Adelphi; or, The Brothers

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 789 sections

3.2.309c
Ah
3.2.310
wretched me! I am scarcely master of my senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that I would like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I might give vent to all my wrath upon them while this wound is still fresh. I could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow himself who gave being to this monster;
3.2.315
then as for his prompter, Syrus, out upon him! How I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth, so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out the eyes of the young fellow himself, and afterward hurl him headlong over some precipice. The others I would rush upon, drive, drag, crush, and trample them under foot.
3.2.320
But why do I delay at once to acquaint my mistress with this calamity?
3.2.320b
Let us call him Lack. Geta—
3.2.321
Well—leave me alone, whoever you are.
3.2.321b
’Tis I,—Sostrata.
3.2.321c
Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it’s very fortunate you have met me.
3.2.323b
What’s the matter? Why are you trembling?
3.2.323c
Alas! alas!
3.2.323d
My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath.
3.2.324b
Quite—
3.2.324c
Why, what means this quite?
3.2.324d
Undone—
3.2.325
It’s all over with us.
3.2.325b
Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter.
3.2.325c
Now—
3.2.325d
What now, Geta?
3.2.326
Aeschinus—
3.2.326b
What about him?
3.2.326c
Has abandoned our family.
3.2.326d
Then I am undone! Why so?
3.2.327b
He has attached himself to another woman.
3.2.327c
Woe unto wretched me!
3.2.328
And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer.
3.2.329
Are you quite sure of this?
3.2.329b
Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes.
3.2.329c
Ah
3.2.330
wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our own Aeschinus, the very life of us all, in whom all our hopes and comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on his father’s knees, and thus entreat that he might be allowed to make her his wife!
3.2.335
Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person?
3.2.336b
Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one?
3.2.337b
I, indeed, have no wish for it. In the first place, then, that his feelings are estranged from us, the thing itself declares. Now, if we make this known, he’ll deny it, I’m quite sure;
3.2.340
your reputation and your daughter’s character will then be in danger. On the other hand, if he were fully to confess it, as he is in love with another woman, it would not be to her advantage to be given to him. Therefore, under either circumstance, there is need of silence.
3.2.342b
Oh! by no means in the world! I’ll not do it.
3.2.343b
What is it you say?
3.2.343c
I’ll make it known.
3.2.343d
Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do!
3.2.344
The matter can not possibly be in a worse position than it is at present.
3.2.345
In the first place, she has no portion; then, besides, that which was as good as a portion, her honor, is lost: she can not be given in marriage as a virgin. This resource is left; if he should deny it, I have a ring which he lost as evidence of the truth. In fine, Geta, as I am fully conscious that no blame attaches to me, and that neither interest nor any consideration unworthy of her or of myself has had a share in this matter,
3.2.350
I will make trial—
3.2.350b
What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best.
3.2.350c
You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us.
3.2.353
Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us.
3.2.353b
Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her.
3.3.355
Utterly undone! I hear that Ctesipho was with Aeschinus at the carrying off of this girl. This sorrow still remains for unhappy me, should Aeschinus be able to seduce him, even him, who promises so fair, to a course of debauchery. Where am I to inquire for him? I doubt he has been carried off to some bad house;
3.3.360
that profligate has persuaded him, I’m quite sure. But look—I see Syrus coming this way, I shall now know from him where he is. But, i ’faith, he is one of the gang; if he perceives that I am looking for him, the rascal will never tell me. I’ll not let him know what I want.
3.3.364b
We just now told the old gentleman the whole affair just as it happened;
3.3.366
I never did see any one more delighted.
3.3.366b
O Jupiter! the folly of the man!
3.3.367b
He commended his son. To me, who put them upon this project, he gave thanks—
3.3.369
I shall burst asunder.
3.3.369b
He told down the money instantly,
3.3.370
and gave me half a mina besides to spend. That was laid out quite to my liking.
3.3.371b
Very fine—if you would wish a thing to be nicely managed, intrust it to this fellow.
3.3.373
Ha, Demea! I didn’t see you; how goes it?
3.3.374
How should it go? I can not enough wonder at your mode of living here.
3.3.375b
Why, really silly enough, and, to speak without disguise, altogether absurd. (Calls at the door of MICIO’S house.) Dromo, clean the rest of the fish; let the largest conger-eel play a little in the water; when I come back it shall, be boned; not before.
3.3.379b
Is profligacy like this—
3.3.379c
As for myself, it isn’t to my taste,
3.3.380
and I often exclaim against it. (Calls; at the door.) Stephanio, take care that the salt fish is well soaked.
3.3.381b
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! Is he doing this for any purpose of his own, or does he think it creditable to ruin his son? Wretch that I am! methinks I already see the day when Aeschinus will be running away for want,
3.3.385
to serve somewhere or other as a soldier.
3.3.385b
O Demea! That is wisdom indeed, not only to look at the present moment, but also to look forward to what’s to come.
3.3.388b
Well—is this Music-girl still with you?
3.3.389
Why, yes, she’s in-doors.
3.3.389b
How now—is he going to keep her at home?
3.3.389c
I believe so; such is his
3.3.390
madness!
3.3.390b
Is it possible?
3.3.390c
An imprudent lenity in his father, and a vicious inlulgence.
3.3.391b
Really, I am ashamed and grieved at my brother.
3.3.392b
Demea! Between you there is a great—I do not say it because you are here present—a too great difference. You are, every bit of you, nothing but wisdom;
3.3.395
he a mere dreamer. Would you indeed have suffered that son of yours to act thus?
3.3.396b
I, suffer him? Would I not have smelt it out six months before he attempted it?
3.3.398
Need I be told by you of your foresight?
3.3.398b
I pray he may only continue the same he is at present!
3.3.399b
Just as each person wishes his son to be, so he turns out.
3.3.400
What news of him? Have you seen him to-day?
3.3.400b
What, your son? (Aside.) I’ll pack him off into the country. (To DEMEA.) I fancy he’s busy at the farm long before this.
3.3.402
Are you quite sure he is there?
3.3.402b
What!—when I saw him part of the way myself—
3.3.402c
Very good. I was afraid he might be loitering here.
3.3.403b
And extremely angry too.
3.3.404
Why so?
3.3.404b
He attacked his brother in the Forum with strong language
3.3.405
about this Music-girl.
3.3.405b
Do you really say so?
3.3.405c
Oh dear, he didn’t at all mince the matter; for just as the money was being counted out, the gentleman came upon us by chance, and began exclaiming, Oh Aeschinus, that you should perpetrate these enormities! that you should be guilty of actions so disgraceful to our family!
3.3.409b
Oh, I shall weep for joy.
3.3.410
By this you are not squandering your money only, but your reputation.
3.3.411
May he be preserved to me! I trust he will be like his forefathers.
3.3.411b
Heyday!
3.3.412
Syrus, he is full of these maxims.
3.3.412b
Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them.
3.3.413b
I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine,
3.3.415
I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, I say—
3.3.417b
Quite right.
3.3.417c
Avoid that—
3.3.417d
Very shrewd.
3.3.418
This is praiseworthy—

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.