Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Phormio, Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator), 3.3

534 (PHAEDRIA, ANTIPHO, and GETA.)

PHAEDRIA

What am I to do? Wretch that I am! where am I now in this emergency to raise the money for him,

I, who am worse than nothing? If it had been possible for these three days to be obtained of him, it was promised me by then.
535

ANTIPHO

Geta, shall we suffer him to continue thus wretched, when he so lately assisted me in the kind way you were mentioning? On the contrary, why not, as there’s need of it try to do him a kindness in return?

GETA

For my part, I’m sure it is but fair.

ANTIPHO

Come then, you are the only man able to serve him.

GETA

What can I do?
540

ANTIPHO

Procure the money.

GETA

I wish I could; but where it is to come from—tell me that.

ANTIPHO

My father has come home.

GETA

I know; but what of that?

ANTIPHO

Oh, a word to the wise¹ is quite enough.

GETA

Is that it, then?

ANTIPHO

Just so.

GETA

Upon my faith, you really do give me fine advice; out upon you! Ought I not to be heartily glad, if I meet with no mishap through your marriage, but what, in addition to that, you must now bid me, for his sake, to be seeking risk upon risk?

ANTIPHO

’Tis true what he says.
545

PHAEDRIA

What! am I a stranger to you, Geta?

GETA

I don’t consider you so. But is it so trifling a matter that the old gentleman is now vexed with us all, that we must provoke him still more, and leave no room for entreaty?

PHAEDRIA

Is another man to take her away from before my eyes to some unknown spot? Alas!

speak to me then, Antipho, and look upon me while you have the opportunity, and while I’m present.

ANTIPHO

Why so, or what are you going to do? Pray, tell me.

PHAEDRIA

To whatever part of the world she is borne away, I’m determined to follow her or to perish.

GETA

May the Gods prosper your design! Cautiously’s the word, however.

ANTIPHO

(to GETA.)

Do see if you can give him any assistance at all.

GETA

Any at all—how?

ANTIPHO

Pray, do try, that he mayn’t be doing something that we may afterward be more or less sorry for, Geta.

GETA

I’m considering, (He pauses.) He’s all safe, so far as I can guess: but still, I’m afraid of mischief.
555

ANTIPHO

Don’t be afraid: together with you, we’ll share good and bad.

GETA

(to PHAEDRIA.)

How much money do you want? Tell me.

PHAEDRIA

Only thirty minae.

GETA

Thirty? Heyday! she’s monstrous dear, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA

Indeed, she’s very cheap.

GETA

Well, well, I’ll get them for you.

PHAEDRIA

Oh the dear man! (They both fall to hugging GETA.)

GETA

Take yourselves off. (Shakes them of.)

PHAEDRIA

There’s need for them directly.

GETA

You shall have them directly;

but I must have Phormio for my assistant in this business.
560

ANTIPHO

He’s quite ready; right boldly lay on him any load you like, he’ll bear it: he, in especial, is a friend to his friend.

GETA

Let’s go to him at once then.

ANTIPHO

Will you have any occasion for my assistance?

GETA

None; but be off home, and comfort that poor thing, who I am sure is now in-doors almost dead with fear. Do you linger?

ANTIPHO

There’s nothing I could do with so much pleasure.

(Goes into the house of DEMIPHO.)

PHAEDRIA

What way will you manage this?

GETA

I’ll tell you on the road; first thing, betake yourself off. (Exeunt.)

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PHAEDRIA What am I to do? Wretch that I am! where am I now in this emergency to raise the money for him, I, who am worse than nothing? If it had been possible for these three days to be obtained of him, it was promised me by then. 535

ANTIPHO Geta, shall we suffer him to continue thus wretched, when he so lately assisted me in the kind way you were mentioning? On the contrary, why not, as there’s need of it try to do him a kindness in return?

GETA For my part, I’m sure it is but fair.

ANTIPHO Come then, you are the only man able to serve him.

GETA What can I do? 540

ANTIPHO Procure the money.

GETA I wish I could; but where it is to come from—tell me that.

ANTIPHO My father has come home.

GETA I know; but what of that?

ANTIPHO Oh, a word to the wise 1 is quite enough.

GETA Is that it, then?

ANTIPHO Just so.

GETA Upon my faith, you really do give me fine advice; out upon you! Ought I not to be heartily glad, if I meet with no mishap through your marriage, but what, in addition to that, you must now bid me, for his sake, to be seeking risk upon risk?

ANTIPHO ’Tis true what he says. 545

PHAEDRIA What! am I a stranger to you, Geta?

GETA I don’t consider you so. But is it so trifling a matter that the old gentleman is now vexed with us all, that we must provoke him still more, and leave no room for entreaty?

PHAEDRIA Is another man to take her away from before my eyes to some unknown spot? Alas! speak to me then, Antipho, and look upon me while you have the opportunity, and while I’m present.

ANTIPHO Why so, or what are you going to do? Pray, tell me.

PHAEDRIA To whatever part of the world she is borne away, I’m determined to follow her or to perish.

GETA May the Gods prosper your design! Cautiously’s the word, however.

ANTIPHO (to GETA.) Do see if you can give him any assistance at all.

GETA Any at all—how?

ANTIPHO Pray, do try, that he mayn’t be doing something that we may afterward be more or less sorry for, Geta.

GETA I’m considering, (He pauses.) He’s all safe, so far as I can guess: but still, I’m afraid of mischief. 555

ANTIPHO Don’t be afraid: together with you, we’ll share good and bad.

GETA (to PHAEDRIA.) How much money do you want? Tell me.

PHAEDRIA Only thirty minae.

GETA Thirty? Heyday! she’s monstrous dear, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA Indeed, she’s very cheap.

GETA Well, well, I’ll get them for you.

PHAEDRIA Oh the dear man! (They both fall to hugging GETA.)

GETA Take yourselves off. (Shakes them of.)

PHAEDRIA There’s need for them directly.

GETA You shall have them directly; but I must have Phormio for my assistant in this business. 560

ANTIPHO He’s quite ready; right boldly lay on him any load you like, he’ll bear it: he, in especial, is a friend to his friend.

GETA Let’s go to him at once then.

ANTIPHO Will you have any occasion for my assistance?

GETA None; but be off home, and comfort that poor thing, who I am sure is now in-doors almost dead with fear. Do you linger?

ANTIPHO There’s nothing I could do with so much pleasure. (Goes into the house of DEMIPHO.)

PHAEDRIA What way will you manage this?

GETA I’ll tell you on the road; first thing, betake yourself off. (Exeunt.)

Current edition Perseus

PHAEDRIA Quid faciam? Unde ego nunc tam subito huic argentum inveniam miser, Cui minus nihilo est? quod si hic potuisset nunc exorarier 535 Triduum hoc, promissum fuerat.

ANTIPHO Itane hunc patiemur, Geta, Fieri miserum, qui me dudum, ut dixti, adiurit comiter, Quin, quum opus est, beneficium rursum ei experiamur reddere?

GETA Scio quidem hoc esse aequum.

ANTIPHO Age ergo, solus servare hunc potes.

GETA Quid faciam? 540

ANTIPHO Invenias argentum.

GETA Cupio; sed id unde edoce.

ANTIPHO Pater adest hic.

GETA Scio; sed quid tum?

ANTIPHO Ah, dictum sapienti sat est.

GETA Itane?

ANTIPHO Ita.

GETA Sane hercle pulchre suades: etiam tu hinc abis? Non triumpho ex nuptiis tuis si nihil nanciscor mali, Ni etiam nunc me huius causa quaerere in maloiubeas crucem?

ANTIPHO Verum hic dicit. 545

PHAEDRIA Quid? ego vobis, Geta, alienus sum?

GETA Haud puto. Sed parumne est quod omnibus nunc nobis succenset senex, Ni instigemus etiam ut nullus locus relinquatur preci?

PHAEDRIA Alius ab oculis meis illam in ignotum hinc abducet locum? Hem! Tum igitur dum licet dumque adsum loquimini mecum, Antipho; Contemplamini me. 550

ANTIPHO Quamobrem? aut quidnam facturus es cedo?

PHAEDRIA Quoquo hinc asportabitur terrarum certum est persequi, Aut perire.

GETA Di bene vertant, quod agas; pedetentim tamen.

ANTIPHO Vide si quid opis potes afferre huic.

GETA Si quid? quid?

ANTIPHO Quaere, obsecro, Ne quid plus minusve faxit quod nos post pigeat, Geta.

GETA Quaero. Salvus est, ut opinor; verum enim metuo malum. 555

ANTIPHO Noli metuere: una tecum bona mala tolerabimus.

GETA Quantum tibi opus est argenti? loquere.

PHAEDRIA Solae triginta minae.

GETA Triginta? hui percara est, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA Istaec vero vilis est.

GETA Age, age; inventas reddam.

PHAEDRIA O lepidum!

GETA Aufer te hinc.

PHAEDRIA Iam opus est.

GETA Iam feres. Sed opus est mihi Phormionem ad hanc rem adiutorem dari. 560

ANTIPHO Praesto est: audacissime oneris quidvis impone, et feret. Solus est homo amico amicus.

GETA Eamus ergo ad eum ocius.

PHAEDRIA

What am I to do? Wretch that I am! where am I now in this emergency to raise the money for him,

I, who am worse than nothing? If it had been possible for these three days to be obtained of him, it was promised me by then.
535

ANTIPHO

Geta, shall we suffer him to continue thus wretched, when he so lately assisted me in the kind way you were mentioning? On the contrary, why not, as there’s need of it try to do him a kindness in return?

GETA

For my part, I’m sure it is but fair.

ANTIPHO

Come then, you are the only man able to serve him.

GETA

What can I do?
540

ANTIPHO

Procure the money.

GETA

I wish I could; but where it is to come from—tell me that.

ANTIPHO

My father has come home.

GETA

I know; but what of that?

ANTIPHO

Oh, a word to the wise¹ is quite enough.

GETA

Is that it, then?

ANTIPHO

Just so.

GETA

Upon my faith, you really do give me fine advice; out upon you! Ought I not to be heartily glad, if I meet with no mishap through your marriage, but what, in addition to that, you must now bid me, for his sake, to be seeking risk upon risk?

ANTIPHO

’Tis true what he says.
545

PHAEDRIA

What! am I a stranger to you, Geta?

GETA

I don’t consider you so. But is it so trifling a matter that the old gentleman is now vexed with us all, that we must provoke him still more, and leave no room for entreaty?

PHAEDRIA

Is another man to take her away from before my eyes to some unknown spot? Alas!

speak to me then, Antipho, and look upon me while you have the opportunity, and while I’m present.

ANTIPHO

Why so, or what are you going to do? Pray, tell me.

PHAEDRIA

To whatever part of the world she is borne away, I’m determined to follow her or to perish.

GETA

May the Gods prosper your design! Cautiously’s the word, however.

ANTIPHO

(to GETA.)

Do see if you can give him any assistance at all.

GETA

Any at all—how?

ANTIPHO

Pray, do try, that he mayn’t be doing something that we may afterward be more or less sorry for, Geta.

GETA

I’m considering, (He pauses.) He’s all safe, so far as I can guess: but still, I’m afraid of mischief.
555

ANTIPHO

Don’t be afraid: together with you, we’ll share good and bad.

GETA

(to PHAEDRIA.)

How much money do you want? Tell me.

PHAEDRIA

Only thirty minae.

GETA

Thirty? Heyday! she’s monstrous dear, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA

Indeed, she’s very cheap.

GETA

Well, well, I’ll get them for you.

PHAEDRIA

Oh the dear man! (They both fall to hugging GETA.)

GETA

Take yourselves off. (Shakes them of.)

PHAEDRIA

There’s need for them directly.

GETA

You shall have them directly;

but I must have Phormio for my assistant in this business.
560

ANTIPHO

He’s quite ready; right boldly lay on him any load you like, he’ll bear it: he, in especial, is a friend to his friend.

GETA

Let’s go to him at once then.

ANTIPHO

Will you have any occasion for my assistance?

GETA

None; but be off home, and comfort that poor thing, who I am sure is now in-doors almost dead with fear. Do you linger?

ANTIPHO

There’s nothing I could do with so much pleasure.

(Goes into the house of DEMIPHO.)

PHAEDRIA

What way will you manage this?

GETA

I’ll tell you on the road; first thing, betake yourself off. (Exeunt.)

PHAEDRIA

Quid faciam? Unde ego nunc tam subito huic argentum inveniam miser,

Cui minus nihilo est? quod si hic potuisset nunc exorarier
535

Triduum hoc, promissum fuerat.

ANTIPHO

Itane hunc patiemur, Geta,

Fieri miserum, qui me dudum, ut dixti, adiurit comiter,

Quin, quum opus est, beneficium rursum ei experiamur reddere?

GETA

Scio quidem hoc esse aequum.

ANTIPHO

Age ergo, solus servare hunc potes.

GETA

Quid faciam?
540

ANTIPHO

Invenias argentum.

GETA

Cupio; sed id unde edoce.

ANTIPHO

Pater adest hic.

GETA

Scio; sed quid tum?

ANTIPHO

Ah, dictum sapienti sat est.

GETA

Itane?

ANTIPHO

Ita.

GETA

Sane hercle pulchre suades: etiam tu hinc abis?

Non triumpho ex nuptiis tuis si nihil nanciscor mali,

Ni etiam nunc me huius causa quaerere in maloiubeas crucem?

ANTIPHO

Verum hic dicit.
545

PHAEDRIA

Quid? ego vobis, Geta, alienus sum?

GETA

Haud puto.

Sed parumne est quod omnibus nunc nobis succenset senex,

Ni instigemus etiam ut nullus locus relinquatur preci?

PHAEDRIA

Alius ab oculis meis illam in ignotum hinc abducet locum? Hem!

Tum igitur dum licet dumque adsum loquimini mecum, Antipho;

Contemplamini me.
550

ANTIPHO

Quamobrem? aut quidnam facturus es cedo?

PHAEDRIA

Quoquo hinc asportabitur terrarum certum est persequi,

Aut perire.

GETA

Di bene vertant, quod agas; pedetentim tamen.

ANTIPHO

Vide si quid opis potes afferre huic.

GETA

Si quid? quid?

ANTIPHO

Quaere, obsecro,

Ne quid plus minusve faxit quod nos post pigeat, Geta.

GETA

Quaero. Salvus est, ut opinor; verum enim metuo malum.
555

ANTIPHO

Noli metuere: una tecum bona mala tolerabimus.

GETA

Quantum tibi opus est argenti? loquere.

PHAEDRIA

Solae triginta minae.

GETA

Triginta? hui percara est, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA

Istaec vero vilis est.

GETA

Age, age; inventas reddam.

PHAEDRIA

O lepidum!

GETA

Aufer te hinc.

PHAEDRIA

Iam opus est.

GETA

Iam feres.

Sed opus est mihi Phormionem ad hanc rem adiutorem dari.
560

ANTIPHO

Praesto est: audacissime oneris quidvis impone, et feret.

Solus est homo amico amicus.

GETA

Eamus ergo ad eum ocius.

ANTIPHO

Numquid est quod opera mea vobis opus sit?

GETA

Nihil: verum abi domum;

Et illam miseram, quam ego nunc intus scio esse exanimatam metu,

Consolare: Cessas?
565

ANTIPHO

Nihil est aeque quod faciam libens.