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.
To a very fine purpose
: " Satis
pol proterve," &c. C. Laelius was said to have assisted
Terence in the composition of his Plays, and in confirmation of
this, the following story is told by Cornelius Nepos: " C. Laelius,
happening to pass the Matronalia [a Festival on the first of March,
when the husband, for once in the year, was bound to obey the wife]
at his villa near
They're asleep
:
"Dormiunt." This is clearly used figuratively, though Hedelin
interprets it literally.
I heard of it.
Farm here on the right-hand side
:
Cooke suggests that the Poet makes Bacchis call the house of
Charinus "villa," and that of Chremes "fundus" (which signifies " a
farm-house," or "farm"), for the purpose of exalting the one and
depreciating the other in the hearing of Syrus.
I remember.
The feast of
: This passage goes far to prove
that the Dionysia here mentioned as being celebrated, were those
Why, the money's ready.
Why, then I'll stay.
And it will be given you presently.
Just when you please; do I press you ?
But do you know what you are to do, pray?
What ?
You must now go over to the house of Menedemus, and your equipage must be taken over thither.
What scheme are you upon, you rascal?
What, I ? Coining money to give you.
Do you think me a proper person for you to play upon ?
It's not without a purpose.
O no; I'm only going to give you what's your own.
Then let's be going.Let's be going
:
Colman here remarks to
the following effect: "There is some difficulty in this and the next
speech in the original, and the Commentators have been puzzled to
make sense of them. It seems to me that the Poet's intention is no
more than this: Bacchis expresses some reluctance to act under the
direction of Syrus, but is at length prevailed on, finding that he
can by those means contrive to pay her the money which he has
promised her."
Follow this way.
Who is it wants me ?
Syrus.
What's the matter?
Take over all the attendants of Bacchis to your house here immediately.
Why so?
Ask no questions. Let them take what they brought here with them. The old gentleman will hope his expenses are lightened by their departure; for sure he little knows how much loss this trifling gain will bring him. You, Dromo, if you are wise, know nothing of what you do know.
You shall own that I'm dumb.
Syrus.
Well.
How go matters ?
I've been wishing for some time for you to be thrown in my way.
YOU seem, then, to have effected something, I know not what, with the old gentleman.
As to what we were talking of a short time since? No sooner said than done.
In real earnest ?
In real.
Upon my faith, I can not forbear patting your head for it. Come here,
Syrus; I'll do you some good turn for this matter, and with pleasure.
But if you knew how cleverly it came into my head—
Pshaw! Do you boast because it has turned out according to your wishes
On my word, not I, indeed; I am telling the truth.
Tell me how it is.
Clinia has told Menedemus, that this Bacchis is your Clitipho's mistress, and that he has taken her thither with him in order that you might not come to know of it.
Very good.
Tell me, please, what you think of it.
Extremely good, I declare.
Why yes, pretty fair. But listen, what a piece of policy still remains. He is then to say that he has seen your daughter—that her beauty charmed him as soon as he beheld her; and that he desires her for a wife.
What, her that has just been discovered ?
The same; and, in fact, he'll request that she may be asked for.
For what purpose, Syrus? For I don't altogether comprehend it.
O dear, you are so dull.
Perhaps so.
Money will be given him for the wedding—with which golden trinkets and clothes—do you understand me?
To buy them—?
Just so.
But I neither give nor betroth my daughter to him.
But why?
Why, do you ask me? To a fellow—
Just as you please. I don't mean that in reality you should give her to him, but that you should pretend it.
Pretending is not in my way; do you mix up these plots of yours, so as not to mix me up in them. Do you think that I'll betroth my daughter to a person to whom I will not marry her?
I imagined so.
By no means.
It might have been cleverly managed; and I under-took this affair for the very reason, that a short time since you so urgently requested it.
I believe you.
But for my part, Chremes, I take it well and good, either way.
But still, I especially wish you to do your best for it to be brought about; but in some other way.
It shall be done: some other method must be thought of; but as to what I
was telling you of,—about the money which she owes to Bacchis,—that
must now be repaid her. And you will not, of course, now be having
recourse to this method; "What have I to do with it? Was it lent to me?
Did I give any orders? Had she the power to pawn my daughter without my
consent?" They quote that saying, Chremes, with good reason, " Riorous
lawRigorous law
:
I will not do so.
On the contrary, though others were at liberty, you are not at liberty; all think that you are in good and very easy circumstances.
Nay rather, I'll at once carry it to her myself.
Why no; request your son in preference.
For what reason?
Why, because the suspicion of being in love with her has been transferred to him with Menedemus.
What then?
Because it will seem to be more like probability when he gives it her; and at the same time I shall effect more easily what I wish. Here he comes too; go, and bring out the money.
I'll bring it.
Will you not away with you—to where you deserve? How nearly had your forwardness proved my ruin!
Upon my faith, I wish it had been so; just what you deserve.
Deserve? How so? Really, I'm glad that I've heard this from you before you had the money which I was just going to give you.
What then would you have me to say to you? You've made a fool of me; brought my mistress hither, whom I'm not allowed to touch—
Well, I'm not angry then. But do you know where Bacchis is just now?
At our house.
No.
Where then?
At Clinia's.
I'm ruined!
Be of good heart; you shall presently carry to her the money that you promised her.
You do prate away.—Where from?
From your own father.
Perhaps you are joking with me.
The thing itself will prove it.
Indeed, then, I am a lucky man. Syrus, I do love you from my heart.
But your father's coming out. Take care not to express surprise at any thing, for what reason it is done; give way at the proper moment; do what he orders, and say but little.
Where's Clitipho now?
Here am I.
I've told him pretty well every thing.
Take this money, and carry it.
Very well, give it me.
Are sanctioned by custom
: He
inveighs, perhaps justly, against the tyranny of custom; but in
selecting this occasion for doing so, he does not manifest any great
affection for his newly-found daughter.