Who is it that wants me?
What say you, of all men, the —?
Oh! rather speak about the matter itself, and forbear to use harsh language.
As if any thing too severe could now be possibly said against him. Pray, do you say that Glycerium is a citizen—
So they say.
So they say! Unparalleled assurance! does he consider what he says? Is he sorry for what he has done? Does his countenance, pray, at all betray any marks of shame? That he should be of mind so weak, as, without regard to the custom and the law
Without regard to the custom and the law
: There was a law among the Athenians which forbade citizens to marry strangers, and made the offspring of such alliances illegitimate; the same law also excluded such as were not born of two citizens from all offices of trust and honor.
Miserable that I am!
Ha! have you at last found that out only just now, Pamphilus? Long since did that expression, long since, when you made up your mind, that what you desired must be effected by you at any price; from that very day did that expression aptly befit you. But yet why do I torment myself? Why vex myself? Why worry my old age with this madness? Am I to suffer the punishment for his offenses? Nay then, let him have her, good-by to him, let him pass his life with her.
My father—
How, "my father?" As if you stood in any need of this father. Home, wife, and children, provided by you against the will of your father! People suborned, too, to say that she is a citizen of this place! You have gained your point.
Father, may I say a few words?
What can you say to me?
But, Simo, do hear him.
I, hear him? Why should I hear him, Chremes?
Still, however, do allow him to speak.
Well then, let him speak: I allow him.
I own that I love her; if that is committing a fault, I own that also. To you, father, do I subject myself. Impose on me any injunction you please; command me. Do you wish me to take a wife? Do you wish me to give her up? As well as I can I will endure it. This only I request of you, not to think that this old gentleman has been suborned by me. Allow me to clear myself, and to bring him here before you.
To bring him here?
Do allow me, father.
He asks what's reasonable; do give him leave.
Allow me to obtain thus much of you.
I allow it. I desire any thing, so long as I find, Chremes, that I have not been deceived by him.
For a great offense, a slight punishment ought to satisfy a father.
Greetings to you, Chremes.
How is it that, so contrary to your usage, you are at
So it has happened. But is this Simo?
It is he.
Simo, were you asking for me?
How now, do you say that Glycerium is a citizen of this place?
Do you deny it?
For what purpose?
Do you ask? Are you to be acting this way with impunity? Are you to be luring young men into snares here, inexperienced in affairs, and liberally brought up, by tempting them, and to be playing upon their fancies by making promises?
Are you in your senses?
And are you to be patching up amours with Courtesans by marriage?
If, Simo, you knew this person well, you would not think thus; he is a worthy man.
He, a worthy man! To come so opportunely to-day just at the very nuptials, and yet never to have come before?
Could opportunely suggest to him
: Colman has the following remark on this line: "Madame Dacier and several English Translators make Pamphilus say that he could give Crito a hint or two. What hints he could propose to suggest to Crito, I can not conceive. The Italian translation, printed with the Vatican Terence, seems to understand the words in the same manner that I have translated them, in which sense (the pronoun
A sharper
: "Sycophanta."
For some account of the
It is his way, Crito; do excuse it.
Let him take heed how he behaves. If he persists in saying to me what he likes, he'll be hearing things that he don't like. Am I meddling with these matters or interesting myself? Can you not endure your troubles with a patient mind? For as to what I say, whether it is true or false what I have heard, can soon be known. A certain man of A long time ago
: The story begins with
Let him alone.
Really, is he to be interrupting me in this way?
Do you proceed.
He who received him was a relation of mine. There I heard from him that he was a native of
His name?
The name, in such a hurry!
Phania.
I'faith, I really think it was Phania; this I know for certain, he said that he was a citizen of Rhamnus.
A citizen of Rhamnus
: Rhamnus was a maritime town of
O
Many other persons in
No.
Whose then?
His brother's daughter.
She certainly is mine.
What do you say?
What is this that you say?
Why do you suppose so?
That Phania was my brother.
I knew him, and I am aware of it.
He, flying from the wars, and following me to
Really, I am glad for many reasons that she has been discovered to be a citizen.
I believe it, father.
But there yet remains one difficulty
One difficulty
: "Scrupus,"
or "scrupulus," was properly a stone or small piece of gravel which, getting into the shoe, hurt the foot; hence the word figuratively came to mean a "scruple," "difficulty," or "doubt." We have a similar expression: "to be graveled."
A knot in a bulrush
: "Nodum in scirpo quaerere"
was a proverbial expression implying a desire to create doubts and difficulties where there really were none; there being no knots in the bulrush. The same expression occurs in the Menaechmi of Plautus, 1. 247.
The names don't agree.
Troth, she had another when little.
What was it, Crito? Can you remember it?
I'm trying to recollect it.
The very same.
That's it.
I've heard it from herself a thousand times.
I suppose, Chremes, that you believe that we all rejoice at this discovery.
So may the Gods bless me, I do believe it.
What remains to be done, father?
The event itself has quite brought me to reconcilement.
O kind father! With regard to her as a wife, since I have taken possession of her, Chremes will not offer any opposition.
The plea is a very good one, unless perchance your father says any thing to the contrary.
Of course, I agree.
Then be it so.
Of course—Then be it so
: "Nempe id. Scilicet."
Colman has the following remark on this line: "Donatus, and some others after him, understand these words of Simo and Pamphilus as requiring a fortune of Chremes with his daughter; and one of them' says that Simo, in order to explain his meaning, in the representation, should produce a bag of money. This surely is precious refinement, worthy the genius of a true Commentator. Madame Dacier, who entertains a just veneration for Donatus, doubts the authenticity of the observation ascribed to him. The sense I have followed is, I think, the most obvious and natural' interpretation of the words of Pamphilus and Simo, which refers to the preceding, not the subsequent, speech of Chremes."
Her portion, Pamphilus, is ten talents.
I alm satisfied.
I'll hasten to my daughter. Come now,
Well thought of; I'll at once give charge of that to Davus.
He can't do it.
How so?
Because he has another matter that more nearly concerns himself, and of more importance.
What, pray?
He is bound.
Father, he is not rightly bound.
He is not rightly bound
: "Non recte vinctus;"
meaning "it was not well done to bind him." The father pretends to understand him as meaning (which he might equally well by using the same words),
But I ordered to that effect.
Prithee, do order him to be set at liberty,
Well, be it so.
But immediately.
I'm going in.
O fortunate and happy day!
Their joys are their own
: Westerhovius remarks that he seems here to be promulgating the doctrine of Epicurus, who taught that the Deities devoted themselves entirely to pleasure and did not trouble themselves about mortals. Donatus observes that these are the doctrines of Epicurus, and that the whole sentence is copied from the Eunuch of Menander; to which practice of borrowing from various Plays, allusion is made in the Prologue, where he mentions the mixing of plays;
Here he is, Davus.
'Tis I, Pamphilus; you don't know what has happened to me.
No really; but I know what has happened to myself.
And I too.
It has fallen out just like human affairs in general, that you should know the mishap I have met with, before I the good that has befallen you.
My Glycerium has discovered her parents.
O, well done!
Her father is an intimate friend of ours.
Who?
Chremes.
You do tell good news.
And there's no hinderance to my marrying her at once.
Then about the child, Davus.
O, say no more; you are the only person whom the Gods favor.
Who is this? Why, Charinus, you meet me at the very nick of time.
That's all right.
Have you heard—?
Every thing; come, in your good fortune do have some regard for me. Chremes is now at your command; I'm sure that he'll do every thing you wish.
I'll remember you; and because it is tedious for us to wait for him until he comes out, follow me this way; he is now in-doors at the house of Glycerium; do you, Davus, go home; send with all haste to remove her thence. Why are you standing there? Why are you delaying?
I'm going. Grant us your applause
: "Plaudite."
Colman has the following remark at the conclusion of this Play: "All the old Tragedies and Comedies acted at