Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Andria, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 1.3

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206 (DAVUS.)

DAVUS

Enimvero, Dave, nil loci est segnitiae neque socordiae,

Quantum intellexi modo senis sententiam de nuptiis:

Quae si non astu providentur me aut herum pessum dabunt.

Nec quid agam certum est: Pamphilumne adiutem an auscultem seni.

Si illum relinquo eius vitae timeo: sin opitulor huius minas;
210

Cui verba dare difficile est. Primum iam de amore hoc comperit:

Me infensus servat ne quam faciam in nuptiis fallaciam.

Si senserit perii: aut si lubitum fuerit causam ceperit,

Quo iure quaque iniuria praecipitem in pistrinum dabit.

Ad haec mala hoc mihi accedit etiam: haec Andria,
215

Si ista uxor sive amica est, gravida e Pamphilo est.

Audireque eorum est operae pretium audaciam:

Nam inceptio est amentium haud amantium:

Quicquid peperisset decreverunt tollere:

Et fingunt quandam inter se nunc fallaciam,
220

Civem Atticam esse hanc. Fuit olim hinc quidam senex,

Mercator: navem is fregit apud Andrum insulam:

Is obiit mortem: ibi tum hanc eiectam Chrysidis

Patrem recepisse orbam, parvam: Fabulae.

Mihi quidem hercle non fit verisimile; atque ipsis commentum placet.
225

Sed Mysis ab ea egreditur: at ego hinc me ad forum ut

Conveniam Pamphilum, ne de hac re pater imprudentem opprimat.

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

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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.) — 1.3 focus

206 (DAVUS alone.)

DAVUS

(to himself.)

Assuredly, Davus, there’s no room for slothfulness or inactivity, so far as I’ve just now ascertained the old man’s mind about the marriage; which if it is not provided against by cunning, will be bringing either myself or my master to ruin. What to do, I am not determined; whether I should assist Pamphilus or obey the old man.

If I desert the former, I fear for his life; if I assist him, I dread the other’s threats, on whom it will be a difficult matter to impose. In the first place, he has now found out about this amour; with hostile feelings he watches me, lest I should be devising some trickery against the marriage. If he discovers it, I’m undone; or even if he chooses to allege any pretext, whether rightfully or wrongfully, he will consign me headlong to the mill.
210

To these evils this one is besides added for me. This Andrian, whether she is his wife, or whether his mistress, is pregnant by Pamphilus. It is worth while to hear their effrontery; for it is an undertaking worthy of those in their dotage, not of those who dote in love ;¹ whatever she shall bring forth, they have resolved to rear ;²
215

and they are now contriving among themselves a certain scheme, that she is a citizen of Attica . There was formerly a certain old man of this place, a merchant; he was shipwrecked off the Isle of Andros ; he died. They say that there, the father of Chrysis, on that occasion, sheltered this girl, thrown on shore, an orphan, a little child. What nonsense!
220

To myself at least it isn’t very probable; the fiction pleases them, however. But Mysis is coming out of the house. Now I’ll betake myself hence to the Forum,³ that I may meet with Pamphilus, lest his father should take him by surprise about this matter.
225

(Exit.)

Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Andria 1.3

ed. Edward St. John Parry

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