduct.
Sy. negligently,]
Silly enough, to say the truth, and idle.
— To servants within,]
Cleanse you the rest of those fish,
D r o m o : let
That large eel play a little in the w a t e r ;
When I return it shall be boned: till then
It must not be.
De. Are crimes like these
Sy. to Demea.] Indeed
I like them not, and oft cry shame upon them.
— To servants within^] See that those salt fish' are well soak'd,
Stephanio.
De. G o d s ! is this done on purpose? Does he think
' T i s laudable to spoil his son? A l a s !
I think I see the day, when yEschinus
Shall fly for want, and list himself a soldier.
Sy. O Demea ! that is to be wise : to see,
Not that alone which lies before your feet,
But ev'n to pry into futurity.
De. What, is the music-girl at your house ?
Sy. Ay,
Madam's within.
De. W h a t ! and is ^Eschinus
T o keep her at home with him ?
Sy. I believe so ;
Such is their madness.
De. Is it possible?
Sy. A fond and foolish father !
De. I'm asham'd
T o own my brother. I'm griev'd for him.
Sy. A h !
There is a deal of difference, Demea,
—Nor is't because you're present, that I say this—
There is a mighty difference between you !
You are, from top to toe, all over w i s d o m :
H e , a mere dotard. Would you e'er permit

— 36 —
Facere haec? De. Sinerem ilium? aut non sex totis mensibus
Prius olfecissem, quam ille quicquam coeperet?
Sy. Vigilantiam tuam tu mihi narras? De. Sic siet
Modo ut nunc est, quaeso. Sy. V t quisque suom uolt esse,
itast.
De. Q u i d e u m ? uidistin hodie? Sy. Tuomnefilum?
Abigam hunc rus. iam dudum aliquid ruri agere arbitror.
De. Satin scis ibi esse? Sy. Oh, qui egomet produxi. De.
Optumest:
Metui ne haereret hie. Sy. Atque iratum admodum.
De. Quid autem ? Sy. Adortus iurgiost fratrem apud forum
De psaltria istac. De. Ain uero ? Sy. A h , nil reticuit.
N a m ut numerabatur forte argentum, interuenit
H o m o de inprouiso : coepit clamare ' o Aeschine,
Haecine flagitia facere te ! haec te admittere
Indigna genere nostro !' D e . Oh, lacrumo gaudio.
Sy ' N o n tu hoc argentum perdis, sed uitam tuam.'
De. Saluos sit: spero, est similis maiorum suom. Sy. H u i .
De. Syre, praeceptorum plenust istorum ille. Sy. Phy :
Domi habuit unde disceret. De. Fit sedulo :
Nil praetermitto : consuefacio : denique
Inspicere tamquam in speculum in uitas omnium
Iubeo atque ex aliis sumere exemplum sibi.
4
Hoc facito.' Sy. Recte sane. De. ' Hod fugito.'
Sy.
Callide.
De. ' H o c laudist/ Sy. Istaec res est. De. ' H o c uitio datur.

— 37 —
Your boy to do such things?
De. Permit him? I ?
Or should I not much rather smell him out
Six months before he did but dream of it?
Sy. Pshaw ! do you boast your vigilance to me ?
De. Heav'n keep him ever as he is at present!
Sy. As fathers form their children, so they prove.
De. But now we're speaking of him, have you seen
The lad to-day ?
[with an affected
carelessness,]
Sy. Your son, d'ye mean?—I'll drive him
Into the country, [aside,]—He tis hard at work
Upon your ground by this time.
[to Demea,]
De. Are you sure on't?
Sy. Sure? I set out with him myself.
De. Good ! good !
I was afraid he loiter'd here.
[aside,]
Sy. And much
Enrag'd, I promise you.
De. On what account?
Sy. A quarrel with his brother at the F o r u m ,
About the music-girl.
De. Indeed?
Sy. Aye, faith:
He did not mince the matter: he spoke o u t ;
For as the cash was telling down, in pops,
All unexpected, Master Ctesipho :
*
Cries o u t , — " O ^Eschinus, are these your courses?
Do you commit these crimes? and do you bring
Such a disgrace upon our family ? "
De. Oh, oh, I weep for joy.
Sy. " Y o u squander not
The money only, but your life, your honour."
De. Heav'n bless him ; he is like his ancestors,
[weeping^]
Sy. Father's own son, I warrant him.
De. O Syrus!
He's full of all those precepts, he !—
Sy. No doubt on't:
H e need not go from home for good instruction.
De. I spare no p a i n s : neglect ho means; I train him.
—In short I bid him look into the lives
Of all, as in a mirror, and thence draw
From others an example for himself.
—"Do this."-—
Sy. Good!
De. " Fly that."
Sy. Very good!
De. " T h i s deed
Is commendable."

— 38 —
Sy. Probissume. De. Porro autem . . Sy. Non hercle otiumst
Nunc mi auscultandi. piscis ex sententia
Nactus sum : ei mihi ne corrumpantur cautiost:
Nam id nobis tarn flagitiumst quam ilia, Demea,
Non facere uobis, quae modo dixti: et quod queo
Conseruis ad eundem istunc praecipio modum :
4
Hoc salsumst, hoc adustumst, hoc lautumst parum :
Illud recte : iterum sic memento :' sedulo
Moneo, quae possum pro mea sapientia:
Postremo tamquam in speculum in patinas, Demea,
Inspicere iubeo et moneo quid facto usus sit.
Inepta haec esse, nos quae facimus, sentio :
Verum quid facias? ut homost, ita morem geras.
Numquid uis? De. Mentem uobis meliorem dari.
Sy. T u rus hinc ibis? De. Recta. Sy. N a m quid tu hie agas,
Vbi siquid bene praecipias, nemo obtemperet?
De. Ego uero hinc abeo, quando is, quam obrem hue ueneram,
Rus abiit: ilium euro u n u m : ille ad me attinet,
Quando ita uolt frater: de istoc ipse uiderit.
Sed quis illic est, quern uideo procul? estne Hegio
Tribulis noster? si satis cerno, is est hercle : uah,
H o m o amicus nobis iam inde a puero : di boni,
N e illius modi iam magna nobis ciuium
Penuriast antiqua uirtute ac fide
Haud cito mali quid ortum ex hoc sit publice.
Quam gaudeo ! ubi etiam huius generis reliquias
Restare uideo, uiuere etiam nunc lubet.
Opperiar hominem hie, ut salutem et conloquar.

-39 —
Sy. That's the thing.
De. " That's reprehensible."
Sy. Most excellent!
De. " A n d then moreover
"
Sy. Faith, I have not time
To give you further audience just at present,
I've got an admirable dish of fish ;
And I must take good care they are not spoilt.
For that were an offense as grievous, Demea In us, as 'twere in you to leave undone
The things you just now mentioned: and I try,
According to my weak abilities,
To teach my fellow slaves the self-same way.
— " T h i s is too>salt.—This is burnt up too much.
That is not nice and cleanly.—That's well done.
Mind, and do so again."—I spare no pains,
And give them the best precepts that I can.
In short, I bid them look into the dishes,
The duty of a cook.—This school of our's,
I own is idle: but what can you do?
According to the man must be the lesson.
—Would you aught else with us?
De. Your reformation.
Sy. Do you go hence into the country ?
De. Straight.
Sy.' For what should you do here, where nobody,
However good your precepts, cares to mind them?
SCENE V.
DEMEA

alone.

I then will hence, since he, on whose account
I hither came, has gone into the country.
He is my only care, He's my concern.
My brother, since he needs will have it so,
May look to ./Eschinus himself.
But who
Is coming yonder ? Hegio, of our tribe ?
If I see plainly, beyond doubt 'tis he.
A h , we've been old acquaintance quite from b o y s :
And such men now-a-days are wondrous scarce.
A citizen of ancient faith and virtue !
The commonwealth will ne'er reap harm from him.
.How I rejoice to see but the remains
Of this old stock! A h , life's a pleasure now*
I'll wait, that I may ask about his health,
And have a little conversation with him.

\_Exit\.

— 40 —
HEGIO.

GETA.

DEMEA.

PAMPHILA.

H e . Pro di inmortales, facinus indignum, Geta,
Quid narras. Ge. Sic est factum. H e . E x Man familia
Tarn inliberale facinus esse ortum ! o Aeschine,
Pol haud paternum istuc dedisti. De. Videlicet
De psaltria hac audiuit: id illi nunc dolet
Alieno. pater eius nili pendit: ei mihi,
Vtinam hie prope ads/t alicubi atque haec audiat.
H e . Nisi facient quae illos aequomst, haud sic auferent.
Ge. In te spes omnis, Hegio, nobis sitast:
T e solum habemus, tu es patronus, tu p a t e r :
Ille tibi moriens nos commendauit senex:
Si deseris tu, periimus. H e . Caue dixeris :
Neque faciam neque me satis pie posse arbitror.
De. Adibo. saluere Hegionem plurimum
Iubeo. H e . Oh, te quaerebam ipsum : salue, D e m e a .
De. Quid autem ? H e . Maior filius tuos Aeschinus,
Quern fratri adoptandum dedisti, neque boni
Neque liberalis functus officiumst uiri.
De. Quid istuc est? H e . Nostrum amicum noras Simulum
Aequalem? De. Quid ni? H e . Filiam eius uirginem
Vitiauit. De. H e m . H e . Mane : non dum audisti, Demea,
Quod est grauissumum. De. An quid est etiam amplius?
H e . Vero a m p l i u s : nam hoc quidem ferundum aliquo modost:
Persuasit nox amor uinum adulescentia :
Humanumst. ubi scit factum, ad matrem uirginis
Venit ipsus ultro lacrumans orans obsecrans
Fidem dans, iurans se illam ducturum domum.
Ignotumst, tacitumst, creditumst.
Ille bonus uir nobis psaltriam, si dis placet,
Parauit, quicum uiuat: illam deserit.

~_41 —
SCENE VI.
E N T E R H E G I O AND G E T A conversing

at a

distance.

H e . Good heaven! a most unworthy action, Geta?
Ge. Ev'n so.
H e . A deed so base
Sprung from that family?—O ./Eschinus,
I'm sure this was not acting like your father.
De. \_behind.~] So ! he has heard about this music-girl,
And is affected at it, tho' a stranger,
While his good father things it nothing.
Oh monstrous ! would that he were somewhere nigh%,
And heard all this !
He. Unless they do what's just,
They shall not carry off the matter thus.
Ge. Our only hope is in you, Hegio.
You're our sole friend, our guardian and our father ;
The good old Simulus on his death-bed,
Bequeath'd us to your care. If you desert us,
We are undone indeed.
He. Ah, name it not!
I will not, and with honesty I cannot.
De. I'll go up to him.—Save you, H e g i o ! ,
H e . The man I look'd for.—Save you, Demea !
De. Your pleasure !
H e . yEschinus, your elder son,
Adopted by your brother, has committed
A deed unworthy of a honest man,
And of a gentleman.
De. H o w so ?
H e . You knew
Our friend and good acquaintance, Simulus?
De. Aye sure.
H e . H e has abused his daughter.
De. H o w !
H e . Hold, Demea, for the worst is still to come.
De. Is there aught worse ?
H e . Much worse : for this was frailty of his youth.
Soon as his sense returning made him conscious
Of his rash action, of his own accord
H e came to the girl's mother, weeping, praying,
Entreating, vowing constancy, and swearing
That he would take her home.—He was forgiven;
The thing concealed; and his vows credited.
But now what think ye ?—He, good gentleman,
Has got a music-girl, heav'n bless the mark?
With whom he means to live, and quit the other.
De. And are you well assur'd of this?

— 42 —
De. Pro certon tu istaec dicis? H e . Mater uirginis
In mediost, ipsa uirgo, res ipsa, hie Geta
Praeterea, ut captus est seruorum, non malus
Neque iners: alit illas, solus oranera familiam
Sustentat: hunc abduce, uinci, quaere rem.
Ge. Irnmo hercle extorque, nisi ita factumst, Demea ;
Postremo non negabit: coram ipsum cedo.
De. P u d e t : nee quid agam neque quid huic respondeam
Scio. Pa. Miseram me, differor doloribus.
H e . Hem :
Illaec fidem nunc uostram inplorat, Demea,
Quod ius uos cogit, id uoluntate inpetret.
H a e c primum ut fiant deos quaeso ut uobis decet.
Sin aliter animus uoster est, ego, Demea,
Summa ui defendam hanc atque ilium mortuom.
Cognatus mihi erat: una a pueris paruolis
Sumus educti: una semper militiae et domi
Fuimus : paupertatem una pertulimus grauem.
Quapropter nitar, faciam, experiar, denique
Animam relinquam potius quam illas deseram.
Quid mihi respondes? De. Fratrem conueniam, Hegio.
H e . Sed, Demea, hoc tu facito cum animo cogites,
Quam uos facillume agitis, quam estis maxume
Potentes dites fortunati nobiles,
Tarn maxume uos aequo animo aequa noscere
Oportet, si uos uoltis perhiberi probos.
De. Redito : fient quae fieri aequomst omnia.
H e . Decet te facere. Geta, due me intro ad Sostratam.
D e . Non me indicente haec fiunt: utinam hie sit modo
Defunctum : uerum nimia illaec licentia
Profecto euadit in aliquod magnum malum.
Ibo ac requiram fratrem, ut in eum haec euomam.
HEGIO.
Bono animo fac sis, Sostrata, et istam quod potes

— 43 —
He. T h e mother,
T h e girl, the fact itself, are all before you,
Joining to vouch the truth on't. And besides,
This Geta here—?s servants go, no bad one,
Nor given up to idleness—maintains them ;
T h e sole support of all the family.
Ge. Ay, torture me, if 'tis not so, good D e m e a !
Nay, /Eschinus, I'm sure, will not deny it.
Bring me before him.
De. [aside.'] I'm asham'd : and what
To do, or what to say to him, I know n o t
Pamphila. [within.] A h m e ! I die with grief!
He. H a r k ! she now calls upon your justice, D e m e a !
Grant her then freely what law else will claim.
And heaven send that you may rather do
W h a t honour bids! but if you mean it not,
Be sure of this; that with my utmost force
I'll vindicate the girl, and her dead father';
H e was my kinsman ; we were bred together
From children ; and our fortunes twin'd together,
In war, and peace, and bitter poverty.
Wherefore I'll try, endeavour, strive, nay los§) *
My life itself, before I will forsake them.
—What is your answer?
De. I'll find out my brother :
W h a t he advises I will follow, Hegio.
He. But still remember, Demea, that the more
You live at ease ; the more your pow'r, your wealth,
Your riches, and nobility ; the more
It is your duty to act honourably,
If you regard the name of honest men.
De. Go to : we'll do you justice.
He. ' T w i l l become you,
Geta, conduct me into Sostrata.
[Exit with Geta.]
SCENE VII.
D E M E A alone.
This is more than I foretold: and well
If his intemp'rance would stop here I—But this
Immoderate indulgence must produce
Some terrible misfortune in the end.
—I'll hence, find out my brother, tell my news,
And empty all my indignation upon him.
[Exit.]
SCENE VIII.
R E - E N T E R H E G I O , SPEAKING TO S O S T R A T A at the
Be of good cheer, my Sostrata ; and comfort,
As much as in your pow'r, poor Pamphila I

door.

— 44 —
Fac consolere. ego Micionem, si apud forumst,
Conueniam atque ut res gestast narrabo ordine :
Si est, is facturus ut sit officium suom,
F a c i a t : sin aliter de hac re est eius sententia,
Respondeat mi, ut quid agam quam primum sciam.

ACTVSIV.
CTESIPHO.

SYRVS.

Ct. Ain patrem hinc abisse rus? Sy. l a m dudum. Ct. Die
sodes. Sy. Apud uillamst:
Nunc quom maxume operis aliquid facere credo." Ct.
Vtinam q u i d e m :
Quod cum salute eius fiat, ita se defetigarit uelim,
Vt triduo hoc perpetuo prorsum e lecto nequeat surgere.
Sy. Ita fiat, et istoc siquid potis est rectius. Ct. I t a : nam hunc
diem
Misere nimis cupio, ut coepi, perpetuom in laetitia degere.
E t illud rus nulte alia causa tarn male odi, nisi quia
Propest: quod si esset longius,
Prius nox oppressisset illic, quam hue reuorti posset iterum.
Nunc ubi me illic non uidebit, iam hue recurret, sat scio :
Rogitabit me, ubi fuerim : 'ego hoc te toto non uidi d i e : '
Quid dicam?
Sy. Nilne in mentemst?
Ct. Numquam
quicquam. Sy. Tanto nequior.
Cliens amicus hospes nemost uobis ? Ct. S u n t : quid postea ?
Sy. Hisce opera ut data sit. Ct. Quae non data sit? non potest
fieri. Sy. Potest.
Ct. Interdiu : sed si hie pernocto, causae quid dicam, Syre ?
Sy. V a h , quam uellem etiam noctu amicis operam mos esset
dari.

— 45 —
I'll find out Micio, if he's at the Forum,
And tell him the whole story : if he'll act
With honour in it, why 'tis well; if not,
Let him but speak his mind to me, and then
I shall know how to act accordingly.

[I£xzt.~]

ACT IV.
S C E N E I.
CTESIPHO.

SYRUS.

Ctes. My father gone into the country, say you ?
Sy. Long since.
Ctes. Nay ; speak the truth !
Sy. He's at his farm,
And hard at work, I warrant you.
Ctes. I wish,
So that his health were not the worse for it,
He might so heartily fatigue himself,
As to be forc'd to keep his bed these three days!
Sy. I wish so too ; and more, if possible.
Ctes. With all my heart: for I would fain consume,
As I've begun the live-long day in pleasure.
Nor do I hate that farm of our's so much
For any thing, as that it is so near.
For if 'twas at a greater distance, night
Would come upon him, ere he could return.
But now, not finding me, I'm very sure
He'll hobble back again immediately ;
Question me where I've been, that I've not seen him
All the day long; and what shall I reply ?
Sy. W h a t ? can you think of nothing ?
Ctes. No, not I.
Sy, So much the worse.—Have you no client, friend,
Or guest ?
Ctes. I have. W h a t then ?
Sy. You've been engag'd
With them.
Ctes. When not engag'd ? It cannot be,
Sy, It may.
Ctes. Ay marry, for the day I grant you.
But if I pass the night here, what excuse
Then, Syrus?
Sy. A h ! I would it were the custom

— 46 —
Quin tu otiosus e s : ego illius sensum pulchre calleo.
Quom feruit maxume, tarn placidum quasi ouem reddo. Ct.
Quo modo?
Sy. Laudarier te audit lubenter: facio te apud ilium deum :
Virtutes narro.
Ct. Meas?
Sy. T u a s : hornini ilico
lacrumae cadunt
Quasi puero gaudio. en tibi autem. Ct. Quid namst? Sy.
Lupus in fabula.
Ct. Pater est?
Sy. Is ipsust. Ct. Syre, quid agimus? Sy.
Fuge modo intro, ego uidero.
Ct. Siquid rogabit, nusquam tu m e : audistin? Sy. Potin ut
desinas ?
DEMEA.

CTESIPHO.

SYRVS.

De. N e ego homo infelix: primum fratrem nusquam inuenio
gentium :
Praeterea autem, dum ilium quaero, a uilla mcrcennarium
V i d i : is filium negat esse r u r i : nee quid agam scio.
Ct. Syre. Sy. Quid est? Ct. Men quaerit? Sy. Verum. Ct.
Perii. Sy. Quin tu animo bono es.
De. Quid hoc, malum, infelicitatis? nequeo satis decernere :
Nisi me credo huic esse natum rei, ferundis miseriis.
Primus sentio mala nostra : primus rescisco omnia :
Primus porro obnuntio: aegre solus, siquid fit, fero.
Sy. Rideo hunc : primum ait se scire : is solus nescit omnia.
De. Nunc redeo : si forte frater redierit uiso. Ct. Syre,

— 47 —
To be engag'd at night too with one's friends!
—But be at ease! I know his mind so well,
That when he raves the loudest, I can make him
As gentle as a lamb.
Ctes. H o w so?
Sy. H e loves
To hear you prais'd. I sing your praises to him,
And make you a little god.
Ctes. M e !
Sy. You.
And then the old man blubbers like a child
For very joy.—But have a care ?
{looking out.~\
Ctes. W h a t now?
Sy. T h e wolf i'th'fable !
Ctes. W h a t , my father?
Sy. H e .
Ctes. What's the best, Syrus?
Sy. In ! fly ! I'll take care.
Ctes. You have not seen me, if he asks: d'ye hear?
Sy. Can't you be quiet?
[Pushes out Ctesiftko.~\
S C E N E II.
E N T E R D E M E A at another part

of the

stage.

De. Verily I am
A most unhappy man ! for, first of all,
I cannot find my brother a n y w h e r e :
And then besides, in looking after him,
I chanc'd on one of my day labourers,
W h o had but newly left my farm, and told me
Ctesipho was not there. W h a t shall I do ?
Ctes. [peeping out.~\ Syrus?
1
Sy. W h a t ?
^
Ctes. Does he seek me?
I ^
Sy. Yes.
[ f^
Ctes. U n d o n e !
*
Sy. Courage!
J
De. [to himself]
Plague on it, what ill luck is this !
I can't account for i t : but I believe
That I was born for nothing but misfortunes.
I am the first who feels our woes, the first
W h o knows of them : the first who tells the n e w s :
And come what may I bear the weight alone.
Sy. [behind.~\ Ridiculous ! he says he knows all first;
And he alone is ignorant of all.
De. I'm now return'd to see if Micio
Be yet come home again.

— 48 —

vSy.
Sy.
De.
Sy.
Sy.
De.

De.
Sy.
De.

Obsecro, uide ne ille hue prorsus se inruat. Sy. Etiam
taces ?
Ego cauebo. Ct. N u m q u a m hercle hodie ego istuc committam tibi:
Nam me iam in cellam aliquam cum ilia concludam : id
tutissumumst.
Age, tamen ego hunc amouebo. De. Sed eccum sceleratum
Syrum.
Non hercle hie qui uolt durare quisquam, si sic fit, potest.
Scire equidem uolo, quot mihi sint domini: quae haec est
miseria !
Quid ille gannit? quid uolt? quid ais, bone uir? est frater
domi ?
Quid malum 'bone uir' mihi narras? equidem peril. De.
Quid tibist?
Rogitas? Ctesipho me pugnis miserum et istam psaltriam
Vsque occidit. De. H e m , quid narras? Sy. E m , uide ut
discidit labrum.
Q u a m obrem? Sy. Me inpulsore hanc emptam esse ait.
De. Non tu eum rus hinc modo
Produxe aibas? Sy. F a c t u m : uerum uenit post insaniens:
Nil pepercit. non puduisse uerberare hominem senem !
Quern ego modo puerum tantillum in manibus gestaui meis.
L a u d o : Ctesipho, patrissas: abi, uirum te iudico.
Laudas? ne ille continebit posthac, si sapiet, manus.
Fortiter.
Sy. Perquam, quia miseram mulierem et me
seruolum,
Qui referire non audebam, uicit: hui, perfortiter.

— 49 —
Ctes. [-peeping out."] Take care good Syrus,
H e don't rush in upon us unawares!
Sy. Peace ! I'll take care.
Ctes. 'Faith, I'll not trust to you,
But shut myself and her in some bye place
Together ; that's the safest.
Sy. Well, away !
[ Ctesipho
disappears^]
I'll drive the old man hence, I warrant you.
J
De. [seeing Syrus."] But see that rascal Syrus coming
hither!
Sy. [advancing
hastily,
and pretending
not to see
Demea.]
By Hercules, there is no living here,
For any one, at this rate.—I'd fain know
H o w many masters I'm to have.—-Oh monstrous!
De. W h a t does he howl for? what's the meaning on't?
H a r k ye, my good sir ! prithee tell me if
My brother be at home.
Sy. My good sir I Plague !
W h y do you come with your good sirs to me ?
I'm half kill'd.
De. What's the matter?
Sy. What's the matter !
Ctesipho, vengeance on him, fell upon me,
And cudgell'd me and the poor music-girl
Almost to death.
De. Indeed?
Sy. Indeed. Nay see
H o w he has cut my lip.
[pretending
to shew it.]
De. On what account?
Sy. T h e girl, he says, was bought by my advice.
De. Did not you say you saw him out of town
A little while ago ?
Sy. A n d so I did.
But he came back soon after, like a madman.
H e had no mercy.—Was not he asham'd
T o beat a poor old fellow ? to beat m e ;
W h o bore him in my arms bnt t'other day,
An urchin thus high?
[shelving.]
D e . Oh. rare, Ctesipho !
Father's own son ! a man, I warrant him.
Sy. Oh rare, d'ye cry? I'faith, if he is wise
He'll hold his hands another time.
De. Oh brave!
Sy. Oh mighty brave, indeed ! Because he beat
A helpless girl, and me a wretched slave,
W h o durst not strike again;—oh, to be sure,
Mighty brave, truly!

- 5 0 D e . Non potuit melius, idem quod ego sensit te esse huic rei
caput.
Sed estne frater intus?
Sy. Non est.
De. Vbi ilium
inueniam cogito.
Sy. Scio ubi sit, uerum hodie numquam monstrabo. De. H e m ,
quid ais? Sy. Ita.
.De. Dimminuetur tibi quidem iam cerebrum. .Sy. At nomen
nescio
Illius hominis, sed locum noui ubi sit. De. Die ergo locum.
Sy. Nostin porticum apud macellum hac deorsum? De. Quid
ni nouerim?
Sy. Praeterito hac recta platea sursum : ubi eo ueneris,
Cliuos deorsum uorsum e s t : hac te praecipitato : postea
Est ad hanc manum sacellum : ibi angiportum propter est,
De. Qua nam ? Sy. Illi ubi etiam caprificus magna est. De.
Noui. Sy. H a c pergito.
D e . Id quidem angiportum non est peruium. Sy. Verum hercle
uah,
Censen hominem me esse? erraui: in porticum rursum r e d i :
Sane hac multo propius ibis et minor est erratio.
Scin Cratini huius ditis aedis? De. Scio. Sy. Vbi eas
praeterieris,
A d sinistram hac recta platea; ubi ad Dianae ueneris,
Ito ad dextram : prius quam ad portam uenias, apud ipsum
lacum
Est pistrilla et exaduorsum fabrica : ibist. De. Quid ibi
facit ?
Sy. Lectulos in sole ilignis pedibus faciundos dedit.
De. Vbi potetis uos : bene sane, sed cesso ad eum pergere ?

— 51 —
D e . Oh, most exquisite !
My Ctesipho perceived, as well as I,
T h a t you were the contriver of this business.
—But is my brother here ?
Sy. Not he.
De. I'm thinking
Where I shall seek him.
Sy. I know where he is :
But I'll not tel|.,
De. H o w , sirrah?
Sy. Even so.
De. I'll break your head.
Sy. I cannot tell the name
Of him he's gone to, but I know the place.
De. Well, where's the place ?
Sy. D'ye know the Portico
Just by the market, down this way ?
[pointing."]
De. I do.
Sy. Go up that street; keep straight along : and then
You'll see a h m ; go straight down t h a t : and then
On this hand there's a chapel; and just by,
A narrow lane.
[pointing,,]
De. W h e r e ?
[looking J\
Sy. There ! by the great wild fig-tree.
D'ye know it, sir ?
De. I do.
Sy. Go through that lane.
De. T h a t lane's ho thoroughfare.
Sy. Aye, very true :
No more it is, sir.—What a fool I am !
I was mistaken—You must go quite back
Into the Portico ; and after all,
This is the nearest and the safest way.
—D'ye know Cratinus' house ? the rich man ?
De. Aye.
Sy. W h e n you've pass'd that, turn short upon the left,
Keep straight along that street, and when you reach
Diana's Temple, turn upon the right.
And then, on this side of the city gate,
Just by the pond, there is a baker's shop,
And opposite a joiner's.—There he is.
De. W h a t business has he there?
Sy. H e has bespoke
Some tables to be made with oaken legs
T o stand the sun. ,
De. For you to drink upon.
Oh brave ! But I lose time. I'll after him.
[Exit
hastily.]

— 52 —
Sy. I s a n e : ego te exercebo hodie, ut dignus es, silicernium.
Aeschinus odiose cessat: prandium corrumpitur :
Ctesipho autem in amorest totus. ego iam prospiciam m i h i :
N a m iam adibo atque unum quicquid, quod quidem erit
bellissumum,
Carpam et cyathos sorbilans paulatim hunc producam diem.
MICIO.

HEGIO.

Mi. Ego in hac re nil reperio, quam obrem lauder tanto opere,
Hegio.
Meum 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,
E t ultro accusant: id quia non est a me factum, agis gratias?
H e . A h , m i n u m e : numquam te aliter atque es in animum induxi
meum.
Sed quaeso ut una mecum ad matrem uirginis eas, Micio,
Atque istaec eadem quae mihi dixti tute dicas mulieri:
Suspitionem hanc propter fratrem eius esse et illam psaltriam
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Mi. Si ita aequom censes aut si ita opus est facto, eamus. H e .
Bene facis:
N a m et illic animum iam releuaris, quae dolore ac miseria
Tabescit, et tuom officium fueris functus, sed si aliter putas,
Egomet narrabo quae mihi dixti. Mi. Immo ego ibo. H e .
Bene facis:
Omnes, quibus res sunt minus secundae, magis sunt nescio
quo modo
Suspitiosi: ad contumeliam omnia accipiunt magis :
Propter suam inpotentiam se semper credunt ludier.
Quapropter te ipsum purgare ipsi coram placabilius est.

— 53 —
S C E N E III.
SYRUS

alone.

Aye, go your ways ! I'll work your old shrunk shanks
A s you deserve, old Drybones !
yEschiaxis
Loiters intolerably. Dinner's spoiPd.
Ctesipho thinks of nothing but his girl.
'Tis time for me to look to myself too.
Faith, then I'll in immediately; pick out
All the tid-bits, and tossing off my cups,
In lazy leisure lengthen out the day.
SCENE IV.
E N T E R M I C I O AND H E G I O .
Mi. I can see nothing in this matter, Hegio,
Wherein I merit so much commendation.
'Tis but my duty to redress the wrongs
T h a t we have caus'd: unless perhaps you took me
For one of those, who, having injur'd you,
T e r m fair expostulation an affront;
And having first offended, are the first
T o turn accusers.—I've not acted thus :
And is't for this that I am thank'd ?
H e . A h , no ;
I never thought you other than you are.
But let me beg you, Micio, go with me
T o the young woman's mother, and repeat
Yourself to her what you have just told me :
—That the suspicion, falPn on ^Eschinus,
Sprang from his brother and that he had seized
T h e music-girl to aid him secretly.
Mi. If you believe I ought, or think it needful,
Let's g o !
H e . 'Tis very kind in you : for thus
You'll raise her spirit, drooping with the load
Of grief and misery, and have perform'd
Ev'ry good office of benevolence.
But if you like it not, I'll go myself,
And tell her the whole story.
Mi. N o , I'll go.
H e . 'Tis good and tender in your nature, Micio.
F o r they, whose fortunes are less prosperous,
A r e all, I know not how, the more suspicious;
And think themselves neglected and contemn'd
Because of their distress and poverty.
Wherefore I think 'twould satisfy them more,

\Exit.~\

— 54 —
Mi. E t recte et uerum dicis. H e . Sequere me ergo hac intro.
Mi. Maxume.
^ESCHINVS.
Discrucior a n i m i : hocine de inprouiso mihi mali obici
Tantum, ut neque quid de me faciam nee quid agam certum
siet!
Membra metu debilia sunt: animus timore
Obstipuit: pectore nil sistere consili quit.
Vah, quo modo hac me expediam turba? tanta nunc
Suspitio de me incidit :
Neque ea inmerito : Sostrata
Credit mihi me psaltriam hanc emisse : id anus mi indicium
fecit.
Nam ut hinc forte ea ad obstetricem erat missa, ubi earn uidi,
ilico
Accedo : rogito, Pamphila quid agat.
Ilia exclamat ' a b i , a b i : iam, Aeschine,
Satis diu dedisti uerba : sat adhuc tua nos frustratast fides.'
" H e m , quid istuc obsecro" inquam " e s t ? " ' ualeas, habeas
illam quae placet.'
Sensi ilico id illas suspicari : sed reprendi me tamen,
Nequid de fratre garrulae i 11 i dicerem ac fieret palam.
Nunc quid faciam? dicam fratris esse hanc? quod minumest
opus
Vsquam ecferri: ac mitto : fieri potis est ut nequa exeat.
Ipsum id metuo ut credant: tot concurrunt ueri similia :
Egomet r a p u i : ipse egomet solui argentum : ad me abductast domum.
Haec adeo mea culpa fateor fieri, non me hanc rem patri,
Vt ut erat gesta, indicasse ! exorassem ut earn ducerem.
Cessatum usque adhuc est: nunc porro, Aeschine, expergiscere :
Nunc hoc primumst: ad illas ibo, ut purgem me. accedam
ad foris.
P e r i i : horresco semper, ubi pultare hasce occipio miser.
Heus h e u s : Aeschinus ego sum.
aperite aliquis actutum
ostium.
Prodit nescio quis : concedam hue.

— 55 —
If you would clear up this affair yourself.
Mi. W h a t you have said is just, and very true.
H e . Let me conduct you in !
Mi. With all my my heart.

\_JExeunt.~\

SCENE V.
^ESCHINUS

alone.

Oh torture to my mind ! that this misfortune
Should come thus unexpectedly upon me !
I know not what to do, which way to turn,
Fear shakes my limbs, amazement fills my soul.
And in my breast despair shuts out all counsel.
A h , by what means can I acquit myself?
Such a suspicion is now fallen on me ;
And that, too, grounded on appearances.
Sostrata thinks that on my own account
I bought the music-girl. That's plain enough
From the old nurse. For meeting her by chance,
As she was sent from hence to call in help
I ran, and ask'd her of my Pamphila.
Thereon, contemptuous :—" Go, go, vile ./Eschinus !
Away, you have deceiv'd us long enough,
Fool'd us long enough with your fine promises,"
Cried s h e . — " W h a t n o w ? " says I . — " F a r e w e l l , enjoy
T h e girl that you're so taken with !"—I saw
Immediately their cause of jealousy :
Yet I contain'd myself, nor would disclose
My brother's business to the tattling gossip,
By whom the knowledge on't might be betray'd.
—But what shall I do now? shall I confess
T h e girl to be my brother's ; an affair
Which should by no means be revealed ?—But not
T o dwell on that.—Perhaps they'd not disclose it.
Nay, I much doubt if they would credit i t :
So many proofs concur against myself
I bore her off: I paid the money down ;
She was brought home to me,—All this, I own,
Is my own fault. For should I not have told
My father, be it as it might, the whole?
I should, I doubt not, have obtained his leave
T o marry Pamphila.—What indolence
Ev'n till this hour ! Now, -^Eschinus, awake !
—But first I'll go and clear myself to them.
I'll to the door, [goes up.~\ Confusion ! how I tremble !
H o w guilty-like I seem, when I approach
This house ! [knocks.~\ Hola ! within ! ' Tis I ;

— 56 —
MICIO.

^SCHINVS.

Mi. Ita uti dixi, Sostrata,
F a c i t e : ego Aeschinum conueniam, ut quo modo acta haec
sunt sciat.
Sed quis ostium hoc pultauit? A e . Pater hercle est, perii.
Mi. Aeschine,
A e . Quid huic hie negotist? Mi. tune has pepulisti foris?
Tacet. quor non ludo hunc aliquantisper? melius est,
Quandoquidem hoc numquam mi ipse uoluit dicere.
Nil mihi respondes? A e . Non equidem istas, quod sCiam.
Mi. Ita : nam mirabar, quid hie negoti esset tibi.
E r u b u i t : salua res est. A e . Die sodes, pater,
Tibi uero quid istic est rei ? Mi. Nil est mihi quidem.
Amicus quidam me a foro abduxit modo.
H u e aduocatum sibi. A e . Quid? Mi. Ego dicam tibi:
Habitant hie quaedam mulieres pauperculae :
V t opinor has non nosse te, et certo scio:
Neque enim diu hue commigrarunt. A e . Quid turn postea?
Mi. Virgo est cum matre. A e . Perge. Mi. H a e c uirgo orbast
patre:
H i e meus amicus illi generest proxumus:
Huic leges cogunt nubere hanc. Ae. Perii. Mi. Quid est?
A e . N i l ; recte : perge. Mi. Is uenit ut secum auehat:
N a m habitat Mileti. Ae. H e m , uirginem ut secum auehat?
Mi. Sic est. A e . Miletum usque obsecro? Mi. Ita. A . Animo
malest.
Quid ipsae? quid aiunt? Quid illas censes? nil enim.

— 57 —
?

T i s ^Eschinus. Come, open somebody
The door immediately !—Who's here ! A stranger?
I'll step aside.

[Retires.]

SCENE VI.
ENTER MICIO.

Mi. [to Sostrata within,] Do as I have told you, Sostrata.
I'll find out /Eschinus, and tell him all,
But who knock'd at the door?
[comingforward.]
[yEschinus
behind.] By heav'n, my father !
Confusion !
Mi. [seeing him.] ^Eschinus !
Ae. W h a t does he here?
[aside.]
Mi. Was't you that knock'd! What, not a w o r d ! Suppose
I banter him a little.' H e deserves it,
For never trusting this affair to me.
[aside.]
— W h y don't you speak ?
Ae. Not I, as I remember.
[disordered.]
Mi. No, I dare say, not you : for I was wond'ring
W h a t business could have brought you here.—He blushes.
All's safe, I find.
[aside.]
Ae. [recovering.]
But prithee, tell me, sir,
W h a t brought you here?
Mi. No business of my own.
But a friend drew me hither from the F o r u m ,
T o be his advocate.
A e . In what.
Mi. I'll tell you.
This house is tenanted by some poor women,
W h o m , I believe, you know not;—nay, I'm sure on't,
F o r 'twas but lately they came over hither.
A e . Well?
Mi. A young woman and her mother.
Ae. Well?
Mi. T h e father's dead.—This friend of mine, it seems,
Being her next relation by the law,
Is forc'd to marry her.
Ae. I'm gone.
[aside.]
Mi. H o w ?
A e . Nothing.—Well?—go on, sir! —
Mi. He's now come
T o take her home, for he is of Miletus.
A e . H o w ! take her home with him?
Mi. Yes, take her home.
A e . W h a t , to Miletus?

Mi. Ay.
H

»

— 58 —

Ae.
Mi.

Mi.

Mi.

Mi.

Ae.

Commenta mater est, esse ex alio uiro
Nescio quo puerum natum : neque eum nominat:
Priorem esse ilium, non oportere huic dari.
E h o , nonne haec iusta tibi uidetur poscere?
Non. A e . Obsecro non? an illam hinc abducet, pater?
Mi. Quid illam ni abducat? Ae. Factum a uobis duriter
Inmisericorditerque atque etiam, si est, pater,
Dicendum magis aperte, inliberaliter.
Quam obrem? A e . Rogas me? quid illi tandem creditis
Fore animi misero, qui cum ea consueuit prior.'
Qui infelix hauscio an illam misere nunc amat,
Quom hanc sibi uidebit praesens praesentem eripi,
Abduci ab oculis? facinus indignum pater.
Qua ratione istuc? quis despondit? quis dedit?
Quoi quando nupsit? auctor his rebus quis est?
Quor duxit alienam? Ae. An sedere oportuit
Domi uirginem tarn grandem, dum cognatus hinc
Illinc ueniret expectantem ? haec, mi pater,
T e dicere aequom iuit et id defendere.
Ridiculum : aduorsumne ilium causam dicerem,
Quoi ueneram aduocatus? sed quid ista, Aeschine,
Nostra? aut quid nobis cum illis? abeamus. quid est?
Quid lacrumas? A e . Pater obsecro, ausculta. Mi. Aeschine,
audiui omnia
Et scio: nam te a m o : quo magis quae agis curae sunt
mihi.
Ita uelim me promerentem ames, dum uiuas, mi pater,
V t me hoc delictum admisse in me, id mihi uementer dolet
E t me tui pudet. Mi. Credo hercle : nam ingenium noui
tuom

— 59 —
Ae. Oh torture! \_aside."\— Well?
W h a t say the women?
Mi. W h y , what should they? Nothing.
Indeed the mother has devis'd a tale
About her daughter's having had a child
By some one else, but never mentions whom ;
His claim, she says, is prior; and my friend
Ought not to have her.
Ae. Well ? and did not this
Seem a sufficient reason ?
Mi. No.
Ae. No, sir?
And shall this next relation take her off?
Mi. Ay to be sure : why not?
Ae. Oh barbarous, cruel!
And to speak plainly, sir—ungenerous !
Mi. W h y so?
A e . W h o so, sir?—What d'ye think
Will come of him, the poor unhappy youth
W h o was connected with her first—who still
Loves her, perhaps, as dearly as his life ;
When he shall see her torn out of his arms,
And borne away forever?—Oh shame, shame !
Mi. Where is the shame on't?—Who betroth'd, who gave
her ?
When was she married ? and to whom ? W h e r e is he,
And wherefore did he wed another's right?
Ae. W a s it for her, a girl of such an age,
T o sit at home, expecting till a kinsman
Came, nobody knows whence, to marry her?
—This, sir, it was your business to have said,
And to have dwelt on it.
Mi. Ridiculous!
Should I have pleaded against him, to whom
I came an advocate?—But after all,
g h a t ' s this affair to us ? or what have we
T o do with them ? Let's go ?—Ha ! why those tears ?
Ae. Father, beseech you, hear me !
Mi. yEschinus,
I have heard all, and I know all already ;
For I do love you ; wherefore ail your actions
Touch me the more.
Ae. So may you ever love me,
And so may I deserve your love, my father,
A s I am sorry to have done this fault,
And am asham'd to see you !
Mi. I believe i t ;
For well I know you have a liberal m i n d :

— 60 —

Ae.

Mi.
Mi.

Mi,

Liberale : sed uereor ne indiligens nimium sies.
In qua ciuitate tandem te arbitrare uiuere?
Virginem uitiasti, quam te non ius fuerat tangere.
lam id peccatum primum magnum, ?nagnum, at humanum
tamen :
Fecere alii saepe item boni. at postquam id euenit, cedo
Numquid circumspexti? aut numquid tute prospexti tibi,
Quid fieret? qua fieret? si te mi ipsum puduit proloqui,
Qua reciscerem? haec dum dubitas, menses abierunt decern.
Prodidisti et te et illam miseram et gnatum, quod quidem in
te fuit.
Quid? credebas do.imienti haec tibi confecturos deos?
E t illam sine tua opera in cubiculum iri deductum domum?
Nolim ceterarum rernm te socordem eodem modo.
Bono animo es, duces uxorem hanc. A e . H e m . Mi. Bono,
inquam, animo es. Ae. Pater,
Obsecro, num ludis tu [nunc] me? Mi. Ego te? quam
obrem ? A e . Nescio :
Quia tarn misere hoc esse cupio uerum, eo uereor magis.
Mi. Abi domum ac deos comprecare, ut uxorem arcessas:
abi.
Quid? earn uxorem? Mi. l a m . Ae. l a m ? Mi. lam
quantum potest. A e . Di me, pater.
Omnes oderint, ni magis te quam oculos nunc ego amo
meos.
Quid? quam illam? Ae. Aeque. Mi. Perbenigne. A e .
Quid? ille ubist Milesius?
Abiit, periit, nauem aseendit; sed quor cessas? Ae. Abi,
pater :
T u potius deos comprecare: nam tibi eos certo scio,
Quo uir melior multo es quam ego, obtemperaturos magis.
Ego eo intro, ut quae opus sunt p a r e n t u r : tu fac ut dixi, si
sapis.

— 61 —
But I'm afraid you are too negligent,
For in what city do you think you live?
You have abused a virgin, whom the law
Forbade your touching.—'Twas a fault, a great one.
—But after this event, can you pretend
You took the least precaution? or consider'd
W h a t should be done, or how?—If shame forbade
Your telling me yourself, you should have found
Some other means to let me know of it.
You have betray'd, as lar as in you lay,
Yourself, the poor young woman, and your child.
W h a t ! did you think the Gods would bring about
This business in your sleep ; and that your wife
Without your stir would be conveyed to you.
No, no, my dearest boy ! I would not have you
Thus negligent in other matters.
Come,
Cheer up, son ! you shall wed her.
Ae. H o w !
Mi. Cheer up,
I say !
Ae. Nay, prithee, do not mock me, father !
Mi. Mock you? I? wherefore?
Ae. I don't know ; unless
That I so much desire it may be true,
I therefore fear it more.
Mi.
Away ; go home ;
And pray the G#ods, that you may call your wife.
Away !
Ae. How's that? my wife? w h a t ! now?
Mi. N o w .
Ae. N o w ?
Mi. Even now, as soon as possible.
Ae. May all
T h e Gods desert me, sir, but I do love you
More than my eyes?
Mi. W h a t , more than her?
Ae. As well.
Mi. That's much.
Ae. But where is that Milesian?
Mi. G o n e :
Vanish'd ; on boai'd the ship.—But why d'ye loiter?
Ae. A h , sir, you rather go, and pray the G o d s ;
For, being a much better man than I,
They will the sooner hear your pray'rs.
Mi. I'll in,
To see the needful preparations made.
You, if you're wise 5 do as I said.

\J£xit.~\

— 62 —
Ae. Quid hoc est negoti? hoc est patrem esse aut hoc est filium
esse ?
Si frater aut sodalis esset, qui magis morem gereret?
Hie non amandus? hicine non gestandus in sinust? hem :
Itaque adeo magnam mi iniecit sua commoditate curam :
Ne forte inprudens faciam quod nolit, sciens cauebo.
Sed cesso ire intro, ne morae meis nuptiis egomet siem?
DEMEA.

MICIO.

De. Defessus sum ambulando : ut, Syre, te cum tua
Monstratione magnus perdat Iuppiter !
Perreptaui usque omne o p p i d u m : ad portam, ad lacum,
Quo non? neque illic fabrica erat neque fratrem homo
Vidisse se aibat quisquam. nunc uero domi
Certum I obsidere est usque, donee redierit.
Mi. Ibo, illis dicam nullam esse in nobis moram.
De. Sed eccum ipsum : te iam dudum quaero, Micio.
Mi. Quid nam? De. Fero alia flagitia ad te ingentia
Boni illius adulescentis. Mi. Ecce autem noua.
De. Dapitalia. Mi. Ohe iam. De. Nescis qui uir sit. M i .
Scio.
De. O stulte, tu de psaltria me somnias
Agere : hoc peccatum in uirginemst ciuem. Mi Scio.
De. Oho, cis est patere? Mi. Quid ni patiar? De. Die mihi,
Non clamas? non insanis? Mi. N o n : malim quidem—
De. Puer natust. Mi. Di bene uortant. De. Virgo nil habet.

— 63 —
SCENE VII.
^ S C H I N U S alone.
How's this?
Is this to be a father? Or is this
To be a son ?—Were he my friend or brother,
Could he be more complacent to my wish?
Should I not love him? bear him in my bosom?
A h ! his great kindness has so wrought upon me,
That it shall be the study of my life
T o shun all follies, lest they give him pain.
—But I'll in straight, that I may not retard
My marriage by my own delay.

\_J2xit.~]

SCENE VIII.
D E M E A alone.
I'm tir'd
With walking.—Now great Jove confound you, Syrus ;
You and your blind directions! I have crawl'd
All the town over: to the gate ; the pond ;
Where not? No sign of any*shop was there,
Nor any person who had seen my brother.
—-Now I'll in therefore, and set up my rest
In his own house, till he comes home again.
[ Going.~\
S C E N E IX.
ENTER MICIO.

Mi. I'll go, and let the women know we're ready.
De. But here he is.—I have long sought you, Micio.
Mi. W h a t now?
De. I bring you more offences—great ones—
Of the sweet youth !
Mi. See there!
De. N e w ; capital!
Mi. Nay, nay, no m o r e !
De. A h , vou don't know
—
Mi. I do."
De. O fool, you think I mean the music-girl.
This is a crime against a citizen.
Mi. I know it.
De. H o w ? d'ye know it, and endure it?
Mi. W h y not endure it?
De. Tell me, don't you rave ?
Don't you go mad?
Mi. N o : to be sure I'd rather
De. There's a child born.
Mi. Heaven bless it!

— 64 —
Mi. Audiui. De. E t ducenda indotatst. Mi. Scilicet
De. Quid nunc futurumst? Mi. Id enim quod res ipsa fert:
Illinc hue transferetur uirgo. De. O Iuppiter,
Tstocine pacto oportet? Mi. Quid faciam amplius?
De. Quid facias? si non ipsa ae tibi istuc dolet,
Simulare certe est hominis. Mi. Qiiin iam uirginem
Despondi : res compositast: fiunt nuptiae :
Dempsi metum o m n e m : haec magis sunt hominis. De.
Ceterum
Placet tibi factum, Micio. Mi. Non, si queam
Mutare. nunc quom non queo, animo aequo fero.
Ita uitast hominum, quasi quom ludas tesseris,
Si illud quod maxume opus est iactu non cadit,
Illud quod cecidit forte, id arte ut corrigas.
De. Corrector : nempe tua arte uiginti minae
Pro psaltria periere : quae quantum potest
Aliquo abiiciendast, si non pretio, gratiis.
Mi. Neque est neque illam sane studeo uendere.
De. Quid igitur facies? Li. Domi erit. De. Pro diuom fldem,
Meretrix et mater familias una in domo?
Mi. Quor non? De. Sariumne credis te esse? Mi. Equideni
arbitror.
De. Ita me di anient, ut uideo tuam ego ineptiam,
Facturum credo, ut habeas quicum cantites.
Mi. Quor non? De. noua nupta eadem haec discet. Mi. Scilicet.
De. Tu inter eas restim ductans saltabis. Mi. Probe.

- 6 5 De. And the girl
H a s nothing.
Mi. I have heard so.
De. And is he
T o marry her without a fortune?
Mi. Ay.
D e . What's to be done then ?
Mi. W h a t the case requires.
T h e girl shall be brought over here.
De. O J o v e !
Can that be proper ?
Mi. W h a t can I do else ?
De. W h a t can you do !—If you're not really griev'd,
It were at least your duty to appear so.
Mi. I have contracted the young woman to him :
The thing is settled : 'tis their wedding-day :
And all their apprehensions I've remov'd,
This is still more my duty.
De. Are you pleas'd then
With this adventure, Micio?
Mi. Not at all,
If I could help i t : now 'tis past all cure
I bear it patiently. T h e life of man
Is like a game at tables. If the cast
Which is most necessary be not thrown,
T h a t which chance sends you must correct by arf.
D e . O rare Corrector!—By your art no less
Than twenty minse have been thrown away
On yonder music-girl; who out of hand
Must be sent packing ; if no buyer, gratis.
Mi. Not in the least; nor do I mean to sell her.
De. W h a t will you do then?
Mi. Keep her in my house.
D e . O heav'n and earth! a slave-girl and a wife
In the same house !
Mi. W h y not?
De. Have you your wits ?
Mi. Truly I think so,
De. N o w , so help me heav'n,
Seeing your folly, I believe you keep her
T o sing with you.
Mi. W h y not?
De. And the young bride
Shall be her pupil?
Mi. T o be sure.
De. A n d you
Dance hand in hand with them ?
Mi. A y .
I

— 66 —
De. Probe? Mi. E t tu nobiscum una, si opus it. De. Ei mihi.
Non te haec pudent? Mi. l a m uero omitte, Demea,
T u a m istam iracundiam atque ita ut hodie decet
Hilarum ac lubentem fac te gnati in nuptiis,
Ego hos conueniam : post hue redeo. De. O. Iuppiter.
Hancine uitam ! hoscin mores ! hanc dement.iam !
Vxor sine dote ueniet: intus psaltriast:
Domos sumptuosa : adulescens luxu perditus :
Senex delirans. ipsa si cupiat Salus,
Seruare prosus non potest hanc familiam.
SYRVS.

DEMEA.

Sy. Edepol, Syrisce, te curasti molliter
Lauteque munus administrasti tuom.
Abi. sed postquam intus sum omnium rerum satur,
Prodeambulare hue lubitumst. D e . Illud sis uide
Exemplum disciplinae. Sy. Ecce autem hie adest
Senex noster. quit fit? quid tu es tristis? De. Oh scelus.
Sy. Ohe iam : tu uerba fundis hie, sapientia?
De. Tu si meus esse . . Sy. Dis quidem esses, Demea,
Ac tuam rem constabilisses. Ee. Exemplo omnibus
Curarem ut esses. Sy. Quam obrem? quid feci? D e .
Rogas ?
In ipsa turba atque in peccato maxumo,
Quod uix sedatum satis est, potasti, scelus,
Quasi re bene gesta. Sy. Sane nollem hue exitum.

— 67 —
De. Ay?
Mi. And you
Make one amongst us too upon occasion.
De. A h ! are you not asham'd on't.
Mi. Patience, D e m e a !
Lay by your wrath, and seem, as it becomes you,
Cheerful and free of heart at your son's wedding.
—I'll but speak with the bride and Sostrata,
And then return to you immediately.

[Exit.]

S C E N E X.
D E M E A alone.
Jove, what a life ! what manners ! what distraction !
A bride just coming home without a portion ;
A music-girl already there in keeping:
A house of waste ; the youth a libertine ;
T h ' old man a dotard !—'Tis not in the pow'r
Of providence herself, howe'er desirous,
T o save from ruin such a family.
S C E N E XL
E N T E R A T A DISTANCE, S Y R U S

drunk.

Sy. [to himself;]
Faith, little Syrus, you've ta'en special
care
Of your sweet self, and play'd your part most rarely.
—Well, go your ways:—but having had my fill
Of ev'rything within, I've now march'd forth
T o take a turn or two abroad.
De. [behind."] Look there!
A pattern of instruction !
Sy. [seeing him.~] But see there :.
Yonder's old Demea. [going up to him.] What's the matter
, now ?
And why so melancholy ?
De. O thou villain !
Sy. W h a t ! are you spouting sentences, old wisdom?
De. Were you my servant——
Sy. You'd be plaguey rich,
And settle your affairs most wonderfully.
De. I'd make you an example.
Sy. W h y ? for what?
De. W h y , sirrah ?—In the midst of the disturbance,
And in the heat of a most heavy crime,
While all is yet confusion, you've got drunk,
A s if for joy, you rascal!
Sy. Why the plague
Did not I keep within ?
[Aside.]

— 68 —
DROMO. SYRVS.

DEMEA.

Dr. Heus Syre, rogat te Ctesipho ut redeas. Sy. Abi.
De. Quid Ctesiphonem hie narrat? Sy. Nil. De. E h o , carnufex,
Est Ctesipho intus? Sy. Non est. De. Quor hie nominat?
Sy. Est alius quidam, parasitaster paululus :
Nostin? De. l a m scibo. Sy. Quid agis? quo abis? De.
Mitte me.
Sy. Noli inquam. De. Non manum abstines, mastigia?
An tibi iam mauis cerebrum dispergam hie? Sy. Abit.
Edepol commissatorem haud sane commodum,
Praesertim Ctesiphoni. quid ego nunc agam ?
Nisi, dum hae silescunt turbae, interea in angulum
Aliquo abeam atque edormiscam hoc uilli. sic agam.
MICIO.

DEMEA.

Mi. Parata a nobis sunt, ita ut dixi, Sostrata.
Vbi uis. quis nam a me pepulit tarn grauiter foris?
De. Di mihi, quid faciam? quid agam? quid clamem aut
querar ?
O caelum, o maria Neptuni. Mi. E m tibi,
Resciuit omnem rem : id nunc clamat scilicet:
Paratae lites : succurrendumst. De. Eccum adest
Communis corruptela nostrum liberum.

— 69 —
SCENE XII.
ENTER DROMO

hastily.

Dr. Here ! hark ye, Syrus !
Ctesipho begs that you'd come back.
Sy. Away !
[pushes him off.]
De. What's this he says of Ctesipho ?
Sy. P s h a w ! nothing.
De. H o w ! dog, is Ctesipho within ?
Sy. Not he.
De, W h y does he name him then ?
Sy. It is another,
Of the same name—a little parasite —
D'ye know him?
De. But I will immediately.
[g°ing^\
Sy. [stopping him.] W h a t now ? where now ?
De. Let me alone.
)
tfrurplintr
stru
Sy. Don't go !
j
ggUn£
De. Hands off! what won't you? must I brain you, rascal?
[Disengages

himself from

Syrus

and

exit.]

S C E N E XIII.
SYRUS

alone.

He's gone—gone in—and faith no welcome roarer—
Especially to Ctesipho.—But w h a t
Can I do now ; unless till this blows over,
I sneak into some ^corner, and sleep off
This wine that lies upon my head ?—I'll do't
[Exit
SCENE XIV.

reeling.]

E N T E R M I C I O FROM S O S T R A T A .

Mi. [to Sostrata within.]
All is p r e p a r ' d : and we are
ready, Sostrata,
As I have already told you, when you please, [comes
forward.]
But who's this forces open our street-door
W i t h so much violence ?
E N T E R D E M E A on the other side.
De. Confusion ! death !
W h a t shall I do ? or how resolve ? where vent
My cries and exclamations ? Heav'n ! earth ! sea !
Mi. [behind.]
S o ! all's discover'd: that's the thing he
raves at.
—Now for a quarrel! I must help the boy.
De. [seeing him.] Oh, there's the grand corrupter of our
children!

— 70 —
Mi. Tandem reprime iracundiam atque ad te redi.
De. Repressi, redii, mitto maledicta o m n i a :
R e m ipsam putemus. dictum hoc inter nos fuit
(Ex te adeost ortum), ne tu curares meum
Neue ego tuom? responde. Mi. Factumst, non nego.
De. Quor nunc apud te potat? quor recipis meum?
Quor emis amicam, Micio? numqui minus
Mihi idem ius aequomst esse quod mecumst tibi ?
Quando ego tuom non euro, ne cura meum.
Mi, Non aequom dicis. De. Non? Mi. N a m uetus uerbum
hoc quidemst,
Communia esse amicorum inter se omnia.
De. F a c e t e : nunc demum istaec nata oratiost.
Mi. Ausculta paucis, nisi molestumst, Demea.
Principio, si id te mordet, sumptum filii
Quern faciunt, quaeso hoc facito tecum cogites:
T u ilios duo olim pro re tollebas tua,
Quod satis putabas tua bona ambobus fore,
E t me turn uxorem credidisti scilicet
Ducturum : eandem illam rationem antiquam obtine:
Conserua, quaere, parce, fac quarn plurimum
Illis relinquas: gloriam tu istam obtine.
Mea, quae praeter spem euenere, utantur sine.
De summa nil decedet: quod hinc accesserit,
Id de lucro putato esse omne. haec si uoles
In animo uere cogitare, Demea,
E t mi et tibi et illis dempseris molestiam.
De. Mitto rem : consuetudinem ipsorum. Mi. Mane :
Scio : istuc ibam. quo uis illos tu die
Redducas. at enim metuas, ne ab re sint tamen
Omissiores paulo. o noster Demea,
Ad omnia alia aetate sapimus rectius:
Solum unum hoc uitium fert senectus hominibus:
Attentiores sumus ad rem omnes, quam sat est:
Quod illos sat aetas acuet. De. N e nimium modo

— 71 —
Mi. Appease your wrath, and be yourself again !
De. Well, I've appeas'd i t ; I'm myself again ; ,,
I spare reproaches; let us to the point!
It was agreed between us, and it was
Your own proposal too, that you should never
Concern yourself with Ctesipho, nor I
With yEschinus. Say, was't not so ?
Mi. It was.
I don't deny it.
De. W h y does Ctesipho
Revel with you then? W h y do you receive him?
Buy him a mistress, Micio ?—Is not justice
My due from you, as well as your's from me?
Since I do not concern myself with your's,
Meddle not with mine !
Mi. This is not fair ;
Indeed it is not. Think on the old saying,
" A l l things are common among friends."
De. H o w smart!
Put off with quips and sentences at last!
Mi. Nay, hear me, if you can have patience, Demea.
—First, if you're griev'd at their extravagance,
Let this reflection calm you ! Formerly
You bred them both according to your fortune,
Supposing it sufficient for them both :
Then too you thought that I should take a wife.
Still follow the old rule you then laid d o w n :
Hoard, scrape, and save ; do ev'ry thing you can
T o leave them nobly ! Be that glory your's.
My fortune, fall'n beyond their hopes upon them,
Let them use freely ! As your capital
Will not be wasted, what addition comes .
From mine, consider as clear g a i n : and thus,
Weighing all this impartially, you'll spare
Yourself, and me, and them, a world of trouble.
De. Money is not the t h i n g : their morals
Mi. H o l d !
I understand; and meant to speak of that.
For though they-stray, you may at any tirpe
Reclaim them.—But perhaps you fear they'll prove
Too inattentive to their interest*
O my dear Demea, in all matters else
Increase of years increases wisdom in u s :
This only vice age brings along with i t ;
" W e ' r e all more worldly-minded than there's n e e d : "
Which passion age, that kills all passions else,
Will ripen in your sons too.
De. Have a care

- 7 2 Bonae tuae istae nos rationes, Micio,
E t tuos^ste animus aequos subuortat. M . Tace :
Non fiet. mitte iam istaec : da te hodie m i h i :
Exporge frontem. De. Scilicet ita tempus fert,
Faciundumst: ceterum rus eras cum filio
Cum primo luci ibo hinc. Mi. De nocte censeo :
Hodie modo hilarum fac te. De. Et istam psaltriam
Vna illuc mecum hinc abstraham. Mi. Pugnaueris.
E o pacto prorsum illi adligaris filium.
Modo facito ut illam serues. De. Ego istuc uidero
Atque ibi fauillae plena, fumi ac pollinis
Coquendo sit faxo et molendo: praeter haec
Meridie ipso faciam ut stipulam colligat;
Tarn excoctam reddam atque atram quam carbost. M i .
Placet:
Nunc mihi uidere sapere. atque equidem filium
Turn etiam si nolit cogam ut cum ilia una cubet.
De. Derides? fortunatu's qui isto animo sies:
Ego sentio. Mi. A h , pergisne? De. Iam iam desino.
Mi. I ergo intro, et quoi rei est, ei rei hunc sumamus diem.

ACTVS V.
DEMEA.
N u m q u a m ita quisquam bene subducta ratione ad uitam
fuit,
Qiiin res aetas usus semper aliquid adportet noui,
Aliquid moneat: ut ilia quae te scire credas nescias,
E t quae tibi putaris prima, in experiundo ut repudies.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Heia autem, dum studeo illis ut quam plurimum
Facerem, contriui in quaerundo uitam atque aetatem m e a m :
Nunc exacta aetate hoc fructi pro labore ab eis fero,
Odium : ille alter sine labore patria potitur commoda.

- 7 3 That these fine arguments and this great mildness
Don't prove the ruin of us, Micio.
Mi. Peace !
It shall not be : away with all your fears !
This day be ruled by m e : come, smooth your brow.
De. Well, since at present things are so, I m u s t ;
But then I'll to the country with my son
To-morrow, at first peep of day.
Mi. At midnight,
So you'll but smile to-day.
De. And that girl too
I'll drag away with me.
Mi. Aye ; there you've hit it.
For by that means you'll keep your son at h o m e ;
Do but secure her. •'
De. I'll see t h a t : for there
I'll put her in the kitchen and the mill,
And make her full of ashes, smoke, and m e a l ;
Nay at high noorutoo she shall gather stubble.
I'll burn her up, and make her black as coal.
Mi. Right! now you're wise.—And sure I'd force my son
T o marry her e'en though against his will.
De. D'ye laugh at me? how happy in your t e m p e r !
I feel
Mi. A h ! that again?
De. I've done.
Mi. In then !
And let us suit our humour to the time.
\_JBxeunt.~]

ACT V.
S C E N E I.
DEMEA

alone.

Never did man lay down so fair a plan,
So wise a rule of life, but fortune, age,
Or long experience made some change in i t ;
And taught him, that those things he thought he knew
H e did not know, and what he held as best,
In practice he threw by.
Striving to make a fortune for my sons,
1 have worn out my prime of life and health:
A n d now, my course near finish'd, what return
D o I receive for all my toil ? Their hate.
Meanwhile my brother, without any care,
Reaps all a father's comforts.
J

-74 —
Age age nunciam experiamur contra, ecquid ego possiem
Blande dicere aut benigne facere, quando hue prouocat.
Ego quoque a meis me amari et magni pendi postulo
Si id fit dando atque obsequendo, non posteriores feram.
Deerit: id mea minume re fert, qui sum natu maxumus.
SYRVS.

DEMEA.

Sy. Heus Demea, orat frater ne abeas longius
De. Quis homo? o Syre noster, salue: quid fit? quid agitur?
Sy. Recte. De. Optumest. iam nunc haec tria primum addidi
Praeter naturam : c o noster, quid fit? quid agitur?'
Seruom haud inliberalem praebes te, et tibi
Lubens bene faxim.
Sy. Gratiam habeo. D e . Atqui,
Syre,
Hoc uerumst et re ipsa experiere propediem.
GETA.

DEMEA.

(SYRVS).

Ge. Era, ego hue ad hos prouiso, quam mox uirginem
Arcessant. sed eccum Demeam. saluos sies.
D e . O qui uocare ? Ge. Geta. De. Geta, hominem maxumi
Preti te esse hodie iudicaui animo meo :
N a m is mihi profectost seruos spectatus satis,
Quoi dominus curaest, ita uti tibi sensi, Geta,
E t tibi ob earn rem, siquid usus uenerit,
Lubens bene faxim. meditor esse adfabilis,
E t bene procedit. Ge. Bonus es, quom haec existumas.
De. Paulatim plebem primulum facio meam.

— 75 —
—Well, now, let me endeavour in my turn
T o teach my tongue civility, to give
W i t h open-handed genorosity,
Since I am challeng'd to't!—and let me too
Obtain the love and reverence of my children !
And if'tis bought by bounty and indulgence,
I will not be behind-hand.—Cash will fail:
What's that to me, who am the eldest born?
SCENE II.
ENTER SYRUS.

Sy. O sir! your brother has dispatch'd me to you
T o beg you'd not go further off.'
De, Who's there ?—
—
W h a t , honest Syrus ! save you : how is't with you ?
H o w goes it?
Sy. Very well, sir.
De. [aside.'] Excellent!
N o w for the first time, I, against my mature,
Have added these three phrases, u Honest S y r u s !
H o w is't?—How goes it!"—[to Syrus] Y o u have prov'd yourself
A worthy servant. I'll reward you for it.
Sy. I thank you, sir.
De. I will, I promise you ;
And you shall be convinc'd on't very soon.
SCENE III.
ENTER

GETA.

Ge. [to Sostrata within.] Madam, I'm going to look after
them,
T h a t they may call the bride immediately.
-But here is Demea. Save you !
De. Oh ! your name !
Ge. Geta, sir.
De. Geta, I this day have found you
T o be a fellow of uncommon w o r t h :
For sure that servant's faith is well approv'd
W h o j i o l d s his master's interest at heart,
A s I perceived that you did, Geta ! wherefore,
Soon as occasion offers I'll reward you.
—I am endeavoring to be affable,
A n d not without success.
[aside.]
Ge. ' Tis kind in you
T o think of your poor slave, sir.
De. [aside.] First of all
I court the mob, and win them by degrees.

— 76 —
AESCHINVS.

DEMEA.

SYRVS.

GETA.

A e . Occidunt me quidem, dum nimis sanctas nuptias
Student facere : in adparando consumunt diem.
De. Quid agitur, Aeschine? Ae. Ehem, pater mi, tu hie eras?
De. Tuos hercle uero et animo et natura pater,
Qui te amat plus quam hosce oculos. Sed quor non domum
Vxorem arcessis? Ae. C u p i o : uerum hoc mihi moraest:
Tibicina et hymenaeum quid cantent. De. E h o ,
Vin tu huic seni auscultare ? Ae. Quid ? De. Missa haec
face,
Hymenaeum turbas lampadas tibicinas,
Atque hanc in horto maceriam iube dirui
Quantum potest: hac transfer : unam fac domum :
•Traduce et matrem et familiam omnem ad nos. A e . Placet,
Pater lepidissume. De. Eugae, iam lepidus uocor.
Fratri aedes fient peruiae, turbam domum
Adducet, sumptu amittet multa: quid mea ?
Ego lepidus ineo gratiam. iube nunciam
Dinumeret ille Babylo uiginti minas.
Syre, cessas ire ac facere? Sy. Quid ego? De. D i m e .
T u illas'abi et traduce. Ge. Di tibi, Demea,
Bene faciant, quom te uideo nostrae familiae
Tarn ex animo factum uelle. De. Dignos arbitror.
Qnid tu ais? Ae. Sic opinor. De. Multo rectiust
Quam iliam puerperam hue nunc duci per uiam
Aegrotam. A e . Nil enim uidi melius, mi pater.
D e . Sic soleo. sed eccum Micio egreditur foras.

— 77 —
SCENE IV.
ENTER ^ESCHINUS.

A e . They murder me with their delays; and while
They lavish all this pomp upon the nuptials,
They waste the live-long day in preparation
De. H o w does my son?
A e . My father ? are you here ?
De. Ay, by affection, and by blood your father,
W h o love you better than my eyes.—But why
Do you not call the bride?
A e . ' Tis what I long for :
But wait the music and the singers.
De. P s h a w !
Will you for once be ruPd by an old fellow ?
Ae. Well?
De. Ne'er mind singers, company, lights, music ;
But tell them to throw down the garden-wall,
As soon as possible. Convey the bride
T h a t way, and lay both houses into one.
Bring too the mother, and the whole family,
Over to us.
Ae. I will. O charming father !
De. [aside.] C h a r m i n g ! See there ! he calls me charming
now.
—My brother's house will be a thoroughfare ;
Throng'd with whole crowds of people ; much expense
Will follow ; very much : what's that to me ?
I am call'd charming, and get into favour.
— H o ! order Babylo immediately
T o pay him twenty minae.—Prithee Syrus,
W h y don't you execute your orders ?
~Sy. W h a t ?
De. Down with the wall!—{exit Syrus)—You
Geta, go
and bring
T h e ladies over.
De. Heaven bless you, Demea,
For all your friendship to our family !
[exit Geta.~\
D e . They're worthy of it.—What say you to this?
[to
^Sschinus.']
Ae. I think it admirable.
De. ' Tis much better
Than for a poor soul, sick and lying-in,
T o be coducted thro' the street.
A e . I never
Saw anything concerted better, sir.
De. ' T i s just my way.—But here comes Micio.

- 7 8 MICIO.

DEMEA.

AESCHINVS.

Mi. Iubet frater? ubi is est? tun iubes hoc, Demea?
De. Ego uero iubeo et hac re et aliis omnibus
Quam maxume unam facere nos hanc familiam,
Colere adiuuare adiungere. A e . Ita quaeso, pater.
Mi. H a u d aliter censeo. De. Immo hercle ita nobis decet:
Prinum huius uxorist mater. Mi. Est. quid postea?
De. Proba et modesta. Mi. Ita aiunt. De. Natu grandior.
Mi. Scio. De. Parere iam diu haec per annos non potest:
Nee qui earn respiciat quisquam est: solast. Mi. Q u a m hie
rem agit?
De. Hanc te aequomst ducere, et te operam ut flat dare.
Mi. Me ducere autem? De. T e . Mi. Me? De. T e iquam.
Mi. Ineptis. De. Si tu sis homo,
Hie, faciat. A e . Mi pater. Mi. Quid tu autem huic, asine,
auscultas? De. Nil agis :
Fieri aliter non potest. Mi. Deliras. A e . Sine te exorem,
Mi pater.
Mi. Insanis: aufer.
De. Age, da ueniam filio. Mi. Satin
sanus es?
Ego nouos maritus anno demum quinto et sexagensumo.
Fiam atque anum decrepitam ducam? idne estis auctores
mi hi ?
A e . F a c : promisi ego illis. Mi. Promisti autem ? de te largitor,
puer.
#
De. Age, quid siquid te maius oret? Mi. Quasi non hoc sit
maxumum.

- 7 9 SCENE V.
ENTER MICIO.

Mi. [at entering J] My brother order it, d'ye say? where
is he?
— W a s this your order:
And by this means, and every other way,
I would unite, serve, cherish, and oblige,
A n d join the family to o u r ' s !
Ae. Pray do, sir !
[to Micio^
Mi. I don't oppose it.
De. Nay, but 'tis our duty.
First, there's the mother of the bride
Mi. W h a t then?
De. Worthy and modest.
Mi. So they say.
D e . In years.
Mi. T r u e .
De. And old she is, a poor lone woman too,
W i t h none to comfort her.
Mi. W h a t means all this?
D e . This woman 'tis your place to marry, brother;
— A n d your's [to ^Eschinus\
to bring him to't.
Mi. I marry her?
De. You.
Mi. I ?
D e . Yes, you I say.
Mi. Ridiculous!
De. [to u<3Lschinus.~\ If you're a man, he'll do't.
A e . [to Micio*~\ Dear father!
Mi. H o w !
Do you then join him, fool ?
De. Nay, don't deny.
It can't be otherwise.
Mi. You've lost your senses !
A e . Let me prevail upon you, sir!
Mi. You're mad.
Away!
De. Oblige your son.
Mi. Have you your wits !
I, a new married man at sixty-five!
A n d marry a decrepid poor old w o m a n !
Is that what you advise me !
A e . Do it, sir!
I've promis'd them, indeed !
Prithee, boy, promise for yourself.
Ce. Come, come!

— 80 —
De. Da ueniam. Ae. N e grauere. De. Fac, promitte. Mi.
Non omittitis?
Ae. Non, nisi te exorem. Mi. Vis est haec quidem. De. Age
prolixe, Micio.
Mi. Etsi hoc mihi prauom ineptum absurdum atque alienum a
uita mea
Videtur: si uos tanto opere istuc uoltis, fiat. A e . Bene
facis.
De. Merito tuo te amo. uerum . . Mi. Quid? De. Ego dicam,
hoc quom fit quod uolo.
Mi. Quid nunc? quid restat? De. Hegio cognatus his est proxumus,
Adflnis nobis, p a u p e r : bene nos aliquid facere illi decet.
Mi. Quid facere? De. Agelli est hie sub urbe paulum quod
locitas foras:
Huic demus qui fruatur. Mi. Paulum id autemst? De. Si
multumst, tamen
F a c i u n d u m s t : pro patre huic est, bonus est, noster est, recte
datur.
Postremo non meum illud uerbum facio, quod tu, Micio,
Bene et sapienter dixti dudum : 'uitium commune omniumst,
Quod nimium ad rem in senecta attend sumus* ? hanc maculam nos decet *
Ecfugere: dictumst uere et re ipsa fieri oportet. A e . Mi
pater.
Mi. Quid istic? dabitur quandoquidem hie uolt. A e . Gaudeo.
De. Nunc mihi germanu's pariter animo et corpore. Suo
sibi gladio hunc iugulo.
SYRVS.

DEMEA.

MICIO.

AESCHINVS.

Sy. Factumst quod iussisti, Demea.
De. Frugi homo's, ergo edepol hodie mea quidem sententia
Iudico Syrum fieri esse aequom liberum. Mi. Istunc liberum ?
Quod nam ob factum? D e . Multa. Sy. O noster Demea,
edepol uir bonu's:
Ego istos uobis usque a pueris curaui ambos sedulo;
Docui, monui, bene praecepi semper quae potui omnia.

-81W h a t if he ask'd still more of you ?
Mi. A s if
This was not ev'n the utmost.
De. Nay, comply!
A e . Be not obdurate !
De. Come, come, promise him.
Mi. Won't you desist?
A e . N o , not till I prevail.
Mi. This is mere force.
De. Nay, nay, comply, good Micio !
Mi. Though this appears to me absurd, wrong, foolish,
And quite repugnant to my scheme of life,
Yet, if you're so much bent on't, let it b e !
A e . Obliging father. D e . Worthy my best love !
Mi. W h a t now? De. This answers to my wish. Mi. W h a t
more ?
—Hegio's their kinsman, [to Micio•] our relation too,
And very poor. W e should do him some service.
Mi. Do what?
De. There is a little piece of ground,
Which you let out near town. Let's give it him
T o live upon.
Mi. So little do you call it?
De. Well, if 'tis large, let's give it. H e has been
Father to h e r ; a good man ; our relation.
It will be given worthily. In short,
T h a t saying, Micio, I now make my own,
W h i c h you so lately and so wisely quoted;
" It is the common failing of old men
T o be too much intent on worldly matters."
Let us wipe off that stain. T h e saying's true,
A n d should be practised.
Mi. Well, well, be it so,
If he requires it.
[pointing
to *&eschinus.~\
A e . I beseech it, father.
De. N o w you're indeed my brother, soul and body.
Mi. I'm glad to find you think me so.
De. I foil him
A t his own weapons.
[Aside.']
SCENE VI.
To THEM S Y R U S .

Sy. I have executed
Y o u r orders, Demea.
De. A good fellow !
Truly
Syrus, I think, should be made free to-day.
Mi. Made free! Eh!——Wherefore?
D e . Oh, for many reasons.
K

- 8 2 De. Res a p p a r e t : et quidem porro haec, obsonare cum fide,
Scortum adducere, adparare de die conuiuium:
Non mediocris hominis haec sunt officia. Sy. O lepidum
caput.
De. Postremo hodie in psaltria hac emunda hie adiutor fuit,
Hie curauit: prodesse aequomst: alii meliores e r u n t :
Denique hie uolt fieri. Mi. Vin tu hoc fieri? A e . Cupio.
Mi. Si quidem
T u uis, Syre, eho accede hue ad m e : liber esto. Sy. Bene
facis:
Omnibus gratiam habeo, et seorsum tibi praeterea, Demea.
De. Gaudeo. A e . E t ego. Sy. Credo : utinam hoc perpetuom
fiat gaudium,
Phrygiam ut uxorem meam una mecum uideam liberam.
De. Optumam quidem mulierem. Sy. E t quidem tuo nepoti
huius filio
Hodie prima mammam dedit haec. D e . Hercle uero serio,
Siquidem prima dedit, haud dubiumst quin emitti aequom
siet.
Mi. Ob earn rem ? De. Ob earn: postremo a me argentum
quantist sumito.
Sy. Di Tibi, Demea, omnia omnes semper optata offerant.
Mi. Syre, processisti hodie pulchre. De. Siquidem porro, Micio,
T u tuom officium facies, atque huic aliquid paulum prae
manu
Dederis, unde utatur: reddet tibi cito. Mi. Istoc uilius.
Ae. Frugi homost. Sy. Reddam hercle, da modo. A e . Age,
pater. Mi. Post consulam.
De. Faciet. Sy. O uir optume. A e . O pater mi festiuissume.
Mi. Quid istuc? quae res tarn repente mores mutauit tuos?
Quod prolubium ? quae istaec subitast largitas ? De. Dicam
tibi:
V t id ostenderem, quod te isti facilem et festiuom putant,
Id non fieri ex uera uita neque adeo ex aequo et bono,
Sed ex adsentando indulgendo et largiendo, Micio.
Nunc adeo si ob earn rem uobis mea uita inuisa, Aeschine,
est,
Quia non iusta iniusta prorsus omnia omnino obsequor,
Missa facio : ecfundite, emite, facite quod uobis lubet.
Sed si id uoltis potius, quae uos propter adulescentiam
Minus uidetis, magis inpense cupitis, consulitis parum,
Haec reprendere et corrigere et obsecundare in loco:
Ecce me, qui id faciam uobis. A e . Tibi, pater, permittimus
Plus scis quid facto opus est. sed de fratre quid fiet? De.
Sino
H a b e a t : in istac finem faciat. Mi. Istuc recte.
CANTOR.

Plaudite.

— 83 —
Sy. O Demea, you're a noble gentleman,
I've taken care of both your sons from boys ;
Taught them, instructed them, and given them
T h e wholesomest advice that I was able.
De. T h e thing's apparent: and these offices
T o cater ;—bring a girl in, safe and snug ;
—Or in mid-day prepare an entertainment;—
—All these are talents of no common man.
Sy. O most delightful gentleman !
De. Besides,
H e has been instrumental too this day
In purchasing the music-girl. H e manag'd
T h e whole affair. W e should reward him for it.
It will encourage others.—In a word,
Your yEschinus would have it so.
Mi. Do you
Desire it?
Ae. Yes, sir,
Mi. Well if you desire it
Come hither, Syrus !—Be thou free !
[SYRUS kneels: MICIO strikes him, being the ceremony of
manumission,
or giving a slave his freedom.~\
Sy. I thank you :
Thanks to you all; but most of all, to Demea !
De. I'm glad of your good fortune.
Ae. So am I.
Sy. I do believe i t ; and I wish this joy
W e r e quite complete, and I might see my wife,
My Phrygia too, made free, as well as I.
De. T h e very best of women !
Sy. And the"first
T h a t suckled my young master's son, your grandson.
De. Indeed ! the first who suckled him ! —Nay then
Beyond all doubt she should be free.
Mi. For what?
De. For that. Nav take the sum, whate'er it be,
Of me.
,
Sy. N o w all the powers above grant all
Your wishes, D e m e a !
Mi. You have thriv'd to-day
Most rarely, Syrus.
De. And besides this, Micio,
It would be handsome to advance him something
T o try his fortune with. He'll soon return it.
Mi. Not that.
[snapping his
fngers.J
Ae. He's honest.
Sy. Faith I will return it.
Do but advance it.

— 84 —
Ae. Do, sir!
Mi. Well, I'll think on't.
De. I'll see that he shall do't.
[to SyrusJ]
Sy. Thou best of men !
A e . My most indulgent father !
Mi. W h a t means this?
Whence comes this hasty change of manners, brother ?
Whence flows all this extravagance ? and whence
This sudden prodigality ?
De. I'll tell you :
T o shew you, that the reason why our sons
Think you so pleasant and agreeable,
Is not from your deserts, or truth, or justice,
But your compliance, bounty, and indulgence.
— N o w , therefore, if Fm odious to you, son,
Because F m not subservient to your humour,
In all things, right or w r o n g : away with care !
Spend, squander, and do what you will!—but if,
In those affairs where youth has made you blind,
Eager, and thoughtless, you will suffer me
T o counsel and correct—and in due season
Indulge you—I am at your service.
A e . Father,
In all things we submit ourselves to you.
W h a t ' s fit and proper, you know best.—But what
Shall come of my poor brother?
De. I consent
T h a t he shall have h e r : let him finish there.
Mi. All now is as it should be.—[ To the
audience.]
Clap your hands.

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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
J . E . ROBISON.

H. E. PALMER.

A . D. L A T H R O P .

W. O. M c L E A N .