Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Heautontimorumenos, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 5.2

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954 (CLITIPHO. MENEDEMUS. CHREMES. SYRUS.)

CLITIPHO

Itane tandem quaeso, Menedeme, ut pater

Tam in brevi spatio omnem de me eiecerit animum patris?
955

Quodnam ob facinus? quid ego tantum sceleris admisi miser?

Vulgo faciunt.

MENEDEMUS

Scio tibi esse hoc gravius multo ac durius,

Cui fit; verum ego haud minus aegre patior. Id qui nescio,

Nec rationem capio, nisi quod tibi bene ex animo volo.

CLITIPHO

Hic patrem adstare aibas?
960

MENEDEMUS

Eccum.

CHREMES

Quid me incusas, Clitipho?

Quicquid ego huius feci, tibi prospexi et stultitiae tuae.

Ubi te vidi animo esse omisso, et suavia in praesentia

Quae essent prima habere, neque consulere in longitudinem,

Cepi rationem ut neque egeres, neque ut haec posses perdere.

Ubi cui decuit primo tibi non licuit per te mihi dare,
965

Abii ad proximos qui erant tibi; eis commisi et credidi:

Ibi tuae stultitiae semper erit praesidium, Clitipho;

Victus, vestitus, quo in tectum te receptes.

CLITIPHO

Hei mihi !

CHREMES

Satius est quam te ipso herede haec possidere Bacchidem.

SYRUS

Disperii: scelestus quantas turbas concivi insciens !
970

CLITIPHO

Emori cupio.

CHREMES

Prius quaeso disce quid sit vivere:

Ubi scies, si displicebit vita, tum istoc utitor.

SYRUS

Here, licetne?

CHREMES

Loquere.

SYRUS

At tuto?

CHREMES

Loquere.

SYRUS

Quae ista est pravitas,

Quaeve amentia est, quod peccavi ego id obesse huic?

CHREMES

Ilicet.

Ne te admisce: nemo accusat, Syre, te; nec tu aram tibi
975

Nec precatorem pararis.

SYRUS

Quid agis?

CHREMES

Nihil succenseo,

Nec tibi nec huic: nec vos est aequum quod facio mihi.

SYRUS

Abiit; vah, rogasse vellem.

CLITIPHO

Quid?

SYRUS

Unde mihi peterem cibum:

Ita nos alienavit: tibi iam esse ad sororem intelligo.

CLITIPHO

Adeon rem rediisse ut periculum etiam fame mihi sit, Syre?
980

SYRUS

Modo liceat vivere, est spes—

CLITIPHO

Quae?

SYRUS

nos esurituros satis.

CLITIPHO

Irrides in re tanta, neque me quicquam consilio adiuvas?

SYRUS

Immo et ibi nunc sum, et usque id egi dudum, dum loquitur pater;

Et, quantum ego intelligere possum—

CLITIPHO

Quid?

SYRUS

non aberit longius.

CLITIPHO

Quid id ergo?
985

SYRUS

Sic est, non esse horum te arbitror.

CLITIPHO

Quid istuc, Syre?

Satin sanus es?

SYRUS

Ego dicam quod mihi in mentem: tu diiudica.

Dum istis fuisti solus, dum nulla alia delectatio

Quae propior esset, te indulgebant, tibi dabant: nunc filia

Postquam est inventa vera, inventa est causa qua te expellerent.

CLITIPHO

Est verisimile.
990

SYRUS

An tu ob peccatum hoc esse illum iratum putas?

CLITIPHO

Non arbitror.

SYRUS

Nunc aliud specta: matres omnes filiis

In peccato adiutrices, auxilio in paterna iniuria

Solent esse: id non fit.

CLITIPHO

Verum dicis: quid nunc faciam, Syre?

SYRUS

Suspicionem istanc ex illis quaere; rem profer palam:

Si non est verum, ad misericordiam ambos adduces cito, aut
995

Scibis cuius sis.

CLITIPHO

Recte suades; faciam.

SYRUS

Sat recte hoc mihi

In mentem venit: namque adolescens quam minima in spe situs erit

Tam facillime patris pacem in leges conficiet suas.

Etiam haud scio an uxorem ducat; ac Syro nihil gratiae.

Quid hoc autem? senex exit foras: ego fugio: adhuc quod factum est
1000

Miror, continuo non iussisse abripi me. Ad Menedemum hunc pergam:

Eum mihi precatorem paro: seni nostro fidei nihil habeo.

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.) — 5.2 focus

954 (Enter MENEDEMUS, with CLITIPHO and SYRUS.)

CLITIPHO

Prithee, is it really the fact, Menedemus, that my father can,

in so short a space of time, have cast off all the natural affection of a parent for me? For what crime? What so great enormity have I, to my misfortune, committed? Young men generally do the same.
955

MENEDEMUS

I am aware that this must be much more harsh and severe to you, on whom it falls; but yet I take it no less amiss than you. How it is so I know not, nor can I account for it, except that from my heart I wish you well.

CLITIPHO

Did not you say that my father was waiting here?
960
(Enter CHREMES from his house.)

MENEDEMUS

See, here he is.

(MENEDEMUS goes into his house.)

CHREMES

Why are you blaming me, Clitipho? Whatever I have done in this matter, I had a view to you and your imprudence. When I saw that you were of a careless disposition, and held the pleasures of the moment of the first importance, and did not look forward to the future, I took measures that you might neither want nor be able to waste this which I have.

When, through your own conduct, it was not allowed me to give it you, to whom I ought before all, I had recourse to those who were your nearest relations; to them I have made over and intrusted every thing.¹ There you’ll always find a refuge for your folly; food, clothing, and a roof under which to betake yourself.
965

CLITIPHO

Ah me!

CHREMES

It is better than that, you being my heir, Bacchis should possess this estate of mine.

SYRUS

(apart.)

I’m ruined irrevocably!—Of what mischief have I, wretch that I am, unthinkingly been the cause?
970

CLITIPHO

Would I were dead!

CHREMES

Prithee, first learn what it is to live. When you know that, if life displeases you, then try the other.

SYRUS

Master, may I be allowed—?

CHREMES

Say on.

SYRUS

But may I safely?

CHREMES

Say on.

SYRUS

What injustice or what madness is this, that that in which I have offended, should be to his detriment?

CHREMES

It’s all over.²

Don’t you mix yourself up in it; no one accuses you, Syrus, nor need you look out for an altar,³ or for an intercessor for yourself.
975

SYRUS

What is your design?

CHREMES

I am not at all angry either with you, (to SYRUS), or with you (to CLITIPHO); nor is it fair that you should be so with me for what I am doing.

(He goes into his house.)

SYRUS

He’s gone. I wish I had asked him—

CLITIPHO

What, Syrus?

SYRUS

Where I am to get my subsistence; he has so utterly cast us adrift. You are to have it, for the present, at your sister’s, I find.

CLITIPHO

Has it then come to this pass, Syrus—that I am to be in danger even of starving?
980

SYRUS

So we only live, there’s hope—

CLITIPHO

What hope?

SYRUS

That we shall be hungry enough.

CLITIPHO

Do you jest in a matter so serious, and not give me any assistance with your advice?

SYRUS

On the contrary, I’m both now thinking of that, and have been about it all the time your father was speaking just now; and so far as I can perceive—

CLITIPHO

What?

SYRUS

It will not be wanting long.

(He meditates.)

CLITIPHO

What is it, then?
985

SYRUS

It is this—I think that you are not their son.

CLITIPHO

How’s that, Syrus? Are you quite in your senses?

SYRUS

I’ll tell you what’s come into my mind; be you the judge. While they had you alone, while they had no other source of joy more nearly to affect them, they indulged you, they lavished upon you. Now a daughter has been found, a pretense has been found in fact on which to turn you adrift.

CLITIPHO

It’s very probable.
990

SYRUS

Do you suppose that he is so angry on account of this fault?

CLITIPHO

I do not think so.

SYRUS

Now consider another thing. All mothers are wont to be advocates for their sons when in fault, and to aid them against a father’s severity; ’tis not so here.

CLITIPHO

You say true; what then shall I now do, Syrus?

SYRUS

Question them on this suspicion; mention the matter without reserve;

either, if it is not true, you’ll soon bring them both to compassion, or else you’ll soon find out whose son you are.
995

CLITIPHO

You give good advice; I’ll do so.

(He goes into the house of CHREMES.)

SYRUS

(to himself.)

Most fortunately did this come into my mind. For the less hope the young man entertains, the greater the difficulty with which he’ll bring his father to his own terms. I’m not sure even, that he may not take a wife, and then no thanks for Syrus.

But what is this? The old man’s coming out of doors; I’ll be off. What has so far happened, I am surprised at, that he didn’t order me to becarried off from here: now I’ll away to Menedemus here, I’ll secure him as my intercessor; I can put no trust in our old man.
1000
(Goes into the house of MENEDEMUS.)

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CLITIPHO Itane tandem quaeso, Menedeme, ut pater Tam in brevi spatio omnem de me eiecerit animum patris? 955 Quodnam ob facinus? quid ego tantum sceleris admisi miser? Vulgo faciunt.

MENEDEMUS Scio tibi esse hoc gravius multo ac durius, Cui fit; verum ego haud minus aegre patior. Id qui nescio, Nec rationem capio, nisi quod tibi bene ex animo volo.

CLITIPHO Hic patrem adstare aibas? 960

MENEDEMUS Eccum.

CLITIPHO Hei mihi !

CHREMES Satius est quam te ipso herede haec possidere Bacchidem.

SYRUS Disperii: scelestus quantas turbas concivi insciens ! 970

CLITIPHO Emori cupio.

CHREMES Prius quaeso disce quid sit vivere: Ubi scies, si displicebit vita, tum istoc utitor.

SYRUS Here, licetne?

CHREMES Loquere.

SYRUS At tuto?

CHREMES Loquere.

SYRUS Quae ista est pravitas, Quaeve amentia est, quod peccavi ego id obesse huic?

CHREMES Ilicet. Ne te admisce: nemo accusat, Syre, te; nec tu aram tibi 975 Nec precatorem pararis.

SYRUS Quid agis?

CHREMES Nihil succenseo, Nec tibi nec huic: nec vos est aequum quod facio mihi.

SYRUS Abiit; vah, rogasse vellem.

CLITIPHO Quid?

SYRUS Unde mihi peterem cibum: Ita nos alienavit: tibi iam esse ad sororem intelligo.

CLITIPHO Adeon rem rediisse ut periculum etiam fame mihi sit, Syre? 980

SYRUS Modo liceat vivere, est spes—

CLITIPHO Quae?

SYRUS nos esurituros satis.

CLITIPHO Irrides in re tanta, neque me quicquam consilio adiuvas?

SYRUS Immo et ibi nunc sum, et usque id egi dudum, dum loquitur pater; Et, quantum ego intelligere possum—

CLITIPHO Quid?

SYRUS non aberit longius.

CLITIPHO Quid id ergo? 985

SYRUS Sic est, non esse horum te arbitror.

CLITIPHO Quid istuc, Syre? Satin sanus es?

SYRUS Ego dicam quod mihi in mentem: tu diiudica. Dum istis fuisti solus, dum nulla alia delectatio Quae propior esset, te indulgebant, tibi dabant: nunc filia Postquam est inventa vera, inventa est causa qua te expellerent.

CLITIPHO Est verisimile. 990

SYRUS An tu ob peccatum hoc esse illum iratum putas?

CLITIPHO Non arbitror.

SYRUS Nunc aliud specta: matres omnes filiis In peccato adiutrices, auxilio in paterna iniuria Solent esse: id non fit.

CLITIPHO Verum dicis: quid nunc faciam, Syre?

SYRUS Suspicionem istanc ex illis quaere; rem profer palam: Si non est verum, ad misericordiam ambos adduces cito, aut 995 Scibis cuius sis.

CLITIPHO Recte suades; faciam.

Current edition Perseus

CLITIPHO Prithee, is it really the fact, Menedemus, that my father can, in so short a space of time, have cast off all the natural affection of a parent for me? For what crime? What so great enormity have I, to my misfortune, committed? Young men generally do the same. 955

MENEDEMUS I am aware that this must be much more harsh and severe to you, on whom it falls; but yet I take it no less amiss than you. How it is so I know not, nor can I account for it, except that from my heart I wish you well.

CLITIPHO Did not you say that my father was waiting here? 960 (Enter CHREMES from his house.)

MENEDEMUS See, here he is. (MENEDEMUS goes into his house.)

CLITIPHO Ah me!

CHREMES It is better than that, you being my heir, Bacchis should possess this estate of mine.

SYRUS (apart.) I’m ruined irrevocably!—Of what mischief have I, wretch that I am, unthinkingly been the cause? 970

CLITIPHO Would I were dead!

CHREMES Prithee, first learn what it is to live. When you know that, if life displeases you, then try the other.

SYRUS Master, may I be allowed—?

CHREMES Say on.

SYRUS But may I safely?

CHREMES Say on.

SYRUS What injustice or what madness is this, that that in which I have offended, should be to his detriment?

CHREMES It’s all over. 2 Don’t you mix yourself up in it; no one accuses you, Syrus, nor need you look out for an altar, 3 or for an intercessor for yourself. 975

SYRUS What is your design?

CHREMES I am not at all angry either with you, (to SYRUS), or with you (to CLITIPHO); nor is it fair that you should be so with me for what I am doing. (He goes into his house.)

SYRUS He’s gone. I wish I had asked him—

CLITIPHO What, Syrus?

SYRUS Where I am to get my subsistence; he has so utterly cast us adrift. You are to have it, for the present, at your sister’s, I find.

CLITIPHO Has it then come to this pass, Syrus—that I am to be in danger even of starving? 980

SYRUS So we only live, there’s hope—

CLITIPHO What hope?

SYRUS That we shall be hungry enough.

CLITIPHO Do you jest in a matter so serious, and not give me any assistance with your advice?

SYRUS On the contrary, I’m both now thinking of that, and have been about it all the time your father was speaking just now; and so far as I can perceive—

CLITIPHO What?

SYRUS It will not be wanting long. (He meditates.)

CLITIPHO What is it, then? 985

SYRUS It is this—I think that you are not their son.

CLITIPHO How’s that, Syrus? Are you quite in your senses?

SYRUS I’ll tell you what’s come into my mind; be you the judge. While they had you alone, while they had no other source of joy more nearly to affect them, they indulged you, they lavished upon you. Now a daughter has been found, a pretense has been found in fact on which to turn you adrift.

CLITIPHO It’s very probable. 990

SYRUS Do you suppose that he is so angry on account of this fault?

CLITIPHO I do not think so.

SYRUS Now consider another thing. All mothers are wont to be advocates for their sons when in fault, and to aid them against a father’s severity; ’tis not so here.

CLITIPHO You say true; what then shall I now do, Syrus?

SYRUS Question them on this suspicion; mention the matter without reserve; either, if it is not true, you’ll soon bring them both to compassion, or else you’ll soon find out whose son you are. 995

CLITIPHO

Itane tandem quaeso, Menedeme, ut pater

Tam in brevi spatio omnem de me eiecerit animum patris?
955

Quodnam ob facinus? quid ego tantum sceleris admisi miser?

Vulgo faciunt.

MENEDEMUS

Scio tibi esse hoc gravius multo ac durius,

Cui fit; verum ego haud minus aegre patior. Id qui nescio,

Nec rationem capio, nisi quod tibi bene ex animo volo.

CLITIPHO

Hic patrem adstare aibas?
960

MENEDEMUS

Eccum.

CLITIPHO

Hei mihi !

CHREMES

Satius est quam te ipso herede haec possidere Bacchidem.

SYRUS

Disperii: scelestus quantas turbas concivi insciens !
970

CLITIPHO

Emori cupio.

CHREMES

Prius quaeso disce quid sit vivere:

Ubi scies, si displicebit vita, tum istoc utitor.

SYRUS

Here, licetne?

CHREMES

Loquere.

SYRUS

At tuto?

CHREMES

Loquere.

SYRUS

Quae ista est pravitas,

Quaeve amentia est, quod peccavi ego id obesse huic?

CHREMES

Ilicet.

Ne te admisce: nemo accusat, Syre, te; nec tu aram tibi
975

Nec precatorem pararis.

SYRUS

Quid agis?

CHREMES

Nihil succenseo,

Nec tibi nec huic: nec vos est aequum quod facio mihi.

SYRUS

Abiit; vah, rogasse vellem.

CLITIPHO

Quid?

SYRUS

Unde mihi peterem cibum:

Ita nos alienavit: tibi iam esse ad sororem intelligo.

CLITIPHO

Adeon rem rediisse ut periculum etiam fame mihi sit, Syre?
980

SYRUS

Modo liceat vivere, est spes—

CLITIPHO

Quae?

SYRUS

nos esurituros satis.

CLITIPHO

Irrides in re tanta, neque me quicquam consilio adiuvas?

SYRUS

Immo et ibi nunc sum, et usque id egi dudum, dum loquitur pater;

Et, quantum ego intelligere possum—

CLITIPHO

Quid?

SYRUS

non aberit longius.

CLITIPHO

Quid id ergo?
985

SYRUS

Sic est, non esse horum te arbitror.

CLITIPHO

Quid istuc, Syre?

Satin sanus es?

SYRUS

Ego dicam quod mihi in mentem: tu diiudica.

Dum istis fuisti solus, dum nulla alia delectatio

Quae propior esset, te indulgebant, tibi dabant: nunc filia

Postquam est inventa vera, inventa est causa qua te expellerent.

CLITIPHO

Est verisimile.
990

SYRUS

An tu ob peccatum hoc esse illum iratum putas?

CLITIPHO

Non arbitror.

SYRUS

Nunc aliud specta: matres omnes filiis

In peccato adiutrices, auxilio in paterna iniuria

Solent esse: id non fit.

CLITIPHO

Verum dicis: quid nunc faciam, Syre?

SYRUS

Suspicionem istanc ex illis quaere; rem profer palam:

Si non est verum, ad misericordiam ambos adduces cito, aut
995

Scibis cuius sis.

CLITIPHO

Recte suades; faciam.

CLITIPHO

Prithee, is it really the fact, Menedemus, that my father can,

in so short a space of time, have cast off all the natural affection of a parent for me? For what crime? What so great enormity have I, to my misfortune, committed? Young men generally do the same.
955

MENEDEMUS

I am aware that this must be much more harsh and severe to you, on whom it falls; but yet I take it no less amiss than you. How it is so I know not, nor can I account for it, except that from my heart I wish you well.

CLITIPHO

Did not you say that my father was waiting here?
960
(Enter CHREMES from his house.)

MENEDEMUS

See, here he is.

(MENEDEMUS goes into his house.)

CLITIPHO

Ah me!

CHREMES

It is better than that, you being my heir, Bacchis should possess this estate of mine.

SYRUS

(apart.)

I’m ruined irrevocably!—Of what mischief have I, wretch that I am, unthinkingly been the cause?
970

CLITIPHO

Would I were dead!

CHREMES

Prithee, first learn what it is to live. When you know that, if life displeases you, then try the other.

SYRUS

Master, may I be allowed—?

CHREMES

Say on.

SYRUS

But may I safely?

CHREMES

Say on.

SYRUS

What injustice or what madness is this, that that in which I have offended, should be to his detriment?

CHREMES

It’s all over.²

Don’t you mix yourself up in it; no one accuses you, Syrus, nor need you look out for an altar,³ or for an intercessor for yourself.
975

SYRUS

What is your design?

CHREMES

I am not at all angry either with you, (to SYRUS), or with you (to CLITIPHO); nor is it fair that you should be so with me for what I am doing.

(He goes into his house.)

SYRUS

He’s gone. I wish I had asked him—

CLITIPHO

What, Syrus?

SYRUS

Where I am to get my subsistence; he has so utterly cast us adrift. You are to have it, for the present, at your sister’s, I find.

CLITIPHO

Has it then come to this pass, Syrus—that I am to be in danger even of starving?
980

SYRUS

So we only live, there’s hope—

CLITIPHO

What hope?

SYRUS

That we shall be hungry enough.

CLITIPHO

Do you jest in a matter so serious, and not give me any assistance with your advice?

SYRUS

On the contrary, I’m both now thinking of that, and have been about it all the time your father was speaking just now; and so far as I can perceive—

CLITIPHO

What?

SYRUS

It will not be wanting long.

(He meditates.)

CLITIPHO

What is it, then?
985

SYRUS

It is this—I think that you are not their son.

CLITIPHO

How’s that, Syrus? Are you quite in your senses?

SYRUS

I’ll tell you what’s come into my mind; be you the judge. While they had you alone, while they had no other source of joy more nearly to affect them, they indulged you, they lavished upon you. Now a daughter has been found, a pretense has been found in fact on which to turn you adrift.

CLITIPHO

It’s very probable.
990

SYRUS

Do you suppose that he is so angry on account of this fault?

CLITIPHO

I do not think so.

SYRUS

Now consider another thing. All mothers are wont to be advocates for their sons when in fault, and to aid them against a father’s severity; ’tis not so here.

CLITIPHO

You say true; what then shall I now do, Syrus?

SYRUS

Question them on this suspicion; mention the matter without reserve;

either, if it is not true, you’ll soon bring them both to compassion, or else you’ll soon find out whose son you are.
995

CLITIPHO

You give good advice; I’ll do so.

(He goes into the house of CHREMES.)