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720
(Enter MICIO from his house.)
(Enter MICIO from his house.)
MICIO
(speaking to the people within.)
I’ll go and tell them there’s no delay on our part.
720
I’ll go and tell them there’s no delay on our part.
720
DEMEA
But see here’s the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time.
But see here’s the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time.
MICIO
Why, what’s the matter?
Why, what’s the matter?
DEMEA
I’m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth.
I’m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth.
MICIO
Just look at that!
Just look at that!
DEMEA
Fresh ones, of blackest dye.
Fresh ones, of blackest dye.
MICIO
There now—at it again.
There now—at it again.
DEMEA
Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is.
Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is.
MICIO
I do.
I do.
DEMEA
O simpleton! you are dreaming that I’m talking about the Music-girl; this crime is against a virgin and a citizen.
725
O simpleton! you are dreaming that I’m talking about the Music-girl; this crime is against a virgin and a citizen.
725
MICIO
I know it.
I know it.
DEMEA
So then, you know it, and put up with it!
So then, you know it, and put up with it!
MICIO
Why not put up with it?
Why not put up with it?
DEMEA
Tell me, pray, don’t you exclaim about it? Don’t you go distracted?
Tell me, pray, don’t you exclaim about it? Don’t you go distracted?
MICIO
Not I: certainly I had rather
1
—
Not I: certainly I had rather
1
—
DEMEA
There has been a child born.
There has been a child born.
MICIO
May the Gods be propitious to it.
May the Gods be propitious to it.
DEMEA
The girl has no fortune.
The girl has no fortune.
MICIO
So I have heard.
730
So I have heard.
730
DEMEA
And he—must he marry her without one?
And he—must he marry her without one?
MICIO
Of course.
Of course.
DEMEA
What is to be done then?
What is to be done then?
MICIO
Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither.
Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither.
DEMEA
O Jupiter! must that be the way then?
O Jupiter! must that be the way then?
MICIO
What can I do else?
What can I do else?
DEMEA
What can you do? If in reality this causes you no concern,
to pretend it were surely the duty of a man.
735
What can you do? If in reality this causes you no concern,
to pretend it were surely the duty of a man.
735
MICIO
But I have already betrothed the young woman to him; the matter is settled: the marriage takes place to-day. I have removed all apprehensions. This is rather the duty of a man.
But I have already betrothed the young woman to him; the matter is settled: the marriage takes place to-day. I have removed all apprehensions. This is rather the duty of a man.
DEMEA
But does the affair please you, Micio?
But does the affair please you, Micio?
MICIO
If I were able to alter it, no; now, as I can not, I bear it with patience.
The life of man is just like playing with dice:
2
if that which you most want to throw does not turn up, what turns up by chance you must correct by art.
740
If I were able to alter it, no; now, as I can not, I bear it with patience.
The life of man is just like playing with dice:
2
if that which you most want to throw does not turn up, what turns up by chance you must correct by art.
740
DEMEA
O rare corrector! of course it is by your art that twenty minae have been thrown away for a Music-girl; who, as soon as possible,
must be got rid of at any price; and if not for money, why then for nothing.
745
O rare corrector! of course it is by your art that twenty minae have been thrown away for a Music-girl; who, as soon as possible,
must be got rid of at any price; and if not for money, why then for nothing.
745
MICIO
Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her.
Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her.
DEMEA
What will you do with her then?
What will you do with her then?
MICIO
She shall be at my house.
She shall be at my house.
DEMEA
For heaven’s sake, a courtesan and a matron in the same house!
For heaven’s sake, a courtesan and a matron in the same house!
MICIO
Why not?
Why not?
DEMEA
Do you imagine you are in your senses
Do you imagine you are in your senses
MICIO
Really I do think so.
Really I do think so.
DEMEA
So may the Gods prosper me, I now see your folly; I believe you are going to do so that you may have somebody to practice music with.
750
So may the Gods prosper me, I now see your folly; I believe you are going to do so that you may have somebody to practice music with.
750
MICIO
Why not?
Why not?
DEMEA
And the new-made bride to be learning too?
And the new-made bride to be learning too?
MICIO
Of course.
Of course.
DEMEA
Having hold of the rope,
3
you will be dancing with them.
Having hold of the rope,
3
you will be dancing with them.
MICIO
Like enough;
and you too along with us, if there’s need.
Like enough;
and you too along with us, if there’s need.
DEMEA
Ah me!
are you not ashamed of this?
755
Ah me!
are you not ashamed of this?
755
MICIO
Demea, do, for once, lay aside this anger of yours, and show yourself as you ought at your son’s wedding, cheerful and good-humored. I’ll just step over to them, and return immediately.
(Goes into SOSTRATA’S house.)
Demea, do, for once, lay aside this anger of yours, and show yourself as you ought at your son’s wedding, cheerful and good-humored. I’ll just step over to them, and return immediately.
DEMEA
O
Jupiter! here’s a life! here are manners! here’s madness!
A wife to be coming without a fortune! A music-wench in the house! A house full of wastefulness! A young man ruined by extravagance! An:old man in his dotage!—Should Salvation herself
4
desire it, she certainly could not save this family.
760
(Exit.)
O
Jupiter! here’s a life! here are manners! here’s madness!
A wife to be coming without a fortune! A music-wench in the house! A house full of wastefulness! A young man ruined by extravagance! An:old man in his dotage!—Should Salvation herself
4
desire it, she certainly could not save this family.
760
Adelphi. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). New York. 1874.
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