Publius Terentius Afer

“ I will desert her—never. Come what may,
The enmity of all the world, I care not;
For I besought her love, I have her love,
We love each other well—no force shall part;
Nothing, save death, shall separate us twain. ”

“ Oh! for a friend I love the best, to be
My partner in this joy and ecstacy.
Cha. He is rejoicing surely.
Pam. Davus, ah!
I want you, Davus; no one more than you,
For none more vividly reflects my joys. ”

“ It is in accordance with that sentence that I offer Terence in another English garb.
Reader, you have reflected here the manners of the Roman Republic some 150 years before our Saviour. There are startling laws and manners shown forth in slavery and infanticide, but most strange of all the manner in which Roman youth wooed and won their wives. It may have derived from the recorded story of Romulus and the Sabines; but modes of marriage are nothing more than forms and fashions with different nations and people, and varied by circumstances and laws. ”

“ Outrageous are in wild audacity—
Madness, not gladness, better tells their state
They mean to rear the child, or boy or girl,
And feign a likely story—that she is
An Attican—a citizen of Athens.
There was a certain merchant—who they say
Was wrecked on Andros, and that there he died.
The father of this Chrysis took the child
Orphan'd and wrecked, an infant—'tis absurd! ”

“ The marriage possible. I find it not.
She is a citizen—a child is born—
Dispute not further.
Sim. By all the gods! I say,
Do not believe a word those creatures say,
Who do not wish my son to be reclaimed. ”

“ ACT III.—Scene 4.—Simo—Chremes.
Sim. Health unto Chremes!
Chr. ⁠Ah! I sought for you.
Sim. I sought for you, too.
Chr. ⁠You come at the wish.
I hear that you have rumoured it abroad
To-day your son is to wed with my daughter.
Now, are my neighbours crazy, or are you?
Sim. Now, hear me a few words. You know my wishes—
You know the truth of what you now demand. ”

“ Chremes.
Dav. Good.
I am rejoiced.
Pam. Nothing forbids the marriage.
Cha. Doth he not dream, and waking, grasps a shade?
Pam. And the boy, Davus—
Dav. Trouble not yourself;
The gods love only him. ”

“ I catch that cursed Davus, who will show
His store of tricks and wiles, which will not lack;
He will lay hand and foot to work to cheat.
He better loves, methinks, to trouble me
Than to assist my son. ”

“ That you have found your child.
Pam. Surely, my father.
Chr. But one doubt troubles me—one doubt remains.
Pam. Confound your stupid doubt. I hate the man
Seeking for doubts where there can none exist. ”

“ The alliance proffered, he will transfer his wrath
To you, and there will be a precious row.
Pam. But shall I suffer that?
Dav. He is your father,
Pamphilus, and has authority; whilst she,
Poor soul, is sole and unprotected—he
Will soon find means to exile her from hence. ”

“ Neither does Terence ever descend to anything not possible, such as the statue of the warrior supping with Don Juan. His facts are all such as were probable, and find their main plot in infanticide; and the recognition by means of the token appended to obtain their funeral rites; and in the paucity of women, which affords a sufficient cause for a forcible abduction of the wife. ”

“ Ah ! how much better were it now to chase
This folly from your heart, and cease to speak
Such sentiments as only drive you mad.
Cha. All men in health can counsel who are sick,
But when themselves are sick 'tis otherwise. ”

“ Do you push on this wedding, and I trust
The gods will bring it to a good result.
Sim. Well, get you in; and wait you for me there,
And get all things in order—do you hear!
ACT III.—Scene 3.—Simo. ”

“ I'll take your place and grind—do you understand
Or do you need further enlightenment?
Dav. Nay, none; you have explained, indeed, the whole
With singular intelligence and clearness.
Sim. Do you employ your own intelligence
Of craftiness upon some other subject. ”

“ Oaths:—
⁠Faith of gods.
⁠Faith of men.
⁠Faith of gods and men.
⁠Pol and Edepol—Pollux and fane of Pollux.
⁠Castor and Ecastor—Castor and fane of Castor.
⁠Hercle—by Hercules.
⁠Me hercle—me Hercules juvat.
⁠Jupiter—proh Jupiter.
⁠I am beloved of gods.
⁠As the gods love me. ”

“ I gave him licence more than, perhaps, I ought;
But so I learnt his true propensities.
Unchecked by fear or magisterial hand,
He then betrayed his bent.
Sos. ⁠Ah! that is so.
Sim. Boys usually have passions and desires,
Hugging some special pastime to their arms
As dogs and horses—or philosophy. ”

“ A free-born Attican?
Cri. Do you deny it?
Sim. Do you come hither thus prepared?
Cri. Prepared!
Sim. Prepared: to play the rogue, delude our youth,
And with impunity to spread your nets
And lures for generous youth ”

“ My master may go troop elsewhere.
Sim. Go in, and wait within till we have need.
Pam. I go!
Byr. No faith in man; put not your trust in man.
Truly the proverb says—That everyone
Must take care of himself and not another. ”

“ That which approaches it is our opera singers and actresses, who, although proscribed as servants by the aristocracy supporting them, live in luxury, and ever and anon carry off a noble scion in matrimony. ”

“ Dav. ⁠Whence is he? Speak out plain.
Mys. From home.
Dav. ⁠Ah, ah, ah!—impudent beyond belief!
Chr. This is the Andrian's damsel, as I think.
Dav. What do you think to play upon us so:
Are we such likely persons to be duped?
Chr. I came here in good time.
Dav. ⁠I say, my girl,
Just carry off tliis brat before tbe gate.
[Aside.] Don't move a jot; stand just now as you are.
Mys. May gods uproot you! How you frighten me!
Dav. Is it to you I speak, or not?
Mys. ⁠Eh, what?
What do you want?
Dav. ⁠A pretty question that—
Who owns the brat you laid there, tell me that? ”

“ Whence doth the fellow come?
Dav. And all attend to me and to this stranger.
Sim. What roguery 's this!
Dav. I never knew a man
Arrive more opportunely at a time.
Sim. Scoundrel! whom praise you? ”

“ I had been nicely fooled, or if in earnest—
But now he will be shipwrecked—the whilst I
Sail into port.
ACT III.—Scene 2.—Simo—Davus—Lesbia—Archillis.
Les. Archillis! everything as yet goes well ”

“ Layout 2
ACT III.
Scene 1.—Mysis—Simo—Davus—Lesbia—Glycerium.
Mys. Pol! Lesbia, what you say is very true.
You may go far to find a faithful lover.
Sim. Is this the maiden of the Andrian?
Dav. Yes, yes. ”

“ He gained their praises and he made them friends.
Sos. It is a good commencement; for to-day,
Deceit wins friendship and truth enemies.
Sim. Some three years since a certain woman came
Hither from Andros, and here made abode. ”