Heautontimorumenos; or, The Self-Tormenter

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 909 sections

1.2.199
What, he? (Aside.) But I’ll restrain myself; for that the other one should be in fear of his father is of service to him.
1.2.200
What is it you are saying to yourself?
1.2.200b
I’ll tell you. However the case stood, Clinia ought still to have remained at home. Perhaps his father was a little stricter than he liked: he should have put up with it. For whom ought he to bear with, if he would not bear with his own father? Was it reasonable that he should live after his son’s humor, or his son after his? And as to charging him with harshness, it is not the fact. For the severities of fathers
1.2.205
are generally of one character, those I mean who are in some degree reasonable men. They do not wish their sons to be always wenching; they do not wish them to be always carousing; they give a limited allowance; and yet all this tends to virtuous conduct. But when the mind, Clitipho, has once enslaved itself by vicious appetites, it must of necessity follow similar pursuits. This
1.2.210
is a wise maxim, to take warning from others of what may be to your own advantage.
1.2.211
I believe so.
1.2.211b
I’ll now go hence in-doors, to see what we have for dinner. Do you, seeing what is the time of day, mind and take care not to be any where out of the way.
2.1.213
What partial judges are all fathers in regard to all of us young men, in thinking it reasonable for us to become old men all at once from boys,
2.1.215
and not to participate in those things which youth is naturally inclined to. They regulate us by their own desires,—such as they now are,—not as they once were. If ever I have a son, he certainly shall find in me an indulgent father. For the means both of knowing and of pardoning his faults shall be found by me; not like mine, who by means of another person, discloses to me his own sentiments.
2.1.220
I’m plagued to death,—when he drinks a little more than usual, what pranks of his own he does relate to me! Now he says, Take warning from others of what may be to your advantage. How shrewd! He certainly does not know how deaf I am at the moment when he’s telling his stories. Just now, the words of my mistress make more impression upon me. Give me this, and bring me that, she cries; I have nothing to say to her in answer, and no one is there more wretched than myself.
2.1.225
But this Clinia, although he, as well, has cares enough of his own, still has a mistress of virtuous and modest breeding, and a stranger to the arts of a courtesan. Mine is a craving, saucy, haughty, extravagant creature, full of lofty airs. Then all that I have to give her is—fair words—for I make it a point not to tell her that I have nothing. This misfortune I met with not long since, nor does my father as yet know any thing of the matter.
2.2.230
If my love-affairs had been prosperous for me, I am sure she would have been here by this; but I’m afraid that the damsel has been led astray here in my absence. Many things combine to strengthen this opinion in my mind; opportunity, the place, her age, a worthless mother, under whose control she is, with whom nothing but gain is precious.
2.2.234b
Clinia!
2.2.234c
Alas! wretched me!
2.2.235
Do, pray, take care that no one coming out of your father’s house sees you here by accident.
2.2.236
I will do so; but really my mind presages I know not what misfortune.
2.2.237
Do you persist in making up your mind upon that, before you know what is the fact?
2.2.238
Had no misfortune happened, she would have been here by this.
2.2.238b
She’ll be here presently.
2.2.238c
When will that presently be?
2.2.239
You don’t consider that it is a great way fiom here. Besides, you know the ways of women,
2.2.240
while they are bestirring themselves, and while they are making preparations a whole year passes by.
2.2.240b
O Clitipho, I’m afraid—
2.2.241b
Take courage. Look, here comes Dromo, together with Syrus: they are close at hand.
2.3.242
Do you say so?
2.3.242b
’Tis as I told you,—
2.3.242c
but in the mean time, while we’ve been carrying on our discourse, these women have been left behind.
2.3.243b
Don’t you hear, Clinia? Your mistress is close at hand.
2.3.244
Why yes, I do hear now at last, and I see and revive, Clitipho.
2.3.245
No wonder; they are so encumbered; they are bringing a troop of female attendants with them.
2.3.246b
I’m undone! Whence come these female attendants?
2.3.246c
Do you ask me?
2.3.247
We ought not to have left them; what a quantity of things they are bringing!
2.3.247b
Ah me!
2.3.248
Jewels of gold, and clothes; it’s growing late too, and they don’t know the way. It was very foolish of us to leave them. Just go back, Dromo, and meet them. Make haste—why do you delay?
2.3.250b
Woe unto wretched me!—from what high hopes am I fallen!
2.3.251
What’s the matter? Why, what is it that troubles you?
2.3.251b
Do you ask what it is? Why, don’t you see? Attendants, jewels of gold, and clothes. her too, whom I left here with only one little servant girl. Whence do you suppose that they come?
2.3.253b
Oh! now at last I understand you.
2.3.254
Good Gods! what a multitude there is! Our house will hardly hold them, I’m sure.
2.3.255
How much they will eat! how much they will drink! what will there be more wretched than our old gentleman? (Catching sight of CLINIA and CLITIPHO.) But look, I espy the persons I was wanting.
2.3.256b
Oh Jupiter! Why, where is fidelity gone? While I, distractedly wandering, have abandoned my country for your sake, you, in the mean time, Antiphila, have been enriching yourself, and have forsaken me in these troubles, you for whose sake I am in extreme disgrace, and have been disobedient to my father;
2.3.260
on whose account I am now ashamed and grieved, that he who used to lecture me about the manners of these women, advised me in vain, and was not able to wean me away from her:—which, however, I shall now do; whereas when it might have been advantageous to me to do so, I was unwilling. There is no being more wretched than I.
2.3.263b
He certainly has been misled by our words which we have been speaking here. (Aloud.) Clinia, you imagine your mistress quite different from what she really is.
2.3.265
For both her mode of life is the same, and her disposition toward you is the same as it always was; so far as we could form a judgment from the circumstances themselves.
2.3.267
How so, prithee? For nothing in the world could I rather wish for just now, than that I have suspected this without reason.
2.3.269
This, in the first place, then (that you may not be ignorant of any thing that concerns her); the old woman,
2.3.270
who was formerly said to be her mother, was not so.—She is dead: this I overheard by accident from her, as we came along, while she was telling the other one.
2.3.272b
Pray, who is the other one?
2.3.273
Stay; what I have begun I wish first to relate, Clitipho; I shall come to that afterward.
2.3.274b
Make haste, then.
2.3.274c
First of all then,
2.3.275
when we came to the house, Dromo knocked at the door; a certain old woman came out; when she opened the door, he directly rushed in; I followed; the old woman bolted the door, and returned to her wool. On this occasion might be known, Clinia, or else on none,
2.3.280
in what pursuits she passed her life during your absence; when we thus came upon a female unexpectedly. For this circumstance then gave us an opportunity of judging of the course of her daily life; a thing which especially discovers what is the disposition of each individual.
2.3.285
We found her industriously plying at the web; plainly clad in a mourning dress, on account of this old woman, I suppose, who was lately dead; without golden ornaments, dressed, besides, just like those who only dress for themselves, and patched up with no worthless woman’s trumpery.
2.3.290
Her hair was loose, long, and thrown back negligently about her temples. (To CLINIA.) Do you hold your peace.
2.3.291b
My dear Syrus, do not without cause throw me into ecstasies, I beseech you.
2.3.292b
The old woman was spinning the woof: there was one little servant girl besides;—she was weaving together with them, covered with patched clothes,
2.3.295
slovenly, and dirty with filthiness.
2.3.295b
If this is true, Clinia, as I believe it is, who is there more fortunate than you? Do you mark this girl whom he speaks of, as dirty and drabbish? This, too, is a strong indication that the mistress is out of harm’s way, when her confidant is in such ill plight;
2.3.300
for it is a rule with those who wish to gain access to the mistress, first to bribe the maid.
2.3.302
Go on, I beseech you; and beware of endeavoring to purchase favor by telling an untruth. What did she say, when you mentioned me?
2.3.304
When we told her that you had returned, and had requested her
2.3.305
to come to you, the damsel instantly put away the web, and covered her face all over with tears; so that you might easily perceive that it really was caused by her affection for you.
2.3.308
So may the Deities bless me, I know not where I am for joy! I was so alarmed before.
2.3.309b
But I was sure that there was no reason, Clinia. Come now, Syrus, tell me, in my turn, who this other lady is.
2.3.311
Your Bacchis, whom we are bringing.
2.3.311b
Ha! What! Bacchis? How now, you rascal! whither are you bringing her?
2.3.312b
Whither am I bringing her? To our house, to be sure.
2.3.313
What! to my father’s?
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To the very same.
2.3.313c
Oh, the audacious impudence of the fellow!
2.3.313d
Hark’ye, no great and memorable action is done without some risk.
2.3.315
Look now; are you seeking to gain credit for yourself, at the hazard of my character, you rascal, in a point, where, if you only make the slightest slip, I am ruined? What would you be doing with her?
2.3.317b
But still—
2.3.317c
Why still?
2.3.317d
If you’ll give me leave, I’ll tell you.
2.3.317e
Do give him leave.
2.3.318
I give him leave then.
2.3.318b
This affair is now just as though when—
2.3.318c
Plague on it, what roundabout story is he beginning to tell me?
2.3.319b
Syrus, he says what’s right—do omit digressions; come to the point.
2.3.320
Really I can not hold my tongue. Clitipho, you are every way unjust, and can not possibly be endured.
2.3.321b
Upon my faith, he ought to have a hearing. (To CLITIPHO.) Do be silent.
2.3.322
You wish to indulge in your amours; you wish to possess your mistress; you wish that to be procured wherewithal to make her presents; in getting this, you do not wish the risk to be your own. You are not wise to no purpose,—if indeed it is being wise to wish for that which can not happen.
2.3.325
Either the one must be had with the other, or the one must be let alone with the other. Now, of these two alternatives, consider which one you would prefer; although this project which I have formed, I know to be both a wise and a safe one. For there is an opportunity for your mistress to be with you at your father’s house, without fear of a discovery; besides, by these self-same means, I shall find the money which you have promised her—
2.3.330
to effect which, you have already made my ears deaf with entreating me. What would you have more?
2.3.331b
If, indeed, this could be brought about—
2.3.331c
If, indeed? You shall know it by experience.
2.3.332
Well, well, disclose this project of yours. What is it?
2.3.332b
We will pretend that your mistress is his.
2.3.333b
Very fine! Tell me, what is he to do with his own? Is she, too, to be called his, as if one was not a sufficient discredit?
2.3.335
No—she shall be taken to your mother.
2.3.335b
Why there?
2.3.335c
It would be tedious, Clitipho, if I were to tell you why I do so; I have a good reason.
2.3.336b
Stuff! I see no grounds sufficiently solid why it should be for my advantage to incur this risk.
2.3.338
Stay; if there is this risk, I have another project, which you must both confess to be free from danger.
2.3.339b
Find out something of that description, I beseech you.
2.3.339c
By all means;
2.3.340
I’ll go meet her, and tell her to return home.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0134.phi002.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.