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679
(Enter CLINIA at the other side of the stage.)
CLINIA
(to himself.)
Nothing can possibly henceforth befall me of such consequence
as to cause me uneasiness; so extreme is this joy that has surprised me. Now then I shall give myself up entirely to my father, to be more frugal than even he could wish.
680
Nothing can possibly henceforth befall me of such consequence
as to cause me uneasiness; so extreme is this joy that has surprised me. Now then I shall give myself up entirely to my father, to be more frugal than even he could wish.
680
SYRUS
(apart.)
I wasn’t mistaken; she has been discovered, so far as I understand from these words of his.
(Acvancing.) I am rejoiced that this matter has turned out for you so much to your wish.
I wasn’t mistaken; she has been discovered, so far as I understand from these words of his.
(Acvancing.) I am rejoiced that this matter has turned out for you so much to your wish.
CLINIA
O my dear Syrus, have you heard of it, pray?
O my dear Syrus, have you heard of it, pray?
SYRUS
How shouldn’t I, when I was present all the while ?
How shouldn’t I, when I was present all the while ?
CLINIA
Did you ever hear of any thing falling out so fortunately for any one?
685
Did you ever hear of any thing falling out so fortunately for any one?
685
SYRUS
Never.
Never.
CLINIA
And, so may the Gods prosper me, I do not now rejoice so much on my own account as hers, whom I know to be deserving of any honor.
And, so may the Gods prosper me, I do not now rejoice so much on my own account as hers, whom I know to be deserving of any honor.
SYRUS
I believe it: but now, Clinia, come, attend to me in my turn. For your friend’s business as well,—it must be seen to—that it is placed in a state of security,
lest the old gentleman should now come to know any thing about his mistress.
690
I believe it: but now, Clinia, come, attend to me in my turn. For your friend’s business as well,—it must be seen to—that it is placed in a state of security,
lest the old gentleman should now come to know any thing about his mistress.
690
CLINIA
O
Jupiter!
O
Jupiter!
SYRUS
Do be quiet.
Do be quiet.
CLINIA
My Antiphila will be mine.
My Antiphila will be mine.
SYRUS
Do you still interrupt me thus?
Do you still interrupt me thus?
CLINIA
What can I do? My dear Syrus, I’m transported with joy! Do bear with me.
What can I do? My dear Syrus, I’m transported with joy! Do bear with me.
SYRUS
I’ faith, I really do bear with you.
I’ faith, I really do bear with you.
CLINIA
We are blest with the life of the Gods.
We are blest with the life of the Gods.
SYRUS
I’m taking pains to no purpose, I doubt.
I’m taking pains to no purpose, I doubt.
CLINIA
Speak; I hear you.
Speak; I hear you.
SYRUS
But still you’ll not mind it.
But still you’ll not mind it.
CLINIA
I will.
I will.
SYRUS
This must be seen to, I say,
that your friend’s business as well is placed in a state of security. For if you now go away from us, and leave Bacchis here, our old man will immediately come to know that she is Clitipho’s mistress; if you take her away with you, it will be concealed just as much as it has been hitherto concealed.
695
This must be seen to, I say,
that your friend’s business as well is placed in a state of security. For if you now go away from us, and leave Bacchis here, our old man will immediately come to know that she is Clitipho’s mistress; if you take her away with you, it will be concealed just as much as it has been hitherto concealed.
695
CLINIA
But still, Syrus, nothing can make more against my marriage than this;
for with what face am I to address my father about it? You understand what I mean?
700
But still, Syrus, nothing can make more against my marriage than this;
for with what face am I to address my father about it? You understand what I mean?
700
SYRUS
Why not ?
Why not ?
CLINIA
What can I say? What excuse can I make?
What can I say? What excuse can I make?
SYRUS
Nay, I don’t want you to dissemble; tell him the whole case just as it really is.
Nay, I don’t want you to dissemble; tell him the whole case just as it really is.
CLINIA
What is it you say ?
What is it you say ?
SYRUS
I bid you do this; tell him that you are in love with her, and want her for a wife: that this Bacchis is Clitipho’s mistress.
I bid you do this; tell him that you are in love with her, and want her for a wife: that this Bacchis is Clitipho’s mistress.
CLINIA
You require a thing that is fair and reasonable, and easy to be done.
And I suppose, then, you would have me request my father to keep it a secret from your old man.
705
You require a thing that is fair and reasonable, and easy to be done.
And I suppose, then, you would have me request my father to keep it a secret from your old man.
705
SYRUS
On the contrary; to tell him directly the matter just as it is.
On the contrary; to tell him directly the matter just as it is.
CLINIA
What? Are you quite in your senses or sober? Why, you were for ruining him outright. For how could he be in a state of security ? Tell me that.
What? Are you quite in your senses or sober? Why, you were for ruining him outright. For how could he be in a state of security ? Tell me that.
SYRUS
For my part, I yield the palm to this device. Here I do pride myself exultingly, in having in myself such exquisite resources, and power of address so great, as to deceive them both by telling the truth: so that when your old man tells ours that she is his son’s mistress, he’ll still not believe him.
For my part, I yield the palm to this device. Here I do pride myself exultingly, in having in myself such exquisite resources, and power of address so great, as to deceive them both by telling the truth: so that when your old man tells ours that she is his son’s mistress, he’ll still not believe him.
CLINIA
But yet, by these means you again cut off all hopes of my marriage; for as long as Chremes believes that she is my mistress, he’ll not give me his daughter.
Perhaps you care little what becomes of me, so long as you provide for him.
715
But yet, by these means you again cut off all hopes of my marriage; for as long as Chremes believes that she is my mistress, he’ll not give me his daughter.
Perhaps you care little what becomes of me, so long as you provide for him.
715
SYRUS
What the plague, do you suppose I want this pretense to be kept up for an age ? ’Tis but for a single day, only till I have secured the money: you be quiet; I ask no more.
What the plague, do you suppose I want this pretense to be kept up for an age ? ’Tis but for a single day, only till I have secured the money: you be quiet; I ask no more.
CLINIA
Is that sufficient? If his father should come to know of it, pray, what then?
Is that sufficient? If his father should come to know of it, pray, what then?
SYRUS
What if I have recourse to those who say,
What now if the sky were to fall?
1
What if I have recourse to those who say,
What now if the sky were to fall?
1
CLINIA
I’m afraid to go about it.
720
I’m afraid to go about it.
720
SYRUS
You, afraid! As if it was not in your power to clear yourself at any time you like, and discover the whole matter.
You, afraid! As if it was not in your power to clear yourself at any time you like, and discover the whole matter.
CLINIA
Well, well; let Bacchis be brought over to our house.
Well, well; let Bacchis be brought over to our house.
SYRUS
Capital! she is coming out of doors.
Capital! she is coming out of doors.
Heautontimorumenos. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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