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Enter SOSTRATA and CANTHARA, from the house of the former.
SOSTRATA
Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end? CANTHARA
Like to end, do you ask? I' troth, right well, I trust. SOSTRATA
Her pains are just beginning, my dear. CANTHARA
You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion--never been in labor yourself. SOSTRATA
Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Aeschinus. CANTHARA
I' faith, he'll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us. SOSTRATA
He is my sole comfort in my afflictions. CANTHARA
Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,--such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family. SOSTRATA
It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us. They stand apart, on seeing GETA.
Enter GETA, on the other side of the stage.
GETA
to himself. Now such is our condition, that if all were to combine all their counsels, and to seek a remedy for this mischief that has befallen myself, my mistress, and her daughter, they could find no relief. Oh wretched me! so many calamities beset us on a sudden, we can not possibly extricate ourselves. Violence, poverty, oppression, desertion, infamy! What an age is this! O shocking villainy! O accursed race! O impious man!---- SOSTRATA
Unhappy me! How is it that I see Geta hurrying along thus terrified? GETA
continuing. Whom neither promises, nor oaths, nor compassion could move or soften; nor yet the fact that the delivery was nigh at hand of the unfortunate woman on whom he had so shamefully committed violence. SOSTRATA
apart to CANTHARA. I don't well understand what he is talking about. CANTHARA
Pray, let us go nearer to him, Sostrata. GETA
continuing. Ah wretched me! I am scarcely master of my senses, I am so inflamed with anger. There is nothing that 1 would like better than for all that family to be thrown in my way, that I might give vent to all my wrath upon them while this wound is still fresh. 1 could be content with any punishment, so I might only wreak my vengeance on them. First, I would stop the breath of the old fellow himself who gave being to this monster; then as for his prompter, Syrus, out upon him! How I would tear him piecemeal! I would snatch him by the middle up aloft, and dash him head downward upon the earth, so that with his brains he would bestrew the road: I would pull out the eyes of the young fellow himself, and afterward hurl him headlong over some precipice. The others I would rush upon, drive, drag, crush, and trample them under foot. But why do I delay at once to acquaint my mistress with this calamity? Moves as if going. SOSTRATA
to CANTHARA. Let us call him Lack. Geta---- GETA
Well--leave me alone, 1 whoever you are. SOSTRATA
'Tis I,--Sostrata. GETA
turning round. Why, where are you? You are the very person I am looking for. I was in quest of you; it's very fortunate you have met me. SOSTRATA
What's the matter? Why are you trembling? GETA
Alas! alas! SOSTRATA
My dear Geta, why in such haste? Do take breath. GETA
Quite----pauses. SOSTRATA
Why, what means this "quite"? GETA
Undone--It's all over with us. SOSTRATA
Say, then, I entreat you, what is the matter. GETA
Now---- SOSTRATA
What "now," Geta? GETA
Aeschinus---- SOSTRATA
What about him? GETA
Has abandoned our family. SOSTRATA
Then I am undone! Why so? GETA
He has attached himself to another woman. SOSTRATA
Woe unto wretched me! GETA
And he makes no secret of it; he himself has carried her off openly from a procurer. SOSTRATA
Are you quite sure of this? GETA
Quite sure; I saw it myself, Sostrata, with these same eyes. SOSTRATA
Ah wretched me! What is one now to believe, or whom believe? Our own Aeschinus, the very life of us all, in whom all our hopes and comforts were centred! Who used to swear he could never live a single day without her! Who used to say, that he would place the infant on his father's knees, 2 and thus entreat that he might be allowed to make her his wife! GETA
Dear mistress, forbear weeping, and rather consider what must be done for the future in this matter. Shall we submit to it, or shall we tell it to any person? CANTHARA
Pooh, pooh! Are you in your senses, my good man? Does this seem to you a business to be made known to any one? GETA
I, indeed, have no wish for it. In the first place, then, that his feelings are estranged from us, the thing itself declares. Now, if we make this known, he'll deny it, I'm quite sure; your reputation and your daughter's character will then be in danger. On the other hand, if he were fully to confess it, as he is in love with another woman, it would not be to her advantage to be given to him. Therefore, under either circumstance, there is need of silence. SOSTRATA
Oh! by no means in the world! I'll not do it. GETA
What is it you say? SOSTRATA
I'll make it known. GETA
Ha, my dear Sostrata, take care what you do! SOSTRATA
The matter can not possibly be in a worse position than it is at present. In the first place, she has no portion; then, besides, that which was as good as a portion, her honor, is lost: she can not be given in marriage as a virgin. This resource is left; if he should deny it, I have a ring which he lost as evidence of the truth. In fine, Geta, as I am fully conscious that no blame attaches to me, and that neither interest nor any consideration unworthy of her or of myself has had a share in this matter, I will make trial---- GETA
What am I to say to this? I agree, as you speak for the best. SOSTRATA
You be off as fast as possible, and relate all the matter just as it has happened to her kinsman Hegio; for he was the best friend of our lamented Simulus, and has shown especial regard for us. GETA
aside. Aye, faith, because nobody else takes any notice of us. SOSTRATA
Do you, my dear Canthara, run with all haste, and fetch the midwife, so that, when she is wanted, we may not have to wait for her. SOSTRATA goes into the house, and exit GETA and CANTHARA.
Enter DEMEA.
DEMEA
to himself. Utterly undone! I hear that Ctesipho was with Aeschinus at the carrying off of this girl. This sorrow still remains for unhappy me, should Aeschinus be able to seduce him, even him, who promises so fair, to a course of debauchery. Where am I to inquire for him? I doubt he has been carried off to some bad house; that profligate has persuaded him, I'm quite sure. But look--I see Syrus coming this way, I shall now know from him where he is. But, i 'faith, he is one of the gang; if he perceives that I am looking for him, the rascal will never tell me. I'll not let him know what I want. Enter SYRUS, at the other side of the stage. SYRUS
to himself. We just now told the old gentleman the whole affair just as it happened; I never did see any one more delighted. DEMEA
apart. O Jupiter! the folly of the man! SYRUS
continuing. He commended his son. To me, who put them upon this project, he gave thanks---- DEMEA
apart. I shall burst asunder. SYRUS
continuing. He told down the money instantly, and gave me half a mina besides to spend. That was laid out quite to my liking. DEMEA
apart. Very fine--if you would wish a thing to be nicely managed, intrust it to this fellow. SYRUS
overhearing him. Ha, Demea! I didn't see you; how goes it? DEMEA
How should it go? I can not enough wonder at your mode of living here. SYRUS
Why, really silly enough, and, to speak without disguise, altogether absurd. Calls at the door of MICIO'S house. Dromo, clean the: rest of the fish; let the largest conger-eel play a little in the water; when I come back it shall, be boned; 3 not before. DEMEA
Is profligacy like this---- SYRUS
As for myself, it isn't to my taste, and I often exclaim against it. Calls; at the door. Stephanio, take care that the salt fish is well soaked. DEMEA
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! Is he doing this for any purpose of his own, or does he think it creditable to ruin his son? Wretch that I am! methinks I already see the day when Aeschinus will be running away for want, to serve somewhere or other as a soldier. 4 SYRUS
O Demea ! That is wisdom indeed, not only to look at the present moment, but also to look forward to what's to come. DEMEA
Well--is this Music-girl still with you? SYRUS
Why, yes, she's in-doors. DEMEA
How now--is he going to keep her at home? SYRUS
I believe so; such is his madness! DEMEA
Is it possible? SYRUS
An imprudent lenity in his father, and a vicious inlulgence. DEMEA
Really, I am ashamed and grieved at my brother. SYRUS
Demea! Between you there is a great--I do not say it because you are here present--a too great difference. You are, every bit of you, nothing but wisdom; he a mere dreamer. Would you indeed have suffered that son of yours to act thus? DEMEA
I, suffer him? Would I not have smelt it out six months before he attempted it? SYRUS
Need I be told by you of your foresight? DEMEA
I pray he may only continue the same he is at present! SYRUS
Just as each person wishes his son to be, so he turns out. DEMEA
What news of him? Have you seen him to-day? SYRUS
What, your son? Aside. I'll pack him off into the country. To DEMEA. I fancy he's busy at the farm long before this. DEMEA
Are you quite sure he is there? SYRUS
What!--when I saw him part of the way myself---- DEMEA
Very good. I was afraid he might be loitering here. SYRUS
And extremely angry too. DEMEA
Why so? SYRUS
He attacked his brother in the Forum with strong language about this Music-girl. DEMEA
Do you really say so? SYRUS
Oh dear, he didn't at all mince the matter; for just as the money was being counted out, the gentleman came upon us by chance, and began exclaiming, "Oh Aeschinus, that you should perpetrate these enormities! that you should be guilty of actions so disgraceful to our family!" DEMEA
Oh, I shall weep for joy. SYRUS
"By this you are not squandering your money only, but your reputation." DEMEA
May he be preserved to me! I trust he will be like his forefathers. Weeping. SYRUS
aside. Heyday! DEMEA
Syrus, he is full of these maxims. SYRUS
aside. Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them. DEMEA
I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine, I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, I say---- SYRUS
Quite right. DEMEA
Avoid that---- SYRUS
Very shrewd. DEMEA
This is praiseworthy---- SYRUS
That's the thing. DEMEA
That is considered blamable---- SYRUS
Extremely good. DEMEA
And then, moreover---- SYRUS
Upon my honor, I have not the leisure to listen to you just at present: I have got some fish just to my taste, and must take care they are not spoiled; for that would be as much a crime in me, as for you, Demea, not to observe those maxims which you have just been mentioning; and so far as I can, I lay down precepts for my fellow-servants on the very same plan; "this is too salt, that is quite burned up, this is not washed enough, that is very well done; remember and do so another time." I carefully instruct them so far as I can to the best of my capacity. In short, Demea, I bid them look into their sauce-pans as though into a mirror, 5 and suggest to them what they ought to do. I am sensible these things are trifling which we do; but what is one to do? According as the man is, so must you humor him. Do you wish any thing else? DEMEA
That more wisdom may be granted you. SYRUS
You will be going off into the country, I suppose? DEMEA
Directly. SYRUS
For what should you do here, where, if you do give any good precepts, no one will regard them? Goes into MICIO'S house. DEMEA
to himself. I certainly will be off, as he on whose account I came hither has gone into the country. I have a care for him: that alone is my own concern, since my brother will have it so; let him look to the other himself. But who is it I see yonder at a distance? Isn't it Hegio of our tribes? 6 If I see right, i' faith, it is he. Ah, a man I have been friendly with from a child! Good Gods! we certainly have a great dearth of citizens of that stamp nowadays, with the old-fashioned virtue and honesty. Not in a hurry will any misfortune accrue to the public from him. How glad I am to find some remnants of this race even still remaining; now I feel some pleasure in living. I'll wait here for him, to ask him how he is, and have some conversation with him.
Enter HEGIO and GETA, conversing, at a distance.
HEGIO
Oh immortal Gods! a disgraceful action, Geta! What is it you tell me? GETA
Such is the fact. HEGIO
That so ignoble a deed should come from that family! Oh Aeschinus, assuredly you haven't taken after your father in that ! DEMEA
apart. Why surely, he has heard this about the Music-girl; that gives him concern, though a stranger; this father of his thinks nothing of it. Ah me! I wish he were somewhere close at hand to overhear this. HEGIO
Unless they do as they ought to do, they shall not come off so easily. GETA
All our hopes, Hegio, are centred in you; you we have for our only friend; you are our protector, our father. The old man, Simulus, when dying, recommended us to you; if you forsake us, we are undone. HEGIO
Beware how you mention that; I neither will do it, nor do I think that, with due regard to the ties of relationship, I could. DEMEA
apart. I'll accost him. Approaches HEGIO. Hegio, I bid you welcome right heartily; HEGIO
starting. Oh! you are the very man I was looking for. Greetings to you, Demea. DEMEA
Why, what's the matter? HEGIO
Your eldest son Aeschinus, whom you gave to your brother to adopt, has been acting the part of neither an honest man nor a gentleman. DEMEA
What has he been doing? HEGIO
You knew my friend and year's-mate, Simulus? DEMEA
Why not? HEGIO
He has debauched his daughter, a virgin. DEMEA
Hah! HEGIO
Stay, Demea. You have not yet heard the worst. DEMEA
Is there any thing still worse? HEGIO
Worse, by far: for this indeed might in some measure have been borne with. The hour of night prompted him; passion, wine, young blood; 'tis human nature. When he was sensible of what he had done, he came voluntarily to the girl's mother, weeping, praying, entreating, pledging his honor, vowing that he would take her home. 7 The affair was pardoned, hushed up, his word taken. The girl from that intercourse became pregnant: this is the tenth month. He, worthy fellow, has provided himself, if it please the Gods, with a Music-girl to live with; the other he has cast off. DEMEA
Do you say this for certain? HEGIO
The mother of the young woman is among us, 8 the young woman too; the fact speaks for itself; this Geta, besides, according to the common run of servants, not a bad one or of idle habits; he supports them; alone, maintains the whole family; take him, bind him, 9 examine him upon the matter. GETA
Aye, faith, put me to the torture, Demea, if such is not the fact: besides, he will not deny it. Confront me with him. DEMEA
aside. I am ashamed; and what to do, or how to answer him, I don't know. PAMPHILA
crying out within the house of SOSTRATA. Ah me! I am racked with pains! Juno Lucina, 10 bring aid, save me, I beseech thee. HEGIO
Hold; is she in labor, pray? GETA
No doubt of it, Hegio. HEGIO
Ah! she is now imploring your protection, Demea; let her obtain from you spontaneously what the power of the law compels you to give. I do entreat the Gods that what befits you may at once be clone. But if your sentiments are otherwise, Demea, I will defend both them and him who is dead to the utmost of my power. He was my kinsman: 11 we were brought up together from children, we were companions in the wars and at home, together we experienced the hardships of poverty. I will therefore exert myself, strive, use all methods, in fine lay down my life, rather than forsake these women. What answer do you give me? DEMEA
I'll go find my brother, Hegio: the advice he gives me upon this matter I'll follow. 12 HEGIO
But, Demea, take you care and reflect upon this: the more easy you are in your circumstances, the more powerful, wealthy, affluent, and noble you are, so much the more ought you with equanimity to observe the dictates of justice, if you would have yourselves esteemed as men of probity. DEMEA
Go back now; 13 every thing shall be done that is proper to be done. HEGIO
It becomes you to act thus. Geta, show me in to Sostrata. Follows GETA into SOSTRATA'S house. DEMEA
to himself. Not without warning on my part have these things happened: I only wish it may end here; but this immoderate indulgence will undoubtedly lead to some great misfortune. I'll go find my brother, and vent these feelings upon him. (Exit.)
Enter HEGIO, from SOSTRATA'S house, and speaking to her within.
HEGIO
Be of good heart,14 Sostrata, and take care and console her as far as you can. I'll go find Micio, if he is at the Forum, and acquaint him with the whole circumstances in their order; if so it is that he will do his duty by you, let him do so; but if his sentiments are otherwise about this matter, let him give me his answer, that I may know at once what I am to do. (Exit.)
1 Leave me alone: Quoting from Madame Dacier, Colman has this remark here: "Geta's reply is founded on a frolicsome but ill-natured custom which prevailed in Greece--to stop the slaves in the streets, and designedly keep them in chat, so that they might be lashed when they came home for staying out so long."
2 On his father's knees: It was a prevalent custom with the Greeks to place the newly-born child upon the knee of its grandfather.
3 It shall be boned: The operation of boning conger-eels is often mentioned in Plautus, from whom we learn that they were best when eaten in that state, and cold.
4 Serve somewhere or other as a soldier: See a similar passage in the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 722, whence it appears that it was the practice for young men of ruined fortunes to go and offer their services as mercenaries to some of the neighboring potentates. Many of the ten thousand who fought for the younger Cyrus at the battle of Cunaxa, and were led back under the command of Xenophon (as described in his Anabasis, were, doubtless, of this class.
5 As though into a mirror: He parodies the words of Demea in l. 415, where he speaks of looking into the lives of men as into a mirror.
6 Of our tribe: Solon divided the Athenians into ten tribes, which he named after ten of the ancient heroes: Erectheis, Aegeis, Pandionis, Leontis, Acamantis, OEneis, Cecrops, Hippothoontis, Aeantis, and Antiochis. These tribes were each divided into ten Demi.
7 Would take her home: As his wife.
8 Is among us: "In medio," "is alive," or "in the midst of us."
9 Take him, bind him.: In allusion to the method of examining slaves, by binding and torturing them.
10 Juno Lucina: So in the Andria, l. 473, where Glycerium is overtaken with the pains of labor, she calls upon Juno Lucina.
11 He was my kinsman: In the Play of Menander, Hegio was the brother of Sostrata.
12 Upon this matter I'll follow: "Is, quod mihi de hac re dederat consilium, id sequar." Colman has the following Noto on this passage: "Madame Dacier rejects this line, because it is also: to be found in the Phormio. But it is no uncommon thing with our author to use the same expression or verse for different places, especially on familiar occasions. There is no impropriety in it here, and the foregoing hemistich is rather lame without it. The propriety of consulting Micio, or Demea's present ill-humor with him, are of no consequence. The old man is surprised at Hegio's story, does not know what to do or say, and means to evade giving a positive answer, by saying that he would consult his brother."
13 Go back now: "Redite." Demea most probably uses this word, because Hegio has come back to him to repeat the last words for the sake of greater emphasis.
14 Be of good heart: Colman has the following Note here: "Donatus tells us, that in some old copies this whole Scene was wanting. Guyetus therefore entirely rejects it. I have not ventured to take that liberty; but must confess that it appears to me, if not supposititious, at least cold and superfluous, and the substance of it had better been supposed to have passed between Hegio and Sostrata within."
The Comedies of Terence. Henry Thomas Riley. Ney York. Harper and Brothers. 1874.
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