Unless my fancy deceives me,Unless my fancy deceives
me
: "Nisi me animus fallit." He comically repeats the
very same words with which Sostrata commenced in the last
Scene.Retribution
:
"Infortunium!" was the name by which the slaves commonly denoted a
beating. Colman has the following remark here: " Madame Dacier, and
most of the later critics who have implicitly followed her, tell us
that in the interval between the third and fourth Acts, Syrus has
been present at the interview between Chremes and Antiphila within.
The only difficulty in this doctrine is how to reconcile it to the
apparent ignorance of Syrus, which he discovers at the entrance of
Clinia. But this objection, says she, is easily answered. Syrus
having partly heard Antiphila's story, and finding things likely to
take an unfavorable turn, retires, to consider what is best to be
done. But surely this is a most unnatural impatience at so critical
a conjuncture; and, after all, would it not be better to take up the
matter just where Terence has left it, and to suppose that Syrus
knew nothing more of the affair than what might be collected from
the late conversation between Chremes and Sostrata, at which we know
he was present ? This at once accounts for his apprehensions, which
he betrayed even during that Scene, as well as for his imperfect
knowledge of the real state of the case, till apprised of the whole
by Clinia."With my sides covered
: He most
probably alludes to the custom of tying up the slaves by their
hands, after stripping them naked, when of course their " latera" or
" sides" would be exposed, and come in for a share of the
lashes.Runaway money
: "Fugitivum
argentum." Madame Dacier suggests that this is a bad translation of
the words of Menander, which were "
O my dear Syrus, have you heard of it, pray?
How shouldn't I, when I was present all the while ?
Did you ever hear of any thing falling out so fortunately for any one?
Never.
And, so may the Gods prosper me, I do not now rejoice so much on my own account as hers, whom I know to be deserving of any honor.
I believe it: but now, Clinia, come, attend to me in my turn. For your friend's business as well,—it must be seen to—that it is placed in a state of security, lest the old gentleman should now come to know any thing about his mistress.
O
Do be quiet.
My Antiphila will be mine.
Do you still interrupt me thus ?
What can I do? My dear Syrus, I'm transported with joy! Do bear with me.
I' faith, I really do bear with you.
We are blest with the life of the Gods.
I'm taking pains to no purpose, I doubt.
Speak; I hear you.
But still you'll not mind it.
I will.
This must be seen to, I say, that your friend's business as well is placed in a state of security. For if you now go away from us, and leave Bacchis here, our old man will immediately come to know that she is Clitipho's mistress; if you take her away with you, it will be concealed just as much as it has been hitherto concealed.
But still, Syrus, nothing can make more against my marriage than this; for with what face am I to address my father about it? You understand what I mean ?
Why not ?
What can I say? What excuse can I make?
Nay, I don't want you to dissemble; tell him the whole case just as it really is.
What is it you say ?
I bid you do this; tell him that you are in love with her, and want her for a wife: that this Bacchis is Clitipho's mistress.
You require a thing that is fair and reasonable, and easy to be done. And I suppose, then, you would have me request my father to keep it a secret from your old man.
On the contrary; to tell him directly the matter just as it is.
What? Are you quite in your senses or sober? Why, you were for ruining him outright. For how could he be in a state of security ? Tell me that.
For my part, I yield the palm to this device. Here I do pride myself exultingly, in having in myself such exquisite resources, and power of address so great, as to deceive them both by telling the truth: so that when your old man tells ours that she is his son's mistress, he'll still not believe him.
But yet, by these means you again cut off all hopes of my marriage; for as long as Chremes believes that she is my mistress, he'll not give me his daughter. Perhaps you care little what becomes of me, so long as you provide for him.
What the plague, do you suppose I want this pretense to be kept up for an age ? 'Tis but for a single day, only till I have secured the money: you be quiet; I ask no more.
Is that sufficient? If his father should come to know of it, pray, what then?
What if I have recourse to those who say, " What now if the sky were to
fall?"If the sky were to fall
: He means
those who create unnecessary difficulties in their imagination.
Colman quotes the following remark from Patrick: "There is a
remarkable passage in Arrian's Account of Alexander, lib. iv., where
he tells us that some embassadors from the Celtae, being asked by
Alexander what in the world they dreaded most, answered, ' That they
feared lest the sky should fall [upon them].' Alexander, who
expected to hear himself named, was surprised at an answer which
signified that they thought themselves beyond the reach of all human
power, plainly implying that nothing could hurt them, unless he
would suppose impossibilities, or a total destruction of nature."
Aristotle, in his Physics, B. iv., informs us that it was the early
notion of ignorant nations that the sky was supported on the
shoulders of Atlas, and that when he let go of it, it would
fall.
I'm afraid to go about it.
You, afraid! As if it was not in your power to clear yourself at any time you like, and discover the whole matter.
Well, well; let Bacchis be brought over to our house.
Capital! she is coming out of doors.