Hecyra; The Mother-In-Law

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 516 sections

3.3.385
But when I call to mind her entreaties, I can not, wretched as I am, refrain from tears. hatever chance or fortune it is, said she, which has brought you here to-day, by it we do both conjure you, if with equity and justice we may, that her misfortune may be concealed by you, and kept a secret from all. If ever you were sensible, my dear Pamphilus, that she was tenderly disposed toward you, she now asks you to grant her this favor in return, without making any difficulty of it.
3.3.391
But as to taking her back, act quite according to your own convenience. You alone are aware of her lying-in, and that the child is none of yours. For it is said that it was two months after the marriage before she had commerce with you. And then, this is but the seventh month since she came to you.
3.3.395
That you are sensible of this, the circumstances themselves prove. Now, if it is possible, Pamphilus, I especially wish, and will use my endeavors, that her labor may remain unknown to her father, and to all, in fact. But if that can not be managed, and they do find it out, I will say that she miscarried; I am sure no one will suspect otherwise than, what is so likely, the child was by you.
3.3.400
It shall be instantly exposed; in that case there is no inconvenience whatever to yourself, and you will be concealing an outrage so undeservingly committed upon her, poor thing! I promised this, and I am resolved to keep faith in what I said. But as to taking her back, really I do not think that would be at all creditable, nor will I do so, although love for her, and habit, have a strong influence upon me.
3.3.405
I weep when it occurs to my mind, what must be her life, and how great her loneliness in future. O Fortune, thou hast never been found constant! But by this time my former passion has taught me experience in the present case. The means by which I got rid of that, I must employ on the present occasion. Parmeno is coming with the servants; it is far from convenient
3.3.410
that he should be here under present circumstances, for he was the only person to whom I trusted the secret that I kept aloof from her when I first married her. I am afraid lest, if he should frequently hear her cries, he might find out that she is in labor. He must be dispatched by me somewhere till Philumena is delivered.
3.4.415
Do you say that this voyage was disagreeable to you?
3.4.416
Upon my faith, Parmeno, it can not be so much as expressed in words, how disagreeable it is to go on a voyage.
3.4.418
Do you say so?
3.4.418b
O lucky man! You don’t know what evils you have escaped, by never having been at sea.
3.4.420
For to say nothing of other hardships, mark this one only; thirty days or more was I on board that ship, and every moment, to my horror, was in continual expectation of death: such unfavorable weather did we always meet with.
3.4.424
How annoying!
3.4.424b
That’s not unknown to me: in fine, upon my faith, I would rather run away
3.4.425
than go back, if I knew that I should have to go back there.
3.4.426
Why really, but slight causes formerly made you, Sosia, do what now you are threatening to do. But I see Pamphilus himself standing before the door. (To the Attendants, who go into the house of LACHES.) Go in-doors; I’ll accost him, to see if he wants any thing with me.
3.4.430
(Accosts PAMPHILUS.) What, still standing here, master?
3.4.430b
Yes, and waiting for you.
3.4.430c
What’s the matter?
3.4.431
You must run across to the citadel.
3.4.431b
Who must?
3.4.431c
You.
3.4.432
To the citadel? Why thither?
3.4.432b
To meet Callidemides, my entertainer at Myconos, who came over in the same ship with me.
3.4.434
Confusion! I should say he has made a vow that if ever he should return home safe, he would rupture me with walking.
3.4.436
Why are you lingering?
3.4.436b
What do you wish me to say? Or am I to meet him only?
3.4.437
No; say that I can not meet him to-day, as I appointed, so that he may not wait for me to no purpose. Fly!
3.4.439
But I don’t know the man’s appearance.
3.4.439b
Then I’ll tell you how to know it;
3.4.440
a huge fellow, ruddy, with curly hair, fat, with gray eyes and freckled countenance.
3.4.441b
May the Gods confound him! What if he shouldn’t come? Am I to wait there, even till the evening?
3.4.443
Yes, wait there. Run!
3.4.443b
I can’t; I am so tired.
3.4.444
He’s off. What shall I do in this distressed situation? Really, I don’t know
3.4.445
in what way I’m to conceal this, as Myrrhina entreated me, her daughter’s lying-in; but I do pity the woman. What I can, I’ll do; only so long, however, as I observe my duty; for it is proper that I should be regardful of a parent, rather than of my passion. But look—I see Phidippus and my father.
3.4.450
They are coming this way; what to say to them, I’m at a loss.
3.5.451
Did you not say, just now, that she was waiting for my son’s return?
3.5.452
Just so.
3.5.452b
They say that he has arrived; let her return.
3.5.452c
What excuse to make to my father for not taking her back, I don’t know!
3.5.453b
Who was it I heard speaking here?
3.5.454
I am resolved to persevere in the course I determined to pursue.
3.5.455
’Tis the very person about whom I was talking to you.
3.5.455b
Health to you, my father.
3.5.456
Health to you, my son.
3.5.456b
I am glad that you have returned, Pamphilus, and the more especially so, as you are safe and well.
3.5.457b
I believe you.
3.5.458
Have you but just arrived?
3.5.458b
Only just now.
3.5.458c
Tell me, what has our cousin Phania left us?
3.5.459b
Why really, i’ faith, he was a man very much devoted to pleasure
3.5.460
while he lived; and those who are so, don’t much benefit their heirs, but for themselves leave this commendation: While he lived, he lived well.
3.5.462
So then, you have brought home nothing more than a single sentiment?
3.5.463
Whatever he has left, we are the gainers by it.
3.5.463b
Why no, it has proved a loss; for I could have wished him alive and well.
3.5.464b
You may wish that with impunity;
3.5.465
he’ll never come to life again; and after all I know which of the two you would prefer.
3.5.466
Yesterday, he (pointing to PHIDIPPUS) desired Philumena to be fetched to his house. (Whispers to PHIDIPPUS, nudging him with his elbow.) Say that you desired it.
3.5.467
Don’t punch me so. (To PAMPHILUS.) I desired it.
3.5.467b
But he’ll now send her home again.
3.5.467c
Of course.
3.5.468
I know the whole affair, and how it happened; I heard it just now, on my arrival.
3.5.469
Then may the Gods confound those spiteful people who told this news with such readiness!
3.5.470
I am sure that it has been my study, that with reason no slight might possibly be committed by your family; and if I were now truthful to mention of how faithful, loving, and tender a disposition I have proved toward her, I could do so truly, did I not rather wish that you should learn it of herself; for by that method you will be the more ready to place confidence in my disposition
3.5.475
when she, who is now acting unjustly toward me, speaks favorably of me. And that through no fault of mine this separation has taken place, I call the Gods to witness. But since she considers that it is not befitting her to give way to my mother, and with readiness to conform to her temper, and as on no other terms it is possible for good feeling to exist between them,
3.5.480
either my mother must be separated, Phidippus, from me, or else Philumena. Now affection urges me rather to consult my mother’s pleasure.
3.5.482
Pamphilus, your words have reached my ears not otherwise than to my satisfaction, since I find that you post-pone all considerations for your parent. But take care, Pamphilus, lest impelled by resentment, you carry matters too far.
3.5.485
How, impelled by resentment, could, I now be biased against her who never has been guilty of any thing toward me, father, that I could not wish, and who has often deserved as well as I could desire? I both love and praise and exceedingly regret her, for I have found by experience that she was of a wondrously engaging disposition with regard to myself;
3.5.490
and I sincerely wish that she may spend the remainder of her life with a husband who may prove more fortunate than me, since necessity thus tears her from me.
3.5.493
’Tis in your own power to prevent that.
3.5.493b
If you are in your senses, order her to come back.
3.5.494b
It is not my intention, father; I shall study my mother’s interests.
3.5.495b
Whither are you going? Stay, stay, I tell you; whither are you going?
3.5.496b
What obstinacy is this?
3.5.497
Did I not tell you, Phidippus, that he would take this matter amiss? It was for that reason I entreated you to send your daughter back.
3.5.499
Upon my faith, I did not believe he would be so brutish;
3.5.500
does he now fancy that I shall come begging to him? If so it is that he chooses to take back his wife, why, let him; if he is of another mind, let him pay back her portion, and take himself off.
3.5.503
Just look at that, now; you too are getting obstinate and huffish.
3.5.504
You have returned to us in a very ungovernable mood, Pamphilus.
3.5.505
This anger will depart; although he has some reason for being vexed.
3.5.506
Because you have had a windfall, a little money, your minds are elevated.
3.5.507b
Are you going to fall out with me, too?
3.5.508
Let him consider, and bring me word to-day, whether he will or will not, that she may belong to another if she does not to him. (Goes hastily into his own house.)
3.5.510
Phidippus, stay; listen to a few words—He’s off; what matters it to me? In fine, let them manage it between themselves, just as they please; since neither my son nor he pay any regard to me; they care but little for what I say. I’ll carry the quarrel to my wife, by whose planning all these things have been brought about,
3.5.515
and against her I will vent all the vexation that I feel.
4.1.516
I am undone! What am I to do? which way turn myself? In my wretchedness, what answer am I to give to my husband? For he seems to have heard the voice of the child when crying, so suddenly did he rush in to my daughter without saying a word. What if he comes to know that she has been delivered? for what reason I am to say I kept it concealed,
4.1.520
upon my faith I do not know. But there’s a noise at the door; I believe it is himself coming out to me: I’m utterly undone!
4.1.522
My wife, when she saw me going to my daughter, betook herself out of the house: and look, there she is. (Addressing her.) What have you to say, Myrrhina? Hark you! to you I speak.
4.1.523b
What, to me, my husband?
4.1.524
Am I your husband? Do you consider me a husband, or a man, in fact?
4.1.525
For, woman, if I had ever appeared to you to be either of these, I should not in this way have been held in derision by your doings.
4.1.526b
By what doings?
4.1.526c
Do you ask the question? Is not your daughter brought to bed? Eh, are you silent? By whom?
4.1.527b
Is it proper for a father to be asking such a question? Oh, shocking! By whom do you think, pray, except by him to whom she was given in marriage?
4.1.529
I believe it; nor indeed is it for a father to think otherwise. But I wonder much
4.1.530
what the reason can be for which you so very much wish all of us to be in ignorance of the truth, especially when she has been delivered properly, and at the right time. That you should be of a mind so perverse as to prefer that the child should perish, through which you might be sure that hereafter there would be a friendship more lasting between us, rather than that, at the expense of your feelings, his wife should continue with him!
4.1.535
I supposed this to be their fault, while in reality it lies with you.
4.1.536
I am an unhappy creature!
4.1.536b
I wish I were sure that so it was; but now it recurs to my mind what you once said about this matter, when we accepted him as our son-in-law. For you declared that you could not endure your daughter to be married to a person who was attached to a courtesan, and who spent his nights away from home.
4.1.540
Any cause whatever I had rather he should suspect than the right one.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0134.phi005.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.