Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Hecyra, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 4.4

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623 (PHIDIPPUS. LACHES. PAMPHILUS.)

PHIDIPPUS

Tibi quoque edepol iratus sum, Philumena,

Graviter quidem; nam hercle abs te factum est turpiter;

Etsi tibi causa est de hac re: mater te impulit:
625

Huic vero nulla est.

LACHES

Opportune te mihi,

Phidippe, in ipso tempore ostendis.

PHIDIPPUS

Quid est?

PAMPHILUS

Quid respondebo his? aut quo pacto hoc aperiam?

LACHES

Die filiae rus concessuram hinc Sostratam:

Ne revereatur minus iam quo redeat domum.
630

PHIDIPPUS

Ah,

Nullam de his rebus culpam commeruit tua:

A Myrrhina haec sunt mea uxore exorta omnia.

Mutatio fit: ea nos perturbat, Lache.

PAMPHILUS

Dum ne reducam, turbent porro quam velint.

PHIDIPPUS

Ego, Pamphile, esse inter nos, si fieri potest,
635

Affinitatem hanc sane perpetuam volo:

Sin est ut aliter tua siet sententia,

Accipias puerum.

PAMPHILUS

Sensit peperisse; occidi.

LACHES

Puerum? quem puerum?

PHIDIPPUS

Natus est nobis nepos:

Nam abducta a vobis praegnas fuerat filia,
640

Neque fuisse praegnatem unquam ante hunc scivi diem.

LACHES

Bene, ita me Di ament, nuntias; et gaudeo

Natum illum, et tibi illam salvam: sed quid mulieris

Uxorem habes, aut quibus moratam moribus?

Nosne hoc celatos tam diu? nequeo satis
645

Quam hoc mihi videtur factum prave proloqui.

PHIDIPPUS

Non tibi illud factum minus placet quam mihi, Lache.

PAMPHILUS

Etiamsi dudum fuerat ambiguum hoc mihi,

Nunc non est quum eam consequitur alienus puer.

LACHES

Nulla tibi, Pamphile, hic iam consultatio est.
650

PAMPHILUS

Perii.

LACHES

Hunc videre saepe optabamus diem

Quum ex te esset aliquis qui te appellaret patrem.

Evenit: habeo gratiam Dis.

PAMPHILUS

Nullus sum.

LACHES

Reduc uxorem, ac noli adversari mihi.

PAMPHILUS

Pater, si ex me illa liberos vellet sibi,
655

Aut se esse mecum nuptam, satis certo scio

Non me clam haberet quod celasse intelligo.

Nunc quum eius alienum esse a me animum sentiam,

Nec conventurum inter nos posthac esse arbitror,

Quamobrem reducam?
660

LACHES

Mater quod suasit sua

Adolescens mulier fecit: mirandumne id est?

Censen te posse reperire ullam mulierem

Quae careat culpa? an quia non delinquunt viri?

PHIDIPPUS

Vosmet videte iam, Lache et tu Pamphile,

Remissane opus sit vobis redductan domum.
665

Uxor quid faciat in manu non est mea:

Neutra in re vobis difficultas a me erit.

Sed quid faciemus puero?

LACHES

Ridicule rogas:

Quicquid futurum est, huic suum reddas scilicet,

Ut alamus nostrum.
670

PAMPHILUS

Quem ipse neglexit pater

Ego alam?

LACHES

Quid dixti? Eho, an non alemus, Pamphile?

Prodemus quaeso potius? Quae haec amentia est?

Enimvero prorsus iam tacere non queo;

Nam cogis ea quae nolo ut praesente hoc loquar.

Ignarum censes tuarum lacrimarum esse me?
675

Aut quid sit id quod sollicitere ad hunc modum?

Primum hanc ubi dixti causam, te propter tuam

Matrem non posse habere hanc uxorem domi,

Pollicita est ea se concessuram ex aedibus.

Nunc postquam ademtam hanc quoque tibi causam vides;
680

Puer quia clam te est natus nactus alteram es.

Erras, tui animi si me esse ignarum putas.

Aliquando tandem huc animum ut adiungas tuum,

Quam longum spatium amandi amicam tibi dedi!

Sumtus quos fecisti in eam quam animo aequo tuli!
685

Egi atque oravi tecum uxorem ut duceres.

Tempus dixi esse; impulsu duxisti meo:

Quae tum obsecutus mihi fecisti ut decuerat;

Nunc animum rursum ad meretricem induxti tuum:

Cui tu obsecutus facis huic adeo iniuriam:
690

Nam in eandem vitam te revolutum denuo

Video esse.

PAMPHILUS

Mene?

LACHES

Te ipsum. Et facis iniuriam,

Quum fingis falsas causas ad discordiam,

Ut cum illa vivas, testem hanc quum abs te amoveris;

Sensitque adeo uxor; nam ei causa alia quae fuit
695

Quamobrem abs te abiret?

PHIDIPPUS

Plane hic divinat; nam id est.

PAMPHILUS

Dabo iusiurandum nihil esse istorum tibi.

LACHES

Ah,

Reduc uxorem: aut quamobrem non opus sit cedo.

PAMPHILUS

Non est nunc tempus.

LACHES

Puerum accipias; nam is quidem

In culpa non est: post de matre videro.
700

PAMPHILUS

Omnibus modis miser sum; nec quid agam scio;

Tot me nunc rebus miserum concludit pater.

Abibo hinc, praesens quando promoveo parum;

Nam puerum iniussu, credo, non tollent meo;

Praesertim in ea re quum sit mihi adiutrix socrus.
705

LACHES

Fugis? hem, nec quicquam certi respondes mihi?

Num tibi videtur esse apud sese? Sine.

Puerum, Phidippe, mihi cedo; ego alam.

PHIDIPPUS

Maxime.

Non mirum fecit uxor si hoc aegre tulit.

Amarae mulieres sunt: non facile haec ferunt.
710

Propterea haec ira est: nam ipsa narravit mihi.

Id ego hoc praesente tibi nolebam dicere,

Neque ei credebam primo; nunc vero palam est.

Nam omnino abhorrere animum huic video a nuptiis.

LACHES

Quid ergo agam, Phidippe? quid das consili?
715

PHIDIPPUS

Quid agas? Meretricem hanc primum adeundam censeo.

Oremus; accusemus; gravius denique

Minitemur, si cum illo habuerit rem postea.

LACHES

Faciam ut mones. Eho, puer, curre ad Bacchidem hanc

Vicinam nostram: huc evoca verbis meis;
720

Et te oro porro in hac re adiutor sis mihi.

PHIDIPPUS

Ah,

Iamdudum dixi, idemque nunc dico, Lache;

Manere affinitatem hanc inter nos volo,

Si ullo modo est ut possit, quod spero fore.

Sed visne adesse me una, dum istam convenis?
725

LACHES

Immo vero abi: aliquam puero nutricem para.

Hecyra. 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

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

Translations (1)

Hecyra; The Mother-in-Law Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 4.4 focus

623 (Enter PHIDIPPUS, from his house.)

PHIDIPPUS
(speaking at the door to PHILUMENA, within.)

Upon my faith, I am angry with you too, Philumena, extremely so, for, on my word, you have acted badly;

still there is an excuse for you in this matter; your mother forced you to it; but for her there is none.
625

LACHES

(accosting him.)

Phidippus, you meet me at a lucky moment, just at the very time.

PHIDIPPUS

What’s the matter?

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

What answer shall I make them, or in what manner keep this secret?

LACHES

(to PHIDIPPUS.)

Tell your daughter that Sostrata is going into the country,

that the may not now be afraid of returning home.
630

PHIDIPPUS

Alas! your wife has been guilty of no fault in this affair; all this mischief has originated in my wife Myrrhina.

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

They are changing sides.

PHIDIPPUS

’Tis she that causes our disturbances, Laches.¹

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

So long as I don’t take her back, let her cause as much disturbance as she pleases.

PHIDIPPUS

I, Pamphilus, could really wish, if it were possible, this alliance between us to be lasting; but if you are otherwise inclined, still take the child.²
635

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

He has discovered that she has been brought to bed. I’m undone!

LACHES

The child! What child?

PHIDIPPUS

We have had a grandson born to us;

for my daughter was removed from you in a state of pregnancy, and yet never before this day did I know that she was pregnant.
640

LACHES

So may the Gods prosper me, you bring good tidings, and I am glad a child has been born, and that she is safe: but what kind of woman have you for a wife, or of what sort of a temper,

that we should have been kept in ignorance of this so long? I can not sufficiently express how disgraceful this conduct appears to me.
645

PHIDIPPUS

This conduct does not vex me less than yourself, Laches.

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

Even if it had just now been a matter of doubt to me, it is so no longer, since the child of another man is to accompany her.

LACHES

Pamphilus, there is no room now for deliberation for you in this matter.
650

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

I’m undone!

LACHES

(to PAMPHILUS.)

We were often longing to see the day on which there should be one to call you father; it has come to pass. I return thanks to the Gods.

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

I am ruined!

LACHES

Take home your wife, and don’t oppose my will.

PAMPHILUS

Father, if she had wished to have children by me, or to continue to be my wife, I am quite certain she would not have concealed from me what I find she has concealed. Now, as I find that her mind is estranged from me, and think that there would be no agreement between us in future, why should I take her back?
655

LACHES

The young woman has done what her mother persuaded her. Is that to be wondered at? Do you suppose you can find any woman who is free from fault? Or is it that men have no failings?

PHIDIPPUS

Do you yourselves now consider, Laches, and you, Pamphilus,

whether it is most advisable for you to leave her or take her back. What your wife may do, is not in my control. Under neither circumstance will you meet with any difficulty from me. But what are we to do with the child?
665

LACHES

You do ask an absurd question; whatever happens, send him back his child of course,

that we may bring it up as ours.
670

PAMPHILUS

(in a low voice.)

A child which the father has abandoned, am I to rear?.

LACHES

What was it you said? How—not rear it, Pamphilus? Prithee, are we to expose it, in preference? What madness is this? Really, I can not now be silent any longer. For you force me to say in his presence (pointing to PHIDIPPUS) what I would rather not.

Do you suppose I am in ignorance of the cause of your tears, or what it is on account of which you are perplexed to this degree? In the first place, when you alleged as a reason, that, on account of your mother, you could not have your wife at home, she promised that she would leave the house.
675

Now, since you see this pretext as well taken away from you, because a child has been born without your knowledge, you have got another. You are mistaken if you suppose that I am ignorant of your feelings. That at last you might prevail upon your feelings to take this step, how long a period for loving a mistress did I allow you!
680

With what patience did I bear the expense you were at in keeping her! I remonstrated with you and entreated you to take a wife. I said that it was time: by my persuasion you married. What you then did in obedience to me, you did as became you. Now again you have set your fancy upon a mistress,
685

and, to gratify her, you do an injury to the other as well. For I see plainly that you have once more relapsed into the same course of life.
690

PAMPHILUS

What, I?

LACHES

Your own self, and you act unjustly therein. You feign false grounds for discord, that you may live with her when you have got rid of this witness of your actions;

your wife has perceived it too; for what other reason had she for leaving you?
695

PHIDIPPUS

(to himself.)

It’s clear he guesses right; for that must be it.

PAMPHILUS

I will give you my oath that none of these is the reason.

LACHES

Oh take home your wife, or tell me why you should not.

PAMPHILUS

It is not the time at present.

LACHES

Take the child, for surely that

is not in fault; I will consider about the mother afterward.
700

PAMPHILUS

(apart.)

In every way I am wretched, and what to do I know not; with so many troubles is my father now besetting wretched me on every side. I’ll go away from here, since I avail but little by my presence. For without my consent, I do not believe that they will bring up the child,

especially as on that point my mother-in-law will second me.
705
(Exit speedily.)

LACHES

(to PAMPHILUS.)

Do you run away? What, and give me no distinct answer? (To PHIDIPPUS.) Does he seem to you to be in his senses? Let him alone. Phidippus, give me the child; I’ll bring it up.

PHIDIPPUS

By all means. No wonder if my wife has taken this amiss:

women are resentful; they do not easily put up with such things. Hence that anger of hers, for she herself told me of it; I would not mention this to you in his presence, and at first I did not believe her; but now it is true beyond a doubt; for I see that his feelings are altogether averse to marriage.
710

LACHES

What am I to do, then, Phidippus? What advice do you give?
715

PHIDIPPUS

What are you to do? I am of opinion that first we ought to go to this mistress of his. Let us use entreaties with her; then let us rebuke her; and at last, let us very seriously threaten her, if she gives him any encouragement in future.

LACHES

I will do as you advise. (Turning to an ATTENDANT.) Ho, there, boy! run to the house of Bacchis here,

our neighbor; desire her, in my name, to come hither. (Exit ATTENDANT.) And you, I further entreat, to give me your assistance in this affair.
720

PHIDIPPUS

Well, I have already said, and I now say again to the same effect, Laches, I wish this alliance between us to continue, if by any means it possibly may, which I trust will be the case.

But should you like³ me to be with you while you meet her?
725

LACHES

Why yes; but first go and get some one as a nurse for the child.

(Exit PHIDIPPUS.)

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PHIDIPPUS Tibi quoque edepol iratus sum, Philumena, Graviter quidem; nam hercle abs te factum est turpiter; Etsi tibi causa est de hac re: mater te impulit: 625 Huic vero nulla est.

LACHES Opportune te mihi, Phidippe, in ipso tempore ostendis.

PHIDIPPUS Quid est?

PAMPHILUS Quid respondebo his? aut quo pacto hoc aperiam?

LACHES Die filiae rus concessuram hinc Sostratam: Ne revereatur minus iam quo redeat domum. 630

PHIDIPPUS Ah, Nullam de his rebus culpam commeruit tua: A Myrrhina haec sunt mea uxore exorta omnia. Mutatio fit: ea nos perturbat, Lache.

PAMPHILUS Dum ne reducam, turbent porro quam velint.

PHIDIPPUS Ego, Pamphile, esse inter nos, si fieri potest, 635 Affinitatem hanc sane perpetuam volo: Sin est ut aliter tua siet sententia, Accipias puerum.

PAMPHILUS Sensit peperisse; occidi.

LACHES Puerum? quem puerum?

PHIDIPPUS Natus est nobis nepos: Nam abducta a vobis praegnas fuerat filia, 640 Neque fuisse praegnatem unquam ante hunc scivi diem.

LACHES Bene, ita me Di ament, nuntias; et gaudeo Natum illum, et tibi illam salvam: sed quid mulieris Uxorem habes, aut quibus moratam moribus? Nosne hoc celatos tam diu? nequeo satis 645 Quam hoc mihi videtur factum prave proloqui.

PHIDIPPUS Non tibi illud factum minus placet quam mihi, Lache.

PAMPHILUS Etiamsi dudum fuerat ambiguum hoc mihi, Nunc non est quum eam consequitur alienus puer.

LACHES Nulla tibi, Pamphile, hic iam consultatio est. 650

PAMPHILUS Perii.

LACHES Hunc videre saepe optabamus diem Quum ex te esset aliquis qui te appellaret patrem. Evenit: habeo gratiam Dis.

PAMPHILUS Nullus sum.

LACHES Reduc uxorem, ac noli adversari mihi.

PAMPHILUS Pater, si ex me illa liberos vellet sibi, 655 Aut se esse mecum nuptam, satis certo scio Non me clam haberet quod celasse intelligo. Nunc quum eius alienum esse a me animum sentiam, Nec conventurum inter nos posthac esse arbitror, Quamobrem reducam? 660

LACHES Mater quod suasit sua Adolescens mulier fecit: mirandumne id est? Censen te posse reperire ullam mulierem Quae careat culpa? an quia non delinquunt viri?

PHIDIPPUS Vosmet videte iam, Lache et tu Pamphile, Remissane opus sit vobis redductan domum. 665 Uxor quid faciat in manu non est mea: Neutra in re vobis difficultas a me erit. Sed quid faciemus puero?

LACHES Ridicule rogas: Quicquid futurum est, huic suum reddas scilicet, Ut alamus nostrum. 670

PAMPHILUS Quem ipse neglexit pater Ego alam?

PAMPHILUS Mene?

LACHES Te ipsum. Et facis iniuriam, Quum fingis falsas causas ad discordiam, Ut cum illa vivas, testem hanc quum abs te amoveris; Sensitque adeo uxor; nam ei causa alia quae fuit 695 Quamobrem abs te abiret?

PHIDIPPUS Plane hic divinat; nam id est.

PAMPHILUS Dabo iusiurandum nihil esse istorum tibi.

LACHES Ah, Reduc uxorem: aut quamobrem non opus sit cedo.

PAMPHILUS Non est nunc tempus.

LACHES Puerum accipias; nam is quidem In culpa non est: post de matre videro. 700

PAMPHILUS Omnibus modis miser sum; nec quid agam scio; Tot me nunc rebus miserum concludit pater. Abibo hinc, praesens quando promoveo parum; Nam puerum iniussu, credo, non tollent meo; Praesertim in ea re quum sit mihi adiutrix socrus. 705

LACHES Fugis? hem, nec quicquam certi respondes mihi? Num tibi videtur esse apud sese? Sine. Puerum, Phidippe, mihi cedo; ego alam.

PHIDIPPUS Maxime. Non mirum fecit uxor si hoc aegre tulit. Amarae mulieres sunt: non facile haec ferunt. 710 Propterea haec ira est: nam ipsa narravit mihi. Id ego hoc praesente tibi nolebam dicere, Neque ei credebam primo; nunc vero palam est. Nam omnino abhorrere animum huic video a nuptiis.

LACHES Quid ergo agam, Phidippe? quid das consili? 715

PHIDIPPUS Quid agas? Meretricem hanc primum adeundam censeo. Oremus; accusemus; gravius denique Minitemur, si cum illo habuerit rem postea.

LACHES Faciam ut mones. Eho, puer, curre ad Bacchidem hanc Vicinam nostram: huc evoca verbis meis; 720 Et te oro porro in hac re adiutor sis mihi.

PHIDIPPUS Ah, Iamdudum dixi, idemque nunc dico, Lache; Manere affinitatem hanc inter nos volo, Si ullo modo est ut possit, quod spero fore. Sed visne adesse me una, dum istam convenis? 725

LACHES Immo vero abi: aliquam puero nutricem para.

Current edition Perseus

PHIDIPPUS (speaking at the door to PHILUMENA, within.) Upon my faith, I am angry with you too, Philumena, extremely so, for, on my word, you have acted badly; still there is an excuse for you in this matter; your mother forced you to it; but for her there is none. 625

LACHES (accosting him.) Phidippus, you meet me at a lucky moment, just at the very time.

PHIDIPPUS What’s the matter?

PAMPHILUS (aside.) What answer shall I make them, or in what manner keep this secret?

LACHES (to PHIDIPPUS.) Tell your daughter that Sostrata is going into the country, that the may not now be afraid of returning home. 630

PHIDIPPUS Alas! your wife has been guilty of no fault in this affair; all this mischief has originated in my wife Myrrhina.

PAMPHILUS (aside.) They are changing sides.

PHIDIPPUS ’Tis she that causes our disturbances, Laches. 1

PAMPHILUS (aside.) So long as I don’t take her back, let her cause as much disturbance as she pleases.

PHIDIPPUS I, Pamphilus, could really wish, if it were possible, this alliance between us to be lasting; but if you are otherwise inclined, still take the child. 2 635

PAMPHILUS (aside.) He has discovered that she has been brought to bed. I’m undone!

LACHES The child! What child?

PHIDIPPUS We have had a grandson born to us; for my daughter was removed from you in a state of pregnancy, and yet never before this day did I know that she was pregnant. 640

PHIDIPPUS This conduct does not vex me less than yourself, Laches.

PAMPHILUS (aside.) Even if it had just now been a matter of doubt to me, it is so no longer, since the child of another man is to accompany her.

LACHES Pamphilus, there is no room now for deliberation for you in this matter. 650

PAMPHILUS (aside.) I’m undone!

LACHES (to PAMPHILUS.) We were often longing to see the day on which there should be one to call you father; it has come to pass. I return thanks to the Gods.

PAMPHILUS (aside.) I am ruined!

LACHES Take home your wife, and don’t oppose my will.

LACHES The young woman has done what her mother persuaded her. Is that to be wondered at? Do you suppose you can find any woman who is free from fault? Or is it that men have no failings?

PHIDIPPUS Do you yourselves now consider, Laches, and you, Pamphilus, whether it is most advisable for you to leave her or take her back. What your wife may do, is not in my control. Under neither circumstance will you meet with any difficulty from me. But what are we to do with the child? 665

LACHES You do ask an absurd question; whatever happens, send him back his child of course, that we may bring it up as ours. 670

PAMPHILUS (in a low voice.) A child which the father has abandoned, am I to rear?.

PAMPHILUS What, I?

LACHES Your own self, and you act unjustly therein. You feign false grounds for discord, that you may live with her when you have got rid of this witness of your actions; your wife has perceived it too; for what other reason had she for leaving you? 695

PHIDIPPUS (to himself.) It’s clear he guesses right; for that must be it.

PAMPHILUS I will give you my oath that none of these is the reason.

LACHES Oh take home your wife, or tell me why you should not.

PAMPHILUS It is not the time at present.

LACHES Take the child, for surely that is not in fault; I will consider about the mother afterward. 700

LACHES (to PAMPHILUS.) Do you run away? What, and give me no distinct answer? (To PHIDIPPUS.) Does he seem to you to be in his senses? Let him alone. Phidippus, give me the child; I’ll bring it up.

LACHES What am I to do, then, Phidippus? What advice do you give? 715

PHIDIPPUS What are you to do? I am of opinion that first we ought to go to this mistress of his. Let us use entreaties with her; then let us rebuke her; and at last, let us very seriously threaten her, if she gives him any encouragement in future.

LACHES I will do as you advise. (Turning to an ATTENDANT.) Ho, there, boy! run to the house of Bacchis here, our neighbor; desire her, in my name, to come hither. (Exit ATTENDANT.) And you, I further entreat, to give me your assistance in this affair. 720

PHIDIPPUS Well, I have already said, and I now say again to the same effect, Laches, I wish this alliance between us to continue, if by any means it possibly may, which I trust will be the case. But should you like 3 me to be with you while you meet her? 725

LACHES Why yes; but first go and get some one as a nurse for the child. (Exit PHIDIPPUS.)

Stable identifiers

PHIDIPPUS

Tibi quoque edepol iratus sum, Philumena,

Graviter quidem; nam hercle abs te factum est turpiter;

Etsi tibi causa est de hac re: mater te impulit:
625

Huic vero nulla est.

LACHES

Opportune te mihi,

Phidippe, in ipso tempore ostendis.

PHIDIPPUS

Quid est?

PAMPHILUS

Quid respondebo his? aut quo pacto hoc aperiam?

LACHES

Die filiae rus concessuram hinc Sostratam:

Ne revereatur minus iam quo redeat domum.
630

PHIDIPPUS

Ah,

Nullam de his rebus culpam commeruit tua:

A Myrrhina haec sunt mea uxore exorta omnia.

Mutatio fit: ea nos perturbat, Lache.

PAMPHILUS

Dum ne reducam, turbent porro quam velint.

PHIDIPPUS

Ego, Pamphile, esse inter nos, si fieri potest,
635

Affinitatem hanc sane perpetuam volo:

Sin est ut aliter tua siet sententia,

Accipias puerum.

PAMPHILUS

Sensit peperisse; occidi.

LACHES

Puerum? quem puerum?

PHIDIPPUS

Natus est nobis nepos:

Nam abducta a vobis praegnas fuerat filia,
640

Neque fuisse praegnatem unquam ante hunc scivi diem.

LACHES

Bene, ita me Di ament, nuntias; et gaudeo

Natum illum, et tibi illam salvam: sed quid mulieris

Uxorem habes, aut quibus moratam moribus?

Nosne hoc celatos tam diu? nequeo satis
645

Quam hoc mihi videtur factum prave proloqui.

PHIDIPPUS

Non tibi illud factum minus placet quam mihi, Lache.

PAMPHILUS

Etiamsi dudum fuerat ambiguum hoc mihi,

Nunc non est quum eam consequitur alienus puer.

LACHES

Nulla tibi, Pamphile, hic iam consultatio est.
650

PAMPHILUS

Perii.

LACHES

Hunc videre saepe optabamus diem

Quum ex te esset aliquis qui te appellaret patrem.

Evenit: habeo gratiam Dis.

PAMPHILUS

Nullus sum.

LACHES

Reduc uxorem, ac noli adversari mihi.

PAMPHILUS

Pater, si ex me illa liberos vellet sibi,
655

Aut se esse mecum nuptam, satis certo scio

Non me clam haberet quod celasse intelligo.

Nunc quum eius alienum esse a me animum sentiam,

Nec conventurum inter nos posthac esse arbitror,

Quamobrem reducam?
660

LACHES

Mater quod suasit sua

Adolescens mulier fecit: mirandumne id est?

Censen te posse reperire ullam mulierem

Quae careat culpa? an quia non delinquunt viri?

PHIDIPPUS

Vosmet videte iam, Lache et tu Pamphile,

Remissane opus sit vobis redductan domum.
665

Uxor quid faciat in manu non est mea:

Neutra in re vobis difficultas a me erit.

Sed quid faciemus puero?

LACHES

Ridicule rogas:

Quicquid futurum est, huic suum reddas scilicet,

Ut alamus nostrum.
670

PAMPHILUS

Quem ipse neglexit pater

Ego alam?

PAMPHILUS

Mene?

LACHES

Te ipsum. Et facis iniuriam,

Quum fingis falsas causas ad discordiam,

Ut cum illa vivas, testem hanc quum abs te amoveris;

Sensitque adeo uxor; nam ei causa alia quae fuit
695

Quamobrem abs te abiret?

PHIDIPPUS

Plane hic divinat; nam id est.

PAMPHILUS

Dabo iusiurandum nihil esse istorum tibi.

LACHES

Ah,

Reduc uxorem: aut quamobrem non opus sit cedo.

PAMPHILUS

Non est nunc tempus.

LACHES

Puerum accipias; nam is quidem

In culpa non est: post de matre videro.
700

PAMPHILUS

Omnibus modis miser sum; nec quid agam scio;

Tot me nunc rebus miserum concludit pater.

Abibo hinc, praesens quando promoveo parum;

Nam puerum iniussu, credo, non tollent meo;

Praesertim in ea re quum sit mihi adiutrix socrus.
705

LACHES

Fugis? hem, nec quicquam certi respondes mihi?

Num tibi videtur esse apud sese? Sine.

Puerum, Phidippe, mihi cedo; ego alam.

LACHES

Quid ergo agam, Phidippe? quid das consili?
715

PHIDIPPUS

Quid agas? Meretricem hanc primum adeundam censeo.

Oremus; accusemus; gravius denique

Minitemur, si cum illo habuerit rem postea.

LACHES

Faciam ut mones. Eho, puer, curre ad Bacchidem hanc

Vicinam nostram: huc evoca verbis meis;
720

Et te oro porro in hac re adiutor sis mihi.

PHIDIPPUS

Ah,

Iamdudum dixi, idemque nunc dico, Lache;

Manere affinitatem hanc inter nos volo,

Si ullo modo est ut possit, quod spero fore.

Sed visne adesse me una, dum istam convenis?
725

LACHES

Immo vero abi: aliquam puero nutricem para.

PHIDIPPUS
(speaking at the door to PHILUMENA, within.)

Upon my faith, I am angry with you too, Philumena, extremely so, for, on my word, you have acted badly;

still there is an excuse for you in this matter; your mother forced you to it; but for her there is none.
625

LACHES

(accosting him.)

Phidippus, you meet me at a lucky moment, just at the very time.

PHIDIPPUS

What’s the matter?

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

What answer shall I make them, or in what manner keep this secret?

LACHES

(to PHIDIPPUS.)

Tell your daughter that Sostrata is going into the country,

that the may not now be afraid of returning home.
630

PHIDIPPUS

Alas! your wife has been guilty of no fault in this affair; all this mischief has originated in my wife Myrrhina.

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

They are changing sides.

PHIDIPPUS

’Tis she that causes our disturbances, Laches.¹

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

So long as I don’t take her back, let her cause as much disturbance as she pleases.

PHIDIPPUS

I, Pamphilus, could really wish, if it were possible, this alliance between us to be lasting; but if you are otherwise inclined, still take the child.²
635

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

He has discovered that she has been brought to bed. I’m undone!

LACHES

The child! What child?

PHIDIPPUS

We have had a grandson born to us;

for my daughter was removed from you in a state of pregnancy, and yet never before this day did I know that she was pregnant.
640

PHIDIPPUS

This conduct does not vex me less than yourself, Laches.

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

Even if it had just now been a matter of doubt to me, it is so no longer, since the child of another man is to accompany her.

LACHES

Pamphilus, there is no room now for deliberation for you in this matter.
650

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

I’m undone!

LACHES

(to PAMPHILUS.)

We were often longing to see the day on which there should be one to call you father; it has come to pass. I return thanks to the Gods.

PAMPHILUS

(aside.)

I am ruined!

LACHES

Take home your wife, and don’t oppose my will.

LACHES

The young woman has done what her mother persuaded her. Is that to be wondered at? Do you suppose you can find any woman who is free from fault? Or is it that men have no failings?

PHIDIPPUS

Do you yourselves now consider, Laches, and you, Pamphilus,

whether it is most advisable for you to leave her or take her back. What your wife may do, is not in my control. Under neither circumstance will you meet with any difficulty from me. But what are we to do with the child?
665

LACHES

You do ask an absurd question; whatever happens, send him back his child of course,

that we may bring it up as ours.
670

PAMPHILUS

(in a low voice.)

A child which the father has abandoned, am I to rear?.

PAMPHILUS

What, I?

LACHES

Your own self, and you act unjustly therein. You feign false grounds for discord, that you may live with her when you have got rid of this witness of your actions;

your wife has perceived it too; for what other reason had she for leaving you?
695

PHIDIPPUS

(to himself.)

It’s clear he guesses right; for that must be it.

PAMPHILUS

I will give you my oath that none of these is the reason.

LACHES

Oh take home your wife, or tell me why you should not.

PAMPHILUS

It is not the time at present.

LACHES

Take the child, for surely that

is not in fault; I will consider about the mother afterward.
700

LACHES

(to PAMPHILUS.)

Do you run away? What, and give me no distinct answer? (To PHIDIPPUS.) Does he seem to you to be in his senses? Let him alone. Phidippus, give me the child; I’ll bring it up.

LACHES

What am I to do, then, Phidippus? What advice do you give?
715

PHIDIPPUS

What are you to do? I am of opinion that first we ought to go to this mistress of his. Let us use entreaties with her; then let us rebuke her; and at last, let us very seriously threaten her, if she gives him any encouragement in future.

LACHES

I will do as you advise. (Turning to an ATTENDANT.) Ho, there, boy! run to the house of Bacchis here,

our neighbor; desire her, in my name, to come hither. (Exit ATTENDANT.) And you, I further entreat, to give me your assistance in this affair.
720

PHIDIPPUS

Well, I have already said, and I now say again to the same effect, Laches, I wish this alliance between us to continue, if by any means it possibly may, which I trust will be the case.

But should you like³ me to be with you while you meet her?
725

LACHES

Why yes; but first go and get some one as a nurse for the child.

(Exit PHIDIPPUS.)