Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Andria, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 1.1

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28 (SIMO. SOSIA.)

SIMO

Vos istaec intro auferte: abite. Sosia,

Adesdum: paucis te volo.

SOSIA

Dictum puta:

Nempe ut curentur recte haec.
30

SIMO

Immo aliud.

SOSIA

Quid est

Quod tibi mea ars efficere hoc possit amplius?

SIMO

Nihil istac opus est arte ad hanc rem quam paro:

Sed iis quas semper in te intellexi sitas,

Fide et taciturnitate.

SOSIA

Exspecto quid velis.

SIMO

Ego postquam te emi, a parvulo ut semper tibi
35

Apud me iusta et clemens fuerit servitus

Scis: feci e servo ut esses libertus mihi.

Propterea quod servibas liberaliter.

Quod habui summum pretium, persolvi tibi.

SOSIA

In memoria habeo.
40

SIMO

Haud muto factum.

SOSIA

Gaudeo

Si tibi quid feci aut facio quod placet, Simo,

Et gratum id fuisse advorsum te habeo gratiam.

Sed mihi hoc molestum est: nam istaec commemoratio

Quasi exprobratio est immemoris benefici.

Quin tu uno verbo dic quid est quod me velis.
45

SIMO

Ita faciam: hoc primum in hac re praedico tibi;

Quas credis esse has non sunt verae nuptiae.

SOSIA

Cur simulas igitur?

SIMO

Rem omnem a principio audies;

Eo pacto et gnati vitam, et consilium meum

Cognosces, et quid facere in hac re te velim.
50

Nam is postquam excessit ex ephebis, Sosia,

Liberius vivendi fuit potestas: nam antea

Qui scire posses, aut ingenium noscere,

Dum aetas, metus, magister, prohibebant?

SOSIA

Ita est.

SIMO

Quod plerique omnes faciunt adolescentuli,
55

Ut animum ad aliquod studium adiungant, aut equos

Alere aut canes ad venandum, aut ad philosophos:

Horum ille nihil egregie praeter caetera

Studebat: et tamen omnia haec mediocriter.

Gaudebam.
60

SOSIA

Non iniuria: nam id arbitror

Apprime in vita esse utile ut ne quid nimis.

SIMO

Sic vita erat: facile omnes perferre ac pati

Cum quibus erat cunque una: iis sese dedere:

Eorum obsequi studiis: advorsus nemini:

Nunquam praeponens se illis: ita facillime
65

Sine invidia laudem invenias et amicos pares.

SOSIA

Sapienter vitam instituit: namque hoc tempore

Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit.

SIMO

Interea mulier quaedam abhinc triennium

Ex Andro commigravit huc viciniae,
70

Inopia et cognatorum negligentia

Coacta, egregia forma atque aetate integra.

SOSIA

Hei vereor ne quid Andria apportet mali.

SIMO

Primum haec pudice vitam parce ac duriter

Agebat, lana ac tela victum quaeritans.
75

Sed postquam amans accessit, pretium pollicens,

Unus et item alter, ita ut ingenium est omnium

Hominum a labore proclive ad libidinem,

Accepit conditionem, dein quaestum occipit.

Qui tum illam amabant forte, ita ut fit, filium
80

Perduxere illuc secum ut una esset meum.

Egomet continuo mecum, Certe captus est,

Habet. Observabam mane illorum servulos

Venientes aut abeuntes: rogitabam, Heus puer,

Dic sodes, quis heri Chrysidem habuit? Nam Andriae
85

Illi id erat nomen.

SOSIA

Teneo.

SIMO

Phaedrum, aut Cliniam

Dicebant, aut Niceratum; nam hi tres tum simul

Amabant. Eho, quid Pamphilus? Quid? symbolam

Dedit, coenavit. Gaudebam. Item alio die

Quaerebam: comperiebam nihil ad Pamphilum
90

Quidquam attinere. Enimvero spectatum satis

Putabam, et magnum exemplum continentiae.

Nam qui cum ingeniis conflictatur eiusmodi,

Neque commovetur animus in ea re tamen,

Scias posse habere iam ipsum suae vitae modum.
95

Cum id mihi placebat tum uno ore omnes omnia

Bona dicere, et laudare fortunas meas

Qui gnatum haberem tali ingenio praeditum.

Quid verbis opus est? hac fama impulsus Chremes,

Ultro ad me venit unicam gnatam suam
100

Cum dote summa filio uxorem ut daret.

Placuit; despondi. Hic nuptiis dictus est dies.

SOSIA

Quid obstat cur non verae fiant?

SIMO

Audies.

Fere in diebus paucis quibus haec acta sunt

Chrysis vicina haec moritur.
105

SOSIA

O factum bene!

Beasti; metui a Chryside.

SIMO

Ibi tum filius

Cum illis qui amabant Chrysidem una aderat frequens;

Curabat una funus, tristis interim,

Nonnunquam collacrumabat: placuit tum id mihi.

Sic cogitabam; Hic, parvae consuetudinis
110

Causa, mortem huius tam fert familiariter:

Quid si ipse amasset? quid mihi hic faciet patri?

Haec ego putabam esse omnia humani ingeni

Mansuetique animi officia. Quid multis moror?

Egomet quoque eius causa in funus prodeo,
115

Nihil suspicans etiam mali.

SOSIA

Hem, quid est?

SIMO

Scies.

Effertur: imus. Interea inter mulieres

Quae ibi aderant forte unam adspicio adolescentulam,

Forma.

SOSIA

Bona fortasse.

SIMO

Et vultu, Sosia,

Adeo modesto, adeo venusto, ut nihil supra.
120

Quia tum mihi lamentari praeter caeteras

Visa est, et quia erat forma praeter caeteras

Honesta et liberali, accedo ad pedisequas;

Quae sit rogo. Sororem esse aiunt Chrysidis.

Percussit illico animum: at at! hoc illud est,
125

Hinc illae lacrumae; haec illa est misericordia.

SOSIA

Quam timeo, quorsum evadas.

SIMO

Funus interim

Procedit: sequimur: ad sepulcrum venimus:

In ignem posita est: fletur. Interea haec soror

Quam dixi ad flammam accessit imprudentius,
130

Satis cum periclo. Ibi tum exanimatus Pamphilus

Bene dissimulatum amorem et celatum indicat.

Accurrit: mediam mulierem complectitur:

Mea Glycerium, inquit, quid agis? cur te is perditum?

Tum illa, ut consuetum facile amorem cerneres,
135

Reiecit se in eum flens quam familiariter.

SOSIA

Quid ais?

SIMO

Redeo inde iratus atque aegre ferens.

Nec satis ad obiurgandum causae. Diceret,

Quid feci? quid commerui aut peccavi pater?

Quae sese in ignem iniicere voluit, prohibui,
140

Servavi. Honesta oratio est.

SOSIA

Recte putas.

Nam si illum obiurges vitae qui auxilium tulit,

Quid facias illi qui dederit damnum aut malum?

SIMO

Venit Chremes postridie ad me clamitans,

Indignum facinus; comperisse Pamphilum
145

Pro uxore habere hanc peregrinam. Ego illud sedulo

Negare factum; ille instat factum: denique

Ita tum discedo ab illo, ut qui se filiam

Neget daturum.

SOSIA

Non tu ibi gnatum?

SIMO

Ne haec quidem

Satis vehemens causa ad obiurgandum.
150

SOSIA

Qui cedo?

SIMO

Tute ipse his rebus finem praescripsti pater.

Prope adest cum alieno more vivendum est mihi:

Sine nunc meo me vivere interea modo.

SOSIA

Qui igitur relictus est obiurgandi locus?

SIMO

Si propter amorem uxorem nolit ducere,
155

Ea primum ab illo animadvertenda iniuria est.

Et nunc id operam do ut per falsas nuptias

Vera obiurgandi causa sit si deneget:

Simul sceleratus Davus siquid consili

Habet ut consumat nunc cum nihil obsint doli;
160

Quem ego credo manibus pedibus obnixe omnia

Facturum; magis id adeo mihi ut incommodet

Quam ut obsequatur gnato.

SOSIA

Quapropter?

SIMO

Rogas?

Mala mens, malus animus. Quem quidem ego si sensero—

Sed quid opus est verbis? Sin eveniat quod volo,
165

In Pamphilo ut nil sit morae, restat Chremes,

Qui mi exorandus est: et spero confore.

Nunc tuum est officium has bene ut adsimules nuptias:

Perterrefacias Davum: observes filium,

Quid agat, quid cum illo consili captet.
170

SOSIA

Sat est:

Curabo: eamus nunc iam intro.

SIMO

I prae, sequar.

Andria. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). ed. Edward St. John Parry. London. 1857.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.

Current edition Perseus

Andria (Terence. Publii Terentii Comoediae Sex. Parry, Edward St. John, editor. London: Whittaker and Co.; George Bell, 1857.)

Translations (1)

Andria; or, The Fair Andrian Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 1.1 focus

28 (Enter SIMO and SOSIA, followed by SERVANTS carrying provisions.)

SIMO

(to the Servants.)

Do you carry those things away in-doors; begone. (Beckoning to SOSIA.) Sosia, just step here; I want a few words with you.

SOSIA

Consider it as said;

that these things are to be taken care of, I suppose.¹
30

SIMO

No, it’s another matter.

SOSIA

What is there that my ability can effect for you more than this?

SIMO

There’s no need of that ability in the matter which I have in hand; but of those qualities which I have ever known as existing in you, fidelity and secrecy.

SOSIA

I await your will.

SIMO

Since I purchased you, you know that, from a little child, your servitude with me has always been easy and light. From a slave I made you my freedman ;² for this reason, because you served me with readiness. The greatest recompense that I possessed, I bestowed upon you.
35

SOSIA

I bear it in mind.
40

SIMO

I am not changed.

SOSIA

If I have done or am doing aught that is pleasing to you, Simo, I am glad that it has been done; and that the same has been gratifying to you, I consider sufficient thanks. But this is a cause of uneasiness to me; for the recital is, as it were, a censure³ to one forgetful of a kindness.

But tell me, in one word, what it is that you want with me.
45

SIMO

I’ll do so. In the first place, in this affair I give you notice: this, which you suppose to be such, is not a real marriage.

SOSIA

Why do you pretend it then?

SIMO

You shall hear all the matter from the beginning; by that means you’ll be acquainted with both my son’s mode of life and my own design,

and what I want you to do in this affair. For after he had passed youthfulness,⁴ Sosia, and had obtained free scope of living, (for before, how could you know or understand his disposition, while youthful age, fear, and a master⁵ were checking him?)—
50

SOSIA

That’s true.

SIMO

What all young men, for the most part, do,—devote their attention to some particular pursuit, either to training horses or dogs for hunting, or to the philosophers;⁶ in not one of these did he engage in particular beyond the rest, and yet in all of them in a moderate degree.
55

I was pleased.
60

SOSIA

Not without reason; for this I deem in life to be especially advantageous; that one do nothing to excess.⁷

SIMO

Such was his mode of life; readily to bear and to comply with all; with whomsoever he was in company, to them to resign himself; to devote himself to their pursuits; at variance with no one;

never preferring himself to them. Thus most readily you may acquire praise without envy, and gain friends.
65

SOSIA

He has wisely laid down his rule of life; for in these days obsequiousness begets friends; sincerity, dislike.

SIMO

Meanwhile, three years ago,⁸ a certain woman

from Andros removed hither into this neighborhood, driven by poverty and the neglect of her relations, of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth.
70

SOSIA

Ah! I’m afraid that this Andrian will bring some mischief.

SIMO

At first, in a modest way, she passed her life with thriftiness and in hardship,

seeking a livelihood with her wool and loom. But after an admirer made advances, promising her a recompense, first one and then another; as the disposition of all mankind has a downward tendency from industry toward pleasure, she accepted their proposals, and then began to trade upon her beauty.
75

Those who then were her admirers, by chance, as it often happens, took my son thither that he might be in their company. Forthwith I said to myself, He is surely caught; he is smitten.⁹ In the morning I used to observe their servant-boys coming or going away; I used to make inquiry, Here, my lad,
80

tell me, will you, who had Chrysis yesterday? for that was the name of the Andrian.
85
(touching SOSIA on the arm.)

SOSIA

I understand.

SIMO

Phaedrus, or Clinias, or Niceratus, they used to say; for these three then loved her at the same time. Well now, what did Pamphilus do? What? He gave his contribution;¹⁰ he took part in the dinner. Just so on another day

I made inquiry, but I discovered nothing whatever that affected Pamphilus. In fact, I thought him sufficiently proved, and a great pattern of continence; for he who is brought into contact with dispositions of that sort, and his feelings are not aroused even under such circumstances,
90

you may be sure that he is already capable of undertaking the governance of his own life. This pleased me, and every body with one voice began to say all kinds of flattering things, and to extol my good fortune, in having a son endowed with such a disposition. What need is there of talking? Chremes, influenced by this report,
95

came to me of his own accord, to offer his only daughter as a wife to my son, with a very large portion. It pleased me; I betrothed him; this was the day appointed for the nuptials.
100

SOSIA

What then stands in the way? Why should they not take place?

SIMO

You shall hear. In about a few days after these things had been agreed on,

Chrysis, this neighbor, dies.
105

SOSIA

Bravo! You’ve made me happy. I was afraid for him on account of Chrysis.

SIMO

Then my son was often there, with those who had admired Chrysis; with them he took charge of the funeral; sorrowful, in the mean time, he sometimes wept with them in condolence. Then that pleased me.

Thus I reflected: He by reason of this slight intimacy takes her death so much to heart; what if he himself had wooed her? What will he do for me his father? All these things I took to be the duties of a humane disposition and of tender feelings. Why do I detain you with many words?
110

Even I myself,¹¹ for his sake, went forth to the funeral, as yet suspecting no harm.
115

SOSIA

Ha! what is this?

SIMO

You shall know. She is brought out; we proceed. In the mean time, among the females who were there present, I saw by chance one young woman of beauteous form.

SOSIA

Very likely.

SIMO

And of countenance, Sosia,

so modest, so charming, that nothing could surpass. As she appeared to me to lament beyond the rest, and as she was of a figure handsome and genteel beyond the other women, I approached the female attendants;¹² I inquired who she was. They said that she was the sister of Chrysis.
120

It instantly struck my mind: Ay, ay, this is it; hence those tears, hence that sympathy.
125

SOSIA

How I dread what you are coming to!

SIMO

The funeral procession meanwhile advances; we follow; we come to the burying-place.¹³ She is placed upon the pile; they weep. In the mean time, this sister,

whom I mentioned, approached the flames too incautiously, with considerable danger. There, at that moment, Pamphilus, in his extreme alarm, discovers his well-dissembled and long-hidden passion; he runs up, clasps the damsel by the waist. My Glycerium, says he, what are you doing? Why are you going to destroy yourself.
130

Then she, so that you might easily recognize their habitual attachment, weeping, threw herself back upon him—how affectionately!
135

SOSIA

What do you say?

SIMO

I returned thence in anger, and hurt at heart: and yet there was not sufficient ground for reproving him. He might say; What have I done? How have I deserved this, or offended, father?

She who wished to throw herself into the flames, I prevented; I saved her. The defense is a reasonable one.
140

SOSIA

You judge aright; for if you censure him who has assisted to preserve life, what are you to do to him who causes loss or misfortune to it?

SIMO

Chremes comes to me next day, exclaiming:

"Disgraceful conduct!"—that he had ascertained that Pamphilus was keeping this foreign woman as a wife. I steadfastly denied that to be the fact. He insisted that it was the fact. In short, I then left him refusing to bestow his daughter.
145

SOSIA

Did not you then reprove your son?

SIMO

Not even this

was a cause sufficiently strong for censuring him.
150

SOSIA

How so? Tell me.

SIMO

You yourself, father, he might say, have prescribed a limit to these proceedings. The time is near, when I must live according to the humor of another; meanwhile, for the present allow me to live according to my own.

SOSIA

What room for reproving him, then, is there left?

SIMO

If on account of his amour he shall decline to take a wife, that, in the first place, is an offense on his part to be censured. And now for this am I using my endeavors, that, by means of the pretended marriage, there may be real ground for rebuking him, if he should refuse; at the same time, that if that rascal Davus has any scheme,
155

he may exhaust it now, while his knaveries can do no harm: who, I do believe, with hands, feet, and all his might, will do every thing; and more for this, no doubt, that he may do me an ill turn, than to oblige my son.
160

SOSIA

For what reason?

SIMO

Do you ask? Bad heart, bad disposition. Whom, however, if I do detect —

But what need is there of talking? If it should turn out, as I wish, that there is no delay on the part of Pamphilus, Chremes remains to be prevailed upon by me; and I do hope that all will go well. Now it’s your duty to pretend these nuptials cleverly, to terrify Davus; and watch my son,
165

what he’s about, what schemes he is planning with him.
170

SOSIA

’Tis enough; I’ll take care; now let’s go in-doors.

SIMO

You go first; I’ll follow.

(SOSIA goes into the house of SIMO.)

SIMO

(to himself.)

There’s no doubt but that my son doesn’t wish for a wife; so alarmed did I perceive Davus to be just now, when he heard that there was going to be a marriage. But the very man is coming out of the house. (Stands aside.)

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SIMO Vos istaec intro auferte: abite. Sosia, Adesdum: paucis te volo.

SOSIA Dictum puta: Nempe ut curentur recte haec. 30

SIMO Immo aliud.

SOSIA Quid est Quod tibi mea ars efficere hoc possit amplius?

SIMO Nihil istac opus est arte ad hanc rem quam paro: Sed iis quas semper in te intellexi sitas, Fide et taciturnitate.

SOSIA Exspecto quid velis.

SIMO Ego postquam te emi, a parvulo ut semper tibi 35 Apud me iusta et clemens fuerit servitus Scis: feci e servo ut esses libertus mihi. Propterea quod servibas liberaliter. Quod habui summum pretium, persolvi tibi.

SOSIA In memoria habeo. 40

SIMO Haud muto factum.

SOSIA Gaudeo Si tibi quid feci aut facio quod placet, Simo, Et gratum id fuisse advorsum te habeo gratiam. Sed mihi hoc molestum est: nam istaec commemoratio Quasi exprobratio est immemoris benefici. Quin tu uno verbo dic quid est quod me velis. 45

SIMO Ita faciam: hoc primum in hac re praedico tibi; Quas credis esse has non sunt verae nuptiae.

SOSIA Cur simulas igitur?

SIMO Rem omnem a principio audies; Eo pacto et gnati vitam, et consilium meum Cognosces, et quid facere in hac re te velim. 50 Nam is postquam excessit ex ephebis, Sosia, Liberius vivendi fuit potestas: nam antea Qui scire posses, aut ingenium noscere, Dum aetas, metus, magister, prohibebant?

SOSIA Ita est.

SIMO Quod plerique omnes faciunt adolescentuli, 55 Ut animum ad aliquod studium adiungant, aut equos Alere aut canes ad venandum, aut ad philosophos: Horum ille nihil egregie praeter caetera Studebat: et tamen omnia haec mediocriter. Gaudebam. 60

SOSIA Non iniuria: nam id arbitror Apprime in vita esse utile ut ne quid nimis.

SIMO Sic vita erat: facile omnes perferre ac pati Cum quibus erat cunque una: iis sese dedere: Eorum obsequi studiis: advorsus nemini: Nunquam praeponens se illis: ita facillime 65 Sine invidia laudem invenias et amicos pares.

SOSIA Sapienter vitam instituit: namque hoc tempore Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit.

SIMO Interea mulier quaedam abhinc triennium Ex Andro commigravit huc viciniae, 70 Inopia et cognatorum negligentia Coacta, egregia forma atque aetate integra.

SOSIA Hei vereor ne quid Andria apportet mali.

SOSIA Teneo.

SOSIA Quid obstat cur non verae fiant?

SIMO Audies. Fere in diebus paucis quibus haec acta sunt Chrysis vicina haec moritur. 105

SOSIA O factum bene! Beasti; metui a Chryside.

SOSIA Hem, quid est?

SIMO Scies. Effertur: imus. Interea inter mulieres Quae ibi aderant forte unam adspicio adolescentulam, Forma.

SOSIA Bona fortasse.

SOSIA Quam timeo, quorsum evadas.

SOSIA Quid ais?

SIMO Redeo inde iratus atque aegre ferens. Nec satis ad obiurgandum causae. Diceret, Quid feci? quid commerui aut peccavi pater? Quae sese in ignem iniicere voluit, prohibui, 140 Servavi. Honesta oratio est.

SOSIA Recte putas. Nam si illum obiurges vitae qui auxilium tulit, Quid facias illi qui dederit damnum aut malum?

SIMO Venit Chremes postridie ad me clamitans, Indignum facinus; comperisse Pamphilum 145 Pro uxore habere hanc peregrinam. Ego illud sedulo Negare factum; ille instat factum: denique Ita tum discedo ab illo, ut qui se filiam Neget daturum.

SOSIA Non tu ibi gnatum?

SIMO Ne haec quidem Satis vehemens causa ad obiurgandum. 150

SOSIA Qui cedo?

SIMO Tute ipse his rebus finem praescripsti pater. Prope adest cum alieno more vivendum est mihi: Sine nunc meo me vivere interea modo.

SOSIA Qui igitur relictus est obiurgandi locus?

SOSIA Quapropter?

SOSIA Sat est: Curabo: eamus nunc iam intro.

SIMO I prae, sequar.

Current edition Perseus

SIMO (to the Servants.) Do you carry those things away in-doors; begone. (Beckoning to SOSIA.) Sosia, just step here; I want a few words with you.

SOSIA Consider it as said; that these things are to be taken care of, I suppose. 1 30

SIMO No, it’s another matter.

SOSIA What is there that my ability can effect for you more than this?

SIMO There’s no need of that ability in the matter which I have in hand; but of those qualities which I have ever known as existing in you, fidelity and secrecy.

SOSIA I await your will.

SIMO Since I purchased you, you know that, from a little child, your servitude with me has always been easy and light. From a slave I made you my freedman ; 2 for this reason, because you served me with readiness. The greatest recompense that I possessed, I bestowed upon you. 35

SOSIA I bear it in mind. 40

SIMO I am not changed.

SIMO I’ll do so. In the first place, in this affair I give you notice: this, which you suppose to be such, is not a real marriage.

SOSIA Why do you pretend it then?

SOSIA That’s true.

SOSIA Not without reason; for this I deem in life to be especially advantageous; that one do nothing to excess. 7

SOSIA He has wisely laid down his rule of life; for in these days obsequiousness begets friends; sincerity, dislike.

SIMO Meanwhile, three years ago, 8 a certain woman from Andros removed hither into this neighborhood, driven by poverty and the neglect of her relations, of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth. 70

SOSIA Ah! I’m afraid that this Andrian will bring some mischief.

SOSIA I understand.

SOSIA What then stands in the way? Why should they not take place?

SIMO You shall hear. In about a few days after these things had been agreed on, Chrysis, this neighbor, dies. 105

SOSIA Bravo! You’ve made me happy. I was afraid for him on account of Chrysis.

SOSIA Ha! what is this?

SIMO You shall know. She is brought out; we proceed. In the mean time, among the females who were there present, I saw by chance one young woman of beauteous form.

SOSIA Very likely.

SOSIA How I dread what you are coming to!

SOSIA What do you say?

SOSIA You judge aright; for if you censure him who has assisted to preserve life, what are you to do to him who causes loss or misfortune to it?

SIMO Chremes comes to me next day, exclaiming: "Disgraceful conduct!"—that he had ascertained that Pamphilus was keeping this foreign woman as a wife. I steadfastly denied that to be the fact. He insisted that it was the fact. In short, I then left him refusing to bestow his daughter. 145

SOSIA Did not you then reprove your son?

SIMO Not even this was a cause sufficiently strong for censuring him. 150

SOSIA How so? Tell me.

SIMO You yourself, father, he might say, have prescribed a limit to these proceedings. The time is near, when I must live according to the humor of another; meanwhile, for the present allow me to live according to my own.

SOSIA What room for reproving him, then, is there left?

SOSIA For what reason?

SOSIA ’Tis enough; I’ll take care; now let’s go in-doors.

SIMO You go first; I’ll follow. (SOSIA goes into the house of SIMO.)

SIMO (to himself.) There’s no doubt but that my son doesn’t wish for a wife; so alarmed did I perceive Davus to be just now, when he heard that there was going to be a marriage. But the very man is coming out of the house. (Stands aside.)

Stable identifiers

SIMO

Vos istaec intro auferte: abite. Sosia,

Adesdum: paucis te volo.

SOSIA

Dictum puta:

Nempe ut curentur recte haec.
30

SIMO

Immo aliud.

SOSIA

Quid est

Quod tibi mea ars efficere hoc possit amplius?

SIMO

Nihil istac opus est arte ad hanc rem quam paro:

Sed iis quas semper in te intellexi sitas,

Fide et taciturnitate.

SOSIA

Exspecto quid velis.

SIMO

Ego postquam te emi, a parvulo ut semper tibi
35

Apud me iusta et clemens fuerit servitus

Scis: feci e servo ut esses libertus mihi.

Propterea quod servibas liberaliter.

Quod habui summum pretium, persolvi tibi.

SOSIA

In memoria habeo.
40

SIMO

Haud muto factum.

SOSIA

Gaudeo

Si tibi quid feci aut facio quod placet, Simo,

Et gratum id fuisse advorsum te habeo gratiam.

Sed mihi hoc molestum est: nam istaec commemoratio

Quasi exprobratio est immemoris benefici.

Quin tu uno verbo dic quid est quod me velis.
45

SIMO

Ita faciam: hoc primum in hac re praedico tibi;

Quas credis esse has non sunt verae nuptiae.

SOSIA

Cur simulas igitur?

SOSIA

Ita est.

SIMO

Quod plerique omnes faciunt adolescentuli,
55

Ut animum ad aliquod studium adiungant, aut equos

Alere aut canes ad venandum, aut ad philosophos:

Horum ille nihil egregie praeter caetera

Studebat: et tamen omnia haec mediocriter.

Gaudebam.
60

SOSIA

Non iniuria: nam id arbitror

Apprime in vita esse utile ut ne quid nimis.

SIMO

Sic vita erat: facile omnes perferre ac pati

Cum quibus erat cunque una: iis sese dedere:

Eorum obsequi studiis: advorsus nemini:

Nunquam praeponens se illis: ita facillime
65

Sine invidia laudem invenias et amicos pares.

SOSIA

Sapienter vitam instituit: namque hoc tempore

Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit.

SIMO

Interea mulier quaedam abhinc triennium

Ex Andro commigravit huc viciniae,
70

Inopia et cognatorum negligentia

Coacta, egregia forma atque aetate integra.

SOSIA

Hei vereor ne quid Andria apportet mali.

SOSIA

Teneo.

SOSIA

Quid obstat cur non verae fiant?

SIMO

Audies.

Fere in diebus paucis quibus haec acta sunt

Chrysis vicina haec moritur.
105

SOSIA

O factum bene!

Beasti; metui a Chryside.

SOSIA

Hem, quid est?

SIMO

Scies.

Effertur: imus. Interea inter mulieres

Quae ibi aderant forte unam adspicio adolescentulam,

Forma.

SOSIA

Bona fortasse.

SOSIA

Quam timeo, quorsum evadas.

SOSIA

Quid ais?

SIMO

Redeo inde iratus atque aegre ferens.

Nec satis ad obiurgandum causae. Diceret,

Quid feci? quid commerui aut peccavi pater?

Quae sese in ignem iniicere voluit, prohibui,
140

Servavi. Honesta oratio est.

SOSIA

Recte putas.

Nam si illum obiurges vitae qui auxilium tulit,

Quid facias illi qui dederit damnum aut malum?

SIMO

Venit Chremes postridie ad me clamitans,

Indignum facinus; comperisse Pamphilum
145

Pro uxore habere hanc peregrinam. Ego illud sedulo

Negare factum; ille instat factum: denique

Ita tum discedo ab illo, ut qui se filiam

Neget daturum.

SOSIA

Non tu ibi gnatum?

SIMO

Ne haec quidem

Satis vehemens causa ad obiurgandum.
150

SOSIA

Qui cedo?

SIMO

Tute ipse his rebus finem praescripsti pater.

Prope adest cum alieno more vivendum est mihi:

Sine nunc meo me vivere interea modo.

SOSIA

Qui igitur relictus est obiurgandi locus?

SOSIA

Quapropter?

SOSIA

Sat est:

Curabo: eamus nunc iam intro.

SIMO

I prae, sequar.

SIMO

(to the Servants.)

Do you carry those things away in-doors; begone. (Beckoning to SOSIA.) Sosia, just step here; I want a few words with you.

SOSIA

Consider it as said;

that these things are to be taken care of, I suppose.¹
30

SIMO

No, it’s another matter.

SOSIA

What is there that my ability can effect for you more than this?

SIMO

There’s no need of that ability in the matter which I have in hand; but of those qualities which I have ever known as existing in you, fidelity and secrecy.

SOSIA

I await your will.

SIMO

Since I purchased you, you know that, from a little child, your servitude with me has always been easy and light. From a slave I made you my freedman ;² for this reason, because you served me with readiness. The greatest recompense that I possessed, I bestowed upon you.
35

SOSIA

I bear it in mind.
40

SIMO

I am not changed.

SIMO

I’ll do so. In the first place, in this affair I give you notice: this, which you suppose to be such, is not a real marriage.

SOSIA

Why do you pretend it then?

SOSIA

That’s true.

SOSIA

Not without reason; for this I deem in life to be especially advantageous; that one do nothing to excess.⁷

SOSIA

He has wisely laid down his rule of life; for in these days obsequiousness begets friends; sincerity, dislike.

SIMO

Meanwhile, three years ago,⁸ a certain woman

from Andros removed hither into this neighborhood, driven by poverty and the neglect of her relations, of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth.
70

SOSIA

Ah! I’m afraid that this Andrian will bring some mischief.

SOSIA

I understand.

SOSIA

What then stands in the way? Why should they not take place?

SIMO

You shall hear. In about a few days after these things had been agreed on,

Chrysis, this neighbor, dies.
105

SOSIA

Bravo! You’ve made me happy. I was afraid for him on account of Chrysis.

SOSIA

Ha! what is this?

SIMO

You shall know. She is brought out; we proceed. In the mean time, among the females who were there present, I saw by chance one young woman of beauteous form.

SOSIA

Very likely.

SOSIA

How I dread what you are coming to!

SOSIA

What do you say?

SOSIA

You judge aright; for if you censure him who has assisted to preserve life, what are you to do to him who causes loss or misfortune to it?

SIMO

Chremes comes to me next day, exclaiming:

"Disgraceful conduct!"—that he had ascertained that Pamphilus was keeping this foreign woman as a wife. I steadfastly denied that to be the fact. He insisted that it was the fact. In short, I then left him refusing to bestow his daughter.
145

SOSIA

Did not you then reprove your son?

SIMO

Not even this

was a cause sufficiently strong for censuring him.
150

SOSIA

How so? Tell me.

SIMO

You yourself, father, he might say, have prescribed a limit to these proceedings. The time is near, when I must live according to the humor of another; meanwhile, for the present allow me to live according to my own.

SOSIA

What room for reproving him, then, is there left?

SOSIA

For what reason?

SOSIA

’Tis enough; I’ll take care; now let’s go in-doors.

SIMO

You go first; I’ll follow.

(SOSIA goes into the house of SIMO.)

SIMO

(to himself.)

There’s no doubt but that my son doesn’t wish for a wife; so alarmed did I perceive Davus to be just now, when he heard that there was going to be a marriage. But the very man is coming out of the house. (Stands aside.)