My daughter's nurse
: Among the ancients, it was the custom for nurses who had brought up children to remain with them in after-life.
Mentioning my name, too?
Look round at me.
No.
Do you deny it?
Why? Pray, are you not the person you always used to say you were?
Hush!
Why are you afraid about that door?
I' faith, that's the very reason why we, wretched creatures, have never been able to find you out here.
Well, but tell me, what business have you with that family from whose house you were coming out? Where are the ladies?Where are the ladies?
: "Ubi illae?" literally, "Where are these women?"
Ah, wretched me!
Hah! What's the matter? Are they still alive?
Your daughter is alive. Her poor mother died of grief.
An unfortunate thing!
As for me, being a lone old woman, in want, and unknown, I contrived, as well as I could, to get the young woman married to the young man who is master of this house
What! to Antipho?
The very same, I say.
What? Has he got two wives?
Dear no, prithee, he has only got this one.
What about the other one that's called his relative?
Why, this is she.
What is it you say?
It was done on purpose, in order that her lover might be enabled to marry her without a portion.
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! How often do those things come about through accident, which you couldn't dare to hope for? On my return, I have found my daughter matched with the very person I wished, and just as I wanted; a thing that we were both using our endeavors, with the greatest earnestness, to bring about. Without any very great management on our part, by her own management, she has by herself brought this about.
Now consider what's to be done. The young man's father has returned, and they say that he bears this with feelings highly offended.
There's no danger of that. But, by Gods and men, do take care that no one comes to know that she's my daughter.
No one shall know it from me.
Follow me; in-doors we'll hear the rest.
'Tis caused by our own fault, that it is advantageous to be dishonest; while we wish ourselves to be styled very honest and generous. "So run away as not to run beyond the house,"Run beyond the house
: "Fugias ne printer casam." This passage, has given much trouble to the Commentators; but it is pretty clear that the explanation of Donatus is the correct one: "Don't abandon your own home," that being the safest place. Stallbaum agrees with Gronovius in thinking that it was first applied as a piece of advice to runaway slaves, as being likely to become worse off by the change; probably much in the same spirit as we say, "Out of the frying-pan into the fire."
Most clearly so.
They now get rewarded for it, who confound right with wrong.
Most undoubtedly.
How very foolishly, in fact, we have managed the affair with him!
If by these means we can only manage for him to marry her.
Is that, then, a matter of doubt?
I' faith, judging from what the fellow is, I don't know whether he mightn't change his mind.
How! change it indeed?
I don't know: but "if perhaps," I say.
I'll do as my brother advised me, bring hither his wife, to talk with her. Do you, Geta, go before; tell her that Nausistrata is about to visit her.
The money's been got for Phaedria; it's all hushed about the lawsuit; due care has been taken that she's not to leave for the present. What next, then? What's to be done? You are still sticking in the mud. You are paying by borrowing;Paying by borrowing
: "Versura solvere," was "to pay a debt by borrowing money," and consequently to be no better off than before. Geta having, by the money he has procured, freed Phaedria from all danger of losing his mistress, but at the same time having brought Antipho into still greater danger of losing his wife.Or his talking
: "Ejus" here alludes, not to Nausistrata but to Phormio. Madame Dacier suggests that it should be "hujus."
Come now, Nausistrata, after your usual way, manage to keep her in good-humor with us, and make her do of her own accord what must be done.
I will.
You are now seconding me with your endeavors, just as you assisted me with your moneyWith your money
: Colman observes: "Alluding to the money borrowed of her to pay Phormio; and as Donatus observes in another place, it is admirably contrived, in order to bring about a humorous catastrophe that Chremes should make use of his wife's money on this occasion."
I wish to do so; and yet, i' faith, through the fault of my husband, I am less able than I ought to be.
Why so?
Because, i' faith, he takes such indifferent care of the property that was so industriously acquired by my father; for from those farms he used regularly to receive two talents of silver yearly; there's an instance, how superior one man is to another.
Two talents, pray?
Aye, and when things were much worse, two talents even.
Whew!
What! does this seem surprising?
Of course it does.
I wish I had been born a man; Id have shown—
That I'm quite sure of.
In what way—
Forbear, pray, that you may be able to do battle with her; lest she, being a young woman, may be more than a match for you.
I'll do as you bid me; but I see my husband coming out of your house.
Ha! Demipho, has the money been paid him yet?
I took care immediately.
I wish it hadn't been paid him.
Why do you wish I hadn't, Chremes?
It's all right.
What say you? Have you been letting her know why we are going to bring her?
I've arranged it.
Pray, what does she say?
She can't be got to leave.
Why can't she?
Because they are fond of one another.
What's that to us?
I wonder what all this can be.
For my part, upon my faith, I don't know.
What's the matter?
That you should put so little confidence in me!
Do you wish me to believe you? Do you wish me to consider this as quite certain? Very well, be it so. Well, what's to be done with our friend'sOur friend's
: Chremes himself is so called, to deceive Nausistrata.
She'll do well enough.
Are we to drop her, then?
Why not?
The other one to stop?
Just so.
You may go then, Nausistrata.
I' faith, I think it better for all that she should remain here as it is, than as you first intended; for she seemed to me a very genteel person when I saw her.
What is the meaning of all this?
Now she has.
O Jupiter! the Gods do befriend us; I have found that it is my daughter married to your son.
Ha! How can that possibly be?
This spot is not exactly suited for me to tell it you.
Well then, step in-doors.
Hark, you, I don't wish our sons even to come to know of this.
I'm glad that, however my own affairs go, my brother has succeeded in his wishes. How wise it is to cherish desires of that nature in the mind, that when things run counter, you may easily find a cure for them! He has both got the money, and released himself from care; I, by no method, can extricate myself from these troubles; on the contrary, if the matter is concealed, I am in dread—but if disclosed, in disgrace. Neither should I now go home, were not a hope still presented me of retaining her. But where, I wonder, can I find Geta, that I may ask him what opportunity he would recommend me to take for meeting my father?
But here's Phormio.
About what?
Why—what's Phaedria going to do now? In what way does he say that he intends to take his fill of love?
In his turn, he's going to act your part.
What part?
To run away from his father; he begs that you in your return will act on his behalf—to plead his cause for him. For he's going to carouse at my house. I shall tell the old man that I'm going to Sunium, to the fair, to purchase the female servant that Geta mentioned a while since, so that, when they don't see me here, they mayn't suppose that I'm squandering their money. But there is a noise at the door of your house.
See who's coming out.
It's Geta.
O good luck
: "Fors fortuna," "good fortune;" while "fortuna" merely means "chance."
Throwing my cloak
: When expedition was required, it was usual to throw the ends of the "pallium," or "cloak," over the shoulders.
Geta!
Do you persist? Troth, you shall not on this occasion get the better of me by your annoyance.
You'll be getting a beating.
Assuredly that will befall yourself just now unless you stop, you whip-knave.
This must be some one pretty familiar, threatening me with a beating.
What's the matter?
O being most blessed of all men living! For without question, Antipho, you are the only favorite of the Gods.
So I could wish; but I should like to be told why I'm to believe it is so.
Is it enough if I plunge you into a sea of joy?
You are worrying me to death.
Nay but do have done with your promises, and tell us what you bring.
I am: but why do you delay?
Listen, then. When we just now paid you the money at the Forum, we went straight to Chremes; in the mean time, my master sent me to your wife.
What for?
I'll omit telling you that, as it is nothing to the present purpose, Antipho. Just as I was going to the woman's apartments, the boy Mida came running up to me, and caught me behind by my cloak, and pulled me back; I turned about, and inquired for what reason he stopped me; he said that it was forbidden for any one to go in to his mistress. "Sophrona has just now," said he, "introduced here Chremes, the old gentleman's brother," and he said that he was then in the room with them: when I heard this, on tip-toe I stole softly along; I came there, stood, held my breath, I applied my ear, and so began to listen, catching the conversation every word in this fashion
Well done, Geta.
Here I overheard a very pretty piece of business; so much so that I had nearly cried out for joy.
What was it?
I don't know.
Why, something most marvelous. Your uncle has been discovered to be the father of your wife, Phanium.
He formerly cohabited secretly with her mother at
A dream: how could she be ignorant about her own father?
Be sure, Phormio, that there is some reason: but do you suppose that, outside of the door, I was able to understand every thing that passed between them within?
On my faith, I too have heard the same story.
Aye, and I'll give you still further reason for believing it: your uncle in the mean time came out from there; not long after he returned again, with your father; each said that he gave you permission to retain her; in fine, I've been sent to find you, and bring you to them.
Why then carry me offCarry me off
: Madame Dacier says that Antipho is so rejoiced here at Geta's news, that he jumps upon his shoulders, and is carried off in triumph, which was a sort of stage-trick, and was very diverting to the Audience. On this, Colman observes: "I believe Madame Dacier has not the least foundation for this extraordinary piece of information; and I must confess, that I have too high an opinion, both of the Roman audience and actors, to believe it to be true."
I'll do so.
O my dear Phormio, farewell!
Farewell, Antipho.
So may the Gods bless me, this has turned out luckily. I'm glad of it, that such good fortune has thus suddenly befallen them. I have now an excellent opportunity for diddling the old men, and ridding Phaedria of all anxiety about the money, so that he mayn't be under the necessity of applying to any of his companions. For this same money, as it has been given him, shall be given for good, whether they like it or not: how to force them to this, I've fund out the very way. I must now assume a new air and countenance. But I'll betake myself off to this next alley; from that spot I'll present myself to them, when they come out of doors. I sha'n't go to the fair, where I pretended I was going.