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. See how unreasonable you are from your {very} earnestness; so
long as you effect what you desire, you neither think of limits to
compliance, nor what {it is} you request of me; for if you did think,
you would now forbear to trouble me with unreasonable requests.
SIM. What unreasonable {requests}?
CHREM. Do you ask? You importuned me to promise my daughter to a young
man engaged in another attachment, averse to the marriage state, to
plunge her into discord and a marriage of uncertain duration; that
through her sorrow and her anguish I might reclaim your son. You
prevailed; while the case admitted of it I made preparations. Now it
does not admit of it; you must put up with it; they say that she is a
citizen of this place; a child has been born; do cease to trouble us.
SIM. By the Gods, I do conjure you not to bring your mind to believe
those whose especial interest it is that he should be as degraded as
possible. On account of the marriage, have all these things been
feigned and contrived. When the reason for which they do these things
is removed from them, they will desist.
CHREM. You are mistaken: I myself saw the servant-maid wrangling with
Davus.
SIM. (_sneeringly._) I am aware.
CHREM. With an appearance of earnestness, when neither at the moment
perceived that I was present there.
SIM. I believe it; and Davus a short time since forewarned me that
this would be the case; and I don’t know how I forgot to tell it you
to-day, as I had intended.
SCENE II.
_Enter DAVUS from the house of GLYCERIUM._
DAV. (_aloud at the door, not seeing SIMO and CHREMES._) Now then,
I bid you set your minds at ease.
CHREM. (_to SIMO._) See you, there’s Davus.
SIM. From what house is he coming out?
DAV. (_to himself._) Through my means, and that of the stranger----
SIM. (_overhearing._) What mischief is this?
DAV. (_to himself._) I never did see a more opportune person,
encounter, {or} occasion.
SIM. The rascal! I wonder who it is he’s praising?
DAV. All the affair is now in a safe position.
SIM. Why do I delay to accost him?
DAV. (_to himself, catching sight of SIMO._) It’s my master; What am I
to do?
SIM. (_accosting him._) O, save you, good sir!
DAV. (_affecting surprise._) Hah! Simo! O, Chremes, my {dear sir}, all
things are now quite ready in-doors.
SIM. (_ironically._) You have taken such very good care.
DAV. Send for the bride when you like.
SIM. Very good: (_ironically_) of course, that’s the {only} thing
that’s now wanting here. But do you answer me this, what business had
you there? (_Pointing to the house of GLYCERIUM._)
DAV. What, I?
SIM. Just so.
DAV. I?
SIM. Yes, you.
DAV. I went in just now.
SIM. As if I asked how long ago!
DAV. Together with your son.
SIM. What, is Phamphilus in there? (_Aside._) To my confusion, I’m on
the rack (_To DAVUS._) How now? Didn’t you say that there was enmity
between them, {you} scoundrel?
DAV. There is.
SIM. Why is he there, then?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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