Latin drama (Comedy) -- Translations into English; Terence -- Translations into English
SYRUS. Every syllable.
Tell him your passion for Antiphila;
Tell him you wish to marry her, and tell him,
Bacchis belongs to Clitipho.
CLIN. 'Tis well,
In reason, and may easily be done:
And then besides you'd have me win my father,
To keep it hid from your old gentleman.
SYRUS. No; rather to prevail on him, to go
And tell him the whole truth immediately.
CLIN. How? are you mad? or drunk? You'll be the ruin
Of Clitipho: for how can he be safe?
Eh, Sirrah!
SYRUS. That's my master-piece: this plot
Is my chief glory, and I'm proud to think
I have such force, such power of cunning in me,
As to be able to deceive them both,
By speaking the plain truth: that when your father
Tells Chremes, Bacchis is his own son's mistress,
He sha'n't believe it.
CLIN. But that way again
You blast my hopes of marriage: for while Chremes
Supposes her my mistress, he'll not grant
His daughter to me. You, perhaps, don't care,
So you provide for him, what comes of me.
SYRUS. Why, plague! d'ye think I'd have you counterfeit
Forever? but a day, to give me time
To bubble Chremes of the money.--Peace!
Not an hour more.
CLIN. Is that sufficient for you?
But then, suppose his father find it out!
SYRUS. Suppose, as some folks say, the sky should fall!
CLIN. Still I'm afraid.
SYRUS. Afraid indeed, as if
It was not in your pow'r, whene'er you pleas'd,
To clear yourself, and tell the whole affair.
CLIN. Well, well, let Bacchis be brought over then!
SYRUS. Well said; and here she comes.
[Changes:
_Harper_
SYRUS. I heard it? Aye:
_Colman 1768_
SYRUS. Undoubtedly.]
SCENE III.
_Enter BACCHIS, PHRYGIA, etc., at another part of the stage._
BACCH. Upon my life,
This Syrus with his golden promises
Has fool'd me hither charmingly! Ten minae
He gave me full assurance of: but if
He now deceives me, come whene'er he will,
Canting and fawning to allure me hither,
It shall be all in vain; I will not stir.
Or when I have agreed, and fix'd a time,
Of which he shall have giv'n his master notice,
And Clitipho is all agog with hope,
I'll fairly jilt them both, and not come near them;
And master Syrus' back shall smart for it.
CLIN. She promises you very fair.
SYRUS. D'ye think
She jests? She'll do it, if I don't take heed.
BACCH. They sleep: i' faith, I'll rouse them. Hark ye, Phrygia,
Didst note the villa of Charinus, which
That fellow just now show'd us? (_Aloud._)
PHRY. I did, Madam.
BACCH. The next house on the right hand. (_Aloud._)
PHRY. I remember.
BACCH. Run thither quickly: for the Captain spends
The Dionysia there. (_Aloud._)
SYRUS (_behind_). What means she now?
BACCH. Tell him I'm here; and sore against my will,
Detain'd by force; but that I'll find some means
To slip away and come to him. (_Aloud._)
SYRUS. Confusion!-- (_Comes forward._)
Stay, Bacchis, Bacchis! where d'ye send that girl?
Bid her stop!
BACCH. Go! (_To PHRYGIA._)
SYRUS. The money's ready.
BACCH. Then
I stay. (_PHRYGIA returns._)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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