Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Phormio, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 5.1

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(SOPHRONA. CHREMES.)

SOPHRONA

Quid agam? quem mihi amicum inveniam misera? aut quo consilia haec referam? aut

Unde mihi auxilium petam?

Nam vereor hera ne ob meum suasum indigne iniuria afficiatur:
730

Ita patrem adolescents facta haec tolerare audio violenter.

CHREMES

Nam quae haec anus est exanimata, a fratre quae egressa est meo?

SOPHRONA

Quod ut facerem egestas me impulit; quum scirem infirmas nuptias

Hasce esse; ut id consulerem, interea vita ut in tuto foret.

CHREMES

Certe edepol, nisi me animus fallit, aut parum prospiciunt oculi,
735

Meae nutricem gnatae video.

SOPHRONA

Neque ille investigatur—

CHREMES

Quid ago?

SOPHRONA

Qui est eius pater.

CHREMES

Adeo? an maneo, dum ea quake loquitur magis cognosco?

SOPHRONA

Quod si eum nunc reperire possim, nihil est quod verear.

CHREMES

Ea est ipsa:

Colloquar.

SOPHRONA

Quis hic loquitur?

CHREMES

Sophrona.

SOPHRONA

Et meum nomen nominat?

CHREMES

Respice ad me.
740

SOPHRONA

Di, obsecro vos, estne hic Stilpho?

CHREMES

Non.

SOPHRONA

Negas?

CHREMES

Concede hinc a foribus paululum istorsum, sodes, Sophrona.

Ne me istoc posthac nomine appellassis.

SOPHRONA

Quid? non, obsecro, es

Quem semper te esse dictitasti?

CHREMES

St!

SOPHRONA

Quid has metuis fores?

CHREMES

Conclusam hic habeo uxorem saevam: verum istoc de nomine

Eo perperam olim dixi ne vos forte imprudentes foris
745

Effutiretis, atque id porro aliqua uxor mea rescisceret.

SOPHRONA

Istoc pol nos te hic invenire miserae nunquam potuimus.

CHREMES

Eho, die mihi, quid rei tibi est cum familia hac unde exis?

Ubi illae sunt?

SOPHRONA

Miseram me!

CHREMES

Hem, quid est? vivuntne?

SOPHRONA

Vivit gnata:

Matrem ipsam ex aegritudine miseram mors consecuta est.
750

CHREMES

Male factum.

SOPHRONA

Ego autem quae essem anus deserta, egens, ignota,

Ut potui nuptum virginem locavi huic adolescenti

Harum qui est dominus aedium.

CHREMES

Antiphonine?

SOPHRONA

Hem! illi ipsi.

CHREMES

Quid? duasne is uxores habet?

SOPHRONA

Au, obsecro: unam ille quidem hanc solam.

CHREMES

Quid illam alteram quae dicitur cognata?
755

SOPHRONA

Haec ergo est.

CHREMES

Quid ais?

SOPHRONA

Composito factum est quomodo hanc amans habere posset

Sine dote.

CHREMES

Di vestram fidem, quam saepe forte temere

Eveniunt quae non audeas optare! Offendi adveniens

Quicum volebam, atque ut volebam, collocatam filiam.

Quod nos ambo opere maximo dabamus operam ut fieret,
760

Sine nostra cura, maxima sua cura, haec sola fecit.

SOPHRONA

Nunc quid opus facto sit vide. Pater adolescentis venit;

Eumque animo iniquo hoc oppido ferre aiunt.

CHREMES

Nihil pericli est.

Sed per Deos atque homines, meam esse hanc cave resciscat quisquam.

SOPHRONA

Nemo ex me scibit.
765

CHREMES

Sequere me: intus caetera audies.

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.) — 5.1 focus

728 (Enter SOPHRONA from the house of DEMIPHO, at a distance.)

SOPHRONA

(to herself.)

What am I to do? What friend, in my distress, shall I find, to whom to disclose these plans; and where shall I look for relief?

For I’m afraid that my mistress, in consequence of my advice, may undeservingly sustain some injury, so extremely ill do I hear that the young man’s father takes what has happened.
730

CHREMES

(apart, to himself.)

But what old woman’s this, that has come out of my brother’s house, half dead with fright?

SOPHRONA

(to herself, continuing)

It was distress that compelled me to this step, though I knew that the match was not likely to hold good; my object was, that in the mean time life might be supported.

CHREMES

(apart, to himself.)

Upon my faith, surely, unless my recollection deceives me, or my sight’s not very good, I espy my daughter’s nurse.¹
735

SOPHRONA

(to herself.)

And we are not able to find—

CHREMES

(apart.)

What must I do?

SOPHRONA

(to herself.)

Her father.

CHREMES

(to himself, apart.)

Shall I accost her, or shall I wait to learn more distinctly what it is she’s saying?

SOPHRONA

(to herself)

If now I could find him, there’s nothing that I should be in fear of.

CHREMES

(apart, to himself, aloud.)

’Tis the very woman. I’ll address her.

SOPHRONA

(turning round.)

Who’s that speaking here?

CHREMES

(coming forward.)

Sophrona.

SOPHRONA

Mentioning my name, too?

CHREMES

Look round at me.
740

SOPHRONA

(seeing him.)

Ye Gods, I do beseech you, isn’t this Stilpho?

CHREMES

No.

SOPHRONA

Do you deny it?

CHREMES

(in a low voice.)

Step a little this way from that door, Sophrona, if you please (pointing). Don’t you, henceforth, be calling me by that name.

SOPHRONA

Why? Pray, are you not the person you always used to say you were?

CHREMES

Hush! (pointing to his own house.)

SOPHRONA

Why are you afraid about that door?

CHREMES

(in a low voice.)

I have got a shrew of a wife shut up there. For by that name I formerly

falsely called myself, in order that you might not chance indiscreetly to blab it out of doors, and then my wife, by some means or other, might come to know of it.
745

SOPHRONA

I’ faith, that’s the very reason why we, wretched creatures, have never been able to find you out here.

CHREMES

Well, but tell me, what business have you with that family from whose house you were coming out? Where are the ladies?²

SOPHRONA

Ah, wretched me!

CHREMES

Hah! What’s the matter? Are they still alive?

SOPHRONA

Your daughter is alive.

Her poor mother died of grief.
750

CHREMES

An unfortunate thing!

SOPHRONA

As for me, being a lone old woman, in want, and unknown, I contrived, as well as I could, to get the young woman married to the young man who is master of this house (pointing).

CHREMES

What! to Antipho?

SOPHRONA

The very same, I say.

CHREMES

What? Has he got two wives?

SOPHRONA

Dear no, prithee, he has only got this one.

CHREMES

What about the other one that’s called his relative?
755

SOPHRONA

Why, this is she.

CHREMES

What is it you say?

SOPHRONA

It was done on purpose, in order that her lover might be enabled to marry her without a portion.

CHREMES

Ye Gods, by our trust in you! How often do those things come about through accident, which you couldn’t dare to hope for? On my return, I have found my daughter matched with the very person I wished, and just as I wanted;

a thing that we were both using our endeavors, with the greatest earnestness, to bring about. Without any very great management on our part, by her own management, she has by herself brought this about.
760

SOPHRONA

Now consider what’s to be done. The young man’s father has returned, and they say that he bears this with feelings highly offended.

CHREMES

There’s no danger of that. But, by Gods and men, do take care that no one comes to know that she’s my daughter.

SOPHRONA

No one shall know it from me.
765

CHREMES

Follow me; in-doors we’ll hear the rest. (He goes into DEMIPHO’S house, followed by SOPHRONA.)

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SOPHRONA Quid agam? quem mihi amicum inveniam misera? aut quo consilia haec referam? aut Unde mihi auxilium petam? Nam vereor hera ne ob meum suasum indigne iniuria afficiatur: 730 Ita patrem adolescents facta haec tolerare audio violenter.

CHREMES Nam quae haec anus est exanimata, a fratre quae egressa est meo?

SOPHRONA Quod ut facerem egestas me impulit; quum scirem infirmas nuptias Hasce esse; ut id consulerem, interea vita ut in tuto foret.

CHREMES Certe edepol, nisi me animus fallit, aut parum prospiciunt oculi, 735 Meae nutricem gnatae video.

SOPHRONA Neque ille investigatur—

CHREMES Quid ago?

SOPHRONA Qui est eius pater.

CHREMES Adeo? an maneo, dum ea quake loquitur magis cognosco?

SOPHRONA Quod si eum nunc reperire possim, nihil est quod verear.

CHREMES Ea est ipsa: Colloquar.

SOPHRONA Quis hic loquitur?

CHREMES Sophrona.

SOPHRONA Et meum nomen nominat?

CHREMES Respice ad me. 740

SOPHRONA Di, obsecro vos, estne hic Stilpho?

CHREMES Non.

SOPHRONA Negas?

CHREMES Concede hinc a foribus paululum istorsum, sodes, Sophrona. Ne me istoc posthac nomine appellassis.

SOPHRONA Quid? non, obsecro, es Quem semper te esse dictitasti?

CHREMES St!

SOPHRONA Quid has metuis fores?

CHREMES Conclusam hic habeo uxorem saevam: verum istoc de nomine Eo perperam olim dixi ne vos forte imprudentes foris 745 Effutiretis, atque id porro aliqua uxor mea rescisceret.

SOPHRONA Istoc pol nos te hic invenire miserae nunquam potuimus.

CHREMES Eho, die mihi, quid rei tibi est cum familia hac unde exis? Ubi illae sunt?

SOPHRONA Miseram me!

CHREMES Hem, quid est? vivuntne?

SOPHRONA Vivit gnata: Matrem ipsam ex aegritudine miseram mors consecuta est. 750

CHREMES Male factum.

SOPHRONA Ego autem quae essem anus deserta, egens, ignota, Ut potui nuptum virginem locavi huic adolescenti Harum qui est dominus aedium.

CHREMES Antiphonine?

SOPHRONA Hem! illi ipsi.

CHREMES Quid? duasne is uxores habet?

SOPHRONA Au, obsecro: unam ille quidem hanc solam.

CHREMES Quid illam alteram quae dicitur cognata? 755

SOPHRONA Haec ergo est.

CHREMES Quid ais?

SOPHRONA Composito factum est quomodo hanc amans habere posset Sine dote.

CHREMES Di vestram fidem, quam saepe forte temere Eveniunt quae non audeas optare! Offendi adveniens Quicum volebam, atque ut volebam, collocatam filiam. Quod nos ambo opere maximo dabamus operam ut fieret, 760 Sine nostra cura, maxima sua cura, haec sola fecit.

SOPHRONA Nunc quid opus facto sit vide. Pater adolescentis venit; Eumque animo iniquo hoc oppido ferre aiunt.

CHREMES Nihil pericli est. Sed per Deos atque homines, meam esse hanc cave resciscat quisquam.

SOPHRONA Nemo ex me scibit. 765

CHREMES Sequere me: intus caetera audies.

Current edition Perseus

CHREMES (apart, to himself.) But what old woman’s this, that has come out of my brother’s house, half dead with fright?

SOPHRONA (to herself, continuing) It was distress that compelled me to this step, though I knew that the match was not likely to hold good; my object was, that in the mean time life might be supported.

CHREMES (apart, to himself.) Upon my faith, surely, unless my recollection deceives me, or my sight’s not very good, I espy my daughter’s nurse. 1 735

SOPHRONA (to herself.) And we are not able to find—

CHREMES (apart.) What must I do?

SOPHRONA (to herself.) Her father.

CHREMES (to himself, apart.) Shall I accost her, or shall I wait to learn more distinctly what it is she’s saying?

SOPHRONA (to herself) If now I could find him, there’s nothing that I should be in fear of.

CHREMES (apart, to himself, aloud.) ’Tis the very woman. I’ll address her.

SOPHRONA (turning round.) Who’s that speaking here?

CHREMES (coming forward.) Sophrona.

SOPHRONA Mentioning my name, too?

CHREMES Look round at me. 740

SOPHRONA (seeing him.) Ye Gods, I do beseech you, isn’t this Stilpho?

CHREMES No.

SOPHRONA Do you deny it?

CHREMES (in a low voice.) Step a little this way from that door, Sophrona, if you please (pointing). Don’t you, henceforth, be calling me by that name.

SOPHRONA Why? Pray, are you not the person you always used to say you were?

CHREMES Hush! (pointing to his own house.)

SOPHRONA Why are you afraid about that door?

CHREMES (in a low voice.) I have got a shrew of a wife shut up there. For by that name I formerly falsely called myself, in order that you might not chance indiscreetly to blab it out of doors, and then my wife, by some means or other, might come to know of it. 745

SOPHRONA I’ faith, that’s the very reason why we, wretched creatures, have never been able to find you out here.

CHREMES Well, but tell me, what business have you with that family from whose house you were coming out? Where are the ladies? 2

SOPHRONA Ah, wretched me!

CHREMES Hah! What’s the matter? Are they still alive?

SOPHRONA Your daughter is alive. Her poor mother died of grief. 750

CHREMES An unfortunate thing!

SOPHRONA As for me, being a lone old woman, in want, and unknown, I contrived, as well as I could, to get the young woman married to the young man who is master of this house (pointing).

CHREMES What! to Antipho?

SOPHRONA The very same, I say.

CHREMES What? Has he got two wives?

SOPHRONA Dear no, prithee, he has only got this one.

CHREMES What about the other one that’s called his relative? 755

SOPHRONA Why, this is she.

CHREMES What is it you say?

SOPHRONA

Quid agam? quem mihi amicum inveniam misera? aut quo consilia haec referam? aut

Unde mihi auxilium petam?

Nam vereor hera ne ob meum suasum indigne iniuria afficiatur:
730

Ita patrem adolescents facta haec tolerare audio violenter.

CHREMES

Nam quae haec anus est exanimata, a fratre quae egressa est meo?

SOPHRONA

Quod ut facerem egestas me impulit; quum scirem infirmas nuptias

Hasce esse; ut id consulerem, interea vita ut in tuto foret.

CHREMES

Certe edepol, nisi me animus fallit, aut parum prospiciunt oculi,
735

Meae nutricem gnatae video.

SOPHRONA

Neque ille investigatur—

CHREMES

Quid ago?

SOPHRONA

Qui est eius pater.

CHREMES

Adeo? an maneo, dum ea quake loquitur magis cognosco?

SOPHRONA

Quod si eum nunc reperire possim, nihil est quod verear.

CHREMES

Ea est ipsa:

Colloquar.

SOPHRONA

Quis hic loquitur?

CHREMES

Sophrona.

SOPHRONA

Et meum nomen nominat?

CHREMES

Respice ad me.
740

SOPHRONA

Di, obsecro vos, estne hic Stilpho?

CHREMES

Non.

SOPHRONA

Negas?

CHREMES

Concede hinc a foribus paululum istorsum, sodes, Sophrona.

Ne me istoc posthac nomine appellassis.

SOPHRONA

Quid? non, obsecro, es

Quem semper te esse dictitasti?

CHREMES

St!

SOPHRONA

Quid has metuis fores?

CHREMES

Conclusam hic habeo uxorem saevam: verum istoc de nomine

Eo perperam olim dixi ne vos forte imprudentes foris
745

Effutiretis, atque id porro aliqua uxor mea rescisceret.

SOPHRONA

Istoc pol nos te hic invenire miserae nunquam potuimus.

CHREMES

Eho, die mihi, quid rei tibi est cum familia hac unde exis?

Ubi illae sunt?

SOPHRONA

Miseram me!

CHREMES

Hem, quid est? vivuntne?

SOPHRONA

Vivit gnata:

Matrem ipsam ex aegritudine miseram mors consecuta est.
750

CHREMES

Male factum.

SOPHRONA

Ego autem quae essem anus deserta, egens, ignota,

Ut potui nuptum virginem locavi huic adolescenti

Harum qui est dominus aedium.

CHREMES

Antiphonine?

SOPHRONA

Hem! illi ipsi.

CHREMES

Quid? duasne is uxores habet?

SOPHRONA

Au, obsecro: unam ille quidem hanc solam.

CHREMES

Quid illam alteram quae dicitur cognata?
755

SOPHRONA

Haec ergo est.

CHREMES

Quid ais?

SOPHRONA

Composito factum est quomodo hanc amans habere posset

Sine dote.

CHREMES

Di vestram fidem, quam saepe forte temere

Eveniunt quae non audeas optare! Offendi adveniens

Quicum volebam, atque ut volebam, collocatam filiam.

Quod nos ambo opere maximo dabamus operam ut fieret,
760

Sine nostra cura, maxima sua cura, haec sola fecit.

SOPHRONA

Nunc quid opus facto sit vide. Pater adolescentis venit;

Eumque animo iniquo hoc oppido ferre aiunt.

CHREMES

Nihil pericli est.

Sed per Deos atque homines, meam esse hanc cave resciscat quisquam.

SOPHRONA

Nemo ex me scibit.
765

CHREMES

Sequere me: intus caetera audies.

CHREMES

(apart, to himself.)

But what old woman’s this, that has come out of my brother’s house, half dead with fright?

SOPHRONA

(to herself, continuing)

It was distress that compelled me to this step, though I knew that the match was not likely to hold good; my object was, that in the mean time life might be supported.

CHREMES

(apart, to himself.)

Upon my faith, surely, unless my recollection deceives me, or my sight’s not very good, I espy my daughter’s nurse.¹
735

SOPHRONA

(to herself.)

And we are not able to find—

CHREMES

(apart.)

What must I do?

SOPHRONA

(to herself.)

Her father.

CHREMES

(to himself, apart.)

Shall I accost her, or shall I wait to learn more distinctly what it is she’s saying?

SOPHRONA

(to herself)

If now I could find him, there’s nothing that I should be in fear of.

CHREMES

(apart, to himself, aloud.)

’Tis the very woman. I’ll address her.

SOPHRONA

(turning round.)

Who’s that speaking here?

CHREMES

(coming forward.)

Sophrona.

SOPHRONA

Mentioning my name, too?

CHREMES

Look round at me.
740

SOPHRONA

(seeing him.)

Ye Gods, I do beseech you, isn’t this Stilpho?

CHREMES

No.

SOPHRONA

Do you deny it?

CHREMES

(in a low voice.)

Step a little this way from that door, Sophrona, if you please (pointing). Don’t you, henceforth, be calling me by that name.

SOPHRONA

Why? Pray, are you not the person you always used to say you were?

CHREMES

Hush! (pointing to his own house.)

SOPHRONA

Why are you afraid about that door?

CHREMES

(in a low voice.)

I have got a shrew of a wife shut up there. For by that name I formerly

falsely called myself, in order that you might not chance indiscreetly to blab it out of doors, and then my wife, by some means or other, might come to know of it.
745

SOPHRONA

I’ faith, that’s the very reason why we, wretched creatures, have never been able to find you out here.

CHREMES

Well, but tell me, what business have you with that family from whose house you were coming out? Where are the ladies?²

SOPHRONA

Ah, wretched me!

CHREMES

Hah! What’s the matter? Are they still alive?

SOPHRONA

Your daughter is alive.

Her poor mother died of grief.
750

CHREMES

An unfortunate thing!

SOPHRONA

As for me, being a lone old woman, in want, and unknown, I contrived, as well as I could, to get the young woman married to the young man who is master of this house (pointing).

CHREMES

What! to Antipho?

SOPHRONA

The very same, I say.

CHREMES

What? Has he got two wives?

SOPHRONA

Dear no, prithee, he has only got this one.

CHREMES

What about the other one that’s called his relative?
755

SOPHRONA

Why, this is she.

CHREMES

What is it you say?

SOPHRONA

It was done on purpose, in order that her lover might be enabled to marry her without a portion.

SOPHRONA

Now consider what’s to be done. The young man’s father has returned, and they say that he bears this with feelings highly offended.

CHREMES

There’s no danger of that. But, by Gods and men, do take care that no one comes to know that she’s my daughter.