View:
By Scene
562
(Enter CHREMES and CLITIPHO from the house of the former.)
CHREMES
Pray, what does this mean? What behavior is this, Clitipho? Is this acting as becomes you?
Pray, what does this mean? What behavior is this, Clitipho? Is this acting as becomes you?
CLITIPHO
What have I done?
What have I done?
CHREMES
Did I not see you just now putting your hand into this Courtesan’s bosom?
Did I not see you just now putting your hand into this Courtesan’s bosom?
SYRUS
(apart.)
It’s all up with us—I’m utterly undone!
It’s all up with us—I’m utterly undone!
CLITIPHO
What, I?
What, I?
CHREMES
With these self-same eyes I saw it—don’t deny it.
Besides, you wrong him unworthily in not keeping your hands off: for indeed it is a gross affront to entertain a person, your friend, at your house, and to take liberties with his mistress. Yesterday, for instance, at wine, how rude you were—
565
With these self-same eyes I saw it—don’t deny it.
Besides, you wrong him unworthily in not keeping your hands off: for indeed it is a gross affront to entertain a person, your friend, at your house, and to take liberties with his mistress. Yesterday, for instance, at wine, how rude you were—
565
SYRUS
(apart.)
’Tis the truth
1
’Tis the truth
1
CHREMES
How annoying you were! So much so, that for my part, as the Gods may prosper me, I dreaded what in the end might be the consequence.
I understand lovers. They resent highly things that you would not imagine.
570
How annoying you were! So much so, that for my part, as the Gods may prosper me, I dreaded what in the end might be the consequence.
I understand lovers. They resent highly things that you would not imagine.
570
CLITIPHO
But he has full confidence in me, father, that I would not do any thing of that kind.
But he has full confidence in me, father, that I would not do any thing of that kind.
CHREMES
Be it so; still, at least, you ought to go somewhere for a little time away from their presence. Passion prompts to many a thing; your presence acts as a restraint upon doing them. I form a judgment from myself. There’s not one of my friends this day
to whom I would venture, Clitipho, to disclose all my secrets. With one, his station forbids it; with another, I am ashamed of the action itself, lest I may appear a fool or devoid of shame; do you rest assured that he does the same.
2
But it is our part to be sensible of this; and, when and where it is requisite, to show due complaisance.
575
Be it so; still, at least, you ought to go somewhere for a little time away from their presence. Passion prompts to many a thing; your presence acts as a restraint upon doing them. I form a judgment from myself. There’s not one of my friends this day
to whom I would venture, Clitipho, to disclose all my secrets. With one, his station forbids it; with another, I am ashamed of the action itself, lest I may appear a fool or devoid of shame; do you rest assured that he does the same.
2
But it is our part to be sensible of this; and, when and where it is requisite, to show due complaisance.
575
SYRUS
(coming forward and whispering to CLITIPHO.)
What is it he is saying ?
What is it he is saying ?
CLITIPHO
(aside, to SYRUS.)
I’m utterly undone!
I’m utterly undone!
SYRUS
Clitipho, these same injunctions I gave you.
You have acted the part of a prudent and discreet person.
3
580
Clitipho, these same injunctions I gave you.
You have acted the part of a prudent and discreet person.
3
580
CLITIPHO
Hold your tongue, I beg.
Hold your tongue, I beg.
SYRUS
Very good.
Very good.
CHREMES
(approaching them.)
Syrus, I am ashamed of him.
Syrus, I am ashamed of him.
SYRUS
I believe it; and not without reason. Why, he vexes myself even.
I believe it; and not without reason. Why, he vexes myself even.
CLITIPHO
(to SYRUS.)
Do you persist, then ?
Do you persist, then ?
SYRUS
I’ faith, I’m saying the truth, as it appears to me.
I’ faith, I’m saying the truth, as it appears to me.
CLITIPHO
May I not go near them?
May I not go near them?
CHREMES
How now—pray, is there but one way
4
of going near them ?
How now—pray, is there but one way
4
of going near them ?
SYRUS
(aside.)
Confusion! He’ll be betraying himself before I’ve got the money.
(Aloud.) Chremes, will you give attention to me, who am but a silly person?
585
Confusion! He’ll be betraying himself before I’ve got the money.
(Aloud.) Chremes, will you give attention to me, who am but a silly person?
585
CHREMES
What am I to do?
What am I to do?
SYRUS
Bid him go somewhere out of the way.
Bid him go somewhere out of the way.
CLITIPHO
Where am I to go?
Where am I to go?
SYRUS
Where you please; leave the place to them; be off and take a walk.
Where you please; leave the place to them; be off and take a walk.
CLITIPHO
Take a walk! where?
Take a walk! where?
SYRUS
Pshaw! Just as if there was no place to walk in. Why, then, go this way, that way, where you will.
Pshaw! Just as if there was no place to walk in. Why, then, go this way, that way, where you will.
CHREMES
He says right, I’m of his opinion.
He says right, I’m of his opinion.
CLITIPHO
May the Gods extirpate you, Syrus, for thrusting me away from here.
May the Gods extirpate you, Syrus, for thrusting me away from here.
SYRUS
(aside to CLITIPHO.)
Then
do you for the future keep those hands of yours within bounds.
(Exit CLITIPHO.) Really now
(to CHREMES), what do you think? What do you imagine will become of him next, unless, so far as the Gods afford you the means, you watch him, correct and admonish him ?
590
Then
do you for the future keep those hands of yours within bounds.
(Exit CLITIPHO.) Really now
(to CHREMES), what do you think? What do you imagine will become of him next, unless, so far as the Gods afford you the means, you watch him, correct and admonish him ?
590
CHREMES
I’ll take care of that.
I’ll take care of that.
SYRUS
But now, master, he must be looked after by you.
But now, master, he must be looked after by you.
CHREMES
It shall be done.
It shall be done.
SYRUS
If you are wise,—for now he minds me less and less every day.
If you are wise,—for now he minds me less and less every day.
CHREMES
What say you? What have you done, Syrus, about that matter which I was mentioning to you a short time since? Have you any plan that suits you, or not yet even?
595
What say you? What have you done, Syrus, about that matter which I was mentioning to you a short time since? Have you any plan that suits you, or not yet even?
595
SYRUS
You mean the design upon Menedemus? I have; I have just hit upon one.
You mean the design upon Menedemus? I have; I have just hit upon one.
CHREMES
You are a clever fellow; what is it? Tell me.
You are a clever fellow; what is it? Tell me.
SYRUS
I’ll tell you; but, as one matter arises out of another—
I’ll tell you; but, as one matter arises out of another—
CHREMES
Why, what. is it, Syrus?
Why, what. is it, Syrus?
SYRUS
This Courtesan is a very bad woman.
This Courtesan is a very bad woman.
CHREMES
So she seems.
So she seems.
SYRUS
Aye, if you did but know.
O shocking! just see what she is hatching. There was a certain old woman here from
Corinth
,—this Bacchis lent her a thousand silver drachmae.
600
Aye, if you did but know.
O shocking! just see what she is hatching. There was a certain old woman here from
Corinth
,—this Bacchis lent her a thousand silver drachmae.
600
CHREMES
What then?
What then?
SYRUS
She is now dead: she has left a daughter, a young girl. She has been left with this Bacchis as a pledge for that sum.
She is now dead: she has left a daughter, a young girl. She has been left with this Bacchis as a pledge for that sum.
CHREMES
I understand you.
I understand you.
SYRUS
She has brought her hither along with her, her I mean who is now with your wife.
5
She has brought her hither along with her, her I mean who is now with your wife.
5
CHREMES
What then?
605
What then?
605
SYRUS
She is soliciting Clinia at once to advance her this money; she says, however, that this girl is to be a security, that, at a future time, she will repay the thousand pieces of money.
She is soliciting Clinia at once to advance her this money; she says, however, that this girl is to be a security, that, at a future time, she will repay the thousand pieces of money.
CHREMES
And would she really be a security?
6
And would she really be a security?
6
SYRUS
Dear me, is it to be doubted?
I think so.
7
Dear me, is it to be doubted?
I think so.
7
CHREMES
What then do you intend doing?
What then do you intend doing?
SYRUS
What, I? I shall go to Menedemus; I’ll tell him she is a captive from
Caria
, rich, and of noble family; if he redeems her, there will be a considerable profit in this transaction.
What, I? I shall go to Menedemus; I’ll tell him she is a captive from
Caria
, rich, and of noble family; if he redeems her, there will be a considerable profit in this transaction.
CHREMES
You are in an error.
610
You are in an error.
610
SYRUS
Why so ?
Why so ?
CHREMES
I’ll now answer you for Menedemus—I will not purchase her.
I’ll now answer you for Menedemus—I will not purchase her.
SYRUS
What is it you say? Do speak more agreeably to our wishes.
What is it you say? Do speak more agreeably to our wishes.
CHREMES
But there is no occasion.
But there is no occasion.
SYRUS
No occasion?
No occasion?
CHREMES
Certainly not, i’ faith.
Certainly not, i’ faith.
SYRUS
How so, I wonder?
How so, I wonder?
CHREMES
You shall soon know.
8
You shall soon know.
8
SYRUS
Stop, stop; what is the reason that there is such a great noise at our door?
(They retire out of sight.)
Stop, stop; what is the reason that there is such a great noise at our door?
Heautontimorumenos. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.