Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Phormio, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 5.7

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(DEMIPHO. PHORMIO. CHREMES.)

DEMIPHO

Dis magnas merito gratias habeo atque ago,

Quando evenere haec nobis, frater, prospere.
895

Quantum potest nunc conveniendus Phormio est,

Priusquam dilapidet nostras triginta minas

Ut auferamus.

PHORMIO

Demiphonem, si domi est,

Visam: ut, quod—

DEMIPHO

At nos ad te ibamus, Phormio.

PHORMIO

De eadem hac fortasse causa.
900

DEMIPHO

Ita hercle.

PHORMIO

Credidi.

Quid ad me ibatis? Ridiculum. Verebamini

Ne non id facerem quod recepissem semel?

Heus, quanta quanta haec mea paupertas est, tamen

Adhuc curavi unum hoc quidem, ut mihi esset fides.

CHREMES

Estne ea, ita ut dixi, liberalis?
905

DEMIPHO

Oppido.

PHORMIO

Itaque ad vos venio nuntiatum, Demipho,

Paratum me esse: ubi vultis, uxorem date;

Nam omnes posthabui mihi res, ita uti par fuit,

Postquam tantopere id vos velle animadverteram.

DEMIPHO

At hic dehortatus est me ne illam tibi darem;
910

Nam qui erit rumor populi, inquit, si id feceris?

Olim quum honeste potuit tum non est data:

Nunc viduam extrudi turpe est: ferme eadem omnia

Quae tute dudum coram me incusaveras.

PHORMIO

Satis superbe illuditis me.
915

DEMIPHO

Qui?

PHORMIO

Rogas?

Quia ne alteram quidem illam potero ducere:

Nam quo redibo ore ad eam quam contemserim?

CHREMES

Tum autem Antiphonem video ab sese amittere

Invitum eam; inque.

DEMIPHO

Tum autem video filium

Invitum sane mulierem ab se amittere.
920

Sed transi sodes ad forum, atque illud mihi

Argentum rursum iube rescribi, Phormio.

PHORMIO

Quodne ego discripsi porro illis quibus debui

DEMIPHO

Quid igitur fiet?

PHORMIO

Si vis mihi uxorem dare,

Quam despondisti, ducam: sin est ut velis
925

Mancre illam apud te, dos hic maneat, Demipho.

Nam non est aequum me propter vos decipi,

Quum ego vestri honoris causa repudium alterae

Remiserim quae dotis tantundem dabat.

DEMIPHO

I hinc in malam rein cum istac magnificentia,
930

Fugitive: etiam nunc credis te ignorarier,

Aut tua facta adeo?

PHORMIO

Irritor.

DEMIPHO

Tune hanc duceres,

Si tibi data esset?

PHORMIO

Fac periclum.

DEMIPHO

Ut filius

Cum illa habitet apud te; hoc vestrum consilium fuit.

PHORMIO

Quaeso, quid narras?
935

DEMIPHO

Quin tu mihi argentum cedo.

PHORMIO

Immo vero uxorem tu cedo.

DEMIPHO

In ius ambula.

PHORMIO

In ius? enimvero si porro esse odiosi pergitis—

DEMIPHO

Quid facies?

PHORMIO

Egone? Vos me indotatis modo

Patrocinari fortasse arbitramini:

Etiam dotatis soleo.
940

CHREMES

Quid id nostra?

PHORMIO

Nihil.

Hic quandam noram cuius vir uxorem —

CHREMES

Hem.

DEMIPHO

Quid est?

PHORMIO

Lemni habuit aliam:—

CHREMES

Nullus sum.

PHORMIO

ex qua filiam

Suscepit; et eam clam educat.

CHREMES

Sepultus sum.

PHORMIO

Haec adeo ego illi iam denarrabo.

CHREMES

Obsecro,

Ne facias.
945

PHORMIO

Oh, tune is eras? Ut ludos facit.

CHREMES

Missum te facimus.

PHORMIO

Fabulae.

CHREMES

Quid vis tibi?

Argentum quod habes condonamus te.

PHORMIO

Audio.

Quid vos, malum, ergo me sic ludificamini,

Inepti, vestra puerili sententia?

Nolo, volo: volo, nolo rursum: cedo, cape.
950

Quod dictum, indictum est: quod modo erat ratum, irritum est.

CHREMES

Quo pacto aut unde haec hic rescivit?

DEMIPHO

Nescio;

Nisi me dixisse nemini id certo scio.

CHREMES

Monstri, ita me Di ament, simile.

PHORMIO

Inieci scrupulum.

DEMIPHO

Hem.

Hicine ut a nobis hoc tantum argenti auferat,
955

Tam aperte irridens? Emori hercle satius est.

Animo virili praesentique ut sis para:

Vides tuum peccatum esse clatum foras;

Neque iam id celare posse te uxorem tuam.

Nunc quod ipsa ex aliis auditura sit, Chreme,
960

Id nosmet ipsos indicare placabilius est.

Tum hunc impuratum poterimus nostro modo

Ulcisci.

PHORMIO

Atat, nisi inihi prospicio, haereo.

Hi gladiatorio animo ad me affectant viam.

CHREMES

At vereor ut placari possit.
965

DEMIPHO

Bono animo es.

Ego redigam vos in gratiam, hoc fretus, Chreme,

Quum e medio excessit unde haec suscepta est tibi.

PHORMIO

Itane agitis mecum? Satis astute aggredimini.

Non hercle ex re istius me instigasti, Demipho.

Ain tu? Ubi quae libitum fuerit peregre feceris,
970

Neque huius sis veritus feminae primariae,

Quin novo modo ei faceres contumeliam,

Venias mihi precibus lautum peccatum tuum?

Hisce ego illlam dictis ita tibi incensam dabo

Ut ne restinguas lacrimis si exstillaveris.
975

DEMIPHO

Malum quod isti Di Deaeque omnes duiut.

Tantane affectum quenquam esse hominem audacia?

Non hoc publicitus scelus hinc deportarier

In solas terras?

CHREMES

In id redactus sum loci

Ut quid agam cum illo nesciam prorsum.
980

DEMIPHO

Ego scio:

In ius eamus.

PHORMIO

In ius? huc, si quid libet.

DEMIPHO

Assequere ac retine, dum ego huc servos evoco.

CHREMES

Enim solus nequeo: accurre huc.

PHORMIO

Una iniuria est

Tecum.

CHREMES

Lege agito ergo.

PHORMIO

Altera est tecum, Chreme.

DEMIPHO

Rape hunc.
985

PHORMIO

Itane agitis? enimvero voce est opus.

Nausistrata, exi.

CHREMES

Os opprime.

DEMIPHO

Impurum vide,

Quantum valet.

PHORMIO

Nausistrata, inquam.

CHREMES

Non taces?

PHORMIO

Taceam?

DEMIPHO

Nisi sequitur, pugnos in ventrem ingere.

PHORMIO

Vel oculum exclude: est ubi vos ulciscar probe.

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.) — 5.7 focus

894 (Enter DEMIPHO and CHREMES, from DEMIPHO’S house.)

DEMIPHO

I do give and return hearty thanks to the Gods,

and with reason, brother, inasmuch as these matters have turned out for us so fortunately. We must now meet with Phormio as soon as possible, before he squanders our thirty minae, so that we may get them from him. (Enter PHORMIO, coming forward, and speaking aloud, as though not seeing them.)
895

PHORMIO

I’ll go see if Demipho’s at home; that as to what¹—

DEMIPHO

(accosting him.)

Why, Phormio, we were coming to you.

PHORMIO

Perhaps about the very same affair. (DEMIPHO nods assent.)
900

I’ faith,

I thought so.

What were you coming to my house for? Ridiculous; are you afraid that I sha’n’t do what I have once undertaken? Hark you, whatever is my poverty, still, of this one thing I have taken due care, not to forfeit my word.

CHREMES

(to DEMIPHO.)

Is she not genteel-looking,² just as I told you?
905

DEMIPHO

Very much so.

PHORMIO

And this is what I’m come to tell you, Demipho, that I’m quite ready; whenever you please, give me my wife. For I postponed all my other business, as was fit I should, when I understood that you were so very desirous to have it so.

DEMIPHO

(pointing to CHREMES.)

But he has dissuaded me from giving her to you. For what, says he, will be the talk among people if you do this? Formerly, when she might have been handsomely disposed of, then she wasn’t given; now it’s a disgrace for her to be turned out of doors, a repudiated woman; pretty nearly, in fact, all the reasons which you yourself, some little time since, were urging to me.
910

PHORMIO

Upon my faith, you are treating me in a very insulting manner.
915

DEMIPHO

How so?

PHORMIO

Do you ask me? Because I shall not be able to marry the other person I mentioned; for with what face shall I return to her whom I’ve slighted?

CHREMES

Then besides, I see that Antipho is unwilling to part with her. (Aside, prompting DEMIPHO.) Say so.

DEMIPHO

Then besides, I see that my son

is very unwilling to part with the damsel. But have the goodness to step over to the Forum, and order this money to be transferred to my account,³ Phormio.
920

PHORMIO

What, when I’ve paid it over to the persons to whom I was indebted?

DEMIPHO

What’s to be done, then?

PHORMIO

If you will let me have her for a wife,

as you promised, I’ll take her; but if you prefer that she should stay with you, the portion must stay with me, Demipho. For it isn’t fair that I should be misled for you, as it was for your own sakes that I broke off with the other woman, who was to have brought me a portion just as large.
925

DEMIPHO

Away with you to utter perdition, with this swaggering, you vagabond. What, then, do you fancy we don’t know you, or your doings?
930

PHORMIO

You are provoking me.

DEMIPHO

Would you have married her, if she had been given to you?

PHORMIO

Try the experiment.

DEMIPHO

That my son might cohabit with her at your house, that was your design.

PHORMIO

Pray, what is that you say?
935

DEMIPHO

Then do you give me my money?

PHORMIO

Nay, but do you give me my wife?

DEMIPHO

Come before a magistrate. (Going to seize hold of him.)

PHORMIO

Why, really, if you persist in being troublesome—

DEMIPHO

What will you do?

PHORMIO

What, I? You fancy, perhaps, just now, that I am the protector of the portionless; for the well portioned,⁴

I’m in the habit of being so as well.
940

CHREMES

What’s that to us?

PHORMIO

(with a careless air.)

Nothing at all. I know a certain lady here (pointing at CHREMES’S house) whose husband had—

CHREMES

(starting.)

Ha!

DEMIPHO

What’s the matter?

PHORMIO

Another wife at Lemnos —

CHREMES

(aside.)

I’m ruined!

PHORMIO

By whom he had a daughter; and her he is secretly bringing up.

CHREMES

(aside.)

I’m dead and buried!

PHORMIO

This I shall assuredly now inform her of.

(Walks toward the house.)

CHREMES

(running and catching hold of him.)

I beg of you,

don’t do so.
945

PHORMIO

(with a careless air.)

Oh, were you the person?

DEMIPHO

⁵What a jest he’s making of us.

CHREMES

(to PHORMIO.)

We’ll let you off.

PHORMIO

Nonsense.

CHREMES

What would you have? We’ll forgive you the money you’ve got,

PHORMIO

I hear you. Why the plague, then, do you two trifle with me in this way, you silly men, with your childish speeches—

I won’t, and I will; I will, and I won’t, over again: keep it, give it me back; what has been said, is unsaid; what had been just a bargain, is now no bargain.
950

CHREMES

(aside, to DEMIPHO.)

In what manner, or from whom has he come to know of this?

DEMIPHO

(aside.)

I don’t, know; but that I’ve told it to no one, I know for certain.

CHREMES

(aside.)

So may the Gods bless me, ’tis as good as a miracle.

PHORMIO

(aside, to himself.)

I’ve graveled them.

DEMIPHO

(apart, to CHREMES.)

Well now,

is he to be carrying off⁶ from us such a sum of money as this, and so palpably to impose upon us? By heavens, I’d sooner die. Manage to show yourself of resolute and ready wit. You see that this slip of yours has got abroad, and that you can not now possibly conceal it from your wife;
955

it is then more conducive to our quiet, Chremes, ourselves to disclose what she will be hearing from others; and then, in our own fashion, we shall be able to take vengeance upon this dirty fellow.
960

PHORMIO

(aside, to himself.)

Good lack-a-day, now’s the sticking-point, if I don’t look out for myself. They are making toward me with a gladiatorial air.

CHREMES

(apart, to DEMIPHO.)

But I doubt whether it’s possible for her to be appeased.
965

DEMIPHO

(apart, to CHREMES.)

Be of good courage; I’ll effect a reconciliation between you; remembering this, Chremes, that she is dead and gone⁷ by whom you had this girl.

PHORMIO

(in a loud voice.)

Is this the way you are going to deal with me? Very cleverly done. Come on with you. By heavens, Demipho, you have provoked me, not to his advantage (pointing at CHREMES).

How say you? (addressing CHREMES). When you’ve been doing abroad just as you pleased, and have had no regard for this excellent lady here, but on the contrary, have been injuring her in an unheard-of manner, would you be coming to me with prayers to wash away your offenses? On telling her of this, I’ll make her so incensed with you,
970

that you sha’n’t quench her, though you should melt away into tears.
975

DEMIPHO

(aside.)

A plague may all the Gods and Goddesses send upon him. That any fellow should be possessed of so much impudence! Does not this villain deserve to be transported hence to some desolate land at the public charge?

CHREMES

(aside.)

I am brought to such a pass,

that I really don’t know what to do in it.
980

DEMIPHO

I know; let’s go into court.

PHORMIO

Into court? Here in preference (pointing to CHREMES’S house), if it suits you in any way.

(Moves toward the house.)

DEMIPHO

(to CHREMES.)

Follow him, and hold him back, till I call out the servants.

CHREMES

(trying to seize PHORMIO.)

But I can’t by myself; run and help me.

PHORMIO

(to DEMIPHO, who seizes hold of him.)

There’s one action of damages against you.

CHREMES

Sue him at law, then.

PHORMIO

And another with you, Chremes.

DEMIPHO

Lay hold of him. (They both drag him.)
985

PHORMIO

Is it thus you do? Why then I must exert my voice: Nausistrata, come out (calling aloud).

CHREMES

(to DEMIPHO.)

Stop his mouth.

DEMIPHO

See how strong the rascal is.

PHORMIO

(calling aloud.)

Nausistrata, I say.

CHREMES

Will you not hold your tongue?

PHORMIO

Hold my tongue?

DEMIPHO

(to CHREMES, as they drag him along.)

If he won’t follow, plant your fists in his stomach.

PHORMIO

Or e’en gouge out an eye. The time’s coming when I shall have a full revenge on you.

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DEMIPHO Dis magnas merito gratias habeo atque ago, Quando evenere haec nobis, frater, prospere. 895 Quantum potest nunc conveniendus Phormio est, Priusquam dilapidet nostras triginta minas Ut auferamus.

PHORMIO Demiphonem, si domi est, Visam: ut, quod—

DEMIPHO At nos ad te ibamus, Phormio.

PHORMIO De eadem hac fortasse causa. 900

DEMIPHO Ita hercle.

PHORMIO Credidi. Quid ad me ibatis? Ridiculum. Verebamini Ne non id facerem quod recepissem semel? Heus, quanta quanta haec mea paupertas est, tamen Adhuc curavi unum hoc quidem, ut mihi esset fides.

CHREMES Estne ea, ita ut dixi, liberalis? 905

DEMIPHO Oppido.

PHORMIO Itaque ad vos venio nuntiatum, Demipho, Paratum me esse: ubi vultis, uxorem date; Nam omnes posthabui mihi res, ita uti par fuit, Postquam tantopere id vos velle animadverteram.

DEMIPHO At hic dehortatus est me ne illam tibi darem; 910 Nam qui erit rumor populi, inquit, si id feceris? Olim quum honeste potuit tum non est data: Nunc viduam extrudi turpe est: ferme eadem omnia Quae tute dudum coram me incusaveras.

PHORMIO Satis superbe illuditis me. 915

DEMIPHO Qui?

PHORMIO Rogas? Quia ne alteram quidem illam potero ducere: Nam quo redibo ore ad eam quam contemserim?

CHREMES Tum autem Antiphonem video ab sese amittere Invitum eam; inque.

DEMIPHO Tum autem video filium Invitum sane mulierem ab se amittere. 920 Sed transi sodes ad forum, atque illud mihi Argentum rursum iube rescribi, Phormio.

PHORMIO Quodne ego discripsi porro illis quibus debui

DEMIPHO Quid igitur fiet?

PHORMIO Si vis mihi uxorem dare, Quam despondisti, ducam: sin est ut velis 925 Mancre illam apud te, dos hic maneat, Demipho. Nam non est aequum me propter vos decipi, Quum ego vestri honoris causa repudium alterae Remiserim quae dotis tantundem dabat.

DEMIPHO I hinc in malam rein cum istac magnificentia, 930 Fugitive: etiam nunc credis te ignorarier, Aut tua facta adeo?

PHORMIO Irritor.

DEMIPHO Tune hanc duceres, Si tibi data esset?

PHORMIO Fac periclum.

DEMIPHO Ut filius Cum illa habitet apud te; hoc vestrum consilium fuit.

PHORMIO Quaeso, quid narras? 935

DEMIPHO Quin tu mihi argentum cedo.

PHORMIO Immo vero uxorem tu cedo.

DEMIPHO In ius ambula.

PHORMIO In ius? enimvero si porro esse odiosi pergitis—

DEMIPHO Quid facies?

PHORMIO Egone? Vos me indotatis modo Patrocinari fortasse arbitramini: Etiam dotatis soleo. 940

CHREMES Quid id nostra?

PHORMIO Nihil. Hic quandam noram cuius vir uxorem —

CHREMES Hem.

DEMIPHO Quid est?

PHORMIO Lemni habuit aliam:—

CHREMES Nullus sum.

PHORMIO ex qua filiam Suscepit; et eam clam educat.

CHREMES Sepultus sum.

PHORMIO Haec adeo ego illi iam denarrabo.

CHREMES Obsecro, Ne facias. 945

PHORMIO Oh, tune is eras? Ut ludos facit.

CHREMES Missum te facimus.

PHORMIO Fabulae.

CHREMES Quid vis tibi? Argentum quod habes condonamus te.

PHORMIO Audio. Quid vos, malum, ergo me sic ludificamini, Inepti, vestra puerili sententia? Nolo, volo: volo, nolo rursum: cedo, cape. 950 Quod dictum, indictum est: quod modo erat ratum, irritum est.

CHREMES Quo pacto aut unde haec hic rescivit?

DEMIPHO Nescio; Nisi me dixisse nemini id certo scio.

CHREMES Monstri, ita me Di ament, simile.

PHORMIO Inieci scrupulum.

PHORMIO Atat, nisi inihi prospicio, haereo. Hi gladiatorio animo ad me affectant viam.

CHREMES At vereor ut placari possit. 965

DEMIPHO Bono animo es. Ego redigam vos in gratiam, hoc fretus, Chreme, Quum e medio excessit unde haec suscepta est tibi.

DEMIPHO Malum quod isti Di Deaeque omnes duiut. Tantane affectum quenquam esse hominem audacia? Non hoc publicitus scelus hinc deportarier In solas terras?

CHREMES In id redactus sum loci Ut quid agam cum illo nesciam prorsum. 980

DEMIPHO Ego scio: In ius eamus.

PHORMIO In ius? huc, si quid libet.

DEMIPHO Assequere ac retine, dum ego huc servos evoco.

CHREMES Enim solus nequeo: accurre huc.

PHORMIO Una iniuria est Tecum.

CHREMES Lege agito ergo.

PHORMIO Altera est tecum, Chreme.

DEMIPHO Rape hunc. 985

PHORMIO Itane agitis? enimvero voce est opus. Nausistrata, exi.

CHREMES Os opprime.

DEMIPHO Impurum vide, Quantum valet.

PHORMIO Nausistrata, inquam.

CHREMES Non taces?

PHORMIO Taceam?

DEMIPHO Nisi sequitur, pugnos in ventrem ingere.

PHORMIO Vel oculum exclude: est ubi vos ulciscar probe.

Current edition Perseus

PHORMIO I’ll go see if Demipho’s at home; that as to what 1 —

DEMIPHO (accosting him.) Why, Phormio, we were coming to you.

CHREMES (to DEMIPHO.) Is she not genteel-looking, 2 just as I told you? 905

DEMIPHO Very much so.

PHORMIO And this is what I’m come to tell you, Demipho, that I’m quite ready; whenever you please, give me my wife. For I postponed all my other business, as was fit I should, when I understood that you were so very desirous to have it so.

PHORMIO Upon my faith, you are treating me in a very insulting manner. 915

DEMIPHO How so?

DEMIPHO

Dis magnas merito gratias habeo atque ago,

Quando evenere haec nobis, frater, prospere.
895

Quantum potest nunc conveniendus Phormio est,

Priusquam dilapidet nostras triginta minas

Ut auferamus.

PHORMIO

Demiphonem, si domi est,

Visam: ut, quod—

DEMIPHO

At nos ad te ibamus, Phormio.

PHORMIO

De eadem hac fortasse causa.
900

DEMIPHO

Ita hercle.

PHORMIO

Credidi.

Quid ad me ibatis? Ridiculum. Verebamini

Ne non id facerem quod recepissem semel?

Heus, quanta quanta haec mea paupertas est, tamen

Adhuc curavi unum hoc quidem, ut mihi esset fides.

CHREMES

Estne ea, ita ut dixi, liberalis?
905

DEMIPHO

Oppido.

PHORMIO

Itaque ad vos venio nuntiatum, Demipho,

Paratum me esse: ubi vultis, uxorem date;

Nam omnes posthabui mihi res, ita uti par fuit,

Postquam tantopere id vos velle animadverteram.

DEMIPHO

At hic dehortatus est me ne illam tibi darem;
910

Nam qui erit rumor populi, inquit, si id feceris?

Olim quum honeste potuit tum non est data:

Nunc viduam extrudi turpe est: ferme eadem omnia

Quae tute dudum coram me incusaveras.

PHORMIO

Satis superbe illuditis me.
915

DEMIPHO

Qui?

PHORMIO

Rogas?

Quia ne alteram quidem illam potero ducere:

Nam quo redibo ore ad eam quam contemserim?

CHREMES

Tum autem Antiphonem video ab sese amittere

Invitum eam; inque.

DEMIPHO

Tum autem video filium

Invitum sane mulierem ab se amittere.
920

Sed transi sodes ad forum, atque illud mihi

Argentum rursum iube rescribi, Phormio.

PHORMIO

Quodne ego discripsi porro illis quibus debui

DEMIPHO

Quid igitur fiet?

PHORMIO

Si vis mihi uxorem dare,

Quam despondisti, ducam: sin est ut velis
925

Mancre illam apud te, dos hic maneat, Demipho.

Nam non est aequum me propter vos decipi,

Quum ego vestri honoris causa repudium alterae

Remiserim quae dotis tantundem dabat.

DEMIPHO

I hinc in malam rein cum istac magnificentia,
930

Fugitive: etiam nunc credis te ignorarier,

Aut tua facta adeo?

PHORMIO

Irritor.

DEMIPHO

Tune hanc duceres,

Si tibi data esset?

PHORMIO

Fac periclum.

DEMIPHO

Ut filius

Cum illa habitet apud te; hoc vestrum consilium fuit.

PHORMIO

Quaeso, quid narras?
935

DEMIPHO

Quin tu mihi argentum cedo.

PHORMIO

Immo vero uxorem tu cedo.

DEMIPHO

In ius ambula.

PHORMIO

In ius? enimvero si porro esse odiosi pergitis—

DEMIPHO

Quid facies?

PHORMIO

Egone? Vos me indotatis modo

Patrocinari fortasse arbitramini:

Etiam dotatis soleo.
940

CHREMES

Quid id nostra?

PHORMIO

Nihil.

Hic quandam noram cuius vir uxorem —

CHREMES

Hem.

DEMIPHO

Quid est?

PHORMIO

Lemni habuit aliam:—

CHREMES

Nullus sum.

PHORMIO

ex qua filiam

Suscepit; et eam clam educat.

CHREMES

Sepultus sum.

PHORMIO

Haec adeo ego illi iam denarrabo.

CHREMES

Obsecro,

Ne facias.
945

PHORMIO

Oh, tune is eras? Ut ludos facit.

CHREMES

Missum te facimus.

PHORMIO

Fabulae.

CHREMES

Quid vis tibi?

Argentum quod habes condonamus te.

PHORMIO

Audio.

Quid vos, malum, ergo me sic ludificamini,

Inepti, vestra puerili sententia?

Nolo, volo: volo, nolo rursum: cedo, cape.
950

Quod dictum, indictum est: quod modo erat ratum, irritum est.

CHREMES

Quo pacto aut unde haec hic rescivit?

DEMIPHO

Nescio;

Nisi me dixisse nemini id certo scio.

CHREMES

Monstri, ita me Di ament, simile.

PHORMIO

Inieci scrupulum.

PHORMIO

Atat, nisi inihi prospicio, haereo.

Hi gladiatorio animo ad me affectant viam.

CHREMES

At vereor ut placari possit.
965

DEMIPHO

Bono animo es.

Ego redigam vos in gratiam, hoc fretus, Chreme,

Quum e medio excessit unde haec suscepta est tibi.

DEMIPHO

Malum quod isti Di Deaeque omnes duiut.

Tantane affectum quenquam esse hominem audacia?

Non hoc publicitus scelus hinc deportarier

In solas terras?

CHREMES

In id redactus sum loci

Ut quid agam cum illo nesciam prorsum.
980

DEMIPHO

Ego scio:

In ius eamus.

PHORMIO

In ius? huc, si quid libet.

DEMIPHO

Assequere ac retine, dum ego huc servos evoco.

CHREMES

Enim solus nequeo: accurre huc.

PHORMIO

Una iniuria est

Tecum.

CHREMES

Lege agito ergo.

PHORMIO

Altera est tecum, Chreme.

DEMIPHO

Rape hunc.
985

PHORMIO

Itane agitis? enimvero voce est opus.

Nausistrata, exi.

CHREMES

Os opprime.

DEMIPHO

Impurum vide,

Quantum valet.

PHORMIO

Nausistrata, inquam.

CHREMES

Non taces?

PHORMIO

Taceam?

DEMIPHO

Nisi sequitur, pugnos in ventrem ingere.

PHORMIO

Vel oculum exclude: est ubi vos ulciscar probe.

PHORMIO

I’ll go see if Demipho’s at home; that as to what¹—

DEMIPHO

(accosting him.)

Why, Phormio, we were coming to you.

CHREMES

(to DEMIPHO.)

Is she not genteel-looking,² just as I told you?
905

DEMIPHO

Very much so.

PHORMIO

And this is what I’m come to tell you, Demipho, that I’m quite ready; whenever you please, give me my wife. For I postponed all my other business, as was fit I should, when I understood that you were so very desirous to have it so.

PHORMIO

Upon my faith, you are treating me in a very insulting manner.
915

DEMIPHO

How so?

PHORMIO

Do you ask me? Because I shall not be able to marry the other person I mentioned; for with what face shall I return to her whom I’ve slighted?

CHREMES

Then besides, I see that Antipho is unwilling to part with her. (Aside, prompting DEMIPHO.) Say so.

DEMIPHO

Then besides, I see that my son

is very unwilling to part with the damsel. But have the goodness to step over to the Forum, and order this money to be transferred to my account,³ Phormio.
920