Syrus

“ Syrus. Clinia has told his father that the wench
Is mistress to your Clitipho; and that
He brought her over with him to their house,
To hinder your detecting it.
Chrem. Good! good!
Syrus. D’ye think so?
Chrem. Charming!
He brought her with him hither, to prevent
Your smoking it.
Chrem. Incomparable!
Syrus. Really?
Chrem. O, admirable!
Syrus. Aye, if you knew all.
But only hear the rest of our device.
But only hear the rest of our advice.
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He’ll tell his father he has seen your daughter,
Whose beauty has so charm’d him at first sight,
He longs to marry her.
Chrem. Antiphila?
Syrus. ”

“ Syrus. And so I did.
But he came back soon after, like a madman.
He had no mercy.—Was not he asham’d
To beat a poor old fellow? to beat me;
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Who bore him in my arms but t’other day,
An urchin thus high? (Showing.)
Dem. Oh rare, Ctesipho!
Father’s own son! a man, I warrant him.
Syrus. Oh rare, d’ye cry? I’ faith, if he is wise,
He’ll hold his hands another time.
Dem. Oh brave!
Syrus. Oh mighty brave, indeed!—Because he beat
A helpless girl, and me a wretched slave,
Who durst not strike again;—oh, to be sure,
Mighty brave, truly! ”

“ Time has wrought Syrus a singular destiny, building up for him a second reputation on the ruins of a first. Of his plays, which were the admiration of the Romans, the ages have brought down to us only a few sayings which were dispersed through them. ”

“ But here comes Syrus; he can tell me all.
And yet this slave is of the gang; and if
He once perceives that I’m inquiring for him,
He’ll never tell me any thing; a rogue!
I’ll not discover my design.
44 SCENE IV. Enter Syrus at another part of the stage.
Syrus We’ve just disclos’d
The whole of this affair to Micio,
Syrus (to himself) . We’ve just
Disclos’d the whole of this affair to Micio,
Exactly as it happen’d. I ne’er saw
The good old gentleman more pleas’d.
Dem. Oh Heav’n,
The folly of the man! (Listening.)
Syrus (to himself) . He prais’d his son ”

“ Syrus. Look to’t!
Clit. To your content.
Syrus. But see, the women! they’re soon after us. (Looking out.)
Clit. Where are they?— (Syrus stops him.) Why d’ye hold me?
Syrus. She is not
Your mistress now.
Clit. True: not before my father.
But now, meanwhile——
Syrus. Nor now, meanwhile,
Clit. Allow me!
Syrus. No.
Clit. But a moment!
Syrus. No.
Clit. A single kiss!
Syrus. Away, if you are wise!
Clit. Well, well, I’m gone.
—What’s he to do?
Syrus. Stay here.
261 Clit. O happy——
Syrus. March! (Pushes off Clitipho.)
464 SCENE III Enter Bacchis, and Antiphila at a distance. ”

“ Syrus. Why then ’twill seem more probable,
If he presents it: I too shall effect
My scheme more easily.—And here he is.——
In, Sir, and fetch the money out.
Chrem. I will.
Exit Chremes.
304 SCENE VI. Enter Clitipho.
Clit. (to himself) . Nothing so easy in itself, but when
Perform’d against one’s will, grows difficult.
This little walk how easy! yet how faint
And weary it has made me!—and I fear
Lest I be still excluded, and forbid
To come near Bacchis. (Seeing Syrus.) —Now all powers above.
Confound you, Syrus, for the trick you play’d me! ”

“ Exit Chremes.
SCENE IV. Manent Clitipho, Syrus.
Syrus. He’s gone. Ah, would I’d ask’d him——
Clit. Ask’d what, Syrus?
Syrus. Where I should eat, since he has cast us off.
You, I perceive, are quarter’d on your sister.
Clit. Is’t come to this, that I should be in fear
Of starving, Syrus?
321 Syrus. So we do but live,
There’s hope——
Clit. Of what?
Syrus. That we shall have rare stomachs.
Clit. D’ye jest at such a time as this;
And lend me no assistance by your counsel?
Syrus. Nay, I was studying for you even now. ”

“ It will encourage others.—In a word,
Your Æschinus would have it so.
Micio. Do you
Desire it?
Æsch. Yes, Sir.
Micio. Well, if you desire it——
Come hither, Syrus!—Be thou free! (Syrus kneels; Micio strikes him, being the ceremony of manumission, or giving a slave his freedom.)
Syrus. I thank you:
Thanks to you all; but most of all, to Demea!
Dem. I’m glad of your good fortune.
Æsch. So am I.
Syrus. I do believe it; and I wish this joy
Were quite complete, and I might see my wife,
My Phrygia too, made free, as well as I.
Dem. The very best of women!
Syrus. ”

“ Syrus. Give a young man his way.
San. What could I give him more, who gave my face?
Syrus. Nay, but d’ye know my meaning, Sannio?
To seem upon occasion to slight money,
Proves in the end, sometimes, the greatest gain.
Why prithee, blockhead, could you be afraid,
Had you abated somewhat of your right,
And humor’d the young gentleman, he would not
Have paid you back again with interest?
San. I never purchase hope with ready money.
Syrus. Away! you’ll never thrive. You do not know
How to ensnare men, Sannio. ”

“ Syrus. This girl came here with Bacchis,
And now is with your wife.
Chrem. What then?
Syrus. She begs
Of Clinia to advance the cash; for which
She’ll give the girl as an equivalent.
She wants the thousand pieces.
Chrem. Does she so?
Syrus. No doubt on’t.
Chrem. So I thought.—And what do you
Intend to do?
283 Syrus. Who? I, Sir? I’ll away
To Menedemus presently; and tell him
This maiden is a rich and noble captive,
Stolen from Caria; and to ransom her
Will greatly profit him.
Chrem. ’Twill never do.
Syrus. How so?
Chrem. I answer now for Menedemus. ”

“ Prithee, peace!
Syrus. Aye, I warrant you.
Chrem. Oh, Syrus,
I’m quite asham’d of him.
Syrus. I do not doubt it.
Nor without reason; for it troubles me.
Clit. Still, rascal!
Syrus. Nay, I do but speak the truth.
Clit. May I not then go near them?
Chrem. Prithee, then,
Is there one way alone of going near them?
Syrus. Confusion! he’ll betray himself before
I get the money. (Aside.) —Chremes, will you once
Hear a fool’s counsel?
Chrem. What do you advise?
Syrus. Order your son about his business.
Clit. Whither?
Syrus. Whither! where’er you please. Give place to them. ”

“ Clinia has begged his friend to send at once to his dear Antiphila, and,—if she has been asfaithful to him in his absence as he hopes,—to entreat her to pay him a visit in his temporary domicile. And now the complication begins. Syrus,—the slave to whom young Clitipho intrusts his friend's errand, his confidant in all business, lawful or unlawful—determines to take the opportunity of doing his young master a special kindness. ”

“ Syrus. He has bespoke
Some tables to be made with oaken legs
To stand the sun.
Dem. For you to drink upon.
Oh brave! But I lose time. I’ll after him.
Exit hastily.
SCENE III. Syrus alone.
Aye, go your ways! I’ll work your old shrunk shanks
As you deserve, old Drybones!—Æschinus
Loiters intolerably. Dinner’s spoil’d.
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Ctesipho thinks of nothing but his girl.
’Tis time for me to look to myself too.
Faith, then I’ll in immediately; pick out
All the tid-bits, and tossing off my cups,
In lazy leisure lengthen out the day.
Exit.
SCENE IV. Enter Micio and Hegio.
Micio. ”

“ Oh! then I stay.
Syrus. You shall be paid directly.
Syrus. The money’s ready.
298 Bacch. Then
I stay. (Phrygia returns.)
Syrus. This instant you shall have it, Bacchis.
Bacch. When you please; I don’t press you.
Syrus. But d’ye know
What you’re to do?
Bacch. Why, what?
Syrus. You must go over,
You and your equipage, to Menedemus.
Bacch. What are you at now, sauce-box?
Syrus. Coining money
For your use, Bacchis.
Bacch. Do you think to play
Your jests on me?
Syrus. No; this is downright earnest.
Bacch. Are you the person I’m to deal with?
Syrus. No.
But ’twill secure your money. ”

“ Syrus (to Demea) . Indeed
I like them not, and oft cry shame upon them.
— (To servants within.) See that those salt fish are well soak’d, Stephanio.
Dem. Gods! is this done on purpose? Does he think
’Tis laudable to spoil his son? Alas!
I think I see the day when Æschinus
Shall fly for want, and list himself a soldier.
Syrus. O Demea! that is to be wise: to see,
Not that alone which lies before your feet,
But ev’n to pry into futurity.
Dem. What! is the Music-Girl at your house?
Syrus. Aye,
Madam’s within.
Dem. What! and is Æschinus
To keep her at home with him?
Syrus. I believe so ”

“ But come; now, Syrus, tell us, who’s that other?
Syrus. Your mistress, Bacchis.
Clit. How! what! Bacchis?
Where d’ye propose to carry her, rogue?
Syrus. Where?
Clit. How! what! Bacchis? Tell me,
Where d’ye bring her, rogue?
Syrus. Where do I bring her?
To our house certainly.
Clit. My father’s?
Syrus. Aye.
Clit. Oh monstrous impudence!
Syrus. Consider, Sir;
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More danger, the more honor.
Clit. Look ye, Sirrah,
You mean to purchase praise at my expense,
Where the least slip of yours would ruin me.
What is’t you drive at?
Syrus. But——
Clit. But what?
Syrus. ”

“ Whether from resentment, or a sense of justice, Cæsar awarding to Syrus the prize of the theatrical content, immediately passed him the triumphal palm, saying to the knight, with a mocking smile, "Although I was on your side, Laberius, a Syrian has beaten you." "Such is the fate of man," answered the poet; "to-day, ever thing; to-morrow, nothing." Notwithstanding, to restore the honor of the knight, lost by compliance with his own orders, Cæsar passed him a gold ring, the symbol of knightly rank, and added to it a present of five hundred thousand sesterces (about nineteen thousand dollars) . ”

“ Syrus. Say you?
Dromo. Even so.
Syrus. But while we chat, the girls are left behind.
Clit. (listening.) Girls, Clinia! do you hear?
Clin. I hear, I see,
And now, at last, I’m happy, Clitipho.
Dromo (to Syrus) . Left behind! troth, no wonder: so encumber’d;
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A troop of waiting-women at her heels!
Clin. (listening) . Confusion! Whence should she have waiting-women?
Clit. How can I tell?
Syrus (to Dromo) . We ought not to have dropp’d them.
They bring a world of baggage!
Clin. (listening) . Death!
Syrus. Gold, clothes!
It grows late too, and they may miss their way. ”

“ The sayings were for that age of secondary consideration; they are now his chief performance. Thus deprived of the glory he once had, he has conquered another, and the once celebrated dramatist has become posterity's famous gnomic poet.
Like Terence and Phaedrus, Syrus passed his early years in slavery; but as we have no evidence that he was born a slave, it is suppose he became one, when Syria, his native country, was reduced to a Roman province by Pompey (year of Rome 690; B.C. 64) . ”

“ Clit. Your counsel’s good. I’ll do’t.
490 SCENE V. Syrus alone.
A lucky thought of mine! for Clitipho:
The less he hopes, so much more easily
Will he reduce his father to good terms.
Besides, who knows but he may take a wife?
No thanks to Syrus neither.—But who’s here?
Chremes!—I’m off: for seeing what has pass’d,
I wonder that he did not order me
To be truss’d up immediately. I’ll hence
To Menedemus, and prevail on him
To intercede for me: as matters stand,
I dare not trust to our old gentleman.
Exit Syrus.
323 SCENE VI. Enter Chremes, Sostrata. ”

“ He is, in fact, at this moment taking care of his prize in Æschinus's apartments in his uncle's house, whither she has been conducted.
Syrus, delighted to have such an opportunity of exercising his wit upon Demea, whose principles of education he altogether dislikes, compliments him highly upon his son Ctesipho's irreproachable conduct. He declares that the good youth has been quite shocked at his elder brother's iniquity, and has reproached him with the discredit he was bringing on the family.
⁠Syrus. Æschinus, quoth he, I am ashamed of you—
You waste not money only, but your life. ”

“ The good youth was so indignant at his brother's conduct that he took him to task roundly, and ended by beating the music-wench, and breaking poor Syrus's head. "He ought to be ashamed of himself," says the latter whimpering,—"a poor old man like me, that nursed him!"—"Not at all," replies the unsympathetic Demea; "'tis you ought to be ashamed of yourself—you nursed his brother in wickedness!" He next inquires of the slave where his brother Micio is; for he wants to expostulate with him about this unfortunate business. He is not at home, Syrus assures him ”

“ Syrus. Do you go hence into the country?
511 Dem. Straight.
49 Syrus. For what should you do here, where nobody,
However good your precepts, cares to mind them?
Exit.
SCENE V. Demea alone.
I then will hence, since he, on whose account
I hither came, is gone into the country.
He is my only care, He’s my concern.
My brother, since he needs will have it so,
May look to Æschinus himself.——But who
Is coming yonder? Hegio, of our tribe?
If I see plainly, beyond doubt ’tis he.
Ah, we’ve been old acquaintance quite from boys;
And such men nowadays are wondrous scarce. ”

“ Philtere.
290 Syrus. The very same! she’s found, and I am lost.
Aside.
Chrem. In with me, Sostrata!
Sostra. Beyond my hopes.
How much I fear’d you should continue still
So rigidly inclin’d, as formerly,
When you refus’d to educate her, Chremes!
Chrem. Men can not always be as they desire,
But must be govern’d by their fortunes still.
The times are alter’d with me, and I wish
To have a daughter now; then, nothing less.
291 ACT THE FOURTH. SCENE I. Syrus, alone. ”

“ The Syrians held it, descended from Syrus, as is the story, the son of Apollo, and Sinope the daughter of Asopus. Which as soon as Lucullus heard, he remembered the admonition of Sylla, whose advice it is in his Memoirs, to treat nothing as so certain and so worthy of reliance as an intimation given in dreams. ”

“ Re-enter Chremes.
Chrem. I have disengaged myself, that I might lend you my services at my leisure. Syrus must be found and instructed by me in this business. Some one, I know not who, is coming out of my house: do you step hence home, that they may not perceive60 that we are conferring together.
Menedemus goes into his house.
Scene II. Enter Syrus from the house of Chremes.
Syr. (aloud to himself.) Run to and fro in every direction; still, money, you must be found: a trap must be laid for the old man. ”