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740
(Enter CHREMES on the other side of the stage, going toward the house of SIMO.)
(They retire on one side.)
CHREMES
(to himself.)
After having provided the things necessary for my daughter’s nuptials, I’m returning, that I may request her to be sent for.
(Seeing the child.) But what’s this? I’faith, it’s a child.
(Addressing MYSIS.) Woman, have you laid that here
(pointing to the child.)?
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After having provided the things necessary for my daughter’s nuptials, I’m returning, that I may request her to be sent for.
(Seeing the child.) But what’s this? I’faith, it’s a child.
(Addressing MYSIS.) Woman, have you laid that here
(pointing to the child.)?
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MYSIS
(aside, looking out for DAVUS.)
Where is he?
Where is he?
CHREMES
Don’t you answer me?
Don’t you answer me?
MYSIS
(looking about, to herself.)
He isn’t any where to be seen. Woe to wretched me! the fellow has left me and is off.
He isn’t any where to be seen. Woe to wretched me! the fellow has left me and is off.
DAVUS
(coming forward and pretending not to see them.)
Ye Gods, by our trust in you!
what a crowd there is in the Forum! What a lot of people are squabbling there!
(Aloud.) Then provisions are so dear.
(Aside.) What to say besides, I don’t know.
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(CHREMES passes by MYSIS, and goes to a distance at the back of the stage.)
Ye Gods, by our trust in you!
what a crowd there is in the Forum! What a lot of people are squabbling there!
(Aloud.) Then provisions are so dear.
(Aside.) What to say besides, I don’t know.
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MYSIS
Pray, why did you leave me here alone?
Pray, why did you leave me here alone?
DAVUS
(pretending to start on seeing the child.)
Ha! what story is this? How now, Mysis, whence comes this child? Who has brought it here?
Ha! what story is this? How now, Mysis, whence comes this child? Who has brought it here?
MYSIS
Are you quite right in your senses, to be asking me that?
Are you quite right in your senses, to be asking me that?
DAVUS
Whom, then, ought I to ask,
as I don’t see any one else here?
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Whom, then, ought I to ask,
as I don’t see any one else here?
750
CHREMES
(apart to himself.)
I wonder whence it has come.
I wonder whence it has come.
DAVUS
Are you going to tell me what I ask?
Are you going to tell me what I ask?
MYSIS
Pshaw!
Pshaw!
DAVUS
(in a whisper.)
Step aside to the right.
(They retire on one side.)
Step aside to the right.
MYSIS
You are out of your senses; didn’t you your own self?
You are out of your senses; didn’t you your own self?
DAY.
(in a low voice.)
Take you care not to utter a single word beyond what I ask you.
Why don’t you say aloud whence it comes?
Take you care not to utter a single word beyond what I ask you.
Why don’t you say aloud whence it comes?
MYSIS
(in a loud voice.)
From our house.
From our house.
DAVUS
(affecting indignation.)
Heyday, indeed!
it really is a wonder if a woman, who is a courtesan, acts impudently.
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Heyday, indeed!
it really is a wonder if a woman, who is a courtesan, acts impudently.
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CHREMES
(apart.)
So far as I can learn, this woman belongs to the Andrian.
So far as I can learn, this woman belongs to the Andrian.
DAVUS
Do we seem to you such very suitable persons for you to be playing tricks with us in this way?
Do we seem to you such very suitable persons for you to be playing tricks with us in this way?
CHREMES
(apart.)
I came just in time.
I came just in time.
DAVUS
Make haste then, and take the child away from the door here:
(in a low voice.) stay there; take care you don’t stir from that spot.
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Make haste then, and take the child away from the door here:
(in a low voice.) stay there; take care you don’t stir from that spot.
760
MYSIS
(aside.)
May the Gods confound you! you do so terrify poor me.
May the Gods confound you! you do so terrify poor me.
DAVUS
(in a loud voice.)
Is it to you I speak or not?
Is it to you I speak or not?
MYSIS
What is it you want?
What is it you want?
DAVUS
(aloud.)
What—do you ask me again? Tell me, whose child have you been laying here? Let me know.
What—do you ask me again? Tell me, whose child have you been laying here? Let me know.
MYSIS
Don’t you know?
Don’t you know?
DAVUS
(in a low voice.)
Have done with what I know; tell me what I ask.
Have done with what I know; tell me what I ask.
MYSIS
(aloud.)
It belongs to your people.
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It belongs to your people.
765
DAVUS
(aloud.)
Which of our people?
Which of our people?
MYSIS
(aloud.)
To Pamphilus.
To Pamphilus.
DAVUS
(affecting surprise in a loud tone.)
How? What—to Pamphilus?
How? What—to Pamphilus?
MYSIS
(aloud.)
How now—is it not so?
How now—is it not so?
CHREMES
(apart.)
With good reason have I always been averse to this match, it’s clear.
With good reason have I always been averse to this match, it’s clear.
DAVUS
(calling aloud.)
O abominable piece of effrontery!
O abominable piece of effrontery!
MYSIS
Why are you bawling out so?
Why are you bawling out so?
DAVUS
(aloud.)
What, the very one I saw being carried to your house yesterday evening?
What, the very one I saw being carried to your house yesterday evening?
MYSIS
O you impudent fellow!
O you impudent fellow!
DAVUS
(aloud.)
It’s the truth. I saw Canthara stuffed out beneath her clothes.
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It’s the truth. I saw Canthara stuffed out beneath her clothes.
1
MYSIS
I’faith, I thank the Gods that several free women were present
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at the delivery.
I’faith, I thank the Gods that several free women were present
2
at the delivery.
DAVUS
(aloud.)
Assuredly she doesn’t know him, on whose account she resorts to these schemes. Chremes, she fancies, if he sees the child laid before the door, will not give his daughter; i’faith, he’ll give her all the sooner.
Assuredly she doesn’t know him, on whose account she resorts to these schemes. Chremes, she fancies, if he sees the child laid before the door, will not give his daughter; i’faith, he’ll give her all the sooner.
CHREMES
(apart.)
I’faith, he’ll not do so.
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I’faith, he’ll not do so.
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DAVUS
(aloud.)
Now therefore, that you may be quite aware, if you don’t take up the child, I’ll roll it forthwith into the middle of the road; and yourself in the same place I’ll roll over into the mud.
Now therefore, that you may be quite aware, if you don’t take up the child, I’ll roll it forthwith into the middle of the road; and yourself in the same place I’ll roll over into the mud.
MYSIS
Upon my word, man, you are not sober.
Upon my word, man, you are not sober.
DAVUS
(aloud.)
One scheme brings on another. I now hear it whispered about that she is a citizen of
Attica
—
One scheme brings on another. I now hear it whispered about that she is a citizen of
Attica
—
CHREMES
(apart.)
Ha!
Ha!
DAVUS
(aloud.)
And that, constrained by the laws,
3
he will have to take her as his wife.
And that, constrained by the laws,
3
he will have to take her as his wife.
MYSIS
Well now, pray, is she not a citizen?
Well now, pray, is she not a citizen?
CHREMES
(apart.)
I had almost fallen unawares into a comical misfortune.
(Comes forward.)
I had almost fallen unawares into a comical misfortune.
DAVUS
Who’s that, speaking?
(Pretending to look about.) O Chremes, you have come in good time. Do listen to this.
Who’s that, speaking?
(Pretending to look about.) O Chremes, you have come in good time. Do listen to this.
CHREMES
I have heard it all already.
I have heard it all already.
DAVUS
Prithee, did you hear it? Here’s villainy for you! she
(pointing at MYSIS.) ought to be carried off
4
hence to the torture forthwith.
(To MYSIS, pointing at CHREMES.) This is Chremes himself; don’t suppose that you are trifling with Davus only.
Prithee, did you hear it? Here’s villainy for you! she
(pointing at MYSIS.) ought to be carried off
4
hence to the torture forthwith.
(To MYSIS, pointing at CHREMES.) This is Chremes himself; don’t suppose that you are trifling with Davus only.
MYSIS
Wretched me! upon my faith I have told no untruth, my worthy old gentleman.
Wretched me! upon my faith I have told no untruth, my worthy old gentleman.
CHREMES
I know the whole affair. Is Simo within?
I know the whole affair. Is Simo within?
DAVUS
He is.
(CHREMES goes into SIMO’s house.)
He is.
MYSIS
(DAVUS attempting to caress her.)
Don’t touch me, villain.
(Moving away.) On my word, if I don’t tell Glycerium all this—
Don’t touch me, villain.
(Moving away.) On my word, if I don’t tell Glycerium all this—
DAVUS
How now, simpleton, don’t you know what has been done?
How now, simpleton, don’t you know what has been done?
MYSIS
How should I know?
How should I know?
DAVUS
This is the bride’s father. It couldn’t any other way have been managed that he should know the things that we wanted him to know.
This is the bride’s father. It couldn’t any other way have been managed that he should know the things that we wanted him to know.
MYSIS
You should have told me that before.
You should have told me that before.
DAVUS
Do you suppose that it makes little difference whether you do things according to impulse,
as nature prompts, or from premeditation?
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Do you suppose that it makes little difference whether you do things according to impulse,
as nature prompts, or from premeditation?
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Andria. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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