Adelphoe Part 6 – Revelry, Role Reversal, and Resolution

SY. Edepol, Syrisce, te curasti molliter lauteque munus administrasti tuom.

SY. By Pollux, little Syrus, you’ve taken good care of yourself and handled your duty in comfort and style.

Abi. Sed postquam intus sum omnium rerum satur, prodambulare hic libitumst.

Go on. But after being stuffed with everything inside, I felt like taking a walk out here.

DE. Illud sis vide: exemplum disciplinae eccum.

DE. Just look at that, will you: behold a model of discipline!

SY. Ecce autem hic adest senex noster. Quid fit? quid tu es tristis?

SY. Ah, here comes our old man. What’s going on? Why so gloomy?

DE. Oh, scelus!

DE. Oh, you scoundrel!

SY. Ohe iam: tu verba fundes hic sapientia?

SY. Come on now—are you about to start spouting wise words again?

DE. Tu si meus esses...

DE. If you were my slave...

SY. Dis quidem esses, Demea, ac tuam rem constabilisses.

SY. Then you’d be a god, Demea, and you’d have made your fortune!

DE. Exemplum omnibus curarem ut esses.

DE. I’d see to it that you were a warning to everyone.

SY. Quam ob rem? quid feci?

SY. Why so? What have I done?

DE. Rogas? In ipsa turba atque in peccato maxumo, quod vix sedatum satis est, potasti, scelus, quasi re bene gesta.

DE. You ask? In the very middle of the mess and the worst offense, which is scarcely calmed yet, you drank, villain, as though the job were well done!

SY. Sane nollem huc exitum.

SY. Honestly, I wish I hadn’t come out here.

DROMO, DEMEA, SYRVS

DR. Heus, Syre, rogat te Ctesipho ut redeas.

DR. Hey, Syrus, Ctesipho asks you to come back.

SY. Abi. —

SY. Get out.

DE. Quid Ctesiphonem hic narrat?

DE. What is he saying about Ctesipho here?

SY. Nil.

SY. Nothing.

DE. Eho, carnufex, est Ctesipho intus?

DE. Hey, you rascal, is Ctesipho inside?

SY. Non est.

SY. He’s not.

DE. Quor hic nominat?

DE. Why is he mentioning him, then?

SY. Est alius quidam, parasitaster paullulus: nostin?

SY. It’s another fellow, a little would-be parasite. You know the type?

DE. Iam scibo.

DE. I’ll find out shortly.

SY. Quid agis? quo abis?

SY. What are you doing? Where are you going?

DE. Mitte me.

DE. Let me go.

SY. Noli, inquam.

SY. I said don’t.

DE. Non manum abstines, mastigia? An tibi iam mavis cerebrum dispergam hic?

DE. Won’t you take your hands off me, you scoundrel? Or would you rather I bash your brains out right here?

SY. Abit. Edepol comissatorem haud sane commodum, praesertim Ctesiphoni! Quid ego nunc agam? Nisi dum hae silescunt turbae, interea in angulum aliquo abeam atque edormiscam hoc vinuli. Sic agam.

SY. He’s gone. By Pollux, not exactly a pleasant party guest—especially for Ctesipho! What shall I do now? Unless, while this racket quiets down, I slip away into some corner and sleep off this little wine buzz. That’s what I’ll do.

MI. Parata a nobis sunt, ita ut dixi, Sostrata: ubi vis—

MI. Everything is ready on our part, just as I said, Sostrata—whenever you wish—

DE. Quisnam a me pepulit tam graviter fores?

DE. Who on earth knocked so loudly at my door?

DE. Ei mihi, quid faciam? quid agam? quid clamem aut querar? O caelum, o terra, o maria Neptuni!

DE. Alas, what shall I do? What shall I undertake? What shall I cry out or complain about? O heaven, O earth, O seas of Neptune!

MI. Em tibi: rescivit omnem rem: id nunc clamat. Scilicet paratae lites: succurrendumst.

MI. There you go: he’s found out the whole story—that’s what he’s shouting about now. Naturally, trouble is coming: I’ll have to intervene.

DE. Eccum adest communis corruptela nostrum liberum.

DE. Look—here comes the universal corrupter of our sons.

MI. Tandem reprime iracundiam atque ad te redi.

MI. At last, restrain your anger and come to your senses.

DE. Repressi, redii, mitto maledicta omnia: rem ipsam putemus. Dictum hoc inter nos fuit (ex te adeost ortum), ne tu curares meum neve ego tuom? Responde, factumst?

DE. I’ve restrained it, I’ve calmed down, I let go of all insults: let’s consider the matter itself. Wasn’t this agreed between us (and it came from you), that you should not deal with my son, nor I with yours? Answer me—was that agreement kept?

MI. Non nego.

MI. I don’t deny it.

DE. Quor nunc apud te potat? quor recipis meum? Quor emis amicam, Micio? Num qui minus mihi idem ius tecum ipse aequomst quod mecumst tibi? Quando ego tuom non curo, ne cura meum.

DE. Then why is he drinking at your house? Why do you take my son in? Why did you buy him a mistress, Micio? Isn’t it fair that I should have the same right over your affairs as you have over mine? Since I don’t meddle with yours, don’t meddle with mine.

MI. Non aequom dicis.

MI. That’s not a fair thing to say.

DE. Non?

DE. No?

MI. Nam vetus verbum hoc quidemst: communia esse amicorum inter se omnia.

MI. For there’s an old saying: everything is shared between friends.

DE. Facete: nunc demum istaec nata oratiost.

DE. How clever: that little speech was just now invented!

MI. Ausculta paucis, nisi molestumst, Demea. Principio, si id te mordet, sumptus filii quos faciunt, quaeso hoc facito tecum cogites: tu illos duo olim pro re tollebas tua, quod satis putabas tua bona ambobus fore, et me tum uxorem credidisti scilicet ducturum: eandem illam rationem antiquam optine: conserva, parce, quaere, fac quam plurimum illis relinquas; gloriam tu istanc tibi.

MI. Listen to a few words, unless it bothers you, Demea. First, if the boys’ expenses annoy you, please reflect on this: you once supported both of them as part of your household, believing your estate would suffice for them both, and you assumed I would, of course, get married. So keep that old plan: save, be frugal, build up wealth, leave them as much as you can. Keep that honor for yourself.

Mea, quae praeter spem evenere, utantur sine: de summa nil decedet: quod hinc accesserit, id de lucro putato esse omne.

Let them enjoy what came to me beyond expectation: nothing will be subtracted from the principal; count anything gained from this as pure profit.

Haec si voles in animo vere cogitare, Demea, et mihi et tibi et illis dempseris molestiam.

If you’re willing to truly think this over, Demea, you’ll spare trouble for me, for yourself, and for them.

DE. Mitto rem: consuetudinem ipsorum—

DE. I’ll let the matter of money go: it’s their behavior—

MI. Mane: scio: istuc ibam. Multa in homine, Demea, signa insunt, quibus ex coniectura facile fit, duo quom idem faciunt, saepe ut possis dicere: “hoc licet inpune facere huic, illi non licet,” non quo dissimilis res sit, sed quo is qui facit.

MI. Wait—I know—that’s where I was going. There are many signs in a man, Demea, from which you can often guess: when two people do the same thing, you may rightly say, “This one may do it with impunity, the other may not”—not because the act differs, but because the doer does.

Quae ego inesse in illis video, ut confidam fore ita ut volumus: video sapere, intellegere, in loco vereri, inter se amare.

And I see such qualities in those boys that I’m confident things will turn out well: I see that they are sensible, thoughtful, respectful when appropriate, and love one another.

Siris liberum ingenium atque animum? Quo vis illos tu die reducas.

Will you allow them freedom of character and spirit? You can bring them back to discipline any day you wish.

At enim metuas, ne ab re sint tamen omissiores paulo.

But perhaps you fear they may nevertheless be a little too careless with money.

O noster Demea, ad omnia alia aetate sapimus rectius: solum unum hoc vitium senectus adfert hominibus: attentiores sumus ad rem omnes quam sat est: quod illos sat aetas acuet.

Oh, dear Demea, in all other matters we grow wiser with age: only this one fault old age brings to men—we become more anxious about money than we ought to be: but time itself will sharpen them enough.

DE. Ne nimium modo bonae tuae istae nos rationes, Micio, et tuos iste animus aequos subvertat!

DE. Just don’t let your excessively good reasoning, Micio, and that fair-minded spirit of yours, bring us to ruin!

MI. Tace: non fiet. Mitte iam istaec: da te hodie mihi: exporge frontem.

MI. Be quiet: that won’t happen. Let that go now: give yourself to me today—cheer up.

DE. Scilicet ita tempus fert, faciundumst. Ceterum ego rus cras cum filio cum primā luce ibo hinc.

DE. Of course, the occasion demands it, it must be done. But tomorrow, I will go to the country with my son at first light.

MI. De nocte, censeo: hodie modo hilarum fac te.

MI. Before dawn, I say: just make yourself cheerful today.

DE. Et istam psaltriam una illuc mecum hinc abstraham.

DE. And I will drag that harp-girl along with me to the country.

MI. Pugnaveris: eo pacto prorsum illi adligaris filium. Modo facito ut illam serves.

MI. You’ll have fought a battle: that way you’ll tie your son to her completely. Just be sure you keep her.

DE. Ego istuc videro: atque ibi favillae plena, fumi ac pollinis coquendo sit faxo et molendo; praeterhac meridie ipso faciam ut stipulam colligat: tam excoctam reddam atque atram quam carbost.

DE. I’ll see to that: and there, I’ll make sure she’s full of ashes, smoke, and flour from cooking and grinding; besides, at high noon I’ll have her gather straw—I’ll make her as dry and black as coal.

MI. Placet: nunc mihi videre sapere. Atque equidem filium, tum etiam si nolit, cogam ut cum illa una cubet.

MI. Good: now you seem wise to me. And indeed, I’ll even force my son to sleep with her, even if he’s unwilling.

DE. Derides? Fortunatus, qui isto animo sies. Ego sentio—

DE. Are you mocking me? Lucky you, to have such a mindset. I feel—

MI. Ah, pergisne?

MI. Ah, are you still going on?

DE. Iam iam desino.

DE. Now, now I stop.

MI. I ergo intro, et quoi rei est, ei rei hunc sumamus diem.

MI. Go on inside then, and let us spend this day on what it is meant for.

MI. Numquam ita quisquam bene subducta ratione ad vitam fuit, quin res, aetas, usus semper aliquid apportet novi, aliquid moneat, ut illa quae te scisse credas nescias, et quae tibi putaris prima, in experiundo ut repudies.

MI. No one has ever managed life so well with carefully laid plans that circumstance, age, and experience don’t always bring something new, something that warns you—that what you thought you knew, you don’t, and what you believed were first principles, you end up rejecting in practice.

Quod nunc mi evenit: nam ego vitam duram, quam vixi usque adhuc, prope iam excurso spatio omitto. Id quam ob rem?

This has now happened to me: for I am giving up the strict life I’ve lived until now, with my time almost run. Why?

Re ipsa repperi facilitate nihil esse homini melius neque clementia.

From actual experience I have found that nothing is better for a man than gentleness and kindness.

Id esse verum ex me atque ex fratre quivis facilest noscere.

Anyone can easily see that this is true from me and from my brother.

Suam ille semper egit vitam in otio, in conviviis, clemens, placidus, nulli laedere os, adridere omnibus: sibi vixit, sibi sumptum fecit: omnes bene dicunt, amant.

He always lived his life in ease and feasting, lenient, calm, offending no one, smiling on everyone: he lived for himself, spent on himself: all speak well of him, all love him.

Ego ille agrestis, saevos, tristis, parcus, truculentus, tenax, duxi uxorem: quam ibi miseriam vidi! Nati filii: alia cura.

I, that rustic, harsh, grim, frugal, stern, stubborn man, took a wife: what misery I saw there! Sons were born—another worry.

Heia autem, dum studeo illis ut quam plurimum facerem, contrivi in quaerundo vitam atque aetatem meam.

But look, while I strove to do as much as possible for them, I wore out my life and my youth in working.

Nunc exacta aetate hoc fructi pro labore ab eis fero: odium.

Now, in old age, this is the reward I reap from them for all that labor: hatred.

Ille alter sine labore patria potitur commoda: illum amant, me fugiunt: illi credunt consilia omnia, illum diligunt, apud illum sunt ambo, ego desertus sum: illum ut vivat optant, meam autem mortem exspectant scilicet.

The other one enjoys the benefits of fatherhood without effort: they love him, they avoid me: they trust all their plans to him, they cherish him, both stay with him—I am abandoned: they hope for his life, and clearly await my death.

Ita eos meo labore eductos maxumo hic fecit suos paulo sumptu: ego miseriam omnem capio, hic potitur gaudia.

So he, with little expense, has made his own the sons I raised with the greatest effort: I suffer all the misery, he enjoys the happiness.

Age age, nunc porro experiamur contra ecquid ego possiem blande dicere aut benigne facere, quando hoc provocat.

Come, come—now let’s test in turn whether I can speak kindly or act generously, since this provokes it.

Ego quoque a meis me amari et magni pendi postulo: si id fit dando atque obsequando, non posteriores feram.

I too demand to be loved and valued by my own: if that comes through giving and indulging, I won’t come in second.

Derit? Id meā minume refert, qui sum natu maxumus.

Will it fail? That matters least to me, since I’m the eldest.

SY. Heus, Demea, rogat pater ne abeas longius.

SY. Hey, Demea—father asks you not to go far.

DE. Quis homo? O Syre noster, salve: quid fit? quid agitur?

DE. Who is it? Oh, our Syrus—greetings! What’s happening? What’s going on?

SY. Recte.

SY. All is well.

DE. Optumest: iam nunc haec tria primum addidi praeter naturam: “o noster,” “quid fit?” “quid agitur?” Servom haud inliberalem praebes te, et tibi iubens bene faxim.

DE. Excellent! That’s the first time I’ve added these three phrases against my nature: “my friend,” “what’s happening,” “what’s going on?” You show yourself to be no unworthy slave—and I’ll gladly do you a good turn.

SY. Gratiam habeo.

SY. I thank you.

DE. Atqui, Syre, hoc verumst, et re ipsa experiere propediem.

DE. And truly, Syrus, this is real—you’ll find it out for yourself very soon.

GE. Era, ego huc ad hos provīso, quam mox virginem arcessant. Sed eccum Demeam.

GE. Mistress, I’ll go over to these people to see how soon they’re sending for the maiden. But look, here’s Demea.

DE. Salvos sies.

DE. May you be well.

GE. O, qui vocare?

GE. Oh, what’s your name?

DE. Geta.

DE. Geta.

GE. Geta, hominem maxumi preti te esse hodie iudicavi animo meo: nam is mihi profectost servos spectatus satis cui dominus curaest, ita uti tibi sensi, Geta: et tibi ob eam rem, siquid usus venerit, lubens bene faxim.

GE. Geta, I’ve judged you today in my heart to be a man of the highest worth: for to me, that slave is truly proven who takes care of his master, as I’ve sensed in you, Geta—and for that reason, if ever there’s need, I’ll gladly do you a good turn.

Meditor esse affabilis, et bene procedit.

I’m practicing being affable—and it’s going well.

GE. Bonus es, quom haec existumas.

GE. You’re good, to think that way.

DE. Paulatim plebem primulum facio meam.

DE. Little by little, I’m winning over the common folk.

AE. Occidunt me quidem, dum nimis sanctas nuptias student facere: in apparando consumunt diem.

AE. They’re killing me, truly, while they try to make the wedding too solemn—they’re wasting the whole day preparing.

DE. Quid agitur, Aeschine?

DE. What’s going on, Aeschinus?

AE. Ehem, pater mi, tu hic eras?

AE. Ah! My father, were you here?

DE. Tuos hercle vero et animo et natura pater, qui te amat plus quam hosce oculos. Sed quor non domum uxorem arcessis?

DE. Yes, by Hercules—your father truly in both spirit and nature—who loves you more than his own eyes. But why aren’t you bringing your wife home?

AE. Cupio: verum hoc mihi mora est: tibicina et hymenaeum qui cantent.

AE. I want to—but this delays me: the piper and those who sing the wedding hymn.

DE. Eho, vin tu huic seni auscultare?

DE. Hey, will you listen to this old man?

AE. Quid?

AE. What?

DE. Missa haec face hymenaeum, turbam, lampadas, tibicinas, atque hanc in horto maceriam iube dirui quantum potest: hac transfer, unam fac domum: transduce et matrem et familiam omnem ad nos.

DE. Forget about this—skip the wedding song, the crowd, the torches, the pipers—and order that garden wall to be torn down as much as possible. Move them over this way, make one house; bring over both the mother and the whole household to our place.

AE. Placet, pater lepidissime.

AE. I like it—most delightful father!

DE. Euge, iam lepidus vocor. Fratri aedes fient perviae, turbam domum adducet, sumptu amittet multa: quid mea? Ego lepidus ineo gratiam.

DE. Hurrah! Now I’m called charming. My brother’s house will be opened up, he’ll bring a crowd home, he’ll lose a fortune—but what’s that to me? I gain favor by being charming.

Iube nunciam dinumeret ille Babylon viginti minas. Syre, cessas ire ac facere?

Order that fellow—the Babylonian—now to count out twenty minae. Syrus, why are you delaying going and doing it?

SY. Quid eo?

SY. What am I to do there?

DE. Dirue. Tu illas abi ac transduce.

DE. Tear it down. You go and bring the women over.

GE. Di tibi, Demea, bene faciant, quom te video nostrae familiae tam ex animo factum velle.

GE. May the gods bless you, Demea, since I see that you so sincerely wish well for our family.

DE. Dignos arbitror.

DE. I judge them worthy.

AE. Quid tu ais?

AE. What do you say?

DE. Sic opinor: multo rectius quam illam puerperam huc nunc duci per viam aegrotam.

DE. That’s what I think: far better than that the woman in childbirth should now be brought here along the road, sick as she is.

AE. Nil enim vidi melius, mi pater.

AE. Truly, I have seen nothing better, my father.

DE. Sic soleo. Sed eccum Micio egreditur foras.

DE. That’s how I usually am. But look, Micio is coming outside.

MI. Iubet frater? Ubi is est? Tun iubes hoc, Demea?

MI. My brother orders this? Where is he? Do you order this, Demea?

DE. Ego vero iubeo, et hac re et aliis omnibus, quam maxime unam facere nos hanc familiam, colere, adiuvare, adiungere.

DE. I most certainly do, and in this and all other matters, that we make this family as united as possible, cherish it, help it, join it together.

AE. Ita quaeso, pater.

AE. Yes, I beg you, father.

MI. Haud aliter censeo.

MI. I think no differently.

DE. Immo hercle ita nos decet. Primum huius uxori est mater.

DE. No, by Hercules, that is exactly what suits us. First, this wife has a mother.

MI. Est: quid postea?

MI. She does: and then?

DE. Proba et modesta.

DE. She’s virtuous and modest.

MI. Ita aiunt.

MI. So they say.

DE. Natu grandior.

DE. Older in years.

MI. Scio.

MI. I know.

DE. Parere iam diu haec per annos non potest: nec qui eam respiciat quisquam est: solast.

DE. She hasn’t been able to bear children for many years now: there’s no one to care for her—she’s alone.

MI. Quam hic rem agit?

MI. What’s he getting at?

DE. Hanc te aequomst ducere, et te operam ut fiat dare.

DE. It’s only right that you marry her, and do your part to make it happen.

MI. Me ducere autem?

MI. Me marry her, you mean?

DE. Te.

DE. You.

MI. Me?

MI. Me?

DE. Te inquam.

DE. You, I say.

MI. Ineptis.

MI. Don’t be ridiculous.

DE. Si tu sis homo, hic faciat.

DE. If you were a real man, he would do it.

AE. Mi pater!

AE. My father!

MI. Quid tu autem huic, asine, auscultas?

MI. And why are you listening to this man, you donkey?

DE. Nihil agis: fieri aliter non potest.

DE. You’re wasting your time: it can’t happen any other way.

MI. Deliras.

MI. You’re raving.

AE. Sine te exorem, mi pater.

AE. Let me persuade you, father.

MI. Insanis: aufer te.

MI. You’re crazy—get out of here.

DE. Age, da veniam filio.

DE. Come now, give in to your son.

MI. Satin sanus es? Ego novus maritus anno demum quinto et sexagensumo fiam atque anum decrepitam ducam? Idne estis auctores mihi?

MI. Are you quite sane? Am I to become a newlywed in my sixty-fifth year and marry a decrepit old woman? Is that what you advise me?

AE. Fac: promisi ego illis.

AE. Do it: I promised them.

MI. Promisti autem? De te largitor, puer.

MI. You promised, did you? Be generous from your own purse, boy.

DE. Age, quid siquid te maius oret?

DE. Come now, what if he were asking something greater of you?

MI. Quasi non hoc sit maximum.

MI. As though this weren’t already the greatest thing.

DE. Da veniam.

DE. Grant the favor.

AE. Ne gravare.

AE. Don’t refuse.

DE. Fac, promitte.

DE. Come on, promise.

MI. Non omittitis?

MI. Won’t you stop?

AE. Non, nisi te exorem.

AE. Not unless I persuade you.

MI. Vis est haec quidem.

MI. This is force indeed.

AE. Age prolixe, Micio.

AE. Come, be generous, Micio.

MI. Etsi hoc mihi pravom, ineptum, absurdum atque alienum a vita mea videtur, si vos tanto opere istuc vultis—fiat.

MI. Although this seems to me wrong, foolish, absurd, and foreign to my life, if you both so greatly want it—let it be done.

AE. Bene facis.

AE. You do well.

DE. Merito te amo. Verum quid ego dicam hoc quom fit quod volo?

DE. I love you rightly. But what shall I say when what I wish is happening?

MI. Quid? numquid restat?

MI. What? Is anything left?

DE. Hegio cognatus his est proximus, adfinis nobis, pauper: bene nos aliquid facere illi decet.

DE. Hegio is their closest relative, connected to us by marriage, and poor: it’s right that we do something good for him.

MI. Quid facere?

MI. Do what?

DE. Agelli est hic sub urbe paulum quod locitas foras: huic demus qui fruatur.

DE. There’s a little plot of land near the city that you rent out: let’s give it to him to use.

MI. Tantumne ab re est?

MI. Is it such a great amount?

DE. Si multumst, tamen faciundumst: parens illi est, vir bonus, nostrum est, dignumst dari. Postremo, ego illam sententiam accipio meam, quam tu modo paulo ante in te ostendisti, Micio, et praecepto utar tuo: commune vitium senum est, perseverare in re, etiam cum caput dolet. Fugiamus hoc, verum est: ego apud me cogito.

DE. If it’s much, it still must be done: he’s like a father to her, he’s a good man, he’s one of us, it’s right that he receive it. Lastly, I now take up that saying of mine—that saying you spoke just now, Micio—and I will follow your advice: it’s a common fault of old men to be stubborn about money, even when it hurts. Let’s flee this fault: it’s true, and I’m reflecting on it.

AE. Mi pater!

AE. My father!

MI. Quid nunc? ager Hegioni dabitur, quoniam volt.

MI. What now? The field will be given to Hegio, since he wishes it.

AE. Gaudeo.

AE. I'm glad.

DE. Nunc demum in verum ingressus es iter: haec dicitur vitae via.

DE. Now at last you've entered the true path: this is called the way of life.

SY. Quod iussisti factumst, Demea.

SY. What you ordered is done, Demea.

DE. Homo es frugi. Itaque, edepol, mihi nunc quidem in mentem venit te esse libertum faciundum.

DE. You're a thrifty man. Therefore, by Pollux, it now comes to my mind that you ought to be made free.

MI. Istunc liberum? Quid enim fecit?

MI. Him free? For what deed?

DE. Multa.

DE. Many.

SY. O noster Demea, edepol vir bonus! Curavi adulescentulos bene ut fierent, a pueritia: docui, monui, semper praecordiis egi optime.

SY. Oh, our Demea, by Pollux, a good man! I have diligently cared for both of them since boyhood: I taught, advised, always guided them for the best.

DE. Probe: praeterea haec, ut fideliter conficeret, ut psaltriam adduceret, ut convivium appararet—non est levis labor.

DE. Excellent: furthermore, these things, that he provisioned faithfully, brought the musician girl, arranged the banquet—this is no light task.

SY. Hominem lepidum!

SY. Oh, charming fellow!

DE. Denique hodie hanc emi, adfuit, curavit: merito operam datam decet praemium dari. Vult? fiat.

DE. Lastly, today in buying this woman, he assisted, took care of it: it is fitting that effort be rewarded. He wishes it? Let it be done.

MI. Visne igitur?

MI. Do you want this to happen?

AE. Cupio.

AE. I desire it.

MI. Si quidem vos voltis—Syre, huc ades, esto liber.

MI. If indeed you wish—Syrus, come here, be free.

SY. Bene facis: gratias ago omnibus, sed te praecipue, Demea.

SY. You do well: I thank everyone, but especially you, Demea.

DE. Libens.

DE. I'm glad.

AE. Et ego.

AE. And I.

SY. Credo. Di faciant, ut haec perpetua sit laetitia! Etiam Phrygiam meam mecum libertatem videam!

SY. I believe it. May the gods make this joy everlasting! May I also see my Phrygia free along with me!

DE. Illam egregiam.

DE. That excellent woman.

SY. Atque hodie primum, edepol, lactavit filium tuom, huius.

SY. And indeed, today for the first time, by Pollux, she suckled your grandson, this one’s son.

DE. Hercle, vere, si primum, sine dubio emancipandast.

DE. By Hercules, truly, if it was the first time, without doubt she must be emancipated.

MI. Quapropter?

MI. For that reason?

DE. Quapropter? argentum accipe a me: quantum lubet.

DE. For that reason? Take the money from me—however much you wish.

SY. Di te, Demea, omnia quae velis duint!

SY. May the gods, Demea, grant you all that you desire!

MI. Syrus, lepide ambulas hodie.

MI. Syrus, you have advanced splendidly today.

DE. Siquidem porro, Micio, tuom officium facies atque huic aliquid paulum prae manu dederis, unde utatur, reddet tibi cito.

DE. If furthermore, Micio, you do your duty and give him a little money in hand, from which he may use, he will repay you quickly.

MI. Istoc vilius.

MI. Even less than that.

AE. Frugi homo est.

AE. He is a thrifty man.

SY. Reddam hercle, da modo.

SY. By Hercules, I will repay, just give it.

AE. Age, pater!

AE. Come on, father!

MI. Post consulam.

MI. I'll consider it later.

DE. Faciet.

DE. He'll do it.

SY. O vir optume!

SY. O excellent man!

AE. O pater mi festivissime!

AE. O my most charming father!

MI. Quid istuc? quae res tam repente mores mutavit tuos? Quod prolubium? Quae istaec subitast largitas?

MI. What's this? What has so suddenly changed your character? What whim? What sudden generosity is this?

DE. Dicam tibi: ut id ostenderem, quod te isti facilem et festivom putant, id non fieri ex vera vita neque adeo ex aequo et bono, sed ex assentando, indulgendo et largiendo, Micio.

DE. I will tell you: to show that what those people think is your easygoing and charming nature, it does not arise from true life, nor from what is fair and good, but from flattering, indulging, and giving lavishly, Micio.

Nunc adeo, si ob eam rem vobis mea vita invisa, Aeschine, est, quia non iusta iniusta prorsus omnia omnino obsequor, missam facio: effundite, emite, facite quod vobis lubet.

Now therefore, if my life is hateful to you for that reason, Aeschinus, because I do not absolutely comply with everything, just and unjust alike, I dismiss it: squander, buy, do what you please.

Sed si id vultis potius, quae vos propter adulescentiam minus videtis, magis inpense cupitis, consulitis parum, haec reprehendere et corrigere quem, obsecundare in loco: ecce me, qui id faciam vobis.

But if you prefer this: to reprove and correct what you see less clearly due to your youth, what you desire more intensely, and what you consider too little, to comply when appropriate: behold me, who will do that for you.

AE. Tibi, pater, permittimus: plus scis quod opus factost. Sed de fratre quid fiet?

AE. To you, father, we entrust it: you know better what needs to be done. But what will happen to my brother?

DE. Sino: habeat: in istac finem faciat.

DE. I allow it: let him have her: let him make an end in that matter.

MI. Istuc recte.

MI. That is right.

CANTOR. Plaudite.

CHORUS. Applaud.