Adelphoe Part 1 – The Prologue and the Two Fathers

P. TERENTI AFRI ADELPHOE

C. SVLPICI APOLLINARIS PERIOCHA
Duos cum haberet Demea adulescentulos, dat Micioni fratri adoptandum Aeschinum, sed Ctesiphonem retinet.

When Demea had two young sons, he gave Aeschinus to his brother Micio for adoption, but kept Ctesipho.

Hunc citharistriae lepore captum sub duro ac tristi patre frater celabat Aeschinus;

Aeschinus, his brother, kept this boy—captivated by the charm of a cithara-player—hidden from their strict and gloomy father.

Famam rei, amorem in sese transferebat;

He transferred the rumor of the affair and the love onto himself.

Denique fidicinam lenoni eripit.

In the end, he snatched the musician away from the procurer.

Vitiaverat idem Aeschinus civem Atticam pauperculam fidemque dederat hanc sibi uxorem fore.

That same Aeschinus had also violated a poor Athenian citizen girl and had given his word that she would be his wife.

Demea iurgare, graviter ferre;

Demea argued and took it very badly.

Mox tamen, ut veritas patefacta est, ducit Aeschinus vitiatam, potitur Ctesipho citharistriam.

Soon, however, when the truth was revealed, Aeschinus married the girl he had dishonored, and Ctesipho took the cithara-player.

PERSONAE
MICIO SENEX
DEMEA SENEX
SANNIO LENO
AESCHINVS ADVLESCENS
BACCHIS MERETRIX
PARMENO SERVOS
SYRVS SERVOS
CTESIPHO ADVLESCENS
SOSTRATA MATRONA
CANTHARA ANVS
GETA SERVOS
HEGIO SENEX
PAMPHILA VIRGO
DROMO PVER.

PROLOGUS

Postquam poeta sensit scripturam suam ab iniquis observari et adversarios rapere in peiorum partem quam acturi sumus, indicio de se ipse erit, vos eritis iudices, laudem an vitio duci id factum oporteat.

After the poet realized that his writing was being unfairly scrutinized and that his opponents were twisting what we are about to perform into the worst possible interpretation, he will be his own witness, and you will be the judges of whether this deserves praise or blame.

Synapothnescontes Diphili comoediast: eam Commorientes Plautus fecit fabulam.

Synapothnescontes is a comedy by Diphilus; Plautus made it into the play *Commorientes*.

In Graeca adulescens est, qui lenoni eripit meretricem in prima tabula: eum Plautus locum reliquit integrum.

In the Greek original, there is a young man who snatches a courtesan from a procurer in the first scene; Plautus left that scene untouched.

Eum nunc hic sumpsit sibi in Adelphos, verbum de verbo expressum extulit.

This author has now taken that scene into *Adelphoe*, reproducing it word for word.

Eam nos acturi sumus novam: pernoscite furtumne factum existumetis an locum reprehensum, qui praeteritus negligentia est.

We are about to perform it as a new play; consider whether you judge this to be theft or the recovery of a passage that had been negligently omitted.

Nam quod isti dicunt maliuoli, homines nobilis hunc adiutare adsidueque una scribere: quod illi maledictum vehementer esse existumant, eam laudem hic ducit maximam, quom illis placet, qui vobis universis et populo placent, quorum opera in bello, in otio, in negotio suo quisque tempore usus sine superbia.

As for what those spiteful critics say—that men of rank assist him and often write with him—what they think is a harsh insult, he counts as the highest praise, since he pleases those who please both you all and the public, whose work everyone uses in war, in peace, and in business, at the proper time and without arrogance.

Dehinc ne exspectetis argumentum fabulae: senes qui primi venient, ei partem aperient, in agendo partem ostendent.

So do not expect a formal prologue: the old men who first appear will reveal part of the story, and part will become clear through the action.

Facite aequanimitas poetae ad scribendum augeat industriam.

Grant the poet your fairness, so that it may increase his diligence in writing.

MICIO SENEX

Storax! non rediit hac nocte a cena Aeschinus neque servolorum quisquam, qui adversum ierant.

By Storax! Aeschinus hasn't come back from dinner tonight, nor has any of the slaves who went to fetch him.

Profecto hoc vere dicunt: si absis uspiam atque ibi si cesses, evenire ea satius est, quae in te uxor dicit et quae in animo cogitat irata, quam illa quae parentes propitii.

Indeed, they truly say: if you're away somewhere and delay there, it's better that the things your angry wife says and imagines should happen to you than the things your kind parents fear.

Uxor, si cesses, aut te amare cogitat aut helluari aut potare atque animo obsequi et tibi bene esse, soli sibi quom sit male.

If you're away too long, your wife thinks you're either in love, or feasting, or drinking and indulging yourself and enjoying life, while she alone is suffering.

Ego quia non rediit filius quae cogito!

As for me—what thoughts I have just because my son hasn't come home!

Quibus nunc sollicitor rebus!

What worries I'm tormented by now!

Ne aut ille alserit aut uspiam ceciderit ac praefregerit aliquid.

That he might have caught a chill or fallen somewhere and broken something.

Vah, quemquamne hominem in animum stituere parare quod sit carius quam ipse est sibi!

Oh! That anyone should bring himself to care more for something than for his own self!

Atque ex me hic natus non est, sed fratre ex meo.

And yet this boy wasn't even born of me, but of my brother.

Dissimili is studiost iam inde ab adulescentia.

He has had different values from mine ever since his youth.

Ego hanc clementem vitam urbanam atque otium secutus sum et, quod fortunatum isti putant, uxorem numquam habui.

I have followed this gentle city life and leisure, and—what some think fortunate—I never had a wife.

Ille contra haec omnia: ruri agere vitam, semper parce ac duriter se habere, uxorem duxit, nati filii duo: inde ego hunc maiorem adoptavi mihi: eduxi a paruolo, habui, amavi pro meo; in eo me oblecto: solum id est carum mihi.

He, on the other hand, lives in the country, is always frugal and strict with himself, took a wife, and had two sons; from them I adopted the elder as my own: I raised him from a little child, kept him, loved him as my own; I take delight in him—he is all I care for.

Ille lit item contra me habeat facio sedulo: do, praetermitto, non necesse habeo omnia pro meo iure agere: postremo, alii clanculum patres quae faciunt, quae fert adulescentia, ea ne me celet consuefeci filium.

I do my best to make sure he feels the same way about me: I give in, I let things go, I don't insist on my full rights; and finally, unlike other fathers who keep secrets from their sons, I’ve trained him not to hide from me the things youth naturally brings with it.

Nam qui mentiri aut fallere insuerit patrem, haud dubie tanto magis audebit ceteros.

For whoever learns to lie to or deceive his father will surely dare all the more to deceive others.

Pudore et liberalitate liberos retinere satius esse credo quam metu.

I believe it’s better to keep children in line by a sense of honor and generosity than by fear.

Haec fratri mecum non conveniunt neque placent: venit ad me saepe clamans quid agis, Micio?

These things don't agree with my brother and don't please him: he often comes to me shouting, "What are you doing, Micio?

Quor perdis adulescentem nobis?

Why are you ruining the young man for us?

Quor amat?

Why does he fall in love?

Quor potat?

Why does he drink?

Quor tu his rebus sumptum suggeris?

Why do you provide money for these things?

Vestitu nimio indulges?

Do you indulge him in excessive clothing?

Nimium ineptus es.

You're much too foolish."

Nimium ipsest durus praeter aequomque et bonum, o et errat longe mea quidem sententia, qui imperium credat gravius esse aut stabilius ui quod fit, quam illud quod amicitia adiungitur.

He himself is too harsh—beyond what is fair and good—and in my opinion, he is quite mistaken to think that authority gained by force is stronger or more lasting than that which is joined through friendship.

Mea sic est ratio et sic animum induco meum: malo coactus qui suom officium facit, dum id rescitum iri credit, tantisper cauet: si sperat fore clam, rursum ad ingenium redit.

My reasoning is this, and so I guide my mind: the man who does his duty out of fear, as long as he thinks it will be discovered, is cautious for a time; but if he hopes it will remain secret, he reverts to his nature.

Ille quem beneficio adiungas ex animo facit, studet par referre, praesens absensque idem erit.

But the man whom you bind by kindness acts sincerely, tries to repay it in kind, and will behave the same whether you're present or not.

Hoc patriumst, potius consuefacere filium sua sponte recte facere quam alieno metu: hoc pater ac dominus interest.

This is a father’s role: to train his son to do right of his own will rather than out of someone else’s fear. That’s the difference between a father and a master.

Hoc qui nequit, fateatur nescire imperare liberis.

Whoever can't manage that should admit he doesn't know how to rule his children.

Sed estne hic ipsus, de quo agebam?

But—is that the very man I was talking about?

Et certe is nescio quid tristem video: credo iam, ut solet iurgabit.

And yes—it looks like him, and he seems upset about something; I suppose he’s going to scold, as usual.

Saluom te aduenire, Demea, gaudemus.

We’re glad to see you arrive safely, Demea.

DEMEA MICIO SENES DUO

DE. Ehem opportune: te ipsum quaerito.

DE. Aha, just in time: I was looking for you.

MI. Quid tristis es?

MI. Why are you upset?

DE. Rogas me, ubi nobis Aeschinus sic est, quid tristis ego sim?

DE. You ask me why I'm upset, when Aeschinus is behaving like this?

MI. Dixin hoc fore? Quid is fecit?

MI. Didn't I say this would happen? What has he done?

DE. Quid ille fecerit? Quem neque pudet quicquam nec metuit quemquam neque legem putat tenere se ullam.

DE. What has he done? The one who feels no shame, fears no one, and thinks no law binds him.

Nam illa quae antehac facta sunt omitto: modo quid dissignavit!

For I’ll say nothing of what happened before—look what he’s just done!

MI. Quidnam id est?

MI. What is it?

DE. Fores ecfregit atque in aedis inruit alienas: ipsum dominum atque omnem familiam mulcavit usque ad mortem: eripuit mulierem quam amabat.

DE. He broke down the doors and burst into someone else's house; he beat up the owner and the whole household almost to death, and snatched the woman he loved.

Clamant omnes indignissime factum esse.

Everyone is shouting that it was an outrageous thing to do.

Hoc aduenienti quot mihi, Micio, dixere!

Micio, so many people told me this as I was arriving!

In ore omni populo.

It’s on everyone’s lips.

Denique, si conferendum exemplumst, non fratrem re; uidet operam dare, ruri esse parcum ac sobrium?

And finally—if he needs an example to compare—doesn’t he see his brother working hard, living frugally and soberly in the country?

Nullum huius simile factum.

There’s nothing of the sort from him.

Haec quom illi, Micio, dico, tibi dico: tu illum corrumpi sinis.

When I say this to him, Micio, I’m really saying it to you: you let him be corrupted.

MI. Homine imperito numquam quicquam iniustius, qui nisi quod ipse fecit nil rectum putat.

MI. Nothing is more unfair than an ignorant man who thinks nothing is right except what he himself has done.

DE. Quorsum istuc?

DE. What’s your point?

MI. Quia tu, Demea, haec male iudicas.

MI. Because, Demea, you judge these things wrongly.

Non est flagitium, mihi crede, adulescentulum scortari, neque potare: non est: neque fores ecfringere.

It’s no disgrace, believe me, for a young man to visit courtesansor to drink—nor even to break down doors.

Haec si nec ego neque tu fecimus, non siit egestas facere nos: tu nunc tibi id laudi ducis, quod tunc fecisti inopia.

If you and I didn’t do these things, it was because poverty stopped us: and now you take pride in what you only avoided because of lack of means.

Iniuriumst: nam si esset unde id fieret, facemus.

That’s not fair—because if we’d had the means back then, we would’ve done it too.

Et tu illum tuom, si esses homo, sineres nunc facere, dum per aetatem licet, potius quam, ubi te exspectatum eiecisset foras, alieniore aetate post faceret tamen.

And you, if you had any sense, would let your son do these things now, while his age allows it, rather than having him do them later at a less suitable time—even after throwing you out when you're old and helpless.

DE. Pro Iuppiter! Tu, homo, adigis me ad insaniam.

DE. By Jupiter! You, man, are driving me mad.

Non est flagitium facere haec adulescentulum?

Is it not disgraceful for a young man to behave like this?

MI. Ah, ausculta, ne me optundas de hac re saepius.

MI. Ah, listen—don’t keep pestering me about this.

Tuom filium dedisti adoptandum mihi: is meus est factus: siquid peccat, Demea, mihi peccat: ego illi maximam partem fero.

You gave your son to me for adoption: he has become mine; if he does anything wrong, Demea, it’s against me; I bear the burden for him.

Scortatur, potat, olet unguenta?

Does he go to courtesans, drink, wear perfume?

De meo; fores ecfregit?

At my expense; did he break down doors?

Restituentur; discidit vestem?

They’ll be repaired; did he rip his clothes?

Resarcietur.

They’ll be mended.

Est dis gratia, et est unde haec fiant, et adhuc non molesta sunt.

Thanks to the gods, there are means to afford these things, and so far they’re not a problem.

Postremo aut desine aut cedo quemvis arbitrum: te plura.

Finally, either stop or name any judge you like—I’ll prove you’re more at fault.

In hac re peccare ostendam.

I’ll show you’re the one in the wrong here.

DE. Ei mihi! Pater esse disce ab illis qui vere sciunt.

DE. Alas! Learn how to be a father from those who truly know.

MI. Natura tu illi pater es, consiliis ego.

MI. By nature you’re his father, but by guidance, I am.

DE. Tun consiliis? Quicquam...

DE. You, his guide? Anything but...

MI. Ah, si pergis, abiero.

MI. Ah, if you keep going, I’m leaving.

DE. Sicine agis?

DE. Is that how you behave?

MI. An ego totiens de eadem re audiam?

MI. Am I supposed to hear the same lecture over and over?

DE. Curaest mihi.

DE. I care.

MI. Et mihi curaest.

MI. I care too.

Verum, Demea, so curemus aequam uterque partem: tu alterum, ego item alterum.

But, Demea, let’s each look after our fair share: you one son, and I the other.

Nam curare ambos propemodum reposcere illum est quem dedisti.

For to take care of both is almost like demanding back the one you gave away.

DE. Ah, Micio!

DE. Ah, Micio!

MI. Mihi sic uidetur.

MI. That’s how it seems to me.

DE. Quid istic? Tibi si istuc placet, profundat perdat pereat!

DE. So what? If that pleases you, let him squander, let him ruin himself, let him perish!

Nihil ad me attinet.

It doesn’t concern me at all.

Iam si verbum unum posthac...

Now, if I hear one more word from now on...

DE. Iam si verbum unum posthac...

DE. If I say just one more word from now on...

MI. Rursum, Demea, irascere?

MI. Are you getting angry again, Demea?

DE. An non credis? Repeton quem dedi?

DE. Don’t you believe me? Do you think I’m taking back the one I gave?

Aegrest; alienus non sum; si obsto... em, desino.

It pains me; I’m not a stranger; if I’m in the way—fine, I’ll stop.

Unum vis curem? Curo.

You want me to take care of one? I will.

Et est dis gratia, quom ita sit, volo esse: tuos iste ipse sentiet posterius... nolo in illum gravius dicere.

And thanks to the gods, since that’s how it is, so be it: that son of yours will feel it himself later... I don’t want to speak too harshly against him.

MI. Nec nil neque omnia haec sunt quae dicit; tamen non nil molesta haec sunt mihi; sed ostendere me aegre pati illi nolui.

MI. What he says is neither nothing nor everything; still, these things are somewhat troubling to me—but I didn’t want to show him I was upset.

Nam ita est homo: quom placo, adversor sedulo et deterreo, tamen vix humane patitur; verum si augeam aut etiam adiutor sim eius iracundiae, insaniam profecto cum illo.

For that’s the kind of man he is: even when I try to calm him, I still push back and warn him carefully, yet he barely takes it civilly; but if I were to add to his anger or help it along, I’d surely go mad right along with him.

Et si Aeschinus non nullam in hac re nobis facit iniuriam.

And Aeschinus really is wronging us to some degree in this matter.

Quam hic non amavit meretricem? Aut quoi non dedit aliquid?

Which courtesan hasn’t he loved? Or whom hasn’t he given something to?

Postremo nuper (credo iam omnium taedebat) dixit velle uxorem ducere.

Just recently (I think he was finally tired of them all) he said he wanted to marry.

Sperabam iam deferuisse adulescentiam: gaudebam.

I was hoping his wild youth had finally calmed down—I was glad.

Ecce autem de integro!

But look—he’s starting all over again!

Nisi quidquid est, volo scire atque hominem convenire, si apud forumst.

But whatever it is, I want to know and meet the man, if he’s at the forum.

SANNIO, BACCHIS, AESCHINVS
LENO, MERETRIX, ADVLESCENS

PARMENO SERVOS

SA. Obsecro, populares, ferte misero atque innocenti auxilium: subvenite inopi.

SA. I beg you, citizens, bring help to a wretched and innocent man—help the poor!

AE. Otiose nunciam ilico hic consiste.

AE. Calm down now—stand right here at once.

Quid respectas?

What are you looking back for?

Nil periclist: numquam, dum ego adero, hic te tanget.

There’s no danger: as long as I’m here, he’ll never lay a hand on you.

SA. Ego istam invitis omnibus.

SA. I’ll take that woman, whether anyone likes it or not.

AE. Quamquam est scelestus, non committet hodie umquam iterum ut vapulet.

AE. Though he’s a scoundrel, he won’t let himself get a beating again today.

SA. Aeschine, audi, ne te ignarum fuisse dicas meorum morum, leno ego sum.

SA. Aeschinus, listen—don’t say later you didn’t know what I’m like: I’m a procurer.

AE. Scio.

AE. I know.

SA. At ita, ut usquam fuit fide quisquam optuma.

SA. But the kind with the best reputation for honesty, wherever you look.

Tu quod te posterius purges, hanc iniuriam mihi nolle factam esse, huius non faciam.

Don’t expect me to accept later excuses that you didn’t mean to wrong me.

Crede hoc, ego meum ius persequar: neque tu verbis solves umquam, quod mihi re male feceris.

Believe me, I’ll pursue my rights—and you’ll never talk your way out of the harm you’ve done me.

Novi ego vestra haec: nollem factum, iusiurandum, iniuria haec, te esse indignum dabitur, quom ego indignis sim acceptus modis.

I know your kind: “I wish it hadn’t happened,” “I swear an oath,” “this wrong,” “you’ll be called a victim”—while I’ve been treated with real abuse.

AE. Abi prae strenue ac fores aperi.

AE. Go on ahead quickly and open the doors.

SA. Ceterum hoc nihili facis?

SA. So you make nothing of all this?

AE. I intro nunciam tu.

AE. You go inside now.

SA. Enim non sinam.

SA. I really won’t allow it.

AE. Accede illuc, Parmeno: nimium istoc abisti: hic propter hunc adsiste: em sic volo.

AE. Come here, Parmeno—you’ve gone too far off. Stand right next to him. There, that’s how I want it.

Cave nunciam oculos a meis quoquam oculis demoveas tuos, ne mora sit, si innuerim, quin pugnus continuo in mala haereat.

Now make sure not to take your eyes off mine for a second, so that if I give the sign, your fist lands right on his jaw—no delay.

SA. Istuc volo ego me ipsum experiri.

SA. I’d like to see that for myself.

AE. Em serva: omitte mulierem!

AE. There—watch out! Let go of the woman!

SA. O indignum facinus!

SA. Oh, what an outrage!

AE. Nisi caues, geminabit.

AE. If you’re not careful, he’ll give you another.

SA. Ei misero mihi!

SA. Oh, wretched me!

AE. Non innueram; verum in istam partem potius peccato tamen.

AE. I didn’t give the signal; but still, better to make the mistake in that direction.

I nunciam—

Go now—

SA. Quid hoc rei est?

SA. What’s going on here?

Regnumne, Aeschine, hic tu possides?

Are you ruling a kingdom here, Aeschinus?

AE. Si possiderem, ornatus esses ex tuis virtutibus.

AE. If I were, you'd be rewarded according to your merits.

SA. Quid tibi rei mecumst?

SA. What business do you have with me?

AE. Nil.

AE. None.

SA. Quid? Nostin qui sim?

SA. What? Do you know who I am?

AE. Non desidero.

AE. I don’t care to.

SA. Tetigin tui quicquam?

SA. Have I touched anything of yours?

AE. Si attigisses, ferres infortunium.

AE. If you had, you'd be suffering for it.

SA. Qui tibi meam magis licet habere, pro qua ego argentum dedi? Responde.

SA. How is it more your right to have what's mine—what I paid money for? Answer me.

AE. Ante aedes non fecisse erit melius hic convitium: nam si molestus pergis esse, iam intro abripiere atque ibi usque ad necem operiere loris.

AE. You’d do better not to cause a scene here at the door; for if you keep being a nuisance, you’ll be dragged inside right now and flogged to death.

SA. Loris liber?

SA. A free man flogged?

AE. Sic erit.

AE. That’s how it will be.

SA. O hominem impurum! Hicine libertatem aiunt esse aequam omnibus?

SA. Oh, what a filthy man! And they say freedom is equal for all here?

AE. Si satis iam debacchatus es, leno, audi si vis nunciam.

AE. If you're done raving now, procurer, listen—if you want.

SA. Egon autem debacchatus sum an tu?

SA. Am I the one who's been raving, or you?

AE. Mitte ista atque ad rem redi.

AE. Drop that and get back to the point.

SA. Quam rem? Quo redeam?

SA. What point? What should I go back to?

AE. Iamne me vis dicere id quod ad te attinet?

AE. Do you want me to say now what concerns you?

SA. Cupio, aequi modo aliquid.

SA. I do—so long as it’s something fair.

AE. Vah, leno iniqua me non volt loqui!

AE. Ha! The procurer doesn’t want me to speak unfairly!

SA. Leno sum, pernicies communis, fateor, adulescentium, periurus, pestis: tamen tibi a me nulla ortast iniuria.

SA. I am a procurer —the common ruin of young men, I admit, a perjurer, a plague—but still, I’ve done you no wrong.

AE. Nam hercle etiam hoc restat.

AE. For by Hercules, this still remains.

SA. Illuc quaeso redi, quo coepisti, Aeschine.

SA. Please go back to the point where you began, Aeschinus.

AE. Minis viginti tu illam emisti (quae res tibi vertat male): argenti tantum dabitur.

AE. You bought her for twenty minae (may that deal turn out badly for you): you’ll be given that amount of money.

SA. Quid? Si ego tibi illam nolo vendere, coges me?

SA. What? If I don’t want to sell her to you, will you force me?

AE. Minime.

AE. Not at all.

SA. Namque id metui.

SA. That’s what I was afraid of.

AE. Neque vendundam censeo, quae liberast: nam ego liberali illam adsero causa manu.

AE. Nor do I think she can be sold—she’s free: I claim her by formal manumission for the sake of liberty.

Nunc vide, utrum vis?

Now decide—which do you prefer?

Argentum accipere an causam meditari tuam?

To take the money, or to go think about your case?

Delibera hoc, dum ego redeo, leno.

Think it over while I come back, procurer.