Chremes, you are the very person I wanted; preserve, so far as in you lies, my son, myself, and my family.
Tell me what you would have me do.
You have this day found a daughter.
What then?
Clinia wishes her to be given him for a wife.
Prithee, what kind of a person are you?
Why?
Have you already forgotten what passed between us, concerning a scheme, that by that method some money might be got out of you?
I remember.
That self-same thing they are now about.
What do you tell me, Chremes? Why surely, this Courtesan, who is at my house, is Clitipho's mistress.
So they say, and you believe it all; and they say that he is desirous of a wife, in order that, when I have betrothed her, you may give him money, with which to provide gold trinkets and clothing, and other things that are requisite.
That is it, no doubt; that money will be given to his mistress.
Of course it is to be given.
Alas! in vain then, unhappy man, have I been overjoyed; still however, I had rather any thing than be deprived of him. What answer now shall I report from you, Chremes, so that he may not perceive that I have found it out, and take it to heart?
To heart, indeed! you are too indulgent to him, Menedemus.
Let me go on; I have now begun: assist me in this throughout, Chremes.
Say then, that you have seen me, and have treated about the marriage.
I'll say so—what then?
That I will do every thing; that as a son-in-law he meets my approbation; in fine, too, if you like, tell him also that she has been promised him.
Well, that's what I wanted—
That he may the sooner ask of you, and you may as soon as possible give him what you wish.
It is my wish.
Assuredly, before very long, according as I view this matter, you'll have enough of him. But, however that may be, if you are wise, you'll give to him cautiously, and a little at a time.
I'll do so.
Go in-doors and see how much he requires. I shall be at home, if you should want me for any thing.
I certainly do want you; for I shall let you know whatever I do.
Assistant, prompter, and director
:
The three terms here used are borrowed from the stage. "Adjutor" was
the person who assisted the performers either by voice or gesture;
"monitor" was the prompter; and "praemonstrator" was the person who
in the rehearsal trained the actor in his part.Dolt post, ass
: There is a similar passage in the
Bacchides of Plautus, 1. 1087. "Whoever there are in any place
whatsoever, whoever have been, and whoever shall be in time to come,
fools, blockheads, idiots, dolts, sots, oafs, lubbers, I singly by
far exceed them all in folly and absurd ways."
Hold now, do, wife, leave off dinning the Gods with thanksgivings that your daughter has been discovered; unless you judge of them by your own disposition, and think that they understand nothing, unless the same thing has been told them a hundred times. But, in the mean time, why does my son linger there so long with Syrus?
What persons do you say are lingering?
Ha! Menedemus, you have come opportunely. Tell me, have you told Clinia what I said?
Every thing.
What did he say?
He began to rejoice, just like people do who wish to be married.
Why are you laughing?
The sly tricks of my servant, Syrus, just came into my mind.
Did they?
The rogue can even mould the countenances of people.
That my son is pretending that he is overjoyed, is it that you mean?
Just so.
The very same thing came into my mind.
A crafty knave!
Still more would you think such to be the fact, if you knew more.
Do you say so?
Do you give attention then?
Just stop—first I want to know this, what money you have squandered; for when you told your son that she was promised, of course Dromo would at once throw in a word that golden jewels, clothes, and attendants would be needed for the bride, in order that you might give the money.
No.
How, no?
No, I tell you.
Nor yet your son himself?
Not in the slightest, Chremes. He was only the more pressing on this one point, that the match might be concluded to-day.
You say what's surprising. What did my servant Syrus do? Didn't even he say any thing?
Nothing at all.
For what reason, I don't know.
For my part, I wonder at that, when you know other things so well. But
this same Syrus has moulded your son,Has moulded your
son
: "Mire finxit." He sarcastically uses the same word,
"fingo," which Chremes himself employed in 1. 887.
What do you say?
Not to mention, then, their kissing and embracing; that I count nothing.
What more could be done to carry on the cheat?
Pshaw!
What do you mean?
Only listen. In the inner part of my house there is a certain room at the back; into this a bed was brought, and was made up with bed-clothes.
What took place after this?
No sooner said than done, thither went Clitipho.
Alone?
Alone.
I'm alarmed.
Bacchis followed directly.
Alone?
Alone.
I'm undone!
When they had gone into the room, they shut the door.
Well—did Clinia see all this going on?
How shouldn't he? He was with me.
Bacchis is my son's mistress, Menedemus I'm undone.
Why so?
I have hardly substance to suffice for ten days.Substance
to suffice for ten days
: "Familia" here means
"property," as producing sustenance. Colman, however, has translated the passage: "Mine
is scarce a ten-days' family."
What! are you alarmed at it, because he is paying attention to his friend?
His "she-friend" rather.His she-friend rather
:
Menedemus speaks of "amico," a male friend, which Chremes plays upon
by saying "amicae," which literally meant a she-friend, and was the
usual name by which decent people called a mistress.
If he really is paying it.
Is it a matter of doubt to you? Do you suppose that there is any person of so accommodating and tame a spirit as to suffer his own mistress, himself looking on, to—
Do you laugh at me? You have good reason. How angry I now am with myself! How many things gave proof, whereby, had I not been a stone, I might have been fully sensible of this? What was it I saw? Alas! wretch that I am! But assuredly they shall not escape my vengeance if I live; for this instant—
Can you not contain yourself? Have you no respect for yourself? Am I not a sufficient example to you?
For very anger, Menedemus, I am not myself.
For you to talk in that manner! Is it not a shame for you to be giving advice to others, to show wisdom abroad and yet be able to do nothing for yourself?
What shall I do?
That which you said I failed to do: make him sensible that you are his
father; make him venture to intrust every thing to you, to seek and to
ask of you; so that he may look for no other resources and forsake
you.And forsake you
: Madame Dacier observes
here, that one of the great beauties of this Scene consists in
Chremes retorting on Menedemus the very advice given by himself at
the beginning of the Play.
Nay, I had much rather he would go any where in the world, than by his debaucheries here reduce his father to beggary! For if I go on supplying his extravagance, Menedemus, in that case my circumstances will undoubtedly be soon reduced to the level of your rake.
What evils you will bring upon yourself in this affair, if you don't act with caution! You'll show yourself severe, and still pardon him at last; that too with an ill grace.
Ah! you don't know how vexed I am.
Just as you please. What about that which I desire—that she may be married to my son? Unless there is any other step that you would prefer.
On the contrary, both the son-in-law and the connection are to my taste.
What portion shall I say that you have named for your daughter? Why are you silent?
Portion?
I say so.
Alas!
Chremes, don't be at all afraid to speak, if it is but a small one. The portion is no consideration at all with us.
I did think that two talents were sufficient, according to my means. But if you wish me to be saved, and my estate and my son, you must say to this effect, that I have settled all my property on her as her portion.
What scheme are you upon?
Pretend that you wonder at this, and at the same time ask him the reason why I do so.
Why, really, I can't conceive the reason for your doing so.
Why do I do so? To check his feelings, which are now hurried away by luxury and wantonness, and to bring him down so as not to know which way to turn himself.
What is your design?
Let me alone, and give me leave to have my own way in this matter.
I do give you leave: is this your desire
It is so.
Then be it so.
And now let your son prepare to fetch the bride. The other one shall be schooled in such language as befits children. But Syrus—
What of him?
What? If I live, I will have him so handsomely dressed, so well combed
out, that he shall always remember me as long as he lives; to imagine
that I'm to be a laughing-stock and a plaything for him! So may the Gods
bless me! he would not have dared to do to a widow-woman the things
which he has done to me.Which he has done to me
:
Colman has the
following Note: "The departure of Menedemus here is very abrupt,
seeming to be in the midst of a conversation; and his re-entrance
with Clitipho, already supposed to be apprised of what has passed
between the two old gentlemen, is equally precipitate. Menage
imagines that some verses are lost here. Madame Dacier strains hard
to defend the Poet, and fills up the void of time by her old
expedient of making the Audience wait to see Chremes walk
impatiently to and fro, till a sufficient time is elapsed for
Menedemus to have given Clitipho a summary account of the cause of
his father's anger. The truth is, that a too strict observance of
the unity of place will necessarily produce such absurdities; and
there are several other instances of the like nature in
Terence."
Prithee, is it really the fact, Menedemus, that my father can, in so short a space of time, have cast off all the natural affection of a parent for me? For what crime? What so great enormity have I, to my misfortune, committed? Young men generally do the same.
I am aware that this must be much more harsh and severe to you, on whom it falls; but yet I take it no less amiss than you. How it is so I know not, nor can I account for it, except that from my heart I wish you well.
Did not you say that my father was waiting here?
See, here he is.
Why are you blaming me, Clitipho? Whatever I have done in this matter, I
had a view to you and your imprudence. When I saw that you were of a
careless disposition, and held the pleasures of the moment of the first
importance, and did not look forward to the future, I took measures that
you might neither want nor be able to waste this which I have. When,
through your own conduct, it was not allowed me to give it you, to whom
I ought before all, I had recourse to those who were your nearest
relations; to them I have made over and intrusted every thing.Intrusted every thing
: This is an early instance of a
trusteeship and a guardianship.
Ah me!
It is better than that, you being my heir, Bacchis should possess this estate of mine.
Would I were dead!
Prithee, first learn what it is to live. When you know that, if life displeases you, then try the other.
Master, may I be allowed—?
Say on.
But may I safely?
Say on.
What injustice or what madness is this, that that in which I have offended, should be to his detriment?
It's all over.It's all over
: "Ilicet,"
literally, "you may go away." This was the formal word with which
funeral ceremonies and trials at law were concluded.Look out for an altar
:
He alludes to the practice of slaves taking refuge at altars when
they had committed any fault, and then suing for pardon through a
"precator" or "mediator." See the Mostellaria of Plautus, 1. 1074,
where Tranio takes refuge at the altar from the vengeance of his
master, Theuropides.
What is your design?
I am not at all angry either with you,
He's gone. I wish I had asked him—
What, Syrus?
Where I am to get my subsistence; he has so utterly cast us adrift. You are to have it, for the present, at your sister's, I find.
Has it then come to this pass, Syrus—that I am to be in danger even of starving?
So we only live, there's hope—
What hope?
That we shall be hungry enough.
Do you jest in a matter so serious, and not give me any assistance with your advice?
On the contrary, I'm both now thinking of that, and have been about it all the time your father was speaking just now; and so far as I can perceive—
What?
It will not be wanting long.
What is it, then?
It is this—I think that you are not their son.
How's that, Syrus? Are you quite in your senses?
I'll tell you what's come into my mind; be you the judge. While they had you alone, while they had no other source of joy more nearly to affect them, they indulged you, they lavished upon you. Now a daughter has been found, a pretense has been found in fact on which to turn you adrift.
It's very probable.
Do you suppose that he is so angry on account of this fault?
I do not think so.
Now consider another thing. All mothers are wont to be advocates for their sons when in fault, and to aid them against a father's severity; 'tis not so here.
You say true; what then shall I now do, Syrus?
Question them on this suspicion; mention the matter without reserve; either, if it is not true, you'll soon bring them both to compassion, or else you'll soon find out whose son you are.
You give good advice; I'll do so.
Really, sir, if you don't take care, you'll be causing some mischief to your son; and indeed I do wonder at it, my husband, how anything so foolish could ever come into your head.
Oh, you persist in being the woman? Did I ever wish for any one thing in all my life, Sostrata, but that you were my contradicter on that occasion? And yet if I were now to ask you what it is that I have done amiss, or why you act thus, you would not know in what point you are now so obstinately opposing me in your folly.
I, not know?
Yes, rather, I should have said you do know; inasmuch as either
expression amounts to the same thing.Amounts to the same
thing
: "Quam quidem redit ad integrum eadem oratio;"
meaning, "it amounts to one and the same thing," or, "it is all the
same thing," whether you do or whether you don't know.
Alas! you are unreasonable to expect me to be silent in a matter of such importance.
I don't expect it; talk on then, I shall still do it not a bit the less.
Will you do it?
Certainly.
Don't you see how much evil you will be causing by that course?—He suspects himself to be a foundling.
Do you say so?
Assuredly it will be so.
Admit it.
Hold now—prithee, let that be for our enemies. Am I to admit that he is not my son who really is?
What! are you afraid that you can not prove that he is yours, whenever you please?
Because my daughter has been found?Because my daughter has
been found
: This sentence has given much trouble to the
Commentators. Colman has
the following just remarks upon it: "Madame Dacier, as well as all
the rest of the Commentators, has stuck at these words. Most of them
imagine she means to say, that the discovery of Antiphila is a plain
proof that she is not barren. Madame Dacier supposes that she
intimates such a proof to be easy, because Clitipho and Antiphila
were extremely alike; which sense she thinks immediately confirmed
by the answer of Chremes. I can not agree with any of them, and
think that the whole difficulty of the passage here, as in many
other places, is entirely of their own making. Sostrata could not
refer to the reply of Chremes, because she could not possibly tell
what it would be; but her own speech is intended as an answer to his
preceding one, which she takes as a sneer on her late wonderful
discovery of a daughter; imagining that he means to insinuate that
she could at any time with equal ease make out the proofs of the
birth of her son. The elliptical mode of expression so usual with
Terence, together with the refinements of Commentators, seem to have
created all the obscurity."
No; but for a reason why it should be much sooner believed—because he is just like you in disposition, you will easily prove that he is your child; for he is exactly like you; why, he has not a single vice left him but you have just the same. Then, besides, no woman could have been the mother of such a son but yourself. But he's coming out of doors, and how demure! When you understand the matter, you may form your own conclusions.
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.