Latin drama (Comedy) -- Translations into English; Terence -- Translations into English
SIMO. O Jupiter! what's this
I hear? If this be true, I'm lost indeed.
LESBIA. A good young Gentleman!
MYSIS. Oh, very good.
But in, in, lest you make her wait.
LESBIA. I follow. (_Exeunt MYSIS and LESBIA._
SCENE II.
_Manent SIMO, DAVUS._
DAVUS. Unfortunate! What remedy! (_Aside._)
SIMO. How's this? (_To himself._)
And can he be so mad? What! educate
A harlot's child!--Ah, now I know their drift:
Fool that I was, scarce smelt it out at last.
DAVUS (_listening_). What's this he says he has smelt out?
SIMO. Imprimis, (_To himself._)
'Tis this rogue's trick upon me. All a sham:
A counterfeit deliv'ry, and mock labor,
Devis'd to frighten Chremes from the match.
GLY. (_within_). Juno Lucina, save me! Help, I pray thee.
SIMO. Heyday! Already! Oh ridiculous!
Soon as she heard that I was at the door
She hastens to cry out: your incidents
Are ill-tim'd, Davus.
DAVUS. Mine, Sir?
SIMO. Are your players
Unmindful of their cues, and want a prompter?
DAVUS. I do not comprehend you.
SIMO (_apart._) If this knave
Had, in the real nuptial of my son,
Come thus upon me unprepar'd, what sport,
What scorn he'd have exposed me to? But now
At his own peril be it. I'm secure.
SCENE III.
_Re-enter LESBIA.--ARCHYLLIS appears at the door._
LESBIA _to ARCHYLLIS (within)_. As yet, Archyllis, all the symptoms seem
As good as might be wish'd in her condition:
First, let her make ablution: after that,
Drink what I've order'd her, and just so much:
And presently I will be here again. (_Coming forward._)
Now, by this good day, Master Pamphilus
Has got a chopping boy: Heav'n grant it live!
For he's a worthy Gentleman, and scorn'd
To do a wrong to this young innocent. (_Exit._
SCENE IV.
SIMO. This too where's he that knows you would not swear
Was your contrivance?
DAVUS. My contrivance! what, Sir?
SIMO. While in the house, forsooth, the midwife gave
No orders for the Lady in the straw:
But having issued forth into the street,
Bawls out most lustily to those within.
--Oh Davus, am I then so much your scorn?
Seem I so proper to be play'd upon,
With such a shallow, barefac'd, imposition?
You might at least, in reverence, have us'd
Some spice of art, wer't only to pretend
You fear'd my anger, should I find you out.
DAVUS. I' faith now he deceives himself, not I. (_Aside._)
SIMO. Did not I give you warning? threaten too,
In case you play'd me false? But all in vain:
For what car'd you?--What! think you I believe
This story of a child by Pamphilus?
DAVUS. I see his error: Now I know my game. (_Aside._)
SIMO. Why don't you answer?
DAVUS. What! you don't believe it!
As if you had not been informed of this? (_Archly._)
SIMO. I been inform'd?
DAVUS. What then you found it out? (_Archly._)
SIMO. D'ye laugh at me?
DAVUS. You must have been inform'd:
Or whence this shrewd suspicion?
SIMO. Whence! from you:
Because I know you.
DAVUS. Meaning, this was done
By my advice?
SIMO. Beyond all doubt; I know it:
DAVUS. You do not know me, Simo.----
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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