ANTIPHO, son of Demipho. PHAEDRIA, son of Chremes. PHORMIO, a Parasite. GETA, servant of Demipho. DAVUS, a servant. DORIO, a Procurer. NAUSISTRATA, the wife of Chremes. SOPHRONA, the nurse of Phanium.THE TITLE OF THE PLAY. PERFORMED at the Roman Games, L. Posthumius Albinus and L. Cornelius Merula being Curule Aediles. L. Ambivius Turpio and L. Atilius Praenestinus performed it. Flaccus, the freedman of Claudius, composed the music to a base and a treble flute. It is wholly from the Greek, being the Epidicazomenos of Apollodorus. It was represented four times, C. Fannius and M. Valerius being Consuls.THE PROLOGUE.:SINCE the old Poet can not withdraw our bard from his pursuits and reduce him to indolence, he endeavors, by invectives, to deter him from writing: for he is wont to say to this effect,—that the Plays which he has hitherto composedare poor in their language, and of meagre style; because he has nowhere described a frantic youth as seeing a hind in flight, and the hounds pursuing; while he implores and entreated that he would give her aid. But if he had been aware that his Play, when formerly first represented,stood its ground more through the merits of the performers than its own, he would attack with much less boldness than he does. Now, if there is any one who says or thinks to this effect, that if the old Poet had not assailed him first, the young one could have devised no Prologuefor him to repeat, without having some one to abuse, let him receive this for an answer: “that the prize is proposed in common to all who apply to the Dramatic art.” He has aimed at driving our Poet from his studies to absolute want; he then has in-tended this for an answer, not an attack.If he had opposed him with fair words, he would have heard himself civilly addressed; what has been given by him, let him consider as now returned. I will make an end of speaking about him, when, of his own accord, he himself makes an end of offending.Now give your attention to what I request. I present you a new Play, which they call “Epidicazomenos,” in Greek: in the Latin, he calls it “Phormio;” because the person that acts the principal part is Phormio, a Parasite, through whom, principally, the plot will be’ carried on, if your favor attends the Poet.Lend your attention; in silence give an ear with impartial feelings, that we may not experience a like fortune to what we did, when, through a tumult, our Company was driven from the place; which place, the merit of the actor, and your good-will and candor seconding it, has since restored unto us.(Enter DAVUS, with a bag of money in his hand.)DAVUS:Geta, my very good friend and fellow-townsman, came to me yesterday. There had been for some time a trifling balance of money of his in my hands upon a small account; he asked me to make it up. I have done so, and am carrying it to him. But I hear that his master’s son has takena wife; this, I suppose, is scraped together as a present for her. How unfair a custom!—that those who have the least should always be giving something to the more wealthy! That which the poor wretch has with difficulty spared, ounce by ounce, out of his allowance, defrauding himself of every indulgence,the whole of it will she carry of, without thinking with how much labor it has been acquired. And then besides, Geta will be struck for another present when his mistress is brought to bed; and then again for another present, when the child’s birthday comes; when they initiate him, too: all this the mother will carry off;the child will only be the pretext for the present. But don’t I see Geta there?(Enter GETA, from the house of DEMIPHO.)
INTRODUCTION. In this play we have two brothers, Demipho and Chremes. Chremes had married a lady of property, named Nausistrata, whose estates lay in the island of Lemnos, and by whom he had a son called Phaedria. Once a year Chremes used to go to Lemnos to collect his rents, and used to stay there on each occasion rather longer than was necessary, while the rents which he brought home to his wife were less than in former times when the prices of farm produce was not so high as at this time (compare v. 8. 23, 24, and v. 3. 4—8), which appeared unaccountable to his wife, who did not however suspect him of any thing beyond carelessness and indolence in the management of her business. But it had happened that about fifteen years before the events of this play he had fallen in love with a Lemnian woman, by whom he had a daughter called Phanium. So for fifteen years he had two wives and two establishments, with perfect secrecy, for at Lemnos he went by the name of Stilpho; while he put off his wife’s complaints about the short rents by excuses of bad times, ill health, and so on. His brother Demipho had a son named Antipho, and they had agreed that Chremes should now go to Lemnos, and bring over his wife and daughter, and that the cousins should be married at once, Phanium passing for the daughter of a friend. With this object Chremes now makes his yearly visit to Lemnos; and Demipho at the same time goes to Cilicia, where he expects to find a large fortune; while their two sons, Antipho and Phaedria, are left under the charge of Geta, an old family servant of Demipho’s, who acted as their paedagogue. At first Geta endeavoured to discharge his duty to his master faithfully; but finding that this conduct got him nothing but abuse, he altered his line, and gave his two pupils every indulgence they demanded. This soon produced the results which might have been anticipated.Phaedria fell madly in love with a music girl, whom he diligently escorted every day to and from the school where she used to go for her finishing lessons; but his case was desperate, for he had not a farthing, and she could not be got from Dorio, the “leno,” without hard cash. Nor was it long before Antipho got into a similar scrape, which had a very different end, but one quite as embarrassing to him. For when Chremes reached Lemnos he found that his birds had flown. Phanium and her mother, tired of waiting for him, now that Phanium was grown up, had started for Athens in search of him, with their nurse Sophrona. They inquire every where for Stilpho, but no such person is to be heard of, and they are reduced to great distress, in consequence of which the mother dies soon after their arrival. By a singular chance Antipho happens at this moment to see Phanium, as she is lamenting the death of her mother, and falls desperately in love with her at first sight. He goes to Sophrona, who will not consent to allow any acquaintance but on condition of marriage; and Antipho will sacrifice himself to a girl without a penny rather than lose her altogether. But how is the marriage to be brought about without exposing Antipho to his father’s most severe censure? It is managed in the following way. Phormio, a parasite, who seems to have been under considerable obligations to these young men in the way of good living (see ii. 2. 22), gives him this advice. There is an Athenian law, that orphans should be taken in marriage or portioned out by their nearest relation. He will pretend to be Phanium’s guardian, and will bring an action against Antipho, as her nearest relation, and as Antipho has no money he will of course be obliged to marry her. So Demipho will not be able to say a word. The plan succeeds to admiration. Phormio gains his suit, and Antipho immediately marries Phanium. He is devoted to his wife, but lives in continual dread of his father’s return; and is quite as wretched in consequence of his success as Phaedria is because his case is hopeless.At this point (Act i. Sc. 4) the action of the play commences. Demipho comes back from Cilicia, and immediately hears the unwelcome news that his son has married a pauper; and he at once attacks Geta, Antipho having made a hasty retreat, who defends himself as best he can, and begins the second plot which they have in hand for obtaining money for Phaedria, who is now driven to the last extremity; for Dorio has given him notice that if thirty minae are not forthcoming by the next day, Pamphila, the music girl, will be sold. Geta pretends therefore that Phormio will be very glad to take Phanium off their hands if they will make it worth his while to do so; for he has certain debts, and is already under an engagement to marry a lady who will bring him a sufficient portion to enable him to clear them off. He must therefore have thirty minae, and he will settle the matter for them. After some trouble the affair is arranged. Phormio receives the money, and at once carries it off to Phaedria, who purchases his Pamphila at once, and is made supremely happy; while poor Antipho is more wretched than ever, and accuses Geta of blundering stupidity in thus arranging to get rid of his wife for him. Chremes, meanwhile, has returned from Lemnos, and is in great perplexity about his wife and daughter. He is as anxious as Demipho can be to get rid of this wife of Antipho’s, and does his best to persuade his brother to arrange matters with Phormio. After this affair is settled he goes to make inquiries for his family from Lemnos, when he falls in with Sophrona, and finds to his unbounded astonishment that this wife of Antipho, whom they have been so anxious to get rid of, is no other than his own daughter Phanium. This discovery is imparted to Demipho after an amusing scene of hints rendered necessary by the presence of Nausistrata (Act v. Sc. 3); and the two old men are now as anxious to be off their bargain with Phormio as they were to make it, and above all to get back the thirty minae which the parasite had taken as Phanium’s portion. But they do not find it very easy to manage their scheme. Phormio is ready enough to give up Phanium, but has no intention of parting with the money; and when the old men attempt by fair means or foul to get it back, Chremes discovers to his horror that Phormio has discovered the secret of Phanium’s parentage, which Geta had overheard when Chremes first recognized his daughter in Demipho’s house. The result of all is that Phormio tells the whole story to Nausistrata. Chremes is utterly confounded, and is quite unable to blame his son for his amour with the music girl, when Phaedria describes to Nausistrata the purpose for which the thirty minae were obtained. The play ends with a conditional forgiveness of Chremes, and an invitation to supper for Phormio. In the character of Phormio Terence copied from an original, in which the standing idea of the parasite was strictly observed. See notes on Act ii. Scene 2. We have seen a very different idea, though with the same fondness for good living, worked out in the Eunuchus. See the Introduction to that play. Phormio is, however, a very capital specimen of his class, and shows far more readiness and amiability than most of the tribe. It is not unworthy of remark that this play is said by some to have been acted four times in one year. At all events, this and the Eunuchus, the two most spirited of Terence’s plays, came on the stage within six months.PHORMIO. ACTA LUDIS ROMANIS, L. POSTUMIO ALBINO, L. CORNELIO MERULA, AEDILIBUS CURULIBUS. EGERE L. AMBIVIUS TURPIO, L. ATILIUS PRAENEST1NUS. MODOS FECIT FLACCUS CLAUDII, TIBIIS IMPARIBUS. TOTA GRAECA APOLLODORU EPIDICAZOMENOS. FACTA EST IV. C. FANNIO, M. VALERIO, COSS.PROLOGUS:POSTQUAM poeta vetus poetam non potestRetrahere ab studio, et transdere hominem in otium,Maledictis deterrere ne scribat parat;Qui ita dictitat, quas antehae fecit fabulasTenui esse oratione et scriptura levi;Quia nusquam insanum scripsit adolescentulumCervam videre fugere, et sectari canes,Et eam plorare, orare ut subveniat sibi.Quod si intelligeret, olim quum stetit nova,Actoris opera magis stetisse quam sua,Minus multo audacter quam nunc laedit laederet.Nunc si quis est qui hoc dicat, aut sic cogitet;Vetus si poeta non lacessisset prior,Nullum invenire prologum potuisset novusQuem diceret, nisi haberet cui malediceret;Is sibi responsum hoc habeat; in medio omnibusPalmam esse positam qui artem tractant musicam.Ille ad famem hunc ab studio studuit reicere:Hic respondere voluit, non lacessere.Benedictis si certasset, audisset bene.Quod ab ipso allatum est, sibi esse id rellatum putet.De illo iam finem faciam dicendi mihi,Peccandi quum ipse de se finem non facit:Nunc quid velim animum attendite. Apporto novamEpidicazomenon qnam vocant comoediamGraeci, Latini Phormionem nominant;Quia, primas partes qui aget, is erit PhormioParasitus, per quem res agetur maxime,Voluntas vestra si ad poetam accesserit.Date operam: adeste aequo animo per silentiumr;Ne simili utamur fortuna atque usi sumusQuum per tumultum noster grex motus loco est;Quem actoris virtus nobis restituit locum,Bonitasque vestra adiutans atque aequanimitas.(DAVUS.)DAVUS:Amicus summus meus et popularis GetaHeri ad me venit. Erat ei de ratiunculaIampridem apud me reliquum pauxillulumNummorum; id ut conficerem. Confeci: affero.Nam herilem filium eius duxisse audioUxorem: ei, credo, munus hoc corraditur.Quam inique comparatum est hi qui minus habentUt semiper aliquid addant divitioribus.Quod ille unciatim vix de demenso suo,Suum defrudans genium, comparsit miser,Id illa universum abripiet, haud existimansQuanto labore partum. Porro autem GetaFerietur alio munere, ubi hera pepererit;Porro autem alio, ubi erit puero natalis dies;Ubi initiabunt. Omne hoc mater auferet:Puer causa erit mittendi. Sed videon Getam?(GETA. DAVUS.)GETA:Si quis me quaeret rufus—DAVUS:Praesto est; desine.
GETA: (at the door, to those within.)If any red-haired man should inquire for me—
GETA:Oh!At ego obviam conabar tibi, Dave.
DAVUS: (stepping forward.)Here he is, say no more.
DAVUS:Accipe, hem,Lectum est: conveniet numerus quantum debui.
GETA: (starting.)Oh! Why I was trying to come and meet you, Davus.
GETA:Amo te, et non neglexisse habeo gratiam.
DAVUS: (giving the money to GETA.)Here, take it; it’s all ready counted out; the number just amounts to the sum I owed you.
DAVUS:Praesertim ut nunc sunt mores. Adeo res redit;Si quis quid reddit, magna habenda est gratia.Sed quid tu es tristis?
GETA:I am obliged to you; and I return you thanks for not having forgotten me.
GETA:Egone? neseis quo in metu etQuanto in periclo simus?
DAVUS:Especially as people’s ways are nowadays; things are come to such a pass, if a person repays you any thing, you must be greatly obliged to him. But why are you out of spirits?
DAVUS:Quid istuc est?
GETA:What, I? You little know what terror and peril I am in.
GETA:Scies,Modo ut tacere possis.
DAVUS:What’s the matter?GETA.:You shall know, if you can only keep it secret.
DAVUS:Abi sis, insciens.Cuius tu fidem in pecunia perspexeris,Verere verba ei credere? ubi quid mihi lucri estTe fallere?GETA:Ergo ausculta.
DAVUS:Out upon you, simpleton;the man, whose trustworthiness you have experienced as to money, are you afraid to intrust with words? In what way have I any interest in deceiving you?
DAVUS:Hanc operam tibi dico.
GETA:Well then, listen.
GETA:Senis nostri, Dave, fratrem maiorem ChrememNostine?
DAVUS:I give you my best attention.
DAVUS:Quidni?
GETA:Davus, do you know Chremes, the elder brother of our old gentleman?
GETA:Quid? eius gnatum Phaedriam?
DAVUS:Why should I not?
DAVUS:Tamquam te.
GETA:Well, and his son Phaedria?
GETA:Evenit senibus ainbobus simul,Iter illi in Lelmnum ut esset, nostro in CiliciamAd hospitem antiquum: is senem per epistolasPellexit, modo non montes auri pollicens.
DAVUS:As well as your own self.
DAVUS:Cui tanta erat res, et supererat?
GETA:It so happened to both the old gentlemen, just at the same period, that the one had to take a journey to Lemnos, and our old man to Cilicia, to see an old acquaintance; he tempted over the old man by letters, promising him all but mountains of gold.
GETA:Desinas:Sic est ingeniun.
DAVUS:To one who had so much property, that he had more than he could use?
DAVUS:Oh, regem me esse oportuit.
GETA:Do have done;that is his way.
GETA:Abeuntes ambo hic tum senes, me filiisRelinquunt quasi magistrum.
DAVUS:Oh, as for that, I really ought to have been a man of fortune.
DAVUS:O Geta, provinciamCepisti duram.
GETA:When departing hence, both the old gentlemen left ne as a sort of tutor to their sons.
GETA:Mihi usus venit, hoc scio:Memini relinqui me Deo irato meo.Coepi adversari primo. Quid verbis opus est?Seni fidelis dum sum, scapulas perdidi.
DAVUS:Ah, Geta, you undertook a hard task there.
DAVUS:Venere in mentem mili istaec; “Namque inscitia est,”“Adversum stimulum calces?”
GETA:I came to experience it, I know that. I’m quite sure that I was forsaken by my good Genius, who must have been angry with me.I began to oppose them at first; but what need of talking? As long as I was trusty to the old men, I was paid for it in my shoulder-blades.This, then, occurred to my mind: why, this is folly to kick against the spur. I began to do every thing for them that they wished to be humored in.
GETA:Coepi iis omniaFacere, obsequi quae vellent.
DAVUS:You knew how to make your market.
DAVUS:Scisti uti foro.
GETA:Our young fellow did no mischief whatever at first; that Phaedria at once picked up a certain damsel, a Music-girl, and fell in love with her to distraction. She belonged to a most abominable Procurer; and their fathers had taken good care that they should have nothing to give him.There remained nothing for him then but to feed his eyes, to follow her about, to escort her to the school, and to escort her back again. We, having nothing to do, lent our aid to Phaedria. Near the school at which she was taught, right opposite the place, there was a certain barber’s shop: here we were generally in the habitof waiting for her, until she was coming home again. In the mean time, while one day we were sitting there, there came in a young man in tears; we were surprised at this. We inquired what was the matter? “Never,” said he, “has poverty appeared to me a burden so grievous and so insupportable as just now.”“I have just seen a certain poor young woman in this neighborhood lamenting her dead mother. She was laid out before her, and not a single friend, acquaintance, or relation was there with her, except one poor old woman, to assist her in the funeral: I pitied her.”“The girl herself was of surpassing beauty.” What need of a long story? She moved us all. At once Antipho exclaims, “Would you like us to go and visit her?” The other said, “I think we ought—let us go—show us the way, please.” We went, and arrived there; we saw her; the girl was beautiful, and that you might say so the more,there was no heightening to her beauty; her hair disheveled, her feet bare, herself neglected, and in tears; her dress: mean, so ’that, had there not been an excess of beauty in her very charms, these circumstances must have extinguished those charms. The one who had lately fallen in love with the Music-girlsaid: “She is well enough;” but our youth—
GETA:Noster mali nihil quicquam primo. Hic PhaedriaContinuo quandam nactus est puellulamCitharistriam: hanc amare coepit perdite.Ea serviebat lenoni impurissimo;Neque quod daretur quicquam: id curarant patres.Restabat aliud nihil nisi oculos pascere,Sectari, in ludum ducere, et reducere.Nos otiosi operam dabamus Phaedriae.In quo haec discebat ludo, exadversum ei locoTonstrina erat quaedam. Hic solebamus ferePlerumque eam opperiri dum inde iret domum.Interea, dum sedemus illi, intervenitAdolescens quidam lacrimans. Nos mirarier.Rogamus quid sit? “Nunquam aeque,” inquit, “ac modo”“Paupertas mihi onus visum est et miserum et grave.”“Modo quandam vidi virginem hic viciniae”“Miseram suam matrem lamentari mortuam.”“Ea sita erat exadversum: neque illi benevolens”“Neque notus neque cognatus extra unam aniculam”“Quisquam aderat qui aciutaret funus. Miseritum est.”“Virgo ipsa facie egregia.” Quid verbis opus est?Commorat omnes nos. Ibi continuo Antipho,“Vultisne eamus visere?” alius, “Censco;”“Eamus: due nos, sodes.” Imus; venimus;Videmus. Virgo pulchra; et quo imagis diceres,Nihil aderat adiumenti ad pulchritudinem.Capillus passus, nudus pes, ipsa horrida,Lacrimae, vestitus turpis; ut, ni vis boniIn ipsa inesset forma, haec formam extinguerent.Ille qui illam amabat fidicinam tantummodo,“Satis,” inquit, “scita est:” noster vero—
DAVUS:I know it already—fell in love with her.
DAVUS:Iam scio:Amare coepit.
GETA:Can you imagine to what an extent? Observe the consequence. The day after, he goes straight to the old woman; entreats her to let him have her: she, on the other hand, refuses him, and says that he is not acting properly; that, she is a citizen of Athens,virtuous, and born of honest parents: that if he wishes to make her his wife, he is at liberty to do so according to law; but if otherwise, she gives him a refusal. Our youth was at a loss what to. do. He was both eager to marry her, and he dreaded his absent father.
GETA:Scin quam? Quo evadat vide.Postridie ad anum recta pergit: obsecratSibi ut eius faciat copiam. Illa enim se negat;Neque eum aequum facere ait: illam civem esse Atticam,Bonam, bonis prognatam: si uxorem velit,Lege id licere facere; sin aliter, negat.Noster quid ageret nescire; et illam ducereCupiebat, et metuebat absentem patrem.
DAVUS:Would not his father, if he had returned, have given him leave?
DAVUS:Non, si redisset, ei pater veniam daret?
GETA:He let him marry a girl with no fortune, and of obscure birth! He would never do so.
GETA:Ille indotatam virginem atque ignobilemDaret illi? Nunquam faceret.
DAVUS:What came of it at last?
DAVUS:Quid fit denique?
GETA:What came of it? There is one Phormio here, a Parasite, a fellow of great assurance; may all the Gods confound him!
GETA:Quid fiat? Est parasitus quidam Phormio,Homo confidens; qui illum Di omnes perduint.
DAVUS:What has he done?
DAVUS:Quid is fecit?
GETA:He has given this piece of advice, which I will tell you of.“There is a law, that orphan girls are to marry those who are their next-of-kin; and the same law commands such persons to marry them. I’ll say you are the next-of-kin, and take out a summons against you; I’ll pretend that I am a friend of the girl’s father; we will come before the judges: who her father was,”“who her mother, how she is related to you—all this I’ll trump up, just as will be advantageous and suited to my purpose; on your disproving none of these things, I shall prevail, of course. Your father will return; a quarrel will be the consequence; what care I? She will still be ours.”
GETA:Hoc consilium quod dicam dedit.“Lex est, ut orbae qui sunt genere proximi”“Eis nubant; et illos ducere eadem haec lex iubet.”“Ego te cognatum dicam, et tibi scribam dicam:”“Paternum amicum me assimulabo virginis:”“Ad iudices veniemus. Qui fuerit pater,”“Quae mater, qui cognata tibi sit, omnia haec”“Confingam, quod erit mihi bonum atque commodum.”“Quum tu horum nihil refelles, vincam scilicet.”“Pater aderit: mihi paratae lites: quid mea?”“Illa quidem nostra erit.”
DAVUS:An amusing piece of assurance!
DAVUS:Iocularem audaciam!
GETA:He was, persuaded to this. It was carried out; they came into court: we were beaten. He has married her.
GETA:Persuasum est homini; factum est; ventum est; vincimur:Duxit.
DAVUS:What is it you tell me?
DAVUS:Quid narras?
GETA:Just what you have heard.
GETA:Hoc quod audis.
DAVUS:O Geta, what will become of you?
DAVUS:O Geta,Quid te futurum est?
GETA:Upon my faith, I don’t know; this one thing I do know, whatever fortune may bring, I’ll bear it with firmness.
GETA:Nescio hercle: unum hoc scio;Quod fors feret feremus aequo animo.
DAVUS:You please me; well, that is the duty of a man.
DAVUS:Placet.Hem, istuc viri est officium.
GETA:All my hope is in myself.
GETA:In me omnis spes mihi est.
DAVUS:I commend you.
DAVUS:Laudo.
GETA:Suppose I have recourse to some one to intercede for me, who will plead for me in these terms: “Pray, do forgive him this time; but if after this he does any thing, I make no entreaty:” if only he doesn’t add, “When I’ve gone, e’en kill him for my part.”
GETA:Ad precatorem adeam credo, qui mihiSic oret; “Nunc amitte, quaeso, hunc: caeterum”“Posthac, si quicquam, nihil precor;” tantummodoNon addat: “Ubi ego hinc abiero, vel occidito.”
DAVUS:What of the one who was usher to the Music-girl?
DAVUS:Quid paedagogus ille, qui citharistriam?Quid rei gerit?
GETA: (shrugging his shoulders.)So so, but poorly.
GETA:Sic tenuiter.
DAVUS:Perhaps he hasn’t much to give.
DAVUS:Non multum habetQuod det fortasse.
GETA:Why, really, nothing at all, except mere hopes.
GETA:Immo nihil nisi spem meram.
DAVUS:Is his father come back or not?
DAVUS:Pater eius rediit an non.?
GETA:Not yet.
GETA:Nondum.
DAVUS:Well, when do you expect your old man?
DAVUS:Quid? senemQuoad exspectatis vestrum?
GETA:I don’t know for certain; but I just now heard that a letter has been brought from him,and has been left with the officers of the customs: I’m going to fetch it.
GETA:Non certum scio;Sed epistolam ab eo allatam esse audivi modo,Et ad portitores esse delatam: hanc petam.
DAVUS:Is there any thing else that you want with me, Geta?
DAVUS:Numnquid, Geta, aliud me vis?
GETA:Nothing, but that I wish you well. (Exit DAVUS.) Hark you, boy (calling at the door). Is nobody coming out here? (A LAD comes out.) Take this, and give it to Dorcium.(He gives the purse to the LAD, who carries it into DEMIPHO’S house and exit GETA.)
GETA:Ut bene sit tibi.Puer, hens. Nemone huc prodit? Cape, da hoc Dorcio.
(Enter ANTIPHO and PHAEDRIA.)ANTIPHO:That things should have come to such a pass, Phaedria, that I should be in utter dread, of my father, who wishes me so well, whenever his return comes into my thoughts!Had I not been inconsiderate, I might have waited for him, as I ought to have done.
(ANTIPHO. PHAEDRIA.)ANTIPHO:Adeon rem redisse ut qui mihi consultum optime velit esse,Phaedria, patrem ut extimescam, ubi in mentem eius adventi venit?Quod ni fuissem incogitans, ita eum exspectarem ut par fuit.
PHAEDRIA:What’s the matter?
PHAEDRIA:Quid istuc est?
ANTIPHO:Do you ask the question? You, who have been my confederate in so bold an adventure? How I do wish it had never entered the mind of Phormio to persuade me to this, or to urge me in the heat of my passion to this step, which is the source of my misfortunes. Then I should not have obtained her; in that case I might have been uneasy for some few days;but still, this perpetual anxiety would not have been tormenting my mind (touching PHAEDRIA).
ANTIPHO:Rogitas, qui tam audacis facinoris mihi conscius sis?Quod utinam ne Phormioni id suadere in mentem incidisset,Neu me cupidum eo impulisset, quod mihi principium est mali.Non potitus essem: fuisset tum illos mihi aegre aliquot dies:At non quotidiana cura haec angeret animum.
PHAEDRIA:I hear you.
PHAEDRIA:Audio.
ANTIPHO:While I am every moment expecting his return, who is to sever from me this connection.
ANTIPHO:Dum exspecto quam mox veniat qui adimat hanc mihi consuetudinem.
PHAEDRIA:Other men feel uneasiness because they can not gain what they love; you complain because you have too much. You are surfeited with love, Antipho. Why, really, upon my faith, this situation of yours is surely one to be coveted and desired.So may the Gods kindly bless me, could I be at liberty to be so long in possession of the object of my love, I could contentedly die. Do you, then, form a judgment as to the rest, what I am now suffering from this privation, and what pleasure you enjoy from the possession of your desires; not to mention how, without any expense, you have obtained a well-born and genteel woman, and have got a wife of unblemished reputation:happy you, were not this one thing wanting, a mind capable of bearing all this with moderation. If you had to deal with that Procurer with whom I have to deal, then you would soon be sensible of it. We are mostly all of us inclined by nature to be dissatisfied with our lot.
PHAEDRIA:Aliis quia defit quod amant aegre est: tibi quia superest dolet.Amore abundas, Antipho.Nam tua quidem hercle certo vita haec expetenda optandaque est.Ita me Di bene ament ut mihi liceat tam diu quod amo frui;Iam depecisci morte cupio: tu coniicito caetera;Quid ego ex hac inopia nunc capiam, et quid tu ex hac copia;Ut ne addam quod sine sumtu ingenuam liberalem nactus es;Quod habes, ita ut voluisti, uxorem sine mala fama palam;Beatus ni unum hoc desit, animus qui modeste istaec ferat.Et si tibi res sit cum eo lenone quocum mihi est, tum sentias.Ita plerique ingenio sumus omnes: nostri nosmet poenitet.
ANTIPHO:Still, on the other hand, Phaedria, you now seem to me the fortunate man, who still have the liberty, without restraint, of resolving on what pleases you best:whether to keep, to love on, or to give her up. I, unfortunately, have got my-self into that position, that I have neither right to give her up, nor liberty to retain her. But how’s this? Is it our Geta I see running this way?’Tis he himself. Alas! I’m dreadfully afraid what news it is he’s now bringing me.
ANTIPHO:At tu mihi contra nunc videre fortunatus, Phaedria,Cui de integro est potestas etiam consulendi quid velis;Retinere, amare, amittere. Ego in eumn incidi infelix locumUt neque mihi eius sit amittendi nec retinendi copia.Sed quid hoc est? videone ego Getam currentem huc advenire?Is est ipsus: hei timeo miser quam hic nunc mihi nuntiet rem.
(Enter GETA, running, at the other side of the stage.)GETA: (to himself.)Geta, you are undone, unless you instantly find out some expedient;so suddenly do such mighty evils now threaten me thus unprepared, which I neither know how to shun, nor how to extricate myself therefrom; for this daring step of: ours can not now any longer be kept a secret. If such a result is not adroitly guarded against, these matters will cause the ruin of myself, or of my master.
(GETA.ANTIPHO. PHAEDRIA.)GETA:Nullus es, Geta, nisi iam aliquod tibi consilium celere repperis:Ita nunc imparatum subito tanta te impendent mala,Quae neque uti devitem scio, neque quo modo me inde extraham:Nam non potest celari nostra diutius iam audacia.
ANTIPHO: (to PHAEDRIA.)Why, I wonder, is he coming in such fright?:
ANTIPHO:Quidnam ille commotus venit?
GETA: (to himself.)Besides, I’ve but a moment left for this matter—my master’s close at hand.
GETA:Tum temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est. Herus adest.
ANTIPHO: (to PHAEDRIA.)What mischief is this?
ANTIPHO:Quid istuc mali est?
GETA: (to himself.)When he comes to hear of it, what remedy shall I discover for his anger Am I to speak? I shall irritate him: be silent? I shall provoke him: excuse myself? I should be washing a brickbat. Alas! unfortunate me! While I am trembling for myself, this Antipho distracts my mind. I am concerned for him; I’m in dread for him:’tis he that now keeps me here; for had it not been for him, I should have made due provision for my safety, and have taken vengeance on the old man for his crabbedness;I should have scraped up something, and straightway taken to my heels away from here.
GETA:Quod quum audierit, quod eius remedium inveniann iracundiae?Loquarne? incendam: taceam? instigem: purgem me? laterem lavem.Eheu me miserum: quum mihi paveo, tum Antipho me excruciat animi:Eius me miseret: ei nunc timeo: is nunc me retinet; nam absque eo esset,Recte ego mihi vidissem, et senis essem ultus iracundiam:Aliquid convasassem, atque hinc me protinam coniicerm in pedes.
ANTIPHO: (to PHAEDRIA.)I wonder What running away or theft it is that he’s planning.
ANTIPHO:Quam hic fugam aut furtum parat?
GETA: (to himself.)But where shall I find Antipho, or which way go look for him?
GETA:Sed ubi Antiphonem reperiam? aut qua quaerere insistam via?
PHAEDRIA: (to ANTIPHO.)He’s mentioning your name.
PHAEDRIA:Te nominat.
ANTIPHO: (to PHADRIA.)I know not what great misfortune I expect to hear from this messenger.
ANTIPHO:Nescio quod magnum hoc nuntio exspecto malum.
PHAEDRIA: (to ANTIPHO.)Why, are you in your senses?
PHAEDRIA:Ah, sanusne es?
GETA: (to himself.)I’ll make my way homeward; he’s generally there.
GETA:Domum ire pergam: ibi plurimum est.
PHAEDRIA: (to ANTIPHO.)Let’s call the fellow back.
PHAEDRIA:Revocemus hominem.
ANTIPHO: (calling out.)Stop, this instant.
ANTIPHO:Sta ilico.
GETA: (turning round.)Heyday—with authority enough, whoever you are.
GETA:Hem,Satis pro imperio, quisquis es.
ANTIPHO:Geta!
ANTIPHO:Geta.
GETA:The very person I wanted to find.
GETA:Ipse est quem volui obviam.
ANTIPHO:Pray, tell me what news you bring, and dispatch it in one word, if you can.
ANTIPHO:Cedo quid portas, obsecro? atque id, si potes, verbo expedi.
GETA:I’ll do so.
GETA:Faciam.
ANTIPHO:Out with it.
ANTIPHO:Eloquere.
GETA:Just now, at the harbor—
GETA:Modo apud portum—
ANTIPHO:What, my father?—
ANTIPHO:Meumne?—
GETA:You’ve hit it.
GETA:Intellexti.
ANTIPHO:Ruined outright!PHAEDRIA:Pshaw!
ANTIPHO:Occidi.GETA:Hem.
ANTIPHO:What am I to do?
ANTIPHO:Quid agam?
PHAEDRIA: (to GETA.)What is it you say?
PHAEDRIA:Quid ais?
GETA:That I have seen his father, your uncle.
GETA:Huius patrem vidisse me, patruum tuum.
ANTIPHO:How am I, wretch that I am, now to find a remedy for this sudden misfortune? But if it should be my fortune, Phanium, to be torn away from you, life would cease to be desirable.
ANTIPHO:Nam quod ego huic nunc subito exitio remedium inveniam miser?Quod si eo meae fortunae redeunt, Phanium, abs te ut distrahar,Nulla est mihi vita expetenda.
GETA:Therefore, Antipho, since matters are thus, the more need have you to be on your guard; fortune helps the brave.
GETA:Ergo istaec quum ita sint, Antipho,Tanto magis te advigilare aequum est. Fortes fortuna adiuvat.
ANTIPHO:I am not myself.
ANTIPHO:Non sum apud me.
GETA:But just now it is especially necessary you should be so, Antipho;for if your father perceives that you are alarmed, he will think that you have been guilty of some fault.
GETA:Atqui opus est nunc quummaxime ut sis, Antipho;Nam si senserit te timidum pater esse, arbitrabiturCommeruisse culpam.
PHAEDRIA:That’s true.
PHAEDRIA:Hoc verum est.
ANTIPHO:I can not change.
ANTIPHO:Non possum immutarier.
GETA:What would you do, if now something else still more difficult had to be done by you?
GETA:Quid faceres, si gravius aliud tibi nunc faciendum foret?
ANTIPHO:As I am not equal to this, I should be still less so to the other.
ANTIPHO:Quum hoc non possum, illud minus possem.
GETA:This is doing nothing at all, Phaedria, let’s be gone; why do we waste our time here to no purpose. I shall be off.
GETA:Hoc nihil est, Phaedria: ilicet.Quid hic conterimus operam frustra? Quin abeo?
PHAEDRIA:And I too.(They move as if going.)
PHAEDRIA:Et quidem ego.
ANTIPHO:Pray, now,if I assume an air, will that do? (He endeavors to assume another air.)
ANTIPHO:Obsecro:Quid si assimulo? satin est?
GETA:You are trifling.
GETA:Garris.
ANTIPHO:Look at my countenance—there’s for you. (Assuming a different air.) Will that do?
ANTIPHO:Vultum contemplamini: hem,Satin sic est?
ANTIPHO:Well, will this? (Assuming another air.)
ANTIPHO:Quid si sic?
GETA:Pretty well.
GETA:Propemodum.
ANTIPHO:Well then, this? (Assuming a still bolder air.)
ANTIPHO:Quid si sic?
GETA:That’s just the thing. There now, keep to that, and answer him word for word, like for like; don’t let him, in his anger, disconcert you with his blustering words.
GETA:Sat est.Hem, istuc serva; et verbum verbo, par pari ut respondeas,Ne te iratus suis saevidicis dictis protelet.
ANTIPHO:I understand.
ANTIPHO:Scio.
GETA:Say that you were forced against your will by law, by sentence of the court; do you take me?(Looking earnestly in one direction.) But who is the old man that I see at the end of the street?ANTIPHO:’Tis he himself. I can not stand it. (Going.)
GETA:Vi coactum te esse invitum, lege, iudicio: tenes?Sed quis hic est senex quem video in ultima platea?ANTIPHO:Ipsus est:Non possum adesse.
GETA:Oh! What are you about? Whither are you going, Antipho? Stop, I tell you.
GETA:Ah, quid agis? quo abis, Antipho?Mane, inquam.
ANTIPHO:I know my own self and my offense; to your management I trust Phanium and my own existence. (Exit hastily.)
ANTIPHO:Egomet me novi et peccatum meumr:Vobis commendo Phanium et vitam meam.
PHAEDRIA:Geta, what’s to be done now?
PHAEDRIA:Geta, quid nunc fiet?
GETA:You will just hear some harsh language:I shall be trussed up and trounced, if I am not somewhat mistaken. But what we were just now advising Antipho to do, the same we must do ourselves, Phaedria.
GETA:Tu iam lites audies:Ego plectar pendens, nisi quid me fefellerit.Sed quod modo hic nos Antiphonem monuimusId nosmet ipsos facere oportet, Phaedria.
PHAEDRIA:Away with your “musts;” rather do you command me what I am to do.
PHAEDRIA:Aufer mihi “oportet:” quin tu quod faciam impera.
GETA:Do you remember what were your words formerlyon our entering upon this project, with the view of protecting yourselves from ill consequences—that their cause was just, clear, unanswerable, and most righteous?
GETA:Meministine olim ut fuerit vestra oratioIn re incipienda ad defendendam noxiam;Iustam illam causam, facilem, vincibilem, optimam?
PHAEDRIA:I remember it.
PHAEDRIA:Memini.
GETA:Well then, now there’s need of that plea, or of one still better and more plausible, if such there can be.
GETA:Hem, nunc ipsa est opus ea, aut, si quid potest,Meliore et callidiore.
PHAEDRIA:I’ll use my best endeavors.
PHAEDRIA:Eiet sedulo.
GETA:Do you then accost him first; I’ll be herein re-serve, by way of reinforcement, if you give ground at all.
GETA:Nunc prior adito tu: ego in subsidiis hic eroSuccenturiatus, si quid deficias.
PHAEDRIA:Very well.(They retire to a distance.)
PHAEDRIA:Age.
(Enter DEMIPHO, at the other side of the stage.)DEMIPHO: (to himself.)And is it possible that Antipho has taken a wife without my consent? and that no authority of mine—but let alone “authority” —no displeasure of mine, at all events, has he been in dread of? To have no sense of shame! O audacious conduct! O Geta, rare adviser!
(DEMIPHO.GETA. PHAEDRIA.)DEMIPHO:Itane tandem uxorem duxit Antipho iniussu meo?Nec meum imperium, ac mitto imperium, non simultatem meamRevereri saltem? non pudere? O facinus audax! o GetaMonitor!
GETA: (apart to PHAEDRIA.)Just brought in at last.
GETA:Vix tandem.
DEMIPHO:What will they say to me, or what excuse will they find?I wonder much.
DEMIPHO:Quid mihi dicent, aut quam causam reperient,Demiror.
GETA: (apart.)Why, I’ve found that out already; do think of something else.
GETA:Atqui repperi iam: aliud cura.
DEMIPHO:Will he be saying this to me: “I did it against my will; the law compelled me?” I hear you, and admit it.
DEMIPHO:Anne hoc dicet mihi,“Invitus feci: lex coegit?” Audio. Fateor.
GETA: (apart.)Well said!
GETA:Places.
DEMIPHO:But knowingly, in silence, to give up the cause to his adversaries—did the law oblige him to do that as well?
DEMIPHO:Verum scientem, tacitum, causam tradere adversariis;Etiamne id lex coegit?PHAEDRIA:Illud durum.
GETA: (apart.)That is a hard blow.PHAEDRIA:I’ll clear that up; let me alone for that.
GETA:Ego expediam: sine.
DEMIPHO:It is a matter of doubt what I am to do; for beyond expectation, and quite past all belief, has this befallen me.So enraged am I, that I can not compose my mind to think upon it. Wherefore it is the duty of all persons, when affairs are the most prosperous, then in especial to reflect within themselves in what way they are to endure adversity. Returning from abroad, let him always picture to himself dangers and losses, either offenses committed by a son, or the death of his wife, or the sickness of a daughter,—that these things are the common lot, so that no one of them may ever come as a surprise upon his feelings. Whatever falls out beyond his hopes, all that he must look upon as so much gain.
DEMIPHO:Incertum est quid agam, quia praeter spem atque incredibile hoc mihi obtigit:Ita sum irritatus animum ut nequeam ad cogitandum instituere:Quamobrem omnes, quum secundae res sunt maxime, tum maximeMeditari secum oportet quo pacto adversam aerumnam ferant;Pericla, damna, exilia! Peregre rediens semper cogitetAut filii peccatum, aut uxoris mortem, aut morbum filiae;Communia esse haec; nequid horum unquam accidat animo novum:Quicquid praeter spem eveniat omne id deputare esse in lucro.
GETA: (apart.)O Phaedria, it is incredible how much I surpass my master in wisdom. All my misfortunes have been already calculated upon by me, upon my master coming home. I must grind at the mill, be beaten, wear fetters,be set to work in the fields; not one individual thing of these will happen unexpected by my mind. Whatever falls out beyond my expectations, all that I shall look upon as so much gain. But why do you hesitate to accost him, and soften him at the outset with fair words?(PHAEDRIA goes forward to accost DEMIPHO.)
GETA:Phaedria, incredibile est quantum herum anteco sapientia.Meditata mihi sunt omnia mea incommoda, herus si redierit:Molendum usque in pistrino; vapulandum; habendae compedes;Opus ruri faciendum: horum nihil quicquam accidet animo novum.Quicquid praeter spem eveniet, omne id deputabo esse in lucro.Sed quid cessas hominem adire, et blande in principio alloqui?
DEMIPHO: (to himself.)I see Phaedria, my brother’s son, coming toward me.
DEMIPHO:Phaedriam mei fratris video filium mihi ire obviam.
PHAEDRIA:My uncle, welcome!
PHAEDRIA:Mi patrue, salve.
DEMIPHO:Greetings to you; but where is Antipho?
DEMIPHO:Salve: sed ubi est Antipho?
PHAEDRIA:That you have arrived in safety—
PHAEDRIA:Salvum advenire—
DEMIPHO:I believe it; answer my question.
DEMIPHO:Credo: hoc responde mihi.
PHAEDRIA:He is well; he’s close at hand; but is every thing quite to your wishes?
PHAEDRIA:Valet: hic est: sed satin omnia ex sententia?
DEMIPHO:I wish it was so, indeed.
DEMIPHO:Vellem quidem.
PHAEDRIA:What’s the matter?
PHAEDRIA:Quid istuc?
DEMIPHO:Do you ask me, Phaedria? You people have cooked up a fine marriage in my absence.
DEMIPHO:Rogitas, Phaedria?Bonas, me absente, hic confecistis nuptias.
PHAEDRIA:What now, are you angry with him for that?
PHAEDRIA:Eho, an id succenses nunc illi?
GETA: (apart.)What a clever contriver!
GETA:O artificem probum.
DEMIPHO:Have I not reason to be angry with him? I long for him to come into my sight, that he may know that through his faultiness, from being a mild father, I am become a most severe one.
DEMIPHO:Egone illi non succenseam? Ipsum gestioDari mihi in conspectum, nunc sua culpa ut sciatLenem patrem illum factum me esse acerrimum.
PHAEDRIA:But he has done nothing, uncle, for which you should blame him.
PHAEDRIA:Atqui nihil fecit, patrue, quod succenseas.
DEMIPHO:Now, do look at that; all alike; all hanging together;when you know one, you know all.
DEMIPHO:Ecce autem similia omnia; omnes congruunt;Unum cognoris, omnes noris.
PHAEDRIA:That is not the case.
PHAEDRIA:Haud ita est.
DEMIPHO:When the one is in fault, the other is at hand to defend him; when it is the other, then he is ready; they just help one another by turns.
DEMIPHO:Hic in noxa est: ille ad defendendam causam adest.Quum ille est, praesto hic est: tradunt operas mutuas.
GETA: (apart.)The old man, without. knowing it, has exactly described their proceedings.
GETA:Probe horum facta imprudens depinxit senex.
DEMIPHO:For if it had not been so, you would not, Phaedria, have stood up for him.
DEMIPHO:Nam ni haec ita essent, cum illo haud stares, Phaedria.
PHAEDRIA:If, uncle; it is the fact, that Antipho has been guilty of any fault, in consequence of which he has been too regardless of his interest or his reputation, I would not allege any reason why he should not suffer what he deserves. But if some one by chance, relying upon his own artfulness, has laid a snare for our youthful age,and has succeeded, is it our fault or that of the judges, who often, through envy, take away from the rich, or, through compassion, award to the poor?
PHAEDRIA:Si est, patrue, culpam ut Antipho in se admiserit,Ex qua re minus rei foret aut famae temperans;Non causam dico quin quod meritus sit ferat.Sed si quis forte, malitia fretus sua,Insidias nostrae fecit adolescentiae,Ac vicit; nostrane ea culpa est an iudicum,Qui saepe propter invidiam adimunt diviti,Aut propter misericordiam addunt pauperi?
GETA: (apart.)Unless I knew the case, I could fancy he was saying the truth.
GETA:Ni nossem causam, crederem vera hunc loqui.
DEMIPHO:Is there any judge who can possibly knowyour rights, when you yourself don’t answer a word—as he has done?
DEMIPHO:An quisquam iudex est qui possit noscereTua iusta, ubi tute verbum non respondeas,Ita ut ille fecit?
PHAEDRIA:He acted the part of an ingenuous young man; after they had come before the judges, he was not able to say what he had intended, so much did his modesty confuse him there through his bashfulness.
PHAEDRIA:Functus adolescentuli estOfficium liberalis. Postquam ad iudicesVentura est, non potuit cogitata proloqui:Ita eum tum timidum ibi obstupefecit pudor.