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.