Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Heautontimorumenos, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 4.5

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749 (CHREMES. SYRUS.)

CHREMES

Ita me Di amabunt ut nunc Menedemi vicem

Miseret me tantum devenisse ad eum mali.
750

Hancine mulierem alere cum illa familia?

Etsi scio hosce aliquot dies non sentiet;

Ita magno desiderio fuit ei filius:

Verum ubi videbit tantos sibi sumtus domi

Quotidiano fieri, nec fieri modum,
755

Optabit rursum ut abeat ab se filius.

Syrum optime eccum!

SYRUS

Cesso hunc adoriri?

CHREMES

Syre.

SYRUS

Hem.

CHREMES

Quid est?

SYRUS

Te mihi ipsum iam dudum optabam dari.

CHREMES

Videre egisse iam nescio quid cum sene.

SYRUS

De illo quod dudum? dictum ac factum reddidi.
760

CHREMES

Bonane fide?

SYRUS

Bona hercle.

CHREMES

Non possum pati

Quin tibi caput demulceam. Accede huc, Syre:

Faciam boni tibi aliquid pro ista re, ac libens.

SYRUS

At si scias, quam scite in mentem venerit.

CHREMES

Vah, gloriare evenisse ex sententia?
765

SYRUS

Non hercle vero : verum dico.

CHREMES

Dic, quid est?

SYRUS

Tui Clitiphonis esse amicam hanc Bacchidem

Menedemo dixit Clinia; et ea gratia

Secum adduxisse, ne tu id persentisceres.

CHREMES

Probe.
770

SYRUS

Dic sodes.

CHREMES

Nimium, inquam.

SYRUS

Immo sic satis.

Sed porro ausculta quod superest fallaciae.

Sese ipse dicet tuam vidisse filiam;

Eius sibi complacitam formam, postquam aspexerit;

Hanc cupere uxorem.

CHREMES

Modone quae inventa est?

SYRUS

Eam.

Et quidem iubebit posci.
775

CHREMES

Quamobrem istuc, Syre?

Nam prorsum nihil intelligo.

SYRUS

Hui! tardus es.

CHREMES

Fortasse.

SYRUS

Argentum dabitur ei ad nuptias,

Aurum, atque vestem, qui,—tenesne?

CHREMES

Comparet?

SYRUS

Id ipsum.

CHREMES

At ego illi neque do, neque despondeo.

SYRUS

Non? quamobrem?
780

CHREMES

Quamobrem? me rogas? Homini fugitivo dabo?

SYRUS

Non ego dicebam in perpetuum illam illi ut dares;

Verum ut simulares.

CHREMES

Non mea est simulatio.

Ita tu istaec tua misceto ne me admisceas.

Ego cui daturus non sum ut ei despondeam?

SYRUS

Credebam.
785

CHREMES

Minime.

SYRUS

Scite poterat fieri.

Et ego hoc, quia dudum tu tantopere iusseras,

Eo coepi.

CHREMES

Credo.

SYRUS

Caeterum equidem istuc, Chreme,

Aequi bonique facio.

CHREMES

Atqui cummaxime

Volo te dare operam ut fiat, verum alia via.

SYRUS

Fiat: quaeratur aliud: sed illud quod tibi
790

Dixi de argento, quod ista debet Bacchidi,

Id nunc reddendum est illi: neque tu scilicet

Eo nunc confugies: Quid mea? num datum mihi est?

Num iussi? num illa oppignerare filiam

Meam, me invito, potuit? Verum illud, Chreme,
795

Dicunt, Ius summum saepe summa malitia est.

CHREMES

Haud faciam.

SYRUS

Immo aliis si licet, tibi non licet.

Omnes te in lauta et bene acta parte putant.

CHREMES

Quin egomet iam ad eam deferam.

SYRUS

Immo filium

Iube potius.
800

CHREMES

Quamobrem?

SYRUS

Quia enim in hunc suspicio est

Translata amoris.

CHREMES

Quid tum?

SYRUS

Quia videbitur

Magis verisimile id esse, quum hic illi dabit:

Simul et conficiam facilius ego, quod volo.

Ipse adeo adest: abi, effer argentum.

CHREMES

Effero.

Heautontimorumenos. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). ed. Edward St. John Parry. London. 1857.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.

Current edition Perseus

Heautontimorumenos (Terence. Publii Terentii Comoediae Sex. Parry, Edward St. John, editor. London: Whittaker and Co.; George Bell, 1857.)

Translations (1)

Heautontimorumenos; or, The Self-Tormenter Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 4.5 focus

749 (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
750

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.
755

SYRUS

(to himself, as he comes forward.)

Why delay to accost him?

CHREMES

Syrus.

SYRUS

Well.

CHREMES

How go matters ?

SYRUS

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.

SYRUS

As to what we were talking of a short time since? No sooner said than done.
760

CHREMES

In real earnest ?

SYRUS

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.)

SYRUS

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
765

SYRUS

On my word, not I, indeed; I am telling the truth.

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

Very good.
770

SYRUS

Tell me, please, what you think of it.

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

What, her that has just been discovered ?

SYRUS

The same;

and, in fact, he’ll request that she may be asked for.
775

CHREMES

For what purpose, Syrus? For I don’t altogether comprehend it.

SYRUS

O dear, you are so dull.

CHREMES

Perhaps so.

SYRUS

Money will be given him for the wedding—with which golden trinkets and clothes—do you understand me?

CHREMES

To buy them—?

SYRUS

Just so.

CHREMES

But I neither give nor betroth my daughter to him.

SYRUS

But why?
780

CHREMES

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.

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?

SYRUS

I imagined so.
785

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

I believe you.

SYRUS

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.

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
790

without my consent? They quote that saying, Chremes, with good reason, Riorous law¹ is often rigorous injustice.
795

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

Nay rather, I’ll at once carry it to her myself.

SYRUS

Why no; request your son in preference.

CHREMES

For what reason?

SYRUS

Why, because the suspicion of being in love with her has been transferred to him with Menedemus.

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

I’ll bring it.

(Goes into his house.)

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SYRUS Cesso hunc adoriri?

CHREMES Syre.

SYRUS Hem.

CHREMES Quid est?

SYRUS Te mihi ipsum iam dudum optabam dari.

CHREMES Videre egisse iam nescio quid cum sene.

SYRUS De illo quod dudum? dictum ac factum reddidi. 760

CHREMES Bonane fide?

SYRUS Bona hercle.

CHREMES Non possum pati Quin tibi caput demulceam. Accede huc, Syre: Faciam boni tibi aliquid pro ista re, ac libens.

SYRUS At si scias, quam scite in mentem venerit.

CHREMES Vah, gloriare evenisse ex sententia? 765

SYRUS Non hercle vero : verum dico.

CHREMES Dic, quid est?

SYRUS Tui Clitiphonis esse amicam hanc Bacchidem Menedemo dixit Clinia; et ea gratia Secum adduxisse, ne tu id persentisceres.

CHREMES Probe. 770

SYRUS Dic sodes.

CHREMES Nimium, inquam.

SYRUS Immo sic satis. Sed porro ausculta quod superest fallaciae. Sese ipse dicet tuam vidisse filiam; Eius sibi complacitam formam, postquam aspexerit; Hanc cupere uxorem.

CHREMES Modone quae inventa est?

SYRUS Eam. Et quidem iubebit posci. 775

CHREMES Quamobrem istuc, Syre? Nam prorsum nihil intelligo.

SYRUS Hui! tardus es.

CHREMES Fortasse.

SYRUS Argentum dabitur ei ad nuptias, Aurum, atque vestem, qui,—tenesne?

CHREMES Comparet?

SYRUS Id ipsum.

CHREMES At ego illi neque do, neque despondeo.

SYRUS Non? quamobrem? 780

CHREMES Quamobrem? me rogas? Homini fugitivo dabo?

SYRUS Non ego dicebam in perpetuum illam illi ut dares; Verum ut simulares.

CHREMES Non mea est simulatio. Ita tu istaec tua misceto ne me admisceas. Ego cui daturus non sum ut ei despondeam?

SYRUS Credebam. 785

CHREMES Minime.

SYRUS Scite poterat fieri. Et ego hoc, quia dudum tu tantopere iusseras, Eo coepi.

CHREMES Credo.

SYRUS Caeterum equidem istuc, Chreme, Aequi bonique facio.

CHREMES Atqui cummaxime Volo te dare operam ut fiat, verum alia via.

CHREMES Haud faciam.

SYRUS Immo aliis si licet, tibi non licet. Omnes te in lauta et bene acta parte putant.

CHREMES Quin egomet iam ad eam deferam.

SYRUS Immo filium Iube potius. 800

CHREMES Quamobrem?

SYRUS Quia enim in hunc suspicio est Translata amoris.

CHREMES Quid tum?

SYRUS Quia videbitur Magis verisimile id esse, quum hic illi dabit: Simul et conficiam facilius ego, quod volo. Ipse adeo adest: abi, effer argentum.

CHREMES Effero.

Current edition Perseus

SYRUS (to himself, as he comes forward.) Why delay to accost him?

CHREMES Syrus.

SYRUS Well.

CHREMES How go matters ?

SYRUS 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.

SYRUS As to what we were talking of a short time since? No sooner said than done. 760

CHREMES In real earnest ?

SYRUS 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.)

SYRUS 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 765

SYRUS On my word, not I, indeed; I am telling the truth.

CHREMES 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.

CHREMES Very good. 770

SYRUS Tell me, please, what you think of it.

CHREMES 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.

CHREMES What, her that has just been discovered ?

SYRUS The same; and, in fact, he’ll request that she may be asked for. 775

CHREMES For what purpose, Syrus? For I don’t altogether comprehend it.

SYRUS O dear, you are so dull.

CHREMES Perhaps so.

SYRUS Money will be given him for the wedding—with which golden trinkets and clothes—do you understand me?

CHREMES To buy them—?

SYRUS Just so.

CHREMES But I neither give nor betroth my daughter to him.

SYRUS But why? 780

CHREMES Why, do you ask me? To a fellow—

SYRUS

Cesso hunc adoriri?

CHREMES

Syre.

SYRUS

Hem.

CHREMES

Quid est?

SYRUS

Te mihi ipsum iam dudum optabam dari.

CHREMES

Videre egisse iam nescio quid cum sene.

SYRUS

De illo quod dudum? dictum ac factum reddidi.
760

CHREMES

Bonane fide?

SYRUS

Bona hercle.

CHREMES

Non possum pati

Quin tibi caput demulceam. Accede huc, Syre:

Faciam boni tibi aliquid pro ista re, ac libens.

SYRUS

At si scias, quam scite in mentem venerit.

CHREMES

Vah, gloriare evenisse ex sententia?
765

SYRUS

Non hercle vero : verum dico.

CHREMES

Dic, quid est?

SYRUS

Tui Clitiphonis esse amicam hanc Bacchidem

Menedemo dixit Clinia; et ea gratia

Secum adduxisse, ne tu id persentisceres.

CHREMES

Probe.
770

SYRUS

Dic sodes.

CHREMES

Nimium, inquam.

SYRUS

Immo sic satis.

Sed porro ausculta quod superest fallaciae.

Sese ipse dicet tuam vidisse filiam;

Eius sibi complacitam formam, postquam aspexerit;

Hanc cupere uxorem.

CHREMES

Modone quae inventa est?

SYRUS

Eam.

Et quidem iubebit posci.
775

CHREMES

Quamobrem istuc, Syre?

Nam prorsum nihil intelligo.

SYRUS

Hui! tardus es.

CHREMES

Fortasse.

SYRUS

Argentum dabitur ei ad nuptias,

Aurum, atque vestem, qui,—tenesne?

CHREMES

Comparet?

SYRUS

Id ipsum.

CHREMES

At ego illi neque do, neque despondeo.

SYRUS

Non? quamobrem?
780

CHREMES

Quamobrem? me rogas? Homini fugitivo dabo?

SYRUS

Non ego dicebam in perpetuum illam illi ut dares;

Verum ut simulares.

CHREMES

Non mea est simulatio.

Ita tu istaec tua misceto ne me admisceas.

Ego cui daturus non sum ut ei despondeam?

SYRUS

Credebam.
785

CHREMES

Minime.

SYRUS

Scite poterat fieri.

Et ego hoc, quia dudum tu tantopere iusseras,

Eo coepi.

CHREMES

Credo.

SYRUS

Caeterum equidem istuc, Chreme,

Aequi bonique facio.

CHREMES

Atqui cummaxime

Volo te dare operam ut fiat, verum alia via.

CHREMES

Haud faciam.

SYRUS

Immo aliis si licet, tibi non licet.

Omnes te in lauta et bene acta parte putant.

CHREMES

Quin egomet iam ad eam deferam.

SYRUS

Immo filium

Iube potius.
800

CHREMES

Quamobrem?

SYRUS

Quia enim in hunc suspicio est

Translata amoris.

CHREMES

Quid tum?

SYRUS

Quia videbitur

Magis verisimile id esse, quum hic illi dabit:

Simul et conficiam facilius ego, quod volo.

Ipse adeo adest: abi, effer argentum.

CHREMES

Effero.

SYRUS

(to himself, as he comes forward.)

Why delay to accost him?

CHREMES

Syrus.

SYRUS

Well.

CHREMES

How go matters ?

SYRUS

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.

SYRUS

As to what we were talking of a short time since? No sooner said than done.
760

CHREMES

In real earnest ?

SYRUS

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.)

SYRUS

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
765

SYRUS

On my word, not I, indeed; I am telling the truth.

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

Very good.
770

SYRUS

Tell me, please, what you think of it.

CHREMES

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.

CHREMES

What, her that has just been discovered ?

SYRUS

The same;

and, in fact, he’ll request that she may be asked for.
775

CHREMES

For what purpose, Syrus? For I don’t altogether comprehend it.

SYRUS

O dear, you are so dull.

CHREMES

Perhaps so.

SYRUS

Money will be given him for the wedding—with which golden trinkets and clothes—do you understand me?

CHREMES

To buy them—?

SYRUS

Just so.

CHREMES

But I neither give nor betroth my daughter to him.

SYRUS

But why?
780

CHREMES

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.

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?

SYRUS

I imagined so.
785