If there ever was any time, mother, when I caused you pleasure, being called your son by your own desire, I beseech: you to remember it, and now to take compassion on me in my distress. A thing I beg and request—do discover to me my parents.
I conjure you, my son, not to entertain that notion in your mind, that you are another person's child.
I am.
Wretch that I am!
But I say, if you fear me, take care how I find these propensities existing in you.
What propensities?
If you wish to know, I'll tell you; being a trifler, an idler, a cheat, a glutton, a debauchee, a spendthrift—Believe me, and believe that you are our son.
This is not the language of a parent.
If you had been born from my head, Clitipho,just as they say By your profligacy
: It is probably
this ebullition of Comic anger which is referred to by Horace, in
his
May the Gods forbid it.
I don't know as to the Gods;I don't know as to the
Gods
: "Deos nescio." The Critic Lambinus, in his letter
to Charles the Ninth of France, accuses Terence of impiety in this
passage. Madame Dacier has, however, well observed, that the meaning
is not "I care not for the Gods," but "I know not what the Gods will
do."
Well, Menedemus, why don't you order my daughter to be sent for, and
close with the offerAnd close with the
offer
: "Firmas." This ratification or affirmation would be
made by Menedemus using the formal word "Accipio," "I
accept."
My husband, I entreat you not to do it.
Father, I entreat you to forgive me.
Forgive him, Chremes; do let then prevail upon you.
Am I knowingly to make my property a present to Bacchis? I'll not do it.
Why, we would not suffer it.
If you desire me to live, father, do forgive me.
Do, my dear Chremes.
Come, Chremes, pray, don't be so obdurate.
What am I to do here? I see I am not allowed to carry this through, as I had intended.
You are acting as becomes you.
On this condition, then, I'll do it; if he does that which I think it right he should do.
Father, I'll do any thing; command me.
You must take a wife.
Father—
I'll hear nothing.
I'll take it upon myself; he shall do so.
I don't hear any thing from him as yet.
Do you hesitate, Clitipho?
Nay, just as he likes.
He'll do it all.
This course, while you are making a beginning, is disagreeable, and while you are unacquainted with it. When you have become acquainted with it, it will become easy.
I'll do it, father.
My son, upon my honor I'll give you that charming girl, whom you may soon become attached to, the daughter of our neighbor Phanocrata.
What! that red-haired girl, with cat's eyes, freckled face,Freckled face
: Many take "sparso ore" here to mean
"wide-mouthed." Lemonnier thinks that must be the meaning, as he has
analyzed the other features of her countenance. There is, however,
no reason why he should not speak of her complexion; and it seems,
not improbably, to have the same meaning as the phrase "os
lentiginosum," "a freckled face."
Heyday! how nice he is! You would fancy he had set his mind upon it.
I'll name another.
Why no—since I must marry, I myself have one that I should pretty nearly make choice of.
Now, son, I commend you.
The daughter of Archonides here.
I'm quite agreeable.
Father, this now remains.
What is it?
I want you to pardon Syrus for what he has done for my sake.
Be it so.