Andria; or, The Fair Andrian

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 901 sections

2.5.423b
My master, so far as I learn, has missed his wife.
2.5.424
Now, then, go in-doors, that you mayn’t be causing delay when you are wanted.
2.5.425
I’ll go.
2.5.425b
Is there, in no case, putting trust in any man? That is a true proverb which is wont to be commonly quoted, that all had rather it to be well for themselves than for another. I remember noticing, when I saw her, that she was a young woman of handsome figure; wherefore I am the more disposed to excuse Pamphilus,
2.5.430
if he has preferred that he himself, rather than the other, should embrace her in his slumbers. I’ll carry back these tidings, that, in return for this evil he may inflict evil upon me.
2.6.432
He now supposes that I’m bringing some trick to bear against him, and that on that account I’ve remained here.
2.6.434
What does he say, Davus?
2.6.434b
Just as much as nothing.
2.6.435
What, nothing? Eh?
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Nothing at all.
2.6.435c
And yet I certainly was expecting something.
2.6.436
It has turned out contrary to your expectations. (Aside.) I perceive it; this vexes the man.
2.6.437
Are you able to tell me the truth?
2.6.437b
I? Nothing more easy.
2.6.438
Is this marriage at all disagreeable to him, on account of his intimacy with this foreign woman?
2.6.440
No, faith; or if at all, it is a two or three days’ annoyance this—you understand. It will then cease. Moreover, he himself has thought over this matter in a proper way.
2.6.443
I commend him.
2.6.443b
While it was allowed him, and while his years prompted him,
2.6.444
he intrigued; even then it was secretly. He took precaution that that circumstance should never be a cause of disgrace to him, as behooves a man of principle;
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now that he must have a wife, he has set his mind upon a wife.
2.6.447
He seemed to me to be somewhat melancholy in a slight degree.
2.6.448
Not at all on account of her, but there’s something he blames you for.
2.6.449
What is it, pray?
2.6.449b
It’s a childish thing.
2.6.449c
What is it?
2.6.449d
Nothing at all.
2.6.449e
Nay but, tell me what it is.
2.6.450
He says that you are making too sparing preparations.
2.6.450b
What, I?
2.6.450c
You.—He says that there has hardly been fare provided to the amount of ten drachmae.—Does he seem to be bestowing a wife on his son? Which one now, in preference, of my companions shall I invite to the dinner? And, it must be owned,
2.6.455
you really are providing too parsimoniously—I do not commend you.
2.6.455b
Hold your tongue.
2.6.456
I’ve touched him up.
2.6.456b
I’ll see that these things are properly done. (DAVUS goes into the house.) What’s the meaning of this? What does this old rogue mean? But if there’s any knavery here, why, he’s sure to be the source of the mischief.
3.1.459
Upon my faith, the fact is really as you mentioned, Lesbia,
3.1.460
you can hardly find a man constant to a woman.
3.1.461
This maid-servant comes from the Andrian.
3.1.461b
What do you say?
3.1.461c
It is so.
3.1.462
But this Pamphilus—
3.1.462b
What is she saying?
3.1.462c
Has proved his constancy.
3.1.462d
Hah!
3.1.463
I wish that either he were deaf, or she struck dumb.
3.1.464
For the child she brings forth, he has ordered to be brought up.
3.1.464b
O Jupiter!
3.1.465
What do I hear! It’s all over, if indeed this woman speaks the truth.
3.1.466
You mention a good disposition on the part of the young man.
3.1.466b
A most excellent one. But follow me in-doors, that you mayn’t keep her waiting.
3.1.467b
I’ll follow.
3.1.468
What remedy now shall I find for this mishap?
3.1.468b
What does this mean? Is he so infatuated? The child of a foreign woman? Now I understand; ah!
3.1.470
scarcely even at last, in my stupidity, have I found it out.
3.1.470b
What does he say he has found out?
3.1.471
This piece of knavery is being now for the first time palmed upon me by this fellow; they are pretending that she’s in labor, in order that they may alarm Chremes.
3.1.473
Juno Lucina, grant me thine aid, save me, I do entreat thee!
3.1.474
Whew! so sudden? What nonsense! As soon as
3.1.475
she has heard that I’m standing before the door, she makes all haste. These incidents, Davus, have not been quite happily adapted by you as to the points of time.
3.1.476b
By me?
3.1.477
Are your scholars forgetful?
3.1.477b
I don’t know what you are talking about.
3.1.478
If he at the real marriage of my son had taken me off my guard, what sport he would have made of me.
3.1.480
Now it is at his own risk; I’m sailing in harbor.
3.2.481
As yet, Archylis, all the customary symptoms which ought to exist toward recovery, I perceive in her. Now, in the first place, take care and let her bathe; then, after that, what I ordered to be given her to drink, and as much as I prescribed,
3.2.485
do you administer: presently I will return hither. (To herself aloud.) By all that’s holy, a fine boy has been born to Pamphilus. I pray the Gods that he may survive, since the father himself is of a good disposition, and since he has hesitated to do an injustice to this most excellent young woman.
3.2.489
Even this, who is there that knows you that would not believe that it originated in you?
3.2.489b
Why, what is this?
3.2.490
She didn’t order in their presence what was requisite to be done for the woman lying in; but after she has come out, she bawls from the street to those who are in the house. O Davus, am I thus trifled with by you? Or pray, do I seem to you so very well suited to be thus openly imposed upon by your tricks? At all events it should have been with pre-caution; that at least I might have seemed to be feared, if I should detect it.
3.2.495
Assuredly, upon my faith, it’s he that’s, now deceiving himself, not I.
3.2.495b
I gave you warning, I forbade you with threats to do it. Have you been awed? What has it availed? Am I to believe you now in this, that this woman has had a child by Pamphilus?
3.2.498
I understand where he’s mistaken; and I see what I must do.
3.2.498b
Why are you silent?
3.2.499
What would you believe? As though word had not been brought you that thus it would happen.
3.2.500
Any word brought to me?
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Come now, did you of your own accord perceive that this was counterfeited?
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I am being trifled with.
3.2.501
Word has been brought you; for otherwise how could this suspicion have occurred to you?
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How? Because I knew you.
3.2.502b
As though you meant to say that this has been done by my contrivance.
3.2.503
Why, I’m sure of it, to a certainty.
3.2.503b
Not yet even do you know me sufficiently, Simo, what sort of person I am.
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I, not know you!
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But if I begin to tell you any thing, at once
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you think that deceit is being practiced upon you in guile; therefore, upon my faith, I don’t dare now even to whisper.
3.2.506
This one thing I am sure of, that no person has been delivered here.
3.2.506b
You have discovered that? Still, not a bit the less will they presently be laying the child here before the door. Of this, then, I now warn you, master, that it will happen, that you may be aware of it. Don’t you hereafter be saying that this was done through the advice or artifices of Davus.
3.2.510
I wish this suspicion of yours to be entirely removed from myself.
3.2.511
How do you know that?
3.2.511b
I’ve heard so, and I believe it: many things combine for me to form this conjecture. In the first place then, she declared that she was pregnant by Pamphilus; that has been proved to be false. Now, when she sees that preparations are being made for the wedding at our house, the maid-servant is directly sent
3.2.515
to fetch the midwife to her, and to bring a child at the same time. Unless it is managed for you to see the child, the marriage will not be at all impeded.
3.2.517
What do you say to this? When you perceived that they were adopting this plan, why didn’t you tell Pamphilus immediately?
3.2.519
Why, who has induced him to leave her, but myself? For, indeed, we all
3.2.520
know how desperately he loved her. Now he wishes for a wife. In fine, do you intrust me with that affair; proceed however, as before, to celebrate these nuptials, just as you are doing, and I trust that the Gods will prosper this matter.
3.2.523
Very well; be off in-doors; wait for me there, and get ready what’s necessary to be prepared. (DAVUS goes into the house.) He hasn’t prevailed upon me even now altogether to believe these things,
3.2.525
and I don’t know whether what he has said is all true; but I deem it of little moment; this is of far greater importance to me—that my son himself has promised me. Now I’ll go and find Chremes; I’ll ask him for a wife for my son; if I obtain my request, at what other time rather than to-day should I prefer these nuptials taking place?
3.2.530
For as my son has promised, I have no doubt but that if he should prove unwilling, I can fairly compel him. And look! here’s Chremes himself, just at the very time.
3.3.533
I greet you, Chremes.
3.3.533b
O, you are the very person I was looking for.
3.3.533c
And I for you.
3.3.533d
You meet me at a welcome moment. Some persons have been to me, to say that they had heard from you, that my daughter

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