Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Heautontimorumenos 3.3

CHREMES

Pray, what does this mean? What behavior is this, Clitipho? Is this acting as becomes you?

CLITIPHO

What have I done?

CHREMES

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!

CLITIPHO

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

SYRUS

(apart.)

’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

CLITIPHO

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

SYRUS

(coming forward and whispering to CLITIPHO.)

What is it he is saying ?

CLITIPHO

(aside, to SYRUS.)

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

Hold your tongue, I beg.

SYRUS

Very good.

CHREMES

(approaching them.)

Syrus, I am ashamed of him.

SYRUS

I believe it; and not without reason. Why, he vexes myself even.

CLITIPHO

(to SYRUS.)

Do you persist, then ?

SYRUS

I’ faith, I’m saying the truth, as it appears to me.

CLITIPHO

May I not go near them?

CHREMES

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

CHREMES

What am I to do?

SYRUS

Bid him go somewhere out of the way.

CLITIPHO

Where am I to go?

SYRUS

Where you please; leave the place to them; be off and take a walk.

CLITIPHO

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.

CHREMES

He says right, I’m of his opinion.

CLITIPHO

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

CHREMES

I’ll take care of that.

SYRUS

But now, master, he must be looked after by you.

CHREMES

It shall be done.

SYRUS

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

SYRUS

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.

SYRUS

I’ll tell you; but, as one matter arises out of another—

CHREMES

Why, what. is it, Syrus?

SYRUS

This Courtesan is a very bad woman.

CHREMES

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

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

I understand you.

SYRUS

She has brought her hither along with her, her I mean who is now with your wife. ⁵

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

And would she really be a security? ⁶

SYRUS

Dear me, is it to be doubted?

I think so. ⁷

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

You are in an error.

610

SYRUS

Why so ?

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

But there is no occasion.

SYRUS

No occasion?

CHREMES

Certainly not, i’ faith.

SYRUS

How so, I wonder?

CHREMES

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.)