Terence: Phormio

Postquam poeta vetu' poetam non potest
retrahere a studio et transdere hominem in otium,
maledictis deterrere ne scribat parat;
qui ita dictitat, quas ante hic fecit fabulas
tenui esse oratione et scriptura levi:

After the old poet cannot
draw back the poet from his zeal and transfer the man into leisure,
he prepares to deter him with maledictions, lest he write;
he keeps saying thus, that the plays which this man made before
are of thin diction and with light writing:

quia nusquam insanum scripsit adulescentulum
cervam videre fugere et sectari canes
et eam plorare, orare ut subveniat sibi.
quod si intellegeret, quom stetit olim nova,
actoris opera mage stetisse quam sua,

because nowhere has he written an insane adolescent
to see a hind fleeing and the dogs pursuing,
and to weep for it, to beg that someone come to its aid.
but if he would understand that, when once the new piece stood,
it stood more by the actor’s work than by his own,

minu' multo audacter quam nunc laedit laederet
[et mage placerent quas fecisset fabulas]. 11a
nunc siquis est qui hoc dicat aut sic cogitet:
"vetu' si poeta non lacessisset prior,
nullum invenire prologum po[tui]sset novos
quem diceret, nisi haberet cui male diceret,"

he would hurt far less boldly than he now hurts
[and the plays which he had made would please more]. 11a
now, if there is anyone who says this or thus thinks:
"if the old poet had not provoked first,
he could [have] find no new prologue
which he might say, unless he had someone at whom he might speak ill,"

is sibi responsum hoc habeat, in medio omnibus
palmam esse positam qui artem tractent musicam.
ille ad famem hunc a studio studuit reicere:
hic respondere voluit, non lacessere.
benedictis si certasset, audisset bene:

let him have this response for himself, that in the middle for all
the palm is placed for those who handle the musical art.
that man strove to cast this one away from his study into hunger:
this man wished to respond, not to provoke.
if he had contended with benedictions, he would have heard well:

quod ab illo adlatumst, sibi esse rellatum putet.
de illo iam finem faciam dicundi mihi,
peccandi quom ipse de se finem non facit.
nunc quid velim animum attendite: adporto novam
Epidicazomenon quam vocant comoediam

let him think that what has been brought by him has been brought back upon himself.
I will now make an end of speaking about him,
since he himself does not make an end of sinning.
now pay attention to what I want: I bring in a new
comedy which they call Epidicazomenon

Graeci, Latini Phormionem nominant
quia primas partis qui aget is erit Phormio
parasitu', per quem res geretur maxume
voluntas vostra si ad poetam accesserit.
date operam, adeste aequo animo per silentium,

Greeks and Latins name it Phormio,
because the one who will play the leading part will be Phormio,
the parasite, through whom the affair will be carried on most especially,
if your goodwill shall have acceded to the poet.
give your attention, be present with equanimity, in silence,

ne simili utamur fortuna atque usi sumus
quom per tumultum noster grex motus locost:
quem actori' virtus nobis restituit locum
bonitasque vostra adiutans atque aequanimitas.

so that we may not undergo a similar fortune as we underwent
when, through a tumult, our troupe was moved from its place:
which place the actor’s virtue restored to us,
your goodness assisting, and your equanimity.

ACTVS I

ACT 1

Davos

Amicu' summu' meus et popularis Geta

My very best friend and fellow-countryman Geta

heri ad me venit. erat <ei> de ratiuncula
iampridem apud me relicuom pauxillulum
nummorum: id ut conficerem. confeci: adfero.

yesterday he came to me. He had, concerning a little account,
long ago left with me a very small leftover of coins,
that I should settle it. I have settled it: I bring it.

nam erilem filium eiu' duxisse audio
uxorem: <ei> credo munus hoc conraditur.

for I hear that his master’s son has taken a wife:
for him, I believe, this gift is being scraped together.

quam inique comparatumst, i qui minus habent
ut semper aliquid addant ditioribus!
quod ille unciatim vix de demenso suo
suom defrudans genium conpersit miser,
id illa univorsum abripiet, haud existumans

how iniquitously it has been arranged, that those who have less
should always add something to the richer!
what that poor wretch has scarcely amassed ounce by ounce from his allotted measure,
defrauding his own pleasure, that she will snatch away entire,
not thinking

quanto labore partum. porro autem Geta
ferietur alio munere ubi era pepererit;
porro autem alio ubi erit puero natalis dies;
ubi initiabunt. omne hoc mater auferet:
puer causa erit mittundi.

with how much labor it was brought forth. moreover, Geta will be assessed for another gift when the mistress has given birth; moreover another when it will be the boy’s natal day; when they initiate him. all this the mother will carry off: the boy will be the cause of sending.

sed videon Getam?

But do I see Geta?

Geta Davos

{Ge.} Siquis me quaeret rufu' . . {Da.} praestost, desine. {Ge.} oh
at ego obviam conabar tibi, Dave. {Da.} accipe, em:
lectumst; conveniet numeru' quantum debui.

{Ge.} If anyone asks for me, Rufus . . {Da.} he’s at hand; stop. {Ge.} oh
but I was trying to meet you, Davus. {Da.} take it, here: it’s counted;
the number will agree with how much I owed.

{Ge.} amo te et non neglexisse habeo gratiam.
{Da.} praesertim ut nunc sunt mores: adeo res redit:

{Ge.} I love you and I have gratitude that you have not neglected.
{Da.} especially as the mores are now: to such a degree the affair returns:

siquis quid reddit magna habendast gratia.
sed quid tu es tristis? {Ge.} egone?

if anyone returns anything, great gratitude is to be had.
but why are you sad? {Ge.} I?

nescis quo in metu et
quanto in periclo simu'! {Da.} quid istuc est? {Ge.} scies,
modo ut tacere possis. {Da.} abi sis, insciens:
quoi(u)s tu fidem in pecunia perspexeris,

you don’t know in what fear and in how great peril we are!
{Da.} what is that? {Ge.} you will know,
provided only that you can keep silent. {Da.} be off, please, ignoramus:
whose fidelity in pecuniary matters you will have thoroughly perceived,

verere verba <ei> credere, ubi quid mihi lucrist
te fallere? {Ge.} ergo ausculta. {Da.} hanc operam tibi dico.

You are afraid to trust his words; where is any profit for me
to deceive you? {Ge.} Then listen. {Da.} I give you this attention.

{Ge.} seni' nostri, Dave, fratrem maiorem Chremem
nostin? {Da.} quidni? {Ge.} quid?

{Ge.} Davus, do you know Chremes, the elder brother of our old man?
{Da.} Why not? {Ge.} What?

eiu' gnatum Phaedriam?
{Da.} tam quam te. {Ge.} evenit senibus ambobus simul

his son Phaedria?
{Da.} as well as I know you. {Ge.} it has befallen both old men at once

iter illi in Lemnum ut esset, nostro in Ciliciam
ad hospitem antiquom. is senem per epistulas
pellexit modo non montis auri pollicens.
{Da.} quoi tanta erat res et supererat?

that his journey should be to Lemnos, ours to Cilicia
to an ancient host. He lured the old man by epistles,
all but promising mountains of gold.
{Da.} to whom was there such a fortune, and more besides?

{Ge.} desinas:
sic est ingenium. {Da.} oh regem me esse oportuit!

{Ge.} stop:
such is the nature. {Da.} oh, I ought to have been king!

{Ge.} abeuntes ambo hic tum senes me filiis
relinquont quasi magistrum. {Da.} o Geta, provinciam
cepisti duram. {Ge.} mi usu venit, hoc scio:
memini relinqui me deo irato meo.

{Ge.} as they go away, both old men here then leave me to the sons
as if a master. {Da.} O Geta, you have taken on a hard province!
{Ge.} by experience it comes to me, this I know:
I remember being left, my god irate at me.

coepi advorsari primo: quid verbis opust?

I began to oppose at first: what need is there of words?

seni fideli' dum sum scapulas perdidi.
{Da.} venere in mentem mi istaec: "namque inscitiast
advorsu' stimulum calces." {Ge.} coepi is omnia
facere, obsequi quae vellent. {Da.} scisti uti foro.

while I was faithful to the old man, I lost my shoulder-blades.
{Da.} those things came to my mind: "for it is ignorance to kick against the goad." {Ge.} I began to do everything for them, to comply with what they wanted. {Da.} You knew how to use the Forum.

{Ge.} noster mali nil quicquam primo; hic Phaedria

{Ge.} our man nothing of evil at all at first; here Phaedria

continuo quandam nactus est puellulam
citharistriam, hanc ardere coepit perdite.
ea serviebat lenoni inpurissimo,
neque quod daretur quicquam; id curarant patres.
restabat aliud nil nisi oculos pascere,

straightaway he came upon a certain little girl,
a citharist; he began to burn for her desperately.
she was serving a most impure pimp,
and there was nothing to give; the fathers had taken care of that.
nothing else remained except to feed his eyes,

sectari, in ludum ducere et redducere.
nos otiosi operam dabamus Phaedriae.
in quo haec discebat ludo, exadvorsum ilico
tonstrina erat quaedam: hic solebamus fere
plerumque eam opperiri dum inde iret domum.

to follow, to lead to the school and lead back.
we idlers were giving our attention to Phaedria.
in the school in which she was learning, straight opposite right there
there was a certain tonsor’s shop: here we were accustomed, mostly,
to wait for her until she went home from there.

interea dum sedemus illi, intervenit
adulescens quidam lacrumans. nos mirarier:
rogamu' quid sit. "numquam aeque" inquit "ac modo
paupertas mihi onu' visumst et miserum et grave.
modo quandam vidi virginem hic viciniae

meanwhile, while we were sitting there, there intervenes
a certain young man, weeping. We marvel at it:
we ask what it is. "Never equally," he says, "as just now
has poverty seemed to me a burden, both miserable and grave.
just now I saw a certain virgin here of the vicinity

miseram s<ua>m matrem lamentari mortuam.
ea sita erat exadvorsum neque illi benivolus
neque notu' neque vicinus extra unam aniculam
quisquam aderat qui adiutaret funu': miseritumst.
virgo ipsa facie egregia." quid verbis opust?

lamenting her own poor mother, dead.
she was laid out opposite; and neither well-wisher
nor acquaintance nor neighbor, except for a single little old woman,
was present to help at the funeral: it was pitiable.
the maiden herself, excellent in face. what need is there of words?

100

commorat omnis nos. ibi continuo Antipho
"voltisne eamu' visere?" alius "censeo:
eamu': duc nos sodes." imus venimus
videmu'. virgo pulchra, et quo mage diceres,
nil aderat adiumenti ad pulchritudinem:

it moves us all. there immediately Antipho
"do you wish we go to visit?" another, "I opine:
let us go: lead us, please." we go we come
we see. a beautiful maiden, and the more you would say so,
no aid was present to the beauty:

105

capillu' passu', nudu' pes, ipsa horrida,
lacrumae, vestitu' turpis: ut, ni vis boni
in ipsa inesset forma, haec formam exstinguerent.
ill' qui illam amabat fidicinam tantummodo
"satis" inquit "scitast"; noster vero . . {Da.} iam scio:

hair disheveled, bare foot, herself horrid,
tears, ugly in dress: such that, if a force of good
were not inborn in the form itself, these would extinguish her form.
that man who loved the cithara-girl only said,
"she’s skilled enough"; but our man indeed . . {Da.} now I know:

110

amare coepit. {Ge.} scin quam? quo evadat vide.

he began to love. {Ge.} do you know how? see where it ends up.

postridie ad anum recta pergit: obsecrat
ut sibi eiu' faciat copiam. illa enim se negat
neque eum aequom facere ait: illam civem esse Atticam,
bonam bonis prognatam: si uxorem velit,

on the next day he goes straight to the old woman: he beseeches
that she grant him access to her. For she denies herself,
and says he is not doing what is equitable: that she is an Attic citizen,
good, progenerated from good people: if he wants her as a wife,

115

lege id licere facere: sin aliter, negat.
noster quid ageret nescire: et illam ducere
cupiebat et metuebat absentem patrem.
{Da.} non, si redisset, <ei> pater veniam daret?

that by law it is permitted to do: but otherwise, he says no.
our fellow did not know what to do: and he desired to lead her (marry her) and he feared his absent father.
{Da.} would not, if he had returned, the father grant pardon?

{Ge.} ille indotatam virginem atque ignobilem

{Ge.} he—to take an undowered, ignoble virgin

120

daret illi? numquam faceret. {Da.} quid fit denique?

would he give her to him? never would he do it. {Da.} what is happening, then?

{Ge.} quid fiat? est parasitu' quidam Phormio,
homo confidens: qui illum di omnes perduint!
{Da.} quid is fecit?

{Ge.} what is happening? There is a certain parasite Phormio,
a confident man: may all the gods destroy that fellow!
{Da.} what has he done?

{Ge.} hoc consilium quod dicam dedit:
"lex est ut orbae, qui sint genere proxumi,

{Ge.} he gave this counsel which I will say:
"the law is that, for an orphan-girl, those who are nearest in lineage,

125

is nubant, et illos ducere eadem haec lex iubet.
ego te cognatum dicam et tibi scribam dicam;
paternum amicum me adsimulabo virginis:
ad iudices veniemu': qui fuerit pater,
quae mater, qui cognata tibi sit, omnia haec

let them wed those men, and this same law orders those men to lead them (as wives).
I will call you a cognate and will say I am your scribe;
I will assimilate myself as the maiden’s father’s friend:
we will come before the judges: who her father was,
who her mother, who is a kinswoman to you, all these

130

confingam, quod erit mihi bonum atque commodum;
quom tu horum nil refelles vincam scilicet:
pater aderit: mihi paratae lites: quid mea?
illa quidem nostra erit." {Da.} iocularem audaciam!
{Ge.} persuasit homini: factumst: ventumst: vincimur:

I will fabricate what will be good and commodious for me;
when you refute none of these, I will, of course, prevail:
father will be present: suits are prepared for me: what is that to me?
she indeed will be ours." {Da.} Jocular audacity!
{Ge.} He has persuaded the man: it is done: it has come to pass: we are vanquished.

135

duxit. {Da.} quid narras? {Ge.} hoc quod audis.

He married her. {Da.} What are you saying? {Ge.} Just what you hear.

{Da.} o Geta,
quid te futurumst? {Ge.} nescio hercle; unum hoc scio,
quod fors feret feremus aequo animo. {Da.} placet:
em istuc virist officium.

{Da.} O Geta,
what is going to become of you? {Ge.} I don’t know, by Hercules; this one thing I know,
what Fortune brings we will bear with equanimity. {Da.} That pleases:
there you are—this is a man’s duty.

{Ge.} in me omni' spes mihist.
{Da.} laudo. {Ge.} ad precatorem adeam credo qui mihi

{Ge.} all hope rests on me.
{Da.} I approve. {Ge.} I think I should go to a pleader who for me

140

sic oret: "nunc amitte quaeso hunc; ceterum
posthac si quicquam, nil precor." tantummodo
non addit: "ubi ego hinc abiero, vel occidito."
{Da.} quid paedagogus ille qui citharistriam,
quid r<ei> gerit? {Ge.} sic, tenuiter. {Da.} non multum habet

let him pray thus: "now let go, I beg, this one; but hereafter, if anything, I pray nothing." only he does not add: "when I have gone away from here, even kill him."
{Da.} what about that Pedagogue who has the citharist-girl, how does the matter go? {Ge.} so, meagerly. {Da.} he does not have much

145

quod det fortasse? {Ge.} immo nil nisi spem meram.
{Da.} pater ei(u)s rediit an non?

something to give, perhaps? {Ge.} nay, nothing except pure hope.
{Da.} has his father returned or not?

{Ge.} nondum. {Da.} quid? senem
quoad exspectati' vostrum?

{Ge.} not yet. {Da.} what? the old man
how long are you waiting for yours?

{Ge.} non certum scio,
sed epistulam ab eo adlatam esse audivi modo
et ad portitores esse delatam: hanc petam.

{Ge.} I do not know for certain,
but I have just heard that a letter from him has been brought
and that it has been delivered to the porters: I will ask for it.

150

{Da.} numquid, Geta, aliud me vis? {Ge.} ut bene sit tibi.
puer, heus.

{Da.} is there anything else, Geta, you want from me? {Ge.} may it be well for you.
boy, hey.

nemon hoc prodit? cape, da hoc Dorcio.

Does no one bring this out? Take, give this to Dorcio.

Antipho Phaedria

{An.} Adeon rem redisse ut qui mi consultum optume velit esse,
Phaedria, patrem ut extimescam ubi in mentem ei(u)s adventi venit!
quod ni f<ui>ssem incogitans, ita eum exspectarem ut par fuit.

{An.} Has the matter come back to such a pass that the one who most wants what is best for me, Phaedria, that I should dread my father whenever the thought of his advent comes to mind!
Had I not been unthinking, I would be expecting him as was fitting.

155

{Ph.} quid istuc [est]? {An.} rogitas, qui tam audaci' facinori' mihi
conscius sis?
quod utinam ne Phormioni id suadere in mentem incidisset
neu me cupidum eo inpulisset, quod mihi principiumst mali!
non potitus essem: f<ui>sset tum illos mi aegre aliquot dies,
at non cotidiana cura haec angeret animum, {Ph.} audio.

{Ph.} what’s that? {An.} you ask, you who are privy to so audacious a crime of mine
are you?
would that it had not come into Phormio’s mind to advise that,
nor had he driven me, eager as I was, into it, which is the beginning of my trouble!
I would not have gotten possession: it would then have been hard for me with them for several days,
but this daily care would not be vexing my mind. {Ph.} I hear.

160

{An.} dum exspecto quam mox veniat qui adimat hanc mi consuetudinem.
{Ph.} aliis quia defit quod amant aegrest; tibi quia superest dolet:
amore abundas, Antipho.
nam tua quidem hercle certo vita haec expetenda optandaque est.

{An.} while I wait to see how soon someone will come to take away this attachment of mine from me.
{Ph.} others are distressed because what they love is lacking; you, because it is in excess, you are pained:
you abound in love, Antipho.
for indeed, by Hercules, your life certainly is one to be sought after and desired.

ita me di bene ament ut mihi liceat tam diu quod amo frui,

so may the gods love me well that it may be permitted to me to enjoy for so long what I love,

165

iam depecisci morte cupio: tu conicito cetera,
quid ego ex hac inopia nunc capiam et quid tu ex ista copia,
ut ne addam quod sine sumptu ingenuam, liberalem nactus es,
quod habes, ita ut voluisti, uxorem sine mala fama palam:
beatu', ni unum desit, animu' qui modeste istaec ferat.

now I desire to come to terms with death: you conjecture the rest,
what I am now to get from this poverty and what you from that abundance,
not to add that, without expense, you have gotten an ingenuous (freeborn), liberal woman,
that you have, just as you wished, a wife without ill fame, openly:
blessed—if only one thing were not lacking— a spirit to bear these things with moderation.

170

quod si tibi res sit cum eo lenone quo mihist tum sentias.
ita plerique ingenio sumus omnes: nostri nosmet paenitet.
{An.} at tu mihi contra nunc videre fortunatus, Phaedria,
quoi de integro est potestas etiam consulendi quid velis:
retinere amare amittere; ego in eum incidi infelix locum

but if you were to have dealings with that leno with whom I have, then you would realize.
thus by temperament most of us are all: we are dissatisfied with ourselves.
{An.} but you, on the contrary, now seem to me fortunate, Phaedria,
who have anew the power even of consulting what you wish:
to retain, to love, to let go; I, ill-fated, have fallen into that position

175

ut neque mihi [ei(u)s] sit amittendi nec retinendi copia.
sed quid hoc est? videon ego Getam currentem huc advenire?

so that there is for me neither the opportunity of losing [her] nor of retaining [her].
but what is this? do I see Geta running, arriving here?

is est ipsus. ei, timeo miser quam hic mihi nunc nuntiet rem.

That’s the very man. Alas, wretched me, I fear what affair this fellow will now announce to me.

Geta Antipho Phaedria

{Ge.} Nullus es, Geta, nisi iam aliquod tibi consilium celere reperis,
ita nunc inparatum subito tanta te inpendent mala;

{Ge.} You are nothing, Geta, unless you now quickly find some counsel for yourself,
so now unprepared, such great evils are suddenly impending over you;

180

quae neque uti devitem scio neque quo modo me inde extraham,
quae si non astu providentur me aut erum pessum dabunt; 181a
nam non potest celari nostra diutius iam audacia.
{An.} quid illic commotus venit?
{Ge.} tum temporis mihi punctum ad hanc rem est: erus adest.

which evils I neither know how to avoid nor how I may extract myself from there; which, if they are not provided for by astuteness, will sink me or the master; 181a
for our audacity can no longer now be concealed. {An.} what’s that—he comes there in a commotion? {Ge.} at this time I have but a punctum of time for this matter: the master is here.

{An.} quid illuc
malist?
{Ge.} quod quom audierit, quod eiu' remedium inveniam iracundiae?

{An.} what’s the matter there?
{bad?}
{Ge.} that—when he hears it—what remedy shall I find for his iracundity?

185

loquarne? incendam; taceam? instigem; purgem me? laterem lavem.

Shall I speak? I will inflame; shall I be silent? I incite; shall I purge myself? I would wash a brick.

heu me miserum! quom mihi paveo, tum Antipho me excruciat animi:
ei(u)s me miseret, <ei> nunc timeo, is nunc me retinet: nam absque eo esset,
recte ego mihi vidissem et senis essem ultus iracundiam:
aliquid convasassem atque hinc me conicerem protinam in pedes.

Alas, wretched me! When I quake for myself, then Antipho excruciates me in mind:
I pity him; <for him> now I fear; he now holds me back: for, were it not for him,
I would have looked to myself aright and would have avenged the old man’s iracundity:
I would have packed something together and from here would straightway throw myself upon my feet.

190

{An.} quam hic fugam aut furtum parat?
{Ge.} sed ubi Antiphonem reperiam, aut qua quaerere insistam via?
{Ph.} te nominat.

{An.} what flight or theft is this man preparing?
{Ge.} but where might I find Antipho, or on what way should I insist to seek?
{Ph.} he names you.

{An.} nescioquod magnum hoc nuntio exspecto malum. {Ph.} ah
sanus es? {Ge.} domum ire pergam: ibi plurimumst.
{Ph.} revocemus hominem.

{An.} I expect some great evil from this message. {Ph.} ah
are you sane? {Ge.} I’ll proceed to go home: there’s the most of it there.
{Ph.} let us call the man back.

{An.} sta ilico. {Ge.} hem

{An.} stand right there. {Ge.} eh

195

sati' pro imperio, quisquis es. {An.} Geta. {Ge.} ipsest quem volui obviam.
{An.} cedo quid portas, obsecro?

Enough by way of command, whoever you are. {An.} Geta. {Ge.} It’s the very one whom I wanted to meet.
{An.} Come, what are you carrying, I beseech?

atque id, si potes, verbo expedi.
{Ge.} faciam. {An.} eloquere.

and that, if you can, set it forth in a word.
{Ge.} I will do it. {An.} Speak out.

{Ge.} modo apud portum . . {An.} m<eu>mne?
{Ge.} intellexti. {An.} occidi.

{Ge.} just now at the port . . {An.} mine?
{Ge.} you have understood. {An.} I am slain.

{Ph.} hem . .
{An.} quid agam? {Ph.} quid ais? {Ge.} hui(u)s patrem vidisse me et patruom
tuom.

{Ph.} ahem . .
{An.} What am I to do? {Ph.} What say you? {Ge.} that I have seen this one's father and your paternal
uncle.

{An.} nam quod ego huic nunc subito exitio remedium inveniam miser?

{An.} For what remedy shall I, wretched, now find for this man’s sudden ruin?

200

quod si eo m<eae> fortunae redeunt, Phanium, abs te ut distrahar,
nullast mihi vita expetenda. {Ge.} ergo istaec quom ita sunt, Antipho,
tanto mage te advigilare aequomst: fortis fortuna adiuvat.
{An.} non sum apud me. {Ge.} atqui opus est nunc quom maxume ut sis, Antipho;
nam si senserit te timidum pater esse, arbitrabitur

but if my fortunes return to this point, Phanium, that I be torn from you,
no life is to be desired for me. {Ge.} therefore, since these things are thus, Antipho,
it is all the more equitable that you be vigilant: Fortune aids the brave.
{An.} I am beside myself. {Ge.} and yet there is need now most of all that you be, Antipho;
for if your father perceives you to be timid, he will deem

205

commeruisse culpam. {Ph.} hoc verumst. {An.} non possum inmutarier.

to have incurred blame. {Ph.} this is true. {An.} I cannot be altered.

{Ge.} quid faceres si aliud quid graviu' tibi nunc faciundum foret?
{An.} quom hoc non possum, illud minu' possem. {Ge.} hoc nil est, Phaedria:
ilicet.

{Ge.} What would you do if some other, graver thing had now to be done by you?
{An.} Since I cannot do this, I would be able to do that still less. {Ge.} This is nothing, Phaedria:
you may go.

quid hic conterimus operam frustra? quin abeo? {Ph.} et quidem ego?

Why are we wasting our effort here in vain? Why don’t I go away? {Ph.} And indeed I?

{An.}
obsecro,
quid si adsimulo? satinest? {Ge.} garris.

{An.}
I beg,
what if I simulate it? is it enough? {Ge.} you prate.

{An.} voltum contemplamini: em

{An.} contemplate the countenance: behold

210

satine sic est? {Ge.} non. {An.} quid si sic?

Is it sufficient thus? {Ge.} No. {An.} What if thus?

{Ge.} propemodum. {An.} quid
sic? {Ge.} sat est:
em istuc serva: et verbum verbo, par pari ut respondeas,
ne te iratu' s<ui>s saevidicis dictis protelet.

{Ge.} almost. {An.} what
thus? {Ge.} enough:
look, keep to that; and word for word, like to like, so that you may answer,
lest, in his anger, he draw you out with his savage sayings.

{An.} scio.
{Ge.} vi coactum te esse invitum. {Ph.} lege, iudicio.

{An.} I know.
{Ge.} that you were coerced by violence, unwilling. {Ph.} by law, by judgment.

{Ge.} tenes?
sed hic quis est senex quem video in ultima platea? ipsus est.

{Ge.} do you get it?
but who is this old man whom I see at the far end of the street? that’s the very man.

215

{An.} non possum adesse. {Ge.} ah quid agis? quo abis Antipho?

{An.} I cannot be present. {Ge.} ah what are you doing? where are you going Antipho?

mane inquam. {An.} egomet me novi et peccatum meum:
vobis commendo Phanium et vitam meam.--
{Ph.} Geta, quid nunc fiet? {Ge.} tu iam litis audies;
ego plectar pendens nisi quid me fefellerit.

Wait, I say. {An.} I myself know myself and my fault:
I commend Phanium and my life to you all.--
{Ph.} Geta, what will happen now? {Ge.} You will now hear the litigation;
I shall be punished by hanging, unless something has deceived me.

220

sed quod modo hic nos Antiphonem monuimus,
id nosmet ipsos facere oportet, Phaedria.
{Ph.} aufer mi "oportet": quin tu quid faciam impera.
{Ge.} meministin olim ut fuerit vostra oratio
in re incipiunda ad defendendam noxiam,

but that which just now we here advised Antipho,
that we ourselves ought to do, Phaedria.
{Ph.} take away from me "it is necessary": rather you, command what I should do.
{Ge.} do you remember how your oration once was
at the beginning of the affair, to defend the offense,

225

iustam illam causam facilem vincibilem optumam?
{Ph.} memini. {Ge.} em nunc ipsast opus ea aut, siquid potest,
meliore et callidiore.

that just cause, easy, winnable, excellent?
{Ph.} I remember. {Ge.} Look, now there’s need of that very one, or, if anything can be,
of a better and more cunning.

{Ph.} fiet sedulo.
{Ge.} nunc prior adito tu, ego in insidiis hic ero
succenturiatu', siquid deficias. {Ph.} age.

{Ph.} it shall be done sedulously.
{Ge.} now you go in first; I will be here in ambush, as a succenturiate reserve, if you should fail in anything. {Ph.} go on.

230

ACTVS II

ACT 2

Demipho Phaedria Geta

{De.} Itane tandem uxorem duxit Antipho iniussu meo?
nec meum imperium--ac mitto imperium--, non simultatem meam
revereri saltem! non pudere!

{De.} Is it so then—Antipho has taken a wife without my leave?
nor my authority—and I let authority pass—, not even my enmity
to be revered at least! not to be ashamed!

o facinus audax, o Geta
monitor! {Ge.} vix tandem. {De.} quid mihi dicent aut quam causam reperient?

o audacious deed, o Geta
monitor! {Ge.} barely at last. {De.} what will they say to me, or what cause will they find?

demiror. {Ge.} atqui reperiam: aliud cura. {De.} an hoc dicet mihi:

I marvel. {Ge.} And yet I will find one: attend to something else. {De.} Or will he say this to me:

235

"invitu' feci. lex coegit"? audio, fateor. {Ge.} places.

"I did it unwillingly. 'The law compelled me'?" I hear it, I confess. {Ge.} As you please.

{De.} verum scientem, tacitum causam tradere advorsariis,
etiamne id lex coegit? {Ph.} illud durum. {Ge.} ego expediam: sine!

{De.} But, though knowing full well, to hand over the cause to the adversaries in silence—did the law even compel that? {Ph.} That is harsh. {Ge.} I will expound it: let me!

{De.} incertumst quid agam, quia praeter spem atque incredibile hoc mi
optigit:
ita sum irritatus animum ut nequeam ad cogitandum instituere.

{De.} I am uncertain what I should do, since beyond hope and incredible this to me
has occurred:
I am so irritated in mind that I cannot set myself to cogitation.

240

quam ob rem omnis, quom secundae res sunt maxume, tum maxume
meditari secum oportet quo pacto advorsam aerumnam ferant,
pericla damna exsilia: peregre rediens semper cogitet
aut fili peccatum aut uxori' mortem aut morbum filiae
communia esse haec, fieri posse, ut ne quid animo sit novom;

for which reason everyone, when affairs are most favorable, then most of all
ought to meditate with himself how they may bear adverse hardship,
perils, damages, exiles: returning from abroad let him always consider
either a son’s transgression or a wife’s death or a daughter’s disease—
that these things are common, can come to be, so that nothing may be novel to his mind.

245

quidquid praeter spem eveniat, omne id deputare esse in lucro.
{Ge.} o Phaedria, incredibile[st] quantum erum ante eo sapientia
meditata mihi sunt omnia mea incommoda eru' si redierit.
molendum esse in pistrino, vapulandum; habendae compedes,
opu' ruri faciundum, horum nil quicquam accidet animo novom.

whatever may occur beyond hope, to reckon all that to be in profit.
{Ge.} O Phaedria, it is incredible how much beforehand by this sapience
I have meditated all my inconveniences for myself, if the master returns.
I must grind in the mill, be flogged; fetters must be worn,
work in the country must be done; of these, nothing at all will befall my mind as new.

250

quidquid praeter spem eveniet, omne id deputabo esse in lucro.
sed quid cessas hominem adire et blande in principio adloqui?
{De.} Phaedriam m<ei> fratri' video filium mi ire obviam.

whatever shall happen beyond expectation, I will account all that as gain.
but why do you delay to approach the man and suavely address him at the outset?
{De.} I see Phaedria, my brother’s son, coming to meet me.

{Ph.} mi patrue, salve. {De.} salve; sed ubist Antipho?
{Ph.} salvom venire . . {De.} credo; hoc responde mihi.

{Ph.} my uncle, hail. {De.} hail; but where is Antipho?
{Ph.} coming safe and sound . . {De.} I believe it; answer me this.

255

{Ph.} valet, hic est; sed satin omnia ex sententia?
{De.} vellem quidem. {Ph.} quid istuc est?

{Ph.} he is well, he is here; but are all things quite to your mind?
{De.} I wish so, indeed. {Ph.} what is the matter?

{De.} rogitas, Phaedria?
bonas me absente hic confecistis nuptias.
{Ph.} eho an id suscenses nunc illi?

{De.} You ask, Phaedria?
here you have concluded fine nuptials in my absence.
{Ph.} Come now, are you angry at him now for that?

{Ge.} artificem probum!
{De.} egon illi non suscenseam? ipsum gestio

{Ge.} a worthy artificer!
{De.} should I not be angry with him? I am eager for him himself

260

dari mi in conspectum, nunc sua culpa ut sciat
lenem patrem illum factum me esse acerrimum.
{Ph.} atqui nil fecit, patrue, quod suscenseas.
{De.} ecce autem similia omnia!

to be brought into my presence, so that now, by his own fault, he may know that I, that lenient father, have been made most severe.
{Ph.} But indeed he has done nothing, uncle, at which you should be angry.
{De.} Look, however—it's all the same old stuff!

omnes congruont:
unum quom noris omnis noris. {Ph.} haud itast.

they all are congruent:
when you know one, you know all. {Ph.} it is not so.

265

{De.} hic in noxast, ille ad defendundam causam adest;
quom illest, hic praestost: tradunt operas mutuas.
{Ge.} probe horum facta inprudens depinxit senex.
{De.} nam ni haec ita essent, cum illo haud stares, Phaedria.

{De.} this one is in the wrong, that one is present to defend the cause;
when that one is there, this one is at hand: they render mutual services.
{Ge.} the old man has unwittingly well depicted the deeds of these men.
{De.} for if these things were not so, you would not be standing with that fellow, Phaedria.

{Ph.} si est, patrue, culpam ut Antipho in se admiserit,

{Ph.} if it is, uncle, that Antipho has admitted the blame upon himself,

270

ex qua re minu' r<ei> foret aut famae temperans,
non causam dico quin quod meritu' sit ferat.
sed siqui' forte malitia fretus sua
insidias nostrae fecit adulescentiae
ac vicit, nostra[n] culpa east an iudicum,

from which matter he would be less temperate of estate or of reputation,
I do not argue the case but that he should bear what he has merited.
But if anyone perchance, relying on his own malice,
has laid ambushes for our adolescence
and has prevailed, is the fault ours or the judges’?

275

qui saepe propter invidiam adimunt diviti
aut propter misericordiam addunt pauperi?
{Ge.} ni nossem causam, crederem vera hunc loqui.
{De.} an quisquam iudex est qui possit noscere
tua iusta, ubi tute verbum non respondeas,

who often on account of envy take away from the rich,
or on account of mercy add to the poor?
{Ge.} If I did not know the case, I would believe this man to be speaking true.
{De.} Or is there any judge who can know
your just claims, when you yourself do not answer a word,

280

ita ut ille fecit? {Ph.} functus adulescentulist
officium liberali': postquam ad iudices
ventumst, non potuit cogitata proloqui;
ita eum tum timidum ibi obstupefecit pudor.
{Ge.} laudo hunc, sed cesso adire quam primum senem?

just as he did? {Ph.} the adolescent has discharged a liberal duty: after it had come before the judges, he could not speak forth the things he had thought out; so then shame there stupefied him, timid as he was. {Ge.} I praise this man, but do I delay to approach the old man as soon as possible?

285

ere, salve: salvom te advenisse gaudeo. {De.} oh
bone custos, salve, columen vero familiae,
quoi commendavi filium hinc abiens meum.
{Ge.} iamdudum te omnis nos accusare audio
inmerito et me omnium horunc inmeritissimo.

master, hail: I rejoice that you have come safe. {De.} oh
good guardian, hail, truly the pillar of the household,
to whom I entrusted my son when departing from here.
{Ge.} for a long time now I hear you accusing us all
without merit, and me, of all these, most without merit.

290

nam quid me in hac re facere voluisti tibi?
servom hominem causam orare leges non sinunt
neque testimoni dictiost. {De.} mitto omnia;
do istuc "inprudens timuit adulescens"; sino
"tu servo's"; verum si cognata est maxume,

for what did you want me to do for you in this matter?
the laws do not allow a slave-man to plead a cause nor is testimony to be spoken.
{De.} I waive everything; I grant this: "the adolescent, imprudent, was afraid"; I allow, "you are a slave"; but if she is most especially a kinswoman,

295

non f<ui>t necessum habere; sed id quod lex iubet,
dotem dareti', quaereret alium virum.
qua ratione inopem potiu' ducebat domum?
{Ge.} non ratio, verum argentum deerat.

not was it necessary to have; but that which the law orders, he should give the dowry, let her seek another husband.
by what reasoning was he rather leading a needy woman home?
{Ge.} not reason, but silver was lacking.

{De.} sumeret
alicunde. {Ge.} alicunde? nil est dictu facilius.

{De.} let him take
from somewhere. {Ge.} from somewhere? nothing is easier to say.

300

{De.} postremo si nullo alio pacto, fenore.
{Ge.} hui dixti pulchre! siquidem quisquam crederet
te vivo.

{De.} finally, if by no other means, at interest.
{Ge.} hui, you have spoken beautifully! if indeed anyone would credit you while you live.

{De.} non, non sic futurumst: non potest.
egon illam cum illo ut patiar nuptam unum diem?
nil suave meritumst.

{De.} no, no, it will not be so: it cannot be.
I— that I should suffer her, married to him, for a single day?
nothing sweet has been merited.

hominem conmonstrarier

the man to be pointed out

305

mihi istum volo aut ubi habitet demonstrarier.
{Ge.} nemp' Phormionem? {De.} istum patronum mulieris.

I want that fellow to be pointed out to me, or where he lodges.
{Ge.} You mean Phormio? {De.} That patron of the woman.

{Ge.} iam faxo hic aderit. {De.} Antipho ubi nunc est? {Ge.} foris.

{Ge.} I’ll make sure he’s here at once. {De.} Where is Antipho now? {Ge.} Outside.

{De.} abi, Phaedria, <eu>m require atque huc adduce. {Ph.} eo:
recta via quidem--illuc. {Ge.} nempe ad Pamphilam.

{De.} go, Phaedria, seek him out and bring him here. {Ph.} I’m going: by the straight road indeed—there. {Ge.} namely to Pamphila.

310

{De.} ego d<eo>s Penatis hinc salutatum domum
devortar; inde ibo ad forum atque aliquos mihi
amicos advocabo ad hanc rem qui adsient,
ut ne inparatu' sim si veniat Phormio

{De.} I will turn aside home from here to salute the Household Gods;
then I will go to the forum and summon some
friends to be present for this matter,
so that I may not be unprepared if Phormio should come

Phormio Geta

{Ph.} Itane patris ais adventum veritum hinc abiisse? {Ge.} admodum.

{Ph.} Is it so, do you say, that, afraid of his father’s advent, he went away from here? {Ge.} Very much so.

315

{Ph.} Phanium relictam solam? {Ge.} sic. {Ph.} et iratum senem?

{Ph.} Phanium left behind alone? {Ge.} yes. {Ph.} and the old man irate?

{Ge.} oppido. {Ph.} ad te summa solum, Phormio, rerum redit:
tute hoc intristi: tibi omnest exedendum: accingere.
{Ge.} obsecro te. {Ph.} si rogabit . . {Ge.} in te spes est.

{Ge.} indeed. {Ph.} to you alone, Phormio, the whole business reverts:
you yourself kneaded this dough: for you it all must be eaten: gird yourself.
{Ge.} I beg you. {Ph.} if he asks . . {Ge.} our hope is in you.

{Ph.} eccere
quid si reddet? {Ge.} tu inpulisti. {Ph.} sic opinor.

{Ph.} look there!
what if he gives it back? {Ge.} you impelled him. {Ph.} so I opine.

{Ge.} subveni.

{Ge.} help!

320

{Ph.} cedo senem: iam instructa sunt mi in corde consilia omnia.
{Ge.} quid ages? {Ph.} quid vis nisi uti maneat Phanium atque ex crimine hoc
Antiphonem eripiam atque in me omnem iram derivem senis?

{Ph.} Hand over the old man: now all the plans are marshaled for me in my heart.
{Ge.} What will you do? {Ph.} What do you expect, except that Phanium remain, and from this charge I rescue Antipho, and divert all the old man’s anger onto me?

{Ge.} o vir forti's atque amicus. verum hoc saepe, Phormio,
vereor, ne istaec fortitudo in nervom erumpat denique. {Ph.} ah

{Ge.} O man of fortitude and a friend. But this often, Phormio,
I fear, lest that fortitude erupt into the stocks in the end. {Ph.} ah

325

non ita est: factumst periclum, iam pedum visast via.
quot me censes homines iam deverberasse usque ad necem,
hospites, tum civis? quo mage novi, tanto saepius.

it is not so: a trial has been made; already a way for my feet has appeared.
how many men do you reckon I have already beaten down right up to death,
strangers, then citizens? the more I know them, the more often.

cedo dum, enumquam iniuriarum audisti mihi scriptam dicam?
{Ge.} qui istuc? {Ph.} quia non rete accipitri tennitur neque miluo,

come on then, have you ever heard that a suit for injury has been written up against me? {Ge.} what do you mean? {Ph.} because a net is not stretched for a hawk nor for a kite,

330

qui male faciunt nobis: illis qui nil faciunt tennitur,
quia enim in illis fructus est, in illis opera luditur.
aliis aliundest periclum unde aliquid abradi potest:
mihi sciunt nil esse. dices "ducent damnatum domum":
alere nolunt hominem edacem et sapiunt mea sententia,

who do us ill: for those who do nil it is stretched,
for in them there is fruit; with the others the effort is made sport of.
for others, from elsewhere is the peril whence something can be abraded:
they know there is nil for me. you will say "they will lead the condemned man home":
they are unwilling to feed an edacious man, and they are sapient, in my sentiment,

335

pro maleficio si beneficium summum nolunt reddere.
{Ge.} non potest sati' pro merito ab illo tibi referri gratia.
{Ph.} immo enim nemo sati' pro merito gratiam regi refert.

for a misdeed, if they are unwilling to render the highest benefaction.
{Ge.} enough gratitude cannot be returned to you by him according to merit.
{Ph.} nay indeed, no one returns gratitude enough, according to merit, to a king.

ten asymbolum venire unctum atque lautum e balineis,
otiosum ab animo, quom ille et cura et sumptu absumitur!

you, without contributing, come anointed and washed from the baths,
at ease in mind, while he is consumed both with care and with expense!

340

dum tibi fit quod placeat, ille ringitur: tu rideas,
prior bibas, prior decumbas; cena dubia apponitur.
{Ge.} quid istuc verbist? {Ph.} ubi tu dubites quid sumas potissimum.

while what pleases you is being done for you, he snarls: you may laugh,
drink first, recline first; a doubtful dinner is served.
{Ge.} what word is that? {Ph.} when you are in doubt what you should take as most preferable.

haec quom rationem ineas quam sint suavia et quam cara sint,
ea qui praebet, non tu hunc habeas plane praesentem deum?

when you enter into the reckoning how sweet these things are and how dear they are,
the one who provides them—would you not hold him plainly a present god?

345

{Ge.} senex adest: vide quid agas: prima coitiost acerrima.
si <ea>m sustinueris, postilla iam ut lubet ludas licet.

{Ge.} the old man is here: see what you’re doing: the first encounter is the fiercest.
if you withstand it, after that you may play as you like.

Demipho Hegio Cratinvs Crito Phormio Geta

Demipho Hegio Cratinus Crito Phormio Geta

{De.} Enumquam quoiquam contumeliosius
audisti' factam iniuriam quam haec est mihi?
adeste quaeso. {Ge.} iratus est.

{De.} have you ever heard an injury done more contumeliously to anyone than this has been to me?
be present, I pray. {Ge.} he is angry.

{Ph.} quin tu hoc age:

{Ph.} why don’t you do this:

350

iam ego hunc agitabo. pro deum inmortalium,
negat Phanium esse hanc sibi cognatam Demipho?
hanc Demipho negat esse cognatam?

now I will agitate this fellow. by the immortal gods,
does Demipho deny that this Phanium is his cognate?
does Demipho deny that this one is his cognate?

{Ge.} negat.
{Ph.} neque ei(u)s patrem se scire qui fuerit? {Ge.} negat.

{Ge.} he says no.
{Ph.} and that he does not know who her father was? {Ge.} he says no.

{De.} ipsum esse opinor de quo agebam: sequimini.

{De.} I think it is the very man about whom I was speaking: follow!

355

{Ph.} nec Stilponem ipsum scire qui fuerit? {Ge.} negat.
{Ph.} quia egens relictast misera, ignoratur parens,
neglegitur ipsa: vide avaritia quid facit.

{Ph.} and not to know who Stilpo himself was? {Ge.} he says no.
{Ph.} because, left needy, the poor wretch, the parent is ignored,
she herself is neglected: see what avarice does.

{Ge.} si erum insimulabi' malitiae male audies.
{De.} o audaciam! etiam me ultro accusatum advenit?

{Ge.} if you accuse the master of malice, you will get a bad hearing.
{De.} O audacity! Does he even come, unprovoked, to accuse me?

360

{Ph.} nam iam adulescenti nil est quod suscenseam,
si illum minu' norat; quippe homo iam grandior,
pauper, quoi opera vita erat, ruri fere
se continebat; ibi agrum de nostro patre
colendum habebat. saepe interea mihi senex

{Ph.} for now I have nothing to be angry at the adolescent for,
if he knew him less well; indeed, a man already rather older,
a pauper, for whom labor was his life, he mostly
kept himself in the country; there he had a field
from our father to be cultivated. Meanwhile the old man often to me

365

narrabat se hunc neglegere cognatum suom:
at quem virum! quem ego viderim in vita optumum.
{Ge.} videas te atque illum ut narras!

he used to tell that this fellow was neglecting him, his own kinsman:
and what a man! the best I have seen in my life.
{Ge.} just look at yourself and at him, as you tell it!

{Ph.} in' malam crucem?
nam ni ita eum existumassem, numquam tam gravis
ob hanc inimicitias caperem in vostram familiam,

{Ph.} to the gallows?
for if I had not thought him so, never would I take so grave enmities
on account of this woman into your family,

370

quam is aspernatur nunc tam inliberaliter.
{Ge.} pergin ero absenti male loqui, inpurissime?
{Ph.} dignum autem hoc illost.

how he now spurns it so illiberally!
{Ge.} do you persist in speaking ill of the absent master, most shameless man?
{Ph.} and this is worthy of that fellow.

{Ge.} <ai>n tandem, carcer? {De.} Geta.
{Ge.} bonorum extortor, legum contortor!

{Ge.} So then, you say so, you prison? {De.} Geta.
{Ge.} extorter of goods, contorter of laws!

{De.} Geta.
{Ph.} responde. {Ge.} quis homost?

{De.} Geta.
{Ph.} respond. {Ge.} who is it?

ehem. {De.} tace. {Ge.} absenti tibi

ahem. {De.} be silent. {Ge.} with you absent

375

te indignas seque dignas contumelias
numquam cessavit dicere hodie. {De.} desine.
adulescens, primum abs te hoc bona venia peto,
si tibi placere potis est, mi ut respondeas:
quem amicum tuom ais f<ui>sse istum, explana mihi,

he has never ceased today to say contumelies unworthy of you and worthy of himself.
{De.} desist.
young man, first I ask this from you, with good leave,
if it can be pleasing to you, my dear, that you answer me:
make clear to me which friend of yours you say that fellow has been,

380

et qui cognatum me sibi esse diceret.
{Ph.} proinde expiscare quasi non nosses. {De.} nossem?

and who said that I was a kinsman to him.
{Ph.} So fish it out, as if you didn’t know. {De.} Should I have known?

{Ph.} ita.
{De.} ego me nego: tu qui ais redige in memoriam.
{Ph.} eho tu, sobrinum tuom non noras?

{Ph.} yes.
{De.} I deny it; you who say so, refresh my memory.
{Ph.} come now, you, did you not know your cousin?

{De.} enicas.
dic nomen. {Ph.} nomen?

{De.} you wear me out.
say the name. {Ph.} the name?

maxume. {De.} quid nunc taces?

very much so. {De.} why are you silent now?

385

{Ph.} perii hercle, nomen perdidi. {De.} [hem] quid ais? {Ph.} (Geta,
si meministi id quod olim dictumst, subice.) hem
non dico: quasi non nosses, temptatum advenis.

{Ph.} I’m undone, by Hercules, I’ve lost my name. {De.} [eh] what do you say? {Ph.} (Geta,
if you remember what was once said, supply it.) eh
I won’t say it: as if you didn’t know, you come to test me.

{De.} ego autem tempto? {Ge.} (Stilpo.) {Ph.} atque adeo quid mea?
Stilpost.

{De.} Am I, then, the one testing? {Ge.} (Stilpo.) {Ph.} And indeed, what is it to me?
It’s Stilpo.

{De.} quem dixti? {Ph.} Stilponem inquam noveras.

{De.} whom did you say? {Ph.} Stilpo, I say, you knew.

390

{De.} neque ego illum noram nec mihi cognatus fuit
quisquam istoc nomine. {Ph.} itane? non te horum pudet?

{De.} nor had I known him, nor had I any kinsman by that name
{Ph.} is that so? are you not ashamed of these things?

at si talentum rem reliquisset decem,
{De.} di tibi malefaciant! {Ph.} primus esses memoriter
progeniem vostram usque ab avo atque atavo proferens.

but if he had left an estate of ten talents,
{De.} may the gods do you ill! {Ph.} you would be the first, from memory,
setting forth your lineage all the way from your grandsire and great-grandsire.

395

{De.} ita ut dicis. ego tum quom advenissem qui mihi
cognata ea esset dicerem: itidem tu face.
cedo qui est cognata?

{De.} just as you say. I then, when I had arrived, would say how she was kin to me: do likewise.
come, tell me—how is she kin?

{Ge.} eu noster, recte. heus tu, cave.
{Ph.} dilucide expedivi quibu' me oportuit
iudicibu': tum id si falsum fuerat, filius

{Ge.} bravo, my good fellow, right. hey you, beware.
{Ph.} I have clearly set forth before the judges before whom I ought
then if that had been false, the son

400

quor non refellit? {De.} filium narras mihi?
quoi(u)s de stultitia dici ut dignumst non potest.

why does he not refute it? {De.} you tell me of my son?
about whose stupidity it cannot be said as it deserves.

{Ph.} at tu qui sapiens es magistratus adi
iudicium de <ea>dem causa iterum ut reddant tibi,
quandoquidem solu' regnas et soli licet

{Ph.} but you, who are wise, go to the magistrates,
that they may render judgment again on the same cause to you,
since you alone reign, and to you alone it is licit

405

hic de <ea>dem causa bis iudicium adipiscier.
{De.} etsi mihi facta iniuriast, verum tamen
potius quam litis secter aut quam te audiam,
itidem ut cognata si sit, id quod lex iubet
dotis dare, abduce hanc, minas quinque accipe.

here to obtain judgment twice on the same cause.
{De.} although an injury has been done to me, yet nevertheless
rather than I pursue litigation or than I listen to you,
in the same way as if she were a kinswoman, that which the law orders—
to give a dowry, lead her away, take five minas.

410

{Ph.} hahahae, homo suavi'. {De.} quid est? num iniquom postulo?
an ne hoc quidem ego adipiscar quod ius publicumst?

{Ph.} ha ha ha, you sweet man. {De.} what is it? am I asking for anything iniquitous?
or shall I not even attain this which is public right?

{Ph.} itan tandem, quaeso, itidem ut meretricem ubi abusu' sis,
mercedem dare lex iubet ei atque amittere?
an, ut nequid turpe civis in se admitteret

{Ph.} so then, I ask, is it thus, just as when you have had your use of a courtesan,
the law bids you give her the fee and forfeit it?
or, so that a citizen might not admit anything shameful upon himself

415

propter egestatem, proxumo iussast dari,
ut cum uno aetatem degeret? quod tu vetas.
{De.} ita, proxumo quidem; at nos unde?

because of destitution, she was ordered to be given to the nearest, to spend her lifetime with one man? which you veto. {De.} yes, to the nearest indeed; but we—from where?

aut quam ob rem? {Ph.} ohe
"actum" aiunt "ne agas". {De.} non agam? immo haud desinam
donec perfecero hoc.

or for what reason? {Ph.} hey!
they say, "what's done, don't do." {De.} shall I not do it? On the contrary, I will not cease
until I have finished this.

{Ph.} ineptis. {De.} sine modo.

{Ph.} Nonsense. {De.} Just let me.

420

{Ph.} postremo tecum nil r<ei> nobis, Demipho, est:
tuos est damnatu' gnatu', non tu; nam tua
praeterierat iam ducendi aetas. {De.} omnia haec
illum putato quae ego nunc dico dicere;
aut quidem cum uxore hac ipsum prohibebo domo.

{Ph.} in the end, we have no business with you, Demipho;
it is your son who is to be condemned, not you; for your
season for taking a wife was already past. {De.} consider him
to be saying all these things that I am now saying;
or indeed I will bar him himself, with this wife, from the house.

425

{Ge.} (iratus est.) {Ph.} tu te idem melius feceris.
{De.} itan es paratu' facere me advorsum omnia,
infelix? {Ph.} (metuit hic nos, tam etsi sedulo
dissimulat.) {Ge.} (bene habent tibi principia.) {Ph.} quin quod est
ferundum fers?

{Ge.} (He is angry.) {Ph.} you’d do better to do the same yourself.
{De.} so, are you prepared to make me act against everything,
wretch? {Ph.} (he fears us, even though he diligently
dissimulates.) {Ge.} (your beginnings are going well for you.) {Ph.} why don’t you bear what must
be borne?

t<ui>s dignum factis feceris,

you will have done something worthy of your deeds,

430

ut amici inter nos simus? {De.} egon tuam expetam
amicitiam? aut te visum aut auditum velim?

that we may be friends between us? {De.} I—should I seek your friendship?
or would I wish you either seen or heard?

{Ph.} si concordabi' cum illa, habebi' quae tuam
senectutem oblectet: respice aetatem tuam.
{De.} te oblectet, tibi habe. {Ph.} minue vero iram.

{Ph.} If you will make concord with her, you will have something to delight your old age: have regard to your age.
{De.} Let it delight you; keep it for yourself. {Ph.} Rather, diminish your ire.

{De.} hoc age:

{De.} Do this:

435

sati' iam verborumst: nisi tu properas mulierem
abducere, ego illam eiciam. dixi, Phormio.
{Ph.} si tu illam attigeri' secu' quam dignumst liberam
dicam tibi inpingam grandem.

Enough of words now: unless you hasten to lead the woman away, I will eject her. I have spoken, Phormio.
{Ph.} If you touch her otherwise than is worthy of a free woman, I tell you I will bring a big action against you.

dixi, Demipho.
siquid opu' fuerit, heus, domo me. {Ge.} intellego.

I have spoken, Demipho.
If anything is needed, hey, find me at home. {Ge.} I understand.

440

Demipho Geta Hegio Cratinvs Crito

Demipho Geta Hegio Cratinus Crito

{De.} Quanta me cura et sollicitudine adficit
gnatus, qui me et se hisce inpedivit nuptiis!
neque mi in conspectum prodit, ut saltem sciam
quid de hac re dicat quidve sit sententiae.
abi, vise redieritne iam an nondum domum.

{De.} With how great care and solicitude my son afflicts me,
he who has entangled both me and himself in these nuptials!
nor does he come forth into my sight, so that at least I may know
what he says about this matter or what his sentiment is.
go, see whether he has returned home yet or not yet.

445

{Ge.} eo.-- {De.} videti' quo in loco res haec siet:
quid ago? dic, Hegio. {He.} ego?

{Ge.} I go.-- {De.} Do you see in what condition this matter is?
What am I to do? Tell me, Hegio. {He.} I?

Cratinum censeo,
si tibi videtur. {De.} dic, Cratine. {Cra.} mene vis?

I propose Cratinus,
if it seems good to you. {De.} Speak, Cratinus. {Cra.} Do you want me?

{De.} te. {Cra.} ego quae in rem t<ua>m sint ea velim facias. mihi
sic hoc videtur: quod te absente hic filius

{De.} you. {Cra.} I would wish you to do those things which are to your interest. To me this seems thus: that, with you absent, this son here

450

egit, restitui in integrum aequomst et bonum,
et id impetrabi'. dixi. {De.} dic nunc, Hegio.
{He.} ego sedulo hunc dixisse credo; verum itast,
quot homines tot sententiae: suo' quoique mos.

what he did, it is fair and good that there be restitution in full,
and that will be obtained. I have spoken. {De.} speak now, Hegio.
{He.} I believe this man has spoken assiduously; but so it is,
as many men, so many opinions: to each his own custom.

mihi non videtur quod sit factum legibus

it does not seem to me that what has been done is legal

455

rescindi posse; et turpe inceptust. {De.} dic, Crito.
{Cri.} ego amplius deliberandum censeo:
res magnast.

it can be rescinded; and the undertaking is disgraceful. {De.} Speak, Crito.
{Cri.} I judge that further deliberation is needed:
the matter is of great magnitude.

{Cra.} numquid nos vis? {De.} fecistis probe:
incertior sum multo quam dudum.-- {Ge.} negant
redisse. {De.} frater est exspectandus mihi:

{Cra.} Do you want anything from us? {De.} You have done properly:
I am much more uncertain than just now.-- {Ge.} They deny
that he has returned. {De.} I must expect my brother:

460

is quod mihi dederit de hac re consilium, id sequar.
percontatum ibo ad portum, quoad se recipiat.--
{Ge.} at ego Antiphonem quaeram, ut quae acta hic sint sciat.
sed eccum ipsum video in tempore huc se recipere.

the counsel which he shall have given me about this matter, that I will follow.
I will go to the port to make inquiry, until he returns.--
{Ge.} but I will seek Antipho, so that he may know what has been done here.
but look, I see the man himself returning here in good time.

ACTVS III

ACT 3

Antipho Geta

{An.} Enimvero, Antipho, multimodis cum istoc animo es vituperandus:

{An.} Indeed, Antipho, in many ways, with that spirit of yours, you are to be blamed:

465

itane te hinc abisse et vitam tuam tutandam aliis dedisse!
alios t<ua>m rem credidisti mage quam tete animum advorsuros?
nam, utut erant alia, illi certe quae nunc tibi domist consuleres,
nequid propter t<ua>m fidem decepta poteretur mali.

Is it so that you went away from here and gave your life to be safeguarded to others!
Did you believe others would attend to your affair more than you yourself would turn your mind to it?
For, however other things were, you surely should have taken counsel for those things which now are at home for you,
lest, deceived on account of your faith, she suffer anything of evil.

quoi(u)s nunc miserae spes opesque sunt in te uno omnes sitae.

whose—poor woman!—hopes and resources are now all placed in you alone.

470

{Ge.} et quidem, ere, nos iamdudum hic te absentem incusamu' qui abieris.
{An.} te ipsum quaerebam. {Ge.} sed ea causa nihilo mage defecimus.

{Ge.} indeed, master, we’ve long been here accusing you in your absence for having gone away.
{An.} I was looking for you yourself. {Ge.} but for that reason we have not been at all more at a loss.

{An.} loquere obsecro, quonam in loco sunt res et fortunae meae?
numquid patri subolet? {Ge.} nil etiam.

{An.} Speak, I beseech, in what condition are my affairs and fortunes?
Has my father caught a whiff of it? {Ge.} Nothing yet.

{An.} ecquid sp<ei> porrost? {Ge.}
nescio. {An.} ah.
{Ge.} nisi Phaedria haud cessavit pro te eniti.

{An.} Is there any hope further? {Ge.}
I do not know. {An.} ah.
{Ge.} except that Phaedria has not ceased to strive for you.

{An.} nil fecit novi.

{An.} he did nothing new.

475

{Ge.} tum Phormio itidem in hac re ut in aliis strenuom hominem praebuit.
{An.} quid is fecit? {Ge.} confutavit verbis admodum iratum senem.

{Ge.} then Phormio likewise in this matter, as in others, showed himself a strenuous man.
{An.} what did he do? {Ge.} he confuted by words the very angry old man.

{An.} eu Phormio! {Ge.} ego quod potui porro. {An.} mi Geta, omnis vos amo.

{An.} Bravo, Phormio! {Ge.} I did what I could, for my part. {An.} My Geta, I love you all.

{Ge.} sic habent principia sese ut dico: adhuc tranquilla res est,
mansurusque patruom pater est dum huc adveniat. {An.} quid eum? {Ge.} ut

{Ge.} So the beginnings hold themselves as I say: as yet the affair is tranquil,
and the father will remain uncle until he comes here. {An.} What of him? {Ge.} that

480

aibat,
de ei(u)s consilio sese velle facere quod ad hanc rem attinet.
{An.} quantum metus est mihi videre huc salvom nunc patruom, Geta!
nam per eius unam, ut audio, aut vivam aut moriar sententiam.

he kept saying,
that, by his counsel, he wanted to do what pertains to this matter.
{An.} How great a fear is mine to see my uncle safe here now, Geta!
for by his single sentence, as I hear, I shall either live or die.

{Ge.} Phaedria tibi adest. {An.} ubinam? {Ge.} eccum ab s<ua> palaestra
exit foras.

{Ge.} Phaedria is here for you. {An.} Where? {Ge.} Look—here he is, coming from his own palaestra
he comes out.

Phaedria Dorio Antipho Geta

{Ph.} Dorio,

485

audi obsecro . . {Do.} non audio. {Ph.} parumper . . {Do.} quin omitte me.
{Ph.} audi quod dicam. {Do.} at enim taedet iam audire eadem miliens.

listen, I beseech you . . {Do.} I am not listening. {Ph.} for a moment . . {Do.} why not leave me alone.
{Ph.} listen to what I will say. {Do.} but indeed I am already tired of hearing the same things a thousand times.

{Ph.} at nunc dicam quod lubenter audias. {Do.} loquere, audio.
{Ph.} non queo te exorare ut maneas triduom hoc?

{Ph.} But now I will say something you will gladly hear. {Do.} Speak, I am listening.
{Ph.} Can I not entreat you to stay for this three-day period?

quo nunc abis?
{Do.} mirabar si tu mihi quicquam adferres novi. {An.} ei,

where are you going now?
{Do.} I would have marveled if you brought me anything new. {An.} oh,

490

metuo lenonem nequid . . {Ge.} suo suat capiti. idem ego vereor.
{Ph.} nondum mihi credis?

I fear the procurer lest anything . . {Ge.} he sew onto his own head. I too fear the same.
{Ph.} Do you not yet believe me?

{Do.} hariolare. {Ph.} sin fidem do? {Do.} fabulae!
{Ph.} feneratum istuc beneficium pulchre tibi dices.

{Do.} you are prophesying. {Ph.} but if I give my pledge? {Do.} tales!
{Ph.} you will say that favor has been handsomely put out at interest for yourself.

{Do.} logi!
{Ph.} crede mi, gaudebi' facto: verum hercle hoc est. {Do.} somnium!

{Do.} prate!
{Ph.} believe me, you’ll rejoice at the deed: by Hercules, this is true. {Do.} a dream!

{Ph.} experire: non est longum. {Do.} cantilenam <ea>ndem canis.

{Ph.} Try it: it is not long. {Do.} You are singing the same old song.

495

{Ph.} tu mihi cognatu', tu parens, tu amicu', tu . . {Do.} garri modo.
{Ph.} adeon ingenio esse duro te atque inexorabili
ut neque misericordia neque precibu' molliri queas!
{Do.} adeon te esse incogitantem atque inpudentem, Phaedria,
me ut phaleratis ducas dictis et meam ductes gratiis!

{Ph.} you are my kinsman, you my parent, you my friend, you . . {Do.} just gabble on.
{Ph.} are you of so hard and inexorable a disposition
that you can be softened neither by mercy nor by prayers!
{Do.} are you so inconsiderate and shameless, Phaedria,
as to think to lead me on with phalerated—tinselled—words and to draw my favor gratis!

500

{An.} miseritumst. {Ph.} ei, veris vincor! {Ge.} quam uterquest similis sui!

{An.} it moves me to pity. {Ph.} ah, I am overcome by the truth! {Ge.} how each of the two is like himself!

{Ph.} neque Antipho alia quom occupatus esset sollicitudine,
tum hoc esse mihi obiectum malum! {An.} ah quid istuc est autem, Phaedria?
{Ph.} o fortunatissime Antipho.

{Ph.} and just when Antipho was occupied with another solicitude,
then this evil has been thrown in my way! {An.} ah, what is that, Phaedria?
{Ph.} o most fortunate Antipho.

{An.} egone? {Ph.} quoi quod amas domist.
neque cum huiu' modi umquam [tibi] usu' venit ut conflictares malo.

{An.} I? {Ph.} for whom what you love is at home.
nor has an experience of this sort ever [come to you] that you should conflict with misfortune.

505

{An.} mihin domist? immo, id quod aiunt, auribu' teneo lupum;
nam neque quo pacto a me amittam neque uti retineam scio.
{Do.} ipsum istuc mihi in hoc est.

{An.} at my house? No indeed; as they say, I hold a wolf by the ears;
for I know neither how I may let it go from me nor how I may retain it.
{Do.} that very thing is my case with this fellow.

{An.} heia ne parum leno sies.
numquid hic confecit? {Ph.} hicine?

{An.} hey, don’t be too little a pander.
has he accomplished anything here? {Ph.} this one here?

quod homo inhumanissimus,
Pamphilam m<ea>m vendidit. {An.} quid? vendidit?

because the most inhuman man
has sold my Pamphila. {An.} what? has he sold her?

{Ge.} ain? vendidit?

{Ge.} Really? he sold her?

510

{Ph.} vendidit. {Do.} quam indignum facinus, ancillam aere emptam suo!
{Ph.} nequeo exorare ut me maneat et cum illo ut mutet fidem
triduom hoc, dum id quod est promissum ab amicis argentum aufero.

{Ph.} he has sold her. {Do.} what an unworthy deed, a handmaid bought with his own cash!
{Ph.} I cannot prevail upon her to wait for me, and to postpone exchanging troth with him
these three days, while I fetch the silver promised by friends.

si non tum dedero, unam praeterea horam ne oppertus sies.
{Do.} optunde. {An.} haud longumst id quod orat: Dorio, exoret sine.

if I shall not then have given it, do not be waiting one hour further.
{Do.} pound away. {An.} what he asks is not long: Dorio, let him prevail upon you.

515

idem hoc tibi, quod boni promeritu' fueris, conduplicaverit.
{Do.} verba istaec sunt. {An.} Pamphilamne hac urbe privari sines?

that same man will double this for you, for the good you will have merited.
{Do.} those are words. {An.} will you allow Pamphila to be deprived of this city?

tum praeterea horunc amorem distrahi poterin pati?
{Do.} neque ego neque tu. {Ph.} di tibi omnes id quod es dignus duint!
{Do.} ego te compluris advorsum ingenium m<eu>m mensis tuli

then, besides, will you be able to endure that the love of these men be torn asunder?
{Do.} neither I nor you. {Ph.} may all the gods grant you that which you are worthy of!
{Do.} I have borne you for several months, contrary to my disposition

520

pollicitantem et nil ferentem, flentem; nunc contra omnia haec
repperi qui det neque lacrumet: da locum melioribus.
{An.} certe hercle, ego si sati' commemini, tibi quidem est olim dies,
quam ad dares huic, praestituta. {Ph.} factum.

promising and bringing nothing, weeping; now, contrary to all these,
I have found one who gives and does not shed tears: give place to better men.
{An.} Surely, by Hercules, if I remember enough, there was indeed once a day
appointed for you on which you were to give to him. {Ph.} Done.

{Do.} num ego istuc nego?
{An.} iam ea praeteriit? {Do.} non, verum haec ei--antecessit.

{Do.} Do I deny that?
{An.} Has that already passed by? {Do.} No, rather this has preceded it for him.

{An.} non 525
pudet
vanitati'? {Do.} minime, dum ob rem. {Ge.} sterculinum! {Ph.} Dorio,
itane tandem facere oportet?

{An.} not 525
ashamed
of vanity? {Do.} Not at all, so long as it’s to advantage. {Ge.} Dungheap! {Ph.} Dorio,
is this really how one ought to act?

{Do.} sic sum: si placeo, utere.
{An.} sicin hunc decipis? {Do.} immo enimvero, Antipho, hic me decipit:
nam hic me huiu' modi scibat esse, ego hunc esse aliter credidi:
iste me fefellit, ego isti nihilo sum aliter ac fui.

{Do.} such am I: if I please, use me.
{An.} is it thus you deceive him? {Do.} nay indeed, Antipho, this man deceives me:
for this man knew me to be of this sort, I believed him to be otherwise:
that man has deceived me; I am to that man not at all otherwise than I was.

530

sed utut haec sunt, tamen hoc faciam: cras mane argentum mihi
miles dare se dixit: si mi prior tu attuleri', Phaedria,
mea lege utar, ut potior sit qui prior ad dandumst. vale.

but however these things are, nevertheless I will do this: tomorrow morning the soldier said he would give me the silver; if you bring it to me prior, Phaedria, I will use my law, that he be the preferable who is prior for giving. farewell.

Phaedria Antipho Geta

{Ph.} Quid faciam? unde ego nunc tam subito huic argentum inveniam miser,
quoi minu' nihilost? quod, hic si pote fuisset exorarier

{Ph.} What am I to do? From where am I now so suddenly to find silver for him, wretch that I am, I to whom there is less than nothing? Which, if this man here could have been prevailed upon

535

triduom hoc, promissum fuerat. {An.} itane hunc patiemur, Geta,
fieri miserum, qui me dudum ut dixti adiuerit comiter?
quin, quom opust, beneficium rursum ei experiemur reddere?

this three-day period, it had been promised. {An.} are we really to allow this man, Geta, to be made miserable, he who, as you said a little while ago, helped me kindly? why not, when there is need, try to render the beneficium back to him in return?

{Ge.} scio equidem hoc esse aequom. {An.} age ergo, solu' servare hunc potes.
{Ge.} quid faciam?

{Ge.} I know indeed that this is equitable. {An.} Come then, you alone can save him.
{Ge.} What shall I do?

{An.} invenias argentum. {Ge.} cupio; sed id unde

{An.} find the money. {Ge.} I desire it; but from where

540

edoce.
{An.} pater adest hic. {Ge.} scio; sed quid tum?

teach me.
{An.} my father is here. {Ge.} I know; but what then?

{An.} ah dictum sapienti sat
est.
{Ge.} itane? {An.} ita.

{An.} ah, a word to the wise is enough
is.
{Ge.} is it so? {An.} so.

{Ge.} sane hercle pulchre suades: etiam tu hinc abis?
non triumpho, ex nuptiis t<ui>s si nil nanciscor mali,
ni etiamnunc me hui(u)s causa quaerere in malo iubeas crucem?
{An.} verum hic dicit.

{Ge.} Surely, by Hercules, you advise finely: are you going away from here too?
I do not triumph, if from your nuptials I acquire nothing of ill,
unless even now, for this man’s sake, you order me to go seeking a cross to my harm?
{An.} He speaks true.

{Ph.} quid? ego vobis, Geta, alienu' sum? {Ge.}

{Ph.} what? am I alien to you, Geta? {Ge.}

545

haud puto;
sed parumne est quod omnibus nunc nobis suscenset senex,
ni instigemus etiam ut nullu' locu' relinquatur preci?
{Ph.} alius ab oculis m<ei>s illam in ignotum abducet locum? hem
tum igitur, dum licet dumque adsum, loquimini mecum, Antipho,
contemplamini me. {An.} quam ob rem?

I do not think so;
but is it not enough that the old man is now incensed at all of us,
unless we even egg him on besides, so that no place is left for entreaty?
{Ph.} will someone else lead her away from my eyes into an unknown place? hah!
then therefore, while it is permitted and while I am present, speak with me, Antipho,
contemplate me. {An.} for what reason?

aut quidnam facturu's? cedo.

or what indeed are you going to do? Come, tell me.

550

{Ph.} quoquo hinc asportabitur terrarum, certumst persequi
aut perire. {Ge.} di bene vortant quod agas! pedetemptim tamen.

{Ph.} wherever in the world he is carried off from here, it is determined to pursue or to perish.
{Ge.} may the gods turn what you do to good! nevertheless, step by step.

{An.} vide siquid opi' potes adferre huic. {Ge.} "siquid"? quid? {An.} quaere
obsecro,
nequid plus minusve faxit quod nos post pigeat, Geta.

{An.} see if you can bring any aid to him. {Ge.} "anything"? what? {An.} try
I beg you,
lest he do anything more or less that we would afterward regret, Geta.

{Ge.} quaero.--salvos est, ut opinor; verum enim metuo malum.

{Ge.} I’m searching.—He is safe, as I opine; but indeed I fear trouble.

555

{An.} noli metuere: una tecum bona mala tolerabimus.
{Ge.} quantum opus est tibi argenti, loquere. {Ph.} solae triginta minae.

{An.} do not fear: together with you we will endure good and bad.
{Ge.} say how much silver you need. {Ph.} only thirty minas.

{Ge.} triginta? hui percarast, Phaedria. {Ph.} istaec vero vilis est.

{Ge.} thirty? whew, it’s very dear, Phaedria. {Ph.} that indeed is cheap.

{Ge.} age age, inventas reddam. {Ph.} o lepidum! {Ge.} aufer te hinc.

{Ge.} come, come, I’ll render what you’ve found. {Ph.} oh, charming! {Ge.} away with you from here.

{Ph.}
iam opust. {Ge.} iam feres:
sed opus est mihi Phormionem ad hanc rem adiutorem dari.

{Ph.}
now there is need. {Ge.} you will have it presently:
but I need Phormio to be given to me as an assistant for this affair.

560

{Ph.} praestost: audacissime oneri' quidvis inpone, ecferet;
solus est homo amico amicus. {Ge.} <ea>mus ergo ad eum ocius.
{An.} numquid est quod opera mea vobis opu' sit?

{Ph.} He’s at hand: most boldly impose anything as a burden, he will bear it; he alone is a man, a friend to a friend.
{Ge.} Let us therefore go to him quickly.
{An.} Is there anything for which my service is of use to you?

{Ge.} nil; verum abi domum
et illam miseram, quam ego nunc intu' scio esse exanimatam metu,
consolare. cessas? {An.} nil est aeque quod faciam lubens.--

{Ge.} nothing; but go home
and that wretched woman, whom I now know inside to be breathless with fear,
console her. Are you delaying? {An.} there is nothing I would do as willingly.--

565

{Ph.} qua via istuc facies? {Ge.} dicam in itinere: modo te hinc amove.

{Ph.} By what way will you do that? {Ge.} I will say on the way: only move yourself from here.

ACTVS IV

ACT 4

Demipho Chremes

{De.} Quid? qua profectu' causa hinc es Lemnum, Chreme,
adduxtin tecum filiam? {Ch.} non.

{De.} What? For what cause have you set out hence to Lemnos, Chremes,
did you bring your daughter with you? {Ch.} No.

{De.} quid ita non?
{Ch.} postquam videt me ei(u)s mater esse hic diutius,
simul autem non manebat aetas virginis

{De.} Why not so?
{Ch.} After her mother sees that I am to be here longer,
and at the same time the age of the maiden was not remaining

570

m<ea>m neglegentiam: ipsam cum omni familia
ad me profectam esse aibant. {De.} quid illi tam diu
quaeso igitur commorabare, ubi id audiveras?
{Ch.} pol me detinuit morbus.

my negligence: they said that she herself with the whole household
had set out to me. {De.} why, pray, then, were you lingering there so long,
when you had heard that? {Ch.} by Pollux, a malady detained me.

{De.} unde? aut qui? {Ch.} rogas?

{De.} from where? or who? {Ch.} you ask?

senectus ipsast morbu'. sed venisse eas

old age itself is a disease. but that they have come

575

salvas audivi ex nauta qui illas vexerat.
{De.} quid gnato optigerit me absente audistin, Chreme?
{Ch.} quod quidem me factum consili incertum facit.

I heard from the sailor who had conveyed them that they are safe.
{De.} Have you heard, Chremes, what has befalled my son in my absence?
{Ch.} Which indeed makes me uncertain in counsel.

nam hanc condicionem siquoi tulero extrario,
quo pacto aut unde mihi sit dicundum ordinest.

for if I shall have brought this condition to some outsider,
in what manner or from where it is to be said by me, let him arrange.

580

te mihi fidelem esse aeque atque egomet sum mihi
scibam. ille, si me alienus adfinem volet,
tacebit dum intercedet familiaritas;
sin spreverit me, plus quam opus est scito sciet.
vereorque ne uxor aliqua hoc resciscat mea:

I knew you to be faithful to me just as I myself am to myself
As for him, if, being alien, he wants me as an affine,
he will be silent while familiarity intercedes;
but if he shall have spurned me, know that he will know more than is needful.
and I fear lest some wife of mine find this out:

585

quod si fit, ut me excutiam atque egrediar domo
id restat; nam ego meorum solu' sum meus.
{De.} scio ita esse, et istaec mihi res sollicitudinist,
neque defetiscar usque adeo experirier
donec tibi id quod pollicitus sum effecero.

but if this happens, that I shake myself off and go out of the house,
that remains; for I alone of my people am my own.
{De.} I know it is so, and this matter is a solicitude to me,
nor will I grow so tired of trying
until I shall have effected for you that which I promised.

590

Geta Demipho Chremes

{Ge.} Ego hominem callidiorem vidi neminem
quam Phormionem. venio ad hominem ut dicerem
argentum opus esse, et id quo pacto fieret.
vixdum dimidium dixeram, intellexerat:
gaudebat, me laudabat, quaerebat senem,

{Ge.} I have seen no man more crafty than Phormio.
I come to the man to say that silver is needed, and how that might be done.
I had scarcely said half, he had understood:
he was rejoicing, he was praising me, he was looking for the old man,

595

dis gratias agebat tempu' sibi dari
ubi Phaedriae esse ostenderet nihilo minus
amicum sese quam Antiphoni. hominem ad forum
iussi opperiri: eo me esse adducturum senem.
sed eccum ipsum.

he was giving thanks to the gods that time was being granted to him
where he might show himself to be no less a friend to Phaedria than to Antipho.
I ordered the man to wait at the forum: thither I would bring the old man.
but look, here he is himself.

quis est ulterior? attat Phaedriae

Who is next? Aha, Phaedria!

600

pater venit. sed quid pertimui autem belua?
an quia quos fallam pro uno duo sunt mihi dati?

father is coming. but why did I get so frightened, though, you beast?
or because those whom I am to deceive, instead of one, two have been given to me?

commodius esse opinor duplici spe utier.
petam hinc unde a primo institi: is si dat, sat est;
si ab eo nil fiet, tum hunc adoriar hospitem

I think it is more expedient to make use of a double hope.
I will seek from here the one with whom I first began: if he gives, that is enough;
if nothing comes of him, then I will address this guest

605

Antipho Geta Chremes Demipho

{An.} Exspecto quam mox recipiat sese Geta.
sed patruom video cum patre astantem. ei mihi,
quam timeo adventus huiu' quo inpellat patrem.

{An.} I wait to see how soon Geta will return.
but I see my uncle standing by with my father. alas for me,
how I fear what this man’s arrival will drive my father to.

{Ge.} adibo hosce: o noster Chreme . . {Ch.} salve, Geta.
{Ge.} venire salvom volup est. {Ch.} credo.

{Ge.} I’ll go up to these: O our Chremes . . {Ch.} hail, Geta.
{Ge.} to come safe is a pleasure. {Ch.} I believe it.

{Ge.} quid agitur?

{Ge.} How goes it?

610

multa advenienti, ut fit, nova hic? {Ch.} compluria.
{Ge.} ita.

many new things here for the newcomer, as happens? {Ch.} several.
{Ge.} yes.

de Antiphone audistin quae facta? {Ch.} omnia.
{Ge.} tun dixeras huic?

about Antipho, have you heard what has happened? {Ch.} everything.
{Ge.} had you told him?

facinus indignum, Chreme,
sic circumiri! {Ch.} id cum hoc agebam commodum.
{Ge.} nam hercle ego quoque id quidem agitans mecum sedulo

an unworthy deed, Chreme,
to be circumvented thus! {Ch.} I was just now dealing with this with him.
{Ge.} for, by Hercules, I too indeed, considering that with myself sedulously

615

inveni, opinor, remedium huic r<ei>. {Ch.} quid, Geta?
{De.} quod remedium? {Ge.} ut abii abs te, fit forte obviam
mihi Phormio.

I have found, I suppose, a remedy for this matter. {Ch.} What, Geta?
{De.} What remedy? {Ge.} As I went away from you, it happens by chance that Phormio meets me,
Phormio for me.

{Ch.} qui Phormio? {De.} is qui istanc . . {Ch.} scio.
{Ge.} visumst mihi ut eiu' temptarem sententiam.

{Ch.} Which Phormio? {De.} the one who that . . {Ch.} I know.
{Ge.} it seemed to me that I should try his sentiment.

prendo hominem solum: "quor non," inquam "Phormio,

I catch the man alone: "why not," I say, "Phormio, "

620

vides inter nos sic haec potiu' cum bona
ut componamu' gratia quam cum mala?
eru' liberalis est et fugitans litium;
nam ceteri quidem hercle amici omnes modo
uno ore auctores f<ue>re ut praecipitem hanc daret."

You see that between us thus we rather settle these matters with good grace than with bad?
the master is liberal and a fugitive from litigations;
for indeed, by Hercules, all the other friends just now
with one voice were advocates that he should cast this woman out headlong."

625

{An.} quid hic coeptat aut quo evadet hodie? {Ge.} "an legibus
daturum poenas dices si illam eiecerit?
iam id exploratumst: heia sudabis satis
si cum illo inceptas homine: ea eloquentiast.

{An.} what is he setting about here, or where will it end today? {Ge.} "or will you say he will pay the penalty under the laws
if he has ejected her?
that is already ascertained: hey, you will sweat enough
if you commence with that man: such is his eloquence.

verum pone esse victum eum; at tandem tamen

but suppose him to be vanquished; yet at length nevertheless

630

non capitis ei(u)s res agitur sed pecuniae."
postquam hominem his verbis sentio mollirier,
"soli sumu' nunc hic" inquam: "eho [dic] quid vis dari
tibi in manum, ut erus his desistat litibus,
haec hinc facessat, tu molestu' ne sies?"

"it is not a capital case of his, but a pecuniary one."
after I perceive the man to be mollified by these words,
"we are alone here now," I say: "hey, tell me, what do you wish to be given
into your hand, so that the master desist from these lawsuits,
let her be off from here, and you not be a nuisance?"

635

{An.} satin illi di sunt propitii? {Ge.} "nam sat scio,
si tu aliquam partem aequi bonique dixeris,
ut est ille bonu' vir, tria non commutabitis
verba hodie inter vos." {De.} quis te istaec iussit loqui?
{Ch.} immo non potuit meliu' pervenirier

{An.} are the gods propitious enough to him? {Ge.} "for I know well,
if you will concede any portion of equity and goodness,
as he is a good man, you will not exchange three
words today between you." {De.} who bade you speak that?
{Ch.} nay, it could not have been better achieved

640

eo quo nos volumus. {An.} occidi! {De.} perge eloqui.

to where we want. {An.} I am slain! {De.} go on, speak out.

{Ge.} a primo homo insanibat. {Ch.} cedo quid postulat?
{Ge.} quid?

{Ge.} from the first the fellow was insane. {Ch.} come on, what does he demand?
{Ge.} what?

nimium; quantum libuit. {Ch.} dic. {Ge.} si quis daret
talentum magnum.

too much; as much as he pleased. {Ch.} say. {Ge.} if someone were to give
a great talent.

{De.} immo malum hercle: ut nil pudet!
{Ge.} quod dixi adeo ei: "quaeso, quid si filiam

{De.} Nay rather, by Hercules—a curse: how he has no shame!
{Ge.} What I said, I actually said to him: "please, what if the daughter

645

suam unicam locaret? parvi retulit
non suscepisse: inventast quae dotem petat."
ut ad pauca redeam ac mittam illi(u)s ineptias,
haec denique eiu' f<ui>t postrema oratio:
"ego" inquit "[iam] a principio amici filiam,

“should he settle his only daughter in marriage? he reckoned it a small matter not to have undertaken it: one has been found who seeks a dowry.”
to return to a few points and omit his ineptitudes,
this, finally, was his last oration:
“I,” says he, “[now] from the beginning my friend’s daughter,

650

ita ut aequom fuerat, volui uxorem ducere;
nam mihi veniebat in mentem ei(u)s incommodum,
in servitutem pauperem ad ditem dari.
sed mi opus erat, ut aperte tibi nunc fabuler,
aliquantulum quae adferret qui dissolverem

so, as was equitable, I wished to take her as wife;
for there came into my mind her inconvenience,
that a poor woman be given into servitude to a rich man.
but I had need, to speak openly to you now,
that she might bring some small amount, by which I might discharge what I owed

655

quae debeo: et etiamnunc si volt Demipho
dare quantum ab hac accipio quae sponsast mihi,
nullam mihi malim quam istanc uxorem dari."
{An.} utrum stultitia facere ego hunc an malitia
dicam, scientem an inprudentem, incertu' sum.

what I owe: and even now if Demipho wishes
to give as much as I receive from this woman who is betrothed to me,
there is no one whom I would rather have given to me as wife than this woman."
{An.} whether I am to say that he does this out of stupidity or out of malice,
knowingly or unwittingly, I am uncertain.

660

{De.} quid si animam debet? {Ge.} "ager oppositust pignori ob
decem minas" inquit. {De.} age age, iam ducat: dabo.

{De.} What if he owes his very life? {Ge.} "The field has been set in pledge as security for
ten minae," he says. {De.} All right, all right—let him marry her at once: I will give.

{Ge.} "aediculae item sunt ob decem alias." {De.} oiei
nimiumst. {Ch.} ne clama: <re>petito hasce a me decem.
{Ge.} "uxori emunda ancillulast; tum pluscula

{Ge.} "the small outbuildings likewise are for another ten." {De.} oi! it’s too much. {Ch.} don’t shout: <re>ask back these ten from me.
{Ge.} "for the wife a little maidservant is to be bought; then some little extras

665

supellectile opus est; opus est sumptu ad nuptias:
his rebu' pone sane" inquit "decem minas."
{De.} sescentas perinde scribito iam mihi dicas:
nil do. inpuratu' me ille ut etiam inrideat?
{Ch.} quaeso, ego dabo, quiesce: tu modo filium

furnishings are needed; expenditure is needed for the nuptials:
“for these items, put down, by all means,” he says, “ten minae.”
{De.} you might as well make it six hundred, for all I care:
I give nothing. That he, so shameless, should even mock me?
{Ch.} please, I will give; be quiet: you only the son

670

fac ut illam ducat nos quam volumus. {An.} ei mihi
Geta, occidisti me tuis fallaciis.
{Ch.} mea causa eicitur: me hoc est aequom amittere.

see to it that he marries that girl whom we want. {An.} alas for me!
Geta, you have killed me with your fallacies.
{Ch.} on my account he is ejected: it is just that I lose this.

{Ge.} "quantum potest me certiorem" inquit "face,
si illam dant, hanc ut mittam, ne incertus siem;

{Ge.} "Make me more certain as quickly as possible," he says, "if they give that one, that I may send this one, lest I be uncertain;"

675

nam illi mihi dotem iam constituerunt dare."
{Ch.} iam accipiat: illis repudium renuntiet;
hanc ducat. {De.} quae quidem illi res vortat male!
{Ch.} opportune adeo argentum nunc mecum attuli,
fructum quem Lemni uxori' reddunt praedia:

for they have now resolved to give me a dowry."
{Ch.} Let him receive it at once: let him announce repudiation to them;
let him marry this one. {De.} May that matter indeed turn ill for him!
{Ch.} Most opportune, I have just now brought money with me,
the fruit which the estates render to my Lemnian wife:

680

ind' sumam; uxori tibi opus esse dixero.

from there I will take; I will say that there is need for your wife.

Antipho Geta

{An.} Geta. {Ge.} hem. {An.} quid egisti?

{An.} Geta. {Ge.} eh? {An.} what have you done?

{Ge.} emunxi argento senes.
{An.} satin est id? {Ge.} nescio hercle: tantum iussu' sum.
{An.} eho, verbero, aliud mihi respondes ac rogo?

{Ge.} I have milked the old men of silver.
{An.} Is that enough? {Ge.} By Hercules, I don’t know: I was only ordered so much.
{An.} Hey, rascal, do you answer me something other than what I ask?

{Ge.} quid ergo narras? {An.} quid ego narrem? opera tua

{Ge.} what then are you telling? {An.} what am I to narrate? thanks to your doing

685

ad restim miquidem res redit planissume.
ut tequidem omnes di d<eae>que--superi inferi--
malis exemplis perdant! em siquid velis,
huic mandes, quod quidem recte curatum velis.
quid minus utibile f<ui>t quam hoc ulcus tangere

it comes down to the rope for me, quite plainly.
May all the gods and goddesses—upper and lower—destroy you as a dire example!
Here, if you want anything,
entrust it to this fellow, whatever you would wish to be properly taken care of.
What could have been less useful than to touch this ulcer?

690

aut nominare uxorem? iniectast spes patri
posse illam extrudi. cedo nunc porro: Phormio
dotem si accipiet, uxor ducendast domum:
quid fiet?

or to name a wife? A hope has been implanted in the father
that she can be thrust out. Come now then: Phormio,
if he accepts the dowry, the wife must be led home:
what will be done?

{Ge.} non enim ducet. {An.} novi. ceterum
quom argentum repetent, nostra causa scilicet

{Ge.} for he will not wed. {An.} I know. but
when they demand the money back, on our account, of course

695

in nervom potius ibit. {Ge.} nil est, Antipho,
quin male narrando possit depravarier:
tu id quod bonist excerpi', dici' quod malist.
audi nunc contra: iam si argentum acceperit,
ducendast uxor, ut ais, concedo tibi:

he will rather go into the stocks. {Ge.} there is nothing, Antipho,
but that by narrating it badly it can be depraved:
you leave out what is good, you say what is bad.
listen now on the contrary: now if she has received the silver,
a wife must be led home, as you say, I concede to you:

700

spatium quidem tandem apparandi nuptias,
vocandi sacruficandi dabitur paullulum.
interea amici quod polliciti sunt dabunt:
inde iste reddet. {An.} quam ob rem?

indeed at last there will be time for preparing the nuptials,
a little bit will be given for inviting and for sacrificing.
meanwhile the friends will give what they have promised:
from that he will repay. {An.} for what reason?

aut quid dicet? {Ge.} rogas?
"quot res postilla monstra evenerunt mihi!

or what will he say? {Ge.} you ask?
"how many monstrous things, after that, have happened to me!

705

intro iit in aedis ater alienus canis;
anguis per inpluvium decidit de tegulis;
gallina cecinit; interdixit hariolus;
haruspex vetuit; ante brumam autem novi
negoti incipere!" quae causast iustissima.

a black dog not ours went into the house;
a snake fell down through the impluvium from the tiles;
a hen crowed; the soothsayer interdicted it;
the haruspex vetoed it; however, before the winter solstice to begin new
business!" which is a most just reason.

710

haec fient. {An.} ut modo fiant! {Ge.} fient: me vide.

these things will be done. {An.} if only they be done now! {Ge.} they will be done: look at me.

pater exit: abi, dic esse argentum Phaedriae.

the father exits: go, say that there is silver for Phaedria.

Demipho Chremes Geta

{De.} Quietus esto, inquam: ego curabo nequid verborum duit.
hoc temere numquam amittam ego a me quin mihi testis adhibeam.
quom dem, et quam ob rem dem commemorabo.

{De.} Be at ease, I say: I will take care that he gives no words.
This I will never rashly let go from me without bringing a witness for myself.
When I give, and for what reason I give, I will commemorate.

{Ge.} ut cautust ubi nil

{Ge.} how cautious he is where there is nil

715

opust!
{Ch.} atque ita opu' factost: et matura, dum lubido eadem haec manet;
nam si altera illaec magis instabit, fors sit an nos reiciat.
{Ge.} rem ipsam putasti.

there’s need!
{Ch.} and so the needed thing has been done: and mature, while this same libido remains;
for if that other one presses more, perhaps she may reject us.
{Ge.} you have thought the very thing.

{De.} duc me ad eum ergo. {Ge.} non moror. {Ch.} ubi
hoc egeris,
transito ad uxorem meam, ut conveniat hanc priu' quam hinc abit.

{De.} lead me to him then. {Ge.} I do not delay. {Ch.} when
you have done this,
go over to my wife, so that she may meet with this one before she goes away from here.

dicat <ea>m dare nos Phormioni nuptum, ne suscenseat;

let him say that we are giving her in marriage to Phormio, so that she not be incensed;

720

et magis esse illum idoneum qui ipsi sit familiarior;
nos nostro officio nil digressos esse: quantum is voluerit,
datum esse doti'. {De.} quid tua, malum, id refert? {Ch.} magni, Demipho.
non sat[is] est t<uo>m te officium fecisse si non id fama adprobat:
volo ipsiu' quoque voluntate haec fieri, ne se eiectam praedicet.

and that that man is more suitable who is more familiar to her;
that we have not departed at all from our duty: as much as he wished
has been given as dowry.' {De.} What the devil does that matter to you? {Ch.} Greatly, Demipho.
it is not enow that you have done your duty if report does not approve it:
I want these things also to be done by her own will, lest she proclaim herself cast out.

725

{De.} idem ego istuc facere possum. {Ch.} mulier mulieri mage convenit.
{De.} rogabo.

{De.} I myself can do that same thing. {Ch.} A woman better befits a woman.
{De.} I will ask.

{Ch.} ubi illas nunc ego reperire possim cogito.

{Ch.} I am thinking where I might be able to find those women now.

ACTVS V

ACT 5

Sophrona Chremes

{So.} quid agam? quem mi amicum inveniam misera? aut quoi consilia haec
referam?

{So.} What am I to do? What friend shall I, wretched, find? Or to whom these counsels
shall I refer?

aut unde auxilium petam?
nam vereor era ne ob meum suasum indigne iniuria adficiatur:

or whence shall I seek help?
for I fear my mistress may, on account of my suasion, be unjustly afflicted with injury:

730

ita patrem adulescenti' facta haec tolerare audio violenter.
{Ch.} nam quae haec anus est exanimata a fratre quae egressast meo?
{So.} quod ut facerem egestas me inpulit, quom scirem infirmas nuptias
hasce esse, ut id consulerem, interea vita ut in tuto foret.

thus I hear that the father is violently enduring these deeds done to the young man.
{Ch.} for who is this old woman, breathless, who has come out from my brother’s?
{So.} poverty drove me to do this, since I knew these nuptials were infirm,
so that I might take counsel for that, that in the meantime life might be in safety.

{Ch.} certe edepol, nisi me animu' fallit aut parum prospiciunt oculi,

{Ch.} certainly, by Pollux, unless my mind deceives me or my eyes do not see well,

735

m<eae> nutricem gnatae video. {So.} neque ille investigatur, {Ch.} quid ago?
{So.} qui est pater eius.

I see the nurse of my daughter. {So.} nor is that man investigated, {Ch.} what am I to do?
{So.} who is her father.

{Ch.} adeo, maneo dum haec quae loquitur mage
cognosco?
{So.} quodsi <eu>m nunc reperire possim, nil est quod verear. {Ch.} east
ipsa:
conloquar.

{Ch.} Shall I go? I’ll stay until I more fully
come to know what she is saying?
{So.} But if I could find him now, there is nothing that I would fear. {Ch.} There she herself is:
I will speak with her.

{So.} quis hic loquitur? {Ch.} Sophrona. {So.} et m<eu>m nomen
nominat?

{So.} Who is speaking here? {Ch.} Sophrona. {So.} And my name
does she name it?

{Ch.} respice ad me. {So.} di obsecro vos, estne hic Stilpo? {Ch.} non.

{Ch.} look toward me. {So.} gods, I beseech you, is Stilpo here? {Ch.} no.

740

{So.} negas?
{Ch.} concede hinc a foribu' paullum istorsum sodes, Sophrona.
ne me istoc posthac nomine appellassis.

{So.} do you deny it?
{Ch.} please step away from the doors here a little this way, Sophrona. do not hereafter address me by that appellation.

{So.} quid? non obsecro es
quem semper te esse dictitasti? {Ch.} st. {So.} quid has metuis fores?

{So.} What? Are you not, I beg, the one whom you have always been saying you are?
{Ch.} Shh. {So.} Why do you fear these doors?

{Ch.} conclusam hic habeo uxorem saevam. verum istoc de nomine,
eo perperam olim dixi ne vos forte inprudentes foris

{Ch.} I have my savage wife shut up in here. But as to that name,
for that reason I once said it amiss, lest you perhaps unwitting outside

745

effuttiretis atque id porro aliqua uxor mea rescisceret.
{So.} em istoc pol nos te hic invenire miserae numquam potuimus.
{Ch.} eho dic mihi quid r<ei> tibist cum familia hac unde exis?

you would blab it out, and then furthermore by some chance my wife would find it out.
{So.} look—by Pollux—we wretched women could never manage to find you here.
{Ch.} hey, tell me, what business have you with this household, from which you are coming out?

ubi illae sunt? {So.} miseram me! {Ch.} hem quid est? vivontne?

Where are they? {So.} Wretched me! {Ch.} Hey, what is it? Are they alive?

{So.} vivit
gnata.
matrem ipsam ex aegritudine hac miseram mors consecutast.

{So.} she lives
the daughter.
death has overtaken the poor mother herself, from this sickness.

750

{Ch.} male factum. {So.} ego autem, quae essem anus deserta egens ignota,
ut potui nuptum virginem locavi huic adulescenti
harum qui est dominus aedium. {Ch.} Antiphonin?

{Ch.} Ill done. {So.} But I, since I was an old woman abandoned, needy, unknown,
as I could, I settled the virgin in marriage to this adolescent, who is the master of this house. {Ch.} Antiphon?

{So.} em isti<c> ipsi.
{Ch.} quid? duasne uxores habet?

{So.} There—right there, himself.
{Ch.} What? Has he two wives?

{So.} au obsecro, unam illequidem hanc solam.
{Ch.} quid illam alteram quae dicitur cognata? {So.} haec ergost.

{So.} Ah, I beseech you, he indeed has one—this one alone.
{Ch.} What about that other who is said to be a kinswoman?
{So.} This, therefore, is she.

{Ch.}

755

quid ais?
{So.} composito factumst quo modo hanc amans habere posset
sine dote. {Ch.} di vostram fidem, quam saepe forte temere
eveniunt quae non audeas optare!

what do you say?
{So.} by arrangement it has been brought about how the lover could have her without a dowry. {Ch.} gods, by your faith, how often by chance, rashly, things come about which you would not dare to wish for!

offendi adveniens
quicum volebam et ut volebam conlocatam amari:
quod nos ambo opere maxumo dabamus operam ut fieret,

arriving I chanced upon
her arranged to be loved with whom I wished and as I wished:
a thing which we both with the greatest exertion were giving our effort to have come to pass,

760

sine nostra cura, maxuma sua cura solu' fecit.
{So.} nunc quid opu' facto sit vide: pater adulescenti' venit
<eu>mque animo iniquo hoc oppido ferre aiunt. {Ch.} nil periclist.

without our care, with the utmost care of his own he alone has done it.
{So.} now see what need there is for action: the father of the young man is coming,
and they say he is taking him very ill at heart. {Ch.} no peril.

sed per d<eo>s atque homines meam esse hanc cave resciscat quisquam.
{So.} nemo e me scibit. {Ch.} sequere me: intus cetera.

but, by gods and men, see that no one finds out that this is mine.
{So.} no one will know it from me. {Ch.} follow me: inside, the rest.

[audies].

[you will hear].

765

Demipho Geta

{De.} Nostrapte culpa facimus ut malis expediat esse,
dum nimium dici nos bonos studemus et benignos.
ita fugias ne praeter casam, quod aiunt. nonne id sat erat,
accipere ab illo iniuriam?

{De.} By our very own fault we make it so that it is expedient for the wicked to be so,
while we are too eager to be called good and benign.
so flee, as they say, but not past the house. Was that not enough,
to receive an injury from that man?

etiam argentumst ultro obiectum,
ut sit qui vivat dum aliud aliquid flagiti conficiat.

even silver has been proffered unasked,
so that there may be someone to live while he completes some other flagitious deed.

770

{Ge.} planissime. {De.} is nunc praemiumst qui recta prava faciunt.
{Ge.} verissime.

{Ge.} Most plainly. {De.} Now the premium is for those who make right things crooked.
{Ge.} Most truly.

{De.} ut stultissime quidem illi rem gesserimus.
{Ge.} modo ut hoc consilio possiet discedi, ut istam ducat.
{De.} etiamne id dubiumst?

{De.} granted, indeed, that we have managed the affair for him most foolishly.
{Ge.} only let it be possible to get away by this counsel, so that he may marry that girl.
{De.} is even that in doubt?

{Ge.} haud scio hercle, ut homost, an mutet animum.
{De.} hem mutet autem? {Ge.} nescio; verum, si forte, dico.

{Ge.} By Hercules, I do not know, as the man is, whether he will change his mind.
{De.} Eh? change, indeed? {Ge.} I do not know; but, just in case, I say it.

775

{De.} ita faciam, ut frater censuit, ut uxorem ei(u)s huc adducam,
cum ista ut loquatur. tu, Geta, abi prae, nuntia hanc venturam.--
{Ge.} argentum inventumst Phaedriae; de iurgio siletur;
provisumst ne in praesentia haec hinc abeat: quid nunc porro?
quid fiet?

{De.} I will do so, as my brother has advised, to bring his wife here,
so that she may speak with that one. you, Geta, go on ahead, announce that she is coming.--
{Ge.} the silver has been found for Phaedria; about the quarrel there is silence;
provision has been made that for the present this girl not go away from here: what now further?
what will be done?

in eodem luto haesitas; vorsuram solves,

you are stuck in the same mud; you will pay the rollover-loan,

780

Geta: praesens quod fuerat malum in diem abiit: plagae crescunt,
nisi prospicis. nunc hinc domum ibo ac Phanium edocebo
nequid vereatur Phormionem aut ei(u)s orationem.

Geta: the evil that had been present has gone off for the day: the wounds grow,
unless you provide. Now from here I will go home and instruct Phanium
that she fear nothing of Phormio or his oration.

Demipho Navsistrata

{De.} Agedum, ut soles, Nausistrata, fac illa ut placetur nobis,
ut sua voluntate id quod est faciundum faciat. {Na.} faciam.

{De.} Come then, as you are accustomed, Nausistrata, see that she is placated toward us,
that of her own will she do what must be done. {Na.} I will do it.

785

{De.} pariter nunc opera me adiuves ac re dudum opitulata es.
{Na.} factum volo. ac pol minu' queo viri culpa quam me dignumst.
{De.} quid autem?

{De.} help me now with your effort equally as you a little while ago aided in the matter.
{Na.} I wish it done. And, by Pollux, I can less endure my husband’s fault than is worthy of me.
{De.} but what?

{Na.} quia pol m<ei> patris bene parta indiligenter
tutatur; nam ex is praediis talenta argenti bina
statim capiebat: vir viro quid praestat! {De.} bina quaeso?

{Na.} because, by Pollux, he carelessly safeguards my father’s well-won possessions;
for from those estates he would at once take two talents of silver:
how one man surpasses another! {De.} two, I pray?

790

{Na.} ac rebu' vilioribus multo tamen duo talenta. {De.} hui.
{Na.} quid haec videntur?

{Na.} and from much cheaper things, still two talents. {De.} whew.
{Na.} how do these things seem?

{De.} scilicet. {Na.} virum me natam vellem:
ego ostenderem, {De.} certo scio. {Na.} quo pacto . . {De.} parce sodes,
ut possis cum illa, ne te adulescens mulier defetiget.

{De.} of course. {Na.} I would that I had been born a man:
I would show it. {De.} I surely know. {Na.} in what manner— {De.} spare yourself, please,
so that you can manage with her, lest the woman, young man, defatigate you.

{Na.} faciam ut iubes. sed m<eu>m virum ex te exire video.

{Na.} I will do as you order. But I see my husband coming out from you.

795

Navsistrata Chremes Demipho

Nausistrata Chremes Demipho

{Ch.} Ehem Demipho,
iam illi datumst argentum? {De.} curavi ilico. {Ch.} nollem datum.

{Ch.} Ahem, Demipho,
has the silver been given to him already? {De.} I took care of it on the spot. {Ch.} I wish it hadn’t been given.

ei, video uxorem: paene plus quam sat erat. {De.} quor nolles, Chreme?
{Ch.} iam recte.

ah, I see the wife: almost more than enough. {De.} why would you not want it, Chremes?
{Ch.} now it’s right.

{De.} quid tu? ecquid locutu's cum istac quam ob rem hanc
ducimus?
{Ch.} transegi. {De.} quid ait tandem?

{De.} What about you? Have you spoken at all with that woman about why this girl
we are marrying?
{Ch.} I've settled it. {De.} What did she say, then?

{Ch.} abduci non potest. {De.} qui non
potest?
{Ch.} quia uterque utrique est cordi.

{Ch.} she cannot be led away. {De.} how not
can she?
{Ch.} because each is dear to the other.

{De.} quid istuc nostra? {Ch.}

{De.} what is that to us? {Ch.}

800

magni. praeterhac
cognatam comperi esse nobis. {De.} quid?

at a high price. besides this
i have found out she is our kinswoman. {De.} what?

deliras. {Ch.} sic erit.
non temere dico: redii mecum in memoriam.

you’re raving. {Ch.} so it will be.
I do not speak rashly: I have gone back over it in my memory.

{De.} satin sanus es?
{Na.} au obsecro, vide ne in cognatam pecces. {De.} non est. {Ch.} ne nega:
patri' nomen aliud dictum est: hoc tu errasti.

{De.} Are you quite sane?
{Na.} Oh, I beseech you, take care lest you sin against a kinswoman. {De.} She is not. {Ch.} Do not deny it:
the father’s name was said otherwise; herein you erred.

{De.} non norat patrem?
{Ch.} norat. {De.} quor aliud dixit?

{De.} Did she not know her father?
{Ch.} She knew. {De.} Why did she say something else?

{Ch.} numquamne hodie concedes mihi

{Ch.} will you never yield to me today?

805

neque intelleges? {De.} si tu nil narras? {Ch.} perdi'. {Na.} miror quid hoc
siet.

and won’t you understand? {De.} if you tell nothing? {Ch.} by heaven! {Na.} I marvel what this
may be.

{De.} equidem hercle nescio. {Ch.} vin scire? at ita me servet Iuppiter,
ut propior illi quam ego sum ac tu homo nemost.

{De.} indeed, by Hercules, I don't know. {Ch.} do you want to know? so may Jupiter preserve me, that there is no man closer to him than I am—and you are nobody.

{De.} di vostram fidem,
eamus ad ipsam: una omnis nos aut scire aut nescire hoc volo. {Ch.} ah.
{De.} quid est? {Ch.} itan parvam mihi fidem esse apud te? {De.} vin me

{De.} by your faith, gods,
let us go to her herself: together I want us all either to know this or not to know it. {Ch.} ah.
{De.} what is it? {Ch.} is my faith so small with you? {De.} do you want me

810

credere?
vin sati' quaesitum mi istuc esse? age, fiat.

believe?
do you want that to have been sufficiently inquired for me? come, let it be done.

quid illa filia
amici nostri? quid futurumst? {Ch.} recte.

what of that daughter
of our friend? what will happen? {Ch.} right.

{De.} hanc igitur mittimus?
{Ch.} quidni? {De.} illa maneat?

{De.} are we then sending this one?
{Ch.} why not? {De.} shall that one remain?

{Ch.} sic. {De.} ire igitur tibi licet,
Nausistrata.

{Ch.} so. {De.} you may go then,
Nausistrata.

{Na.} sic pol commodius esse in omnis arbitror quam ut coeperas,
manere hanc; nam perliberali' visast, quom vidi, mihi.--

{Na.} So, by Pollux, I think it more commodious for all than as you had begun,
for her to remain; for she seemed to me very liberal when I saw her.--

815

{De.} quid istuc negotist? {Ch.} iamne operuit ostium? {De.} iam.

{De.} what's the business? {Ch.} has he shut the door yet? {De.} already.

{Ch.} o
Iuppiter,
di nos respiciunt: gnatam inveni nuptam cum t<uo> filio. {De.} hem
quo pacto potuit? {Ch.} non sati' tutus est ad narrandum hic locus.

{Ch.} O
Jupiter,
the gods look upon us: I have found my daughter married to your son. {De.} Ha!
How could it be? {Ch.} This place is not safe enough for telling it.

{De.} at tu intro abi. {Ch.} heus ne filii quidem hoc nostri resciscant volo.

{De.} but you go in. {Ch.} hey, I do not want even our sons to find this out.

Antipho

Laetus sum, utut meae res sese habent, fratri optigisse quod volt.

I am glad, however my affairs stand, that my brother has obtained what he wants.

820

quam scitumst ei(u)s modi in animo parare cupiditates
quas, quom res advorsae sient, paullo mederi possis!
hic simul argentum repperit, cura sese expedivit;
ego nullo possum remedio me evolvere ex his turbis
quin, si hoc celetur, in metu, sin patefit, in probro sim.

how clever it is to prepare in the mind desires of such a kind
which, when matters are adverse, you can a little remedy!
he, as soon as he found silver, freed himself from care;
I by no remedy can unwind myself out of these turmoils,
so that, if this is concealed, I am in fear; if it is laid open, I am in disgrace.

825

neque me domum nunc reciperem ni mi esset spes ostenta
huiusce habendae. sed ubinam Getam invenire possim, ut
rogem quod tempu' conveniundi patri' me capere iubeat?

nor would I now be heading home, if there had not been shown to me a hope of having this girl. but where on earth could I find Geta, so that I may ask what time for meeting my father he bids me take?

Phormio Antipho

{Ph.} Argentum accepi, tradidi lenoni, abduxi mulierem,
curavi propria ut Phaedria poteretur; nam emissast manu.

{Ph.} I received the silver, I handed it over to the pimp, I led the woman away,
I took care that Phaedria could enjoy her as his own; for she has been manumitted.

830

nunc una mihi res etiam restat quae est conficiunda, otium
ab senibus ad potandum ut habeam; nam aliquot hos sumam dies.
{An.} sed Phormiost. quid ais?

now one thing still remains for me which must be brought to completion, that I may have leisure from the old men for drinking; for I will take these next several days.
{An.} but Phormio, hush. what do you say?

{Ph.} quid? {An.} quidnam nunc facturust
Phaedria?
quo pacto satietatem amoris <ai>t se velle absumere?

{Ph.} what? {An.} what now is he going to do—
Phaedria?
in what way does he say he wants to consume the satiety of love?

{Ph.} vicissim partis tuas acturus est. {An.} quas? {Ph.} ut fugitet

{Ph.} in turn he will play your part. {An.} Which? {Ph.} To run away

835

patrem.
te suas rogavit rursum ut ageres, causam ut pro se diceres;
nam potaturus est apud me. ego me ire senibus Sunium
dicam ad mercatum, ancillulam emptum dudum quam dixit Geta:
ne quom hic non videant me conficere credant argentum suom.
sed ostium concrepuit abs te. {An.} vide quis egreditur.

father.
he asked you again to play your parts, to plead the cause on his behalf;
for he is going to drink at my place. I will say to the old men that I am going to Sunium
to market, to buy the little handmaid whom Geta said of a while ago:
so that, when they do not see me spending it here, they may not think their silver is being used up.
but the door has rattled from your place. {An.} see who is coming out.

{Ph.} Getast.

{Ph.} It is Geta.

840

Geta Antipho Phormio

{Ge.} O Fortuna, o Fors Fortuna, quantis commoditatibus,
quam subito meo ero Antiphoni ope vostra hunc onerastis diem!
{An.} quidnam hic sibi volt? {Ge.} nosque amicos ei(u)s exonerastis metu!

{Ge.} O Fortune, O Chance-Fortune, with how great advantages,
how suddenly, by your help, you have laden this day for my master Antipho!
{An.} whatever does this fellow mean? {Ge.} and you have exonerated us, his friends, from fear!

sed ego nunc mihi cesso qui non umerum hunc onero pallio
atque hominem propero invenire, ut haec quae contigerint sciat.

but now why am I idle to myself, not loading this shoulder with the pallium,
and hurrying to find the man, so that he may know what has happened.

845

{An.} num tu intellegi' quid hic narret? {Ph.} num tu? {An.} nil. {Ph.}
tantundem ego.

{An.} Do you understand what this man narrates? {Ph.} Do you? {An.} Nothing. {Ph.}
just as much I.

{Ge.} ad lenonem hinc ire pergam: ibi nunc sunt. {An.} heus Geta! {Ge.} em
tibi:
num mirum aut novomst revocari, cursum quom institeris?

{Ge.} I will proceed to go from here to the pander: there they are now. {An.} hey, Geta! {Ge.} there
you go:
is it any wonder or new thing to be recalled, when you have set your course?

{An.} Geta.
{Ge.} pergit hercle. numquam tu odio t<uo> me vinces.

{An.} Geta.
{Ge.} He persists, by Hercules. You will never conquer me by your hatred.

{An.} non manes?
{Ge.} vapula. {An.} id quidem tibi iam fiet nisi resisti'. verbero.

{An.} Won’t you stop?
{Ge.} Take a beating. {An.} That indeed will now befall you unless you stop. Whipping-post.

850

{Ge.} familiariorem oportet esse hunc: minitatur malum.
sed isne est quem quaero an non? ipsust, congredere actutum.

{Ge.} this one must be more familiar: he threatens trouble.
but is that the one I seek or not? it’s he himself, go meet him at once.

{An.} quid est?
{Ge.} [o] omnium quantumst qui vivont hominum homo ornatissime!
nam sine controvorsia ab dis solu' diligere, Antipho.

{An.} what is it?
{Ge.} [o] O, of all as many as there are of living men, the most adorned man!
for, without controversy, you alone are loved by the gods, Antipho.

{An.} ita velim; sed qui istuc credam ita esse mihi dici velim.

{An.} I would so wish; but how I am to believe that to be so, I would like to be told.

855

{Ge.} satine est si te delibutum gaudio reddo? {An.} enicas.
{Ph.} quin tu hinc pollicitationes aufer et quod fers cedo.

{Ge.} is it enough if I render you drenched in joy? {An.} you’re killing me.
{Ph.} why don’t you take your promises away from here and hand over what you’re bringing.

{Ge.} oh
tu quoque aderas, Phormio? {Ph.} aderam. sed tu cessas.

{Ge.} oh
you too were here, Phormio? {Ph.} I was. But you are delaying.

{Ge.} accipe, em:
ut modo argentum tibi dedimus apud forum, recta domum
sumu' profecti; interea mittit eru' me ad uxorem tuam.

{Ge.} take it, here:
as just now we gave you the silver at the forum, straight home
we set out; meanwhile the master sends me to your wife.

860

{An.} quam ob rem? {Ge.} omitto proloqui; nam nil ad hanc rem est, Antipho.
ubi in gynaeceum ire occipio, puer ad me adcurrit Mida,
pone reprendit pallio, resupinat: respicio, rogo
quam ob rem retineat me: ait esse vetitum intro ad eram accedere.

{An.} Why so? {Ge.} I omit to relate it; for it is nothing to this matter, Antipho.
When I begin to go into the gynaeceum, the boy Mida runs up to me,
from behind he seizes me by the cloak and tips me backward: I look back, I ask
for what reason he holds me back: he says it is forbidden to go inside to the mistress.

"Sophrona modo fratrem huc" inquit "senis introduxit Chremem"

"Sophrona just now introduced here," says he, "Chremes, the old man's brother"

865

<eu>mque nunc esse intu' cum illis. hoc ubi ego audivi, ad fores
suspenso gradu placide ire perrexi accessi astiti,
animam compressi, aurem admovi: ita animum coepi attendere,
hoc modo sermonem captans. {Ph.} eu Geta!

and that he is now inside with them. When I heard this, to the doorway
with a suspended step I went on placidly; I approached and stood by,
I compressed my breath, I put my ear close: thus I began to attend my mind,
catching the discourse in this way. {Ph.} Bravo, Geta!

{Ge.} hic pulcherrimum
facinus audivi: itaque paene hercle exclamavi gaudio.

{Ge.} here a most excellent
exploit I heard: and so, by Hercules, I almost cried out for joy.

870

{An.} quod? {Ge.} quodnam arbitrare? {An.} nescio.

{An.} what? {Ge.} what do you suppose? {An.} I don’t know.

{Ge.} atqui mirificissimum:
patruo' tuos est pater inventu' Phanio uxori tuae. {An.} hem
quid ais? {Ge.} cum ei(u)s consuevit olim matre in Lemno clanculum.

{Ge.} but in fact, the most marvelous:
your uncle has been found to be the father of Phanio, your wife. {An.} ha!
what do you say? {Ge.} he once cohabited with her mother on Lemnos, clandestinely.

{Ph.} somnium! utine haec ignoraret suom patrem? {Ge.} aliquid credito,
Phormio, esse causae.

{Ph.} A dream! That she should not know her own father? {Ge.} Believe there is something,
Phormio, that is the cause.

sed censen me potuisse omnia

but do you suppose that I could have done everything?

875

intellegere extra ostium intu' quae inter sese ipsi egerint?
{An.} atque ego quoque inaudivi illam fabulam. {Ge.} immo etiam dabo
quo mage credas: patruos interea inde huc egreditur foras:
haud multo post cum patre idem recipit se intro denuo:
ait uterque tibi potestatem eius adhibendae dari.

to understand, outside the doorway, what they themselves have transacted among themselves inside?
{An.} And I too have overheard that tale. {Ge.} Nay rather I will even give you something so that you may the more believe:
your uncle meanwhile comes out from there to here, outdoors:
not much later, with your father, that same man takes himself back inside again:
and each says that to you the power is given of employing her (aid).

880

denique ego sum missu' te ut requirerem atque adducerem. {An.} em
quin ergo rape me: quid cessas? {Ge.} fecero.

finally I am sent to look for you and to bring you along. {An.} there—then seize me: why do you delay? {Ge.} I will do it.

{An.} heus Phormio,
vale. {Ph.} vale, Antipho. bene, ita me di ament, factum: gaudeo.

{An.} hey, Phormio,
farewell. {Ph.} farewell, Antipho. well; so may the gods love me, it’s done: I’m glad.

Phormio

Tantam fortunam de inproviso esse his datam!
summa eludendi occasiost mihi nunc senes

So great a fortune has been given to them from the unforeseen!
Now the utmost occasion of eluding the old men is mine

885

et Phaedriae curam adimere argentariam,
ne quoiquam s<uo>rum aequalium supplex siet.
nam idem hoc argentum, ita ut datumst, ingratiis
<ei> datum erit: hoc qui cogam re ipsa repperi.
nunc gestu' mihi voltusque est capiundus novos.

and to take away from Phaedria the financial care,
lest he be a suppliant to any of his peers.
for this same silver, just as it has been given, will have been given to him against his will:
how I will compel him to this I have discovered in the very deed.
now I must assume a new gesture and countenance.

890

sed hinc concedam in angiportum hoc proxumum,
inde hisce ostendam me, ubi erunt egressi foras.
quo me adsimularam ire ad mercatum, non eo.

but from here I’ll withdraw into this nearest alley,
then I will show myself to these here, when they have gone outside.
where I had made as if to go—to the market—I am not going.

Demipho Chremes Phormio

{De.} Dis magnas merito gratias habeo atque ago
quando evenere haec nobis, frater, prospere.

{De.} I have and render great thanks to the gods, deservedly,
since these things have turned out prosperously for us, brother.

895

quantum potest nunc conveniundust Phormio,
priu' quam dilapidat nostras triginta minas
ut auferamu'. {Ph.} Demiphonem si domist
visam ut quod . . {De.} at nos ad te ibamu', Phormio.
{Ph.} de <ea>dem hac fortasse causa? {De.} ita hercle.

as quickly as possible now Phormio must be met,
before he dilapidates our thirty minae, so that we may carry them off.
{Ph.} If Demipho is at home, I’ll go see what . . {De.} but we were coming to you, Phormio.
{Ph.} about this same matter, perhaps? {De.} yes, by Hercules.

{Ph.} credidi:

{Ph.} I believed:

900

quid ad me ibati'? {De.} ridiculum. {Ph.} verebamini
ne non id facerem quod recepissem semel?
heus quanta quanta haec mea paupertas est, tamen
adhuc curavi unum hoc quidem, ut mi esset fides.

what was that to me? {De.} ridiculous. {Ph.} were you afraid
that I would not do that which I had once undertaken?
hey, however great, however very great this my poverty is, still
up to now I have taken care of this one thing at least, that I might have fidelity.

{Ch.} estne ita ut<i> dixi liberalis? {De.} oppido.

{Ch.} Is it so as I said—liberal? {De.} Quite.

905

{Ph.} idque ad vos venio nuntiatum, Demipho,
paratum me esse: ubi voltis, uxorem date.
nam omnis posthabui mihi res, ita uti par fuit,
postquam id tanto opere vos velle animum advorteram.
{De.} at hic dehortatus est me ne illam tibi darem:

{Ph.} and for that I come to you to announce, Demipho,
that I am prepared: whenever you wish, give the bride.
for I have postponed all my affairs, just as was fitting,
after I had turned my mind to the fact that you so greatly wished it.
{De.} but this man dissuaded me not to give her to you:

910

"nam qui erit rumor populi" inquit "si id feceris?
olim quom honeste potuit, tum non est data:
<ea>m nunc extrudi turpest." ferme eadem omnia
quae tute dudum coram me incusaveras.
{Ph.} satis superbe inluditis me. {De.} qui?

"for what will be the talk of the people," he says, "if you do that?
once, when it could be done honorably, then she was not given:
to have her now thrust out is disgraceful." almost all the same things
which you yourself a little while ago were accusing in my presence.
{Ph.} you are making sport of me quite haughtily. {De.} how so?

{Ph.} rogas?

{Ph.} you ask?

915

quia ne alteram quidem illam potero ducere;
nam quo redibo ore ad eam quam contempserim?
{Ch.} ("tum autem Antiphonem video ab sese amittere
invitum eam" inque.) {De.} tum autem video filium
invitum sane mulierem ab se amittere.

because I will not be able to lead in marriage that other one either;
for with what face shall I return to her whom I have contemned?
{Ch.} ("then however I see Antiphon dismissing her from himself,
unwilling" says.) {De.} then however I see my son
indeed unwilling, dismissing the woman from himself.

920

sed transi sodes ad forum atque illud mihi
argentum rursum iube rescribi, Phormio.
{Ph.} quodne ego discripsi porro illis quibu' debui?
{De.} quid igitur fiet?

but go over, please, to the forum and bid that silver to be written back to me again, Phormio.
{Ph.} What? the very sum which I have distributed, moreover, to those to whom I was debtor?
{De.} What then will be done?

{Ph.} si vis mi uxorem dare
quam despondisti, ducam; sin est ut velis

{Ph.} if you wish to give me a wife
the one whom you have betrothed, I will marry; but if it is that you wish

925

manere illam apud te, dos hic maneat, Demipho.
nam non est aequom me propter vos decipi,
quom ego vostri honori' causa repudium alterae
remiserim, quae doti' tantundem dabat.
{De.} in' hinc malam rem cum istac magnificentia,

let her remain with you; let the dowry remain here, Demipho.
for it is not equitable that I be deceived on account of you,
since I, for the sake of your honor, have issued a repudiation to the other woman,
who was giving just as much in dowry.
{De.} off to a bad business with that magnificence,

930

fugitive? etiamnunc credi' te ignorarier
aut tua facta adeo? {Ph.} irritor.

Runaway? Do you even now believe you are being ignored,
or your deeds, for that matter? {Ph.} I am provoked.

{De.} tune hanc duceres
si tibi daretur? {Ph.} fac periclum. {De.} ut filius
cum illa habitet apud te, hoc vostrum consilium fuit.

{De.} would you then marry this woman
if she were given to you? {Ph.} make trial. {De.} that the son
should dwell with her at your place, this was your counsel.

{Ph.} quaeso quid narras? {De.} quin tu mi argentum cedo.

{Ph.} please, what are you saying? {De.} why don’t you hand over the silver to me.

935

{Ph.} immo vero uxorem tu cedo. {De.} in ius ambula.
[in ius] {Ph.} enimvero si porro esse odiosi pergitis . .
{De.} quid facies?

{Ph.} nay rather, hand over your wife. {De.} walk into court.
[into court] {Ph.} indeed, if you proceed to go on being odious . .
{De.} what will you do?

{Ph.} egone? vos me indotatis modo
patrocinari fortasse arbitramini:
etiam dotatis soleo. {Ch.} quid id nostra?

{Ph.} I? You perhaps suppose that I advocate only for the dowryless;
I am even accustomed to do so for the dowried. {Ch.} What is that to us?

{Ph.} nihil.

{Ph.} nothing.

940

hic quandam noram quoi(u)s vir uxorem {Ch.} hem. {De.} quid est?
{Ph.} Lemni habuit aliam, {Ch.} nullu' sum.

here I used to know a certain woman, whose husband a wife {Ch.} eh. {De.} what is it?
{Ph.} at Lemnos he had another, {Ch.} I am nothing.

{Ph.} ex qua filiam
suscepit; et eam clam educat. {Ch.} sepultu' sum.
{Ph.} haec adeo ego illi iam denarrabo.

{Ph.} by whom he had a daughter;
and he is secretly bringing her up. {Ch.} I am buried.
{Ph.} This indeed I will now fully recount to him.

{Ch.} obsecro,
ne facias. {Ph.} oh tune is eras? {De.} ut ludos facit!

{Ch.} I beg,
don’t do it. {Ph.} Oh, was it you? {De.} How he makes sport!

945

{Ch.} missum te facimu'. {Ph.} fabulae! {Ch.} quid vis tibi?
argentum quod habes condonamu' te. {Ph.} audio.

{Ch.} we let you go. {Ph.} nonsense! {Ch.} what do you want for yourself?
the silver you have, we remit to you. {Ph.} I hear.

quid vos, malum, ergo me sic ludificamini
inepti vostra puerili sententia?
nolo volo; volo nolo rursum; cape cedo;

What, the devil, then, do you mock me thus,
you inept ones, with your puerile sentiment?
I don’t want, I want; I want, I don’t want again; take, yield;

950

quod dictum indictumst; quod modo erat ratum inritumst.
{Ch.} quo pacto aut unde hic haec rescivit? {De.} nescio;
nisi me dixisse nemini certo scio.

what has been said is unsaid; what just now was ratified is nullified.
{Ch.} In what manner or from where has he come to know these things? {De.} I do not know;
except that I certainly know that I told no one.

{Ch.} monstri, ita me di ament, simile. {Ph.} inieci scrupulum. {De.} hem
hicine ut a nobis hoc tantum argenti auferat

{Ch.} a thing like a monster, so may the gods love me. {Ph.} I have injected a scruple. {De.} Ha!
this fellow here, that he should carry off from us this much silver

955

tam aperte inridens? emori hercle satius est.
animo virili praesentique ut sis para.
vides peccatum tuom esse elatum foras
neque iam id celare posse te uxorem tuam:
nunc quod ipsa ex aliis auditura sit, Chreme,

so openly deriding? by Hercules, it is better to die.
prepare to be of a virile and present mind.
you see your sin has been carried out into the open
and that you can no longer conceal it from your wife:
now what she herself is going to hear from others, Chremes,

960

id nosmet indicare placabilius est.
tum hunc inpuratum poterimus nostro modo
ulcisci. {Ph.} attat nisi mi prospicio, haereo.

It is more placatory for us ourselves to indicate it.
then we shall be able to take vengeance on this shameless fellow in our own manner.
{Ph.} Ha! unless I look out for myself, I am stuck.

hi gladiatorio animo ad me adfectant viam.
{Ch.} at vereor ut placari possit. {De.} bono animo es:

these men, with gladiatorial spirit, are striving for a way to me.
{Ch.} but I fear that he cannot be placated. {De.} be of good spirit:

965

ego redigam vos in gratiam, hoc fretus, Chreme,
quom e medio excessit unde haec susceptast tibi.
{Ph.} itan agiti' mecum? satis astute adgredimini.

I will bring you back into favor, relying on this, Chremes,
since that has gone out of the way for which this was undertaken for you.
{Ph.} Is it so you deal with me? You approach quite shrewdly.

non hercle ex re isti(u)s me instigasti, Demipho.
ain tu? ubi quae lubitum fuerit peregre feceris

By Hercules, you have instigated me not for that fellow’s advantage, Demipho.
Do you say so? when you shall have done abroad whatever has pleased you

970

neque hui(u)s sis veritu' feminae primariae
quin novo modo ei faceres contumeliam,
venias nunc precibu' lautum peccatum tuom?
hisce ego illam dictis ita tibi incensam dabo
ut ne restinguas lacrumis si exstillaveris.

nor were you afraid of this lady of prime rank
so as not to do her a novel contumely,
do you come now with prayers to have your sin laved?
with these words I will give her to you so incensed
that you will not extinguish it with tears, even if you let them drip.

975

{De.} malum quod isti di deaeque omnes duint!
tantane adfectum quemquam esse hominem audacia!
non hoc publicitu' scelus hinc asportarier
in solas terras!

{De.} May all those gods and goddesses give him a curse!
So great a thing—that a man should be so affected with audacity!
Should not this crime be publicly carried off from here
into every land!

{Ch.} in id redactu' sum loci
ut quid agam cum illo nesciam prorsum. {De.} ego scio:

{Ch.} I am brought to this point
that I plainly do not know what to do with him. {De.} I know:

980

in ius eamus. {Ph.} in ius? huc, siquid lubet.

let us go to court. {Ph.} to court? here, if you like.

{Ch.} adsequere, retine dum ego huc servos evoco.
{De.} enim nequeo solus: accurre. {Ph.} una iniuriast
tecum.

{Ch.} Follow up; detain him while I call the slaves here.
{De.} For indeed I cannot alone: run up. {Ph.} It is a joint injury with you.

{De.} lege agito ergo. {Ph.} alterast tecum, Chreme.
{Ch.} rape hunc.

{De.} then prosecute at law. {Ph.} the other suit is with you, Chremes.
{Ch.} seize him.

{Ph.} sic agitis? enimvero vocest opus:

{Ph.} do you act thus? indeed there is need of voice:

985

Nausistrata, exi! {Ch.} os opprime inpurum: vide
quantum valet. {Ph.} Nausistrata!

Nausistrata, come out! {Ch.} Stop up that impure mouth: see
how much he avails. {Ph.} Nausistrata!

inquam. {De.} non taces?
{Ph.} taceam?

I say. {De.} Won’t you be silent?
{Ph.} Shall I be silent?

{De.} nisi sequitur, pugnos in ventrem ingere.
{Ph.} vel oculum exclude: est ubi vos ulciscar probe.

{De.} unless he follows, thrust fists into his belly.
{Ph.} or put out an eye: there is where I will take proper revenge on you.

Navsistrata Chremes Demipho

Nausistrata Chremes Demipho

Phormio
{Na.} Qui nominat me? hem quid istuc turbaest, obsecro,

Phormio
{Na.} Who names me? Ha! what is that turmoil, I beseech,

990

mi vir? {Ph.} ehem quid nunc obstipuisti? {Na.} quis hic homost?

my husband? {Ph.} ahem, why are you astonished now? {Na.} who is this man here?

non mihi respondes? {Ph.} hicine ut tibi respondeat,
qui hercle ubi sit nescit? {Ch.} cave isti quicquam cred<u>as.
{Ph.} abi, tange: si non totu' friget, me enica.

won’t you respond to me? {Ph.} this fellow here, to respond to you—who, by Hercules, doesn’t know where he is? {Ch.} beware you believe that man in anything, cred<u>as. {Ph.} go, touch him: if he isn’t cold all over, kill me.

{Ch.} nil est. {Na.} quid ergo? quid istic narrat?

{Ch.} It’s nothing. {Na.} What then? What does he narrate there?

{Ph.} iam scies:

{Ph.} now you will know:

995

ausculta. {Ch.} pergin credere? {Na.} quid ego obsecro
huic credam, qui nil dixit?

listen. {Ch.} do you persist in believing? {Na.} what, I beseech,
should I believe this man, who has said nothing?

{Ph.} delirat miser
timore. {Na.} non pol temerest quod tu tam times.
{Ch.} egon timeo?

{Ph.} the wretch raves in delirium
from fear. {Na.} by Pollux, it’s not without cause, what you fear so much.
{Ch.} I, afraid?

{Ph.} recte sane: quando nil times.
et hoc nil est quod ego dico, tu narra. {De.} scelus,

{Ph.} quite right: since you fear nothing.
and what I say is nothing; you tell it. {De.} scoundrel,

1000

tibi narret? {Ph.} ohe tu, factumst abs te sedulo
pro fratre. {Na.} mi vir, non mihi narras.

should he tell it to you? {Ph.} hey, you, it has been done by you sedulously
on behalf of your brother. {Na.} my husband, you are not telling it to me.

{Ch.} at . . {Na.} quid "at"?
{Ch.} non opus est dicto. {Ph.} tibi quidem; at scito huic opust.
in Lemno {De.} hem quid ais?

{Ch.} but . . {Na.} what “but”?
{Ch.} there is no need to say. {Ph.} for you indeed; but know that this man has need.
on Lemnos {De.} eh? what do you say?

{Ch.} non taces? {Ph.} clam te {Ch.} ei mihi!
{Ph.} uxorem duxit.

{Ch.} will you not be silent? {Ph.} without your knowledge {Ch.} alas for me!
{Ph.} he has married a wife.

{Na.} mi homo, di melius duint!

{Na.} my man, may the gods grant better!

1005

{Ph.} sic factumst. {Na.} perii misera! {Ph.} et inde filiam
suscepit iam unam, dum tu dormis.

{Ph.} so it has been done. {Na.} I am undone, wretched me! {Ph.} and from her a daughter
he has already acknowledged, while you are sleeping.

{Ch.} quid agimus?
{Na.} pro di inmortales, facinu' miserandum et malum!
{Ph.} hoc actumst.

{Ch.} What shall we do?
{Na.} O immortal gods, a pitiable and evil deed!
{Ph.} This is done.

{Na.} an quicquam hodiest factum indignius?
qui mi, ubi ad uxores ventumst, tum fiunt senes!

{Na.} Is anything more shameful done today?
they, to my mind, when it comes to wives, then become old men!

1010

Demipho, te appello: nam cum hoc ipso distaedet loqui:
haecin erant itiones crebrae et mansiones diutinae
Lemni? haecin erat ea quae nostros minuit fructus vilitas?
{De.} ego, Nausistrata, esse in hac re culpam meritum non nego;
sed ea qui sit ignoscenda.

Demipho, I address you: for I am sick of speaking with this very man:
were these indeed the frequent journeys and the long-continued sojourns
to Lemnos? was this the cheapness which diminished our fruits?
{De.} I, Nausistrata, do not deny that I have deserved blame in this matter;
but there is reason why it should be forgiven.

{Ph.} verba fiunt mortuo.

{Ph.} words are spoken to a dead man.

1015

{De.} nam neque neglegentia tua neque odio id fecit tuo.
vinolentu' fere abhinc annos quindecim mulierculam
<ea>m compressit unde haec natast; neque postilla umquam attigit.
ea mortem obiit, e medio abiit qui fuit in re hac scrupulus.

{De.} for neither by your negligence nor by your hatred did he do that.
tipsy with wine, about fifteen years ago he lay with a young woman—her—from whom this girl was born; and after that he never touched her.
she met death; the scruple which was in this matter has gone out of the way.

quam ob rem te oro, ut alia facta tua sunt, aequo animo hoc feras.

Wherefore I beg you, as your other deeds have been, bear this with equanimity.

1020

{Na.} quid ego aequo animo? cupio misera in hac re iam defungier;
sed quid sperem? aetate porro minu' peccaturum putem?

{Na.} What—am I to bear it with equanimity? I, poor wretch, desire now to be done with this matter;
but what should I hope? That, with age hereafter, he will sin less, should I think so?

iam tum erat senex, senectus si verecundos facit.
an mea forma atque aetas nunc magis expetendast, Demipho?
quid mi hic adfers quam ob rem exspectem aut sperem porro non fore?

even then he was an old man, if old age makes men modest.
or is my form and age now more to be sought-after, Demipho?
what do you bring me here because of which I should expect or hope that further it will not be so?

1025

{Ph.} exsequias Chremeti quibus est commodum ire, em tempus est.
sic dabo: age nunc, Phormionem qui volet lacessito:
"faxo tali sum mactatum atque hic est infortunio."
redeat sane in gratiam iam: supplici satis est mihi.
habet haec ei quod, dum vivat, usque ad aurem ogganniat.

{Ph.} Chremes’s exequies—whoever finds it convenient to go, here’s the time.
I’ll arrange it thus: come now, whoever wishes, go provoke Phormio:
“I’ll see to it that I am sacrificed with such a penalty and am in this ill-fortune.”
Let him indeed return into favor now: as for me, as a punishment it is enough.
This has for him something that, so long as he lives, will keep snarling at his ear.

1030

{Na.} at meo merito credo. quid ego nunc commemorem, Demipho,
singulatim qualis ego in hunc fuerim? {De.} novi aeque omnia
tecum.

{Na.} but by my own merit, I believe. What need I now recount, Demipho,
in detail what sort I have been toward him? {De.} I know all of it just as well
as you.

{Na.} merito[n] hoc meo videtur factum? {De.} minime gentium.
verum iam, quando accusando fieri infectum non potest,
ignosce: orat confitetur purgat: quid vis amplius?

{Na.} Does this seem to have been done by my deserts? {De.} By no means in the world.
but now, since by accusing it cannot be made undone,
forgive: he begs, he confesses, he clears himself: what do you want more?

1035

{Ph.} enimvero priu' quam haec dat veniam, mihi prospiciam et Phaedriae.
heus Nausistrata, priu' quam huic respondes temere, audi. {Na.} quid est?

{Ph.} indeed, before this woman grants pardon, I will look out for myself and for Phaedria.
hey, Nausistrata, before you answer this man rashly, listen. {Na.} what is it?

{Ph.} ego minas triginta per fallaciam ab illoc abstuli:
<ea>s dedi t<uo> gnato: is pro sua amica lenoni dedit.
{Ch.} hem quid ais? {Na.} adeo hoc indignum tibi videtur, filius

{Ph.} I took thirty minae from that fellow by trickery:
I gave them to your son; he gave them to the pimp for his girlfriend.
{Ch.} Ha! what are you saying? {Na.} So this seems so unworthy to you, that your son

1040

homo adulescens si habet unam amicam, tu uxores duas?
nil pudere! quo ore illum obiurgabi'? responde mihi.

A young man, if he has one girlfriend, you—two wives?
not a whit of shame! With what face will you objurgate him? Answer me.

{De.} faciet ut voles. {Na.} immo ut meam iam scias sententiam,
neque ego ignosco neque promitto quicquam neque respondeo
priu' quam gnatum videro: ei(u)s iudicio permitto omnia:

{De.} He will do as you wish. {Na.} Nay rather, so that you may now know my opinion,
neither do I forgive nor do I promise anything nor do I respond
before I have seen my son: to his judgment I commit all things:

1045

quod is iubebit faciam. {Ph.} mulier sapiens es, Nausistrata.
{Na.} sati' tibi<n> est?

what he bids I will do. {Ph.} you are a wise woman, Nausistrata.
{Na.} is that enough for you?

{Ph.} immo vero pulchre discedo et probe
et praeter spem. {Na.} tu t<uo>m nomen dic quid est. {Ph.} mihin?

{Ph.} No indeed, I come off splendidly and properly, and beyond expectation.
{Na.} You, tell your name—what is it. {Ph.} Me?

Phormio:
vostrae familiae hercle amicus et tuo summu' Phaedriae.
{Na.} Phormio, at ego ecastor posthac tibi quod potero, quae voles

Phormio:
by Hercules, a friend to your family and a very great friend to your Phaedria.
{Na.} Phormio, but by Castor, hereafter for you whatever I can, the things you wish

1050

faciamque et dicam. {Ph.} benigne dici'. {Na.} pol meritumst tuom.
{Ph.} vin primum hodie facere quod ego gaudeam, Nausistrata,
et quod t<uo> viro oculi doleant?

and I will do and say it. {Ph.} you speak kindly. {Na.} by Pollux, it’s your merit.
{Ph.} do you want first today to do what I may rejoice at, Nausistrata,
and what will make your husband’s eyes ache?

{Na.} cupio. {Ph.} me ad cenam voca.
{Na.} pol vero voco.

{Na.} I desire. {Ph.} Invite me to dinner.
{Na.} By Pollux, indeed I invite you.

{De.} <ea>mus intro hinc. {Na.} fiat. sed ubist
Phaedria
iudex noster?

{De.} let us go inside from here. {Na.} so be it. but where is
Phaedria
our judge?

{Ph.} iam hic faxo aderit. {Cantor.} vos valete et plaudite!

{Ph.} I'll make sure he'll be here at once. {Cantor.} Farewell, and applaud!