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Adelphi; or, The Brothers

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 789 sections

1. 5.8.931b

   So they say.

2. 5.8.931c

   Advanced in years.

3. 5.8.932

   I am aware of it.

4. 5.8.932b

   Through her years, she is long past child-bearing; there is no one to take care of her; she is a lone woman.

5. 5.8.933b

   What can be his meaning ?

6. 5.8.934

   It is right you should marry her; and that you, Aeschinus, should use your endeavors to effect it.

7. 5.8.935

   I, marry her, indeed ?

8. 5.8.935b

   You.

9. 5.8.935c

   I?

10. 5.8.935d

    You, I say.

11. 5.8.935e

    You are trifling!

12. 5.8.935f

    Aeschinus, if you are a man, he’ll do it.

13. 5.8.936b

    My dear father—

14. 5.8.936c

    What, ass! do you attend to him?

15. 5.8.936d

    ’T is all in vain; it can not be otherwise.

16. 5.8.937b

    You are mad!

17. 5.8.937c

    Do let me prevail on you, my father.

18. 5.8.938

    Are you out of your senses? Take yourself off.

19. 5.8.938b

    Come, do oblige your son.

20. 5.8.938c

    Are you quite in your right mind? Am I, in my five-and-sixtieth year, to be marrying at last?

21. 5.8.940

    A decrepit old woman too? Do you advise me to do this?

22. 5.8.941

    Do; I have promised it.

23. 5.8.941b

    Promised, indeed; be generous at your own cost, young man.

24. 5.8.942

    Come, what if he should ask a still greater favor?

25. 5.8.942b

    As if this was not the greatest!

26. 5.8.943

    Do comply.

27. 5.8.943b

    Don’t make any difficulty.

28. 5.8.943c

    Do promise.

29. 5.8.943d

    Will you not have done?

30. 5.8.944

    Not until I have prevailed upon you.

31. 5.8.944b

    Really, this is downright force.

32. 5.8.944c

    Act with heartiness, Micio.

33. 5.8.945

    Although this seems to me to be wrong, foolish, absurd, and repugnant to my mode of life, yet, if you so strongly wish it, be it so.

34. 5.8.946b

    You act obligingly.

35. 5.8.947

    With reason I love you; but—

36. 5.8.947b

    What ?

37. 5.8.947c

    I will tell you, when my wish has been complied with.

38. 5.8.948

    What now? What remains to be done?

39. 5.8.948a

    Hegio here is their nearest relation;

40. 5.8.949

    he is a connection of ours and poor; we ought to do some good for him.

41. 5.8.950

    Do what?

42. 5.8.950b

    There is a little farm here in the suburbs, which you let out; let us give it him to live upon.

43. 5.8.951b

    But is it a little one ?

44. 5.8.951c

    If it were a large one, still it ought to be done; he has been as it were a father to her; he is a worthy man, and connected with us; it would be properly bestowed. In fine, I now adopt that proverb which you, Micio, a short time ago repeated with sense and wisdom—it is the common vice of all,

45. 5.8.955

    in old age, to be too intent upon our own interests. This stain we ought to avoid: it is a true maxim, and ought to be observed in deed.

46. 5.8.957

    What am I to say to this? Well then, as he desires it (pointing to AESCHINUS), it shall be given him.

47. 5.8.957b

    My father!

48. 5.8.958

    Now, Micio, you are indeed my brother, both in spirit and in body.

49. 5.8.958b

    I am glad of it.

50. 5.8.959

    I foil him at his own weapon.

51. 5.9.959b

    It has been done as you ordered, Demea.

52. 5.9.960

    You are a worthy fellow. Upon my faith,—in my opinion, at least,—I think Syrus ought at once to be made free.

53. 5.9.961b

    He free! For what reason?

54. 5.9.962b

    For many.

55. 5.9.962c

    O my dear Demea! upon my word, you are a worthy man! I have strictly taken care of both these sons of yours, from childhood; I have taught, advised, and carefully instructed them in every thing I could.

56. 5.9.965

    The thing is evident; and then, besides all this, to cater for them, secretly bring, home a wench, prepare a morning entertainment; these are the accomplishments of no ordinary person.

57. 5.9.967b

    O, what a delightful man!

58. 5.9.968

    Last of all, he assisted to-day in purchasing this Music-wench—he had the management of it; it is right he should be rewarded; other servants will be encouraged thereby: besides, he (pointing to AESCHINUS) desires it to be so.

59. 5.9.970b

    Do you desire this to be done?

60. 5.9.970c

    I do wish it.

61. 5.9.970d

    Why then, if you desire it, just come hither, Syrus, to me (performing the ceremony of manumission); be a free man.

62. 5.9.971b

    You act generously; I return my thanks to you all;—and to you, Demea, in particular.

63. 5.9.973

    I congratulate you.

64. 5.9.973b

    And I.

65. 5.9.973c

    I believe you. I wish that this joy were made complete—that I could see my wife, Phrygia, free as well.

66. 5.9.975

    Really, a most excellent woman.

67. 5.9.975b

    And the first to suckle your grandchild, his son, today (pointing to AESCHINUS).

68. 5.9.976b

    Why really, in seriousness, if she was the first to do so, there is no doubt she ought to be made free.

69. 5.9.978

    What, for doing that?

70. 5.9.978b

    For doing that; in fine, receive the amount from me at which she is valued.

71. 5.9.979

    May all the Gods always grant you, Demea, all you desire.

72. 5.9.980

    Syrus, you have thrived pretty well to-day.

73. 5.9.980b

    If, in addition, Micio, you will do your duty, and lend him a little ready money in hand for present use, he will soon repay you.

74. 5.9.982b

    Less than this (snapping his fingers).

75. 5.9.983

    He is a deserving fellow.

76. 5.9.983b

    Upon my word, I will repay it; only lend it me.

77. 5.9.983c

    Do, father.

78. 5.9.983d

    I’ll consider of it afterward.

79. 5.9.984

    He’ll do it, Syrus.

80. 5.9.984b

    O most worthy man!

81. 5.9.984c

    O most kind-hearted father!

82. 5.9.985

    How is this? What has so suddenly changed your disposition, Demea? What caprice is this? What means this sudden liberality?

83. 5.9.986b

    I will tell you:—That I may convince you of this, Micio, that the fact that they consider you an easy and kind-hearted man, does not proceed from your real life, nor, indeed, from a regard for virtue and justice; but from your humoring, indulging, and pampering them.

84. 5.9.990

    Now therefore, Aeschinus, if my mode of life has been displeasing to you, because I do not quite humor you in every thing, just or unjust, I have done: squander, buy, do what you please.

85. 5.9.993

    But if you would rather have one to reprove and correct those faults, the results of which, by reason of your youth, you can not see, which you pursue too ardently, and are thoughtless upon, and in due season to direct you;

86. 5.9.996

    behold me ready to do it for you.

87. 5.9.996b

    Father, we leave it to you; you best know what ought to be done. But what is to be done about my brother?

88. 5.9.997b

    I consent. Let him have his mistress: with her let him make an end of his follies.

89. 5.9.998b

    That’s right. (To the AUDIENCE.) Grant us your applause.

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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.