{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/perseus_phi0134_phi006_phi0134.phi006.perseus-eng2/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/perseus_phi0134_phi006_phi0134.phi006.perseus-eng2","id":"perseus_phi0134_phi006_phi0134.phi006.perseus-eng2","license":"CC-BY-SA-4.0","rights_basis":"perseus_github_repo_license_cc_by_sa_4.0","source":"perseus","source_url":"https://github.com/PerseusDL/canonical-latinLit/blob/master/data/phi0134/phi006/phi0134.phi006.perseus-eng2.xml","summary":null,"tags":["Publius Terentius Afer (Terence)"],"text":"Dramatis Personae DEMEA,From \u03b4\u03b7\u03bc\u1f78\u03c2, the people. Brothers, aged Athenians. MICIO,From \u039c\u03b9\u03ba\u03b9\u1f7c\u03bd, a Greek proper name. HEGIO,From \u1f21\u03b3\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c3\u03b8\u03b1\u03b9, to lead, or take charge of. an aged Athenian, kinsman of Sostrata. AESCHINUS,From \u03b1\u03b9\u03c3\u03c7\u1f78\u03c2, disgrace. son of Demea, \u00a3adopted by Micio. CTESIPHO,From \u03ba\u03c4\u03b7\u03c3\u1f76\u03c2, a patrimony, and \u03c6\u1ff6\u03c2, light. another son of Demea. SANNIO,From \u03c3\u03b1\u03bd\u03bd\u1f78\u03c2, foolish. a Procurer. GETA,One of the nation of the Getae. servant of Sostrata. PARMENO, servants of Micio.From \u03c0\u03b1\u03c1\u1f70, by, and \u03bc\u1f73\u03bd\u03c9, to remain. SYRUS,From Syria, his native country. DROMMO,From \u03b4\u03c1\u1f79\u03bc\u03bf\u03c2, a race. PAMPHILA,From \u03c0\u1fb6\u03bd, all and \u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u1f78\u03c2, a friend. a young woman beloved by Aeschinus. SOSTRATA,From \u03c3\u03c9\u03c7\u1f7c, to preserve, or save. a widow, mother of Pamphila. CANTHARA,From \u03ba\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03b1\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2, a cup. a Nurse. A Music-girl. Scene.\u2014Athens; before the houses of MICIO and SOSTRATA. THE SUBJECT. MICIO and DEMEA are two brothers of dissimilar tempers. Demea is married, and lives a country life, while his brother remains single, and resides in Athens. Demea has two sons, the elder of whom, Aeschinus, has been adopted by Micio. Being allowed by his indulgent uncle to gratify his inclinations without restraint, Aeschinus has debauched Pamphila, the daughter of a widow named Sostrata. Having, however, promised to marry the young woman, he has been pardoned for the offense, and it has been kept strictly secret. Ctesipho, who lives in the country with his father under great restraint, on visiting the city, falls in love with a certain Music-girl, who belongs to the Procurer Sannio. To screen his brother, Aeschinus takes the responsibility of the affair on himself, and succeeds in carrying off the girl for him. Demen, upon hearing of this, censures Micio for his ill-timed indulgence, the bad effects of which are thus exemplified in Aeschinus; and at the same time lauds the steady conduct and frugality of Ctesipho, who has been brought up under his own supervision. Shortly after this, Sostrata hears the story about the Music-girl, at the very time that her daughter Pamphila is in labor. She naturally supposes that Aeschinus has deserted her daughter for another, and hastens to acquaint Hegio, her kinsman, with the fact. Meantime Demea learns that Ctesipho has taken part in carrying off the Music-girl, whereon Syrus invents a story, and screens Ctesipho for the moment. Demea is next informed by Hegio of the conduct of Aeschinus toward Pamphila. Wishing to find his brother, he is purposely sent on a fruitless errand by Syrus, on which he wanders all over the city to no purpose. Micio having now been informed by Hegio, and knowing that the intentions of Aeschinus toward Pamphila are not changed, accompanies him to the house of Sostrata, whom he consoles by his promise that Aeschinus shall marry her daughter. Demea then returns from his search, and, rushing into Micio\u2019s house, finds his son Ctesipho there carousing; on which he exclaims vehemently against Micio, who uses his best endeavors to soothe him, and finally with success. He now determines to become kind and considerate for the future. At his request, Pamphila is brought to Micio\u2019s house, and the nuptials are celebrated. Micio, at the earnest request of Demea and Aeschinus, marries Sostrata; Hegio has a competency allowed him; and Syrus and his wife Phrygia are made free. The Play concludes with a serious warning from Demea, who advises his relatives not to squander their means in riotous living; but, on the contrary, to bear admonition and to submit to restraint in a spirit of moderation and thankfulness. THE TITLE OF THE PLAY. PERFORMED at the, Funeral Games of Aemilius Paulus,Of Aemilius Paulus: This Play (from the Greek The Brothers) was performed at the Funeral Games of Lucius Aemilius Paulus, who was surnamed Macedonicus, from having gained a victory over Perseus, King of Macedon. He was so poor at the time of his decease, that they were obliged to sell his estate in order to pay his widow her dower. The Q. Fabius Maximus and P. Cornelius Africanus here mentioned were not, as some have thought, the Curule Aediles, but two sons of Aemilius Paulus, who had taken the surnames of the families into which they had been adopted. which were celebrated by Q. Fabius Maximns and P. Cornelius Africanus. L. Atilius Praenestinus and Minutius Prothimus performed it. Flaccus, the freedman of Claudius, composed the music for Sarranian flutes.Sarranian flutes: The Sarranian or Tyrian pipes, or flutes, are supposed to have been of a quick and mirthful tone; Madame Dacier has consequently with much justice suggested that the representation being on the occasion of a funeral, the title has not come down to us in a complete form, and that it was performed with the Lydian, or grave, solemn pipe, alternately with the Tyrian. This opinion is also strengthened by the fact that Donatus expressly says that it was performed to the music of Lydian flutes. Taken from the Greek of Menander, L. Anicius and M. Cornelius being Consuls.Being Consuls: L. Anicius Gallus and M. Cornelius Cethegus were Consuls in the year from the Building of the City 592, and B.C. 161. THE SUMMARY OF C. SULPITIUS APOLLINARIS. As Demea has two sons, young men, he gives Aeschinus to his brother Micio to be adopted by him; but he retains Ctesipho: him, captivated with the charms of a Music-girl, and under a harsh and strict father, his brother Aeschinus screens; the scandal of the affair and the amour he takes upon himself; at last, he carries the Music-girl away from the Procurer. This same Aeschinus has previously debauched a poor woman, a citizen of Athens, and has given his word that she shall be his wife. Demea upbraids him, and is greatly vexed; afterward, however, when the truth is discovered, Aeschinus marries the girl who has been debauched; and, his harsh father Demea now softened, Ctesipho retains the Music-girl. THE PROLOGUE. Since the Poet has found that his writings are carped at by unfair critics, and that his adversaries represent in a bad light the Play that we are about to perform, he shall give information about himself; you shall be the judges whether this ought to be esteemed to his praise or to his discredit. The SynapothnescontesSynapothnescontes: Signifying persons dying together. The Commorientes of Plautus is lost. It has been doubted by some, despite these words of Terence, if Plautus ever did write such a Play. is a Comedy of Diphilus;Of Diphilus: Diphilus was a Greek Poet, contemporary with Menander. Plautus made it into a Play called the Commorientes. In the Greek, there is a young man, who, at the early part of the Play, carries off a Courtesan from a Procurer; that part Plautus has entirely left out. This portion he has adopted in the Adelphi, and has transferred it, translated word for word. This new Play we are about to perform; determine then whether you think a theft has been committed, or a passage has been restored to notice which has been passed over in neglect. For as to what these malevolent persons say, that men of noble rank assist him, and are always writing in conjunction with him\u2014that which they deem to be a heavy crimination, he takes to be the highest praise; since he pleases those who please you all and the public; the aid of whom in war, in peace, in private business,In war, in peace, in private, business: According to Donatus, by the words in bello, Terence is supposed to refer to his friend and patron Scipio; by in otio, to Furius Publius; and in the words in negotio to Laelius, who was famed for his wisdom. each one has availed himself of, on his own occasion, without any haughtiness on their part. Now then, do not expect the plot of the Play; the old menThe old men: This is similar to the words in the Prologue to the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 16: But expect nothing about the plot of this Play; the old men who will come hither will disclose the matter to you. who come first will disclose it in part; a part in the representation they will make known. Do you cause your impartial attention to increase the industry of the Poet in writing? (Enter MICIO, calling to a servant within.) MICIO Storax! Aeschinus has not returned home from the entertainment last night, nor any of the servants who went to fetch him.To fetch him: Advorsum ierant. On the duties of the adversitores, see the Notes to Bohn\u2019s Translation of Plautus. (To himself.) Really, they say it with reason, if you are absent anywhere, or if you stay abroad at any time, \u2019twere better for that to happen which your wife says against you, and which in her passion she imagines in her mind, than the things which fond parents fancy. A wife, if you stay long abroad, either imagines that you are in love or are beloved, or that you are drinking and indulging your inclination, and that you only are taking your pleasure, while she herself is miserable. As for myself, in consequence of my son not having returned home, what do I imagine? In what ways am I not disturbed? For fear lest he may either have taken cold,Either have taken cold: Westerhovius observes that this passage seems to be taken from one in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, l. 721, et seq.: Troth, if I had had them, enough anxiety should I have had from my children; I should have been everlastingly tormented in mind: but if perchance one had had a fever, I think I should have died. Or if one in liquor had tumbled any where from his horse, I should have been afraid that he had broken his legs or neck on that occasion. It may be remarked that.there is a great resemblance between the characters of Micio here and Periplecomenus in the Miles Gloriosus. or have fallen down somewhere, or have broken some limb. Oh dear! that any man should take it into his head, or find out what is dearer to him than he is to himself! And yet he is not my son, but my brother\u2019s. He is quite different in disposition. I, from my very youth upward, have lived a comfortable town life, and taken my ease; and, what they esteem a piece of luck, I have never had a wife. He, on the contrary to all this, has spent his life in the country, and has always lived laboriously and penuriously. He married a wife, and has two sons. This one, the elder of them, I have adopted. I have brought him up from an infant, and considered and loved him as my own. In him I centre my delight; this object alone is dear to me. On the other hand, I take all due care that he may hold me equally dear. I give\u2014I overlook; I do not judge it necessary to exert my authority in every thing; in fine, the things that youth prompts to, and that others do unknown to their fathers, I have used my son not to conceal from me. For he, who, as the practice is, will dare to tell a lie to or to deceive his father, will still more dare to do so to others. I think it better to restrain children through a sense of shame and liberal treatment, than through fear. On these points my brother does not agree with me, nor do they please him. He often comes to me exclaiming, What are you about, Micio? Why do you ruin for us this youth? Why does he intrigue? Why does he drink? Why do you supply him with the means for these goings on? You indulge him with too much dress; you are very inconsiderate. He himself is too strict, beyond what is just and reasonable; and he is very much mistaken, in my opinion, at all events, who thinks that an authority is more firm or more lasting which is established by force, than that which is founded on affection. Such is my mode of reasoning; and thus do I persuade myself. He, who, compelled by harsh treatment, does his duty, so long as he thinks it will be known, is on his guard: if he hopes that it will be concealed, he again returns to his natural bent. He whom you have secured by kindness, acts from inclination; he is anxious to return like for like; present and absent, he will be the same. This is the duty of a parent, to accustom a son to do what is right rather of his own choice, than through fear of another. In this the father differs from the master: he who can not do this, let him confess that he does not know how to govern children. But is not this the very man of whom I was speaking? Surely it is he. I don\u2019t know why it is I see him out of spirits; I suppose he\u2019ll now be scolding as usual. Demea, I am glad to see you well.To see you well: Cooke remarks, that though there are several fine passages in this speech, and good observations on human life, yet it is too long a soliloquy. (Enter DEMEA.) DEMEA Oh,\u2014opportunely met; you are the very man I was looking for.I was looking for: Donatus observes that the Poet has in this place improved upon Menander, in representing Demea as more ready to wrangle with his brother than to return his compliments. MICIO Why are you out of spirits? DEMEA Do you ask me, when we have such a son as Aeschinus,Such a son as Aeschinus: The passage pretty clearly means by ubi nobis Aeschinus sit, when I\u2019ve got such a son as Aeschinus. Madame Dacier, however, would translate it: Ask me\u2014you, in whose house Aeschinus is? thus accusing him of harboring Aeschinus; a very forced construction, however. why I\u2019m out of spirits? MICIO (aside.) Did I not say it would be so? (To DEMEA.) What has he been doing? DEMEA What has he been doing? He, who is ashamed of nothing, and fears no one, nor thinks that any law can control him. But I pass by what has been previously done: what a thing he has just perpetrated! MICIO Why, what is it? DEMEA He has broken open a door,Broken open a door: The works of Ovid and Plautus show that it was no uncommon thing for riotous young men to break open doors; Ovid even suggests to the lover the expediency of getting into the house through the windows. and forced his way into another person\u2019s house, beaten to death the master himself, and all the household, and carried off a wench whom he had a fancy for. All people are exclaiming that it was a most disgraceful proceeding. How many, Micio, told me of this as I was coming here? It is in everybody\u2019s mouth. In fine, if an example must be cited, does he not see his brother giving his attention to business, and living frugally and soberly in the country? No action of his is like this. When I say this to him, Micio, I say it to you. You allow him to be corrupted. MICIO Never is there any thing more unreasonable than a man who wants experience, who thinks nothing right except what he himself has done. DEMEA What is the meaning of that? MICIO Because, Demea, you misjudge these matters. It is no heinous crime, believe me, for a young man to intrigue or to drink; it is not; nor yet for him to break open a door. If neither I nor you did so, it was poverty that did not allow us to do so. Do you now claim that as a merit to yourself which you then did from necessity? That is unfair; for if we had had the means to do so, we should have done the same. And, if you were a man, you would now suffer that other son of yours to act thus now, while his age will excuse it, rather than, when he has got you, after long wishing it, out of the way, he should still do so, at a future day, and at an age more unsuited. DEMEA O Jupiter! You, sir, are driving me to distraction. Is it not a heinous thing for a young man to do these things? MICIO Oh! do listen to me, and do not everlastingly din me upon this subject. You gave me your son to adopt; he became mine; if he offends in any thing, Demea, he offends against me: in that case I shall bear the greater part of the inconvenience. Does he feast,Does he feast: Colman has the following observation here: The mild character of Micio is contrasted by Cicero to that of a furious, savage, severe father, as drawn by the famous Comic Poet, Caecilius. Both writers are quoted in the Oration for Caelius, in the composition of which it is plain that the orator kept his eye pretty closely on our Poet. The passages from Caecilius contain all that vehemence and severity which, as Horace tells us, was accounted the common character of the style of that author. does he drink, does he smell of perfumes,Smell of perfumes: For an account of the unguenta, or perfumes in use among the ancients, see the Notes to Bohn\u2019s Translation of Plautus.\u2014it is at my cost. Does he intrigue, money shall be found by me, so long as it suits me; when it shall be no longer convenient, probably he\u2019ll be shut out of doors.Will be shut out of doors: No doubt by his mistress, when she has drained him of his money, and not by Micio himself, as Colman says he was once led to imagine. Has he broken open a door\u2014it shall be replaced; has he torn any one\u2019s clothes\u2014they shall be mended. Thanks to the Gods, I both have means for doing this, and these things are not as yet an annoyance. In fine, either desist, or else find some arbitrator between us: I will show that in this matter you are the most to blame. DEMEA Ah me! Learn to be a father from those who are really so. MICIO You are his father by nature, I by my anxiety. DEMEA You, feel any anxiety? MICIO Oh dear,\u2014if you persist, I\u2019ll leave you. DEMEA Is it thus you act? MICIO Am I so often to hear about the same thing? DEMEA I have some concern for my son. MICIO I have some concern for him too; but, Demea, let us each be concerned for his own share\u2014you for the one, and I for the other. For, to concern yourself about both is almost the same thing as to demand him back again, whom you intrusted to me. DEMEA Alas, Micio! MICIO So it seems to me. DEMEA What am I to say to this? If it pleases you, henceforth\u2014let him spend, squander, and destroy; it\u2019s nothing to me. If I say one word after this\u2014 MICIO Again angry, Demea? DEMEA Won\u2019t you believe me? Do I demand him back whom I have intrusted? I am concerned for him; I am not a stranger in blood; if I do interpose\u2014well, well, I have done. You desire me to concern myself for one of them,\u2014do concern myself; and I give thanks to the Gods, he is just as I would have him; that fellow of yours will find it out at a future day: I don\u2019t wish to say any thing more harsh against him. (Exit.) MICIO These things areThese things are: Donatus observes here, that Terence seems inclined to favor the part of mild fathers. He represents Micio as appalled at his adopted son\u2019s irregularities, lest if he should appear wholly unmoved, he should seem to be corrupting him, rather than to be treating him with only a proper degree of indulgence. not nothing at all, nor yet all just as he says; still they do give me some uneasiness; but I was unwilling to show him that I took them amiss, for he is such a man; when I would pacify him, I steadily oppose and resist him; and in spite of it he hardly puts up with it like other men; but if I were to inflame, or even to humor his anger, I should certainly be as mad as himself. And yet Aesclhinus has done me some injustice in this affair. What courtesan has he not intrigued with? Or to which of them has he not made some present? At last, he recently told me that he wished to take a wife,Wished to take a wife: Donatus remarks here, that the art of Terence in preparing his incidents is wonderful. He contrives that even ignorant persons shall open the plot, as in the present instance, where we understand that Aeschinus has mentioned to Micio his intention of taking a wife, though he has not entered into particulars. This naturally leads us to the ensuing parts of the Play, without forestalling any of the circumstances. I suppose he was just then tired of them all. I was in hopes that the warmth of youth had now subsided; I was delighted. But look now, he is at it again; however, I am determined to know it, whatever it is, and to go meet the fellow, if he is at the Forum. (Exit.) (Enter AESCHINUS and PARMENO with the MUSIC-GIRL, followed by SANNIO and a crowd of people.) SANNIO I beseech you, fellow-citizens, do give aid to a miserable and innocent man; do assist the distressed. AESCHINUS (to the GIRL.) Be quiet, and now then stand here just where you are. Why do you look back? There\u2019s no danger; he shall never touch you while I am here. SANNIO I\u2019ll have her, in spite of all. AESCHINUS Though he is a villain, he\u2019ll not risk, to-day, getting a second beating. SANNIO Hear me, Aeschinus, that you may not say that you were in ignorance of my calling; I am a Procurer.I am a Procurer: He says this aloud, and with emphasis, relying upon the laws which were enacted at Athens in favor of the lenones, whose occupation brought great profits to the state, from their extensive trading in slaves. It was forbidden to maltreat them, under pain of being disinherited. AESCHINUS I know it. SANNIO And of as high a character as any one ever was. When you shall be excusing yourself by-and-by, how that you wish this injury had not been done me, I shall not value it this (snapping his fingers). Depend upon it, I\u2019ll prosecute my rights; and you shall never pay with words for the evil that you have done me in deed. I know those ways of yours: I wish it hadn\u2019t happened; I\u2019ll take my oath that you did not deserve this injustice; while I myself have been treated in a disgraceful manner. AESCHINUS (to PARMENO.) Go first with all dispatch and open the door. (PARMENO opens the door.) SANNIO But you will avail nothing by this. AESCHINUS (To the GIRL.) Now then, step in. SANNIO (coming between.) But I\u2019ll not let her. AESCHINUS Step this way, Parmeno; you are gone too far that way; here (pointing), stand close by him; there, that\u2019s what I want. Now then, take care you don\u2019t move your eyes in any direction from mine, that there may be no delay if I give you the sign, to your fist being instantly planted in his jaws. SANNIO I\u2019d have him then try that. AESCHINUS (to PARMENO.) Now then, observe me.Part of line 172b in the Latin. PARMENO (to SANNIO.) Let go the woman. (Strikes him.) SANNIO Oh! scandalous deed! AESCHINUS He shall repeat it, if you don\u2019t take care. (PARMENO strikes him again.) SANNIO Oh shocking! AESCHINUS (to PARMENO.) I didn\u2019t give the sign; but still make your mistakes on that side in preference. Now then, go. (PARMENO goes with the MUSIC-GIRL into MICIO\u2019S house.) SANNIO What is the meaning of this? Have you the sway here, Aeschinus? AESCHINUS If I had it, you should be exalted for your deserts. SANNIO What business have you with me? AESCHINUS None. SANNIO How then, do you know who I am? AESCHINUS I don\u2019t want to. SANNIO Have I touched any thing of yours? AESCHINUS If you had touched it, you\u2019d have got a drubbing. SANNIO What greater right then have you to take my property, for which I paid my money? Answer me that. AESCHINUS It were better for you not to be making a disturbance here before the house; for if you persist in being impertinent, you shall be dragged in at once, and there you shall be lashed to death with whips. SANNIO A free man, with whips? AESCHINUS So it shall be. SANNIO Oh, you shameless fellow! Is this the place where they say there is equal liberty for all? AESCHINUS If you have now raved enough, Procurer, now then listen, if you please. SANNIO Why, is it I that have been raving, or you against me? AESCHINUS Leave alone all that, and come to the point. SANNIO What point? Where am I to come to? AESCHINUS Are you willing now that I should say something that concerns you? SANNIO With all my heart, only so it be something that\u2019s fair. AESCHINUS Very fine! a Procurer wishing me not to say what\u2019s unfair. SANNIO I am a Procurer,I am a Procurer: Westerhovins supposes this part to be a translation from the works of Diphilus. I confess it\u2014the common bane of youth\u2014a perjurer, a public nuisance; still, no injury has befallen you from me. AESCHINUS Why, faith, that remains to come\u2014 SANNIO Pray, Aeschinus, do come back to the point at which you set out. AESCHINUS You bought her for twenty nine; and may your bargain never thrive! That sum shall be given for her. SANNIO What if I don\u2019t choose to sell her to you? Will you compel me? AESCHINUS By no means. SANNIO I was afraid you would. AESCHINUS Neither do I think that a woman can be sold who is free; for I claim her by action of freedom.By action of freedom: Asserere liberati causa, was to assert the freedom of a person, with a determination to maintain it at law. The assertor laid hands upon the person, declaring that he or she was free; and till the cause was tried, the person whose freedom was claimed, remained in the hands of the assertor. Now consider which you choose; take the money, or prepare yourself for the action. Think of it, Procurer, till I return.Till I return: Colman has a curious remark here: I do not remember, in the whole circle of modern comedy, a more natural picture of the elegant ease and indifference of a fine gentleman, than that exhibited in this Scene in the character of Aeschinus. (He goes into the house of MICIO.) SANNIO (to himself.) O supreme Jupiter! I do by no means wonder that men run mad through ill usage. He has dragged me out of my house, beaten me, taken my property away against my will, and has given me, unfortunate wretch, more than five hundred blows. In return for all this ill usage he demands the girl to be made over to him for just the same price at which she was bought. But however, since he has so well deserved of me, be it so: he demands what is his due. Very well, I consent then, provided he only gives the money. But I suspect this; when I have said that I will sell her for so much, he\u2019ll be getting witnesses forthwith that I have sold her.That I have sold her: He means, that if he only names a price, Aeschinus will suborn witnesses to say that be has agreed to sell her, in which case Aeschinus will carry her off with impunity, and the laws will not allow him to recover her; as it will then be an ordinary debt, and he will be put off with all the common excuses used by debtors. As to getting the money, it\u2019s all a dream. Call again by and by; come back to-morrow. I could bear with that too, hard as it is, if he would only pay it. But I consider this to be the fact; when you take up this trade, you must brook and bear in silence the affronts of these young fellows. However, no one will pay me; it\u2019s in vain for me to be reckoning upon that. (Enter SYRUS, from the house of MICIO.) SYRUS (speaking to AECHINUS within.) Say no more; I myself will arrange with him; I\u2019ll make him glad to take the money at once, and say besides that he has been fairly dealt with. (Addressing SANNIO.) Sannio, how is this, that I hear you have been having some dispute or other with my master? SANNIO I never saw a dispute on more unequal termsOn more unequal terms: Certationem comparatam. This was a term taken from the combats of gladiators, where it was usual to choose as combatants such as seemed most nearly a match for each other. than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired. SYRUS Your own fault. SANNIO What could I do? SYRUS You ought to have yielded to the young man. SANNIO How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows? SYRUS Well\u2014are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain. What!\u2014Assigned to Sannio in the Latin. were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so littleIf you had parted with ever so little: This passage is probably alluded to by Cicero, in his work, De Officiis, B. ii. c. 18: For it is not only liberal sometimes to give up a little of one\u2019s rights, but it is also profitable. of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest? SANNIO I do not pay ready money for hope. SYRUS Then you\u2019ll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don\u2019t know how to take in mankind. SANNIO I believe that to be the better plan\u2014but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money. SYRUS Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minae were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus\u2014 SANNIO (aside.) Hah! SYRUS That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you\u2019ll settle the matter. SANNIO Not a foot do stir: Heavens! I\u2019m undone! (Aside.) It was upon this hope they devised their project. SYRUS (aside.) He is alarmed. I\u2019ve brought the fellow into a fix. SANNIO (aside.) Oh, what villainy!\u2014Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint.In the very joint: Ut in ipso articulo oppressit. Colman translates this, Nick\u2019d me to a hair. Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus.To take to Cyprus : He alludes to a famous slave-market held in the Isle of Cyprus, whither merchants carried slaves for sale, after buying them up in all parts of Greece. If I don\u2019t get there to the fair, my loss will, be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. Come at last? they\u2019ll say. Why did you delay it? Where have you been? So that I had better lose it altogether than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then. SYRUS Have you by this reckonedHave you by this reckoned: Iamne enumerasti id quod ad te rediturum putes? Colman renders this, Well, have you calculated what\u2019s your due? referring to the value of the Music-girl that has been taken away from him; and thinks that the following conversation between Sannio and Syrus supports that construction. Madame Dacier puts another sense on the words, and understands them as alluding to Sannio\u2019s calculation of his expected profits at Cyprus. up what you calculate will be your profits? SANNIO Is this honorable of him? Ought Aeschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence? SYRUS (aside.) He gives ground. (To SANNIO.) I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it. Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minaeScrape together ten minae: Donatus remarks, that Syrus knows very well that Aeschinus is ready to pay the whole, but offers Sannio half, that he may be glad to take the bare principal, and think himself well off into the bargain. from some quarter or other. SANNIO Ah me! unfortunate wretch, I am now in danger of even losing part of the principal. Has he no shame? He has loosened all my teeth;my head, too, is full of bumps with his cuffs; and would he defraud me as well? I shall go nowhere. SYRUS Just as you please. Have you any thing more to say before I go? SANNIO Why yes, Syrus, i\u2019 faith, I have this to request. Whatever the matters that are past, rather than go to law, let what is my own be returned me; at least, Syrus, the sum she cost me. I know that you have not hitherto made trial of my friendship; you will have no occasion to say that I am unmindful or ungrateful. SYRUS I\u2019ll do the best I can. But I see Ctesipho; he\u2019s in high spirits about his mistress. SANNIO What about what I was asking you? SYRUS Stay a little. (Enter CTESIPHO, at the other side of the stage.) CTESIPHO From any man, when you stand in need of it, you are glad to receive a service; but of a truth it is doubly acceptable, if he does you a kindness who ought to do so. O brother, brother, how can I sufficiently commend you? This I am quite sure of; I can never speak of you in such high terms but that your deserts will surpass it. For I am of opinion that I possess this one thing in especial beyond all others, a brother than whom no individual is more highly endowed with the highest qualities. SYRUS O Ctesipho! CTESIPHO O Syrus, where is Aeschinus? SYRUS Why, look\u2014he\u2019s at home, waiting for you. CTESIPHO (speaking joyously.) Ha! SYRUS What\u2019s the matter? CTESIPHO What\u2019s the matter? \u2019Tis through him, Syrus, that I am now alive\u2014generous creature! Has he not deemed every thing of secondary importance to himself in comparison with my happiness? The reproach, the discredit, my own amour and imprudence, he has taken upon himself. There can be nothing beyond this; but what means that noise at the door? SYRUS Stay, stay; \u2019tis Aeschinus himself coming out. (Enter AESCHINUS, from the house of MICIO.) AESCHINUS Where is that villain? SANNIO (aside.) He\u2019s looking for me.He\u2019s looking for me: Donatus remarks upon the readiness with which Sannio takes the appellation of sacrilegus, as adapted to no other person than himself. Is he bringing any thing with him? Confusion! I don\u2019t see any thing. AESCHINUS (to CTESIPHO.) Ha! well met; you are the very man I was looking for. How goes it, Ctesipho? All is safe: away then with your melancholy. CTESIPHO By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Aeschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face, lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude. AESCHINUS Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn\u2019t by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you. CTESIPHO I felt ashamed. AESCHINUS Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling matter to be almost flying the country!Flying the country: Donatus tells us, that in Menander the young man was on the point of killing himself. Terence has here softened it into leaving the country. Colman remarks: We know that the circumstance of carrying off the Music-girl was borrowed from Diphilus; yet it is plain from Donatus that there was also an intrigue by Ctesipho in the Play of Menander; which gives another proof of the manner in which Terence used the Greek Comedies. \u2019Tis shocking to be mentioned; I pray the Gods may forbid it! CTESIPHO I did wrong. AESCHINUS (in a lower voice.) What says Sannio to us at last? SYRUS He is pacified at last. AESCHINUS I\u2019ll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her. SANNIO (aside to SYRUS.) Syrus, do urge the matter. SYRUS (to AESCHINUS.) Let us be off, for he is in haste foe\u2019 Cyprus.He is in haste for Cyprus: Donatus remarks that this is a piece of malice on the part of Syrus, for the purpose of teasing Sannio. SANNIO Not particularly so; although still, I\u2019m stopping here doing nothing at all. SYRUS It shall be paid, don\u2019t fear. SANNIO But he is to pay it all. SYRUS He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way. SANNIO I\u2019ll follow. CTESIPHO (as SYRUS is going.) Harkye, harkye, Syrus. SYRUS (turning back.) Well now, what is it? CTESIPHO (aside.) Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever. SYRUS That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself in-doors with her, and order the couchesOrder the couches: Those used for the purpose of reclining on at the entertainment. to be spread for us, and the other things to be got ready. As soon as this business is settled, I shall come home with the provisions. CTESIPHO Pray do so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a cheerful day of it. (CTESIPHO goes into the house of MICIO; and exeunt AESCHINUS and SYRUS, followed by SANNIO.) (Enter SOSTRATA and CANTHARA, from the house of the former.) SOSTRATA Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end? CANTHARA Like to end, do you ask? I\u2019 troth, right well, I trust. SOSTRATA Her pains are just beginning, my dear. CANTHARA You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion\u2014never been in labor yourself. SOSTRATA Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Aeschinus. CANTHARA I\u2019 faith, he\u2019ll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us. SOSTRATA He is my sole comfort in my afflictions. CANTHARA Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,\u2014such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family. SOSTRATA It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us. (They stand apart, on seeing GETA.) (Enter GETA, on the other side of the stage.) GETA (to himself.) Now such is our condition, that if all were to combine all their counsels, and to seek a remedy for this mischief that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty, oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O shocking villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!\u2014 SOSTRATA Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified? GETA (continuing.) Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence. SOSTRATA (apart to CANTHARA.) I don\u2019t well understand what he is talking about. CANTHARA Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata. GETA (continuing.) Ah wretched me! I am scarcely master of my senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that I would like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I might give vent to all my wrath upon them while this wound is still fresh. I could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow himself who gave being to this monster; then as for his prompter, Syrus, out upon him! How I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth, so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out the eyes of the young fellow himself, and afterward hurl him headlong over some precipice. The others I would rush upon, drive, drag, crush, and trample them under foot. But why do I delay at once to acquaint my mistress with this calamity? (Moves as if going.) SOSTRATA (to CANTHARA.) Let us call him Lack. Geta\u2014 GETA Well\u2014leave me alone,Leave me alone: Quoting from Madame Dacier, Colman has this remark here: Geta\u2019s reply is founded on a frolicsome but ill-natured custom which prevailed in Greece\u2014to stop the slaves in the streets, and designedly keep them in chat, so that they might be lashed when they came home for staying out so long. whoever you are. SOSTRATA \u2019Tis I,\u2014Sostrata. GETA (turning round.) Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it\u2019s very fortunate you have met me. SOSTRATA What\u2019s the matter? Why are you trembling? GETA Alas! alas! SOSTRATA My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath. GETA Quite\u2014(pauses.) SOSTRATA Why, what means this quite? GETA Undone\u2014 It\u2019s all over with us. SOSTRATA Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter. GETA Now\u2014 SOSTRATA What now, Geta? GETA Aeschinus\u2014 SOSTRATA What about him? GETA Has abandoned our family. SOSTRATA Then I am undone! Why so? GETA He has attached himself to another woman. SOSTRATA Woe unto wretched me! GETA And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer. SOSTRATA Are you quite sure of this? GETA Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes. SOSTRATA Ah wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our own Aeschinus, the very life of us all, in whom all our hopes and comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on his father\u2019s knees,On his father\u2019s knees: It was a prevalent custom with the Greeks to place the newly-born child upon the knee of its grandfather. and thus entreat that he might be allowed to make her his wife! GETA Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person? CANTHARA Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one? GETA I, indeed, have no wish for it. In the first place, then, that his feelings are estranged from us, the thing itself declares. Now, if we make this known, he\u2019ll deny it, I\u2019m quite sure; your reputation and your daughter\u2019s character will then be in danger. On the other hand, if he were fully to confess it, as he is in love with another woman, it would not be to her advantage to be given to him. Therefore, under either circumstance, there is need of silence. SOSTRATA Oh! by no means in the world! I\u2019ll not do it. GETA What is it you say? SOSTRATA I\u2019ll make it known. GETA Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do! SOSTRATA The matter can not possibly be in a worse position than it is at present. In the first place, she has no portion; then, besides, that which was as good as a portion, her honor, is lost: she can not be given in marriage as a virgin. This resource is left; if he should deny it, I have a ring which he lost as evidence of the truth. In fine, Geta, as I am fully conscious that no blame attaches to me, and that neither interest nor any consideration unworthy of her or of myself has had a share in this matter, I will make trial\u2014 GETA What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best. SOSTRATA You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us. GETA (aside.) Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us. SOSTRATA Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her. (SOSTRATA goes into the house, and exit GETA and CANTHARA.) (Enter DEMEA.) DEMEA (to himself.) Utterly undone! I hear that Ctesipho was with Aeschinus at the carrying off of this girl. This sorrow still remains for unhappy me, should Aeschinus be able to seduce him, even him, who promises so fair, to a course of debauchery. Where am I to inquire for him? I doubt he has been carried off to some bad house; that profligate has persuaded him, I\u2019m quite sure. But look\u2014I see Syrus coming this way, I shall now know from him where he is. But, i \u2019faith, he is one of the gang; if he perceives that I am looking for him, the rascal will never tell me. I\u2019ll not let him know what I want. (Enter SYRUS, at the other side of the stage.) SYRUS (to himself.) We just now told the old gentleman the whole affair just as it happened; I never did see any one more delighted. DEMEA (apart.) O Jupiter! the folly of the man! SYRUS (continuing.) He commended his son. To me, who put them upon this project, he gave thanks\u2014 DEMEA (apart.) I shall burst asunder. SYRUS (continuing.) He told down the money instantly, and gave me half a mina besides to spend. That was laid out quite to my liking. DEMEA (apart.) Very fine\u2014if you would wish a thing to be nicely managed, intrust it to this fellow. SYRUS (overhearing him.) Ha, Demea! I didn\u2019t see you; how goes it? DEMEA How should it go? I can not enough wonder at your mode of living here. SYRUS Why, really silly enough, and, to speak without disguise, altogether absurd. (Calls at the door of MICIO\u2019S house.) Dromo, clean the rest of the fish; let the largest conger-eel play a little in the water; when I come back it shall, be boned;It shall be boned: The operation of boning conger-eels is often mentioned in Plautus, from whom we learn that they were best when eaten in that state, and cold. not before. DEMEA Is profligacy like this\u2014 SYRUS As for myself, it isn\u2019t to my taste, and I often exclaim against it. (Calls; at the door.) Stephanio, take care that the salt fish is well soaked. DEMEA Ye Gods, by our trust in you! Is he doing this for any purpose of his own, or does he think it creditable to ruin his son? Wretch that I am! methinks I already see the day when Aeschinus will be running away for want, to serve somewhere or other as a soldier.Serve somewhere or other as a soldier: See a similar passage in the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 722, whence it appears that it was the practice for young men of ruined fortunes to go and offer their services as mercenaries to some of the neighboring potentates. Many of the ten thousand who fought for the younger Cyrus at the battle of Cunaxa, and were led back under the command of Xenophon (as described in his Anabasis) were, doubtless, of this class. SYRUS O Demea! That is wisdom indeed, not only to look at the present moment, but also to look forward to what\u2019s to come. DEMEA Well\u2014is this Music-girl still with you? SYRUS Why, yes, she\u2019s in-doors. DEMEA How now\u2014is he going to keep her at home? SYRUS I believe so; such is his madness! DEMEA Is it possible? SYRUS An imprudent lenity in his father, and a vicious inlulgence. DEMEA Really, I am ashamed and grieved at my brother. SYRUS Demea! Between you there is a great\u2014I do not say it because you are here present\u2014a too great difference. You are, every bit of you, nothing but wisdom; he a mere dreamer. Would you indeed have suffered that son of yours to act thus? DEMEA I, suffer him? Would I not have smelt it out six months before he attempted it? SYRUS Need I be told by you of your foresight? DEMEA I pray he may only continue the same he is at present! SYRUS Just as each person wishes his son to be, so he turns out. DEMEA What news of him? Have you seen him to-day? SYRUS What, your son? (Aside.) I\u2019ll pack him off into the country. (To DEMEA.) I fancy he\u2019s busy at the farm long before this. DEMEA Are you quite sure he is there? SYRUS What!\u2014when I saw him part of the way myself\u2014 DEMEA Very good. I was afraid he might be loitering here. SYRUS And extremely angry too. DEMEA Why so? SYRUS He attacked his brother in the Forum with strong language about this Music-girl. DEMEA Do you really say so? SYRUS Oh dear, he didn\u2019t at all mince the matter; for just as the money was being counted out, the gentleman came upon us by chance, and began exclaiming, Oh Aeschinus, that you should perpetrate these enormities! that you should be guilty of actions so disgraceful to our family! DEMEA Oh, I shall weep for joy. SYRUS By this you are not squandering your money only, but your reputation. DEMEA May he be preserved to me! I trust he will be like his forefathers. (Weeping.) SYRUS (aside.) Heyday! DEMEA Syrus, he is full of these maxims. SYRUS (aside.) Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them. DEMEA I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine, I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, I say\u2014 SYRUS Quite right. DEMEA Avoid that\u2014 SYRUS Very shrewd. DEMEA This is praiseworthy\u2014 SYRUS That\u2019s the thing. DEMEA That is considered blamable\u2014 SYRUS Extremely good. DEMEA And then, moreover\u2014 SYRUS Upon my honor, I have not the leisure to listen to you just at present: I have got some fish just to my taste, and must take care they are not spoiled; for that would be as much a crime in me, as for you, Demea, not to observe those maxims which you have just been mentioning; and so far as I can, I lay down precepts for my fellow-servants on the very same plan; this is too salt, that is quite burned up, this is not washed enough, that is very well done; remember and do so another time. I carefully instruct them so far as I can to the best of my capacity. In short, Demea, I bid them look into their sauce-pans as though into a mirror,As though into a mirror: He parodies the words of Demea in l. 415, where he speaks of looking into the lives of men as into a mirror. and suggest to them what they ought to do. I am sensible these things are trifling which we do; but what is one to do? According as the man is, so must you humor him. Do you wish any thing else? DEMEA That more wisdom may be granted you. SYRUS You will be going off into the country, I suppose? DEMEA Directly. SYRUS For what should you do here, where, if you do give any good precepts, no one will regard them? (Goes into MICIO\u2019S house.) DEMEA (to himself.) I certainly will be off, as he on whose account I came hither has gone into the country. I have a care for him: that alone is my own concern, since my brother will have it so; let him look to the other himself. But who is it I see yonder at a distance? Isn\u2019t it Hegio of our tribes?Of our tribe: Solon divided the Athenians into ten tribes, which he named after ten of the ancient heroes: Erectheis, Aegeis, Pandionis, Leontis, Acamantis, OEneis, Cecrops, Hippothoontis, Aeantis, and Antiochis. These tribes were each divided into ten Demi. If I see right, i\u2019 faith, it is he. Ah, a man I have been friendly with from a child! Good Gods! we certainly have a great dearth of citizens of that stamp nowadays, with the old-fashioned virtue and honesty. Not in a hurry will any misfortune accrue to the public from him. How glad I am to find some remnants of this race even still remaining; now I feel some pleasure in living. I\u2019ll wait here for him, to ask him how he is, and have some conversation with him. (Enter HEGIO and GETA, conversing, at a distance.) HEGIO Oh immortal Gods! a disgraceful action, Geta! What is it you tell me? GETA Such is the fact. HEGIO That so ignoble a deed should come from that family! Oh Aeschinus, assuredly you haven\u2019t taken after your father in that! DEMEA (apart.) Why surely, he has heard this about the Music-girl; that gives him concern, though a stranger; this father of his thinks nothing of it. Ah me! I wish he were somewhere close at hand to overhear this. HEGIO Unless they do as they ought to do, they shall not come off so easily. GETA All our hopes, Hegio, are centred in you; you we have for our only friend; you are our protector, our father. The old man, Simulus, when dying, recommended us to you; if you forsake us, we are undone. HEGIO Beware how you mention that; I neither will do it, nor do I think that, with due regard to the ties of relationship, I could. DEMEA (apart.) I\u2019ll accost him. (Approaches HEGIO.) Hegio, I bid you welcome right heartily; HEGIO (starting.) Oh! you are the very man I was looking for. Greetings to you, Demea. DEMEA Why, what\u2019s the matter? HEGIO Your eldest son Aeschinus, whom you gave to your brother to adopt, has been acting the part of neither an honest man nor a gentleman. DEMEA What has he been doing? HEGIO You knew my friend and year\u2019s-mate, Simulus? DEMEA Why not? HEGIO He has debauched his daughter, a virgin. DEMEA Hah! HEGIO Stay, Demea. You have not yet heard the worst. DEMEA Is there any thing still worse? HEGIO Worse, by far: for this indeed might in some measure have been borne with. The hour of night prompted him; passion, wine, young blood; \u2019tis human nature. When he was sensible of what he had done, he came voluntarily to the girl\u2019s mother, weeping, praying, entreating, pledging his honor, vowing that he would take her home.Would take her home: As his wife. The affair was pardoned, hushed up, his word taken. The girl from that intercourse became pregnant: this is the tenth month. He, worthy fellow, has provided himself, if it please the Gods, with a Music-girl to live with; the other he has cast off. DEMEA Do you say this for certain? HEGIO The mother of the young woman is among us,Is among us: In medio, is alive, or in the midst of us. the young woman too; the fact speaks for itself; this Geta, besides, according to the common run of servants, not a bad one or of idle habits; he supports them; alone, maintains the whole family; take him, bind him,Take him, bind him.: In allusion to the method of examining slaves, by binding and torturing them. examine him upon the matter. GETA Aye, faith, put me to the torture, Demea, if such is not the fact: besides, he will not deny it. Confront me with him. DEMEA (aside.) I am ashamed; and what to do, or how to answer him, I don\u2019t know. PAMPHILA (crying out within the house of SOSTRATA.) Ah me! I am racked with pains! Juno Lucina,Juno Lucina: So in the Andria, l. 473, where Glycerium is overtaken with the pains of labor, she calls upon Juno Lucina. bring aid, save me, I beseech thee. HEGIO Hold; is she in labor, pray? GETA No doubt of it, Hegio. HEGIO Ah! she is now imploring your protection, Demea; let her obtain from you spontaneously what the power of the law compels you to give. I do entreat the Gods that what befits you may at once be clone. But if your sentiments are otherwise, Demea, I will defend both them and him who is dead to the utmost of my power. He was my kinsman:He was my kinsman: In the Play of Menander, Hegio was the brother of Sostrata. we were brought up together from children, we were companions in the wars and at home, together we experienced the hardships of poverty. I will therefore exert myself, strive, use all methods, in fine lay down my life, rather than forsake these women. What answer do you give me? DEMEA I\u2019ll go find my brother, Hegio: the advice he gives me upon this matter I\u2019ll follow.Upon this matter I\u2019ll follow: Is, quod mihi de hac re dederat consilium, id sequar. Colman has the following Note on this passage: Madame Dacier rejects this line, because it is also to be found in the Phormio. But it is no uncommon thing with our author to use the same expression or verse for different places, especially on familiar occasions. There is no impropriety in it here, and the foregoing hemistich is rather lame without it. The propriety of consulting Micio, or Demea\u2019s present ill-humor with him, are of no consequence. The old man is surprised at Hegio\u2019s story, does not know what to do or say, and means to evade giving a positive answer, by saying that he would consult his brother. HEGIO But, Demea, take you care and reflect upon this: the more easy you are in your circumstances, the more powerful, wealthy, affluent, and noble you are, so much the more ought you with equanimity to observe the dictates of justice, if you would have yourselves esteemed as men of probity. DEMEA Go back now;Go back now: Redite. Demea most probably uses this word, because Hegio has come back to him to repeat the last words for the sake of greater emphasis. every thing shall be done that is proper to be done. HEGIO It becomes you to act thus. Geta, show me in to Sostrata. (Follows GETA into SOSTRATA\u2019S house.) DEMEA (to himself.) Not without warning on my part have these things happened: I only wish it may end here; but this immoderate indulgence will undoubtedly lead to some great misfortune. I\u2019ll go find my brother, and vent these feelings upon him. (Exit.) (Enter HEGIO, from SOSTRATA\u2019S house, and speaking to her within.) HEGIO Be of good heart,Be of good heart: Colman has the following Note here: Donatus tells us, that in some old copies this whole Scene was wanting. Guyetus therefore entirely rejects it. I have not ventured to take that liberty; but must confess that it appears to me, if not supposititious, at least cold and superfluous, and the substance of it had better been supposed to have passed between Hegio and Sostrata within. Sostrata, and take care and console her as far as you can. I\u2019ll go find Micio, if he is at the Forum, and acquaint him with the whole circumstances in their order; if so it is that he will do his duty by you, let him do so; but if his sentiments are otherwise about this matter, let him give me his answer, that I may know at once what I am to do. (Exit.) (Enter CTESIPHO and SYRUS from the house of MICIO.) CTESIPHO My father gone into the country, say you? SYRUS (with a careless air.) Some time since. CTESIPHO Do tell me, I beseech you. SYRUS He is at the farm at this very moment,At this very moment: It is very doubtful whether the words cum maxime mean to signify exactly at this moment, or are intended to signify the intensity with which Demea is laboring. I warrant\u2014hard at some work or other. CTESIPHO I really wish, provided it be done with no prejudice to his health, I wish that he may so effectually tire himself, that, for the next three days together, he may be unable to arise from his bed. SYRUS So be it, and any thing still better than that,Any thing still better than that: Lemaire suggests that by these words Syrus intends to imply that he should not care if Demea were never to arise from his bed, but were to die there. Ctesipho, only taking him heartily to second his own wishes for the old man\u2019s absence, answers affirmatively ita, by all means, exactly so. if possible. CTESIPHO Just so; for I do most confoundedly wish to pass this whole day in merry-making as I have begun it; and for no reason do I detest that farm so heartily as for its being so near town. If it were at a greater distance, night would overtake him there before he could return hither again. Now, when he doesn\u2019t find me there, he\u2019ll come running back here, I\u2019m quite sure; he\u2019ll be asking me where I have been, that I have not seen him all this day: what am I to say? SYRUS Does nothing suggest itself to your mind? CTESIPHO Nothing whatever. SYRUS So much the worseSo much the worse: Schmieder observes that tanto nequior might have two meanings,\u2014so much the worse for us, or, as the spectators might understand it, so much the more worthless you.\u2014have you no client, friend, or guest? CTESIPHO I have; what then? SYRUS You have been engaged with them. CTESIPHO When I have not been engaged? That can never do. SYRUS It may. CTESIPHO During the daytime; but if I pass the night here, what excuse can I make, Syrus? SYRUS Dear me, how much I do wish it was the custom for one to be engaged with friends at night as well! But you be easy; I know his humor perfectly well. When he raves the most violently, I can make him as gentle as a lamb. CTESIPHO In what way? SYRUS He loves to hear you praised: I make a god of you to him, and recount your virtues. CTESIPHO What, mine? SYRUS Yours; immediately the tears fall from him as from a child, for very joy. (Starting.) Hah take care\u2014 CTESIPHO Why, what\u2019s the matter? SYRUS The wolf in the fableThe wolf in the fable: This was a proverbial expression, tantamount to our saying, Talk of the devil, he\u2019s sure to appear. Servius, in his Commentary on the Ninth Eclogue of Virgil, says that the saying arose from the common belief that the person whom a wolf sets his eyes, upon is deprived of his voice, and thence came to be applied to a person who, coming, upon others in the act of talking about him, necessarily put a stop to their conversation. Cooke says, in reference to this passage, This certainly alludes to a Fable of Aesop\u2019s, of the Wolf, the Fox, and the Ape: which is translated by Phaedrus, and is the tenth of his First Book. It is much more certain that Cooke is mistaken here, and that the fable of the arbitration of the Ape between the Wolf and the Fox has nothing to do with this passage. If it alludes to any fable (which from the expression itself is riot at all unlikely), it is more likely to be that where the Nurse threatens that the wolf shall take the naughty Child, on which he makes his appearance, but is disappointed in his expectations, or else that of the Shepherd-boy and the Wolf. See the Stichus of Plautus, 1. 57, where the same. expression occurs.\u2014 CTESIPHO What! my father? SYRUS His own self. CTESIPHO What shall we do, Syrus? SYRUS You only be off in-doors, I\u2019ll see to that. CTESIPHO If he makes any inquiries, you have seen me no-where; do you hear? SYRUS Can you not be quiet? (They retreat to the door of MICIO\u2019S house, and CTESIPHO stands in the doorway.) (Enter DEMEA, on the other side of the stage.) DEMEA (to himself.) I certainly am an unfortunate man. In the first place, I can find my brother nowhere; and then, in the next place, while looking for him, I met a day-laborerMet a day-laborer: Donatus remarks that the Poet artfully contrives to detain Demea in town, his presence being necessary in the latter part of the Play. from the farm; he says that my son is not in the country, and what to do I know not\u2014 CTESIPHO (apart.) Syrus! SYRUS (apart.) What\u2019s the matter? CTESIPHO (apart.) Is he looking for me? SYRUS (apart.) Yes. CTESIPHO (apart.) Undone! SYRUS (apart.) Nay, do be of good heart. DEMEA (to himself.) Plague on it! what ill luck is this? I can not really account for it, unless I suppose myself only born for the purpose of enduring misery. I am the first to feel our misfortunes; the first to know of them all; then the first to carry the news; I am the only one, if any thing does go wrong, to take it to heart. SYRUS (apart.) I\u2019m amused at him; he says that he is the first to know of every thing, while he is the only one ignorant of every thing. DEMEA (to himself.) I\u2019ve now come back; and I\u2019ll go see whether perchance my brother has yet returned. CTESIPHO (apart.) Syrus, pray do take care that he doesn\u2019t suddenly rush in upon us here. SYRUS (apart.) Now will you hold your tongue? I\u2019ll take care. CTESIPHO (apart.) Never this day will I depend on your management for that, upon my faith; for I\u2019ll shut myself up with her in some cupboardWith her in some cupboard: Donatus observes that the young man was silly in this, for if discovered to be there he would be sure to be caught. His object, however, for going there would be that he might not be discovered.\u2014that\u2019s the safest. (Goes into the house.) SYRUS (apart.) Do so, still I\u2019ll get rid of him. DEMEA (seeing SYRUS.) But see! there\u2019s that rascal, Syrus. SYRUS (aloud, pretending not to see DEMEA.) Really, upon my faith, no person can stay here, if this is to be the case! For my part, I should like to know how many masters I have\u2014what a cursed condition this is DEMEA What\u2019s he whining about? What does he mean? How say you, good sir, is my brother at home? SYRUS What the plague do you talk to me about, good sir? I\u2019m quite distracted! DEMEA What\u2019s the matter with you? SYRUS Do you ask the question? Ctesipho has been beating me, poor wretch, and that Music-girl, almost to death. DEMEA Ha! what is it you tell me? SYRUS Aye, seehow he has cut my lip. (Pretends to point to it.) DEMEA For what reason? SYRUS He says that she was bought by my advice. DEMEA Did not you tell me, a short time since, that you had seen him on his way into the country? SYRUS I did; but he afterward came back, raving like a madman; he spared nobody\u2014ought he not to have been ashamed to beat an old man? Him whom, only the other day, I used to carry about in my arms when thus high? (Showing.) DEMEA I commend him; O Ctesipho, you take after your father. Well, I do pronounce you a man. SYRUS Commend him? Assuredly he will keep his hands to himself in future, if he\u2019s wise. DEMEA \u2019Twas done with spirit. SYRUS Very much so, to be beating a poor woman, and me, a slave, who didn\u2019t dare strike him in return; heyday! very spirited indeed! DEMEA He could not have done better; he thought the same as I did, that you were the principal in this affair. But is my brother within? SYRUS He is not. DEMEA I\u2019m thinking where to look for him. SYRUS I know where he is\u2014but I shall not tell you at present. DEMEA Ha! what\u2019s that you say? SYRUS I do say so. DEMEA Then I\u2019ll break your head for you this instant. SYRUS I can\u2019t tell the person\u2019s name he\u2019s gone to, but I know the place where he lives. DEMEA Tell me the place then. SYRUS Do you know the portico down this way, just by the shambles? (Pointing in the direction.) DEMEA How should I but know it? SYRUS Go straight along, right up that street; when you come there, there is a descent right opposite that goes down-ward, go straight down that; afterward, on this side (extending one hand), there is a chapel: close by it is a narrow lane, where there\u2019s also a great wild fig-tree. DEMEA I know it. SYRUS Go through that\u2014 DEMEA But that lane is not a thoroughfare. SYRUS I\u2019 faith, that\u2019s true; dear, dear, would you take me to be in my senses?Take me to be in my senses: Censen hominem me esse? literally, Do you take me to be a human being? meaning, Do you take me to be a person in my common senses? I made a mistake. Return to the portico; indeed that will be a much nearer way, and there is less going round about you know the house of Cratinus, the rich man? DEMEA I know it. SYRUS When you have passed that, keep straight along that street on the left hand;Street on the left hand: Theobald, in his edition of Shakspeare, observes that the direction given by Lancelot in the Merchant of Venice seems to be copied from that given here by Syrus: Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left; marry, at the very next turning of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew\u2019s house. (2.2) when you come to the Temple of Diana, turn to the right; before you come to the city gate,Come to the city gate: From this we discover that Demea is being sent to the very extremity of the town, as Donatus informs us that ponds of water were always close to the gates of towns, for the purpose of watering the beasts. of burden, and of having a supply at hand in case the enemy should set fire to the city gates. just by that pond, there is a baker\u2019s shop, and opposite to it a joiner\u2019s; there he is. DEMEA What is he doing there? SYRUS He has given some couches to be made, with oaken legs, for use in the open air.The open air: Donatus remarks that it was usual for the Greeks to sit and drink in the sun; and that Syrus being suddenly asked this question shows his presence of mind by giving this circumstantial answer, that he may the better impose upon Demea. The couches used on such occasions may be presumed to have required stout legs, and to be made of hard wood, such as oak, to prevent them from splitting. Two instances of couches being used for carousing in the open air will be found in the last Scenes of the Asinaria and Stichus of Plautus. DEMEA For you to carouse upon! Very fine ! But why do I delay going to him? (Exit.) SYRUS Go, by all means. I\u2019ll work you to day, you skeleton,You skeleton: Silicernium. This was said to be the name of a funeral entertainment or dish of meats offered up to the umbras or manes, in silence. The word is also said to have been applied to an old man from his stooping postures, silices cernit, he looks at the stones. as you deserve. Aeschinus loiters intolerably; the breakfast\u2019s spoiling; and as for Ctesipho, he\u2019s head and ears in love.Head and ears in love: Totus, literally, quite or altogether. I shall now think of myself, for I\u2019ll be off at once, and pick out the very nicest bit, and, leisurely sipping my cups,Sipping my cups: As to the cyathi and cups of the ancients, see the last Scene of the Stichus of Plautus, which is a perfect specimen of a carousal among the lower classes in ancient times. See also the last Scene of the Asinaria. The slaves generally appear to have taken part in the entertainments with their young masters. I\u2019ll lengthen out the day. (Goes into the house.) (Enter MICIO and HEGIO.) MICIO I can see no reason here, Hegio, that I should be so greatly commended. I do my duty; the wrong that has originated with us I redress. Unless, perhaps, you thought me one of that class of men who think that an injury is purposely done them if you expostulate about any thing they have done; and yet are themselves the first to accuse. Because I have not acted thus, do you return me thanks? HEGIO Oh, far from it; I never led myself to believe you to be otherwise than you are; but I beg, Micio, that you will go with me to the mother of the young woman, and repeat to her the same; what you have told me, do you yourself tell the woman, that this suspicion of Aeschinus\u2019s fidelity was incurred on his brother\u2019s account, and that this Music-girl was for him. MICIO If you think I ought, or if there is a necessity for doing so, let us go. HEGIO You act with kindness; for you\u2019ll then both have relieved her mind who is now languishing in sorrow and affliction, and have discharged your duty. But if you think otherwise, I will tell her myself what you have been saying to me. MICIO Nay, I\u2019ll go as well. HEGIO You act with kindness; all who are in distressed circumstances are suspicious,Are suspicious: These lines are supposed to be founded on some verses of Menander which are still extant. to I know not what degree; they take every thing too readily as an affront; they fancy themselves trifled with on account of their helpless condition; therefore it will be more satisfactory for you to justify him to them yourself. (They go into the house of SOSTRATA.) (Enter AESCHINUS.) AESCHINUS. I am quite distracted in mind! for this misfortune so unexpectedly to befall me, that I neither know what to do with myself, or how to act! My limbs are enfeebled through fear, my faculties bewildered with apprehension; no counsel is able to find a place within my breast. Alas! how to extricate myself from this perplexity I know not; so strong a suspicion has taken possession of them about me; not without some reason too: Sostrata believes that I have purchased this Music-girl for myself: the old woman informed me of that. For by accident, when she was sent for the midwife, I saw her, and at once went up to her. How is Pamphila? I inquired; is her delivery at hand? Is it for that she is sending for the midwife? Away, away, Aeschinus, cries she; you have deceived us long enough; already have your promises disappointed us sufficiently. Ha! said I; pray what is the meaning of this? Farewell, she cries; keep to her who is your choice. I instantly guessed what it was they suspected, but still I checked myself, that I might not be telling that gossip any thing about my brother, whereby it might be divulged. Now what am I to do? Shall I say she is for my brother, a thing that ought by no means to be repeated any where? However, let that pass. It is possible it might go no further. I am afraid they would not believe it, so many probabilities concur against it; \u2019twas I myself carried her off; \u2019twas I, my own self, that paid the money for her; \u2019twas my own house she was carried to. This I confess has been entirely my own fault. Ought I not to have disclosed this affair, just as it happened, to my father? I might have obtained his consent to marry her. I have been too negligent hitherto; henceforth, then, arouse yourself, Aeschinus. This then is the first thing; to go to them and clear myself. I\u2019ll approach the door. (Advances to the door of SOSTRATA\u2019S house.) Confusion! I always tremble most dreadfully when I go to knock at that door. (Knocking and calling to them within.) Ho there, ho there! it is Aeschinus; open the door immediately, some one. (The door opens.) Some person, I know not who, is coming out; I\u2019ll step aside here. (He stands apart.) (Enter MICIO from the house of SOSTRATA.) MICIO (speaking at the door to SOSTRATA.) Do as I told you, Sostrata; I\u2019ll go find Aeschinus, that lie may know how these matters have been settled. (Looking round.) But who was it knocking at the door? AESCHINUS (apart.) Heavens, it is my father!\u2014I am undone ! MICIO Aeschinus ! AESCHINUS (aside.) What can be his business here? MICIO Was it you knocking at this door? (Aside.) He is silent. Why shouldn\u2019t I rally him a little? It would be as well, as he was never willing to trust me with this secret. (To AESCHINUS.) Don\u2019t you answer me? AESCHINUS (confusedly.) It wasn\u2019t I knocked at that door, that I know of. MICIO Just so; for I wondered what business you could have here. (Apart.) He blushes; all\u2019s well. AESCHINUS Pray tell me, father, what business have you there? MICIO Why, none of my own; but a certain friend of mine just now brought me hither from the Forum to give him some assistance. AESCHINUS Why? MICIO I\u2019ll tell you. There are some women living here; in impoverished circumstances, as I suppose you don\u2019t know them; and, in fact, I\u2019m quite sure, for it is not long since they removed to this place. AESCHINUS Well, what next? MICIO There is a girl living with her mother. AESCHINUS Go on. MICIO This girl has lost her father; this friend of mine is her next of kin; the law obliges him to marry her.Obliges him to marry her: It appears to have been a law given by Solon to the Athenians that the next male relative of suitable age should marry a female orphan himself, or find her a suitable portion. Madame Dacier suggests that the custom was derived from the Phoenicians, who had received it from the Jews, and quotes the Book of Numbers, xxxvi. 8. This law forms the basis of the plot of the Phormio. AESCHINUS (aside.) Undone! MICIO What\u2019s the matter? AESCHINUS Nothing. Very well: proceed. MICIO He has come to take her with him; for he lives at Miletus. AESCHINUS What! To take the girl away with him? MICIO Such is the act. AESCHINUS All the way to Miletus, pray?To Miletus, pray?: A colony of Athens, on the coast of Asia Minor. MICIO Yes. AESCHINUS (aside.) I\u2019m overwhelmed with grief (To MICIO.) But what of them? What do they say? MICIO What do you suppose they should? Why, nothing at all. The mother has trumped up a tale, that there is a child by some other man, I know not who, and she does not state the name; she says that he was the first, and that she ought not to be given to the other. AESCHINUS Well now, does not this seem just to you after all? MICIO No. AESCHINUS Why not, pray? Is the other to be carrying her away from here? MICIO Why should he not take her? AESCHINUS You have acted harshly and unfeelingly, and even, if, father, I may speak my sentiments more plainly, unhandsomely. MICIO Why so? AESCHINUS Do you ask me? Pray, what do you think must be the state of mind of the man who was first connected with her, who, to his misfortune, may perhaps still love her to distraction, when he sees her torn away from before his face, and borne off from his sight forever? An unworthy action, father! MICIO On what grounds is it so? Who betrothed her?Who betrothed her?: Donatus observes that these questions, which enumerate all the proofs requisite for a marriage, are an indirect and very delicate reproof of Aeschinus for the irregular and clandestine nature of his proceedings. Who gave her away? When and to whom was she married? Who was the author of all this? Why did he connect himself with a woman who belonged to another? AESCHINUS Was it to be expected that a young woman of her age should sit at home, waiting till a kinsman of hers should come from a distance? This, my father, you ought to have represented, and have insisted on it. MICIO Ridiculous! Was I to have pleaded against him whom I was to, support But what\u2019s all this, Aeschinus, to us? What have we to do with them? Let us begone:\u2014 What\u2019s the matter? Why these tears? AESCHINUS (weeping.) Father, I beseech you, listen to me. MICIO Aeschinus, I have heard and know it all; for I love you, and therefore every thing you do is the more a care to me. AESCHINUS So do I wish you to find me deserving of your love, as long as you live, my dear father, as I am sincerely sorry for the offense I have committed, and am ashamed to see you. MICIO Upon my word I believe it, for I know your ingenuous disposition: but I am afraid that you are too inconsiderate. In what city, pray, do you suppose you live? You have debauched a virgin, whom it was not lawful for you to touch. In the first place then that was a great offense; great, but still natural. Others, and even men of worth, have frequently done the same. But after it happened, pray, did you show any circumspection? Or did you use any foresight as to what was to be done, or how it was to be done? If you were ashamed to tell me of it, by what means was I to come to know it? While you were at a loss upon these points, ten months have been lost. So far indeed as lay in your power, you have periled both yourself and this poor girl, and the child. What did you imagine\u2014that the Gods would set these matters to rights for you while you were asleep, and that she would be brought home to your chamber without any exertions of your own? I would not have you to be equally negligent in other affairs. Be of good heart, you shall have her for your wife. AESCHINUS Hah! MICIO Be of good heart, I tell you. AESCHINUS Father, are you now jesting with me, pray? MICIO I, jesting with you! For what reason? AESCHINUS I don\u2019t know; but so anxiously do I wish this to be true, that I am the more afraid it may not be. MICIO Go home, and pray to the Gods that you may have your wife; be off. AESCHINUS What! have my wife now? MICIO Now. AESCHINUS Now? MICIO Now, as soon as possible. AESCHINUS May all the Gods detest me, father, if I do not love you better than even my very eyes! MICIO What! better than her? AESCHINUS Quite as well. MICIO Very kind of you ! AESCHINUS Well, where is this Milesian? MICIO Departed, vanished, gone on board ship; but why do you delay? AESCHINUS Father, do you rather go and pray to the Gods; for I know, for certain, that they will rather be propitious to you,Propitious to you: Donatus remarks that there is great delicacy in this compliment of Aeschinus to Micio, which, though made in his presence, does not bear the semblance of flattery. Madame Dacier thinks that Terence here alludes to a line of Hesiod, which says that it is the duty of the aged to pray. Colman suggests that the passage is borrowed from some lines of Menander still in existence. as being a much better man than I am. MICIO I\u2019ll go in-doors, that what is requisite may be prepared. You do as I said, if you are wise. (Goes into his house.) AESCHINUS (AESCHINUS alone.) What can be the meaning of this? Is this being a father, or this being a son? If he had been a brother or familiar companion, how could he have been more complaisant! Is he not worthy to be beloved? Is he not to be imprinted in my very bosom? Well then, the more does he impose an obligation on me by his kindness, to take due precaution not inconsiderately to do any thing that he may not wish. But why do I delay going in-doors this instant, that I may not myself delay my own nuptials? (Goes into the house of MICIO.) (Enter DEMEA.) DEMEA I am quite tired with walking: May the great Jupiter confound you, Syrus, together with your directions! I have crawled the whole city over; to the gate, to the pond\u2014where not? There was no joiner\u2019s shop there; not a soul could say he had seen my brother; but now I\u2019m determined to sit and wait at his house till he returns. (Enter MICIO from his house.) MICIO (speaking to the people within.) I\u2019ll go and tell them there\u2019s no delay on our part. DEMEA But see here\u2019s the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time. MICIO Why, what\u2019s the matter? DEMEA I\u2019m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth. MICIO Just look at that! DEMEA Fresh ones, of blackest dye. MICIO There now\u2014at it again. DEMEA Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is. MICIO I do. DEMEA O simpleton! you are dreaming that I\u2019m talking about the Music-girl; this crime is against a virgin and a citizen. MICIO I know it. DEMEA So then, you know it, and put up with it! MICIO Why not put up with it? DEMEA Tell me, pray, don\u2019t you exclaim about it? Don\u2019t you go distracted? MICIO Not I: certainly I had ratherCertainly I had rather: He pauses after quidem, but he means to say that if he had his choice, he would rather it had not been so.\u2014 DEMEA There has been a child born. MICIO May the Gods be propitious to it. DEMEA The girl has no fortune. MICIO So I have heard. DEMEA And he\u2014must he marry her without one? MICIO Of course. DEMEA What is to be done then? MICIO Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither. DEMEA O Jupiter! must that be the way then? MICIO What can I do else? DEMEA What can you do? If in reality this causes you no concern, to pretend it were surely the duty of a man. MICIO But I have already betrothed the young woman to him; the matter is settled: the marriage takes place to-day. I have removed all apprehensions. This is rather the duty of a man. DEMEA But does the affair please you, Micio? MICIO If I were able to alter it, no; now, as I can not, I bear it with patience. The life of man is just like playing with dice:Playing with dice: The tesserae of the ancients were cubes, or what we call dice; while the tali were in imitation of the knuckle-bones of animals, and were marked on four sides only. For some account of the mode of playing with the tali, see the last Scene of the Asinaria, and the Curculio of Plautus, l. 257-9. Madame Dacier suggests that Menander may possibly have borrowed this passage from the Republic of Plato, B. X., where he says, We should take counsel from accidents, and, as in a game at dice, act according to what has fallen, in the manner which reason tells us to be the best. if that which you most want to throw does not turn up, what turns up by chance you must correct by art. DEMEA O rare corrector! of course it is by your art that twenty minae have been thrown away for a Music-girl; who, as soon as possible, must be got rid of at any price; and if not for money, why then for nothing. MICIO Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her. DEMEA What will you do with her then? MICIO She shall be at my house. DEMEA For heaven\u2019s sake, a courtesan and a matron in the same house! MICIO Why not? DEMEA Do you imagine you are in your senses MICIO Really I do think so. DEMEA So may the Gods prosper me, I now see your folly; I believe you are going to do so that you may have somebody to practice music with. MICIO Why not? DEMEA And the new-made bride to be learning too? MICIO Of course. DEMEA Having hold of the rope,Hold of the rope: Restim ductans saltabis. Donatus and Madame Dacier think that this is only a figurative expression for a dance in which all joined hands; according to some, however, a dance is alluded to where the person who led off drew a rope or cord after him, which the rest of the company took hold of as they danced; which was invented in resemblance of the manner in which the wooden horse was dragged by ropes into the city of Troy. you will be dancing with them. MICIO Like enough; and you too along with us, if there\u2019s need. DEMEA Ah me! are you not ashamed of this? MICIO Demea, do, for once, lay aside this anger of yours, and show yourself as you ought at your son\u2019s wedding, cheerful and good-humored. I\u2019ll just step over to them, and return immediately. (Goes into SOSTRATA\u2019S house.) DEMEA O Jupiter! here\u2019s a life! here are manners! here\u2019s madness! A wife to be coming without a fortune! A music-wench in the house! A house full of wastefulness! A young man ruined by extravagance! An:old man in his dotage!\u2014Should Salvation herselfSalvation herself:: See an observation relative to the translation of the word Salus, in the Notes to Plautus, vol. i. pages 193. 450. desire it, she certainly could not save this family. (Exit.) (Enter SYRUS, drunk, and DEMEA, on the opposite side of the stage.) SYRUS Upon my faith, my dear little Syrus, you have taken delicate care of yourself, and have done your dutyHave done your duty: His duty of providing the viands and drink for the entertainment. So Ergasilus says in the Captivi of Plautus, l. 912 Now I will go off to my government (praefecturam), to give laws to the bacon. with exquisite taste; be off with you. But since I\u2019ve had my fill of every thing in-doors, I have felt disposed to take a walk. DEMEA (apart.) Just look at that\u2014there\u2019s an instance of their good training! SYRUS (to himself.) But see, here comes our old man. (Addressing him.) What\u2019s the matter ? Why out of spirits? DEMEA Oh you rascal! SYRUS Hold now; are you spouting your sage maxims here? DEMEA If you were my servant\u2014 SYRUS Why, you would be a rich man, Demea, and improve your estate. DEMEA I would take care that you should be an example to all the rest. SYRUS For what reason? What have I done ? DEMEA Do you ask me? in the midst of this confusion, and during the greatest mischief, which is hardly yet set right, you have been getting drunk, you villain, as though things had been going on well. SYRUS (aside.) Really, I wish I hadn\u2019t come out. (Enter DROMO in haste, from the house of MICIO.) DROMO Halloo, Syrus! Ctesipho desires you\u2019ll come back. SYRUS Get you gone. (Pushes him back into the house.) DEMEA What is it he says about Ctesipho? SYRUS Nothing. DEMEA How now, you hang-dog, is Ctesipho in the house? SYRUS He is not. DEMEA Then why does he mention him? SYRUS It\u2019s another person; a little diminutive Parasite. Don\u2019t you know him? DEMEA I will know him before long. (Going to the door.) SYRUS (stopping him.) What are you about? Whither are you going? DEMEA (struggling.) Let me alone. SYRUS (holding him.) Don\u2019t, I tell you. DEMEA Won\u2019t you keep your hands off, whip-scoundrel? Or would you like me to knock your brains out this instant? (Rushes into the house.) SYRUS He\u2019s gone! no very pleasant boon-companion, upon my faith, particularly to Ctesipho. What am I to do now ? Why, even get into some corner till this tempest is lulled, and sleep off this drop of wine. That\u2019s my plan. (Goes into the house, staggering.) (Enter MICIO, from the house of SOSTRATA.) MICIO (to SOSTRATA, within.) Every thing\u2019s ready with us, as I told you, Sostrata, when you like.\u2014Who, I wonder, is making my door fly open with such fury? (Enter DEMEA in haste, from the house of MICIO.) DEMEA Alas! what shall I do? How behave? In what terms exclaim, or how make my complaint? O heavens! O earth! O seas of Neptune! MICIO (apart.) Here\u2019s for you! he has discovered all about the affair; and of course is now raving about it; a quarrel is the consequence; I must assist him,I must assist him: Colman remarks on this passage: The character of Micio appears extremely amiable through the first four Acts of this Comedy, and his behavior is in many respects worthy of imitation; but his conduct in conniving at the irregularities of Ctesipho, and even assisting him to support them, is certainly reprehensible. Perhaps the Poet threw this shade over his virtues on purpose to show that mildness and good-humor might be carried to excess. however. DEMEA See, here comes the common corrupter of my children. MICIO Pray moderate your passion, and recover yourself. DEMEA I have moderated it; I am myself; I forbear all reproaches; let us come to the point: was this agreed upon between us,\u2014proposed by yourself, in fact,\u2014that you were not to concern yourself about my son, nor I about yours? Answer me. MICIO It is the fact,\u2014I don\u2019t deny it. DEMEA Why is he now carousing at your house? Why are you harboring my son ? Why do you purchase a mistress for him, Micio? Is it at all fair, that I should have any less justice from you, than you from me? Since I do not concern myself about your son, don\u2019t you concern yourself about mine. MICIO You don\u2019t reason fairly. DEMEA No?Part of line 804 in the Latin. MICIO For surely it is a maxim of old, that among themselves all things are common to friends.Part of line 804 in the Latin. DEMEA Smartly said; you\u2019ve got that speech up for the occasion. MICIO Listen to a few words, unless it is disagreeable, Demea. In the first place, if the extravagance your sons are guilty of distresses you, pray do reason with yourself. You formerly brought up the two suitably to your circumstances, thinking that your own property would have to suffice for them both; and, of course, you then thought that I should marry. Adhere to that same old rule of yours,\u2014save, scrape together, and be thrifty for them; take care to leave them as much as possible, and take that credit to yourself: my fortune, which has come to them beyond their expectation, allow them to enjoy; of your capital there will be no diminution; what comes from this quarter, set it all down as so much gain. If you think proper impartially to consider these matters in your mind, Demea, you will save me and yourself, and them, considerable uneasiness. DEMEA I don\u2019t speak about the expense; their morals\u2014 MICIO Hold; I understand you; that point I was coming to.That point I was coming to: Colman observes here: Madame Dacier makes an observation on this speech, something like that of Donatus on one of Micio\u2019s above; and says that Micio, being hard put to it by the real circumstances of the case, thinks to confound Demea by a nonsensical gallimatia. I can not be of the ingenious lady\u2019s opinion on this matter, for I think a more sensible speech could not be made, nor a better plea offered in favor of the young men, than that of Micio in the present instance. There are in men, Demea, many signs from which a conjecture is easily formed; so that when two persons do the same thing, you may often say, this one may be allowed to do it with impunity, the other may not; not that the thing itself is different, but that he is who does it. I see signs in them, so as to feel confident that they will turn out as we wish. I see that they have good sense and understanding, that they have modesty upon occasion, and are affectionate to each other; you may infer that their bent and disposition is of a pliant nature; at any time you like you may reclaim them. But still, you may be apprehensive that they will be somewhat too apt to neglect their interests. O my dear Demea, in all other things we grow wiser with age; this sole vice does old age bring upon men: we are all more solicitous about our own interests than we need be; and in this respect age will make them sharp enough. DEMEA Only take care, Micio, that these fine reasonings of yours, and this easy disposition of yours, do not ruin us in the end. MICIO Say no more; there\u2019s no danger of that. Now think no further of these matters. Put yourself to-day into my hands; smooth your brow. DEMEA Why, as the occasion requires it, I must do so; but to-morrow I shall be off with my son into the country at day-break. MICIO Aye, to-night, for my share; only keep yourself in good-humor for the day. DEMEA I\u2019ll carry off that Music-girl along with me as well. MICIO You will gain your point; by that means you will keep your son fast there; only take care to secure her. DEMEA I\u2019ll see to that; and what with cooking and grinding, I\u2019ll take care she shall be well covered with ashes, smoke, and meal; besides all this, at the very mid-dayAt the very mid-day: Exposed to the heat of a mid-day sun. I\u2019ll set her gathering stubble; I\u2019ll make her as burned and as black as a coal. MICIO You quite delight me; now you seem to me to be wise; and for my part I would then compel my son to go to bed with her, even though he should be unwilling. DEMEA Do you banter me? Happy man, to have such a temper! I feel\u2014 MICIO Ah ! at it again! DEMEA I\u2019ll have done then at once. MICIO Go in-doors then, and let\u2019s devote this day to the objectTo the object: The marriage and its festivities. to which it belongs. (Goes into the house.) (DEMEA alone.) DEMEA Never was there any person of ever such well-trained habits of life, but that experience, age, and custom are always bringing him something new, or suggesting something; so much so, that what you believe you know you don\u2019t know, and what you have fancied of first importance to you, on making trial you reject; and this is my case at present: for the rigid life I have hitherto led, my race nearly run, I now renounce. Why so?\u2014I have found, by experience, that there is nothing better for a man than an easy temper and complacency. That this is the truth, it is easy for any one to understand on comparing me with my brother. He has always spent his life in ease and gayety; mild, gentle, offensive to no one, having a smile for all, he has lived for himself, and has spent his money for himself; all men speak well of him, all love him. I, again, a rustic, a rigid, cross, self-denying, morose and thrifty person, married a wife; what misery I entailed in consequence! Sons were born\u2014a fresh care. And just look, while I have been studying to do as much as possible for them, I have worn out my life and years in saving; now, in the decline of my days, the return I get from them for my pains is their dislike. He, on the other hand, with out any trouble on his part, enjoys a father\u2019s comforts; they love him; me they shun; him they trust with all their secrets, are fond of him, are always with him. I am forsaken; they wish him to live; but my death, forsooth, they are longing for. Thus, after bringing them up with all possible pains, at a trifling cost he has made them his own; thus I bear all the misery, he enjoys the pleasure. Well, then, henceforward let us try, on the other hand, whether I can\u2019t speak kindly and act complaisantly, as he challenges me to it: I also want myself to be loved and highly valued by my friends. If that is to be effected by giving and indulging, I will not be behind him. If our means fail, that least concerns me, as I am the eldest.Am the eldest: And therefore likely to be the first to die, and to avoid seeing such a time come. (Enter SYRUS.) SYRUS Hark you, Demea, your brother begs you will not go out of the way. DEMEA Who is it?\u2014O Syrus, my friend, O Syrus, my friend: The emptiness of his poor attempts to be familiar are very evident in this line. save you! how are you? How goes it with you? SYRUS Very well. DEMEA Very good. (Aside.) I have now for the first time used these three expressions contrary to my nature,\u2014O Syrus, my friend, how are you?\u2014how goes it with you? (To SYRUS.) You show yourself far from an unworthy servant, and I shall gladly do you a service. SYRUS I thank you. DEMEA Yes, Syrus, it is the truth; and you shall be convinced of it by experience before long. (Enter GETA, from the house of SOSTRATA.) GETA (to SOSTRATA, within.) Mistress, I am going to see after them, that they may send for the damsel as soon as possible; but see, here\u2019s Demea. (Accosting him.) Save you! DEMEA O, what\u2019s your name? GETA Geta. DEMEA Geta, I have this day come to the conclusion that you are a man of very great worth, for I look upon him as an undoubtedly good servant who has a care for his master; as I have found to be your case, Geta; and for that reason, if any opportunity should offer, I would gladly do you a service. (Aside.) I am practicing the affable, and it succeeds very well. GETA You are kind, sir, to think so. DEMEA (aside.) Getting on by degrees\u2014I\u2019ll first make the lower classes my own. (Enter AESCHINUS, from the house of MICIO.) AESCHINUS (to himself.) They really are killing me while too intent on performing the nuptials with all ceremony; the whole day is being wasted in their preparations. DEMEA Aeschinus! how goes it? AESCHINUS Ha, my father! are you here ? DEMEA Your father, indeed, both by affection and by nature; as I love you more than my very eyes; but why don\u2019t you send for your wife? AESCHINUS So I wish to do; but I am waiting for the music-girl The music-girl: Tibicinae, or music-girls, attended at marriage ceremonials. See the Aulularia of Plautus, where Megadorus hires the music-girls on his intended marriage with the daughter of Euclio. and people to sing the nuptial song. DEMEA Come now, are you willing to listen to an old fellow like me? AESCHINUS What is it? DEMEA Let those things alone, the nuptial song, the crowds, the torches,The crowds, the torches: See the Casina of Plautus, Act IV., Scenes 3 and 4, for some account of the marriage ceremonial. The torches, music-girls, processions, and hymeneal song, generally accompanied a wedding, but from the present passage we may conclude that they were not considered absolutely necessary. and the music-girls, and order the stone wall in the gardenStone wall in the garden: The maceria, or garden-wall of loose stones, is also mentioned in the Truculentus of Plautus, 1. 301. here to be pulled down with all dispatch, and bring her over that way; make but one house of the two; bring the mother and all the domestics over to our house. AESCHINUS With all my heart, kindest father. DEMEA (aside.) Well done! now I am called kind. My brother\u2019s house will become a thoroughfare; he will be bringing home a multitude, incurring expense in many ways: what matters it to me? I, as the kind Demea, shall get into favor. Now then, bid that BabylonianBid that Babylonian: This passage has much puzzled the Commentators; but it seems most probable that it is said aside, and that in consequence of his profuseness he calls his brother a Babylonian, (just as we call a wealthy man a nabob,) and says, Well, let him, with all my heart, be paying twenty mine (between \u00a370 and \u00a380) for a music-girl. pay down his twenty minae. (To SYRUS.) Syrus, do you delay to go and do it ? SYRUS What am I to do? DEMEA Pull down the wall: and you, Geta, go and bring them across. GETA May the Gods bless you, Demea, as I see you so sincere a well-wisher to our family. (GETA and SYRUS go into MICIO\u2019S house.) DEMEA I think they deserve it. What say you, Aeschinus, as to this plan ? AESCHINUS I quite agree to it. DEMEA It is much more proper than that she, being sick and lying-in, should be brought hither through the street. AESCHINUS Why, my dear father, I never did see any thing better contrived. DEMEA It\u2019s my way; but see, here\u2019s Micio coming out. (Enter MICIO, from his house.) MICIO (speaking to GETA, within.) Does my brother order it? Where is he? (To DEMEA.) Is this your order, Demea? DEMEA Certainly, I do order it, and in this matter, and in every thing else, wish especially to make this family one with ourselves, to oblige, serve, and unite them. AESCHINUS Father, pray let it be so. MICIO I do not oppose it. DEMEA On the contrary, i\u2019 faith, it is what we ought to do: in the first place, she is the mother of his wife (pointing to AESCHINUS). MICIO She is. What then? DEMEA An honest and respectable woman. MICIO So they say. DEMEA Advanced in years. MICIO I am aware of it. DEMEA Through her years, she is long past child-bearing; there is no one to take care of her; she is a lone woman. MICIO (aside.) What can be his meaning ? DEMEA It is right you should marry her; and that you, Aeschinus, should use your endeavors to effect it. MICIO I, marry her, indeed ? DEMEA You. MICIO I? DEMEA You, I say. MICIO You are trifling! DEMEA Aeschinus, if you are a man, he\u2019ll do it. AESCHINUS My dear father\u2014 MICIO What, ass! do you attend to him? DEMEA \u2019T is all in vain; it can not be otherwise. MICIO You are mad! AESCHINUS Do let me prevail on you, my father. MICIO Are you out of your senses? Take yourself off.Take yourself off: Aeschinus, probably, in his earnestness, has seized hold of him with his hand, which Micio now pushes away. DEMEA Come, do oblige your son. MICIO Are you quite in your right mind? Am I, in my five-and-sixtieth year, to be marrying at last? A decrepit old woman too? Do you advise me to do this? AESCHINUS Do; I have promised it.I have promised it: This is not the truth; the notion has only been started since he last saw them. MICIO Promised, indeed; be generous at your own cost, young man. DEMEA Come, what if he should ask a still greater favor? MICIO As if this was not the greatest! DEMEA Do comply. AESCHINUS Don\u2019t make any difficulty. DEMEA Do promise. MICIO Will you not have done? AESCHINUS Not until I have prevailed upon you. MICIO Really, this is downright force.Really, this is downright force: Vis est haec quidem. The same expression occurs in the Captivi of Plautus, l. 755. The expression seemed to be a common one with the Romans. According to Suetonius, Julius Caesar used it when attacked by his murderers in the senate-house. On Tullius Cimber seizing hold of his garments, he exclaimed, Ita quidem vis est! (82.1) \u2014Why, really, this is violence! DEMEA Act with heartiness, Micio. MICIO Although this seems to meThis seems to me: Donatus informs us that in Menander\u2019s Play, the old man did not make any resistance whatever to the match thus patched up for him. Colman has the following observation on this fact: It is surprising that none of the critics on this passage have taken notice of this observation of Donatus, especially as our loss of Menander makes it rather curious. It is plain that Terence in the plan of his last Act followed Menander; but though he has adopted the absurdity of marrying Micio to the old lady, yet we learn from Donatus that his judgment rather revolted at this circumstance, and he improved on his original by making Micio express a repugnance to such a match, which it seems he did not in the Play of Menander. to be wrong, foolish, absurd, and repugnant to my mode of life, yet, if you so strongly wish it, be it so. AESCHINUS You act obligingly. DEMEA With reason I love you; but\u2014 MICIO What ? DEMEA I will tell you, when my wish has been complied with. MICIO What now? What remains to be done? DEMEA Hegio here is their nearest relation;Part of line 948 in the Latin. he is a connection of ours and poor; we ought to do some good for him. MICIO Do what? DEMEA There is a little farm here in the suburbs, which you let out; let us give it him to live upon. MICIO But is it a little one ? DEMEA If it were a large one, still it ought to be done; he has been as it were a father to her; he is a worthy man, and connected with us; it would be properly bestowed. In fine, I now adopt that proverb which you, Micio, a short time ago repeated with sense and wisdom\u2014it is the common vice of all, in old age, to be too intent upon our own interests. This stain we ought to avoid: it is a true maxim, and ought to be observed in deed. MICIO What am I to say to this? Well then, as he desires it (pointing to AESCHINUS), it shall be given him. AESCHINUS My father! DEMEA Now, Micio, you are indeed my brother, both in spirit and in body. MICIO I am glad of it. DEMEA (aside.) I foil him at his own weapon. At his ownweapon: He probably means, by aping the kind feeling which is a part of Micio\u2019s character. (Enter SYRUS, from the house.) SYRUS It has been done as you ordered, Demea. DEMEA You are a worthy fellow. Upon my faith,\u2014in my opinion, at least,\u2014I think Syrus ought at once to be made free. MICIO He free! For what reason? DEMEA For many. SYRUS O my dear Demea! upon my word, you are a worthy man! I have strictly taken care of both these sons of yours, from childhood; I have taught, advised, and carefully instructed them in every thing I could. DEMEA The thing is evident; and then, besides all this, to cater for them, secretly bring, home a wench, prepare a morning entertainment;A morning entertainment: A banquet in the early part or middle of the day was considered by the Greeks a debauch. these are the accomplishments of no ordinary person. SYRUS O, what a delightful man! DEMEA Last of all, he assisted to-day in purchasing this Music-wench\u2014he had the management of it; it is right he should be rewarded; other servants will be encouraged thereby: besides, he (pointing to AESCHINUS) desires it to be so. MICIO (to AESCHINUS.) Do you desire this to be done? AESCHINUS I do wish it. MICIO Why then, if you desire it, just come hither, Syrus, to me (performing the ceremony of manumission); be a free man.Be a free man: He touches Syrus on the ear, and makes him free. The same occurs in the Epidicus of Plautus, Act V., Sc. 2, 1. 65. SYRUS You act generously; I return my thanks to you all;\u2014and to you, Demea, in particular. DEMEA I congratulate you. AESCHINUS And I. SYRUS I believe you. I wish that this joy were made complete\u2014that I could see my wife, Phrygia,My wife, Phrygia : The so-called marriage, or rather cohabitation, of the Roman slaves will be found treated upon in the Notes to Plautus. Syrus calls Phrygia his wife on anticipation that she will become a free woman. free as well. DEMEA Really, a most excellent woman. SYRUS And the first to suckle your grandchild, his son, today (pointing to AESCHINUS). DEMEA Why really, in seriousness, if she was the first to do so, there is no doubt she ought to be made free. MICIO What, for doing that? DEMEA For doing that; in fine, receive the amount from meReceive the amount from me: The only sign of generosity he has yet shown. at which she is valued. SYRUS May all the Gods always grant you, Demea, all you desire. MICIO Syrus, you have thrived pretty well to-day. DEMEA If, in addition, Micio, you will do your duty, and lend him a little ready money in hand for present use, he will soon repay you. MICIO Less than this (snapping his fingers). AESCHINUS He is a deserving fellow. SYRUS Upon my word, I will repay it; only lend it me. AESCHINUS Do, father. MICIO I\u2019ll consider of it afterward. DEMEA He\u2019ll do it, Syrus. SYRUS O most worthy man! AESCHINUS O most kind-hearted father! MICIO How is this? What has so suddenly changed your disposition, Demea? What caprice is this? What means this sudden liberality?This sudden liberality: Quid prolubium? Quae istaec subita est largitas? Madame Dacier tells us that this passage was borrowed from Coeilius, the Comic Poet. DEMEA I will tell you:\u2014That I may convince you of this, Micio, that the fact that they consider you an easy and kind-hearted man, does not proceed from your real life, nor, indeed, from a regard for virtue and justice; but from your humoring, indulging, and pampering them. Now therefore, Aeschinus, if my mode of life has been displeasing to you, because I do not quite humor you in every thing, just or unjust, I have done: squander, buy, do what you please. But if you would rather have one to reprove and correct those faults, the results of which, by reason of your youth, you can not see, which you pursue too ardently, and are thoughtless upon, and in due season to direct you; behold me ready to do it for you. AESCHINUS Father, we leave it to you; you best know what ought to be done. But what is to be done about my brother? DEMEA I consent. Let him have his mistress:Let him have his mistress: It must be remembered that he has the notions of a Greek parent, and sees no such criminality in this sanction as a parent would be sensible of at the present day. with her let him make an end of his follies. MICIO That\u2019s right. (To the AUDIENCE.) Grant us your applause.","title":"Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Adelphi; or, The Brothers (tr. Henry Thomas Riley)","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":19653}