Publius Terentius Afer (Terence), Adelphi, ed. Edward St. John Parry, 3.2

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299 (GETA. SOSTRATA. CANTHARA.)

GETA

Nunc illud est quod si omnes omnia sua consilia conferant,

Atque huic malo salutem quaerant, auxili nihil afferant,
300

Quod mihique heraeque filiaeque herili est. Vae misero mihi!

Tot res repente circumvallant, unde emergi non potest,

Vis, egestas, iniustitia, solitudo, infamia.

Hocine saeclum? O scelera, O genera sacrilega, O hominem impium!

SOSTRATA

Me miseram! quidnam est quod sic video timidum et properantem Getam?
305

GETA

Quem neque fides neque iusiurandum neque illum misericordia

Repressit neque reflexit, neque quod partus instabat prope,

Cui miserae indigne per vim vitium obtulerat.

SOSTRATA

Non intelligo

Satis quae loquatur.

CANTHARA

Propius obsecro accedamus, Sostrata.

GETA

Ah,

Me miserum! vix sum compos animi; ita ardeo iracundia.
310

Nihil est quod malim quam illam totam familiam mihi dari obviam,

Ut ego iram hanc in eos evomam omnem dum aegritudo haec est recens:

Satis mihi id habeam supplici, dum illos ulciscar modo.

Seni animam primum extinguerem ipsi qui illud produxit scelus.

Tum autem Syrum impulsorem, vah, quibus illum lacerarem modis!
315

Sublimem medium arriperem, et capite pronum in terram statuerem,

Ut cerebro dispergat viam.

Adolescenti ipsi eriperem oculos; posthaec praecipitem darem;

Caeteros ruerem, agerem, raperem, tunderem, et prosternerem.

Sed cesso heram hoc malo impertiri propere?
320

SOSTRATA

Revocemus. Geta.

GETA

Hem, quisquis es, sine me.

SOSTRATA

Ego sum Sostrata.

GETA

Ubi ea est? te ipsam quaerito,

Te expecto: oppido opportune te obtulisti mihi obviam,

Hera.

SOSTRATA

Quid est? quid trepidas?

GETA

Hei mihi!

SOSTRATA

Quid festinas, mi Geta?

Animam recipe.

GETA

Prorsus—

SOSTRATA

Quid istuc prorsus ergo est.

GETA

Periimus:

Actum est.
325

SOSTRATA

Eloquere ergo, obsecro te, quid sit.

GETA

Iam—

SOSTRATA

Quid iam, Geta?

GETA

Aeschinus—

SOSTRATA

Quid is ergo?

GETA

alienus est ab nostra familia.

SOSTRATA

Hem,

Perii: quare?

GETA

Amare occepit aliam.

SOSTRATA

Vae miserae mihi!

GETA

Neque id occulte fert: ab lenone ipsus eripuit palam.

SOSTRATA

Satin hoc certum est?

GETA

Certum: hisce oculis egomet vidi, Sostrata.

SOSTRATA

Ah,

Me miseram! quid credas iam? aut cui credas? Nostrumne Aeschinum;
330

Nostram vitam omnium, in quo nostrae spes omnesque opes sitae

Erant; qui sine hac iurabat se unum nunquam victurum diem;

Qui se in sui gremio positurum puerum dicebat patris;

Ita obsecraturum ut liceret sibi hanc uxorem ducere?

GETA

Hera, lacrimas mitte, ac potius quod ad hanc rem opus est porro consule;
335

Patiamurne, an narremus cuipiam?

CANTHARA

Au, mi homo, sanusne es?

An hoc proferendum tibi videtur usquam esse?

GETA

Mihi quidem non placet.

Iam primum illum alieno animo a nobis esse res ipsa indicat.

Nunc si hoc palam proferimus ille infitias ibit, sat scio.

Tua fama et gnatae vita in dubium veniet. Tum si maxime
340

Fateatur, quum amet aliam, non est utile hanc illi dari:

Quapropter quoquo pacto tacito est opus.

SOSTRATA

Ah, minime gentium:

Non faciam.

GETA

Quid ages?

SOSTRATA

Proferam.

GETA

Hem, mea Sostrata, vide quam rem agas.

SOSTRATA

Peiore res loco non potest esse quam in quo nunc sita est.

Primum indotata est: tum praeterea quae secunda ei dos erat
345

Periit: pro virgine dari nuptum non potest. Hoc reliquum est:

Si infitias ibit, testis mecum est annulus quem amiserat.

Postremo, quando ego conscia mihi sum a me culpam esse hanc procul,

Neque pretium neque rem ullam intercessisse illa aut me indignam, Geta,

Experiar.
350

GETA

Quid ista? accedo, ut melius dicas.

SOSTRATA

Tu, quantum potes,

Abi, atque Hegioni cognato huius rem omnem narrato ordine;

Nam is nostro Simulo fuit summus, et nos coluit maxime.

GETA

Nam hercle alius nemo respicit nos.

SOSTRATA

Propera tu, mea Canthara,

Curre: obstetricem arcesse, ut cum opus sit ne in mora nobis siet.

Adelphi. 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

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.) — 3.2 focus

299
(Enter GETA, on the other side of the stage.)

GETA

(to himself.)

Now such is our condition, that if all were to combine all their counsels,

and to seek a remedy for this mischief that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty, oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O shocking villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!—
300

SOSTRATA

Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified?
305

GETA

(continuing.)

Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence.

SOSTRATA

(apart to CANTHARA.)

I don’t well understand what he is talking about.

CANTHARA

Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata.

GETA

(continuing.)

Ah

wretched me! I am scarcely master of my senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that I would like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I might give vent to all my wrath upon them while this wound is still fresh. I could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow himself who gave being to this monster;
310

then as for his prompter, Syrus, out upon him! How I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth, so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out the eyes of the young fellow himself, and afterward hurl him headlong over some precipice. The others I would rush upon, drive, drag, crush, and trample them under foot.
315

But why do I delay at once to acquaint my mistress with this calamity?
320
(Moves as if going.)

SOSTRATA

(to CANTHARA.)

Let us call him Lack. Geta—

GETA

Well—leave me alone,¹ whoever you are.

SOSTRATA

’Tis I,—Sostrata.

GETA

(turning round.)

Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it’s very fortunate you have met me.

SOSTRATA

What’s the matter? Why are you trembling?

GETA

Alas! alas!

SOSTRATA

My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath.

GETA

Quite—

(pauses.)

SOSTRATA

Why, what means this quite?

GETA

Undone—

It’s all over with us.
325

SOSTRATA

Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter.

GETA

Now—

SOSTRATA

What now, Geta?

GETA

Aeschinus—

SOSTRATA

What about him?

GETA

Has abandoned our family.

SOSTRATA

Then I am undone! Why so?

GETA

He has attached himself to another woman.

SOSTRATA

Woe unto wretched me!

GETA

And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer.

SOSTRATA

Are you quite sure of this?

GETA

Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes.

SOSTRATA

Ah

wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our own Aeschinus, the very life of us all, in whom all our hopes and comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on his father’s knees,² and thus entreat that he might be allowed to make her his wife!
330

GETA

Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person?
335

CANTHARA

Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one?

GETA

I, indeed, have no wish for it. In the first place, then, that his feelings are estranged from us, the thing itself declares. Now, if we make this known, he’ll deny it, I’m quite sure;

your reputation and your daughter’s character will then be in danger. On the other hand, if he were fully to confess it, as he is in love with another woman, it would not be to her advantage to be given to him. Therefore, under either circumstance, there is need of silence.
340

SOSTRATA

Oh! by no means in the world! I’ll not do it.

GETA

What is it you say?

SOSTRATA

I’ll make it known.

GETA

Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do!

SOSTRATA

The matter can not possibly be in a worse position than it is at present.

In the first place, she has no portion; then, besides, that which was as good as a portion, her honor, is lost: she can not be given in marriage as a virgin. This resource is left; if he should deny it, I have a ring which he lost as evidence of the truth. In fine, Geta, as I am fully conscious that no blame attaches to me, and that neither interest nor any consideration unworthy of her or of myself has had a share in this matter,
345

I will make trial—
350

GETA

What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best.

SOSTRATA

You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us.

GETA

(aside.)

Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us.

SOSTRATA

Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her.

(SOSTRATA goes into the house, and exit GETA and CANTHARA.)

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Search the Perseus Catalog for:

SOSTRATA Me miseram! quidnam est quod sic video timidum et properantem Getam? 305

GETA Quem neque fides neque iusiurandum neque illum misericordia Repressit neque reflexit, neque quod partus instabat prope, Cui miserae indigne per vim vitium obtulerat.

SOSTRATA Non intelligo Satis quae loquatur.

CANTHARA Propius obsecro accedamus, Sostrata.

SOSTRATA Revocemus. Geta.

GETA Hem, quisquis es, sine me.

SOSTRATA Ego sum Sostrata.

GETA Ubi ea est? te ipsam quaerito, Te expecto: oppido opportune te obtulisti mihi obviam, Hera.

SOSTRATA Quid est? quid trepidas?

GETA Hei mihi!

SOSTRATA Quid festinas, mi Geta? Animam recipe.

GETA Prorsus—

SOSTRATA Quid istuc prorsus ergo est.

GETA Periimus: Actum est. 325

SOSTRATA Eloquere ergo, obsecro te, quid sit.

GETA Iam—

SOSTRATA Quid iam, Geta?

GETA Aeschinus—

SOSTRATA Quid is ergo?

GETA alienus est ab nostra familia.

SOSTRATA Hem, Perii: quare?

GETA Amare occepit aliam.

SOSTRATA Vae miserae mihi!

GETA Neque id occulte fert: ab lenone ipsus eripuit palam.

SOSTRATA Satin hoc certum est?

GETA Certum: hisce oculis egomet vidi, Sostrata.

GETA Hera, lacrimas mitte, ac potius quod ad hanc rem opus est porro consule; 335 Patiamurne, an narremus cuipiam?

CANTHARA Au, mi homo, sanusne es? An hoc proferendum tibi videtur usquam esse?

SOSTRATA Ah, minime gentium: Non faciam.

GETA Quid ages?

SOSTRATA Proferam.

GETA Hem, mea Sostrata, vide quam rem agas.

GETA Quid ista? accedo, ut melius dicas.

SOSTRATA Tu, quantum potes, Abi, atque Hegioni cognato huius rem omnem narrato ordine; Nam is nostro Simulo fuit summus, et nos coluit maxime.

GETA Nam hercle alius nemo respicit nos.

SOSTRATA Propera tu, mea Canthara, Curre: obstetricem arcesse, ut cum opus sit ne in mora nobis siet.

Current edition Perseus

SOSTRATA Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified? 305

GETA (continuing.) Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence.

SOSTRATA (apart to CANTHARA.) I don’t well understand what he is talking about.

CANTHARA Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata.

SOSTRATA (to CANTHARA.) Let us call him Lack. Geta—

GETA Well—leave me alone, 1 whoever you are.

SOSTRATA ’Tis I,—Sostrata.

GETA (turning round.) Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it’s very fortunate you have met me.

SOSTRATA What’s the matter? Why are you trembling?

GETA Alas! alas!

SOSTRATA My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath.

GETA Quite— (pauses.)

SOSTRATA Why, what means this quite?

GETA Undone— It’s all over with us. 325

SOSTRATA Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter.

GETA Now—

SOSTRATA What now, Geta?

GETA Aeschinus—

SOSTRATA What about him?

GETA Has abandoned our family.

SOSTRATA Then I am undone! Why so?

GETA He has attached himself to another woman.

SOSTRATA Woe unto wretched me!

GETA And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer.

SOSTRATA Are you quite sure of this?

GETA Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes.

GETA Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person? 335

CANTHARA Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one?

SOSTRATA Oh! by no means in the world! I’ll not do it.

GETA What is it you say?

SOSTRATA I’ll make it known.

GETA Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do!

GETA What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best.

SOSTRATA You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us.

GETA (aside.) Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us.

SOSTRATA Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her. (SOSTRATA goes into the house, and exit GETA and CANTHARA.)

Stable identifiers

SOSTRATA

Me miseram! quidnam est quod sic video timidum et properantem Getam?
305

GETA

Quem neque fides neque iusiurandum neque illum misericordia

Repressit neque reflexit, neque quod partus instabat prope,

Cui miserae indigne per vim vitium obtulerat.

SOSTRATA

Non intelligo

Satis quae loquatur.

CANTHARA

Propius obsecro accedamus, Sostrata.

SOSTRATA

Revocemus. Geta.

GETA

Hem, quisquis es, sine me.

SOSTRATA

Ego sum Sostrata.

GETA

Ubi ea est? te ipsam quaerito,

Te expecto: oppido opportune te obtulisti mihi obviam,

Hera.

SOSTRATA

Quid est? quid trepidas?

GETA

Hei mihi!

SOSTRATA

Quid festinas, mi Geta?

Animam recipe.

GETA

Prorsus—

SOSTRATA

Quid istuc prorsus ergo est.

GETA

Periimus:

Actum est.
325

SOSTRATA

Eloquere ergo, obsecro te, quid sit.

GETA

Iam—

SOSTRATA

Quid iam, Geta?

GETA

Aeschinus—

SOSTRATA

Quid is ergo?

GETA

alienus est ab nostra familia.

SOSTRATA

Hem,

Perii: quare?

GETA

Amare occepit aliam.

SOSTRATA

Vae miserae mihi!

GETA

Neque id occulte fert: ab lenone ipsus eripuit palam.

SOSTRATA

Satin hoc certum est?

GETA

Certum: hisce oculis egomet vidi, Sostrata.

GETA

Hera, lacrimas mitte, ac potius quod ad hanc rem opus est porro consule;
335

Patiamurne, an narremus cuipiam?

CANTHARA

Au, mi homo, sanusne es?

An hoc proferendum tibi videtur usquam esse?

SOSTRATA

Ah, minime gentium:

Non faciam.

GETA

Quid ages?

SOSTRATA

Proferam.

GETA

Hem, mea Sostrata, vide quam rem agas.

GETA

Quid ista? accedo, ut melius dicas.

SOSTRATA

Tu, quantum potes,

Abi, atque Hegioni cognato huius rem omnem narrato ordine;

Nam is nostro Simulo fuit summus, et nos coluit maxime.

GETA

Nam hercle alius nemo respicit nos.

SOSTRATA

Propera tu, mea Canthara,

Curre: obstetricem arcesse, ut cum opus sit ne in mora nobis siet.

SOSTRATA

Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified?
305

GETA

(continuing.)

Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence.

SOSTRATA

(apart to CANTHARA.)

I don’t well understand what he is talking about.

CANTHARA

Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata.

SOSTRATA

(to CANTHARA.)

Let us call him Lack. Geta—

GETA

Well—leave me alone,¹ whoever you are.

SOSTRATA

’Tis I,—Sostrata.

GETA

(turning round.)

Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it’s very fortunate you have met me.

SOSTRATA

What’s the matter? Why are you trembling?

GETA

Alas! alas!

SOSTRATA

My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath.

GETA

Quite—

(pauses.)

SOSTRATA

Why, what means this quite?

GETA

Undone—

It’s all over with us.
325

SOSTRATA

Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter.

GETA

Now—

SOSTRATA

What now, Geta?

GETA

Aeschinus—

SOSTRATA

What about him?

GETA

Has abandoned our family.

SOSTRATA

Then I am undone! Why so?

GETA

He has attached himself to another woman.

SOSTRATA

Woe unto wretched me!

GETA

And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer.

SOSTRATA

Are you quite sure of this?

GETA

Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes.

GETA

Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person?
335

CANTHARA

Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one?

SOSTRATA

Oh! by no means in the world! I’ll not do it.

GETA

What is it you say?

SOSTRATA

I’ll make it known.

GETA

Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do!

GETA

What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best.

SOSTRATA

You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us.

GETA

(aside.)

Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us.

SOSTRATA

Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her.

(SOSTRATA goes into the house, and exit GETA and CANTHARA.)