Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Phormio, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 1.4

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

View: By Line

← Previous Next →

(GETA. ANTIPHO. PHAEDRIA.)

GETA

Nullus es, Geta, nisi iam aliquod tibi consilium celere repperis:

Ita nunc imparatum subito tanta te impendent mala,
180

Quae neque uti devitem scio, neque quo modo me inde extraham:

Nam non potest celari nostra diutius iam audacia.

ANTIPHO

Quidnam ille commotus venit?

GETA

Tum temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est. Herus adest.

ANTIPHO

Quid istuc mali est?

GETA

Quod quum audierit, quod eius remedium inveniann iracundiae?
185

Loquarne? incendam: taceam? instigem: purgem me? laterem lavem.

Eheu me miserum: quum mihi paveo, tum Antipho me excruciat animi:

Eius me miseret: ei nunc timeo: is nunc me retinet; nam absque eo esset,

Recte ego mihi vidissem, et senis essem ultus iracundiam:

Aliquid convasassem, atque hinc me protinam coniicerm in pedes.
190

ANTIPHO

Quam hic fugam aut furtum parat?

GETA

Sed ubi Antiphonem reperiam? aut qua quaerere insistam via?

PHAEDRIA

Te nominat.

ANTIPHO

Nescio quod magnum hoc nuntio exspecto malum.

PHAEDRIA

Ah, sanusne es?

GETA

Domum ire pergam: ibi plurimum est.

PHAEDRIA

Revocemus hominem.
195

ANTIPHO

Sta ilico.

GETA

Hem,

Satis pro imperio, quisquis es.

ANTIPHO

Geta.

GETA

Ipse est quem volui obviam.

ANTIPHO

Cedo quid portas, obsecro? atque id, si potes, verbo expedi.

GETA

Faciam.

ANTIPHO

Eloquere.

GETA

Modo apud portum—

ANTIPHO

Meumne?—

GETA

Intellexti.

ANTIPHO

Occidi.

GETA

Hem.

ANTIPHO

Quid agam?

PHAEDRIA

Quid ais?

GETA

Huius patrem vidisse me, patruum tuum.

ANTIPHO

Nam quod ego huic nunc subito exitio remedium inveniam miser?
200

Quod si eo meae fortunae redeunt, Phanium, abs te ut distrahar,

Nulla est mihi vita expetenda.

GETA

Ergo istaec quum ita sint, Antipho,

Tanto magis te advigilare aequum est. Fortes fortuna adiuvat.

ANTIPHO

Non sum apud me.

GETA

Atqui opus est nunc quummaxime ut sis, Antipho;

Nam si senserit te timidum pater esse, arbitrabitur
205

Commeruisse culpam.

PHAEDRIA

Hoc verum est.

ANTIPHO

Non possum immutarier.

GETA

Quid faceres, si gravius aliud tibi nunc faciendum foret?

ANTIPHO

Quum hoc non possum, illud minus possem.

GETA

Hoc nihil est, Phaedria: ilicet.

Quid hic conterimus operam frustra? Quin abeo?

PHAEDRIA

Et quidem ego.

ANTIPHO

Obsecro:

Quid si assimulo? satin est?
210

GETA

Garris.

ANTIPHO

Vultum contemplamini: hem,

Satin sic est?

GETA

Non.

ANTIPHO

Quid si sic?

GETA

Propemodum.

ANTIPHO

Quid si sic?

GETA

Sat est.

Hem, istuc serva; et verbum verbo, par pari ut respondeas,

Ne te iratus suis saevidicis dictis protelet.

ANTIPHO

Scio.

GETA

Vi coactum te esse invitum, lege, iudicio: tenes?

Sed quis hic est senex quem video in ultima platea?
215

ANTIPHO

Ipsus est:

Non possum adesse.

GETA

Ah, quid agis? quo abis, Antipho?

Mane, inquam.

ANTIPHO

Egomet me novi et peccatum meumr:

Vobis commendo Phanium et vitam meam.

PHAEDRIA

Geta, quid nunc fiet?

GETA

Tu iam lites audies:

Ego plectar pendens, nisi quid me fefellerit.
220

Sed quod modo hic nos Antiphonem monuimus

Id nosmet ipsos facere oportet, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA

Aufer mihi oportet: quin tu quod faciam impera.

GETA

Meministine olim ut fuerit vestra oratio

In re incipienda ad defendendam noxiam;
225

Iustam illam causam, facilem, vincibilem, optimam?

PHAEDRIA

Memini.

GETA

Hem, nunc ipsa est opus ea, aut, si quid potest,

Meliore et callidiore.

PHAEDRIA

Eiet sedulo.

GETA

Nunc prior adito tu: ego in subsidiis hic ero

Succenturiatus, si quid deficias.
230

PHAEDRIA

Age.

Phormio. 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

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

Translations (1)

Phormio; or, The Scheming Parasite Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 1.4 focus

179 (Enter GETA, running, at the other side of the stage.)

GETA

(to himself.)

Geta, you are undone, unless you instantly find out some expedient;

so suddenly do such mighty evils now threaten me thus unprepared, which I neither know how to shun, nor how to extricate myself therefrom; for this daring step of:ours can not now any longer be kept a secret. If such a result is not adroitly guarded against, these matters will cause the ruin of myself, or of my master.
180

ANTIPHO

(to PHAEDRIA.)

Why, I wonder, is he coming in such fright?:

GETA

(to himself.)

Besides, I’ve but a moment left for this matter—my master’s close at hand.

ANTIPHO

(to PHAEDRIA.)

What mischief is this?

GETA

(to himself.)

When he comes to hear of it, what remedy shall I discover for his anger Am I to speak? I shall irritate him: be silent? I shall provoke him: excuse myself? I should be washing a brickbat.¹ Alas! unfortunate me! While I am trembling for myself, this Antipho distracts my mind. I am concerned for him; I’m in dread for him: ’tis he that now keeps me here; for had it not been for him, I should have made due provision for my safety, and have taken vengeance on the old man for his crabbedness;
185

I should have scraped up something, and straightway taken to my heels away from here.
190

ANTIPHO

(to PHAEDRIA.)

I wonder What running away or theft it is that he’s planning.

GETA

(to himself.)

But where shall I find Antipho, or which way go look for him?

PHAEDRIA

(to ANTIPHO.)

He’s mentioning your name.

ANTIPHO

(to PHADRIA.)

I know not what great misfortune I expect to hear from this messenger.

PHAEDRIA

(to ANTIPHO.)

Why, are you in your senses?

GETA

(to himself.)

I’ll make my way homeward; he’s generally there.

PHAEDRIA

(to ANTIPHO.)

Let’s call the fellow back.
195

ANTIPHO

(calling out.)

Stop, this instant.

GETA

(turning round.)

Heyday—with authority enough, whoever you are.

ANTIPHO

Geta!

GETA

The very person I wanted to find.

ANTIPHO

Pray, tell me what news you bring, and dispatch it in one word, if you can.

GETA

I’ll do so.

ANTIPHO

Out with it.

GETA

Just now, at the harbor—

ANTIPHO

What, my father?—

GETA

You’ve hit it.

ANTIPHO

Ruined outright!

PHAEDRIA

Pshaw!

ANTIPHO

What am I to do?

PHAEDRIA

(to GETA.)

What is it you say?

GETA

That I have seen his father, your uncle.

ANTIPHO

How am I, wretch that I am, now to find a remedy for this sudden misfortune? But if it should be my fortune, Phanium, to be torn away from you, life would cease to be desirable.
200

GETA

Therefore, Antipho, since matters are thus, the more need have you to be on your guard; fortune helps the brave.

ANTIPHO

I am not myself.

GETA

But just now it is especially necessary you should be so, Antipho;

for if your father perceives that you are alarmed, he will think that you have been guilty of some fault.
205

PHAEDRIA

That’s true.

ANTIPHO

I can not change.

GETA

What would you do, if now something else still more difficult had to be done by you?

ANTIPHO

As I am not equal to this, I should be still less so to the other.

GETA

This is doing nothing at all, Phaedria, let’s be gone; why do we waste our time here to no purpose. I shall be off.

PHAEDRIA

And I too.

(They move as if going.)

ANTIPHO

Pray, now,

if I assume an air, will that do? (He endeavors to assume another air.)
210

GETA

You are trifling.

ANTIPHO

Look at my countenance—there’s for you. (Assuming a different air.) Will that do?

GETA

No.

ANTIPHO

Well, will this? (Assuming another air.)

GETA

Pretty well.

ANTIPHO

Well then, this? (Assuming a still bolder air.)

GETA

That’s just the thing. There now, keep to that, and answer him word for word, like for like; don’t let him, in his anger, disconcert you with his blustering words.

ANTIPHO

I understand.

GETA

Say that you were forced against your will by law, by sentence of the court; do you take me?

(Looking earnestly in one direction.) But who is the old man that I see at the end of the street?
215

ANTIPHO

’Tis he himself. I can not stand it. (Going.)

GETA

Oh! What are you about? Whither are you going, Antipho? Stop, I tell you.

ANTIPHO

I know my own self and my offense; to your management I trust Phanium and my own existence. (Exit hastily.)

PHAEDRIA

Geta, what’s to be done now?

GETA

You will just hear some harsh language:

I shall be trussed up and trounced, if I am not somewhat mistaken. But what we were just now advising Antipho to do, the same we must do ourselves, Phaedria.
220

PHAEDRIA

Away with your musts; rather do you command me what I am to do.

GETA

Do you remember what were your words formerly

on our entering upon this project, with the view of protecting yourselves from ill consequences—that their cause was just, clear, unanswerable, and most righteous?
225

PHAEDRIA

I remember it.

GETA

Well then, now there’s need of that plea, or of one still better and more plausible, if such there can be.

PHAEDRIA

I’ll use my best endeavors.

GETA

Do you then accost him first; I’ll be here

in re-serve,² by way of reinforcement, if you give ground at all.
230

PHAEDRIA

Very well.

(They retire to a distance.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

GETA Nullus es, Geta, nisi iam aliquod tibi consilium celere repperis: Ita nunc imparatum subito tanta te impendent mala, 180 Quae neque uti devitem scio, neque quo modo me inde extraham: Nam non potest celari nostra diutius iam audacia.

ANTIPHO Quidnam ille commotus venit?

GETA Tum temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est. Herus adest.

ANTIPHO Quid istuc mali est?

ANTIPHO Quam hic fugam aut furtum parat?

GETA Sed ubi Antiphonem reperiam? aut qua quaerere insistam via?

PHAEDRIA Te nominat.

ANTIPHO Nescio quod magnum hoc nuntio exspecto malum.

PHAEDRIA Ah, sanusne es?

GETA Domum ire pergam: ibi plurimum est.

PHAEDRIA Revocemus hominem. 195

ANTIPHO Sta ilico.

GETA Hem, Satis pro imperio, quisquis es.

ANTIPHO Geta.

GETA Ipse est quem volui obviam.

ANTIPHO Cedo quid portas, obsecro? atque id, si potes, verbo expedi.

GETA Faciam.

ANTIPHO Eloquere.

GETA Modo apud portum—

ANTIPHO Meumne?—

GETA Intellexti.

ANTIPHO Occidi.

GETA Hem.

ANTIPHO Quid agam?

PHAEDRIA Quid ais?

GETA Huius patrem vidisse me, patruum tuum.

ANTIPHO Nam quod ego huic nunc subito exitio remedium inveniam miser? 200 Quod si eo meae fortunae redeunt, Phanium, abs te ut distrahar, Nulla est mihi vita expetenda.

GETA Ergo istaec quum ita sint, Antipho, Tanto magis te advigilare aequum est. Fortes fortuna adiuvat.

ANTIPHO Non sum apud me.

GETA Atqui opus est nunc quummaxime ut sis, Antipho; Nam si senserit te timidum pater esse, arbitrabitur 205 Commeruisse culpam.

PHAEDRIA Hoc verum est.

ANTIPHO Non possum immutarier.

GETA Quid faceres, si gravius aliud tibi nunc faciendum foret?

ANTIPHO Quum hoc non possum, illud minus possem.

GETA Hoc nihil est, Phaedria: ilicet. Quid hic conterimus operam frustra? Quin abeo?

PHAEDRIA Et quidem ego.

ANTIPHO Obsecro: Quid si assimulo? satin est? 210

GETA Garris.

ANTIPHO Vultum contemplamini: hem, Satin sic est?

GETA Non.

ANTIPHO Quid si sic?

GETA Propemodum.

ANTIPHO Quid si sic?

GETA Sat est. Hem, istuc serva; et verbum verbo, par pari ut respondeas, Ne te iratus suis saevidicis dictis protelet.

ANTIPHO Scio.

GETA Vi coactum te esse invitum, lege, iudicio: tenes? Sed quis hic est senex quem video in ultima platea? 215

ANTIPHO Ipsus est: Non possum adesse.

GETA Ah, quid agis? quo abis, Antipho? Mane, inquam.

ANTIPHO Egomet me novi et peccatum meumr: Vobis commendo Phanium et vitam meam.

PHAEDRIA Geta, quid nunc fiet?

GETA Tu iam lites audies: Ego plectar pendens, nisi quid me fefellerit. 220 Sed quod modo hic nos Antiphonem monuimus Id nosmet ipsos facere oportet, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA Aufer mihi oportet: quin tu quod faciam impera.

GETA Meministine olim ut fuerit vestra oratio In re incipienda ad defendendam noxiam; 225 Iustam illam causam, facilem, vincibilem, optimam?

PHAEDRIA Memini.

GETA Hem, nunc ipsa est opus ea, aut, si quid potest, Meliore et callidiore.

PHAEDRIA Eiet sedulo.

GETA Nunc prior adito tu: ego in subsidiis hic ero Succenturiatus, si quid deficias. 230

PHAEDRIA Age.

Current edition Perseus

ANTIPHO (to PHAEDRIA.) Why, I wonder, is he coming in such fright?:

GETA (to himself.) Besides, I’ve but a moment left for this matter—my master’s close at hand.

ANTIPHO (to PHAEDRIA.) What mischief is this?

ANTIPHO (to PHAEDRIA.) I wonder What running away or theft it is that he’s planning.

GETA (to himself.) But where shall I find Antipho, or which way go look for him?

PHAEDRIA (to ANTIPHO.) He’s mentioning your name.

ANTIPHO (to PHADRIA.) I know not what great misfortune I expect to hear from this messenger.

PHAEDRIA (to ANTIPHO.) Why, are you in your senses?

GETA (to himself.) I’ll make my way homeward; he’s generally there.

PHAEDRIA (to ANTIPHO.) Let’s call the fellow back. 195

ANTIPHO (calling out.) Stop, this instant.

GETA (turning round.) Heyday—with authority enough, whoever you are.

ANTIPHO Geta!

GETA The very person I wanted to find.

ANTIPHO Pray, tell me what news you bring, and dispatch it in one word, if you can.

GETA I’ll do so.

ANTIPHO Out with it.

GETA Just now, at the harbor—

ANTIPHO What, my father?—

GETA

Nullus es, Geta, nisi iam aliquod tibi consilium celere repperis:

Ita nunc imparatum subito tanta te impendent mala,
180

Quae neque uti devitem scio, neque quo modo me inde extraham:

Nam non potest celari nostra diutius iam audacia.

ANTIPHO

Quidnam ille commotus venit?

GETA

Tum temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est. Herus adest.

ANTIPHO

Quid istuc mali est?

ANTIPHO

Quam hic fugam aut furtum parat?

GETA

Sed ubi Antiphonem reperiam? aut qua quaerere insistam via?

PHAEDRIA

Te nominat.

ANTIPHO

Nescio quod magnum hoc nuntio exspecto malum.

PHAEDRIA

Ah, sanusne es?

GETA

Domum ire pergam: ibi plurimum est.

PHAEDRIA

Revocemus hominem.
195

ANTIPHO

Sta ilico.

GETA

Hem,

Satis pro imperio, quisquis es.

ANTIPHO

Geta.

GETA

Ipse est quem volui obviam.

ANTIPHO

Cedo quid portas, obsecro? atque id, si potes, verbo expedi.

GETA

Faciam.

ANTIPHO

Eloquere.

GETA

Modo apud portum—

ANTIPHO

Meumne?—

GETA

Intellexti.

ANTIPHO

Occidi.

GETA

Hem.

ANTIPHO

Quid agam?

PHAEDRIA

Quid ais?

GETA

Huius patrem vidisse me, patruum tuum.

ANTIPHO

Nam quod ego huic nunc subito exitio remedium inveniam miser?
200

Quod si eo meae fortunae redeunt, Phanium, abs te ut distrahar,

Nulla est mihi vita expetenda.

GETA

Ergo istaec quum ita sint, Antipho,

Tanto magis te advigilare aequum est. Fortes fortuna adiuvat.

ANTIPHO

Non sum apud me.

GETA

Atqui opus est nunc quummaxime ut sis, Antipho;

Nam si senserit te timidum pater esse, arbitrabitur
205

Commeruisse culpam.

PHAEDRIA

Hoc verum est.

ANTIPHO

Non possum immutarier.

GETA

Quid faceres, si gravius aliud tibi nunc faciendum foret?

ANTIPHO

Quum hoc non possum, illud minus possem.

GETA

Hoc nihil est, Phaedria: ilicet.

Quid hic conterimus operam frustra? Quin abeo?

PHAEDRIA

Et quidem ego.

ANTIPHO

Obsecro:

Quid si assimulo? satin est?
210

GETA

Garris.

ANTIPHO

Vultum contemplamini: hem,

Satin sic est?

GETA

Non.

ANTIPHO

Quid si sic?

GETA

Propemodum.

ANTIPHO

Quid si sic?

GETA

Sat est.

Hem, istuc serva; et verbum verbo, par pari ut respondeas,

Ne te iratus suis saevidicis dictis protelet.

ANTIPHO

Scio.

GETA

Vi coactum te esse invitum, lege, iudicio: tenes?

Sed quis hic est senex quem video in ultima platea?
215

ANTIPHO

Ipsus est:

Non possum adesse.

GETA

Ah, quid agis? quo abis, Antipho?

Mane, inquam.

ANTIPHO

Egomet me novi et peccatum meumr:

Vobis commendo Phanium et vitam meam.

PHAEDRIA

Geta, quid nunc fiet?

GETA

Tu iam lites audies:

Ego plectar pendens, nisi quid me fefellerit.
220

Sed quod modo hic nos Antiphonem monuimus

Id nosmet ipsos facere oportet, Phaedria.

PHAEDRIA

Aufer mihi oportet: quin tu quod faciam impera.

GETA

Meministine olim ut fuerit vestra oratio

In re incipienda ad defendendam noxiam;
225

Iustam illam causam, facilem, vincibilem, optimam?

PHAEDRIA

Memini.

GETA

Hem, nunc ipsa est opus ea, aut, si quid potest,

Meliore et callidiore.

PHAEDRIA

Eiet sedulo.

GETA

Nunc prior adito tu: ego in subsidiis hic ero

Succenturiatus, si quid deficias.
230

PHAEDRIA

Age.

ANTIPHO

(to PHAEDRIA.)

Why, I wonder, is he coming in such fright?:

GETA

(to himself.)

Besides, I’ve but a moment left for this matter—my master’s close at hand.

ANTIPHO

(to PHAEDRIA.)

What mischief is this?

ANTIPHO

(to PHAEDRIA.)

I wonder What running away or theft it is that he’s planning.

GETA

(to himself.)

But where shall I find Antipho, or which way go look for him?

PHAEDRIA

(to ANTIPHO.)

He’s mentioning your name.

ANTIPHO

(to PHADRIA.)

I know not what great misfortune I expect to hear from this messenger.

PHAEDRIA

(to ANTIPHO.)

Why, are you in your senses?

GETA

(to himself.)

I’ll make my way homeward; he’s generally there.

PHAEDRIA

(to ANTIPHO.)

Let’s call the fellow back.
195

ANTIPHO

(calling out.)

Stop, this instant.

GETA

(turning round.)

Heyday—with authority enough, whoever you are.

ANTIPHO

Geta!

GETA

The very person I wanted to find.

ANTIPHO

Pray, tell me what news you bring, and dispatch it in one word, if you can.

GETA

I’ll do so.

ANTIPHO

Out with it.

GETA

Just now, at the harbor—

ANTIPHO

What, my father?—

GETA

You’ve hit it.

ANTIPHO

Ruined outright!

PHAEDRIA

Pshaw!