Hecyra; The Mother-In-Law
- 5.1.729
I must take care that I don’t, through anger, miss gaining, in this quarter what I otherwise might,
- 5.1.730
and that I don’t do any thing which hereafter it would have been better I had not done. I’ll accost her. (Accosts her.) Bacchis, good-morrow to you!
- 5.1.732
Good-morrow to you, Laches!
- 5.1.732b
Troth, now, Bacchis, I suppose you somewhat wonder what can be my reason for sending the lad to fetch you out of doors.
- 5.1.734
Upon my faith, I am even in some anxiety as well, when I reflect what I am,
- 5.1.735
lest the name of my calling should be to my prejudice; for my behavior I can easily defend.
- 5.1.736
If you speak the truth, you will be in no danger, woman, from me, for I am now of that age that it is not meet for me to receive forgiveness for a fault; for that reason do I the more carefully attend to every particular, that I may not act with rashness; for if you now do, or intend to do, that which is proper for deserving women to do,
- 5.1.740
it would be unjust for me, in my ignorance, to offer an injury to you, when undeserving of it.
- 5.1.741
On my word, great is the gratitude that I ought to feel toward you for such conduct; for he who, after committing an injury, would excuse himself, would profit me but little. But what is the matter?
- 5.1.743b
You admit my son, Pamphilus, to your house.
- 5.1.743c
Ah!
- 5.1.744
Just let me speak: before he was married to this woman, I tolerated your amour.
- 5.1.745
Stay! I have not yet said to you what I intended. He has now got a wife: look out for another person more to be depended on, while you have time to deliberate; for neither will he be of this mind all his life, nor, i’ faith, will you be always of your present age.
- 5.1.748
Who is it says this?
- 5.1.748b
His mother-in-law.
- 5.1.748c
What! that I—
- 5.1.748d
That you do: and she has taken away her daughter; and for that reason, has wished secretly to destroy the child that has been born.
- 5.1.750
Did I know any other means whereby I might be enabled to establish my credit with you, more solemn than an oath, I would, Laches, assure you of this, that I have kept Pamphilus at a distance from me ever since he took a wife.
- 5.1.753
You are very good. But, pray, do you know what I would prefer that you should do?
- 5.1.753b
What? Tell me.
- 5.1.754
Go in-doors there (pointing to the house of PHIDIPPUS) to the women, and make the same promise, on oath,
- 5.1.755
to them; satisfy their minds, and clear yourself from this charge.
- 5.1.756
I will do so; although, i’ faith, if it had been any other woman of this calling, she would not have done so, I am quite sure; present herself before a married woman for such a purpose! But I do not wish your son to be suspected on an unfounded report, nor appear inconstant, undeservedly, to you, to whom he by no means ought;
- 5.1.760
for he has deserved of me, that, so far as I am able, I should do him a service.
- 5.1.761
Your language has rendered me quite friendly and well disposed toward you; but not only did they think so—I too believed it. Now that I have found you quite different from what I had expected, take care that you still continue the same—make use of my friendship as you please;
- 5.1.765
if otherwise—; but I will forbear, that you may not hear any thing unkind from me. But this one thing I recommend you make trial what sort of a friend I am, or what I can effect as such, rather than what as an enemy.
- 5.2.767b
Nothing at my house will I suffer you to be in want of; but whatever is requisite shall be supplied you in abundance. Still, when you are well fed and well drenched, do take care that the child has enough.
- 5.2.770
My son’s father-in-law, I see, is coming; he is bringing a nurse for the child. (Accosting him.) Phidippus, Bacchis swears most solemnly.
- 5.2.771b
Is this she?
- 5.2.771c
It is.
- 5.2.772
Upon my faith, those women don’t fear the Gods; and I don’t think that the Gods care about them.
- 5.2.773
I will give you up my female servants; with my full permission, examine them with any tortures you please. The business at present is this: I must make his wife return home to Pamphilus;
- 5.2.775
should I effect that, I shall not regret its being reported that I have been the only one to do what other courtesans avoid doing.
- 5.2.777
We find, Phidippus, that our wives have been unjustly suspected by us in this matter. Let us now try her still further; for if your wife discovers that she has given credence to a false charge,
- 5.2.780
she will dismiss her resentment; but if my son is also angry, by reason of the circumstance that his wife has been brought to bed without his knowledge, that is a trifle: his anger on that account will speedily subside. Assuredly in this matter, there is nothing so bad as to be deserving of a separation.
- 5.2.783
I sincerely wish it may be so.
- 5.2.783b
Examine her; here she is; she herself will satisfy you.
- 5.2.784
Why do you tell me these things? Is it because you have not already heard what my feelings are
- 5.2.785
with regard to this matter, Laches? Do you only satisfy their minds.
- 5.2.786
Troth now, Bacchis, I do entreat that what you have promised me you will do.
- 5.2.787
Would you wish me, then, to go in about this business?
- 5.2.787b
Go, and satisfy their minds, so as to make them believe it.
- 5.2.788
I’ll go: although, upon my word, I am quite sure that my presence will be disagreeable to them, for a married woman is the enemy of a mistress, when she has been separated from her husband.
- 5.2.790
But they will be your friends, when they know the reason of your coming.
- 5.2.791
And I promise that they shall be your friends, when they know the fact; for you will release them from their mistake, and yourself, at the same time, from suspicion.
- 5.2.793
Wretched me! I’m ashamed to meet Philumena. (To her ATTENDANTS.) Do you both follow me into the house. (Goes into the house with PHIDIPPUS and her ATTENDANTS.)
- 5.2.794
What is there that I could more wish for, than what I see has happened to this woman?
- 5.2.795
To gain favor without loss to myself, and to benefit myself at the same time. For if now it is the fact that she has really withdrawn from Pamphilus, she knows that by that step she has acquired honor and reputation: she returns the favor to him, and, by the same means, attaches us as friends to herself. (Goes into the house.)
- 5.3.799
Upon my faith, my master does assuredly think my labor of little value;
- 5.3.800
to have sent me for nothing, where I have been sitting the whole day to no purpose, waiting at the citadel for Callidemides, his landlord at Myconos. And so, while sitting there to-day, like a fool, as each person came by, I accosted him:—Young man, just tell me, pray, are you a Myconian? I am not. But is your name Callidemides? No. Have you any former guest here named Pamphilus?
- 5.3.805
All said, No; and I don’t believe that there is any such person. At last, i’ faith, I was quite ashamed, and went away. But how is it I see Bacchis coming out of our neighbor’s? What business can she have there?
- 5.3.808
Parmeno, you make your appearance opportunely; run with all speed to Pamphilus.
- 5.3.809
Why thither?
- 5.3.809b
Say that I entreat him to come.
- 5.3.809c
To your house?
- 5.3.809d
No; to Philumena.
- 5.3.810
What’s the matter?
- 5.3.810b
Nothing that concerns you; so cease to make inquiry.
- 5.3.811
Am I to say nothing else?
- 5.3.811b
Yes; that Myrrhina has recognized that ring as her daughter’s, which he formerly gave me.
- 5.3.812b
I understand—is that all?
- 5.3.813b
That’s all. He will be here directly he has heard this from you. But do you linger?
- 5.3.814b
Far from it, indeed; for I’ve not had the opportunity given me to-day;
- 5.3.815
so much with running and walking about have I wasted the whole day.
- 5.3.816
What great joy have I caused for Pamphilus by my coming to-day! How many blessings have I brought him! and from how many sorrows have I rescued him! A son I save for him, when it was nearly perishing through the agency of these women and of himself: a wife, whom he thought that he must cast off forever, I restore to him:
- 5.3.820
from the suspicion that he lay under with his father and Phidippus, I have cleared him. This ring, in fact, was the cause of these discoveries being made. For I remember, that about ten months ago, at an early hour of night, he came running home to my house, out of breath, without a companion, and surcharged with wine, with this ring in his hand. I felt alarmed immediately: My Pamphilus, I said, prithee, my dear,
- 5.3.825
why thus breathless, or where did you get that ring?—tell me! He began to pretend that he was thinking of something else. When I saw that, I began to suspect I know not what, and to press him still more to tell me. The fellow confessed that he had ravished some female, he knew not whom, in the street; and said, that while she was struggling, he had taken that ring away from her.
- 5.3.830
Myrrhina here recognized it just now, while I had it on my finger. She asked whence it came: I told her all the story. Hence the discovery has been made that it was Philumena ravished by him, and that this new-born child is his. I am overjoyed that this happiness hsa befallen him through my agency; although other courtesans would not have similar feelings; nor, indeed, is it to our interest
- 5.3.835
that any lover should find pleasure in matrimony. But, i’ faith, I never, for the sake of gain, will give my mind to base actions. So long as I had the opportunity, I found him to be kind, easy, and good-natured. This marriage has fallen out unluckily for me,—that I confess to be the fact. But, upon my word, I do think that I have done nothing for it to befall me deservedly.
- 5.3.840
It is but reasonable to endure inconveniences from one from whom I have received so many benefits.
- 5.4.841
Once more, take care, will you, my dear Parmeno, that you have brought me a faithful and distinct account, so as not to allure me for a short time to indulge in these transient joys.
- 5.4.843
I have taken care.
- 5.4.843b
For certain?
- 5.4.843c
For certain.
- 5.4.843d
I am quite a God, if it is so!
- 5.4.843e
You’ll find it true.
- 5.4.844
Just stay, will you; I fear that I’m believing one thing, and you are telling another.
- 5.4.845
I am staying.
- 5.4.845b
I think you said to this effect—that Myrrhina had discovered that Bacchis has her ring.
- 5.4.846b
It is the fact.
- 5.4.846c
The one I formerly gave to her; and she has desired you to tell me this: is such the fact?
- 5.4.847b
Such is so, I tell you.
- 5.4.848
Who is there happier than I, and, in fact, more full of joyousness? What am I to present you for these tidings? What?—what? I know not.
- 5.4.850
But I know.
- 5.4.850b
What?
- 5.4.850c
Why, nothing; for neither in the tidings nor in myself do I know of there being any advantage to you.
- 5.4.852
What! am I to suffer you, who have caused me, when dead, to be restored from the shades to life—to leave me unrewarded? Oh, you deem me too thankless! But look—I see Bacchis standing before the door;
- 5.4.855
she’s waiting for me, I suppose; I’ll accost her.
- 5.4.855b
Save you, Pamphilus!
- 5.4.856
Oh Bacchis! Oh my Bacchis—my preserver!
- 5.4.857
It is a fortunate thing, and gives me great delight.
- 5.4.857b
By your actions, you give me reason to believe you, and so much do you retain your former charming qualities, that wherever you go, the meeting with you, your company, your conversation,
- 5.4.860
always give pleasure.
- 5.4.860b
And you, upon my word, possess your former manners and disposition; so much so that not a single man living is more engaging than you.
- 5.4.862
Ha, ha, ha! do you tell me so?
- 5.4.862b
You had reason, Pamphilus, for being so fond of your wife. For never before to-day did I set eyes upon her, so as to know her: she seems a very gentle person.
- 5.4.864b
Tell the truth.
- 5.4.864c
So may the Gods bless me, Pamphilus!
- 5.4.865
Tell me, have you as yet told any of these matters to my father?
- 5.4.865b
Not a word.
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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.