Adelphi
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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SYRUS
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Now will you hold your tongue? I’ll take care.
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CTESIPHO
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Never this day will I depend on your management for that, upon my faith;
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for I’ll shut myself up with her in some cupboardWith her in some cupboard: Donatus observes that the young man was silly in this, for if discovered to be there he would be sure to be caught. His object, however, for going there would be that he might not be discovered.—that’s the safest.
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SYRUS
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Do so, still I’ll get rid of him.
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DEMEA
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But see! there’s that rascal, Syrus.
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SYRUS
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Really, upon my faith, no person can stay here, if this is to be the case!
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For my part, I should like to know how many masters I have—what a cursed condition this is
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DEMEA
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What’s he whining about? What does he mean? How say you, good sir, is my brother at home?
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SYRUS
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What the plague do you talk to me about, good sir? I’m quite distracted!
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DEMEA
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What’s the matter with you?
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SYRUS
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Do you ask the question? Ctesipho has been beating me, poor wretch, and that Music-girl, almost to death.
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DEMEA
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Ha! what is it you tell me?
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SYRUS
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Aye, seehow he has cut my lip.
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DEMEA
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For what reason?
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SYRUS
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He says that she was bought by my advice.
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DEMEA
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Did not you tell me, a short time since, that you had seen him on his way into the country?
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SYRUS
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I did; but he afterward came back, raving like a madman; he spared nobody—ought he not to have been ashamed to beat an old man? Him whom, only the other day, I used to carry about in my arms when thus high?
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DEMEA
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I commend him; O Ctesipho, you take after your father. Well, I do pronounce you a man.
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SYRUS
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Commend him? Assuredly he will keep his hands to himself in future, if he’s wise.
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DEMEA
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’Twas done with spirit.
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SYRUS
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Very much so, to be beating a poor woman, and me, a slave, who didn’t dare strike him in return; heyday! very spirited indeed!
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DEMEA
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He could not have done better; he thought the same as I did, that you were the principal in this affair. But is my brother within?
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SYRUS
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He is not.
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DEMEA
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I’m thinking where to look for him.
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SYRUS
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I know where he is—but I shall not tell you at present.
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DEMEA
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Ha! what’s that you say?
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SYRUS
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I do say so.
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DEMEA
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Then I’ll break your head for you this instant.
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SYRUS
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I can’t tell the person’s name he’s gone to, but I know the place where he lives.
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DEMEA
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Tell me the place then.
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SYRUS
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Do you know the portico down this way, just by the shambles?
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DEMEA
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How should I but know it?
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SYRUS
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Go straight along, right up that street; when you come there,
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there is a descent right opposite that goes down-ward, go straight down that; afterward, on this side (extending one hand), there is a chapel: close by it is a narrow lane,
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where there’s also a great wild fig-tree.
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DEMEA
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I know it.
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SYRUS
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Go through that—
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DEMEA
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But that lane is not a thoroughfare.
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SYRUS
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I’ faith, that’s true; dear, dear, would you take me to be in my senses?Take me to be in my senses: Censen hominem me esse? literally, Do you take me to be a human being? meaning, Do you take me to be a person in my common senses? I made a mistake. Return to the portico;
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indeed that will be a much nearer way, and there is less going round about you know the house of Cratinus, the rich man?
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DEMEA
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I know it.
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SYRUS
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When you have passed that, keep straight along that street on the left hand;Street on the left hand: Theobald, in his edition of Shakspeare, observes that the direction given by Lancelot in the Merchant of Venice seems to be copied from that given here by Syrus: Turn up on your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left; marry, at the very next turning of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jew’s house. (2.2) when you come to the Temple of Diana, turn to the right; before you come to the city gate,Come to the city gate: From this we discover that Demea is being sent to the very extremity of the town, as Donatus informs us that ponds of water were always close to the gates of towns, for the purpose of watering the beasts. of burden, and of having a supply at hand in case the enemy should set fire to the city gates. just by that pond, there is a baker’s shop, and opposite to it a joiner’s; there he is.
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DEMEA
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What is he doing there?
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SYRUS
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He has given some couches to be made, with oaken legs, for use in the open air.The open air: Donatus remarks that it was usual for the Greeks to sit and drink in the sun; and that Syrus being suddenly asked this question shows his presence of mind by giving this circumstantial answer, that he may the better impose upon Demea. The couches used on such occasions may be presumed to have required stout legs, and to be made of hard wood, such as oak, to prevent them from splitting. Two instances of couches being used for carousing in the open air will be found in the last Scenes of the Asinaria and Stichus of Plautus.
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DEMEA
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For you to carouse upon! Very fine ! But why do I delay going to him?
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SYRUS
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Go, by all means. I’ll work you to day, you skeleton,You skeleton: Silicernium. This was said to be the name of a funeral entertainment or dish of meats offered up to the umbras or manes, in silence. The word is also said to have been applied to an old man from his stooping postures, silices cernit, he looks at the stones. as you deserve. Aeschinus loiters intolerably; the breakfast’s spoiling; and as for Ctesipho, he’s head and ears in love.Head and ears in love: Totus, literally, quite or altogether. I shall now think of myself,
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for I’ll be off at once, and pick out the very nicest bit, and, leisurely sipping my cups,Sipping my cups: As to the cyathi and cups of the ancients, see the last Scene of the Stichus of Plautus, which is a perfect specimen of a carousal among the lower classes in ancient times. See also the last Scene of the Asinaria. The slaves generally appear to have taken part in the entertainments with their young masters. I’ll lengthen out the day.
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MICIO
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I can see no reason here, Hegio, that I should be so greatly commended. I do my duty; the wrong that has originated with us I redress.
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Unless, perhaps, you thought me one of that class of men who think that an injury is purposely done them if you expostulate about any thing they have done; and yet are themselves the first to accuse. Because I have not acted thus, do you return me thanks?
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HEGIO
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Oh, far from it; I never led myself to believe you to be otherwise than you are; but I beg, Micio, that you will go with me to the mother of the young woman, and repeat to her the same; what you have told me, do you yourself tell the woman,
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that this suspicion of Aeschinus’s fidelity was incurred on his brother’s account, and that this Music-girl was for him.
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MICIO
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If you think I ought, or if there is a necessity for doing so, let us go.
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HEGIO
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You act with kindness; for you’ll then both have relieved her mind who is now languishing in sorrow and affliction, and have discharged your duty. But if you think otherwise, I will tell her myself what you have been saying to me.
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MICIO
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Nay, I’ll go as well.
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HEGIO
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You act with kindness;
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all who are in distressed circumstances are suspicious,Are suspicious: These lines are supposed to be founded on some verses of Menander which are still extant. to I know not what degree; they take every thing too readily as an affront; they fancy themselves trifled with on account of their helpless condition; therefore it will be more satisfactory for you to justify him to them yourself.
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AESCHINUS.
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I am quite distracted in mind! for this misfortune so unexpectedly to befall me, that I neither know what to do with myself, or how to act! My limbs are enfeebled through fear, my faculties bewildered with apprehension; no counsel is able to find a place within my breast.
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Alas! how to extricate myself from this perplexity I know not; so strong a suspicion has taken possession of them about me; not without some reason too: Sostrata believes that I have purchased this Music-girl for myself: the old woman informed me of that. For by accident, when she was sent for the midwife, I saw her,
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and at once went up to her. How is Pamphila? I inquired; is her delivery at hand? Is it for that she is sending for the midwife? Away, away, Aeschinus, cries she; you have deceived us long enough; already have your promises disappointed us sufficiently. Ha! said I; pray what is the meaning of this? Farewell, she cries; keep to her who is your choice. I instantly guessed what it was they suspected, but still I checked myself,
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that I might not be telling that gossip any thing about my brother, whereby it might be divulged. Now what am I to do? Shall I say she is for my brother, a thing that ought by no means to be repeated any where? However, let that pass. It is possible it might go no further. I am afraid they would not believe it, so many probabilities concur against it; ’twas I myself carried her off; ’twas I, my own self, that paid the money for her; ’twas my own house she was carried to.
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This I confess has been entirely my own fault. Ought I not to have disclosed this affair, just as it happened, to my father? I might have obtained his consent to marry her. I have been too negligent hitherto; henceforth, then, arouse yourself, Aeschinus. This then is the first thing; to go to them and clear myself. I’ll approach the door. (Advances to the door of SOSTRATA’S house.) Confusion! I always tremble most dreadfully when I go to knock at that door.
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(Knocking and calling to them within.) Ho there, ho there! it is Aeschinus; open the door immediately, some one. (The door opens.) Some person, I know not who, is coming out; I’ll step aside here.
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MICIO
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Do as I told you, Sostrata; I’ll go find Aeschinus, that lie may know how these matters have been settled. (Looking round.) But who was it knocking at the door?
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AESCHINUS
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Heavens, it is my father!—I am undone !
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MICIO
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Aeschinus !
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AESCHINUS
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What can be his business here?
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MICIO
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Was it you knocking at this door?
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(Aside.) He is silent. Why shouldn’t I rally him a little? It would be as well, as he was never willing to trust me with this secret. (To AESCHINUS.) Don’t you answer me?
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AESCHINUS
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It wasn’t I knocked at that door, that I know of.
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MICIO
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Just so; for I wondered what business you could have here. (Apart.) He blushes; all’s well.
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AESCHINUS
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Pray tell me, father,
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what business have you there?
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MICIO
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Why, none of my own; but a certain friend of mine just now brought me hither from the Forum to give him some assistance.
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AESCHINUS
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Why?
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MICIO
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I’ll tell you. There are some women living here; in impoverished circumstances, as I suppose you don’t know them; and, in fact, I’m quite sure,
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for it is not long since they removed to this place.
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AESCHINUS
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Well, what next?
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MICIO
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There is a girl living with her mother.
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AESCHINUS
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Go on.
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MICIO
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This girl has lost her father; this friend of mine is her next of kin; the law obliges him to marry her.Obliges him to marry her: It appears to have been a law given by Solon to the Athenians that the next male relative of suitable age should marry a female orphan himself, or find her a suitable portion. Madame Dacier suggests that the custom was derived from the Phoenicians, who had received it from the Jews, and quotes the Book of Numbers, xxxvi. 8. This law forms the basis of the plot of the Phormio.
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AESCHINUS
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Undone!
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MICIO
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What’s the matter?
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AESCHINUS
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Nothing. Very well: proceed.
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MICIO
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He has come to take her with him; for he lives at Miletus.
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AESCHINUS
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What! To take the girl away with him?
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MICIO
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Such is the act.
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AESCHINUS
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All the way to Miletus, pray?To Miletus, pray?: A colony of Athens, on the coast of Asia Minor.
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MICIO
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Yes.
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AESCHINUS
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I’m overwhelmed with grief (To MICIO.) But what of them? What do they say?
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MICIO
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What do you suppose they should? Why, nothing at all. The mother has trumped up a tale, that there is a child by some other man, I know not who, and she does not state the name;
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she says that he was the first, and that she ought not to be given to the other.
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AESCHINUS
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Well now, does not this seem just to you after all?
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MICIO
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No.
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AESCHINUS
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Why not, pray? Is the other to be carrying her away from here?
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MICIO
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Why should he not take her?
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AESCHINUS
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You have acted harshly and unfeelingly, and even, if, father,
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I may speak my sentiments more plainly, unhandsomely.
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MICIO
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Why so?
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AESCHINUS
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Do you ask me? Pray, what do you think must be the state of mind of the man who was first connected with her, who, to his misfortune, may perhaps still love her to distraction, when he sees her torn away from before his face,
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and borne off from his sight forever? An unworthy action, father!