I do give and return hearty thanks to the Gods, and with reason, brother, inasmuch as these matters have turned out for us so fortunately. We must now meet with Phormio as soon as possible, before he squanders our thirty minae, so that we may get them from him.
I'll go see if Demipho's at home; that as to whatThat as to what
: Lemaire suggests that he is about to say: "that as to what was agreed upon between us, I may take home this young woman, and make her my wife."
Perhaps about the very same affair.
Is she not genteel-looking
: Patrick has the following note here: "One can not conceive any thing more happy or just than these words of Chremes. Demipho's thoughts are wholly taken up how to recover the money, and Phormio is equally solicitous to retain it; but Chremes, who had just left his daughter, is regardless of their discourse, and fresh from the impressions which she had made on him, longs to know if his brother's sentiments of her were equally favorable, and naturally puts this paternal question to him."
Very much so.
And this is what I'm come to tell you, Demipho, that I'm quite ready; whenever you please, give me my wife. For I postponed all my other business, as was fit I should, when I understood that you were so very desirous to have it so.
Upon my faith, you are treating me in a very insulting manner.
How so?
Do you ask me? Because I shall not be able to marry the other person I mentioned; for with what face shall I return to her whom I've slighted?
Then besides, I see that Antipho is unwilling to part with her.
Then besides, I see that my son is very unwilling to part with the damsel. But have the goodness to step over to the Forum, and order this money to be transferred to my account,Transferred to my account
: "Rescribere argentum," or "nummos," meant "to transfer," or "set down money to the account of another person in one's banker's books." A passage in the Asinaria of Plautus, l. 445, seems to have the same meaning.
What, when I've paid it over to the persons to whom I was indebted?
What's to be done, then?
If you will let me have her for a wife, as you promised, I'll take her; but if you prefer that she should stay with you, the portion must stay with me, Demipho. For it isn't fair that I should be misled for you, as it was for your own sakes that I broke off with the other woman, who was to have brought me a portion just as large.
Away with you to utter perdition, with this swaggering, you vagabond. What, then, do you fancy we don't know you, or your doings?
You are provoking me.
Would you have married her, if she had been given to you?
Try the experiment.
That my son might cohabit with her at your house, that was your design.
Pray, what is that you say?
Then do you give me my money?
Nay, but do you give me my wife?
Come before a magistrate.
Why, really, if you persist in being troublesome—
What will you do?
What, I? You fancy, perhaps, just now, that I am the protector of the portionless; for the well portioned,For the well portioned
: Though Colman thinks otherwise, it is pretty clear that he alludes to Nausistrata in these words.
What's that to us?
What's the matter?
Another wife at
By whom he had a daughter; and her he is secretly bringing up.
This I shall assuredly now inform her of.
What a jest he's making of us.
Nonsense.
What would you have? We'll forgive you the money you've got,
I hear you. Why the plague, then, do you two trifle with me in this way, you silly men, with your childish speeches—"I won't, and I will; I will, and I won't," over again: "keep it, give it me back; what has been said, is unsaid; what had been just a bargain, is now no bargain."
To be carrying off
: Patrick has the following note here: "The different characters of the two brothers are admirably preserved throughout this Scene. Chremes stands greatly in awe of his wife, and will submit to any thing rather than the story should come to her ears; but Demipho can not brook the thoughts of losing so much money, and encourages his brother to behave with spirit and resolution, promising to make up matters between him and his wife."
Dlead and gone
: "E medio excedere," was an Euphemism signifying "to die," which it was deemed of ill omen to mention.
I know; let's go into court.
Into court? Here in preference
Sue him at law, then.
And another with you, Chremes.
Lay hold of him.
Is it thus you do? Why then I must exert my voice: Nausistrata, come out
See how strong the rascal is.
Will you not hold your tongue?
Hold my tongue?
Or e'en gouge out an eye. The time's coming when I shall have a full revenge on you.
Who calls my name?
My husband, pray what means this disturbance?
Who is this man? Won't you answer me?
What, he to answer you? who, upon my faith, doesn't know where he is.
'Tis nothing at all.
What is it, then, that this person is talking about?
You shall know directly; listen now.
Are you resolved to believe him?
Pray, how can I believe him, when he has told me nothing?
The poor creature is distracted from fright.
It isn't for nothing, i' faith, that you are in such a fright.
What, I in a fright?
Villain, is he to relate it at your request?
My husband, will you not tell me?
But—
But what?
There's no need to tell you.
Not for you, indeed; but there's need for her to know it. At
Ah me!
He married another—
My dear sir, may the Gods forbid it!
Such is the fact.
Wretch that I am, I'm undone!
And had a daughter by her, too, while you never dreamed of it.
What are we to do?
O immortal Gods!—a disgraceful and a wicked misdeed!
Was ever any thing now more ungenerously done? Your men, who, when they come to their wives, then become incapacitated from old age.
Demipho, I appeal to you; for with that man it is irksome for me to speak. Were these those frequent journeys and long visits at
Nausistrata, I don't deny that in this matter he has been deserving of censure; but still, it may be pardoned.
For he did this neither through neglect or aversion to yourself. About fifteen years since, in a drunken fit, he had an intrigue with this poor woman, of whom this girl was born, nor did he ever touch her afterward. She is dead and gone: the only difficulty that remained in this matter. Wherefore, I do beg of you, that, as in other things, you'll bear this with patience.
Why should I with patience? I could wish, afflicted as I am, that there were an end now of this matter. But how can I hope? Am I to suppose that, at his age, he will not offend in future? Was he not an old man then, if old age makes people behave themselves decently? Are my looks and my age more attractive now, Demipho? What do you advance to me, to make me expect or hope that this will not happen any more?
Those who have
: He here uses the terms which it was customary to employ in the celebration of a public funeral. See also the form of proclaiming an auction, at the end of the Menaechmi of Plautus.Have him victimized
: "Mactatus" was the term applied to the pouring of wine and frankincense on the victim about to be sacrificed, on which it was said to be "magis auctus," "increased," or "amplified;" which, in time, became corrupted into the word "mactatus," or "mactus."
But it was because I deserved this, I suppose; why should I now, Demipho, make mention of each particular, how I have conducted myself toward him?
I know it all, as well as yourself.
Does it appear, then, that I deserved this treatment?
Far from it: but since, by reproaching, it can not now be undone, forgive him: he entreats you—he begs your pardon—owns his fault—makes an apology. What would you have more?
What's the matter?
I got out of him thirty minae by a stratagem. I give them to your son; he paid them to a Procurer for his mistress.
Ha! what is it you say?
He shall do as you wish.
Nay, that you may now know my determination, I neither forgive nor promise any thing, nor give any answer, before I see my son: to his decision I leave every thing. What he bids me, I shall do.
You are a wise woman, Nausistrata.
Does that satisfy you, Chremes?
Yes, indeed, I come off well, and fully to my satisfaction; indeed, beyond my expectation.
What, mine? Phormio; a well-wisher to your family, upon my honor, and to your son Phaedria in particular.
Then, Phormio, on my word, henceforward I'll both do and say for you all I can, and whatever you may desire.
You speak obligingly.
I' faith, it is as you deserve.
First, then, will you do this, Nausistrata, at once, to please me, and to make your husband's eyes ache with vexation?
With all my heart.
Invite me to dinner.
Assuredly indeed, I do invite you.
Let us now away in-doors.
By all means; but where is Phaedria, our arbitrator?
I'll have him here just now. Grant us your applause
: Thus concludes the last, and certainly not the least meritorious of the Plays of our Author; indeed, for genuine comic spirit, it may challenge comparison with the Eunuch, which is in general considered to be the best.
Assuredly there is a God, who both hears and sees what we do. And I do not consider that to be true which is commonly said: "Fortune frames and fashions the affairs of mankind, just as she pleases."
O welcome, my friend; O most delightful Phormio, welcome ! There's not a person in all the world I could more wish just now to meet than yourself.
Pray, tell me what is the matter.
Aye, faith, I have to beg of you, that you will listen to it. My Pamphila is a citizen of
What is it you tell me? Are you dreaming, pray?
Upon my faith, I'm saying what's true.
Yes, and this, too, is a true saying: " You'll have no great difficulty in believing that to be true, which you greatly wish to be so."
Nay, but do listen, I beg of you, to all the wonderful things I have to tell you of. It was while thinking of this to myself, that I just now burst forth into those expressions which you heard—that we, and what relates to us, are ruled by the sanction of the Gods, and not by blind chance.
I've been for some time in a state of suspense.
Do you know Phanocrates?
As well as I do yourself.
The rich man?
I understand.
He is the father of Pamphila. Not to detain you, these were the circumstances: Calchas was his servant, a worthless, wicked fellow. Intending to run away from the house, he carried off this girl, whom her father was bringing up in the country, then five years old, and, secretly taking her with him to Eubaea, sold her to Lycus, a merchant. This person, a long time after, sold her, when now grown up, to Dorio. She, however, knew that she was the daughter of parents of rank, inasmuch as she recollected herself being attended and trained up by female servants: the name of her parents she didn't recollect.
How, then, were they discovered?
Stay; I was coming to that. This runaway was caught yesterday, and sent back to Phanocrates: he related the wonderful circumstances I have mentioned about the girl, and how she was sold to Lycus, and afterward to Dorio. Phanocrates sent immediately, and claimed his daughter; but when he learned that she had been sold, he came running to me.
O, how extremely fortunate!
Phanocrates has no objection to my marrying her; nor has my father, I imagine.
Trust me for that; I'll have all this matter managed for you; Phormio has so arranged it, that you shall not be a suppliant to your father, but his judge.
You are joking.
So it is, I tell you. Do you only give me the thirty minae which Dorio—
You put me well in mind; I understand you; you may have them; for he must give them back, as the law forbids a free woman to be sold; and, on my faith, I do rejoice that an opportunity is afforded me of rewarding you, and taking a hearty vengeance upon him; a monster of a fellow he has feelings more hardened than iron.
Now, Phaedria, I return you thanks; I'll make you a return upon occasion, if ever I have the opportunity. You impose a heavy task upon me, to be contending with you in good offices, as I can not in wealth; and in affection and zeal, I must repay you what I owe. To be surpassed in deserving well, is a disgrace to a man of principle.
Services badly bestowed, I take to be disservices. But I do not know any person more grateful and more mindful of a service than yourself. What is it you were just now mentioning about my father?
There are many particulars, which at present I have not the opportunity to relate. Let's go in-doors, for Nausistrata has invited me to dinner, and I'm afraid we may keep them waiting.
Very well; follow me.