View:
By Scene
485
(Enter from DORIO’S house, DORIO, followed by PHAEDRIA.)
PHAEDRIA
Prithee, hear me, Dorio.
485
Prithee, hear me, Dorio.
485
DORIO
I’ll not hear you.
I’ll not hear you.
PHAEDRIA
Only a moment.
Only a moment.
DORIO
Let me alone.
Let me alone.
PHAEDRIA
Do hear what I have to say.
Do hear what I have to say.
DORIO
Why really I am tired of hearing the same thing a thousand times over.
Why really I am tired of hearing the same thing a thousand times over.
PHAEDRIA
But now, I have something to tell you that you’ll hear with pleasure.
But now, I have something to tell you that you’ll hear with pleasure.
DORIO
Speak then; I’m listening.
Speak then; I’m listening.
PHAEDRIA
Can I not prevail on you to wait for only three days? Whither are you going now?
Can I not prevail on you to wait for only three days? Whither are you going now?
DORIO
I was wondering if you had any thing new to offer.
490
I was wondering if you had any thing new to offer.
490
ANTIPHO
(apart, to GETA.)
I’m afraid for this Procurer, lest—
I’m afraid for this Procurer, lest—
GETA
(apart, to ANTIPHO.)
Something may befall his own safety.
1
Something may befall his own safety.
1
PHAEDRIA
You don’t believe me?
You don’t believe me?
DORIO
You guess right.
You guess right.
PHAEDRIA
But if I pledge my word.
But if I pledge my word.
DORIO
Nonsense!
Nonsense!
PHAEDRIA
You will have reason to say that this kindness was well laid out by you on interest.
You will have reason to say that this kindness was well laid out by you on interest.
DORIO
Stuff!
Stuff!
PHAEDRIA
Believe me, you will be glad you did so; upon my faith, it is the truth.
Believe me, you will be glad you did so; upon my faith, it is the truth.
DORIO
Mere dreams!
Mere dreams!
PHAEDRIA
Do but try; the time is not long.
495
Do but try; the time is not long.
495
DORIO
The same story over again.
The same story over again.
PHAEDRIA
You will be my kinsman, my father, my friend; you—
You will be my kinsman, my father, my friend; you—
DORIO
Now, do prate on.
Now, do prate on.
PHAEDRIA
For you to be of a disposition so harsh and inexorable, that neither by pity nor by entreaties can you be softened!
For you to be of a disposition so harsh and inexorable, that neither by pity nor by entreaties can you be softened!
DORIO
For you to be of a disposition so unreasonable and so unconscionable, Phaedria,
that you can be talking me over with fine words,
2
and be for amusing yourself with what’s my property for nothing!
500
For you to be of a disposition so unreasonable and so unconscionable, Phaedria,
that you can be talking me over with fine words,
2
and be for amusing yourself with what’s my property for nothing!
500
ANTIPHO
(apart, to GETA.)
I am sorry for him.
I am sorry for him.
PHAEDRIA
(aside.)
Alas! I feel it to be too true.
Alas! I feel it to be too true.
GETA
(apart, to ANTIPHO.)
How well each keeps up to his character!
How well each keeps up to his character!
PHAEDRIA
(to himself.)
And would that this misfortune had not befallen me at a time when Antipho was occupied with other cares as well.
And would that this misfortune had not befallen me at a time when Antipho was occupied with other cares as well.
ANTIPHO
(coming forward.)
Ah Phaedria, why, what is the matter?
Ah Phaedria, why, what is the matter?
PHAEDRIA
O most fortunate Antipho!
O most fortunate Antipho!
ANTIPHO
What, I?
What, I?
PHAEDRIA
To have in your possession the object of your love,
and have no occasion to encounter such a nuisance as this.
505
To have in your possession the object of your love,
and have no occasion to encounter such a nuisance as this.
505
ANTIPHO
What I, in my possession? Why yes, as the saying is, I’ve got a wolf by the ears;
3
for I neither know how to get rid of her, nor yet how to keep her.
What I, in my possession? Why yes, as the saying is, I’ve got a wolf by the ears;
3
for I neither know how to get rid of her, nor yet how to keep her.
DORIO
That’s just my case with regard to him
(pointing to PHAEDRIA).
That’s just my case with regard to him
(pointing to PHAEDRIA).
ANTIPHO
(to DORIO.)
Aye, aye, don’t you show too little of the Procurer.
(To PHAEDRIA.) What has he been doing?
Aye, aye, don’t you show too little of the Procurer.
(To PHAEDRIA.) What has he been doing?
PHAEDRIA
What, he? Acting the part of a most inhuman fellow;
been and sold my Pamphila.
510
What, he? Acting the part of a most inhuman fellow;
been and sold my Pamphila.
510
GETA
What! Sold her?
What! Sold her?
ANTIPHO
Sold her, say you?
Sold her, say you?
PHAEDRIA
Sold her.
Sold her.
DORIO
(ironically.)
What a shocking crime—a wench bought with one’s own money!
What a shocking crime—a wench bought with one’s own money!
PHAEDRIA
I can not prevail upon him to wait for me the next three days, and so far break off the bargain with the person, while I get the money from my friends, which has been promised me; if I don’t give it him then, let him not wait a single hour longer.
I can not prevail upon him to wait for me the next three days, and so far break off the bargain with the person, while I get the money from my friends, which has been promised me; if I don’t give it him then, let him not wait a single hour longer.
DORIO
Very good.
515
Very good.
515
ANTIPHO
It’s not a long time that he asks, Dorio; do let him prevail upon you; he’ll pay you two-fold for having acted to him thus obligingly.
It’s not a long time that he asks, Dorio; do let him prevail upon you; he’ll pay you two-fold for having acted to him thus obligingly.
DORIO
Mere words!
Mere words!
ANTIPHO
Will you allow Pamphila to be carried away from this place? And then, besides, can you possibly allow their love to be severed asunder?
Will you allow Pamphila to be carried away from this place? And then, besides, can you possibly allow their love to be severed asunder?
DORIO
Neither I nor you cause that.
Neither I nor you cause that.
GETA
May all the Gods grant you what you are deserving of!
May all the Gods grant you what you are deserving of!
DORIO
I have borne with you for several months quite against my inclination; promising and whimpering, and yet bringing nothing; now, on the other hand, I have found one to pay, and not be sniveling; give place to your betters.
520
I have borne with you for several months quite against my inclination; promising and whimpering, and yet bringing nothing; now, on the other hand, I have found one to pay, and not be sniveling; give place to your betters.
520
ANTIPHO
I’ faith, there surely was a day named, if I remember right, for you to pay him.
I’ faith, there surely was a day named, if I remember right, for you to pay him.
PHAEDRIA
It is the fact.
It is the fact.
DORIO
Do I deny it?
Do I deny it?
ANTIPHO
Is that day past, then?
525
Is that day past, then?
525
DORIO
No; but this one has come before it.
No; but this one has come before it.
ANTIPHO
Are you not ashamed of your perfidy?
Are you not ashamed of your perfidy?
DORIO
Not at all, so long as it is for my interest.
Not at all, so long as it is for my interest.
GETA
Dunghill!
Dunghill!
PHAEDRIA
Dorio, is it right, pray, for you to act thus?
Dorio, is it right, pray, for you to act thus?
DORIO
It is my way; if I suit you, make use of me.
It is my way; if I suit you, make use of me.
ANTIPHO
Do you try to trifle with him
(pointing to PHAEDRIA) in this manner?
Do you try to trifle with him
(pointing to PHAEDRIA) in this manner?
DORIO
Why really, on the contrary, Antipho, it’s he trifling with me, for he knew me to be a person of this sort; I supposed him to be quite a different man;
he has deceived me; I’m not a bit different to him from what I was before. But however that may be, I’ll yet do this; the captain has said, that to-morrow morning he will pay me the money; if you bring it me before that, Phaedria, I’ll follow my rule, that he is the first served who is the first to pay. Farewell!
(Goes into his house.)
530
Why really, on the contrary, Antipho, it’s he trifling with me, for he knew me to be a person of this sort; I supposed him to be quite a different man;
he has deceived me; I’m not a bit different to him from what I was before. But however that may be, I’ll yet do this; the captain has said, that to-morrow morning he will pay me the money; if you bring it me before that, Phaedria, I’ll follow my rule, that he is the first served who is the first to pay. Farewell!
(Goes into his house.)
530
Phormio. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.