Heautontimorumenos; or, The Self-Tormenter

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 909 sections

2.3.340b
Ha! what was it you said?
2.3.341b
I’ll rid you at once of all fears, so that you may sleep at your ease upon either ear.
2.3.343
What am I to do now?
2.3.343b
What are you to do? The goods that—
2.3.343c
Only tell me the truth, Syrus.
2.3.344b
Dispatch quickly; you’ll be wishing just now too late and in vain.
2.3.345
The Gods provide, enjoy while yet you may; for you know not—
2.3.346
Syrus, I say!
2.3.346b
Go on; I shall still do that which I said.
2.3.347
Whether you may have another opportunity hereafter or ever again.
2.3.348
I’faith, that’s true. (Calling.) Syrus, Syrus, I say, harkye, harkye, Syrus!
2.3.349
He warms a little. (To CLITIPHO.) What is it you want?
2.3.349b
Come back, come back.
2.3.349c
Here I am; tell me what you would have. You’ll be presently saying that this, too, doesn’t please you.
2.3.350b
Nay, Syrus, I commit myself, and my love, and my reputation entirely to you: you are the seducer; take care you don’t deserve any blame.
2.3.353
It is ridiculous for you to give me that caution, Clitipho, as if my interest was less at stake in this affair than yours.
2.3.355
Here, if any ill luck should perchance befall us, words will be in readiness for you, but for this individual blows (pointing to himself). For that reason, this matter is by no means to be neglected on my part: but do prevail upon him (pointing to CLINIA) to pretend that she is his own mistress.
2.3.358b
You may rest assured I’ll do so. The matter has now come to that pass, that it is a case of necessity.
2.3.360b
’Tis with good reason that I love you, Clinia.
2.3.361
But she mustn’t be tripping at all.
2.3.361b
She is thoroughly tutored in her part.
2.3.362
But this I wonder at, how you could so easily prevail upon her, who is wont to treat such great peoplel with scorn.
2.3.364
I came to her at the proper moment, which in all things is of the first importance:
2.3.365
for there I found a certain wretched captain soliciting her favors: she artfully managed the man, so as to inflame his eager passions by denial; and this, too, that it might be especially pleasing to yourself. But hark you, take care, will you, not to be imprudently impetuous.
2.3.370
You know your father, how quick-sighted he is in these matters; and I know you, how unable you are to command yourself. Keep clear of words of double meaning, your sidelong looks, sighing, hemming, coughing, tittering.
2.3.374
You shall have to commend me.
2.3.374b
Take care of that, please.
2.3.374c
You yourself shall be surprised at me.
2.3.375
But how quickly the ladies have come up with us!
2.3.376
Where are they? (SYRUS stands before him.) Why do you hold me back?
2.3.376b
For the present she is nothing to you.
2.3.377
I know it, before my father; but now in the mean time—
2.3.377b
Not a bit the more.
2.3.378
Do let me.
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I will not let you, I tell you.
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But only for a moment, pray.
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I forbid it.
2.3.379
Only to salute her.
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If you are wise, get you gone.
2.3.379c
I’m off.
2.3.380
But what’s he to do?
2.3.380b
He will stay here.
2.3.380c
O happy man!
2.3.380d
Take yourself off.
2.4.381
Upon my word, my dear Antiphila, I commend you, and think you fortunate in having made it your study that your manners should be conformable to those good looks of yours: and so may the Gods bless me, I do not at all wonder if every man is in love with you. For your discourse has been a proof to me what kind of disposition you possess.
2.4.385
And when now I reflect in my mind upon your way of life, and that of all of you, in fact, who keep the public at a distance from yourselves, it is not surprising both that you are of that disposition, and that we are not; for it is your interest to be virtuous; those, with whom we are acquainted, will not allow us to be so. For our lovers, allured merely by our beauty, court us for that;
2.4.390
when that has faded, they transfer their affections elsewhere; and unless we have made provision in the mean time for the future, we live in destitution. Now with you, when you have once resolved to pass your life with one man whose manners are especially kindred to your own, those persons become attached to you. By this kindly feeling, you are truly devoted to each other;
2.4.395
and no calamity can ever possibly interrupt your love.
2.4.396
I know nothing about other women: I’m sure that I have, indeed, always used every endeavor to derive my own happiness from his happiness.
2.4.397b
Ah! ’tis for that reason, my Antiphila, that you alone have now caused me to return to my native country; for while I was absent from you, all other hardships which I encountered were light to me,
2.4.400
save the being deprived of you.
2.4.400b
I believe it.
2.4.400c
Syrus, I can scarce endure it! Wretch that I am, that I should not be allowed to possess one of such a disposition at my own discretion!
2.4.402
Nay, so far as I understand your father, he will for a long time yet be giving you a hard task.
2.4.403
Why, who is that young man that’s looking at us?
2.4.403b
Ah! do support me, I entreat you!
2.4.404
Prithee, what is the matter with you?
2.4.404b
I shall die, alas! I shall die!
2.4.404c
Why are you thus surprised, Antiphila?
2.4.405b
Is it Clinia that I see, or not?
2.4.405c
Whom do you see?
2.4.406
Blessings on you, my life!
2.4.406b
Oh my long-wished for Clinia, blessings on you!
2.4.406c
How fare you, my love?
2.4.407
I’m overjoyed that you have returned safe.
2.4.407b
And do I embrace you, Antiphila, so passionately longed for by my soul?
2.4.409
Go in-doors; for the old gentleman has been waiting for us some time.
3.1.410
It is now daybreak. Why do I delay to knock at my neighbor’s door, that he may learn from me the first that his son has returned? Although I am aware that the youth would not prefer this. But when I see him tormenting himself so miserably about his absence, can I conceal a joy so unhoped for,
3.1.415
especially when there can be no danger to him from the discovery? I will not do so; but as far as I can I will assist the old man. As I see my son aiding his friend and year’s-mate, and acting as his confidant in his concerns, it is but right that we old men as well should assist each other.
3.1.420
Assuredly I was either born with a disposition peculiarly suited for misery, or else that saying which I hear commonly repeated, that time assuages human sorrow, is false. For really my sorrow about my son increases daily; and the longer
3.1.425
he is away from me, the more anxiously do I wish for him, and the more I miss him.
3.1.426
But I see him coming out of his house; I’ll go speak to him. (Aloud.) Menedemus, good-morrow; I bring you news, which you would especially desire to be imparted.
3.1.429
Pray, have you heard any thing about my son, Chremes?
3.1.430
He’s alive, and well.
3.1.430b
Why, where is he, pray?
3.1.430c
Here, at my house, at home.
3.1.431
My son?
3.1.431b
Such is the fact.
3.1.431c
Come home?
3.1.431d
Certainly.
3.1.431e
My son, Clinia, come home?
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I say so.
3.1.432c
Let us go. Lead me to him, I beg of you.
3.1.433
He does not wish you yet to know of his return, and he shuns your presence; he’s afraid that,
3.1.435
on account of that fault, your former severity may even be increased.
3.1.436
Did you not tell him how I was affected?
3.1.436b
No—
3.1.436c
For what reason, Chremes?
3.1.437
Because there you would judge extremely ill both for yourself and for him, if you were to show yourself of a spirit so weak and irresolute.
3.1.439
I can not help it: enough already, enough, have I proved a rigorous father.
3.1.439b
Ah
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Menedemus! you are too precipitate in either extreme, either with profuseness or with parsimony too great. Into the same error will you fall from the one side as from the other. In the first place, formerly, rather than allow your son to visit a young woman, who was
3.1.445
then content with a very little, and to whom any thing was acceptable, you frightened him away from here. After that, she began, quite against her inclination, to seek a subsistence upon the town. Now, when she can not be supported without a great expense, you are ready to give any thing. For, that you may know
3.1.450
how perfectly she is trained to extravagance, in the first place, she has already brought with her more than ten female attendants, all laden with clothes and jewels of gold; if a satrap had been her admirer, he never could support her expenses, much less can you.
3.1.454b
Is she at your house?
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Is she, do you ask?
3.1.455
I have felt it; for I have given her and her retinue one dinner; had I to give them another such, it would be all over with me; for, to pass by other matters, what a quantity of wine she did consume for me in tasting only, saying thus, This wine is too acid, respected sir, do please look for something more mellow.
3.1.460
I opened all the casks, all the vessels; she kept all on the stir: and this but a single night. What do you suppose will become of you when they are constantly preying upon you? So may the Gods prosper me, Menedemus, I do pity your lot.
3.1.464b
Let him do what he will;
3.1.465
let him take, waste, and squander; I’m determined to endure it, so long as I only have him with me.

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.