Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Adelphi, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 4.7

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720 (MICIO. DEMEA.)

MICIO

Ibo, illis dicam nullam esse in nobis moram.
720

DEMEA

Sed eccum ipsum: te iamdudum quaero, Micio.

MICIO

Quidnam?

DEMEA

Fero alia flagitia ad te ingentia

Boni illius adolescentis.

MICIO

Ecce autem!

DEMEA

Nova;

Capitalia.

MICIO

Ohe, iam.

DEMEA

Nescis qui vir sit.

MICIO

Scio.

DEMEA

O stulte, tu de psaltria me somnias
725

Agere: hoc peccatum in virginem est civem.

MICIO

Scio.

DEMEA

Oho, scis et patere?

MICIO

Quidni patiar?

DEMEA

Dic mihi,

Non clamas? non insanis?

MICIO

Non. Malim quidem—

DEMEA

Puer natus est.

MICIO

Di bene vertant!

DEMEA

Virgo nihil habet.

MICIO

Audivi.
730

DEMEA

Et ducenda indotata est?

MICIO

Scilicet.

DEMEA

Quid nunc futurum est?

MICIO

Id enim quod res ipsa fert:

Illinc huc transferetur virgo.

DEMEA

O Iupiter!

Istocine pacto oportet?

MICIO

Quid faciam amplius?

DEMEA

Quid facias? Si non ipsa re istuc tibi dolet,

Simulare certe est hominis.
735

MICIO

Quin iam virginem

Despondi; res composita est; fiunt nuptiae:

Demsi metum omnem: haec magis sunt hominis.

DEMEA

Caeterum,

Placet tibi factum, Micio?

MICIO

Non, si queam

Mutare: nunc, quum non queo, aequo animo fero.

Ita vita est hominum quasi quum ludas tesseris:
740

Si illud quod maxime opus est iactu non cadit,

Illud quod cecidit forte id arte ut corrigas.

DEMEA

Corrector! Nempe tua arte viginti minae

Pro psaltria periere; quae, quantum potest,

Aliquo abiicienda est, si non pretio at gratiis.
745

MICIO

Neque est, neque illam sane studeo vendere.

DEMEA

Quid igitur facies?

MICIO

Domi erit.

DEMEA

Pro Divum fidem!

Meretrix et materfamilias una in domo?

MICIO

Cur non?

DEMEA

Sanum te credis esse?

MICIO

Equidem arbitror.

DEMEA

Ita me Di ament, ut video ego tuam ineptiam,
750

Facturum credo ut habeas quicum cantites.

MICIO

Cur non?

DEMEA

Et nova nupta eadem haece discet?

MICIO

Scilicet.

DEMEA

Tu inter eas restim ductans saltabis.

MICIO

Probe.

DEMEA

Probe?

MICIO

Et tu nobiscum una, si opus sit.

DEMEA

Hei mihi!

Non te haec pudent?
755

MICIO

Iam vero omitte, Demea,

Tuam istanc iracundiam; atque ita uti decet

Hilarum ac libentem fac te gnati in nuptiis.

Ego hos conveniam: post huc redeo.

DEMEA

O Iupiter!

Hancine vitam? hoscine mores? hanc dementiam?

Uxor sine dote veniet; intus psaltria est:
760

Domus sumtuosa; adolescens luxu perditus;

Senex delirans. Ipsa si cupiat Salus

Servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam.

Adelphi. Publius Terentius Afer (Terence). ed. Edward St. John Parry. London. 1857.

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Current edition Perseus

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

Translations (1)

Adelphi; or, The Brothers Perseus (Terence. The Comedies of Terence. Riley, Henry Thomas; Colman, George, translators. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1872.) — 4.7 focus

720
(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

DEMEA

But see here’s the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time.

MICIO

Why, what’s the matter?

DEMEA

I’m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth.

MICIO

Just look at that!

DEMEA

Fresh ones, of blackest dye.

MICIO

There now—at it again.

DEMEA

Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is.

MICIO

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

MICIO

I know it.

DEMEA

So then, you know it, and put up with it!

MICIO

Why not put up with it?

DEMEA

Tell me, pray, don’t you exclaim about it? Don’t you go distracted?

MICIO

Not I: certainly I had rather¹—

DEMEA

There has been a child born.

MICIO

May the Gods be propitious to it.

DEMEA

The girl has no fortune.

MICIO

So I have heard.
730

DEMEA

And he—must he marry her without one?

MICIO

Of course.

DEMEA

What is to be done then?

MICIO

Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither.

DEMEA

O Jupiter! must that be the way then?

MICIO

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

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.

DEMEA

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

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

MICIO

Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her.

DEMEA

What will you do with her then?

MICIO

She shall be at my house.

DEMEA

For heaven’s sake, a courtesan and a matron in the same house!

MICIO

Why not?

DEMEA

Do you imagine you are in your senses

MICIO

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

MICIO

Why not?

DEMEA

And the new-made bride to be learning too?

MICIO

Of course.

DEMEA

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.

DEMEA

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

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 herself⁴ desire it, she certainly could not save this family.
760
(Exit.)

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MICIO Ibo, illis dicam nullam esse in nobis moram. 720

DEMEA Sed eccum ipsum: te iamdudum quaero, Micio.

MICIO Quidnam?

DEMEA Fero alia flagitia ad te ingentia Boni illius adolescentis.

MICIO Ecce autem!

DEMEA Nova; Capitalia.

MICIO Ohe, iam.

DEMEA Nescis qui vir sit.

MICIO Scio.

DEMEA O stulte, tu de psaltria me somnias 725 Agere: hoc peccatum in virginem est civem.

MICIO Scio.

DEMEA Oho, scis et patere?

MICIO Quidni patiar?

DEMEA Dic mihi, Non clamas? non insanis?

MICIO Non. Malim quidem—

DEMEA Puer natus est.

MICIO Di bene vertant!

DEMEA Virgo nihil habet.

MICIO Audivi. 730

DEMEA Et ducenda indotata est?

MICIO Scilicet.

DEMEA Quid nunc futurum est?

MICIO Id enim quod res ipsa fert: Illinc huc transferetur virgo.

DEMEA O Iupiter! Istocine pacto oportet?

MICIO Quid faciam amplius?

DEMEA Quid facias? Si non ipsa re istuc tibi dolet, Simulare certe est hominis. 735

MICIO Quin iam virginem Despondi; res composita est; fiunt nuptiae: Demsi metum omnem: haec magis sunt hominis.

DEMEA Caeterum, Placet tibi factum, Micio?

MICIO Non, si queam Mutare: nunc, quum non queo, aequo animo fero. Ita vita est hominum quasi quum ludas tesseris: 740 Si illud quod maxime opus est iactu non cadit, Illud quod cecidit forte id arte ut corrigas.

DEMEA Corrector! Nempe tua arte viginti minae Pro psaltria periere; quae, quantum potest, Aliquo abiicienda est, si non pretio at gratiis. 745

MICIO Neque est, neque illam sane studeo vendere.

DEMEA Quid igitur facies?

MICIO Domi erit.

DEMEA Pro Divum fidem! Meretrix et materfamilias una in domo?

MICIO Cur non?

DEMEA Sanum te credis esse?

MICIO Equidem arbitror.

DEMEA Ita me Di ament, ut video ego tuam ineptiam, 750 Facturum credo ut habeas quicum cantites.

MICIO Cur non?

DEMEA Et nova nupta eadem haece discet?

MICIO Scilicet.

DEMEA Tu inter eas restim ductans saltabis.

MICIO Probe.

DEMEA Probe?

MICIO Et tu nobiscum una, si opus sit.

DEMEA Hei mihi! Non te haec pudent? 755

MICIO Iam vero omitte, Demea, Tuam istanc iracundiam; atque ita uti decet Hilarum ac libentem fac te gnati in nuptiis. Ego hos conveniam: post huc redeo.

DEMEA O Iupiter! Hancine vitam? hoscine mores? hanc dementiam? Uxor sine dote veniet; intus psaltria est: 760 Domus sumtuosa; adolescens luxu perditus; Senex delirans. Ipsa si cupiat Salus Servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam.

Current edition Perseus

MICIO (speaking to the people within.) 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.

MICIO Why, what’s the matter?

DEMEA I’m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth.

MICIO Just look at that!

DEMEA Fresh ones, of blackest dye.

MICIO There now—at it again.

DEMEA Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is.

MICIO 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

MICIO I know it.

DEMEA So then, you know it, and put up with it!

MICIO Why not put up with it?

DEMEA Tell me, pray, don’t you exclaim about it? Don’t you go distracted?

MICIO Not I: certainly I had rather 1 —

DEMEA There has been a child born.

MICIO May the Gods be propitious to it.

DEMEA The girl has no fortune.

MICIO So I have heard. 730

DEMEA And he—must he marry her without one?

MICIO Of course.

DEMEA What is to be done then?

MICIO Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither.

DEMEA O Jupiter! must that be the way then?

MICIO 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

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.

DEMEA 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

MICIO

Ibo, illis dicam nullam esse in nobis moram.
720

DEMEA

Sed eccum ipsum: te iamdudum quaero, Micio.

MICIO

Quidnam?

DEMEA

Fero alia flagitia ad te ingentia

Boni illius adolescentis.

MICIO

Ecce autem!

DEMEA

Nova;

Capitalia.

MICIO

Ohe, iam.

DEMEA

Nescis qui vir sit.

MICIO

Scio.

DEMEA

O stulte, tu de psaltria me somnias
725

Agere: hoc peccatum in virginem est civem.

MICIO

Scio.

DEMEA

Oho, scis et patere?

MICIO

Quidni patiar?

DEMEA

Dic mihi,

Non clamas? non insanis?

MICIO

Non. Malim quidem—

DEMEA

Puer natus est.

MICIO

Di bene vertant!

DEMEA

Virgo nihil habet.

MICIO

Audivi.
730

DEMEA

Et ducenda indotata est?

MICIO

Scilicet.

DEMEA

Quid nunc futurum est?

MICIO

Id enim quod res ipsa fert:

Illinc huc transferetur virgo.

DEMEA

O Iupiter!

Istocine pacto oportet?

MICIO

Quid faciam amplius?

DEMEA

Quid facias? Si non ipsa re istuc tibi dolet,

Simulare certe est hominis.
735

MICIO

Quin iam virginem

Despondi; res composita est; fiunt nuptiae:

Demsi metum omnem: haec magis sunt hominis.

DEMEA

Caeterum,

Placet tibi factum, Micio?

MICIO

Non, si queam

Mutare: nunc, quum non queo, aequo animo fero.

Ita vita est hominum quasi quum ludas tesseris:
740

Si illud quod maxime opus est iactu non cadit,

Illud quod cecidit forte id arte ut corrigas.

DEMEA

Corrector! Nempe tua arte viginti minae

Pro psaltria periere; quae, quantum potest,

Aliquo abiicienda est, si non pretio at gratiis.
745

MICIO

Neque est, neque illam sane studeo vendere.

DEMEA

Quid igitur facies?

MICIO

Domi erit.

DEMEA

Pro Divum fidem!

Meretrix et materfamilias una in domo?

MICIO

Cur non?

DEMEA

Sanum te credis esse?

MICIO

Equidem arbitror.

DEMEA

Ita me Di ament, ut video ego tuam ineptiam,
750

Facturum credo ut habeas quicum cantites.

MICIO

Cur non?

DEMEA

Et nova nupta eadem haece discet?

MICIO

Scilicet.

DEMEA

Tu inter eas restim ductans saltabis.

MICIO

Probe.

DEMEA

Probe?

MICIO

Et tu nobiscum una, si opus sit.

DEMEA

Hei mihi!

Non te haec pudent?
755

MICIO

Iam vero omitte, Demea,

Tuam istanc iracundiam; atque ita uti decet

Hilarum ac libentem fac te gnati in nuptiis.

Ego hos conveniam: post huc redeo.

DEMEA

O Iupiter!

Hancine vitam? hoscine mores? hanc dementiam?

Uxor sine dote veniet; intus psaltria est:
760

Domus sumtuosa; adolescens luxu perditus;

Senex delirans. Ipsa si cupiat Salus

Servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam.

MICIO

(speaking to the people within.)

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.

MICIO

Why, what’s the matter?

DEMEA

I’m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth.

MICIO

Just look at that!

DEMEA

Fresh ones, of blackest dye.

MICIO

There now—at it again.

DEMEA

Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is.

MICIO

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

MICIO

I know it.

DEMEA

So then, you know it, and put up with it!

MICIO

Why not put up with it?

DEMEA

Tell me, pray, don’t you exclaim about it? Don’t you go distracted?

MICIO

Not I: certainly I had rather¹—

DEMEA

There has been a child born.

MICIO

May the Gods be propitious to it.

DEMEA

The girl has no fortune.

MICIO

So I have heard.
730

DEMEA

And he—must he marry her without one?

MICIO

Of course.

DEMEA

What is to be done then?

MICIO

Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither.

DEMEA

O Jupiter! must that be the way then?

MICIO

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

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.

DEMEA

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

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

MICIO

Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her.

DEMEA

What will you do with her then?