Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Phormio, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 2.2

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(PHORMIO. GETA.)

PHORMIO

ITANE patris ais conspectum veritum hinc abisse?
315

GETA

Admodum.

PHORMIO

Phanium relictam solam?

GETA

Sic.

PHORMIO

Et iratum senem?

GETA

Oppido.

PHORMIO

Ad te summa solum, Phormio, rerum redit.

Tute hoc intristi: tibi omne est exedendum. Accingere.

GETA

Obsecro te—

PHORMIO

Si rogabit?

GETA

In te spes est—

PHORMIO

Eccere.

Quid si reddet?
320

GETA

Tu impulisti—

PHORMIO

Sic opinor.

GETA

Subveni.

PHORMIO

Cedo senem: iam instructa sunt mihi in corde consilia omnia.

GETA

Quid ages?

PHORMIO

Quid vis nisi uti maneat Phanium, atque ex crimine hoc

Antiphonem eripiam, atque in me omnem iram derivem senis?

GETA

O vir fortis, atque amicus. Verum hoc saepe, Phormio,

Vereor, ne istaec fortitudo in nervum erumpat denique.
325

PHORMIO

Ah,

Non ita est: factum est periclum: iam pedum visa est via.

Quot me censes homines iam deverberasse usque ad necem,

Hospites, tun cives? quo magis novi, tanto saepius.

Cedodum, en unquam iniuriarum audisti mihi scriptam dicam?

GETA

Qui istuc?
330

PHORMIO

Quia non rete accipitri tenditur neque miluo,

Qui male faciunt nobis: illis qui nihil faciunt tenditur.

Quia enim in illis fructus est; in illis opera luditur.

Aliis aliunde est periclum unde aliquid abradi potest:

Mihi sciunt nihil esse. Dices, Ducent damnatum domum:

Alere nolunt hominem edacem; et sapiunt, mea quidem sententia,
335

Pro maleficio si beneficium summum nolunt reddere.

GETA

Non potest satis pro merito ab illo tibi referri gratia.

PHORMIO

Immo enim nemo satis pro merito gratiam regi refert.

Tene asymbolum venire, unctum atque lautum e balneis,

Otiosum ab animo, quum ille et cura et sumtu absumitur
340

Dum tibi sit quod placeat; ille ringitur, tu rideas;

Prior bibas, prior decumbas; coena dubia apponitur.

GETA

Quid istuc verbi est?

PHORMIO

Ubi tu dubites quid sumas potissimum.

Haec cum rationem ineas quam sint suavia et quam cara sint,

Ea qui praebet non tu hunc habeas plane praesentem Deum?
345

GETA

Senex adest: vide quid agas: prima coitio est acerrima.

Si eam sustinueris, postilla iam, ut libet, ludas licet.

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.) — 2.2 focus

315 (Enter PHORMIO and GETA.)

PHORMIO

And so you say¹ that, dreading his father’s presence, he has taken himself off?
315

GETA

Exactly so.

PHORMIO

That Phanium is left alone?

GETA

Just so.

PHORMIO

And that the old man is in a rage?

GETA

Extremely so.

PHORMIO

The whole business, Phormio, rests on yourself alone; you yourself have hashed it up;² it must all be swallowed by yourself, so set about it.

GETA

I entreat you—

PHORMIO

(to himself.)

If he inquires.

GETA

In you is all our hope.

PHORMIO

(to himself.)

Look at this, now:—

What if he sends her back?
320

GETA

It was you that urged us.

PHORMIO

(to himself.)

I think that will do.

GETA

Do help us.

PHORMIO

(with alacrity.)

Let the old gentleman come; all my plans are now ready prepared in my mind.

GETA

What will you do?

PHORMIO

What would you have me? But that Phanium may continue with him, and that I may clear Antipho from this charge, and turn upon myself³ all the wrath of the old gentleman?

GETA

O brave and kind man! But, Phormio, I often

dread lest this courage may end in the stocks at last.⁴
325

PHORMIO

Oh, by no means; I’ve made trial, and have already pondered on the paths for my feet. How many men before to-day do you suppose I have beaten, even to death, strangers as well as citizens: the better I understand it, the oftener I try it. Just tell me, look you, did you ever hear of an action of damages being brought against me?

GETA

How is that?
330

PHORMIO

Because the net is never spread for the hawk or the kite, that do us the mischief; it is spread for those that do us none: because in the last there is profit, while with the others it is labor lost. For persons, out of whom any thing can be got, there’s risk from others; they know that I’ve got nothing. You will say: They will take you,⁵ when sentenced, into their house;

they have no wish to maintain a devouring fellow; and, in my opinion, they are wise, if for an injury they are unwilling to return the highest benefits.
335

GETA

It’s impossible that sufficient thanks can be returned you by him for your kindness.

PHORMIO

Why no; no person can return thanks sufficient to his patron⁶ for his kindness. For you to take your place at table at free cost,⁷ anointed and just washed at the bath,

with your mind at ease, whereas he is devoured with the care and expense: while every thing is being done to give you delight, he is being vexed at heart; you are laughing away, first to drink,⁸ take the higher place; a banquet full of doubts⁹ is placed before you—
340

GETA

What is the meaning of that expression?

PHORMIO

When you are in doubt which in especial to par-take of. When you enter upon a consideration how delicious these things are, and how costly they are,

the person who provides them, must you not account him a very God—neither more nor less?
345

GETA

The old man is coming; take care what you are about; the first onset is the fiercest; if you stand that, then, afterward, you may play just as you please.

(They retire to a distance.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

PHORMIO ITANE patris ais conspectum veritum hinc abisse? 315

GETA Admodum.

PHORMIO Phanium relictam solam?

GETA Sic.

PHORMIO Et iratum senem?

GETA Oppido.

PHORMIO Ad te summa solum, Phormio, rerum redit. Tute hoc intristi: tibi omne est exedendum. Accingere.

GETA Obsecro te—

PHORMIO Si rogabit?

GETA In te spes est—

PHORMIO Eccere. Quid si reddet? 320

GETA Tu impulisti—

PHORMIO Sic opinor.

GETA Subveni.

PHORMIO Cedo senem: iam instructa sunt mihi in corde consilia omnia.

GETA Quid ages?

PHORMIO Quid vis nisi uti maneat Phanium, atque ex crimine hoc Antiphonem eripiam, atque in me omnem iram derivem senis?

GETA O vir fortis, atque amicus. Verum hoc saepe, Phormio, Vereor, ne istaec fortitudo in nervum erumpat denique. 325

PHORMIO Ah, Non ita est: factum est periclum: iam pedum visa est via. Quot me censes homines iam deverberasse usque ad necem, Hospites, tun cives? quo magis novi, tanto saepius. Cedodum, en unquam iniuriarum audisti mihi scriptam dicam?

GETA Qui istuc? 330

GETA Non potest satis pro merito ab illo tibi referri gratia.

PHORMIO Immo enim nemo satis pro merito gratiam regi refert. Tene asymbolum venire, unctum atque lautum e balneis, Otiosum ab animo, quum ille et cura et sumtu absumitur 340 Dum tibi sit quod placeat; ille ringitur, tu rideas; Prior bibas, prior decumbas; coena dubia apponitur.

GETA Quid istuc verbi est?

PHORMIO Ubi tu dubites quid sumas potissimum. Haec cum rationem ineas quam sint suavia et quam cara sint, Ea qui praebet non tu hunc habeas plane praesentem Deum? 345

GETA Senex adest: vide quid agas: prima coitio est acerrima. Si eam sustinueris, postilla iam, ut libet, ludas licet.

Current edition Perseus

PHORMIO And so you say 1 that, dreading his father’s presence, he has taken himself off? 315

GETA Exactly so.

PHORMIO That Phanium is left alone?

GETA Just so.

PHORMIO And that the old man is in a rage?

GETA Extremely so.

PHORMIO The whole business, Phormio, rests on yourself alone; you yourself have hashed it up; 2 it must all be swallowed by yourself, so set about it.

GETA I entreat you—

PHORMIO (to himself.) If he inquires.

GETA In you is all our hope.

PHORMIO (to himself.) Look at this, now:— What if he sends her back? 320

GETA It was you that urged us.

PHORMIO (to himself.) I think that will do.

GETA Do help us.

PHORMIO (with alacrity.) Let the old gentleman come; all my plans are now ready prepared in my mind.

GETA What will you do?

PHORMIO What would you have me? But that Phanium may continue with him, and that I may clear Antipho from this charge, and turn upon myself 3 all the wrath of the old gentleman?

GETA O brave and kind man! But, Phormio, I often dread lest this courage may end in the stocks at last. 4 325

GETA How is that? 330

GETA It’s impossible that sufficient thanks can be returned you by him for your kindness.

GETA What is the meaning of that expression?

PHORMIO When you are in doubt which in especial to par-take of. When you enter upon a consideration how delicious these things are, and how costly they are, the person who provides them, must you not account him a very God—neither more nor less? 345

GETA The old man is coming; take care what you are about; the first onset is the fiercest; if you stand that, then, afterward, you may play just as you please. (They retire to a distance.)

Stable identifiers

PHORMIO

ITANE patris ais conspectum veritum hinc abisse?
315

GETA

Admodum.

PHORMIO

Phanium relictam solam?

GETA

Sic.

PHORMIO

Et iratum senem?

GETA

Oppido.

PHORMIO

Ad te summa solum, Phormio, rerum redit.

Tute hoc intristi: tibi omne est exedendum. Accingere.

GETA

Obsecro te—

PHORMIO

Si rogabit?

GETA

In te spes est—

PHORMIO

Eccere.

Quid si reddet?
320

GETA

Tu impulisti—

PHORMIO

Sic opinor.

GETA

Subveni.

PHORMIO

Cedo senem: iam instructa sunt mihi in corde consilia omnia.

GETA

Quid ages?

PHORMIO

Quid vis nisi uti maneat Phanium, atque ex crimine hoc

Antiphonem eripiam, atque in me omnem iram derivem senis?

GETA

O vir fortis, atque amicus. Verum hoc saepe, Phormio,

Vereor, ne istaec fortitudo in nervum erumpat denique.
325

PHORMIO

Ah,

Non ita est: factum est periclum: iam pedum visa est via.

Quot me censes homines iam deverberasse usque ad necem,

Hospites, tun cives? quo magis novi, tanto saepius.

Cedodum, en unquam iniuriarum audisti mihi scriptam dicam?

GETA

Qui istuc?
330

GETA

Non potest satis pro merito ab illo tibi referri gratia.

PHORMIO

Immo enim nemo satis pro merito gratiam regi refert.

Tene asymbolum venire, unctum atque lautum e balneis,

Otiosum ab animo, quum ille et cura et sumtu absumitur
340

Dum tibi sit quod placeat; ille ringitur, tu rideas;

Prior bibas, prior decumbas; coena dubia apponitur.

GETA

Quid istuc verbi est?

PHORMIO

Ubi tu dubites quid sumas potissimum.

Haec cum rationem ineas quam sint suavia et quam cara sint,

Ea qui praebet non tu hunc habeas plane praesentem Deum?
345

GETA

Senex adest: vide quid agas: prima coitio est acerrima.

Si eam sustinueris, postilla iam, ut libet, ludas licet.

PHORMIO

And so you say¹ that, dreading his father’s presence, he has taken himself off?
315

GETA

Exactly so.

PHORMIO

That Phanium is left alone?

GETA

Just so.

PHORMIO

And that the old man is in a rage?

GETA

Extremely so.

PHORMIO

The whole business, Phormio, rests on yourself alone; you yourself have hashed it up;² it must all be swallowed by yourself, so set about it.

GETA

I entreat you—

PHORMIO

(to himself.)

If he inquires.

GETA

In you is all our hope.

PHORMIO

(to himself.)

Look at this, now:—

What if he sends her back?
320

GETA

It was you that urged us.

PHORMIO

(to himself.)

I think that will do.

GETA

Do help us.

PHORMIO

(with alacrity.)

Let the old gentleman come; all my plans are now ready prepared in my mind.

GETA

What will you do?

PHORMIO

What would you have me? But that Phanium may continue with him, and that I may clear Antipho from this charge, and turn upon myself³ all the wrath of the old gentleman?

GETA

O brave and kind man! But, Phormio, I often

dread lest this courage may end in the stocks at last.⁴
325

GETA

How is that?
330

GETA

It’s impossible that sufficient thanks can be returned you by him for your kindness.

GETA

What is the meaning of that expression?

PHORMIO

When you are in doubt which in especial to par-take of. When you enter upon a consideration how delicious these things are, and how costly they are,

the person who provides them, must you not account him a very God—neither more nor less?
345

GETA

The old man is coming; take care what you are about; the first onset is the fiercest; if you stand that, then, afterward, you may play just as you please.

(They retire to a distance.)