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(Enter SOSTRATA and a NURSE in haste from the house of CHREMES, and CHREMES and SYRUS on the other side of the stage unperceived.)
SOSTRATA
(holding up a ring and examining it.)
Unless my fancy deceives me, surely this is the ring which I suspect it to be, the same with which my daughter was exposed.
Unless my fancy deceives me, surely this is the ring which I suspect it to be, the same with which my daughter was exposed.
CHREMES
(apart.)
Syrus, what is the meaning of these expressions ?
Syrus, what is the meaning of these expressions ?
SOSTRATA
Nurse, how is it? Does it not seem to you the same?
Nurse, how is it? Does it not seem to you the same?
NURSE
As for me, I said it was the same the very instant that you showed it me.
As for me, I said it was the same the very instant that you showed it me.
SOSTRATA
But have you now examined it thoroughly, my dear nurse?
But have you now examined it thoroughly, my dear nurse?
NURSE
Thoroughly.
Thoroughly.
SOSTRATA
Then go in-doors at once, and if she has now done bathing, bring me word. I’ll wait here in the mean time for my husband.
Then go in-doors at once, and if she has now done bathing, bring me word. I’ll wait here in the mean time for my husband.
SYRUS
(apart.)
She wants you, see what it is she wants;
she is in a serious mood, I don’t know why; it is not without a cause—I fear what it may be.
620
She wants you, see what it is she wants;
she is in a serious mood, I don’t know why; it is not without a cause—I fear what it may be.
620
CHREMES
What it may be? I’ faith, she’ll now surely be announcing some important trifle, with a great parade.
What it may be? I’ faith, she’ll now surely be announcing some important trifle, with a great parade.
SOSTRATA
(turning round.)
Ha! my husband!
Ha! my husband!
CHREMES
Ha! my wife !
Ha! my wife !
SOSTRATA
I was looking for you.
I was looking for you.
CHREMES
Tell me what you want.
Tell me what you want.
SOSTRATA
In the first place, this I beg of you, not to believe that I have ventured to do any thing contrary to your commands.
In the first place, this I beg of you, not to believe that I have ventured to do any thing contrary to your commands.
CHREMES
Would you have me believe you in this, although so incredible? Well, I will believe you.
Would you have me believe you in this, although so incredible? Well, I will believe you.
SYRUS
(aside.)
This excuse portends I know not what offense.
This excuse portends I know not what offense.
SOSTRATA
Do you remember me being pregnant, and yourself declaring to me, most peremptorily, that if I should bring forth a girl, you would not have it brought up.
Do you remember me being pregnant, and yourself declaring to me, most peremptorily, that if I should bring forth a girl, you would not have it brought up.
CHREMES
I know what you have done, you have brought it up.
I know what you have done, you have brought it up.
SYRUS
(aside.)
Such is the fact, I’m sure: my young master has gained a loss
1
in consequence.
Such is the fact, I’m sure: my young master has gained a loss
1
in consequence.
SOSTRATA
Not at all; but there was here an elderly woman of
Corinth
, of no indifferent character; to her I gave it
to be exposed.
630
Not at all; but there was here an elderly woman of
Corinth
, of no indifferent character; to her I gave it
to be exposed.
630
CHREMES
O
Jupiter! that there should be such extreme folly in a person’s mind.
O
Jupiter! that there should be such extreme folly in a person’s mind.
SOSTRATA
Alas! what have I done ?
Alas! what have I done ?
CHREMES
And do you ask the question?
And do you ask the question?
SOSTRATA
If I have acted wrong, my dear Chremes, I have done so in ignorance.
If I have acted wrong, my dear Chremes, I have done so in ignorance.
CHREMES
This, indeed, I know for certain, even if you were to deny it, that in every thing you both speak and act ignorantly and foolishly: how many blunders you disclose in this single affair! For, in the first place, then, if
you had been disposed to obey my orders, the child ought to have been dispatched; you ought not in words to have feigned her death, and in reality to have left hopes of her surviving. But that I pass over; compassion, maternal affection, I allow it. But how finely you did provide for the future! What was your meaning? Do reflect. It’s clear, beyond a doubt, that your daughter was betrayed by you to this old woman,
635
either that through you she might make a living by her, or that she might be sold in open market as a slave. I suppose you reasoned thus:
any thing is enough, if only her life is saved: what are you to do with those who understand neither law, nor right and justice? Be it for better or for worse, be it for them or against them, they see nothing except just what they please.
640
This, indeed, I know for certain, even if you were to deny it, that in every thing you both speak and act ignorantly and foolishly: how many blunders you disclose in this single affair! For, in the first place, then, if
you had been disposed to obey my orders, the child ought to have been dispatched; you ought not in words to have feigned her death, and in reality to have left hopes of her surviving. But that I pass over; compassion, maternal affection, I allow it. But how finely you did provide for the future! What was your meaning? Do reflect. It’s clear, beyond a doubt, that your daughter was betrayed by you to this old woman,
635
either that through you she might make a living by her, or that she might be sold in open market as a slave. I suppose you reasoned thus:
any thing is enough, if only her life is saved: what are you to do with those who understand neither law, nor right and justice? Be it for better or for worse, be it for them or against them, they see nothing except just what they please.
640
SOSTRATA
My dear Chremes, I have done wrong, I own; I am convinced. Now this I beg of you;
inasmuch as you are more advanced in years than I, be so much the more ready to forgive; so that your justice may be some protection for my weakness.
645
My dear Chremes, I have done wrong, I own; I am convinced. Now this I beg of you;
inasmuch as you are more advanced in years than I, be so much the more ready to forgive; so that your justice may be some protection for my weakness.
645
CHREMES
I’ll readily forgive you doing this, of course; but, Sostrata, my easy temper prompts you to do amiss. But, whatever this circumstance is, by reason of which this was begun upon, proceed to tell it.
I’ll readily forgive you doing this, of course; but, Sostrata, my easy temper prompts you to do amiss. But, whatever this circumstance is, by reason of which this was begun upon, proceed to tell it.
SOSTRATA
As we women are all foolishly and wretchedly
superstitious, when I delivered the child to her to be exposed, I drew a ring from off my finger, and ordered her to expose it, together with the child; that if she should die, she might not be without
2
some portion of our possessions.
650
As we women are all foolishly and wretchedly
superstitious, when I delivered the child to her to be exposed, I drew a ring from off my finger, and ordered her to expose it, together with the child; that if she should die, she might not be without
2
some portion of our possessions.
650
CHREMES
That was right; thereby you proved the saving of yourself and her.
3
That was right; thereby you proved the saving of yourself and her.
3
SOSTRATA
(holding out the ring.)
This is that ring.
This is that ring.
CHREMES
Whence did you get it?
Whence did you get it?
SOSTRATA
From the young woman whom Bacchis brought here with her.
From the young woman whom Bacchis brought here with her.
SYRUS
(aside.)
Ha!
Ha!
CHREMES
What does she say?
655
What does she say?
655
SOSTRATA
She gave it me to keep for her, while she went to bathe. At first I paid no attention to it; but after I looked at it, I at once recognized it, and came running to you.
She gave it me to keep for her, while she went to bathe. At first I paid no attention to it; but after I looked at it, I at once recognized it, and came running to you.
CHREMES
What do you suspect now, or have you discovered, relative to her?
What do you suspect now, or have you discovered, relative to her?
SOSTRATA
I don’t know; unless you inquire of herself whence she got it, if that can possibly be discovered.
I don’t know; unless you inquire of herself whence she got it, if that can possibly be discovered.
SYRUS
(aside.)
I’m undone! I see more hopes
4
from this incident than I desire.
If it is so, she certainly must be ours.
660
I’m undone! I see more hopes
4
from this incident than I desire.
If it is so, she certainly must be ours.
660
CHREMES
Is this woman living to whom you delivered the child?
Is this woman living to whom you delivered the child?
SOSTRATA
I don’t know.
I don’t know.
CHREMES
What account did she bring you at the time?
What account did she bring you at the time?
SOSTRATA
That she had done as I had ordered her.
That she had done as I had ordered her.
CHREMES
Tell me what is the woman’s name, that she may be inquired after.
Tell me what is the woman’s name, that she may be inquired after.
SOSTRATA
Philtere.
Philtere.
SYRUS
(aside.)
’Tis the very same. It’s a wonder if she isn’t found, and I lost.
’Tis the very same. It’s a wonder if she isn’t found, and I lost.
CHREMES
Sostrata, follow me this way in-doors.
Sostrata, follow me this way in-doors.
SOSTRATA
How much beyond my hopes has this matter turned out! How dreadfully afraid I was,
Chremes, that you would now be of feelings as unrelenting as formerly you were on exposing the child.
665
How much beyond my hopes has this matter turned out! How dreadfully afraid I was,
Chremes, that you would now be of feelings as unrelenting as formerly you were on exposing the child.
665
CHREMES
Many a time a man can not be
5
such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it. Time has now so brought it about, that I should be glad of a daughter; formerly I wished for nothing less.
(CHREMES and SOSTRATA go into the house.)
Many a time a man can not be
5
such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it. Time has now so brought it about, that I should be glad of a daughter; formerly I wished for nothing less.
Heautontimorumenos. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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