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. V. Scen. III.

MITIO. DEMEA.

M.

WE have made things readie, so as you said, Sostrata, When you please. Who is that that knockt so hard at my door?

D.

Woe is me, what should I do? what should I cry out on, or complain? O heaven! O earth! O Neptune's seas!

M.

See thee yonder: 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He hath known all the matter; he now cryeth out on it, without doubt. He is disposed to brabble, I must help.

D.

Lohere he is, The common undoer of his children.

M.

At the length represse your anger, and come again to your self.

D.

I have repressed it, I am come again to my self, I forbear all ill∣language. [line 10] Let us consider of the matter: this was a bargain betwixt us, Moreover it was of your own making, that you should not look after my son, Nor I after your's; answer me this.

M.

It was so, I do not deny it.

D.

Why is he tipling at your house? why do you entertain my son? Why do you buy him a sweetheart, Mitio? is it not fit that I should have [line 15] The same right to meddle with you, that you have to meddle with me? Seeing I do not look to your son, do not you look to mine.

M.

You do not say right.

D.

No?

M.

For indeed this is an old-saying, That all things are common amongst friends.

D.

Wittily said, this proverb is but now sprung up at last.

M.

[line 20] Hearken a word or two, except it be troublesome, Demea; First and formost if this vex you, what charges your sons Are at, I pray you consider with your self these things: You brought up them two according to your estate; Because you thought your means would be sufficient for them both: And then you believed forsooth that I would marrie:

Keep on that same old wont; Save, seek, spare, see you leave them as much As possiblie may be, do you get that credit to your self, Let them make use of my means, which have happened beyond your hope. [line 30] The main stock shall not be lessened; what shall be added hence ever and above, Account that for a vantage; if you would, Demea Rightlie consider all these things in your minde, You would rid both me and your self, and them also of trouble.

D.

I forbear the estate, I speak of their haunt.

M.

Tarrie; [line 35] I know that, I was going to speak of it. There are, Demea, Manie signs in a man, by which a guesse may be easilie made; As you may oft times say, when two do the same thing, This man may do this thing without controlment, that man may not: Not because the thing is unlike, but the partie that doth it: [line 40] Which signs I see to be in them, as I am confident is will be As we would have it. I see they are wittie and understand, and stand inaw When need serveth, they love one another; one may know their gentle∣manlie Nature and disposition; you may reclaim them anie day When you will Yet nevertheless you may be affraid lest they should be [line 45] A little too careless of an estate; O my Demea, We grow more s••ilful in all other matters through age. This onelie one fault old age bringeth upon men, We are all more diligent about an estate then needeth: Which age will sufficient lie whet them on to.

D.

Mitio let not those good reasons of yours, [line 50] And that your favourable minde too much undo us now.

M.

Hold your tongue, It shall n••t be done, let those things pass; be advised by me to day: Look blith on it.

D.

Verilie, so the time requireth, I must doe it; but I will be gone hence with my son into the countrie By peep of day.

M.

Nay, I think you may go in the night. [line 55] Doe but onelie shew your self merrie to day.

D.

And I will also hurrie

That singing-wench hence with me thither.

M.

You shall do a mighty matter. By this means you shall be sure to tye your son there. Onelie look to it, that you keep her.

D.

I will see to that; And for her, I will make her that she shall be full of ifle••, smoak, and mill-dust, [line 60] With drying-corn and grinding it: Besides these things, I will cause her to gather stubble at the very noon-time of the day; I will make her as dry and black as a coale is.

M.

I like this well. Now you seem to me to have some wit in you.

D.

And indeed, I will constrain my son, Then although he be verie loth, that he shall lye with her.

M.

[line 65] This is to play the wise-man indeed.

D.

Do you jear me? you are happie, that are of that minde, I perceive.

M.

Ab do you go on?

D.

Now you give over.

M.

Go your way in then, and in what thing it is requisite, In that thing let us spend this day merrilie.