PAMPHILUS and DAVUS.PAMPHILUS

What then does my father mean? Why does he thus make pretense?

DAVUS

I'll tell you. If now he were angry with you, because Chremes will not give you a wife, he would seem to himself to be unjust, and that not without reason, before he has ascertained your feelings as to the marriage, how they are disposed. But if you refuse to marry her, in that case he will transfer the blame to you; then such disturbances will arise.

PAMPHILUS

I will submit to any thing from him.

DAVUS

He is your father, Pamphilus. It is a difficult matter. Besides, this woman is defenseless. No sooner said than done; he will find some pretext for driving her away from the city.

PAMPHILUS

Driving her away ?

DAVUS

Aye, and quickly too.

PAMPHILUS

Tell me then, Davus, what am I to do?

DAVUS

Say that you will marry her.

PAMPHILUS

starting. Ha!

DAVUS

What's the matter ?

PAMPHILUS

What, am I to say so?

DAVUS

Why not?

PAMPHILUS

Never will I do it.

DAVUS

Don't say so.

PAMPHILUS

Don't attempt to persuade me.

DAVUS

Consider what will be the result of it.

PAMPHILUS

That I shall be deprived of the one, and fixed with the other.

DAVUS

Not so. In fact, I think it will be thus: Your father will say: "I wish you to marry a wife to-day." You reply: " I'll marry her." Tell me, how can he raise a quarrel with you ? Thus you will cause all the plans which are now arranged by him to be disarranged, without any danger; for this is not to be doubted, that Chremes will not give you his daughter. Therefore do not hesitate in those measures which you are taking, on this account, lest he should change his sentiments. Tell your father that you consent; so that although he may desire it, he may not be able to be angry at you with reason. For that which you rely on, I will easily refute; "No one," you think, "will give a wife to a person of these habits." But he will find a beggar for you, rather than allow you to be corrupted by a mistress. If, however, he shall believe that you bear it with a contented mind, you will render him indifferent; at his leisure he will look out for another wife for you; in the mean time something lucky may turn up.

PAMPHILUS

Do you think so?

DAVUS

It really is not a matter of doubt.

PAMPHILUS

Consider to what you are persuading me.

DAVUS

Nay, but do be quiet.

PAMPHILUS

Well, I'll say it; but, that he mayn't come to know that she has had a child by me, is a thing to be guarded against; for I have promised to bring it up.

DAVUS

Oh, piece of effrontery.

PAMPHILUS

She entreated me that I would give her this pledge, by which she might be sure she should not be deserted.

DAVUS

It shall be attended to; but your father's coming. Take care that he doesn't perceive that you are out of spirits.

Enter SIMO, at a distance.SIMO

apart to himself. I've come back to see what they are about, or what scheme they are hatching.

DAVUS

to PAMPHILUS. He has no doubt at present but that you'll refuse to marry. Having considered his course, he's come from a retired spot somewhere or other; he hopes that he has framed a speech by which to disconcert you; do you take care, then, to be yourself.

PAMPHILUS

If I am only able, Davus.

DAVUS

Trust me for that, Pamphilus, I tell you; your father will never this day exchange a single word with you, if you say that you will marry.

Enter BYRRHIA, unperceived, at a distance behind SIMO.BYRRHIA

apart to himself. My master has ordered me, leaving my business, to keep an eye on Pamphilus today, what he is doing with regard to the marriage. I was to learn it; for that reason, I have now followed him I have now followed him: "Hunc venientem sequor." Cooke has the following remark on this line: "This verse, though in every edition, as Bentley judiciously observes, is certainly spurious; for as Pamphilus has not disappeared since Byrrhia left the stage, he could not say 'nunc hunc venientem sequor.' If we suppose the line genuine, we must at the same time suppose Terence guilty of a monstrous absurdity." On these words Colman rakes the following just observations: " Other Commentators have also stumbled at this passage; but if in the words 'followed him hither,' we suppose 'him' (hunc) to refer to Simo, the difficulty is removed; and that the pronoun really does signify Simo, is evident from the circumstance of Pamphilus never having left the stage since the disappearance of Byrrhia. Simo is also represented as coming on the stage homeward, so that Byrrhia might easily have followed him along the street; and it is evident that Byrrhia does not allude to Pamphilus from the agreeable surprise which he expresses on seeing him there so opportunely for the purpose." pointing to SIMO as he came hither. Himself, as well, I see standing with Davus close at hand; I'll note this.

SIMO

apart to himself. I see that both of them are here.

DAVUS

in a low voice to PAMPHILUS. Now then, be on your guard.

SIMO

Pamphilus!

DAVUS

in a low voice. Look round at him as though taken unawares.

PAMPHILUS

turning round sharply. What, my father!

DAVUS

in a low voice. Capital!

SIMO

I wish you to marry a wife to-day, as I was saying.

BYRRHIA

apart. Now I'm in dread for our side, as to what he will answer.

PAMPHILUS

Neither in that nor in any thing else shall you ever find any hesitation in me.

BYRRHIA

apart. Hah!

DAVUS

in a low voice to PAMPHILUS. He is struck dumb.

BYRRHIA

apart. What a speech!

SIMO

You act as becomes you, when that which I ask I obtain with a good grace.

DAVUS

aside to PAMPHILUS. Am I right?

BYRRHIA

My master, so far as I learn, has missed his wife.

SIMO

Now, then, go in-doors, that you mayn't be causing delay when you are wanted.

PAMPHILUS

I'll go. Goes into the house.

BYRRHIA

apart. Is there, in no case, putting trust in any man ? That is a true proverb which is wont to be commonly quoted, that "all had rather it to be well for themselves than for another." I remember noticing, when I saw her, that she was a young woman of handsome figure; wherefore I am the more disposed to excuse Pamphilus, if he has preferred that he himself, rather than the other, should embrace her in his slumbers. I'll carry back these tidings, that, in return for this evil he may inflict evil upon me. Inflict evil upon me: "Malum;" the usual name by which slaves spoke of the beatings they were in the habit of receiving at the hands or by the order of their irascible masters. Colman has the following remarks: "Donatus observes on this Scene between Byrrhia, Simo, Pamphilus, and Davus, that the dialogue is sustained by four persons, who have little or no intercourse with each other; so that the Scene is not only in direct contradiction to the precept of Horace, excluding a fourth person, but is also otherwise vicious in its construction. Scenes of this kind are, I think, much too frequent in Terence, though, indeed, the form of the ancient Theatre was more adapted to the representation of them than the modern. The multiplicity of speeches aside is also the chief error in this dialogue; such speeches, though very common in dramatic writers, ancient and modern, being always more or less unnatural." (Exit.)

SIMO and DAVUS.DAVUS

aside, coming away from the door of the house. He now supposes that I'm bringing some trick to bear against him, and that on that account I've remained here.

SIMO

What does he say, Davus ? What does he say, Davus?: "Quid, Dave, narrat?" This reading Vollbehr suggests in place of the old one, "Quid Davus narrat ?" and upon good grounds, as it appears. According to the latter reading we are to suppose that Davus is grumbling to himself, on which Simo says, " What does Davus say?" It seems, however, much more likely that Davus accompanies Pamphilus to the door, and speaks to him before he goes in, and then, on his return to Simo, the latter asks him, "What does he say, Davus ?"

DAVUS

Just as much as nothing. Just as much as nothing: "Aeque quidquam nunc quidem." This is a circumlocution for "nothing at all:" somewhat more literally perhaps, it might be rendered "just as much as before." Perizonius supplies the ellipsis with a long string of Latin words, which translated would mean, "Now, indeed, he says equally as much as he says then, when he says nothing at all."

SIMO

What, nothing? Eh?

DAVUS

Nothing at all.

SIMO

And yet I certainly was expecting something.

DAVUS

It has turned out contrary to your expectations. Aside. I perceive it; this vexes the man.

SIMO

Are you able to tell me the truth?

DAVUS

I? Nothing more easy.

SIMO

Is this marriage at all disagreeable to him, on account of his intimacy with this foreign woman?

DAVUS

No, faith; or if at all, it is a two or three days' annoyance this—you understand. It will then cease. Moreover, he himself has thought over this matter in a proper way.

SIMO

I commend him.

DAVUS

While it was allowed him, and while his years prompted him, he intrigued; even then it was secretly. He took precaution that that circumstance should never be a cause of disgrace to him, as behooves a man of principle; now that he must have a wife, he has set his mind upon a wife.

SIMO

He seemed to me to be somewhat melancholy in a slight degree.

DAVUS

Not at all on account of her, but there's something he blames you for.

SIMO

What is it, pray?

DAVUS

It's a childish thing.

SIMO

What is it?

DAVUS

Nothing at all.

SIMO

Nay but, tell me what it is.

DAVUS

He says that you are making too sparing preparations.

SIMO

What, I?

DAVUS

You.—He says that there has hardly been fare provided to the amount of ten drachmae. Amount of ten drachmoe: The Attic drachma was a silver coin worth in value about 9¾d. of English money.—"Does he seem to be bestowing a wife on his son? Which one now, in preference, of my companions shall I invite to the dinner?" And, it must be owned, you really are providing too parsimoniously—I do not commend you.

SIMO

Hold your tongue.

DAVUS

aside. I've touched him up.

SIMO

I'll see that these things are properly done. DAVUS goes into the house. What's the meaning of this? What does this old rogue mean? But if there's any knavery here, why, he's sure to be the source of the mischief. Goes into his house.