Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Adelphi 1.2

DEMEA

Oh,—opportunely met; you are the very man I was looking for. ¹

MICIO

Why are you out of spirits?

DEMEA

Do you ask me, when we have such a son as Aeschinus, ² why I’m out of spirits?

MICIO

(aside.)

Did I not say it would be so? (To DEMEA.) What has he been doing?

DEMEA

What has he been doing? He, who is ashamed

of nothing, and fears no one, nor thinks that any law can control him. But I pass by what has been previously done: what a thing he has just perpetrated!

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MICIO

Why, what is it?

DEMEA

He has broken open a door, ³ and forced his way into another person’s house, beaten to death the master himself, and all the household, and carried off a wench

whom he had a fancy for. All people are exclaiming that it was a most disgraceful proceeding. How many, Micio, told me of this as I was coming here? It is in everybody’s mouth. In fine, if an example must be cited, does he not see his brother

giving his attention to business, and living frugally and soberly in the country? No action of his is like this. When I say this to him, Micio, I say it to you. You allow him to be corrupted.

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MICIO

Never is there any thing more unreasonable than a man who wants experience, who thinks nothing right except what he himself has done.

DEMEA

What is the meaning of that?

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MICIO

Because, Demea, you misjudge these matters. It is no heinous crime, believe me, for a young man to intrigue or to drink; it is not; nor yet for him to break open a door. If neither I nor you did so, it was poverty that did not allow us to do so. Do you now

claim that as a merit to yourself which you then did from necessity? That is unfair; for if we had had the means to do so, we should have done the same. And, if you were a man, you would now suffer that other son of yours to act thus now, while his age will excuse it, rather than, when he has got you, after long wishing it, out of the way,

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he should still do so, at a future day, and at an age more unsuited.

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DEMEA

O Jupiter! You, sir, are driving me to distraction. Is it not a heinous thing for a young man to do these things?

MICIO

Oh! do listen to me, and do not everlastingly din me upon this subject. You gave me your son to adopt;

he became mine; if he offends in any thing, Demea, he offends against me: in that case I shall bear the greater part of the inconvenience. Does he feast, ⁴ does he drink, does he smell of perfumes, ⁵ —it is at my cost. Does he intrigue, money shall be found by me, so long as it suits me; when it shall be no longer convenient, probably he’ll be shut out of doors. ⁶

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Has he broken open a door—it shall be replaced; has he torn any one’s clothes—they shall be mended. Thanks to the Gods, I both have means for doing this, and these things are not as yet an annoyance. In fine, either desist, or else find some arbitrator between us: I will show that in this matter you are the most to blame.

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DEMEA

Ah me!

Learn to be a father from those who are really so.

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MICIO

You are his father by nature, I by my anxiety.

DEMEA

You, feel any anxiety?

MICIO

Oh dear,—if you persist, I’ll leave you.

DEMEA

Is it thus you act?

MICIO

Am I so often to hear about the same thing?

DEMEA

I have some concern for my son.

MICIO

I have some concern for him too; but, Demea,

let us each be concerned for his own share—you for the one, and I for the other. For, to concern yourself about both is almost the same thing as to demand him back again, whom you intrusted to me.

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DEMEA

Alas, Micio!

MICIO

So it seems to me.

DEMEA

What am I to say to this? If it pleases you, henceforth—let him spend, squander, and destroy; it’s nothing to me.

If I say one word after this—

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MICIO

Again angry, Demea?

DEMEA

Won’t you believe me? Do I demand him back whom I have intrusted? I am concerned for him; I am not a stranger in blood; if I do interpose—well, well, I have done. You desire me to concern myself for one of them,—do concern myself; and I give thanks to the Gods, he is just as I would have him; that fellow of yours will find it out

at a future day: I don’t wish to say any thing more harsh against him.

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(Exit.)

MICIO

These things are ⁷ not nothing at all, nor yet all just as he says; still they do give me some uneasiness; but I was unwilling to show him that I took them amiss, for he is such a man; when I would pacify him, I steadily oppose and resist him;

and in spite of it he hardly puts up with it like other men; but if I were to inflame, or even to humor his anger, I should certainly be as mad as himself. And yet Aesclhinus has done me some injustice in this affair. What courtesan has he not intrigued with? Or to which of them has he not made some present?

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At last, he recently told me that he wished to take a wife, ⁸ I suppose he was just then tired of them all. I was in hopes that the warmth of youth had now subsided; I was delighted. But look now, he is at it again; however, I am determined to know it, whatever it is, and to go meet the fellow, if he is at the Forum.

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(Exit.)