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784
(Enter DEMIPHO and NAUSISTRATA, from the house of CHREMES.)
DEMIPHO
Come now, Nausistrata, after your usual way, manage to keep her in good-humor with us,
and make her do of her own accord what must be done.
785
Come now, Nausistrata, after your usual way, manage to keep her in good-humor with us,
and make her do of her own accord what must be done.
785
NAUSISTRATA
I will.
I will.
DEMIPHO
You are now seconding me with your endeavors, just as you assisted me with your money
1
before.
You are now seconding me with your endeavors, just as you assisted me with your money
1
before.
NAUSISTRATA
I wish to do so; and yet, i’ faith, through the fault of my husband, I am less able than I ought to be.
I wish to do so; and yet, i’ faith, through the fault of my husband, I am less able than I ought to be.
DEMIPHO
Why so?
Why so?
NAUSISTRATA
Because, i’ faith, he takes such indifferent care of the property that was so industriously acquired by my father; for from those farms he used regularly to receive two talents of silver yearly; there’s an instance, how superior one man is to another.
Because, i’ faith, he takes such indifferent care of the property that was so industriously acquired by my father; for from those farms he used regularly to receive two talents of silver yearly; there’s an instance, how superior one man is to another.
DEMIPHO
Two talents, pray?
Two talents, pray?
NAUSISTRATA
Aye, and when things were much worse, two talents even.
Aye, and when things were much worse, two talents even.
DEMIPHO
Whew!
Whew!
NAUSISTRATA
What! does this seem surprising?
What! does this seem surprising?
DEMIPHO
Of course it does.
Of course it does.
NAUSISTRATA
I wish I had been born a man; I’d have shown—
I wish I had been born a man; I’d have shown—
DEMIPHO
That I’m quite sure of.
That I’m quite sure of.
NAUSISTRATA
In what way—
In what way—
DEMIPHO
Forbear, pray, that you may be able to do battle with her; lest she, being a young woman, may be more than a match for you.
Forbear, pray, that you may be able to do battle with her; lest she, being a young woman, may be more than a match for you.
NAUSISTRATA
I’ll do as you bid me; but I see my husband coming out of your house.
(Enter CHREMES, hastily, from DEMIPHO’S house.)
795
I’ll do as you bid me; but I see my husband coming out of your house.
(Enter CHREMES, hastily, from DEMIPHO’S house.)
795
CHREMES
Ha! Demipho, has the money been paid him yet?
Ha! Demipho, has the money been paid him yet?
DEMIPHO
I took care immediately.
I took care immediately.
CHREMES
I wish it hadn’t been paid him.
(On seeing NAUSISTRATA, aside.): Halloo, I espy my wife; I had almost said more than I ought.
I wish it hadn’t been paid him.
(On seeing NAUSISTRATA, aside.): Halloo, I espy my wife; I had almost said more than I ought.
DEMIPHO
Why do you wish I hadn’t, Chremes?
Why do you wish I hadn’t, Chremes?
CHREMES
It’s all right.
It’s all right.
DEMIPHO
What say you? Have you been letting her know why we are going to bring her?
(pointing to NAUSISTRATA.)
What say you? Have you been letting her know why we are going to bring her?
(pointing to NAUSISTRATA.)
CHREMES
I’ve arranged it.
I’ve arranged it.
DEMIPHO
Pray, what does she say?
Pray, what does she say?
CHREMES
She can’t be got to leave.
She can’t be got to leave.
DEMIPHO
Why can’t she?
Why can’t she?
CHREMES
Because they are fond of one another.
800
Because they are fond of one another.
800
DEMIPHO
What’s that to us?
What’s that to us?
CHREMES
(apart, to DEMIPHO.)
A great deal; besides that, I’ve found out that she is related to us.
A great deal; besides that, I’ve found out that she is related to us.
DEMIPHO
(apart.)
What! You are mad, surely.
What! You are mad, surely.
CHREMES
(apart.)
So you will find; I don’t speak at random; I’ve recovered my recollection.
So you will find; I don’t speak at random; I’ve recovered my recollection.
DEMIPHO
(apart.)
Are you quite in your senses?
Are you quite in your senses?
CHREMES
(apart.)
Nay, prithee, do take care not to injure your kinswoman.
Nay, prithee, do take care not to injure your kinswoman.
DEMIPHO
(apart.)
She is not.
She is not.
CHREMES
(apart.)
Don’t deny it; her father went by another name; that was the cause of your mistake.
Don’t deny it; her father went by another name; that was the cause of your mistake.
DEMIPHO
(apart.)
Did she not know who was her father?
Did she not know who was her father?
CHREMES
(apart.)
She did.
805
She did.
805
DEMIPHO
(apart.)
Why did she call him by another name?
Why did she call him by another name?
CHREMES
(apart, frowning.)
Will you never yield to me, nor understand what I mean?
Will you never yield to me, nor understand what I mean?
DEMIPHO
(apart.)
If you don’t tell me of any thing—
If you don’t tell me of any thing—
CHREMES
(impatiently.)
Do you persist?
Do you persist?
NAUSISTRATA
I wonder what all this can be.
I wonder what all this can be.
DEMIPHO
For my part, upon my faith, I don’t know.
For my part, upon my faith, I don’t know.
CHREMES
(whispering to him.)
Would you like to know? Then, so may Jupiter preserve me, not a person is there more nearly related to her than are you and I.
Would you like to know? Then, so may Jupiter preserve me, not a person is there more nearly related to her than are you and I.
DEMIPHO
(starting.)
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! let’s away to her; I wish for all of us, one way or other, to be sure about this
(going).
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! let’s away to her; I wish for all of us, one way or other, to be sure about this
(going).
CHREMES
(stopping him.)
Ah!
Ah!
DEMIPHO
What’s the matter?
810
What’s the matter?
810
CHREMES
That you should put so little confidence in me!
That you should put so little confidence in me!
DEMIPHO
Do you wish me to believe you? Do you wish me to consider this as quite certain? Very well, be it so. Well, what’s to be done with our friend’s
2
daughter?
Do you wish me to believe you? Do you wish me to consider this as quite certain? Very well, be it so. Well, what’s to be done with our friend’s
2
daughter?
CHREMES
She’ll do well enough.
She’ll do well enough.
DEMIPHO
Are we to drop her, then?
Are we to drop her, then?
CHREMES
Why not?
Why not?
DEMIPHO
The other one to stop?
The other one to stop?
CHREMES
Just so.
Just so.
DEMIPHO
You may go then, Nausistrata.
You may go then, Nausistrata.
NAUSISTRATA
I’ faith, I think it better for all that she should remain here as it is,
than as you first intended; for she seemed to me a very genteel person when I saw her.
815
(Goes into her house.)
I’ faith, I think it better for all that she should remain here as it is,
than as you first intended; for she seemed to me a very genteel person when I saw her.
815
DEMIPHO
What is the meaning of all this?
What is the meaning of all this?
CHREMES
(looking at the door of his house.)
Has she shut the door yet?
Has she shut the door yet?
DEMIPHO
Now she has.
Now she has.
CHREMES
O Jupiter! the Gods do befriend us; I have found that it is my daughter married to your son.
O Jupiter! the Gods do befriend us; I have found that it is my daughter married to your son.
DEMIPHO
Ha! How can that possibly be?
Ha! How can that possibly be?
CHREMES
This spot is not exactly suited for me to tell it you.
This spot is not exactly suited for me to tell it you.
DEMIPHO
Well then, step in-doors.
Well then, step in-doors.
CHREMES
Hark, you, I don’t wish our sons even to come to know of this.
(They go into DEMIPHO’S house.)
Hark, you, I don’t wish our sons even to come to know of this.
Phormio. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). Ney York. 1874.
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