Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Andria, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 1.5

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236 (PAMPHILUS. MYSIS.)

PAMPHILUS

Hocine est humanum factum aut inceptum? hocine est officium patris?

MYSIS

Quid illud est?

PAMPHILUS

Pro deum atque hominum fidem, quid est si non haec contumelia est?

Uxorem decrerat dare sese mihi hodie: nonne oportuit

Praescisse me ante? nonne prius communicatum oportuit?

MYSIS

Miseram me, quod verbum audio?
240

PAMPHILUS

Quid Chremes qui denegarat se commissurum mihi

Gnatam suam uxorem? id mutavit, quia me immutatum videt.

Itan obstinate operam dat ut me a Glycerio miserum abstrahat:

Quod si fit pereo funditus.

Adeon’ hominem esse invenustum aut infelicem quemquam ut ego sum?
245

Pro deum atque hominum fidem!

Nullon’ ego Chremetis pacto adfinitatem effugere potero?

Quot modis contemptus, spretus? facta, transacta omnia: hem,

Repudiatus repetor: quamobrem? nisi si id est quod suspicor:

Aliquid monstri alunt: ea quoniam nemini obtrudi potest,
250

Itur ad me.

MYSIS

Oratio haec me miseram exanimavit metu.

PAMPHILUS

Nam quid ego nunc dicam de patre? ah

Tantam rem tam neglegenter agere! praeteriens modo

Mihi apud forum, Uxor tibi ducenda est, Pamphile, hodie, inquit, para:

Abi domum. Id mi visus est dicere, Abi cito, et suspende te.
255

Obstipui: censen’ me verbum potuisse ullum proloqui? aut

Ullam causam, saltem ineptam, falsam, iniquam? Obmutui.

Quod si ego rescissem id prius quid facerem, si quis nunc me roget?

Aliquid facerem ut hoc ne facerem. Sed nunc quid primum exsequar?

Tot me impediunt curae, quae meum animum divorsae trahunt,
260

Amor, misericordia huius, nuptiarum sollicitatio,

Tum patris pudor qui me tam leni passus animo est usque adhuc

Quae meo quomque animo libitum est facere. Eine ego ut advorser? hei mihi!

Incertum est quid agam.

MYSIS

Misera timeo incertum hoc quorsum accidat.

Sed nunc peropus est, aut hunc cum ipsa, aut me aliquid de illa adversum hunc loqui.
265

Dum in dubio est animus, paulo momento huc vel illuc impellitur.

PAMPHILUS

Quis hic loquitur? Mysis? salve.

MYSIS

O salve, Pamphile.

PAMPHILUS

Quid agit?

MYSIS

Rogas?

Laborat e dolore; atque ex hoc misera sollicita est, diem

Quia olim in hunc sunt constitutae nuptiae: tum autem hoc timet,

Ne deseras se.
270

PAMPHILUS

Hem, egone istuc conari queam?

Ego propter me illam decipi miseram sinam

Quae mihi suum animum atque omnem vitam credidit,

Quam ego animo egregie caram pro uxore habuerim?

Bene et pudice eius doctum atque eductum sinam

Coactum egestate ingenium immutarier?
275

Non faciam.

MYSIS

Haud vereor si in te solo sit situm;

Sed ut vim queas ferre.

PAMPHILUS

Adeone me ignavum putas,

Adeone porro ingratum, aut inhumanum, aut ferum,

Ut neque me consuetudo neque amor neque pudor

Commoveat neque commoneat ut servem fidem?
280

MYSIS

Unum hoc scio, esse meritam ut memor esses sui.

PAMPHILUS

Memor essem? o Mysis Mysis, etiam nunc mihi

Scripta illa sunt in animo dicta Chrysidis

De Glycerio. Iam ferme moriens me vocat:

Accessi: vos semotae: nos soli: incipit:
285

Mi Pamphile, huius formam atque aetatem vides:

Nec clam te est quam illi utraeque res nunc utiles

Et ad pudicitiam et ad rem tutandam sient.

Quod ego te per hanc dextram oro et ingenium tuum,

Per tuam fidem, perque huius solitudinem,
290

Te obtestor, ne abs te hanc segreges neu deseras,

Si te in germani fratris dilexi loco,

Sive haec te solum semper fecit maximi,

Seu tibi morigera fuit in rebus omnibus.

Te isti virum do amicum tutorem patrem.
295

Bona nostra haec tibi permitto et tuae mando fidei.

Hanc mihi in manum dat: mors continuo ipsam occupat.

Accepi: acceptam servabo.

MYSIS

Ita spero quidem.

PAMPHILUS

Sed cur tu abis ab illa?

MYSIS

Obstetricem arcesso.

PAMPHILUS

Propera, atque audin’?

Verbum unum cave de nuptiis, ne ad morbum hoc etiam.
300

MYSIS

Teneo.

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.) — 1.5 focus

236 (Enter PAMPHILUS, wringing his hands.)

PAMPHILUS

(to himself.)

Is it humane to do or to devise this? Is this the duty of a father?

MYSIS

(apart.)

What does this mean?

PAMPHILUS

(to himself.)

O, by our faith in the Gods! what is, if this is not, an indignity? He had resolved that he himself would give me a wife to-day; ought I not to have known this beforehand? Ought it not to have been mentioned previously?

MYSIS

(apart.)

Wretched me! What language do I hear?
240

PAMPHILUS

(to himself.)

What does Chremes do? He who had declared that he would not intrust his daughter to me as a wife; because he himself sees me unchanged he has changed. Thus perversely does he lend his aid, that he may withdraw wretched me from Glycerium. If this is effected, I am utterly undone.

That any man should be so unhappy in love, or so unfortunate as I am! Oh, faith of Gods and men! shall I by no device be able to escape this alliance with Chremes? In how many ways am I contemned, and held in scorn? Every thing done, and concluded! Alas! once rejected I am sought again; for what reason? Unless perhaps it is this, which I suspect it is:
245

they are rearing some monster,¹ and as she can not be pushed off upon any one else, they have recourse to me.
250

MYSIS

(apart.)

This language has terrified wretched me with apprehension.

PAMPHILUS

(to himself.)

But what am I to say about my father? Alas! that he should so thoughtlessly conclude an affair of such importance! Passing me in the Forum just now, he said, Pamphilus, you must be married to-day:

get ready; be off home. He seemed to me to say this: Be off this instant, and go hang yourself. I was amazed; think you that I was able to utter a single word, or any excuse, even a frivolous, false, or lame one? I was speechless. But if any one were to ask me now what I would have done, if I had known this sooner, why, I would have done any thing rather than do this. But now, what course shall I first adopt?
255

So many cares beset me, which rend my mind to pieces; love, sympathy for her, the worry of this marriage; then, respect for my father, who has ever, until now, with such an indulgent disposition, allowed me to do whatever was agreeable to my feelings. Ought I to oppose him? Ah me! I am in uncertainty what to do.
260

MYSIS

(apart.)

I’m wretchedly afraid how this uncertainty is to terminate.

But now there’s an absolute necessity, either for him to speak to her, or for me to speak to him about her. While the mind is in suspense, it is swayed by a slight impulse one way or the other.
265

PAMPHILUS

(overhearing her.)

Who is it speaking here? (Seeing her.) Mysis? Good-morrow to you.

MYSIS

Oh! Good-morrow to you, Pamphilus.

PAMPHILUS

How is she?

MYSIS

Do you ask? She is oppressed with grief,² and on this account the poor thing is anxious, because some time ago the marriage was arranged for this day. Then, too, she fears this,

that you may forsake her.
270

PAMPHILUS

Ha! could I attempt that? Could I suffer her, poor thing, to be deceived on my account? She, who has confided to me her affection, and her entire existence? She, whom I have held especially dear to my feelings as my wife? Shall I suffer her mind, well and chastely trained and tutored,

to be overcome by poverty and corrupted? I will not do it.
275

MYSIS

I should have no fear if it rested with yourself alone; but whether you may be able to withstand compulsion—

PAMPHILUS

Do you deem me so cowardly, so utterly ungrateful, inhuman, and so brutish, that neither intimacy, nor affection, nor shame,

can move or admonish me to keep faith?
280

MYSIS

This one thing I know, that she is deserving that you should not forget her.

PAMPHILUS

Forget her? Oh Mysis, Mysis, at this moment are those words of Chrysis concerning Glycerium written on my mind. Now at the point of death, she called me;

I went to her; you had withdrawn; we were alone; she began: My dear Pamphilus, you see her beauty and her youth; and it is not unknown to you to what extent both of these are now of use to her, in protecting both her chastity and her interests. By this right hand I do entreat you, and by your good Genius,³
285

by your own fidelity, and by her bereft condition, do not withdraw yourself from her, or forsake her; if I have loved you as my own brother, or if she has always prized you above all others, or has been obedient to you in all things.
290

You do I give to her as a husband, friend, protector, father. This property of mine do I intrust to you, and commit to your care. She placed her in my hands; that instant, death came upon her. I accepted her; having accepted, I will protect her.
295

MYSIS

So indeed I hope.

(Moving.)

PAMPHILUS

But why are you leaving her?

MYSIS

I’m going to fetch the midwife.⁴

PAMPHILUS

Make all haste. And—do you hear?—

take care, and not one word about the marriage, lest that too should add to her illness.
300

MYSIS

I understand.

(Exeunt severally.)

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

PAMPHILUS Hocine est humanum factum aut inceptum? hocine est officium patris?

MYSIS Quid illud est?

PAMPHILUS Pro deum atque hominum fidem, quid est si non haec contumelia est? Uxorem decrerat dare sese mihi hodie: nonne oportuit Praescisse me ante? nonne prius communicatum oportuit?

MYSIS Miseram me, quod verbum audio? 240

MYSIS Oratio haec me miseram exanimavit metu.

MYSIS Misera timeo incertum hoc quorsum accidat. Sed nunc peropus est, aut hunc cum ipsa, aut me aliquid de illa adversum hunc loqui. 265 Dum in dubio est animus, paulo momento huc vel illuc impellitur.

PAMPHILUS Quis hic loquitur? Mysis? salve.

MYSIS O salve, Pamphile.

PAMPHILUS Quid agit?

MYSIS Rogas? Laborat e dolore; atque ex hoc misera sollicita est, diem Quia olim in hunc sunt constitutae nuptiae: tum autem hoc timet, Ne deseras se. 270

PAMPHILUS Hem, egone istuc conari queam? Ego propter me illam decipi miseram sinam Quae mihi suum animum atque omnem vitam credidit, Quam ego animo egregie caram pro uxore habuerim? Bene et pudice eius doctum atque eductum sinam Coactum egestate ingenium immutarier? 275 Non faciam.

MYSIS Haud vereor si in te solo sit situm; Sed ut vim queas ferre.

PAMPHILUS Adeone me ignavum putas, Adeone porro ingratum, aut inhumanum, aut ferum, Ut neque me consuetudo neque amor neque pudor Commoveat neque commoneat ut servem fidem? 280

MYSIS Unum hoc scio, esse meritam ut memor esses sui.

MYSIS Ita spero quidem.

PAMPHILUS Sed cur tu abis ab illa?

MYSIS Obstetricem arcesso.

PAMPHILUS Propera, atque audin’? Verbum unum cave de nuptiis, ne ad morbum hoc etiam. 300

MYSIS Teneo.

Current edition Perseus

PAMPHILUS (to himself.) Is it humane to do or to devise this? Is this the duty of a father?

MYSIS (apart.) What does this mean?

PAMPHILUS (to himself.) O, by our faith in the Gods! what is, if this is not, an indignity? He had resolved that he himself would give me a wife to-day; ought I not to have known this beforehand? Ought it not to have been mentioned previously?

MYSIS (apart.) Wretched me! What language do I hear? 240

MYSIS (apart.) This language has terrified wretched me with apprehension.

MYSIS (apart.) I’m wretchedly afraid how this uncertainty is to terminate. But now there’s an absolute necessity, either for him to speak to her, or for me to speak to him about her. While the mind is in suspense, it is swayed by a slight impulse one way or the other. 265

PAMPHILUS (overhearing her.) Who is it speaking here? (Seeing her.) Mysis? Good-morrow to you.

MYSIS Oh! Good-morrow to you, Pamphilus.

PAMPHILUS How is she?

MYSIS Do you ask? She is oppressed with grief, 2 and on this account the poor thing is anxious, because some time ago the marriage was arranged for this day. Then, too, she fears this, that you may forsake her. 270

MYSIS I should have no fear if it rested with yourself alone; but whether you may be able to withstand compulsion—

PAMPHILUS Do you deem me so cowardly, so utterly ungrateful, inhuman, and so brutish, that neither intimacy, nor affection, nor shame, can move or admonish me to keep faith? 280

MYSIS This one thing I know, that she is deserving that you should not forget her.

MYSIS So indeed I hope.

PAMPHILUS But why are you leaving her?

MYSIS I’m going to fetch the midwife. 4

PAMPHILUS Make all haste. And—do you hear?— take care, and not one word about the marriage, lest that too should add to her illness. 300

MYSIS I understand.

Stable identifiers

PAMPHILUS

Hocine est humanum factum aut inceptum? hocine est officium patris?

MYSIS

Quid illud est?

PAMPHILUS

Pro deum atque hominum fidem, quid est si non haec contumelia est?

Uxorem decrerat dare sese mihi hodie: nonne oportuit

Praescisse me ante? nonne prius communicatum oportuit?

MYSIS

Miseram me, quod verbum audio?
240

MYSIS

Oratio haec me miseram exanimavit metu.

MYSIS

Misera timeo incertum hoc quorsum accidat.

Sed nunc peropus est, aut hunc cum ipsa, aut me aliquid de illa adversum hunc loqui.
265

Dum in dubio est animus, paulo momento huc vel illuc impellitur.

PAMPHILUS

Quis hic loquitur? Mysis? salve.

MYSIS

O salve, Pamphile.

PAMPHILUS

Quid agit?

MYSIS

Rogas?

Laborat e dolore; atque ex hoc misera sollicita est, diem

Quia olim in hunc sunt constitutae nuptiae: tum autem hoc timet,

Ne deseras se.
270

PAMPHILUS

Hem, egone istuc conari queam?

Ego propter me illam decipi miseram sinam

Quae mihi suum animum atque omnem vitam credidit,

Quam ego animo egregie caram pro uxore habuerim?

Bene et pudice eius doctum atque eductum sinam

Coactum egestate ingenium immutarier?
275

Non faciam.

MYSIS

Haud vereor si in te solo sit situm;

Sed ut vim queas ferre.

PAMPHILUS

Adeone me ignavum putas,

Adeone porro ingratum, aut inhumanum, aut ferum,

Ut neque me consuetudo neque amor neque pudor

Commoveat neque commoneat ut servem fidem?
280

MYSIS

Unum hoc scio, esse meritam ut memor esses sui.

MYSIS

Ita spero quidem.

PAMPHILUS

Sed cur tu abis ab illa?

MYSIS

Obstetricem arcesso.

PAMPHILUS

Propera, atque audin’?

Verbum unum cave de nuptiis, ne ad morbum hoc etiam.
300

MYSIS

Teneo.

PAMPHILUS

(to himself.)

Is it humane to do or to devise this? Is this the duty of a father?

MYSIS

(apart.)

What does this mean?

PAMPHILUS

(to himself.)

O, by our faith in the Gods! what is, if this is not, an indignity? He had resolved that he himself would give me a wife to-day; ought I not to have known this beforehand? Ought it not to have been mentioned previously?

MYSIS

(apart.)

Wretched me! What language do I hear?
240

MYSIS

(apart.)

This language has terrified wretched me with apprehension.

MYSIS

(apart.)

I’m wretchedly afraid how this uncertainty is to terminate.

But now there’s an absolute necessity, either for him to speak to her, or for me to speak to him about her. While the mind is in suspense, it is swayed by a slight impulse one way or the other.
265

PAMPHILUS

(overhearing her.)

Who is it speaking here? (Seeing her.) Mysis? Good-morrow to you.

MYSIS

Oh! Good-morrow to you, Pamphilus.

PAMPHILUS

How is she?

MYSIS

Do you ask? She is oppressed with grief,² and on this account the poor thing is anxious, because some time ago the marriage was arranged for this day. Then, too, she fears this,

that you may forsake her.
270

MYSIS

I should have no fear if it rested with yourself alone; but whether you may be able to withstand compulsion—

PAMPHILUS

Do you deem me so cowardly, so utterly ungrateful, inhuman, and so brutish, that neither intimacy, nor affection, nor shame,

can move or admonish me to keep faith?
280

MYSIS

This one thing I know, that she is deserving that you should not forget her.

MYSIS

So indeed I hope.

PAMPHILUS

But why are you leaving her?

MYSIS

I’m going to fetch the midwife.⁴

PAMPHILUS

Make all haste. And—do you hear?—

take care, and not one word about the marriage, lest that too should add to her illness.
300

MYSIS

I understand.