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(Enter CHREMES from his house.)
CHREMES
(to himself)
So may the Deities prosper me, I am now concerned for the fate of Menedemus,
that so great a misfortune should have befallen him. To be maintaining that woman with such a retinue! Although I am well aware he’ll not be sensible of it for some days to come, his son was so greatly missed by him; but when he sees such a vast expense incurred by him
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every day at home, and no limit to it, he’ll wish that this son would leave him a second time. See—here comes Syrus most opportunely.
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So may the Deities prosper me, I am now concerned for the fate of Menedemus,
that so great a misfortune should have befallen him. To be maintaining that woman with such a retinue! Although I am well aware he’ll not be sensible of it for some days to come, his son was so greatly missed by him; but when he sees such a vast expense incurred by him
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every day at home, and no limit to it, he’ll wish that this son would leave him a second time. See—here comes Syrus most opportunely.
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SYRUS
(to himself, as he comes forward.)
Why delay to accost him?
Why delay to accost him?
CHREMES
Syrus.
Syrus.
SYRUS
Well.
Well.
CHREMES
How go matters ?
How go matters ?
SYRUS
I’ve been wishing for some time for you to be thrown in my way.
I’ve been wishing for some time for you to be thrown in my way.
CHREMES
You seem, then, to have effected something, I know not what, with the old gentleman.
You seem, then, to have effected something, I know not what, with the old gentleman.
SYRUS
As to what we were talking of a short time since? No sooner said than done.
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As to what we were talking of a short time since? No sooner said than done.
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CHREMES
In real earnest ?
In real earnest ?
SYRUS
In real.
In real.
CHREMES
Upon my faith, I can not forbear patting your head for it. Come here, Syrus; I’ll do you some good turn for this matter, and with pleasure.
(Patting his head.)
Upon my faith, I can not forbear patting your head for it. Come here, Syrus; I’ll do you some good turn for this matter, and with pleasure.
SYRUS
But if you knew how cleverly it came into my head—
But if you knew how cleverly it came into my head—
CHREMES
Pshaw! Do you boast because it has turned out according to your wishes
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Pshaw! Do you boast because it has turned out according to your wishes
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SYRUS
On my word, not I, indeed; I am telling the truth.
On my word, not I, indeed; I am telling the truth.
CHREMES
Tell me how it is.
Tell me how it is.
SYRUS
Clinia has told Menedemus, that this Bacchis is your Clitipho’s mistress, and that he has taken her thither with him in order that you might not come to know of it.
Clinia has told Menedemus, that this Bacchis is your Clitipho’s mistress, and that he has taken her thither with him in order that you might not come to know of it.
CHREMES
Very good.
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Very good.
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SYRUS
Tell me, please, what you think of it.
Tell me, please, what you think of it.
CHREMES
Extremely good, I declare.
Extremely good, I declare.
SYRUS
Why yes, pretty fair. But listen, what a piece of policy still remains. He is then to say that he has seen your daughter—that her beauty charmed him as soon as he beheld her; and that he desires her for a wife.
Why yes, pretty fair. But listen, what a piece of policy still remains. He is then to say that he has seen your daughter—that her beauty charmed him as soon as he beheld her; and that he desires her for a wife.
CHREMES
What, her that has just been discovered ?
What, her that has just been discovered ?
SYRUS
The same;
and, in fact, he’ll request that she may be asked for.
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The same;
and, in fact, he’ll request that she may be asked for.
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CHREMES
For what purpose, Syrus? For I don’t altogether comprehend it.
For what purpose, Syrus? For I don’t altogether comprehend it.
SYRUS
O dear, you are so dull.
O dear, you are so dull.
CHREMES
Perhaps so.
Perhaps so.
SYRUS
Money will be given him for the wedding—with which golden trinkets and clothes—do you understand me?
Money will be given him for the wedding—with which golden trinkets and clothes—do you understand me?
CHREMES
To buy them—?
To buy them—?
SYRUS
Just so.
Just so.
CHREMES
But I neither give nor betroth my daughter to him.
But I neither give nor betroth my daughter to him.
SYRUS
But why?
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But why?
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CHREMES
Why, do you ask me? To a fellow—
Why, do you ask me? To a fellow—
SYRUS
Just as you please. I don’t mean that in reality you should give her to him, but that you should pretend it.
Just as you please. I don’t mean that in reality you should give her to him, but that you should pretend it.
CHREMES
Pretending is not in my way; do you mix up these plots of yours, so as not to mix me up in them. Do you think that I’ll betroth my daughter to a person to whom I will not marry her?
Pretending is not in my way; do you mix up these plots of yours, so as not to mix me up in them. Do you think that I’ll betroth my daughter to a person to whom I will not marry her?
SYRUS
I imagined so.
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I imagined so.
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CHREMES
By no means.
By no means.
SYRUS
It might have been cleverly managed; and I under-took this affair for the very reason, that a short time since you so urgently requested it.
It might have been cleverly managed; and I under-took this affair for the very reason, that a short time since you so urgently requested it.
CHREMES
I believe you.
I believe you.
SYRUS
But for my part, Chremes, I take it well and good, either way.
But for my part, Chremes, I take it well and good, either way.
CHREMES
But still, I especially wish you to do your best for it to be brought about; but in some other way.
But still, I especially wish you to do your best for it to be brought about; but in some other way.
SYRUS
It shall be done: some other method must be thought of; but as to what I was telling you of,—about the money which she owes to Bacchis,—that must now be repaid her. And you will not, of course, now be having recourse to this method;
What have I to do with it? Was it lent to me? Did I give any orders? Had she the power to pawn my daughter
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without my consent? They quote that saying, Chremes, with good reason,
Riorous law
1
is often rigorous injustice.
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It shall be done: some other method must be thought of; but as to what I was telling you of,—about the money which she owes to Bacchis,—that must now be repaid her. And you will not, of course, now be having recourse to this method;
What have I to do with it? Was it lent to me? Did I give any orders? Had she the power to pawn my daughter
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without my consent? They quote that saying, Chremes, with good reason,
Riorous law
1
is often rigorous injustice.
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CHREMES
I will not do so.
I will not do so.
SYRUS
On the contrary, though others were at liberty, you are not at liberty; all think that you are in good and very easy circumstances.
On the contrary, though others were at liberty, you are not at liberty; all think that you are in good and very easy circumstances.
CHREMES
Nay rather, I’ll at once carry it to her myself.
Nay rather, I’ll at once carry it to her myself.
SYRUS
Why no; request your son in preference.
Why no; request your son in preference.
CHREMES
For what reason?
For what reason?
SYRUS
Why, because the suspicion of being in love with her has been transferred to him with Menedemus.
Why, because the suspicion of being in love with her has been transferred to him with Menedemus.
CHREMES
What then?
What then?
SYRUS
Because it will seem to be more like probability when he gives it her; and at the same time I shall effect more easily what I wish. Here he comes too; go, and bring out the money.
Because it will seem to be more like probability when he gives it her; and at the same time I shall effect more easily what I wish. Here he comes too; go, and bring out the money.
CHREMES
I’ll bring it.
(Goes into his house.)
I’ll bring it.
Heautontimorumenos. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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