The Comedies of Terence: Literally Translated into English Prose, with NotesTerence
General
The Comedies of Terence: Literally Translated into English Prose, with Notes
Terence
Latin drama (Comedy) -- Translations into English; Terence -- Translations into English
GETA. {Nothing; but} that I wish you well. (_Exit DAVUS._) Hark you,
boy (_calling at the door_). Is nobody coming out here? (_A LAD comes
out._) Take this, and give it to Dorcium. (_He gives the purse to the
LAD, who carries it into DEMIPHO’S house and exit GETA._)
SCENE III.
_Enter ANTIPHO and PHÆDRIA._
ANT. That things should have come to such a pass, Phædria, that I
should be in utter dread of my father, who wishes me so well, whenever
his return comes into my thoughts! Had I not been inconsiderate,
I might have waited for him, as I ought to have done.
PHÆD. What’s the matter?
ANT. Do you ask the question? You, who have been my confederate in so
bold an adventure? How I do wish it had never entered the mind of
Phormio to persuade me to this, or to urge me in the heat of my
passion to this step, which is the source of my misfortunes. {Then} I
should not have obtained her; in that case I might have been uneasy
for some {few} days; but still, this perpetual anxiety would not have
been tormenting my mind (_touching PHÆDRIA_).
PHÆD. I hear you.
ANT. While I am every moment expecting his return, who is to sever
from me this connection.[34]
PHÆD. Other men feel uneasiness because they can not gain what they
love; you complain because you have too much. You are surfeited with
love, Antipho. Why, really, upon my faith, this situation of yours is
surely one to be coveted and desired. So may the Gods kindly bless me,
could I be at liberty to be so long in possession of the object of my
love, I could contentedly die. Do you, then, form a judgment as to the
rest, what I am now suffering from this privation, and what pleasure
you enjoy from the possession of your desires; not to mention how,
without {any} expense, you have obtained a well-born and genteel
woman, and have got a wife of unblemished reputation: happy {you},
were not this one thing wanting, a mind capable of bearing all this
with moderation. If you had to deal with that Procurer with whom I
have to deal, then you would {soon} be sensible of it. We are mostly
all of us inclined by nature to be dissatisfied with our lot.
ANT. Still, on the other hand, Phædria, you now seem to me the
fortunate man, who still have the liberty, without restraint, of
resolving on what pleases you best: {whether} to keep, to love on,
{or} to give her up. I, unfortunately, have got myself into that
position, that I have neither right[35] to give her up, nor liberty to
retain her. But how’s this? Is it our Geta I see running this way?
’Tis he himself. Alas! I’m dreadfully afraid what news it is he’s now
bringing me.
SCENE IV.
_Enter GETA, running, at the other side of the stage._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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