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
CHREM. I wish it hadn’t been paid him. (_On seeing NAUSISTRATA,
aside._) Halloo, I espy my wife; I had almost said more than I ought.
DEM. Why do you wish I hadn’t, Chremes?
CHREM. It’s all right.
DEM. What {say} you? Have you been letting her know why we are going
to bring her? (_pointing to NAUSISTRATA._)
CHREM. I’ve arranged it.
DEM. Pray, what does she say?
CHREM. She can’t be got to leave.
DEM. Why can’t she?
CHREM. Because they are fond of one another.
DEM. What’s that to us?
CHREM. (_apart, to DEMIPHO._) A great deal; besides that, I’ve found
out that she is related to us.
DEM. (_apart._) What! You are mad, {surely}.
CHREM. (_apart._) So you will find; I don’t speak at random; I’ve
recovered my recollection.
DEM. (_apart._) Are you quite in your senses?
CHREM. (_apart._) Nay, prithee, do take care not to injure your
kinswoman.
DEM. (_apart._) She is not.
CHREM. (_apart._) Don’t deny it; her father went by another name; that
was the cause of your mistake.
DEM. (_apart._) Did she not know who was her father?
CHREM. (_apart._) She did.
DEM. (_apart._) Why did she call him by another {name}?
CHREM. (_apart, frowning._) Will you never yield to me, nor understand
{what I mean}?
DEM. (_apart._) If you don’t tell me of any thing----
CHREM. (_impatiently._) Do you persist?
NAUS. I wonder what {all} this can be.
DEM. For my part, upon my faith, I don’t know.
CHREM. (_whispering to him._) Would you like to know? Then, so may
Jupiter preserve me, not a person is there more nearly related to her
than are you and I.
DEM. (_starting._) Ye Gods, by our trust in you! let’s away to her;
I wish for all of us, one way or other, to be sure about this
(_going_).
CHREM. (_stopping him._) Ah!
DEM. What’s the matter?
CHREM. That you should put so little confidence in me!
DEM. Do you wish me to believe you? Do you wish me to consider this as
quite certain? Very well, be it so. Well, what’s to be done with our
friend’s[79] daughter?
CHREM. She’ll do well enough.
DEM. Are we to drop her, then?
CHREM. Why not?
DEM. The other one to stop?
CHREM. Just so.
DEM. You may go then, Nausistrata.
NAUS. I’ faith, I think it better for all that she should remain here
as it is, than as you {first} intended; for she seemed to me a very
genteel person when I saw her. (_Goes into her house._)
SCENE V.
_DEMIPHO and CHREMES._
DEM. What is the meaning of all this?
CHREM. (_looking at the door of his house._) Has she shut the door
yet?
DEM. Now {she has}.
CHREM. O Jupiter! the Gods do befriend us; I have found that it is my
daughter married to your son.
DEM. Ha! How can that possibly be?
CHREM. This spot is not exactly suited for me to tell it {you}.
DEM. Well then, step in-doors.
CHREM. Hark you, I don’t wish our sons even to come to know of this.
(_They go into DEMIPHO’S house._)
SCENE VI.
_Enter ANTIPHO._
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