Adelphi; or, The Brothers

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 789 sections

4.5.671
On what grounds is it so? Who betrothed her? Who gave her away? When and to whom was she married? Who was the author of all this? Why did he connect himself with a woman who belonged to another?
4.5.673b
Was it to be expected that a young woman of her age should sit at home, waiting till a kinsman of hers should come from a distance? This, my father,
4.5.676
you ought to have represented, and have insisted on it.
4.5.677
Ridiculous! Was I to have pleaded against him whom I was to, support But what’s all this, Aeschinus, to us? What have we to do with them? Let us begone:— What’s the matter?
4.5.680
Why these tears?
4.5.680b
Father, I beseech you, listen to me.
4.5.680c
Aeschinus, I have heard and know it all; for I love you, and therefore every thing you do is the more a care to me.
4.5.682
So do I wish you to find me deserving of your love, as long as you live, my dear father, as I am sincerely sorry for the offense I have committed, and am ashamed to see you.
4.5.684b
Upon my word I believe it, for I know your ingenuous disposition:
4.5.685
but I am afraid that you are too inconsiderate. In what city, pray, do you suppose you live? You have debauched a virgin, whom it was not lawful for you to touch. In the first place then that was a great offense; great, but still natural. Others, and even men of worth, have frequently done the same. But after it happened, pray,
4.5.690
did you show any circumspection? Or did you use any foresight as to what was to be done, or how it was to be done? If you were ashamed to tell me of it, by what means was I to come to know it? While you were at a loss upon these points, ten months have been lost. So far indeed as lay in your power, you have periled both yourself and this poor girl, and the child. What did you imagine—that the Gods would set these matters to rights for you while you were asleep,
4.5.695
and that she would be brought home to your chamber without any exertions of your own? I would not have you to be equally negligent in other affairs. Be of good heart, you shall have her for your wife.
4.5.697b
Hah!
4.5.697c
Be of good heart, I tell you.
4.5.697d
Father, are you now jesting with me, pray?
4.5.698b
I, jesting with you! For what reason?
4.5.698c
I don’t know; but so anxiously do I wish this to be true, that I am the more afraid it may not be.
4.5.700
Go home, and pray to the Gods that you may have your wife; be off.
4.5.701
What! have my wife now?
4.5.701b
Now.
4.5.701c
Now?
4.5.701d
Now, as soon as possible.
4.5.701e
May all the Gods detest me, father, if I do not love you better than even my very eyes!
4.5.703
What! better than her?
4.5.703b
Quite as well.
4.5.703c
Very kind of you !
4.5.703d
Well, where is this Milesian?
4.5.704
Departed, vanished, gone on board ship; but why do you delay?
4.5.704b
Father,
4.5.705
do you rather go and pray to the Gods; for I know, for certain, that they will rather be propitious to you, as being a much better man than I am.
4.5.707
I’ll go in-doors, that what is requisite may be prepared. You do as I said, if you are wise.
4.5.708
What can be the meaning of this? Is this being a father, or this being a son? If he had been a brother or familiar companion, how could he have been more complaisant!
4.5.710
Is he not worthy to be beloved? Is he not to be imprinted in my very bosom? Well then, the more does he impose an obligation on me by his kindness, to take due precaution not inconsiderately to do any thing that he may not wish. But why do I delay going in-doors this instant, that I may not myself delay my own nuptials?
4.6.714
I am quite tired with walking: May the great Jupiter confound you, Syrus, together with your directions!
4.6.716
I have crawled the whole city over; to the gate, to the pond—where not? There was no joiner’s shop there; not a soul could say he had seen my brother; but now I’m determined to sit and wait at his house till he returns.
4.7.720
I’ll go and tell them there’s no delay on our part.
4.7.721
But see here’s the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time.
4.7.722
Why, what’s the matter?
4.7.722b
I’m bringing you some new and great enormities of that hopeful youth.
4.7.723b
Just look at that!
4.7.723c
Fresh ones, of blackest dye.
4.7.724b
There now—at it again.
4.7.724c
Ah, Micio! you little know what sort of person he is.
4.7.724d
I do.
4.7.725
O simpleton! you are dreaming that I’m talking about the Music-girl; this crime is against a virgin and a citizen.
4.7.726b
I know it.
4.7.727
So then, you know it, and put up with it!
4.7.727b
Why not put up with it?
4.7.727c
Tell me, pray, don’t you exclaim about it? Don’t you go distracted?
4.7.728b
Not I: certainly I had rather—
4.7.729
There has been a child born.
4.7.729b
May the Gods be propitious to it.
4.7.729c
The girl has no fortune.
4.7.730
So I have heard.
4.7.730b
And he—must he marry her without one?
4.7.730c
Of course.
4.7.731
What is to be done then?
4.7.731b
Why, what the case itself points out: the young woman must be brought hither.
4.7.732b
O Jupiter! must that be the way then?
4.7.733b
What can I do else?
4.7.734
What can you do? If in reality this causes you no concern,
4.7.735
to pretend it were surely the duty of a man.
4.7.735b
But I have already betrothed the young woman to him; the matter is settled: the marriage takes place to-day. I have removed all apprehensions. This is rather the duty of a man.
4.7.737b
But does the affair please you, Micio?
4.7.738b
If I were able to alter it, no; now, as I can not, I bear it with patience.
4.7.740
The life of man is just like playing with dice: if that which you most want to throw does not turn up, what turns up by chance you must correct by art.
4.7.743
O rare corrector! of course it is by your art that twenty minae have been thrown away for a Music-girl; who, as soon as possible,
4.7.745
must be got rid of at any price; and if not for money, why then for nothing.
4.7.746
Not at all, and indeed I have no wish to sell her.
4.7.747
What will you do with her then?
4.7.747b
She shall be at my house.
4.7.747c
For heaven’s sake, a courtesan and a matron in the same house!
4.7.749
Why not?
4.7.749b
Do you imagine you are in your senses
4.7.749c
Really I do think so.
4.7.750
So may the Gods prosper me, I now see your folly; I believe you are going to do so that you may have somebody to practice music with.
4.7.752
Why not?
4.7.752b
And the new-made bride to be learning too?
4.7.752c
Of course.
4.7.753
Having hold of the rope, you will be dancing with them.
4.7.753b
Like enough;
4.7.754b
and you too along with us, if there’s need.
4.7.754c
Ah me!
4.7.755
are you not ashamed of this?
4.7.755b
Demea, do, for once, lay aside this anger of yours, and show yourself as you ought at your son’s wedding, cheerful and good-humored. I’ll just step over to them, and return immediately.
4.7.758b
O Jupiter! here’s a life! here are manners! here’s madness!
4.7.760
A wife to be coming without a fortune! A music-wench in the house! A house full of wastefulness! A young man ruined by extravagance! An:old man in his dotage!—Should Salvation herself desire it, she certainly could not save this family.
5.1.764
Upon my faith, my dear little Syrus, you have taken delicate care of yourself,
5.1.765
and have done your duty with exquisite taste; be off with you. But since I’ve had my fill of every thing in-doors, I have felt disposed to take a walk.
5.1.767b
Just look at that—there’s an instance of their good training!
5.1.768b
But see, here comes our old man. (Addressing him.) What’s the matter ? Why out of spirits?
5.1.769b
Oh you rascal!
5.1.770
Hold now; are you spouting your sage maxims here?
5.1.771
If you were my servant—
5.1.771b
Why, you would be a rich man, Demea, and improve your estate.
5.1.772b
I would take care that you should be an example to all the rest.
5.1.773b
For what reason? What have I done ?
5.1.773c
Do you ask me? in the midst of this confusion, and during the greatest mischief,
5.1.775
which is hardly yet set right, you have been getting drunk, you villain, as though things had been going on well.
5.1.776b
Really, I wish I hadn’t come out.

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.