Publius Terentius Afer (Terence) Adelphi 3.3

DEMEA

(to himself.)

Utterly undone! I hear that Ctesipho was with Aeschinus at the carrying off of this girl. This sorrow still remains for unhappy me, should Aeschinus be able to seduce him, even him, who promises so fair, to a course of debauchery. Where am I to inquire for him? I doubt he has been carried off to some bad house;

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that profligate has persuaded him, I’m quite sure. But look—I see Syrus coming this way, I shall now know from him where he is. But, i ’faith, he is one of the gang; if he perceives that I am looking for him, the rascal will never tell me. I’ll not let him know what I want.

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(Enter SYRUS, at the other side of the stage.)

SYRUS

(to himself.)

We just now told the old gentleman the whole affair just as it happened;

I never did see any one more delighted.

DEMEA

(apart.)

O Jupiter! the folly of the man!

SYRUS

(continuing.)

He commended his son. To me, who put them upon this project, he gave thanks—

DEMEA

(apart.)

I shall burst asunder.

SYRUS

(continuing.)

He told down the money instantly,

and gave me half a mina besides to spend. That was laid out quite to my liking.

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DEMEA

(apart.)

Very fine—if you would wish a thing to be nicely managed, intrust it to this fellow.

SYRUS

(overhearing him.)

Ha, Demea! I didn’t see you; how goes it?

DEMEA

How should it go? I can not enough wonder at your mode of living here.

SYRUS

Why, really silly enough, and, to speak without disguise, altogether absurd. (Calls at the door of MICIO’S house.) Dromo, clean the rest of the fish; let the largest conger-eel play a little in the water; when I come back it shall, be boned; ¹ not before.

DEMEA

Is profligacy like this—

SYRUS

As for myself, it isn’t to my taste,

and I often exclaim against it. (Calls; at the door.) Stephanio, take care that the salt fish is well soaked.

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DEMEA

Ye Gods, by our trust in you! Is he doing this for any purpose of his own, or does he think it creditable to ruin his son? Wretch that I am! methinks I already see the day when Aeschinus will be running away for want,

to serve somewhere or other as a soldier. ²

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SYRUS

O Demea! That is wisdom indeed, not only to look at the present moment, but also to look forward to what’s to come.

DEMEA

Well—is this Music-girl still with you?

SYRUS

Why, yes, she’s in-doors.

DEMEA

How now—is he going to keep her at home?

SYRUS

I believe so; such is his

madness!

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DEMEA

Is it possible?

SYRUS

An imprudent lenity in his father, and a vicious inlulgence.

DEMEA

Really, I am ashamed and grieved at my brother.

SYRUS

Demea! Between you there is a great—I do not say it because you are here present—a too great difference. You are, every bit of you, nothing but wisdom;

he a mere dreamer. Would you indeed have suffered that son of yours to act thus?

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DEMEA

I, suffer him? Would I not have smelt it out six months before he attempted it?

SYRUS

Need I be told by you of your foresight?

DEMEA

I pray he may only continue the same he is at present!

SYRUS

Just as each person wishes his son to be, so he turns out.

DEMEA

What news of him? Have you seen him to-day?

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SYRUS

What, your son? (Aside.) I’ll pack him off into the country. (To DEMEA.) I fancy he’s busy at the farm long before this.

DEMEA

Are you quite sure he is there?

SYRUS

What!—when I saw him part of the way myself—

DEMEA

Very good. I was afraid he might be loitering here.

SYRUS

And extremely angry too.

DEMEA

Why so?

SYRUS

He attacked his brother in the Forum with strong language

about this Music-girl.

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DEMEA

Do you really say so?

SYRUS

Oh dear, he didn’t at all mince the matter; for just as the money was being counted out, the gentleman came upon us by chance, and began exclaiming, Oh Aeschinus, that you should perpetrate these enormities! that you should be guilty of actions so disgraceful to our family!

DEMEA

Oh, I shall weep for joy.

SYRUS

By this you are not squandering your money only, but your reputation.

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DEMEA

May he be preserved to me! I trust he will be like his forefathers.

(Weeping.)

SYRUS

(aside.)

Heyday!

DEMEA

Syrus, he is full of these maxims.

SYRUS

(aside.)

Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them.

DEMEA

I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine,

I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, I say—

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SYRUS

Quite right.

DEMEA

Avoid that—

SYRUS

Very shrewd.

DEMEA

This is praiseworthy—

SYRUS

That’s the thing.

DEMEA

That is considered blamable—

SYRUS

Extremely good.

DEMEA

And then, moreover—

SYRUS

Upon my honor, I have not the leisure

to listen to you just at present: I have got some fish just to my taste, and must take care they are not spoiled; for that would be as much a crime in me, as for you, Demea, not to observe those maxims which you have just been mentioning; and so far as I can, I lay down precepts for my fellow-servants on the very same plan;

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this is too salt, that is quite burned up, this is not washed enough, that is very well done; remember and do so another time. I carefully instruct them so far as I can to the best of my capacity. In short, Demea, I bid them look into their sauce-pans as though into a mirror, ³ and suggest to them what they ought to do.

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I am sensible these things are trifling which we do; but what is one to do? According as the man is, so must you humor him. Do you wish any thing else?

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DEMEA

That more wisdom may be granted you.

SYRUS

You will be going off into the country, I suppose?

DEMEA

Directly.

SYRUS

For what should you do here, where, if you do give any good precepts, no one will regard them?

(Goes into MICIO’S house.)

DEMEA

(to himself.)

I certainly will be off, as he on whose account I came hither has gone into the country. I have a care for him: that alone is my own concern, since my brother will have it so; let him look to the other himself. But who is it I see yonder at a distance? Isn’t it Hegio of our tribes? ⁴ If I see right, i’ faith, it is he. Ah,

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a man I have been friendly with from a child! Good Gods! we certainly have a great dearth of citizens of that stamp nowadays, with the old-fashioned virtue and honesty. Not in a hurry will any misfortune accrue to the public from him.

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How glad I am to find some remnants of this race even still remaining; now I feel some pleasure in living. I’ll wait here for him, to ask him how he is, and have some conversation with him.