Enter CHREMES on the other side of the stage, going toward the house of SIMO.CHREMESto himself After having provided the things necessary for my daughter's nuptials, I'm returning, that I may request her to be sent for. Seeing the child. But what's this? I'faith, it's a child. Addressing MYSIS. Woman, have you laid that here pointing to the child?
MYSISaside, looking out for DAVUS. Where is he?
CHREMES Don't you answer me?
MYSISlooking about, to herself. He isn't any where to be seen. Woe to wretched me! the fellow has left me and is off.
DAVUScoming forward and pretending not to see them. Ye Gods, by our trust in you ! what a crowd there is in the Forum! What a lot of people are squabbling there! Aloud. Then provisions are so dear. Aside. What to say besides, I don't know. CHREMES passes by MYSIS, and goes to a distance at the back of the stage.
MYSIS Pray, why did you leave me here alone?
DAVUSpretending to start on seeing the child. Ha! what story is this? How now, Mysis, whence comes this child? Who has brought it here?
MYSIS Are you quite right in your senses, to be asking me that?
DAVUS Whom, then, ought I to ask, as I don't see any one else here?
CHREMESapart to himself. I wonder whence it has come.
DAVUS Are you going to tell me what I ask?
MYSIS Pshaw !
DAVUSin a whisper. Step aside to the right. They retire on one side.
MYSIS You are out of your senses; didn't you your own self?
DAY.in a low voice. Take you care not to utter a single word beyond what I ask you. Why don't you say aloud whence it comes?
MYSISin a loud voice. From our house.
DAVUSaffecting indignation. Heyday, indeed! it really is a wonder if a woman, who is a courtesan, acts impudently.
CHREMESapart. So far as I can learn, this woman belongs to the Andrian.
DAVUS Do we seem to you such very suitable persons for you to be playing tricks with us in this way?
CHREMESapart. I came just in time.
DAVUS Make haste then, and take the child away from the door here: in a low voice stay there; take care you don't stir from that spot.
MYSISaside. May the Gods confound you! you do so terrify poor me.
DAVUSin a loud voice. Is it to you I speak or not?
MYSIS What is it you want?
DAVUSaloud. What—do you ask me again? Tell me, whose child have you been laying here? Let me know.
MYSIS Don't you know?
DAVUSin a low voice. Have done with what I know; tell me what I ask.
MYSISaloud. It belongs to your people.
DAVUSaloud. Which of our people?
MYSISaloud. To Pamphilus.
DAVUSaffecting surprise in a loud tone. How? What—to Pamphilus?
MYSISaloud. How now—is it not so?
CHREMESapart. With good reason have I always been averse to this match, it's clear.
DAVUScalling aloud. O abominable piece of effrontery!
MYSIS Why are you bawling out so?
DAVUSaloud. What, the very one I saw being carried to your house yesterday evening?
MYSIS O you impudent fellow!
DAVUSaloud. It's the truth. I saw Canthara stuffed out beneath her clothes.
Stuffed out beneath her clothes
: "Suffarcinatam."
He alludes to the trick already referred to as common among the Greeks, of the nurses and midwives secretly introducing supposititious children; see 1. 515 and the Note.
MYSIS I'faith, I thank the Gods that several free women were present
Several free women were present
: She speaks of "liberae,"
"free women," because in Greece as well as Italy slaves were not permitted to give evidence. See the Curculio of Plautus, 1. 621, and the Note to the passage in Bohn's Translation. See also the remark of Geta in the Phormio, 1. 293. at the delivery.
DAVUSaloud. Assuredly she doesn't know him, on whose account she resorts to these schemes. Chremes, she fancies, if he sees the child laid before the door, will not give his daughter; i'faith, he'll give her all the sooner.
CHREMESapart. I'faith, he'll not do so.
DAVUSaloud. Now therefore, that you may be quite aware, if you don't take up the child, I'll roll it forthwith into the middle of the road; and yourself in the same place I'll roll over into the mud.
MYSIS Upon my word, man, you are not sober.
DAVUSaloud. One scheme brings on another. I now hear it whispered about that she is a citizen of Attica—
CHREMESapart. Ha!
DAVUSaloud. And that, constrained by the laws,
Constrained by the laws
: He alludes to a law at Athens which compelled a man who had debauched a free-born woman to marry her. This is said by Davus with the view of frightening Chremes from the match. he will have to take her as his wife.
MYSIS Well now, pray, is she not a citizen?
CHREMESapart. I had almost fallen unawares into a comical misfortune. Comes forward.
DAVUS Who's that, speaking? Pretending to look about. O Chremes, you have come in good time. Do listen to this.
CHREMES I have heard it all already.
DAVUS Prithee, did you hear it? Here's villainy for you! she pointing at MYSIS ought to be carried off
She ought to be carried off
: He says this implying that Mysis, who is a slave, ought to be put to the torture to confess the truth; as it was the usual method at Athens to force a confession from slaves by that method. We find in the Hecyra, Bacchis readily offering her slaves to be put to the torture, and in the Adelphi the same custom is alluded to in the Scene between Micio, Hegio and Geta. hence to the torture forthwith. To MYSIS, pointing at CHREMES. This is Chremes himself; don't suppose that you are trifling with Davus only.
MYSIS Wretched me! upon my faith I have told no untruth, my worthy old gentleman.
CHREMES I know the whole affair. Is Simo within?
DAVUS He is. CHREMES goes into SIMO'S house.
MYSISDAVUS attempting to caress her. Don't touch me, villain. Moving away. On my word, if I don't tell Glycerium all this—
DAVUS How now, simpleton, don't you know what has been done?
MYSIS How should I know?
DAVUS This is the bride's father. It couldn't any other way have been managed that he should know the things that we wanted him to know.
MYSIS You should have told me that before.
DAVUS Do you suppose that it makes little difference whether you do things according to impulse, as nature prompts, or from premeditation?
Enter CRITO, looking about him.CRITOto himself. It was said that Chrysis used to live in this street, who preferred to gain wealth here dishonorably to living honestly as a poor woman in her own country: by her death that property has descended to me by law.
Descended to me by law
: On the supposition that Chrysis died without a will, Crito as her next of kin would be entitled to her effects. But I see some persons of whom to make inquiry. Accosting them. Good-morrow to you.
MYSIS Prithee, whom do I see? Isn't this Crito, the kinsman of Chrysis? It is he.
CRITO O Mysis, greetings to you.
MYSIS Welcome to you, Crito.
CRITO Is Chrysis then —?
Is Chrysis then —?
: This is an instance of Aposiopesis; Crito, much affected, is unwilling to name the death of Chrysis. It was deemed of ill omen to mention death, and numerous Euphemisms or circumlocutions were employed in order to avid the necessity of doing so. Alas!
MYSIS Too truly. She has indeed left us poor creatures quite heart-broken.
CRITO How fare you here, and in what fashion? Pretty well?
MYSIS What, we? Just as we can, as they say; since we can't as we would.
CRITO How is Glycerium? Has she discovered her parents yet?
MYSIS I wish she had.
CRITO What, not yet? With no favorable omen did I set out for this place; for, upon my faith, if I had known that, I never would have moved a foot hither. She was always said to be, and was looked upon as her sister; what things were hers she is in possession of; now for me to begin a suit at law here, the precedents of others warn me, a stranger,
Warn me, a stranger
: Patrick has the following remarks upon this passage: "Madame Dacier observes that it appears, from Xenophon's Treatise on the policy of the Athenians, that all the inhabitants of cities and islands in alliance with Athens were obliged in all claims to repair thither, and refer their cause to the decision of the people, not being permitted to plead elsewhere. We can not wonder then that Crito is unwilling to engage in a suit so inconvenient from its length, expense, and little prospect of success." She might have added that such was the partiality and corruptness of the Athenian people, that, being a stranger, his chances of success would probably be materially diminished. how easy and profitable a task it would be for me. At the same time, I suppose that by this she has got some friend and protector; for she was pretty nearly a grown-up girl when she left there. They would cry out that I am a sharper; that, a pauper, I'm hunting after an inheritance; besides, I shouldn't like to strip the girl herself.
MYSIS O most worthy stranger! I'faith, Crito, you still adhere to your good old-fashioned ways.
CRITO Lead me to her, since I have come hither, that I may see her.
MYSIS By all means. They go into the house of GLYCERIUM.
DAVUSto himself. I'll follow them; I don't wish the old man to see me at this moment. He follows MYSIS and CRITO.
Enter CHREMES and SIMO from the house of SIMO.CHREMES Enough already, enough, Simo, has my friendship toward you been proved. Sufficient hazard have I begun to encounter; make an end of your entreaties, then. While I've been endeavoring to oblige you, I've almost fooled away my daughter's prospects in life.
SIMO Nay but, now in especial, Chremes, I do beg and entreat of you, that the favor, commenced a short time since in words, you'll now complete by deeds.
CHREMES See how unreasonable you are from your very earnestness; so long as you effect what you desire, you neither think of limits to compliance, nor what it is you request of me; for if you did think, you would now forbear to trouble me with unreasonable requests.
SIMO What unreasonable requests?
CHREMES Do you ask? You importuned me to promise my daughter to a young man engaged in another attachment, averse to the marriage state, to plunge her into discord and a marriage of uncertain duration; that through her sorrow and her anguish I might reclaim your son. You prevailed; while the case admitted of it I made preparations. Now it does not admit of it; you must put up with it; they say that she is a citizen of this place; a child has been born; do cease to trouble us.
SIMO By the Gods, I do conjure you not to bring your mind to believe those whose especial interest it is that he should be as degraded as possible. On account of the marriage, have all these things been feigned and contrived. When the reason for which they do these things is removed from them, they will desist.
CHREMES You are mistaken; I myself saw the servant-maid wrangling with Davus.
SIMOsneeringly. I am aware.
CHREMES With an appearance of earnestness, when neither at the moment perceived that I was present there.
SIMO I believe it; and Davus a short time since forewarned me that this would be the case; and I don't know how I forgot to tell it you to-day, as I had intended.
Enter DAVUS from the house of GLYCERIUM.DAVUSaloud at the door, not seeing SIMO and CHREMES. Now then, I bid you set your minds at ease.
CHREMESto SIMO. See you, there's Davus.
SIMO From what house is he coming out?
DAVUSto himself. Through my means, and that of the stranger—
SIMOoverhearing. What mischief is this?
DAVUSto himself. I never did see a more opportune person, encounter, or occasion.
SIMO The rascal! I wonder who it is he's praising?
DAVUS All the affair is now in a safe position.
SIMO Why do I delay to accost him?
DAVUSto himself, catching sight of SIMO. It's my master; what am I to do?
SIMOaccosting him. O, save you, good sir!
DAVUSaffecting surprise. Hah! Simo! O, Chremes, my dear sir, all things are now quite ready in-doors.
SIMOironically. You have taken such very good care.
DAVUS Send for the bride when you like.
SIMO Very good: ironically of course, that's the only thing that's now wanting here. But do you answer me this, what business had you there? Pointing to the house of GLYCERIUM.
DAVUS What, I?
SIMO Just so.
DAVUS I?
SIMO Yes, you.
DAVUS I went in just now.
SIMO As if I asked how long ago!
DAVUS Together with your son.
SIMO What, is Phamphilus in there? Aside. To my confusion, I'm on the rack! To DAVUS. How now? Didn't you say that there was enmity between them, you scoundrel?
DAVUS There is.
SIMO Why is he there, then?
CHREMES Why do you. suppose he is? Ironically. Quarreling with her, of course.
DAVUS Nay but, Chremes, I'll let you now hear from me a disgraceful piece of business. An old man, I don't know who he is, has just now come here; look you, he is a confident and shrewd person; when you look at his appearance, he seems to be a person of some consequence. There is a grave sternness in his features, and something commanding in his words.
SIMO What news are you bringing, I wonder?
DAVUS Why nothing but what I heard him mention.
SIMO What does he say then?
DAVUS That he knows Glycerium to be a citizen of Attica.
SIMOgoing to his door. Ho there! Dromo, Dromo!
Enter DROMO hastily from the house.
DROMO What is it?
SIMO Dromo!
DAVUS Hear me.
SIMO If you add a word—Dromo!
DAVUS Hear me, pray.
DROMOto SIMO. What do you want?
SIMOpointing to DAVUS. Carry him off on your shoulders in-doors as fast as possible.
DROMO Whom?
SIMO Davus.
DAVUS For what reason?
SIMO Because I choose. To. DROMO. Carry him off, I say.
DAVUS What have I done?
SIMO Carry him off.
DAVUS If you find that I have told a lie in any one matter, then kill me.
SIMO I'll hear nothing. I'll soon have you set in motion.
You set in motion
: By the use of the word "Commotus"
he seems to allude to the wretched, restless existence of a man tied hand and foot, and continually working at the hand-mill. Westerhovius thinks that Simo uses this word sarcastically, in allusion to the words of Davus, at the beginning of the present Scene, "Animo otioso esse impero;" "I bid you set your minds at ease."
DAVUS What? Although this is the truth.
SIMO In spite of it. To DROMO. Take care he's kept well secured; and, do you hear? Tie him up hands and feet together.
Hands and feet together
: "Quadrupedem."
Literally "as a quadruped" or "all fours." Echard remarks that it was the custom of the Athenians to tie criminals hands and feet together, just like calves. Now then, be off; upon my faith this very day, if I live, I'll teach you what hazard there is in deceiving a master, and him in deceiving a father. DROMO leads DAVUS into the house.
CHREMES Oh, don't be so extremely vexed.
SIMO O Chremes, the dutifulness of a son! Do you not pity me? That I should endure so much trouble for such a son! Goes to the door of GLYCERIUM'S house. Come, Pamphilus, come out, Pamphilus! have you any shame left?