Andria; or, The Fair Andrian

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 901 sections

3.3.535
was to be married to your son to-day; I’ve come to see whether they are out of their senses or you.
3.3.536
Listen; in a few words you shall learn both what I want of you, and what you seek to know.
3.3.537
I am listening; say what you wish.
3.3.538
By the Gods, I do entreat you, Chremes, and by our friendship, which, commencing with our infancy, has grown up with our years,
3.3.540
and by your only daughter and by my own son (of preserving whom the entire power lies with you), that you will assist me in this matter; and that, just as this marriage was about to be celebrated, it may be celebrated.
3.3.543b
O, don’t importune me; as though you needed to obtain this of me by entreaty.
3.3.545
Do you suppose I am different now from what I was formerly, when I promised her? If it is for the advantage of them both that it should take place, order her to be sent for. But if from this course there would result more harm than advantage for each, this I do beg of you, that you will consult for their common good, as though she were your own daughter, and I the father of Pamphilus.
3.3.550
Nay, so I intend, and so I wish it to be, Chremes; and I would not ask it of you, did not the occasion itself require it.
3.3.551b
What is the matter?
3.3.552
There is a quarrel between Glycerium and my son.
3.3.552b
I hear you.
3.3.553
So munch so, that I’m in hopes they may be separated.
3.3.553b
Nonsense!
3.3.554
It really is so.
3.3.554b
After this fashion, i’faith, I tell you,
3.3.555
the quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.
3.3.556
Well—this I beg of you, that we may prevent it. While an opportunity offers, and while his passion is cooled by affronts, before the wiles of these women and their tears, craftily feigned,
3.3.560
bring back his love-sick mind to compassion, let us give him a wife. I trust, Chremes, that, when attached by intimacy and a respectable marriage, he will easily extricate himself from these evils.
3.3.563
So it appears to you; but I do not think that either he can possibly hold to her with constancy, or that I can put up with it if he does not.
3.3.565
How then can you be sure of that, unless you make the experiment?
3.3.566
But for that experiment to be made upon a daughter is a serious thing—
3.3.567
Why look, all the inconvenience in fine amounts to this—possibly, which may the Gods forfend, a separation may take place. But if he is reformed, see how many are the advantages:
3.3.570
in the first place, you will have restored a son to your friend; you will obtain a sure son-in-law for yourself, and a husband for your daughter.
3.3.572
What is one to say to all this? If you feel persuaded that this is beneficial, I don’t wish that any advantage should be denied you.
3.3.574
With good reason, Chremes, have I always considered you a most valuable friend.
3.3.575
But how say you—?
3.3.575b
What?
3.3.575c
How do you know that they are now at variance?
3.3.576
Davus himself, who is privy to all their plans, has told me so; and he advises me to expedite the match as fast as I can. Do you think he would do so, unless he was aware that my son desired it? You yourself as well shall presently hear what he says. (Goes to the door of his house and calls.) Halloo there! Call Davus out here.
3.3.580
Look, here he is; I see him just coming out.
3.4.580b
I was coming to you.
3.4.580c
Why, what’s the matter?
3.4.581
Why isn’t the bride sent for? It’s now growing late in the day.
3.4.581b
Do you hear me? I’ve been for some time not a little apprehensive of you, Davus, lest you should do that which the common class of servants is in the habit of doing, namely, impose upon me by your artifices; because my son is engaged in an amour.
3.4.584b
What, I do that?
3.4.584c
I fancied so;
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and therefore, fearing that, I concealed from you what I shall now mention.
3.4.585b
What?
3.4.585c
You shall know; for now I almost feel confidence in you.
3.4.586b
Have you found out at last what sort of a person I am?
3.4.587
The marriage was not to have taken place.
3.4.587b
How? Not to have taken place?
3.4.587c
But I was making pretense, that I might test you all.
3.4.588b
What is it you tell me?
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Such is the fact.
3.4.588d
Only see! I was not able to discover that. Dear me! what a cunning contrivance!
3.4.590
Listen to this. Just as I ordered you to go from here into the house, he (pointing to CHREMES.) most opportunely met me.
3.4.590b
Ha! Are we undone, then?
3.4.591b
I told him what you just now told me.
3.4.592
Why, what am I to hear?
3.4.592b
I begged him to give his daughter, and with difficulty I prevailed upon him.
3.4.592c
Utterly ruined!
3.4.592d
Eh—What was it you said?
3.4.593b
Extremely well done, I say.
3.4.593c
There’s no delay on his part now.
3.4.594
I’ll go home at once; I’ll tell her to make due preparation, and bring back word here.
3.4.595
Now I do entreat you, Davus, since you by yourself have brought about this marriage for me—
3.4.596
I myself, indeed!
3.4.596b
Do your best still to reform my son.
3.4.597
Troth, I’ll do it with all due care.
3.4.597b
Do it now, while his mind is agitated.
3.4.598
You may be at ease.
3.4.598b
Come then; where is he just now?
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A wonder if he isn’t at home.
3.4.599
I’ll go to him; and what I’ve been telling you, I’ll tell him as well.
3.4.599b
I’m a lost man!
3.4.600
What reason is there why I shouldn’t take my departure straightway hence for the mill? There’s no room left for supplicating; I’ve upset every thing now; I’ve deceived my master; I’ve plunged my master’s son into a marriage; I’ve been the cause of its taking place this very day, without his hoping for it, and against the wish of Pamphilus. Here’s cleverness for you! But, if I had kept myself quiet, no mischief would have happened. (Starting.)
3.4.605
But see, I espy him; I’m utterly undone! Would that there were some spot here for me, from which I might this instant pitch myself headlong!
3.5.607
Where is he? The villain, who this day—I’m ruined;
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and I confess that this has justly befallen me, for being such a dolt, so devoid of sense; that I should have in-trusted my fortunes to a frivolous slave!
3.5.610
I am suffering the reward of my folly; still he shall never get off from me un-punished for this.
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I’m quite sure that I shall be safe in future, if for the present I get clear of this mishap.
3.5.612
But what now am I to say to my father? Am I to deny that I am ready, who have just promised to marry? With what effrontery could I presume to do that? I know not what to do with myself.
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Nor I with myself, and yet I’m giving all due attention to it.
3.5.615
I’ll tell him that I will devise something, in order that I may procure some respite in this dilemma.
3.5.616
Oho!
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I’m seen.
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How now, good sir, what are you about? Do you see how dreadfully I am hampered by your devices?
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Still, I’ll soon extricate you.
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You, extricate me?
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Assuredly, Pamphilus.
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As you have just done, I suppose.
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Why no, better, I trust.
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What, am I to believe you, you scoundrel?
3.5.620
You, indeed, make good a matter that’s all embarrassment and ruin! Just see, in whom I’ve been placing reliance—you who this day from a most happy state have been and plunged me into a marriage. Didn’t I say that this would be the case?
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You did say so.
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What do you deserve?
3.5.621d
The cross. But allow me a little time to recover myself; I’ll soon hit upon something.
3.5.622b
Ah me! not to have the leisure to inflict punishment upon you as I desire! for the present conjuncture warns me to take precautions for myself, not to be taking vengeance on you.
4.1.625
Is this to be believed or spoken of; that malice so great could be inborn in any one as to exult at misfortunes, and to derive advantage from the distresses of another! Oh, is this true? Assuredly, that is the most dangerous class of men,
4.1.630
in whom there is only a slight degree of hesitation at refusing; afterward, when the time arrives for fulfilling their promises, then, obliged, of necessity they discover themselves. They are afraid, and yet the circumstances compel them to refuse. Then, in that case, their very insolent remark is,
4.1.635
Who are you? What are you to me? What should I give up to you what’s my own? Look you, I am the most concerned in my own interests. But if you inquire where is honor, they are not ashamed. Here, where there is occasion, they are not afraid; there, where there is no occasion, they are afraid. But what am I to do? Ought I not to go to him, and reason with him upon this outrage,
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and heap many an invective upon him? Yet some one may say, you will avail nothing. Nothing? At least I shall have vexed him, and have given vent to my own feelings.
4.1.642
Charinus, unintentionally I have ruined both myself and you, unless the Gods in some way befriend us.
4.1.643
Unintentionally, is it! An excuse has been discovered at last. You have broken your word.
4.1.644
How so, pray?
4.1.644b
Do you expect to deceive me a second time by these speeches?
4.1.645
What does this mean?
4.1.645b
Since I told you that I loved her, she has become quite pleasing to you. Ah wretched me! to have judged of your disposition from my own.
4.1.647
You are mistaken.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0134.phi001.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.