Publii Terentii Carthaginiensis Afris poëtae lepidissimi comoediae sex Anglo-Latinae in usum ludi-discipulorum, quo Feliciùs venustatem linguae Latinae ad sermonem quotidianum exercendum assequantur / a Carolo Hoole ... = Six comedies of that excellent poet Publius Terentius, an African of Carthage, in English and Latine : for the use of young scholars, that they may the more readily attain the purity of the Latine tongue for common discourse / by Charles Hoole ...

Act. III. Scen. 1.

Chremes, Menedemus.

Ch.

IT is towards day: Do I forbear to knock at this door Of my neighbours? that he may first know from me that his son Is returned, although I know the yong man is both to have it so. But forasmuch as I see this poor man is so much troubled [line 5] At his going away, should I conceal this unlooked for joy, When there is no danger to him by discovering it? I will not do it, for I will help the old man as far as I am able, Just as I see my son to be ready to serve his friend and companion, And to help him with his attendance in all his businesse; [line 10] It is also fitting that we old men should help one another.

Men.

Certainly I am either notably born disposed To misery, or that is not true which I hear to be commonly Spoken, that Time takes away grief from men; For my grief concerning my son increaseth with me daily [line 15] More and more: and by how much the longer He is away, by so much I desire and covet more and more to see him.

Ch.

But I see him gone out of doors, I will go to him, and speak to him. Menedemus, God save you, I bring you news Whereof you desire most especially to be a sharer.

Men.

Chremes, Have you heard any thing concerning my son?

Ch.

He is well, and alive.

Men.

Where I pray you?

Ch.

At home at my house.

Men.

My son?

Ch.

Yes.

Men.

Is he come?

Ch.

For certain.

Men.

Is my son Clinia come?

Ch.

I told you so.

Men.

Let us go, have me to him, I pray you:

Ch.

He would not have you know that he is returned yet, and he a∣voideth [line 25] The sight of you because of his fault, and is also afraid Lest your old wonted austerity should be increased.

Men.

Did not you tell him, how I was?

Ch.

No.

Men.

Why so, Chremes?

Ch.

Because you take a very bad course both for him and you in that matter, son shew your self to be so tender-hearted, and easily overcome.

Men.

[line 30] I cannot but do so; I have been a harsh father long, and long enough.

Ch.

Ah Menedemus, You are too eager both wayes, Either in too much spending or sparing. You shall fall into the same trap by the one as well as the other. First, in times past rather then you would suffer your son [line 35] To go to a woman, which was then contented with a very little, And by whom all things were thankfully accepted, You rated him hence; she being forced whether she would or not Began to seek a living where she could come by it; Now when she cannot be had without great loss, [line 40] You desire to bestow any thing on her. For that you may under∣stand, How well she is now fitted to work ones destruction: First of all, she hath brought with her above ten maids Laden with clothes and gold; if her lover were a Lord, He could never be able to maintain her charges, [line 45] Much less can you.

Men.

Is she within?

Ch.

Do you ask, whether she be or not? I have felt it: For I have bestowed one supper upon her, And her attendants; but if I were to give them another, I should be undone; For to let other things pass, what wine hath she spent me even now In sipping, saying thus, This wine is somewhat too harsh, [line 50] Let me have that which is smoother! I pray you consider, I have unbroached all my hogs-heads, all my pipes, I had all my folks bi••sied, and this was but one night,

What do you think will become of you, whom they will daily eat out of house and harbour? I swear from my heart, I pity your estate, [line 55] Menedemus.

Men.

Let him do as he listeth. Let him take, let him spend, let him waste, I am resolved •••• abide it, So I may but have him with me.

Ch.

If you be resolved So to doe, I think it will be very requisite for you, That he may think you give it him unwittingly.

Men.

[line 60] What should I do?

Ch.

Any thing rather then what you intend; I would have you give him by any body else, and suffer your self To be cosened by a servant with his tricks, although that I perceive that also, That they are about it, and consult of it closely amongst themselves. Syrus whispereth with that son of yours, and the yong men lay their heads together; [line 65] And it is better for you to lose a talent This way, then a pound the other way. We do not now stand about money, but that is we stand about, How we may let the yong man have it with the least perill; For if he once come to understand your minde, [line 70] That you will rather lose your own life, and rather Lose all your money, then you will let your son go from you, Fie, what a gap will you lay open for his lewdness? So as besides you have small comfort of your life; For we are all of us worse by too much liberty, [line 75] He will do whatsoever comes in his minde, Neither wil he consider whether it be bad or good which he shal request; You will never be able to endure your estate and him to be cast away. You will deny to give him, he will presently run to that Whereby he shall think himself most able to prevail with you. [line 80] He will threaten to go away from you forthwith.

Men.

You seem to speak the truth, and just as the matter is.

Ch.

Truly, I have not slept one wink all this night, Whilst I was musing, how I might help you to your son again.

Men.

Give me your right hand; I intreat you further Chremes that you would do this same thing.

Ch.

[line 85] I am ready to serve you.

Men.

Do you know what I would have you do now?

Ch.

Tell me.

Men.

That which you perceive they go about to cosen me of.

That they would make haste to do it; I desire to give him What he would have; I long now to see him.

Ch.

I will do my best. I must take Syrus in hand and perswade him. [line 90] I know not who comes forth of my house; go you hence home, Lest they should think that you and I have agreed betwixt our selves; This little business hindreth me; Sinus and Crito Our neighbours are at a controversie here about their lands. They have made me an Ʋmpire betwixt them; I will go and say, as I told you, [line 95] That I will do my best to help them, but I cannot attend them to day. I will be here again presently.

Men.

I pray you do so: O strange! That the nature of all men should be so disposed, That they can better see and judge of other mens things then their own Cometh it hereupon, because in our own affairs [line 100] We are very much hindred by too much joy, Or gries of minde? How much wiser Now is this man for me then I am for my self?

Ch.

I have rid my self srom them, that I might attend you at leisure.

Actus III. Scen. 1.

Chremes, Menedemus.

Ch.

LUcescit; hoc jam cesso pultare ostium Vicini? primùm ex me ut sciat sibi filium Redisse; etsi adolescentem hoc nolle intelligo; Verùm cum videam miserum hunc tam cruciarier [line 5] Ejus abitu, celem tam insperatum gaudium, Cùm illi pericli nihil ex indicio siet? Haud faciam: adjuvabo senem nam quod potero; Ita ut'filium meum amico at{que} aequali suo Video inservire, & servum esse in negotii••: [line 10] Nos quo{que} senes est aequum senibus obsequi.

Men.

Aut ego prefectò ingenio egregiè ad miseriam Natus sum, aut illud falsum est quod vulgò audio Dici, Diem adimere aegritudinem hominibus: Nam mihi quotidie augescit magis de filio [line 15] Aegritudo; & quanto diut ùs Abest, magis cupio tantò & magis defidero.

Ch.

Sed ipsum egressum foràs video; ib••, alloquar. Menedeme, salve, nuncium apporto tibi Cujus maxumè te fieri participem cup••s.

Men.

[line 20] Numquidnam de ••nato meo audist••, Chreme?

Ch.

Valet at{que} vivit.

Men.

Ubinam quaeso?

Ch.

Apud me domi.

Men.

Meus gnatus?

Ch.

Sic est.

Men.

Venit?

Ch.

Cert••.

Men.

Cli∣nia Meus venit?

Ch.

Dixi.

Men.

Eamus; duc me ad eum, obsecro.

Ch.

Non vult te scire se rediisse etiam, & tuum [line 25] Conspectum fugitat ob peccatum, tum hec timer, Ne tua duritia illa antiqua etiam adaucta siet.

Men.

Non tu ei dixisti, ut essem?

Ch.

Non.

Men.

Quamobrem, Chreme?

Ch.

Quia pessumè istuc in te at{que} in illum consulis, Si te tam leni & victo esse animo ostenderis.

Men.

[line 30] Non possum; satis jam satis pater durus fui.

Ch.

Ah, Vehemens in utram{que} partem, Menedeme, es nimis, Aut largitate nimiâ aut parsimoniâ; In eandem fraudem ex hac re arque ex illâ incides. Primùm olim potiùs quàm pater êre filium [line 35] Commeare ad mulierculam, quae paululo tum erat Contenta, euique erant grata omnia, Perterruisti hinc: ea coacta ingratiis Post illa coepit victum vulgo quaerere. Nunc cùm sine magno intertrimento non potest [line 40] Haberi, quidvis dare cupis; nam ut tu scias Quam ea nunc instructa pulchrè ad perniciem siet, Primùm jam ancillas secum adduxit plus decem, Oner••tas veste at{que} auro: Satrapes si siet, Amator, nunquam sufferre ejus sumptus queat, [line 45] Nedum tu possis.

Men.

Estné ea intus?

Ch.

Sit rogas? Sensi. Nam unam coenam ei at{que} ejus comitibus Dedi; quòd si iterum sit danda, actum est. Nam ut alia omittam, pitissando modò mihi Quod vini absumpsit? sic, Hoc, dicens, asperum, [line 50] Pater, est; hoc aliud lenius: sodes vide, Relevi dolia omnia, omnes serias. Omnes sollicitos habui, atque haec una nox,

Quid te futurum esse censes, quem assiduè exederit? Sic me Dii amabunt, ut me tuarum misertum est, [line 55] Menedeme, fortunarum.

Men.

Faciat, quod lubet, Sumat, consumat, perdat; decretum est pati, Dum illum modò habeam m••cum.

Ch.

Si certum est tibi Sic facere, illud permagnl referre arbitror, Ut nescientem sentiat te id sibi dare.

Men.

[line 60] Quid faciam?

Ch.

Quidvis potius quàm quod cogitas. Per alium quemvis ut des; falli te sinas Technis per servulum, ersi subsensi id quoque, Illos ibi esse, id agere inter se clanculum. Sy rus cum illo vestro consusurrat; conferunt [line 65] Consilia adolescentes, & tibi perdere Talentum hoc pacto satius est, quàm illo minam. Non nunc de pecuniâ agitur, sed illud, quo modo Minimo periculo id demus adolescentulo. Nam si semel tuum animum ille intellexrit, [line 70] Prius proditurum te tuam vitam, & prius Pecuniam omnem, quàm abs te amittas filium, Hui quantam fenestram ad nequitiam parefeceris! Tibi autem porrò ut non sit suave vivere; Nam deteriores omnes sumus licentiâ. [line 75] Quodcun{que} inciderit in mentem, volet, Ne{que} id putabit pravum an rectum sit, quod petet. Tu rem perire & illum, non poteris pati. Dare denegâris, ibit ad illud illico, Quo maximè apud re se valere sentiet; [line 80] Abiturum se abs re esse illieo minabitur.

Men.

Videre verum, atque ita uti res est, dicere.

Ch.

Somnum hercle ego hac nocte oculis non vidi meis, Dum id quaero, tibi quî filium restituerim.

Men.

Cedò dextram; porrò te oro idem ut facias, Chreme.

Ch.

[line 85] Paratus sum.

Men.

Scin', quid nunc facere te volo?

Ch.

Dic.

Men.

Quod sensisti illos me incipere fallere,

Id ut maturent facere; cupio illi dare, Quod vult: cupio ipsum jam videre.

Ch.

Operam dabe. Syrus est prehendendus, at{que} adhortandus mihi. [line 90] A me nescio quis exit; concede hinc domum, Ne nos inter nos congruere sentiant. Paulum hoc negoti mihi obstat: Sinus, & Crito Vicini nostri hic ambigunt de finibus. Me cepêre arbitrum; ibo ac dicam, ut dixeram, [line 95] Operam daturum me, hodie non posse his dare. Continuò hîc adero.

Men.

Ita quaeso. Dii vostram fidem! Itan' comparatam esse hominum naturam omnium Aliena vt melius videant & judicent, quàm sua? [line 100] An eò sit, quia in re nostrâ aut gaudio sumus Perpediti nimio, aut aegritudine? Hic mihi, Nunc quantò plus sapit, quàm egomet mihi?

Ch.

Dissolvi me, otiosus ut operam tibi darem.