Adelphi; or, The Brothers

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 789 sections

2.1.185b
Leave alone all that, and come to the point.
2.1.186
What point? Where am I to come to?
2.1.186b
Are you willing now that I should say something that concerns you?
2.1.187
With all my heart, only so it be something that’s fair.
2.1.187b
Very fine! a Procurer wishing me not to say what’s unfair.
2.1.188
I am a Procurer, I confess it—the common bane of youth—a perjurer, a public nuisance; still, no injury has befallen you from me.
2.1.190
Why, faith, that remains to come—
2.1.190b
Pray, Aeschinus, do come back to the point at which you set out.
2.1.191
You bought her for twenty nine; and may your bargain never thrive! That sum shall be given for her.
2.1.192b
What if I don’t choose to sell her to you? Will you compel me?
2.1.193b
By no means.
2.1.193c
I was afraid you would.
2.1.193d
Neither do I think that a woman can be sold who is free; for I claim her by action of freedom.
2.1.195
Now consider which you choose; take the money, or prepare yourself for the action. Think of it, Procurer, till I return.
2.1.196b
O supreme Jupiter! I do by no means wonder that men run mad through ill usage. He has dragged me out of my house, beaten me, taken my property away against my will, and has given me, unfortunate wretch, more than five hundred blows.
2.1.200
In return for all this ill usage he demands the girl to be made over to him for just the same price at which she was bought. But however, since he has so well deserved of me, be it so: he demands what is his due. Very well, I consent then, provided he only gives the money. But I suspect this; when I have said that I will sell her for so much, he’ll be getting witnesses forthwith that I have sold her. As to getting the money, it’s all a dream. Call again by and by; come back to-morrow.
2.1.205
I could bear with that too, hard as it is, if he would only pay it. But I consider this to be the fact; when you take up this trade, you must brook and bear in silence the affronts of these young fellows. However, no one will pay me; it’s in vain for me to be reckoning upon that.
2.2.209
Say no more; I myself will arrange with him; I’ll make him glad to take the money at once, and
2.2.210
say besides that he has been fairly dealt with. (Addressing SANNIO.) Sannio, how is this, that I hear you have been having some dispute or other with my master?
2.2.211b
I never saw a dispute on more unequal terms than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired.
2.2.214
Your own fault.
2.2.214b
What could I do?
2.2.214c
You ought to have yielded to the young man.
2.2.215
How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows?
2.2.215b
Well—are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain.
2.2.216b
What!—
2.2.217
were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so little of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?
2.2.219b
I do not pay ready money for hope.
2.2.220
Then you’ll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don’t know how to take in mankind.
2.2.221
I believe that to be the better plan—but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money.
2.2.223
Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minae were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus—
2.2.224b
(aside.) Hah!
2.2.225
That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you’ll settle the matter.
2.2.227
Not a foot do stir: Heavens! I’m undone! (Aside.) It was upon this hope they devised their project.
2.2.227b
He is alarmed. I’ve brought the fellow into a fix.
2.2.228b
Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint. Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus.
2.2.231
If I don’t get there to the fair, my loss will, be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. Come at last? they’ll say. Why did you delay it? Where have you been? So that I had better lose it altogether
2.2.235
than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then.
2.2.236
Have you by this reckoned up what you calculate will be your profits?
2.2.237
Is this honorable of him? Ought Aeschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence?
2.2.239
He gives ground. (To SANNIO.) I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it.
2.2.240
Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minae from some quarter or other.
2.2.242b
Ah me! unfortunate wretch, I am now in danger of even losing part of the principal. Has he no shame? He has loosened all my teeth;
2.2.245
my head, too, is full of bumps with his cuffs; and would he defraud me as well? I shall go nowhere.
2.2.246b
Just as you please. Have you any thing more to say before I go?
2.2.247b
Why yes, Syrus, i’ faith, I have this to request. Whatever the matters that are past, rather than go to law, let what is my own be returned me; at least, Syrus, the sum she cost me.
2.2.250
I know that you have not hitherto made trial of my friendship; you will have no occasion to say that I am unmindful or ungrateful.
2.2.251b
I’ll do the best I can. But I see Ctesipho; he’s in high spirits about his mistress.
2.2.253b
What about what I was asking you?
2.2.253c
Stay a little.
2.3.254
From any man, when you stand in need of it, you are glad to receive a service;
2.3.255
but of a truth it is doubly acceptable, if he does you a kindness who ought to do so. O brother, brother, how can I sufficiently commend you? This I am quite sure of; I can never speak of you in such high terms but that your deserts will surpass it. For I am of opinion that I possess this one thing in especial beyond all others, a brother than whom no individual is more highly endowed with the highest qualities.
2.3.260
O Ctesipho!
2.3.260b
O Syrus, where is Aeschinus?
2.3.260c
Why, look—he’s at home, waiting for you.
2.3.260d
Ha!
2.3.261
What’s the matter?
2.3.261b
What’s the matter? ’Tis through him, Syrus, that I am now alive—generous creature! Has he not deemed every thing of secondary importance to himself in comparison with my happiness? The reproach, the discredit, my own amour and imprudence, he has taken upon himself. There can be nothing beyond this; but what means that noise at the door?
2.3.264b
Stay, stay; ’tis Aeschinus himself coming out.
2.4.265
Where is that villain?
2.4.265b
He’s looking for me. Is he bringing any thing with him? Confusion! I don’t see any thing.
2.4.266b
Ha! well met; you are the very man I was looking for. How goes it, Ctesipho? All is safe: away then with your melancholy.
2.4.268
By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Aeschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face,
2.4.270
lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude.
2.4.271
Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn’t by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you.
2.4.274
I felt ashamed.
2.4.274b
Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling
2.4.275
matter to be almost flying the country! ’Tis shocking to be mentioned; I pray the Gods may forbid it!
2.4.276
I did wrong.
2.4.276b
What says Sannio to us at last?
2.4.276c
He is pacified at last.
2.4.277
I’ll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her.
2.4.278
Syrus, do urge the matter.
2.4.278b
Let us be off, for he is in haste foe’ Cyprus.
2.4.278c
Not particularly so; although still, I’m stopping here doing nothing at all.
2.4.279b
It shall be paid, don’t fear.
2.4.280
But he is to pay it all.
2.4.280b
He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way.
2.4.280c
I’ll follow.
2.4.281
Harkye, harkye, Syrus.
2.4.281b
Well now, what is it?
2.4.281c
Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever.
2.4.284
That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself in-doors with her,
2.4.285
and order the couches to be spread for us, and the other things to be got ready. As soon as this business is settled, I shall come home with the provisions.
2.4.287
Pray do so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a cheerful day of it.
3.1.288
Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end?
3.1.288b
Like to end, do you ask? I’ troth, right well, I trust.
3.1.289b
Her pains are just beginning, my dear.
3.1.290
You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion—never been in labor yourself.
3.1.291
Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Aeschinus.
3.1.293
I’ faith, he’ll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us.
3.1.294b
He is my sole comfort in my afflictions.
3.1.295
Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,—such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family.
3.1.298
It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us.
3.2.299
Now such is our condition, that if all were to combine all their counsels,
3.2.300
and to seek a remedy for this mischief that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty, oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O shocking villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!—
3.2.305
Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified?
3.2.306
Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence.
3.2.308b
I don’t well understand what he is talking about.
3.2.309b
Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0134.phi006.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Source.