Robert Bridges

“ Our true tragedy
Is just this outward riddle, and the god
That mends all, comes not in pat at his cue
On a machine, but liveth in our hearts
Resolving evil faster than it falls,
As the sun melts the snow.
Sen.’Tis not enough,
Thrasea, ’tis not enough: there must be more.
Hear you a tramping? That is Cæsar’s men:
They will surround the garden. Come aside. (Comes to front with Thrasea.)
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Stand by me, Thrasea, to the last. I would not
Slur the last act of life. Be thou my witness
Of word and deed. Enter Paullina with Fannia, who goes to Priscus.
PAULLINA.
O Seneca, they are come ”

“ The thing’s as easy as lying. Let the ladies change
Their names; or if so be Chremes knows not their names, 428
Let them but change their parts. Gorgo—for that’s the lady,
Whom you would bring, I guess—let Gorgo pass to-day
For Clinia’s mistress; let Antiphila play the maid;
Wh hinders not that when they come, each take his own.
You have your Gorgo; you, sir, your Antiphila:
And none will be any the wiser. ”

“ Think you, Quintian,
’Tis the April air intoxicates me so,
And floats my head with birdlike confidence?
Is it the April morning air? Ah, no;
’Tis the air of the eve of liberty.—Is that
Not poetry, good fellow?
Qu.Well, they say
Occasion makes a poet of any man.
Sce. It pleases me to walk about the palace,
And count the columns: with my eye I measure
The carven friezes and gold roofs, and say
All this is thine, Scevinus: stretch but forth
Thy hand and take it from its master: give it
Back to the world. These busts, Hellenic statues, 1975
All these are thine, Scevinus! ”

“ You, sir, would underrate high qualities,
Being proved in them yourself. Bithynia
Praises you still, though Rome forgets your zeal
In the grace of your retirement. Will you never
Mix in affairs again?
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Pet.Nothing could tempt me.
The very thought of travelling wearies me,
And the occupation of the mind in matters
That any clerk is fit for.—Yet I praise
The world and all its fret: its vanity,
Advertisement, vulgarity and dirt
Are precious for one thing; they make retirement
Positive joy. Blest are the gods who sit
On changeless seats. ”

“ My counsellor and guide, Chremes, is very far beyond me.
I never did anything half so foolish in all my life
As to trust my secrets to him. In time now; here he comes. 107
Enter Chremes.
CHREMES.
Ah, my good Menedemus, now I have news indeed.
Men. I know it, Chremes, and give you my hearty congratulations.
’Tis a happy day for us both: for you have found a daughter,
And I . . .
Chr.You know it already? Who told you?
Men.My son.
Chr.Your son!
Men. Clinia. Yes. He is in my house. ”

“ And tho’ I have not forgot it, my own experience is,
One does entirely get over the sort of thing—I assure you.
Men. ’Tis kind of you thus to recall your sorrow to comfort mine. 140
My condolence can make a distinction: the child you lost
Was a daughter, a babe, you say. Clinia was my only son,13
Grown up. Besides you admit you were not at all to blame:
I brought this on myself. See, friend, the difference!
Chr. However I see no reason yet to despair, Menedemus.
You will have him safe at home again, and soon, I am sure.
Men. The gods grant it. ”

“ Wisdom is far away the chiefest of happiness.
Of course a man may be happy, although he has lost his son,
If it cannot be charged to his fault. In spite of the best intentions
Menedemus is much to blame. Poor fellow, but I may assist him.
And if I can, I will. I love to help a neighbour;
’Tis pleasure as well as duty: because it is a pleasure
To be wiser than others, and even a friend’s predicament 170
Increases the satisfaction I feel, when I think how well
My own household is managed. But stay, ’tis time I went15
To see that all’s in order for the feast we hold to-night. ”

“ To throw yourself so quickly and hotly into my affairs:
But indeed I do not need it.
Ph. ’Tis plain to me you do.
A runaway just returned, afraid to face his father,
Fearful lest in his absence his mistress have proved untrue—
Not need a friend? Why a friend is just what you do need,
To discover for you the state of affairs, and put you in train.
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Clin. Though, sir, I were quite content to reckon upon your zeal,
Maybe you overrate your ability. ”

“ Sen.If, Cæsar, in this embrace
Power kissed philosophy, ’twere well with both.
Ner. I have my own philosophy to kiss;
Be thou content with thine.
Sen.Nay, the wise man
Is so convinced of truth, he seeks to impart it.
Ner. I would impart my wisdom unto thee. (A Messenger enters and speaks to Tigellinus, who goes out with him.)
Sen. Alas! all schools alike spew out your doctrines,
Zeno or Epicurus.
Ner.That is because
You all agree to teach what none believes,
That pain and misery and death are nothing,
But goodness all-sufficient. Tell me, Seneca,
Can a good man be happy on the rack? ”

“ Je trouve cette plainte estoit bien prise et raisonable.’ It surprises me that Montaigne does not in this place refer to Menedemus. In the tenth essay, Des Livres, he writes thus of Terence: ‘Quant an bon Terence, la mignardise, et les graces du langage latin, je le trouve admirable à representer au vif les mouvemens de l’ame, et la condition de nos mœurs: à toute heure nos actions me rejettent à luy: Je ne le puis lire si souvent que je n’y treuve quelque beauté et grace nouvelle.... Sa gentilesse et sa mignardise nous retiennent par tout. ”

“ PETRONIUS, PISO, LUCAN, SCEVINUS, SENECIO, and QUINTIAN. Three places are empty.
PETRONIUS (to Piso) .
That’s the last dish, my lord: a little banquet
Of fruit remains, and, best of all my supper,
Three jars of Otho’s wine.
PISO.
Ha! merry Otho,
Become a man of affairs. Drink we to him
And Lusitania.
LUCAN (rising excitedly) .
A toast with Otho’s name!
Republican integrity!
Pet.What a fuss,
Lucan, you make, because a gentleman
Is honest. What else could you expect of Otho?
SENECIO.
When, too, there’s nought worth stealing in his province. 188
Pis. ”

“ Before you have even thought of it. When you know more of it,
You’ll like it.
Pam.I will, father.
Chr.Good! son: for though a wife
Is an evil, she is a necessary evil, and one to which
You will get accustomed in time. ’Tis more respectable too
To be married; and the only cure for a temper such as yours.
Sost. I’ll help you choose, my dear Pamphilus; I know who—1570
That clever, charming girl, whom you’ll be in love with directly;
The orphan niece of our old neighbour, Phanocrates. ”

“ I pray you both
Wait: let us first see who is betrayed.
Fla.Go thou,
And wait thy death. (Lucan goes to his place.)
Asp.Let us die bravely, Flavus;
’Tis all we can. (Coming forward to centre.)
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Fla.We will. Ah, see! he is guarded.
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Enter R. Nero, Tigellinus and Rufus; preceded by Guards, who thrust Flavus and Asper back, making passage for Cæsar.
NERO (at centre) .
Here is our court. I love the open air:
It savours more of justice, heavenly justice;
And while we sit, we breathe. Rufus, ascend. (Showing Judge’s seat.) ”

“ TERENCE
2
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
The scene is in a suburb of Athens, opposite the house of Chremes (L) : on the other side is Menedemus’ garden (R) : this occupies most of the back of the stage: a gate from the garden gives on the stage: between the garden and Chremes’ house a road runs down to the city.
Duration of time—a few hours of one day. There is no pause in the action, and the whole may be played continuously with a formal break at the end of each act.
3
THE FEAST OF
BACCHUS
ACT · I
MENEDEMUS seen at work in his garden. ”

“ Lord love you!
I’m not surprised at any one wanting to marry you.
I see from what you’ve said what kind of person you are;
And when I come to think of the sort of life, which you
And people like you, lead, who keep admirers off
At arms’-length, then no wonder, I say, that you shd be
Just what you are, and others, like me, so different.
Then once your mind made up to share and spend your days
With the man whose disposition is most congenial to you,
He never leaves you more: for mutual benefits
Must bind you so closely, that no misfortune can ever come
To cross your love. 45
ANTIPHILA. ”

“ You feel for the parents then—ay, tho’ some ridicule
Be fastened upon them; ’tis by such touches of flesh and blood 1140
The life comes home to your heart, and while you are made to smile,
You weep. You have paid for the tear, or if your false shame
Forbids you to shew your feeling, you’ve bought a lump in the throat. ”

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“ Fla. It is hard, sir, for a man like me, to trust a man like Piso. I yield to the choice of my betters, and the vote of the majority. I would not split the party. Yet I wish we had persuaded Seneca!
Lat. So do I, and it cost him a pang to refuse. ’Twas only Thrasea’s opinion that overweighted him.
Fla. Priscus ruined us.
Lat. There’s no choice for us now; and I doubt185 not we can make Piso emperor. He hath a wider following than Seneca. But when we have set him up, ’twill be in the power of any to pull him down.
Fla. And then Seneca: why not Seneca then?
Lat. Hush! who comes?
Fla. ’Tis Rufus. ”

“ Yet might it save a thousand. Well saved, is like well spent;
Ay, even though ’tis saved for another: besides I am sure
The money is safe enough. And now I have gone so far
To help Menedemus, I can’t draw back; while if I do it
I certainly win his esteem & thanks. ’Tis very true
That a good turn done to a neighbour is done to oneself: one lives
Within the circle of joy one goes to create! ’Tis wise:58 759
And then to have Menedemus my friend! Say forty pounds;
I happen to have it handy. I’ll do it. It shan’t be said,
Chremes is not a gentleman. No, I’ll do it.
Pam.Sir,
Have you decided? ”

“ The one man worthy? ay, to rule the world
Ye said: Well! I shall rule it; but not so.
I make my throne here, and with these nibbed reeds
Issue my edicts to the simple-hearted,
To whom all rule shall come: Yes, it shall come
If God’s will count for aught.
Pr.My lord, consider.
This is the hour to set you right for ever.155 590
’Twas of your doing Nero came to power:
Now with one word you may blot out the past.
Sen. Priscus, if thou didst think I was to blame
For all the wrongs and crimes, which by thy speech
Thou wouldst impute, wouldst thou be here to-day
To hail me Cæsar? ”