Andria; or, The Fair Andrian

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 901 sections

4.1.647b
Did this pleasure appear to you not to be quite complete, unless you tantalized me in my passion, and lured me on by groundless hopes?—You may take her.
4.1.649b
I, take her? Alas! you know not in what perplexities, to my sorrow, I am involved,
4.1.650
and what vast anxieties this executioner of mine (pointing to DAVUS.) has contrived for me by his devices.
4.1.651b
What is it so wonderful, if he takes example from yourself?
4.1.652
You would not say that if you understood either myself or my affection.
4.1.653
I’m quite aware (ironically.); you have just now had a dispute with your father, and he is now angry with you in consequence, and has not been able to-day to prevail upon you to marry her.
4.1.655
No, not at all,—as you are not acquainted with my sorrows, these nuptials were not in preparation for me; and no one was thinking at present of giving me a wife.
4.1.658
I am aware; you have been influenced by your own inclination.
4.1.658b
Hold; you do not yet know all.
4.1.659b
For my part, I certainly do know that you are about to marry her.
4.1.660
Why are you torturing me to death? Listen to this. He (pointing to DAVUS.) never ceased to urge me to tell my father that I would marry her; to advise and persuade me, even until he compelled me.
4.1.663
Who was this person?
4.1.663b
Davus.
4.1.663c
Davus!
4.1.663e
For what reason?
4.1.663f
I don’t know; except that I must have been under the displeasure of the Gods, for me to have listened to him.
4.1.665
Is this the fact, Davus?
4.1.665b
It is the fact.
4.1.665c
Ha! What do you say, you villain? Then may the Gods send you an end worthy of your deeds. Come now, tell me, if all his enemies had wished him to be plunged into a marriage, what advice but this could they have given?
4.1.669
I have been deceived, but I don’t despair.
4.1.669b
I’m sure of that.
4.1.670
This way it has not succeeded; we’ll try another. Unless, perhaps, you think that because it failed at first, this misfortune can not now possibly be changed for better luck.
4.1.673
Certainly not; for I quite believe that if you set about it, you will be making two marriages for me out of one.
4.1.675
I owe you this, Pamphilus, in respect of my servitude, to strive with hands and feet, night and day; to submit to hazard of my life, to serve you. It is your part, if any thing has fallen out contrary to expectation, to forgive me. What I was contriving has not succeeded; still, I am using all endeavors;
4.1.680
or, do you yourself devise something better, and dismiss me.
4.1.681
I wish to; restore me to the position in which you found me.
4.1.682
I’ll do so.
4.1.682b
But it must be done directly.
4.1.682c
But the door of Glycerium’s house here makes a noise.
4.1.683
That’s nothing to you.
4.1.683b
I’m in search of—
4.1.683c
Dear me, what, now at last?
4.1.683d
Presently I’ll give you what I’ve hit upon.
4.2.684
Now, wherever he is, I’ll take care that your own Pamphilus shall be found for you, and brought to you by me; do you only, my life, cease to vex yourself.
4.2.686
Mysis.
4.2.686b
Who is it? Why, Pamphilus, you do present yourself opportunely to me.
4.2.687
My mistress charged me to beg of you, if you love her, to come to her directly; she says she wishes to see you.
4.2.688b
Alas! I am undone; this dilemma grows apace! (To DAVUS.) For me and her, unfortunate persons, now to be tortured this way through your means;
4.2.690
for I am sent for, because she has discovered that my marriage is in preparation.
4.2.691
From which, indeed, how easily a respite could have been obtained, if he (pointing to DAVUS.) had kept himself quiet.
4.2.692
Do proceed; if he isn’t sufficiently angry of his own accord, do you irritate him.
4.2.692b
Aye faith, that is the case; and for that reason, poor thing, she is now in distress.
4.2.693b
Mysis, I swear by all the Gods that I will never forsake her;
4.2.695
not if I were to know that all men would be my enemies in consequence. Her have I chosen for mine; she has fallen to my lot; our feelings are congenial; farewell they, who wish for a separation between us; nothing but Death separates her from me.
4.2.698
I begin to revive.
4.2.698b
Not the responses of Apollo are more true than this. If it can possibly be contrived that my father may not believe
4.2.700
that this marriage has been broken off through me, I could wish it. But if that can not be, I will do that which is easily effected, for him to believe that through me it has been caused. What do you think of me?
4.2.702b
That you are as unhappy as myself.
4.2.702c
I’m contriving an expedient.
4.2.702d
You are a clever hand;
4.2.703
if you do set about any thing.
4.2.703b
Assuredly, I’ll manage this for you.
4.2.704
There’s need of it now.
4.2.704b
But I’ve got it now.
4.2.704c
What is it?
4.2.704d
For him (pointing to PAMPHILUS) I’ve got it, not for you, don’t mistake.
4.2.705
I’m quite satisfied.
4.2.705b
What will you do? Tell me.
4.2.705c
I’m afraid that this day won’t be long enough for me to execute it, so don’t suppose that I’ve now got leisure for relating it; do you betake yourself off at once, for you are a hinderance to me.
4.2.708
I’ll go and see her.
4.2.708b
What are you going to do? Whither are you going from here?
4.2.708c
Do you wish me to tell you the truth?
4.2.708d
No, not at all; (aside.) he’s making the beginning of a long story for me.
4.2.709b
What will become of me?
4.2.710
Come now, you unreasonable person, are you not satisfied that I give you a little respite, by putting off his marriage?
4.2.711b
But yet, Davus—
4.2.711c
What then?
4.2.712
That I may marry her—
4.2.712b
Absurd.
4.2.712c
Be sure to come hither (pointing in the direction of his house.) to my house, if you can effect any thing.
4.2.713
Why should I come? I can do nothing for you.
4.2.713b
But still, if any thing—
4.2.713c
Well, well, I’ll come.
4.2.713d
If you can; I shall be at home.
4.2.714b
Do you, Mysis, remain here a little while, until I come out.
4.2.715
For what reason?
4.2.715b
There’s a necessity for so doing.
4.2.715c
Make haste.
4.2.715d
I’ll be here this moment, I tell you.
4.3.716
That nothing can be secure to any one! Ye Gods, by our trust in you! I used to make sure that this Pamphilus was a supreme blessing for my mistress; a friend, a protector, a husband secured under every circumstance; yet what anguish is she, poor thing, now suffering through him?
4.3.720
Clearly there’s more trouble for her now than there was happiness formerly. But Davus is coming out. (Enter DAVUS from the house of GLYCERIUM with the child.) My good sir, prithee, what is that? Whither are you carrying the child?
4.3.722b
Mysis, I now stand in need of your cunning being brought into play in this matter, and of your address.
4.3.724
Why, what are you going to do?
4.3.724b
Take it from me directly, and lay it down before our door.
4.3.725b
Prithee, on the ground?
4.3.726b
Take some sacred herbs from the altar here, and strew them under it.
4.3.727b
Why don’t you do it yourself?
4.3.728
That if perchance I should have to swear to my master that I did not place it there, I may be enabled to do so with a clear conscience.
4.3.729b
I understand;
4.3.730
have these new scruples only just now occurred to you, pray?
4.3.731
Bestir yourself quickly, that you may learn what I’m going to do next. (MYSIS lays the child at SIMO’s door.) Oh Jupiter!
4.3.732b
What’s the matter?
4.3.732c
The father of the intended bride is coming in the middle of it all. The plan which I had first purposed I now give up.
4.3.734
I don’t understand what you are talking about.
4.3.734b
I’ll pretend too that I’ve come in this direction from the right. Do you take care to help out
4.3.736
the conversation by your words, whenever there’s necessity.
4.3.737
I don’t at all comprehend what you are about; but if there’s any thing in which you have need of my assistance, as you understand the best, I’ll stay, that I mayn’t in any way impede your success. (DAVUS retires out of sight.)
4.4.740
After having provided the things necessary for my daughter’s nuptials, I’m returning, that I may request her to be sent for. (Seeing the child.) But what’s this? I’faith, it’s a child. (Addressing MYSIS.) Woman, have you laid that here (pointing to the child.)?
4.4.742b
Where is he?
4.4.743
Don’t you answer me?

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.