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A Table, and everything requisite for an Entertainment, being placed before the house of CLEÆRETA, enter ARGYRIPPUS, DEMÆNETUS, and PHILENIUM, from the house of CLEÆRETA.
ARGYRIPPUS
Come then, father, let's take our places, please. DEMAENETUS
As you bid me, my son, so it shall be. ARGYRIPPUS
. to the ATTENDANTS . Lads, spread the table. DEMAENETUS
Is it at all displeasing to you, son, if she takes her place by me? They take their places. ARGYRIPPUS
Duty, father, keeps sorrow from my eyes; although I love her, still I can control my feelings, not to take it to heart because she takes her place by you. DEMAENETUS
It becomes a young man to be respectful, Argyrippus. ARGYRIPPUS
Troth, father, through proper regard for you, I can be so. DEMAENETUS
Come, then, let's enjoy this banquet with wine and pleasant discourse. I don't wish to be feared, I prefer myself to be loved by you, my son. ARGYRIPPUS
In truth, I do them both, as is proper for a son. DEMAENETUS
I'd believe it, if I saw you were cheerful. ARGYRIPPUS
Why, do you think that I'm sorrowful? DEMAENETUS
Do I think so? You, whom I see as melancholy as if the day1 of trial had been named for you. ARGYRIPPUS
Don't you say that. DEMAENETUS
Don't you be so, then I'll not say so. ARGYRIPPUS
Well then, look at me; I'm laughing. He affects to laugh. DEMAENETUS
I'd like that those who wish me ill would laugh thus. ARGYRIPPUS
I know, indeed, father, why you now suppose to yourself that I'm sad; it is because she is by you. And really, father, by my faith, to tell you the truth, that matter does hurt me; and not for this reason, that I don't desire for you that which you wish, but because I love her; another woman, indeed, I could easily endure to be by you. DEMAENETUS
But I have a fancy for this one. ARGYRIPPUS
Then you have what you desire; for myself, I wish for what I could desire. DEMAENETUS
Submit to it this one day, since I've given you the power to be with her for a year, and have procured for you the command of money in your amour. ARGYRIPPUS
Well, by doing that, you have laid me under an obligation to you. DEMAENETUS
Why then don't you show yourself cheerful to me? They commence the banquet, PHILENIUM reclining below DEMÆNETUS.
1 As if the day: He probably means the day for coming up for judgment, or else for trial.
The Comedies of Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley. London. G. Bell and Sons. 1912.
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