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Enter PHIDIPPUS, from his house.
PHIDIPPUS
. speaking at the door to PHILUMENA, within. Upon my faith, I am angry with you too, Philumena, extremely so, for, on my word, you have acted badly; still there is an excuse for you in this matter; your mother forced you to it; but for her there is none. LACHES
accosting him. Phidippus, you meet me at a lucky moment, just at the very time. PHIDIPPUS
What's the matter? PAMPHILUS
aside. What answer shall I make them, or in what manner keep this secret? LACHES
(to PHIDIPPUS.) Tell your daughter that Sostrata is going into the country, that the may not now be afraid of returning home. PHIDIPPUS
Alas! your wife has been guilty of no fault in this affair; all this mischief has originated in my wife Myrrhina. PAMPHILUS
aside. They are changing sides. PHIDIPPUS
'Tis she that causes our disturbances, Laches. PAMPHILUS
aside. So long as I don't take her back, let her cause as much disturbance as she pleases. PHIDIPPUS
I, Pamphilus, could really wish, if it were possible, this alliance between us to be lasting; but if you are otherwise inclined, still take the child.1 PAMPHILUS
aside. He has discovered that she has been brought to bed. I'm undone! LACHES
The child! What child? PHIDIPPUS
We have had a grandson born to us; for my daughter was removed from you in a state of pregnancy, and yet never before this day did I know that she was pregnant. LACHES
So may the Gods prosper me, you bring good tidings, and I am glad a child has been born, and that she is safe: but what kind of woman have you for a wife, or of what sort of a temper, that we should have been kept in ignorance of this so long? I can not sufficiently express how disgraceful this conduct appears to me. PHIDIPPUS
This conduct does not vex me less than yourself, Laches. PAMPHILUS
aside. Even if it had just now been a matter of doubt to me, it is so no longer, since the child of another man is to accompany her. LACHES
Pamphilus, there is no room now for deliberation for you in this matter. PAMPHILUS
. aside. I'm undone! LACHES
to PAMPHILUS. We were often longing to see the day on which there should be one to call you father; it has come to pass. I return thanks to the Gods. PAMPHILUS
. aside. I am ruined! LACHES
Take home your wife, and don't oppose my will. PAMPHILUS
Father, if she had wished to have children by me, or to continue to be my wife, I am quite certain she would not have concealed from me what I find she has concealed. Now, as I find that her mind is estranged from me, and think that there would be no agreement between us in future, why should I take her back? LACHES
The young woman has done what her mother persuaded her. Is that to be wondered at? Do you suppose you can find any woman who is free from fault? Or is it that men have no failings? PHIDIPPUS
Do you yourselves now consider, Laches, and you, Pamphilus, whether it is most advisable for you to leave her or take her back. What your wife may do, is not in my control. Under neither circumstance will you meet with any difficulty from me. But what are we to do with the child? LACHES
You do ask an absurd question; whatever-happens, send him back his child of course, that we: may bring it up as ours. PAMPHILUS
. in a low voice. A child which the father has abandoned, am I to rear?. LACHES
What was it you said? How--not rear it, Pamphilus? Prithee, are we to expose it, in preference? What madness is this? Really, I can not now be silent any longer. For you force me to say in his presence (pointing to PHIDIPPUS what I would rather not. Do you suppose I am in ignorance of the cause of your tears, or what it is on account of which you are perplexed to this degree? In the first place, when you alleged as a reason, that, on account of your mother, you could not have your wife at home, she promised that she would leave the house. Now, since you see this pretext as well taken away from you, because a child has been born without your knowledge, you have got another You are mistaken if you suppose that I am ignorant of your feelings. That at last you might prevail upon your feelings to take this step, how long a period for loving a mistress did I allow you! With what patience did I bear the expense you were at in keeping her! I remonstrated with you and entreated you to take a wife. I said that it was time: by my persuasion you married. What you then did in obedience to me, you did as became you. Now again you have set your fancy upon a mistress, and, to gratify her, you do an injury to the other as well. For I see plainly that you have once more relapsed into the same course of life. PAMPHILUS
What, I? LACHES
Your own self, and you act unjustly therein. You feign false grounds for discord, that you may live with her when you have got rid of this witness of your actions; your wife has perceived it too; for what other reason had she for leaving you? PHIDIPPUS
to himself. It's clear he guesses right; for that must be it. PAMPHILUS
I will give you my oath that none of these is the reason. LACHES
Oh take home your wife, or tell me why you should not. PAMPHILUS
It is not the time at present. LACHES
Take the child, for surely that is not in fault; I will consider about the mother afterward. PAMPHILUS
apart. In every way I am wretched, and what to do I know not; with so many troubles is my father now besetting wretched me on every side. I'll go away from here, since I avail but little by my presence. For without my consent, I do not believe that they will bring up the child, especially as on that point my mother-in-law will second me. (Exit speedily.) LACHES
to PAMPHILUS. Do you run away? What, and give me no distinct answer? To PHIDIPPUS. Does he seem to you to be in his senses? Let him alone. Phidippus, give me the child; I'll bring it up. PHIDIPPUS
By all means. No wonder if my wife has taken this amiss: women are resentful; they do not easily put up with such things. Hence that anger of hers, for she herself told me of it; I would not mention this to you in his presence, and at first I did not believe her; but now it is true beyond a doubt; for I see that his feelings are altogether averse to marriage. LACHES
What am I to do, then, Phidippus? What advice do you give? PHIDIPPUS
What are you to do? I am of opinion that first we ought to go to this mistress of his. Let us use entreaties with her; then let us rebuke her; and at last, let us very seriously threaten her, if she gives him any encouragement in future. LACHES
I will do as you advise. Turning to an ATTEDANT. Ho, there, boy! run to the house of Bacchis here, our neighbor; desire her, in my name, to come hither. Exit ATTENDANT. And you, I further entreat, to give me your assistance in this affair. PHIDIPPUS
Well, I have already said, and I now say again to the same effect, Laches, I wish this alliance between us to continue, if by any means it possibly may, which I trust will be the case. But should you like2 me to be with you while you meet her? LACHES
Why yes; but first go and get some one as a nurse for the child. (Exit PHIDIPPUS.)
1 Still take the child: In cases of separation it was customary for the father to have the care of the male children.
2 But should you like: Donatus observes that Phidippus utters these words with an air of disinclination to be present at the conference; and, indeed, the characters are well sustained, as it would not become him coolly to discourse with a courtesan, whom he supposes to have alienated Pamphilus from his daughter, although he might very properly advise it, as being likely to conduce to the peace of both families.
The Comedies of Terence. Henry Thomas Riley. Ney York. Harper and Brothers. 1874.
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