Adelphi; or, The Brothers

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 789 sections

4.2.550b
Now will you hold your tongue? I’ll take care.
4.2.551b
Never this day will I depend on your management for that, upon my faith;
4.2.552
for I’ll shut myself up with her in some cupboard—that’s the safest.
4.2.553
Do so, still I’ll get rid of him.
4.2.553b
But see! there’s that rascal, Syrus.
4.2.554
Really, upon my faith, no person can stay here, if this is to be the case!
4.2.555
For my part, I should like to know how many masters I have—what a cursed condition this is
4.2.556
What’s he whining about? What does he mean? How say you, good sir, is my brother at home?
4.2.557
What the plague do you talk to me about, good sir? I’m quite distracted!
4.2.557b
What’s the matter with you?
4.2.558
Do you ask the question? Ctesipho has been beating me, poor wretch, and that Music-girl, almost to death.
4.2.559b
Ha! what is it you tell me?
4.2.559c
Aye, seehow he has cut my lip.
4.2.560
For what reason?
4.2.560b
He says that she was bought by my advice.
4.2.560c
Did not you tell me, a short time since, that you had seen him on his way into the country?
4.2.561b
I did; but he afterward came back, raving like a madman; he spared nobody—ought he not to have been ashamed to beat an old man? Him whom, only the other day, I used to carry about in my arms when thus high?
4.2.564
I commend him; O Ctesipho, you take after your father. Well, I do pronounce you a man.
4.2.565
Commend him? Assuredly he will keep his hands to himself in future, if he’s wise.
4.2.566
’Twas done with spirit.
4.2.566b
Very much so, to be beating a poor woman, and me, a slave, who didn’t dare strike him in return; heyday! very spirited indeed!
4.2.568
He could not have done better; he thought the same as I did, that you were the principal in this affair. But is my brother within?
4.2.569b
He is not.
4.2.569c
I’m thinking where to look for him.
4.2.570
I know where he is—but I shall not tell you at present.
4.2.570b
Ha! what’s that you say?
4.2.570c
I do say so.
4.2.571
Then I’ll break your head for you this instant.
4.2.571b
I can’t tell the person’s name he’s gone to, but I know the place where he lives.
4.2.572b
Tell me the place then.
4.2.573
Do you know the portico down this way, just by the shambles?
4.2.573b
How should I but know it?
4.2.574
Go straight along, right up that street; when you come there,
4.2.575
there is a descent right opposite that goes down-ward, go straight down that; afterward, on this side (extending one hand), there is a chapel: close by it is a narrow lane,
4.2.577b
where there’s also a great wild fig-tree.
4.2.577c
I know it.
4.2.577d
Go through that—
4.2.578
But that lane is not a thoroughfare.
4.2.578b
I’ faith, that’s true; dear, dear, would you take me to be in my senses? I made a mistake. Return to the portico;
4.2.580
indeed that will be a much nearer way, and there is less going round about you know the house of Cratinus, the rich man?
4.2.581b
I know it.
4.2.581c
When you have passed that, keep straight along that street on the left hand; when you come to the Temple of Diana, turn to the right; before you come to the city gate, just by that pond, there is a baker’s shop, and opposite to it a joiner’s; there he is.
4.2.584b
What is he doing there?
4.2.585
He has given some couches to be made, with oaken legs, for use in the open air.
4.2.586
For you to carouse upon! Very fine ! But why do I delay going to him?
4.2.587
Go, by all means. I’ll work you to day, you skeleton, as you deserve. Aeschinus loiters intolerably; the breakfast’s spoiling; and as for Ctesipho, he’s head and ears in love. I shall now think of myself,
4.2.590
for I’ll be off at once, and pick out the very nicest bit, and, leisurely sipping my cups, I’ll lengthen out the day.
4.3.592
I can see no reason here, Hegio, that I should be so greatly commended. I do my duty; the wrong that has originated with us I redress.
4.3.594
Unless, perhaps, you thought me one of that class of men who think that an injury is purposely done them if you expostulate about any thing they have done; and yet are themselves the first to accuse. Because I have not acted thus, do you return me thanks?
4.3.597
Oh, far from it; I never led myself to believe you to be otherwise than you are; but I beg, Micio, that you will go with me to the mother of the young woman, and repeat to her the same; what you have told me, do you yourself tell the woman,
4.3.600
that this suspicion of Aeschinus’s fidelity was incurred on his brother’s account, and that this Music-girl was for him.
4.3.601
If you think I ought, or if there is a necessity for doing so, let us go.
4.3.601b
You act with kindness; for you’ll then both have relieved her mind who is now languishing in sorrow and affliction, and have discharged your duty. But if you think otherwise, I will tell her myself what you have been saying to me.
4.3.604b
Nay, I’ll go as well.
4.3.604c
You act with kindness;
4.3.605
all who are in distressed circumstances are suspicious, to I know not what degree; they take every thing too readily as an affront; they fancy themselves trifled with on account of their helpless condition; therefore it will be more satisfactory for you to justify him to them yourself.
4.4.610
I am quite distracted in mind! for this misfortune so unexpectedly to befall me, that I neither know what to do with myself, or how to act! My limbs are enfeebled through fear, my faculties bewildered with apprehension; no counsel is able to find a place within my breast.
4.4.615
Alas! how to extricate myself from this perplexity I know not; so strong a suspicion has taken possession of them about me; not without some reason too: Sostrata believes that I have purchased this Music-girl for myself: the old woman informed me of that. For by accident, when she was sent for the midwife, I saw her,
4.4.620
and at once went up to her. How is Pamphila? I inquired; is her delivery at hand? Is it for that she is sending for the midwife? Away, away, Aeschinus, cries she; you have deceived us long enough; already have your promises disappointed us sufficiently. Ha! said I; pray what is the meaning of this? Farewell, she cries; keep to her who is your choice. I instantly guessed what it was they suspected, but still I checked myself,
4.4.625
that I might not be telling that gossip any thing about my brother, whereby it might be divulged. Now what am I to do? Shall I say she is for my brother, a thing that ought by no means to be repeated any where? However, let that pass. It is possible it might go no further. I am afraid they would not believe it, so many probabilities concur against it; ’twas I myself carried her off; ’twas I, my own self, that paid the money for her; ’twas my own house she was carried to.
4.4.630
This I confess has been entirely my own fault. Ought I not to have disclosed this affair, just as it happened, to my father? I might have obtained his consent to marry her. I have been too negligent hitherto; henceforth, then, arouse yourself, Aeschinus. This then is the first thing; to go to them and clear myself. I’ll approach the door. (Advances to the door of SOSTRATA’S house.) Confusion! I always tremble most dreadfully when I go to knock at that door.
4.4.635
(Knocking and calling to them within.) Ho there, ho there! it is Aeschinus; open the door immediately, some one. (The door opens.) Some person, I know not who, is coming out; I’ll step aside here.
4.5.636b
Do as I told you, Sostrata; I’ll go find Aeschinus, that lie may know how these matters have been settled. (Looking round.) But who was it knocking at the door?
4.5.638b
Heavens, it is my father!—I am undone !
4.5.638c
Aeschinus !
4.5.639
What can be his business here?
4.5.639b
Was it you knocking at this door?
4.5.640
(Aside.) He is silent. Why shouldn’t I rally him a little? It would be as well, as he was never willing to trust me with this secret. (To AESCHINUS.) Don’t you answer me?
4.5.642b
It wasn’t I knocked at that door, that I know of.
4.5.643
Just so; for I wondered what business you could have here. (Apart.) He blushes; all’s well.
4.5.644b
Pray tell me, father,
4.5.645
what business have you there?
4.5.645b
Why, none of my own; but a certain friend of mine just now brought me hither from the Forum to give him some assistance.
4.5.647b
Why?
4.5.647c
I’ll tell you. There are some women living here; in impoverished circumstances, as I suppose you don’t know them; and, in fact, I’m quite sure,
4.5.650
for it is not long since they removed to this place.
4.5.650b
Well, what next?
4.5.651
There is a girl living with her mother.
4.5.651b
Go on.
4.5.651c
This girl has lost her father; this friend of mine is her next of kin; the law obliges him to marry her.
4.5.653b
Undone!
4.5.653c
What’s the matter?
4.5.654
Nothing. Very well: proceed.
4.5.654b
He has come to take her with him; for he lives at Miletus.
4.5.655b
What! To take the girl away with him?
4.5.656
Such is the act.
4.5.656b
All the way to Miletus, pray?
4.5.656c
Yes.
4.5.656d
I’m overwhelmed with grief (To MICIO.) But what of them? What do they say?
4.5.657b
What do you suppose they should? Why, nothing at all. The mother has trumped up a tale, that there is a child by some other man, I know not who, and she does not state the name;
4.5.660
she says that he was the first, and that she ought not to be given to the other.
4.5.661
Well now, does not this seem just to you after all?
4.5.662
No.
4.5.662b
Why not, pray? Is the other to be carrying her away from here?
4.5.663
Why should he not take her?
4.5.663b
You have acted harshly and unfeelingly, and even, if, father,
4.5.665
I may speak my sentiments more plainly, unhandsomely.
4.5.666
Why so?
4.5.666b
Do you ask me? Pray, what do you think must be the state of mind of the man who was first connected with her, who, to his misfortune, may perhaps still love her to distraction, when he sees her torn away from before his face,
4.5.670
and borne off from his sight forever? An unworthy action, father!

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.