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Read Ebook: The Comedies of Terence by Terence Colman George Translator
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Ebook has 2807 lines and 53256 words, and 57 pages
. SIMO. PAMPHILUS. CHREMES. CHARINUS. CRITO. SOSIA. DAVUS. BYRRHIA. DROMO. SERVANTS, ETC.
GLYCERIUM. MYSIS. LESBIA. ARCHYLLIS.
SCENE, ATHENS.
ACT THE FIRST.
SIMO. Carry those things in: go! You have, you know, Prescrib'd a term to all these things yourself. The time is near at hand, when I must live According to the humor of another. Meanwhile, permit me now to please my own!"
SOSIA. What cause remains to chide him then?
SIMO. If he Refuses, on account of this amour, To take a wife, such obstinate denial Must be considered as his first offense. Wherefore I now, from this mock-nuptial, Endeavor to draw real cause to chide: And that same rascal Davus, if he's plotting, That he may let his counsel run to waste, Now, when his knaveries can do no harm: Who, I believe, with all his might and main Will strive to cross my purposes; and that More to plague me, than to oblige my son.
SOSIA. Why so?
SIMO. Why so! Bad mind, bad heart: But if I catch him at his tricks!--But what need words? --If, as I wish it may, it should appear That Pamphilus objects not to the match, Chremes remains to be prevail'd upon, And will, I hope, consent. 'Tis now your place To counterfeit these nuptials cunningly; To frighten Davus; and observe my son, What he's about, what plots they hatch together.
SOSIA. Enough; I'll take due care. Let's now go in!
DAVUS. . I thought 'twere wonderful If this affair went off so easily; And dreaded where my master's great good-humor Would end at last: who, after he perceiv'd The Lady was refus'd, ne'er said a word To any of us, nor e'er took it ill.
SIMO. . But now he will; to your cost too, I warrant you!
DAVUS. This was his scheme; to lead us by the nose In a false dream of joy; then all agape With hope, even then that we were most secure, To have o'erwhelm'd us, nor have giv'n us time To cast about which way to break the match. Cunning old Gentleman!
SIMO. What says the rogue?
DAVUS. My master and I did not see him!
SIMO. Davus!
DAVUS. Well! what now?
SIMO. Here! this way!
DAVUS. What can he want?
SIMO. . What say you?
DAVUS. Upon what? Sir.
SIMO. Upon what! The world reports that my son keeps a mistress.
DAVUS. Oh, to be sure, the world cares much for that.
SIMO. D'ye mind what I say? Sirrah!
DAVUS. Nothing more, Sir.
SIMO. But for me now to dive into these matters May seem perhaps like too severe a father: For all his youthful pranks concern not me. While 'twas in season, he had my free leave To take his swing of pleasure. But to-day Brings on another stage of life, and asks For other manners: wherefore I desire, Or, if you please, I do beseech you, Davus, To set him right again.
DAVUS. What means all this?
SIMO. All, who are fond of mistresses, dislike The thoughts of matrimony.
DAVUS. So they say.
SIMO. And then, if such a person entertains An evil counselor in those affairs, He tampers with the mind, and makes bad worse.
DAVUS. Troth, I don't comprehend one word of this.
SIMO. No?
DAVUS. No. I'm Davus, and not Oedipus.
SIMO. Then for the rest I have to say to you, You choose I should speak plainly.
SIMO. If I discover then, that in this match You get to your dog's tricks to break it off, Or try to show how shrewd a rogue you are, I'll have you beat to mummy, and then thrown In prison, Sirrah! upon this condition, That when I take you out again, I swear To grind there in your stead. D'ye take me now? Or don't you understand this neither?
DAVUS. Clearly. You have spoke out at last: the very thing! Quite plain and home; and nothing round about.
SIMO. I could excuse your tricks in any thing, Rather than this.
DAVUS. Good words! I beg of you.
SIMO. You laugh at me: well, well!--I give you warning That you do nothing rashly, nor pretend You was not advertis'd of this--take heed!
PAM. Is this well done? or like a man?--Is this The action of a father?
MYSIS. What's the matter?
PAM. Oh all ye pow'rs of heav'n and earth, what's wrong If this is not so?--If he was determin'd That I to-day should marry, should I not Have had some previous notice?--ought not he To have inform'd me of it long ago?
MYSIS. Alas! what's this I hear?
MYSIS. Alas, alas! this speech Has struck me almost dead with fear.
PAM. And then My father!--what to say of him?--Oh shame! A thing of so much consequence to treat So negligently!--For but even now Passing me in the forum, "Pamphilus! To-day's your wedding-day, said he: prepare; Go, get you home!"--This sounded in my ears As if he said, "go, hang yourself!"--I stood Confounded. Think you I could speak one word? Or offer an excuse, how weak soe'er? No, I was dumb:--and had I been aware, Should any ask what I'd have done, I would, Rather than this, do any thing.--But now What to resolve upon?--So many cares Entangle me at once, and rend my mind, Pulling it diff'rent ways. My love, compassion, This urgent match, my rev'rence for my father, Who yet has ever been so gentle to me, And held so slack a rein upon my pleasures. --And I oppose him?--Racking thought!--Ah me! I know not what to do.
MYSIS. Alas, I fear Where this uncertainty will end. 'Twere best He should confer with her; or I at least Speak touching her to him. For while the mind Hangs in suspense, a trifle turns the scale.
PAM. Who's there? what, Mysis! Save you!
MYSIS. Save you! Sir.
PAM. How does she?
MYSIS. How! oppress'd with wretchedness. To-day supremely wretched, as to-day Was formerly appointed for your wedding. And then she fears lest you desert her.
PAM. I! Desert her? Can I think on't? or deceive A wretched maid! who trusted to my care Her life and honor. Her whom I have held Near to my heart, and cherish'd as my wife? Or leave her modest and well nurtur'd mind Through want to be corrupted? Never, never.
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