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925
(Enter MICIO, from his house.)
(Enter MICIO, from his house.)
MICIO
(speaking to GETA, within.)
Does my brother order it? Where is he?
(To DEMEA.) Is this your order, Demea?
925
Does my brother order it? Where is he?
(To DEMEA.) Is this your order, Demea?
925
DEMEA
Certainly, I do order it, and in this matter, and in every thing else, wish especially to make this family one with ourselves, to oblige, serve, and unite them.
Certainly, I do order it, and in this matter, and in every thing else, wish especially to make this family one with ourselves, to oblige, serve, and unite them.
AESCHINUS
Father, pray let it be so.
Father, pray let it be so.
MICIO
I do not oppose it.
I do not oppose it.
DEMEA
On the contrary, i’ faith, it is what we ought to do:
in the first place, she is the mother of his wife
(pointing to AESCHINUS).
930
On the contrary, i’ faith, it is what we ought to do:
in the first place, she is the mother of his wife
(pointing to AESCHINUS).
930
MICIO
She is. What then?
She is. What then?
DEMEA
An honest and respectable woman.
An honest and respectable woman.
MICIO
So they say.
So they say.
DEMEA
Advanced in years.
Advanced in years.
MICIO
I am aware of it.
I am aware of it.
DEMEA
Through her years, she is long past child-bearing; there is no one to take care of her; she is a lone woman.
Through her years, she is long past child-bearing; there is no one to take care of her; she is a lone woman.
MICIO
(aside.)
What can be his meaning ?
What can be his meaning ?
DEMEA
It is right you should marry her; and that you, Aeschinus, should use your endeavors to effect it.
It is right you should marry her; and that you, Aeschinus, should use your endeavors to effect it.
MICIO
I, marry her, indeed ?
935
I, marry her, indeed ?
935
DEMEA
You.
You.
MICIO
I?
I?
DEMEA
You, I say.
You, I say.
MICIO
You are trifling!
You are trifling!
DEMEA
Aeschinus, if you are a man, he’ll do it.
Aeschinus, if you are a man, he’ll do it.
AESCHINUS
My dear father—
My dear father—
MICIO
What, ass! do you attend to him?
What, ass! do you attend to him?
DEMEA
’T is all in vain; it can not be otherwise.
’T is all in vain; it can not be otherwise.
MICIO
You are mad!
You are mad!
AESCHINUS
Do let me prevail on you, my father.
Do let me prevail on you, my father.
MICIO
Are you out of your senses? Take yourself off.
1
Are you out of your senses? Take yourself off.
1
DEMEA
Come, do oblige your son.
Come, do oblige your son.
MICIO
Are you quite in your right mind? Am I, in my five-and-sixtieth year, to be marrying at last?
A decrepit old woman too? Do you advise me to do this?
940
Are you quite in your right mind? Am I, in my five-and-sixtieth year, to be marrying at last?
A decrepit old woman too? Do you advise me to do this?
940
AESCHINUS
Do; I have promised it.
2
Do; I have promised it.
2
MICIO
Promised, indeed; be generous at your own cost, young man.
Promised, indeed; be generous at your own cost, young man.
DEMEA
Come, what if he should ask a still greater favor?
Come, what if he should ask a still greater favor?
MICIO
As if this was not the greatest!
As if this was not the greatest!
DEMEA
Do comply.
Do comply.
AESCHINUS
Don’t make any difficulty.
Don’t make any difficulty.
DEMEA
Do promise.
Do promise.
MICIO
Will you not have done?
Will you not have done?
AESCHINUS
Not until I have prevailed upon you.
Not until I have prevailed upon you.
MICIO
Really, this is downright force.
3
Really, this is downright force.
3
DEMEA
Act with heartiness, Micio.
Act with heartiness, Micio.
MICIO
Although this seems to me
4
to be wrong, foolish, absurd, and repugnant to my mode of life, yet, if you so strongly wish it, be it so.
945
Although this seems to me
4
to be wrong, foolish, absurd, and repugnant to my mode of life, yet, if you so strongly wish it, be it so.
945
AESCHINUS
You act obligingly.
You act obligingly.
DEMEA
With reason I love you; but—
With reason I love you; but—
MICIO
What ?
What ?
DEMEA
I will tell you, when my wish has been complied with.
I will tell you, when my wish has been complied with.
MICIO
What now? What remains to be done?
What now? What remains to be done?
DEMEA
Hegio here is their nearest relation;
5
he is a connection of ours and poor; we ought to do some good for him.
Hegio here is their nearest relation;
5
he is a connection of ours and poor; we ought to do some good for him.
MICIO
Do what?
950
Do what?
950
DEMEA
There is a little farm here in the suburbs, which you let out; let us give it him to live upon.
There is a little farm here in the suburbs, which you let out; let us give it him to live upon.
MICIO
But is it a little one ?
But is it a little one ?
DEMEA
If it were a large one, still it ought to be done; he has been as it were a father to her; he is a worthy man, and connected with us; it would be properly bestowed. In fine, I now adopt that proverb which you, Micio, a short time ago repeated with sense and wisdom—it is the common vice of all,
in old age, to be too intent upon our own interests. This stain we ought to avoid: it is a true maxim, and ought to be observed in deed.
955
If it were a large one, still it ought to be done; he has been as it were a father to her; he is a worthy man, and connected with us; it would be properly bestowed. In fine, I now adopt that proverb which you, Micio, a short time ago repeated with sense and wisdom—it is the common vice of all,
in old age, to be too intent upon our own interests. This stain we ought to avoid: it is a true maxim, and ought to be observed in deed.
955
MICIO
What am I to say to this? Well then, as he desires it
(pointing to AESCHINUS), it shall be given him.
What am I to say to this? Well then, as he desires it
(pointing to AESCHINUS), it shall be given him.
AESCHINUS
My father!
My father!
DEMEA
Now, Micio, you are indeed my brother, both in spirit and in body.
Now, Micio, you are indeed my brother, both in spirit and in body.
MICIO
I am glad of it.
I am glad of it.
DEMEA
(aside.)
I foil him at his own weapon.
6
I foil him at his own weapon.
6
Adelphi. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). Henry Thomas Riley (Translator), George Colman (Translator). New York. 1874.
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