Heautontimorumenos; or, The Self-Tormenter

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 909 sections

3.1.466b
If it is your determination thus to act, I hold it to be of very great foment that he should not be aware that with a full knowledge you grant him this.
3.1.469
What shall I do?
3.1.469b
Any thing, rather than what you are thinking of;
3.1.470
supply him with money through some other person; suffer yourself to be imposed upon by the artifices of his servant: although I have smelt out this too, that they are about that, and are secretly planning it among them. Syrus is always whispering with that servant of yours; they impart their plans to the young men; and it were better for you to lose
3.1.475
a talent this way, than a mina the other. The money is not the question now, but this—in what way we can supply it to the young man with the least danger. For if he once knows the state of your feelings, that you would sooner part with your life, and sooner
3.1.480
with all your money, than allow your son to leave you; whew! what an inlet will you be opening for his debauchery! aye, and so much so, that henceforth to live can not be desirable to you. For we all become worse through indulgence. Whatever comes into his head, he’ll be wishing for; nor
3.1.485
will he reflect whether that which he desires is right or wrong. You will not be able to endure your estate and him going to ruin. You will refuse to supply him: he will immediately have recourse to the means by which he finds that he has the greatest hold upon you, and threaten that he will immediately leave you.
3.1.490
You seem to speak the truth, and just what is the fact.
3.1.491
I’faith, I have not been sensible of sleep this night with my eyes, for thinking of this—how to restore your son to you.
3.1.493
Give me your right hand. I request that you will still act in a like manner, Chremes.
3.1.494
I am ready to serve you.
3.1.494b
Do you know what it is I now want you to do?
3.1.495
Tell me.
3.1.495b
As you have perceived that they are laying a plan to deceive me, that they may hasten to complete it. I long to give him whatever he wants: I am now longing to behold him.
3.1.497b
I’ll lend my endeavors. This little business is in my way. Our neighbors Simus and Crito are disputing here about boundaries;
3.1.500
they have chosen me for arbitrator. I’ll go and tell them that I can not possibly give them my attention to-day as I had stated I would. I’ll be here immediately.
3.1.502b
Pray do. (To himself.) Ye Gods, by our trust in you! That the nature of all men should be so constituted, that they can see and judge of other men’s affairs better
3.1.505
than their own! Is it because in our own concerns we are biased either with joy or grief in too great a degree? How much wiser now is he for me, than I have been for myself!
3.1.508
I have disengaged myself, that I might lend you my services at my leisure. Syrus must be found and instructed by me in this business.
3.1.510
Some one, I know not who, is coming out of my house: do you step hence home, that they may not perceive that we are conferring together.
3.2.512
Run to and fro in every direction; still, money, you must be found: a trap must be laid for the old man.
3.2.514
Was I deceived in saying that they were planning this?
3.2.515
That servant of Clinia’s is somewhat dull; therefore that province has been assigned to this one of ours.
3.2.517
Who’s that speaking? (Catches sight of CGREMES.) I’m undone! Did he hear it, I wonder?
3.2.517b
Syrus.
3.2.517c
Well—
3.2.518
What are you doing here ?
3.2.518b
All right. Really, I am quite surprised at you, Chremes, up so early, after drinking so much yesterday.
3.2.519b
Not too much.
3.2.520
Not too much, say you? Really, you’ve seen the old age of an eagle, as the saying is.
3.2.521b
Pooh, pooh!
3.2.521c
A pleasant and agreeable woman this Courtesan.
3.2.522b
Why, so she seemed to me, in fact.
3.2.523
And really of handsome appearance.
3.2.523b
Well enough.
3.2.524
Not like those of former days, but as times are now, very passable:
3.2.525
nor do I in the least wonder that Clinia doats upon her. But he has a father—a certain covetous, miserable, and niggardly person—this neighbor of ours (pointing to the house). Do you know him ? Yet, as if he was not abounding in wealth, his son ran away through want. Are you aware that it is the fact, as I am saying?
3.2.529b
How should I not be aware?
3.2.530
A fellow that deserves the mill.
3.2.530b
Who?
3.2.530c
That servant of the young gentleman, I mean.
3.2.531b
Syrus! I was sadly afraid for you.
3.2.532
To suffer it to come to this!
3.2.532b
What was he to do?
3.2.532c
Do you ask the question? He ought to have found some expedient, contrived some stratagem, by means of which there might have been something for the young man to give to his mistress,
3.2.535
and thus have saved this crabbed old fellow in spite of himself.
3.2.536
You are surely joking.
3.2.536b
This ought to have been done by him, Syrus.
3.2.537
How now—pray, do you commend servants, who deceive their masters?
3.2.537b
Upon occasion—I certainly do commend them.
3.2.538b
Quite right.
3.2.538c
Inasmuch as it often is the remedy for great disturbances.
3.2.540
Then would this man’s only son have staid at home.
3.2.541
Whether he says this in jest or in earnest, I don’t know; only, in fact, that he gives me additional zest for longing still more to trick him.
3.2.543
And what is he now waiting for, Syrus? Is it until his father drives him away from here a second time, when he can no longer support her expenses?
3.2.545
Has he no plot on foot against the old gentleman?
3.2.545b
He is a stupid fellow.
3.2.546
Then you ought to assist him—for the sake of the young man.
3.2.547b
For my part, I can do so easily, if you command me; for I know well in what fashion it is usually done.
3.2.549
So much the better, i’ faith.
3.2.549b
’Tis not my way to tell an untruth.
3.2.550
Do it then.
3.2.550b
But hark you! Just take care and remember this, in case any thing of this sort should perchance happen at a future time, such are human affairs!—your son might do the same.
3.2.553
The necessity will not arise, I trust.
3.2.553b
I’ faith, and I trust so too: nor do I say so now, because I have suspected him in any way;
3.2.555
but in case, none the more—You see what his age is; (aside) and truly, Chremes, if an occasion does happen, I may be able to handle you right handsomely.
3.2.557b
As to that, we’ll consider what is requisite when the occasion does happen. At present do you set about this matter.
3.2.559
Never on any occasion did I hear my master talk more to the purpose;
3.2.560
nor at any time could I believe that I was authorized to play the rogue with greater impunity. I wonder who it is coming out of our house?
3.3.562
Pray, what does this mean? What behavior is this, Clitipho? Is this acting as becomes you?
3.3.563
What have I done?
3.3.563b
Did I not see you just now putting your hand into this Courtesan’s bosom?
3.3.564b
It’s all up with us—I’m utterly undone!
3.3.564c
What, I?
3.3.564d
With these self-same eyes I saw it—don’t deny it.
3.3.565
Besides, you wrong him unworthily in not keeping your hands off: for indeed it is a gross affront to entertain a person, your friend, at your house, and to take liberties with his mistress. Yesterday, for instance, at wine, how rude you were—
3.3.568b
’Tis the truth
3.3.568c
How annoying you were! So much so, that for my part, as the Gods may prosper me, I dreaded what in the end might be the consequence.
3.3.570
I understand lovers. They resent highly things that you would not imagine.
3.3.571
But he has full confidence in me, father, that I would not do any thing of that kind.
3.3.572
Be it so; still, at least, you ought to go somewhere for a little time away from their presence. Passion prompts to many a thing; your presence acts as a restraint upon doing them. I form a judgment from myself. There’s not one of my friends this day
3.3.575
to whom I would venture, Clitipho, to disclose all my secrets. With one, his station forbids it; with another, I am ashamed of the action itself, lest I may appear a fool or devoid of shame; do you rest assured that he does the same. But it is our part to be sensible of this; and, when and where it is requisite, to show due complaisance.
3.3.579
What is it he is saying ?
3.3.579b
I’m utterly undone!
3.3.579c
Clitipho, these same injunctions I gave you.
3.3.580
You have acted the part of a prudent and discreet person.
3.3.580b
Hold your tongue, I beg.
3.3.581
Very good.
3.3.581b
Syrus, I am ashamed of him.
3.3.581c
I believe it; and not without reason. Why, he vexes myself even.
3.3.582b
Do you persist, then ?
3.3.582c
I’ faith, I’m saying the truth, as it appears to me.
3.3.583
May I not go near them?
3.3.583b
How now—pray, is there but one way of going near them ?
3.3.584
Confusion! He’ll be betraying himself before I’ve got the money.
3.3.585
(Aloud.) Chremes, will you give attention to me, who am but a silly person?
3.3.585b
What am I to do?
3.3.585c
Bid him go somewhere out of the way.
3.3.586b
Where am I to go?
3.3.586c
Where you please; leave the place to them; be off and take a walk.

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.