.
Parmeno, you make your appearance opportunely; run with all
speed'Run with all speed
: Donatus
remarks, that Parmeno is drawn as being of a lazy and inquisitive
character; and that Terence, therefore, humorously contrives to keep
him always on the move, and in total ignorance of what is going
on.
Why thither?
Say that I entreat him to come.
To your house?
to Philumena.
What's the matter?
Nothing that concerns you; so cease to make inquiry.
Am I to say nothing else?
Yes; that Myrrhina has recognized that ring as her daughter's, which he formerly gave me.
I understand-is that all?
That's all. He will be here directly he has heard this from you. But do you linger?
Far from it, indeed; for I've not had the opportunity given me to-day;
so much with running and walking about have I wasted the whole day.
What great joy have I caused for Pamphilus by my coming to-day! How many
blessings have I brought him! and from how many sorrows have I rescued
him! A son I save for him, when it was nearly perishing through the
agency of these women and of himself: a wife, whom he thought that he
must cast off forever, I restore to him: from the suspicion that he lay
under with his father and Phidippus, I have cleared him. This ring, in
fact, was the cause of these discoveries being made. For I remember,
that about ten months ago, at an early hour of night, he came running
home to my house, out of breath, without a companion, and surcharged
with wine,Surcharged with wine
: Cooke has
this remark here: "I suppose that this is the best excuse the Poet
could make for the young gentleman's being guilty of felony and rape
at the same time. In this speech, the incident is related on which
the catastrophe of the Play turns, which incident is a very
barbarous one, and attended with more than one absurdity, though it
is the occasion of an agreeable discovery."
Once more, take care, will you, my dear Parmeno, that you have brought me a faithful and distinct account, so as not to allure me for a short time to indulge in these transient joys.
I have taken care.
For certain?
For certain.
I am quite a God, if it is so!
You'll find it true.
Just stay, will you; I fear that I'm believing one thing, and you are telling another.
I am staying.
I think you said to this effect—that Myrrhina had discovered that Bacchis has her ring.
It is the fact.
The one I formerly gave to her; and she has desired you to tell me this: is such the fact?
Such is so, I tell you.
Who is there happier than I, and, in fact, more full of joyousness? What am I to present you for these tidings? What?—what? I know not.
But I know.
What?
Why, nothing; for neither in the tidings nor in myself do I know of there being any advantage to you.
What! am I to suffer you, who have caused me, when dead, to be restored from the shades to life—to leave me unrewarded? Oh, you deem me too thankless! But look—I see Bacchis standing before the door; she's waiting for me, I suppose; I'll accost her.
Save you, Pamphilus!
Oh Bacchis! Oh my Bacchis—my preserver!
It is a fortunate thing, and gives me great delight.
By your actions, you give me reason to believe you, and so much do you retain your former charming qualities, that wherever you go, the meeting with you, your company, your conversation, always give pleasure.
And you, upon my word, possess your former manners and disposition; so much so that not a single man living is more engaging than you.
You had reason, Pamphilus, for being so fond of your wife. For never before to-day did I set eyes upon her, so as to know her: she seems a very gentle person.
Tell the truth.
So may the Gods bless me, Pamphilus!
Tell me, have you as yet told any of these matters to my father?
BACCH. Not a word.
Nor is there need, in fact; therefore keep it a secret: I don't wish it
to be the case here as it is in the Comedies,In the
Comedies
: Madame Dacier observes on this passage:
"Terence here, with reason, endeavors to make the most of a
circumstance peculiar to his Play. In other Comedies, every body,
Actors as well as Spectators, are at last equally acquainted with
the whole intrigue and catastrophe, and it would even be a defect in
the plot were there any obscurity remaining. But Terence, like a
true genius, makes himself superior to rules, and adds new beauties
to his piece by forsaking them. His reasons for concealing from part
of the personages of the Drama the principal incident of the plot,
are so plausible and natural, that he could not have followed the
beaten track without offending against manners and decency. This
bold and uncommon turn is one of the chief graces of the
Play."
Nay more, I will give you a proof why you may suppose that this may be the more easily concealed. Myrrhina has told Phidippus to this effect—that she has given credit to my oath, and that, in consequence, in her eyes you are exculpated.
Most excellent; and I trust that this matter will turn out according to our wishes.
Master, may I not be allowed to know from you what is the good that I have done to-day, or what it is you are talking about?
You may not.
Still I suspect. "I restore him, when dead, from the shades
below."From the shades below
: Parmeno
says this, while pondering upon the meaning of all that is going on,
and thereby expresses his impatience to become acquainted with it.
He therefore repeats what Pamphilus has before said in the twelfth
line of the present Act, about his having been restored from death
to life by his agency.
You don't know, Parmeno, how much you have benefited me to-day, and from what troubles you have extricated me.
Nay, but indeed I do know: and I did not do it without design.
I know that well enough
Could Parmeno, from negligence, omit any thing that ought to be done?
Follow me in, Parmeno.
Ill follow; for my part, I have done more good to-day, without knowing
it, than ever I did, knowingly, in all my life. Your
applause
: We may here remark, that the Hecyra is the
only one of the Plays of Terence with a single plot.