part I
would then compel my son to go to bed with her, even though he should be unwilling.
DEM. Do you banter me? Happy man, to have such a temper! I feel--
MIC. Ah! at it again!
DEM. I’ll have done then at once.
MIC. Go in-doors then, and let’s devote this day to the object[87] to which it belongs. (_Goes into the house._)
SCENE IV.
_DEMEA alone._
DEM. Never was there any person of ever such well-trained habits of life, but that experience, age, {and} custom are always bringing {him} something new, {or} suggesting something; so much so, that what you believe you know you don’t know, and what you have fancied of first importance to you, on making trial you reject; and this is my case at present: for the rigid life I have hitherto led, my race nearly run, I {now} renounce. Why so? --I have found, by experience, that there is nothing better for a man than an easy temper and complacency. That this is the truth, it is easy for any one to understand on comparing me with my brother. He has always spent his life in ease {and} gayety; mild, gentle, offensive to no one, having a smile for all, he has lived for himself, {and} has spent his money for himself; all men speak well of him, {all} love him. I, {again}, a rustic, a rigid, cross, self-denying, morose and thrifty person, married a wife; what misery I entailed in consequence! Sons were born-- a fresh care. And just look, while I have been studying to do as much as possible for them, I have worn out my life and years in saving; now, in the decline of my days, the return I get from them for my pains {is} their dislike. He, on the other hand, without any trouble on his part, enjoys a father’s comforts; they love him; me they shun; him they trust with all their secrets, are fond of him, are {always} with him. I am forsaken; they wish him to live; but my death, forsooth, they are longing for. Thus, after bringing them up with all possible pains, at a trifling cost he has made them his own; thus I bear all the misery, he enjoys the pleasure. Well, then, henceforward let us try, on the other hand, whether I can’t speak kindly and act complaisantly, as he challenges me to it: I also want myself to be loved and highly valued by my friends. If that is to be effected by giving and indulging, I will not be behind him. If our means fail, that least concerns me, as I am the eldest.[88]
SCENE V.
_Enter SYRUS._
SYR. Hark you, Demea, your brother begs you will not go out of the way.
DEM. Who {is it}? --O Syrus, my {friend},[89] save you! how are you? How goes it {with you}?
SYR. Very well.
DEM. Very good. (_Aside._) I have now for the first time used these three expressions contrary to my nature,-- “O Syrus, my {friend}, how are you? --how goes it with you?” (_To SYRUS._) You show yourself far from an unworthy servant, and I shall gladly do you a service.
SYR. I thank you.
DEM. Yes, Syrus, it is the truth; and you shall be convinced of it by experience before long.
SCENE VI.
_Enter GETA, from the house of SOSTRATA._
GETA (_to SOSTRATA, within._) Mistress, I am going to see after them, that they may send for the damsel as soon as possible; but see, here’s Demea. (_Accosting him._) Save you!
DEM. O, what’s your name?
GETA. Geta.
DEM. Geta, I have this day come to the conclusion that you are a man of very great worth, for I look upon him as an undoubtedly good servant who has a care for his master; as I have found to be your case, Geta; and for that reason, if any opportunity should offer, I would gladly do you a service. (_Aside._) I am practicing the affable, and it succeeds very well.
GETA. You are kind, sir, to think so.
DEM. (_aside._) Getting on by degrees-- I’ll first make the lower classes my own.
SCENE VII.
_Enter ÆSCHINUS, from the house of MICIO._
ÆSCH. (_to himself._) They really are killing me while too intent on performing the nuptials with all ceremony; the {whole} day is being wasted in their preparations.
DEM. Æschinus! how goes it?
ÆSCH. Ha, my father! are you here?
DEM. Your father, indeed, both by affection and by nature; as I love you more than my very eyes; but why don’t you send for your wife?
ÆSCH. {So} I wish {to do}; but I am waiting for the music-girl[90] and people to sing the nuptial song.
DEM. Come now, are you willing to listen to an old fellow like me?
ÆSCH. What {is it}?
DEM. Let those things alone, the nuptial song, the crowds, the torches,[91] {and} the music-girls, and order the stone wall in the garden[92] here to be pulled down with all dispatch, {and} bring her over that way; make but one house {of the two}; bring the mother and all the domestics over to our house.
ÆSCH. With all my heart, kindest father.
DEM. (_aside._) Well done! now I am called “kind.” My brother’s house will become a thoroughfare; he will be bringing home a multitude, incurring expense in many ways: what matters it to me? I, as the kind {Demea}, shall get into favor. Now then, bid that Babylonian[93] pay down his twenty minæ. (_To SYRUS._) Syrus, do you delay to go and do it?
SYR. What {am I to do}?
DEM. Pull down {the wall}: and you, {Geta}, go and bring them across.
GETA. May the Gods bless you, Demea, as I see you so sincere a well-wisher to our family. (_GETA and SYRUS go into MICIO’S house._)
DEM. I think they deserve it. What say you, {Æschinus, as to this plan}?
ÆSCH. I quite agree to it.
DEM. It is much more proper than that she, being sick {and} lying-in, should be brought hither through the street.
ÆSCH. Why, my {dear} father, I never did see any thing better contrived.
DEM. It’s my way; but see, here’s Micio coming out.
SCENE VIII.
_Enter MICIO, from his house._
MIC. (_speaking to GETA, within._) Does my brother order it? Where is he? (_To DEMEA._) Is this your order, Demea?
DEM. Certainly, I do order it, and in this matter, and in every thing else, {wish} especially to make this family one with ourselves, to oblige, serve, {and} unite them.
ÆSCH. Father, pray let it be so.
MIC. I do not oppose it.
DEM. On the contrary, i’ faith, it is what we ought to do: in the first place, she is the mother of his wife (_pointing to Æschinus_).
MIC. She is. What then?
DEM. An honest and respectable woman.
MIC. So they say.
DEM. Advanced in years.
MIC. I am aware of it.
DEM. Through her years, she is long past child-bearing; there is no one to take care of her; she is a lone woman.
MIC. (_aside._) What can be his meaning?
DEM. It is right you should marry her; and that you, {Æschinus}, should use your endeavors to effect it.
MIC. I, marry her, indeed?
DEM. You.
MIC. I?
DEM. You, I say.
MIC. You are trifling!
DEM. {Æschinus}, if you are a man, he’ll do it.
ÆSCH. My {dear} father----
MIC. What, ass! do you attend to him?
DEM. ’Tis all in vain; it can not be otherwise.
MIC. You are mad!
ÆSCH. Do let me prevail on you, my father.
MIC. Are you out of your senses? Take yourself off.[94]
DEM. Come, do oblige your son.
MIC. Are you quite in your right mind? Am I, in my five-and-sixtieth year, to be marrying at last? A decrepit old woman too? Do you advise me {to do} this?
ÆSCH. Do; I have promised it.[95]
MIC. Promised, indeed; be generous at your own cost, young man.
DEM. Come, what if he should ask a still greater favor?
MIC. As if this was not the greatest!
DEM. Do comply.
ÆSCH. Don’t make any difficulty.
DEM. Do promise.
MIC. Will you not have done?
ÆSCH. Not until I have prevailed upon you.
MIC. Really, this is downright force.[96]
DEM. Act with heartiness, Micio.
MIC. Although this seems to me[97] to be wrong, foolish, absurd, and repugnant to my mode of life, yet, if you so strongly wish it, be it so.
ÆSCH. You act obligingly.
DEM. With reason I love you; but----
MIC. What?
DEM. I will tell you, when my wish has been complied with.
MIC. What now? What remains {to be done}?
DEM. Hegio here is their nearest relation; {he is} a connection of ours {and} poor; we ought to do some good for him.
MIC. Do what?
DEM. There is a little farm here in the suburbs, which you let out; let us give it him to live upon.
MIC. But is it a little one?
DEM. If it were a large one, {still} it ought to be done; he has been as it were a father to her; he is a worthy man, {and} connected with us; it would be properly bestowed. In fine, I now adopt that proverb which you, Micio, a short time ago repeated with sense and wisdom-- it is the common vice of all, in old age, to be too intent upon our own interests. This stain we ought to avoid: it is a true maxim, and ought to be observed in deed.
MIC. What am I to say to this? Well then, as he desires it (_pointing to ÆSCHINUS_), it shall be given {him}.
ÆSCH. My father!
DEM. Now, Micio, you are {indeed} my brother, both in spirit and in body.
MIC. I am glad of it.
DEM. (_aside._) I foil him at his own weapon.[98]
SCENE IX.
_Enter SYRUS, from the house._
SYR. It has been done as you ordered, Demea.
DEM. You are a worthy fellow. Upon my faith,-- in my opinion, at least,-- I think Syrus ought at once to be made free.
MIC. He free! For what reason?
DEM. For many.
SYR. O my {dear} Demea! upon my word, you are a worthy man! I have strictly taken care of both these {sons} of yours, from childhood; I have taught, advised, {and} carefully instructed them in every thing I could.
DEM. The thing is evident; and then besides {all} this, to cater {for them}, secretly bring home a wench, prepare a morning entertainment;[99] these are the accomplishments of no ordinary person.
SYR. O, what a delightful man!
DEM. Last of all, he assisted to-day in purchasing this Music-wench-- he had the management of it; it is right he should be rewarded; other servants will be encouraged {thereby}: besides, he (_pointing to ÆSCHINUS_) desires it to be so.
MIC. (_to ÆSCHINUS._) Do you desire this to be done?
ÆSCH. I do wish it.
MIC. Why then, if you desire it, just come hither, Syrus, to me (_performing the ceremony of manumission_); be a free man.[100]
SYR. You act generously; I return my thanks to you all;-- and to you, Demea, in particular.
DEM. I congratulate you.
ÆSCH. And I.
SYR. I believe you. I wish that this joy were made complete-- that I could see my wife, Phrygia,[101] free as well.
DEM. Really, a most excellent woman.
SYR. And the first to suckle your grandchild, his son, today (_pointing to ÆSCHINUS_).
DEM. Why really, in seriousness, if she was the first to do so, there is no doubt she ought to be made free.
MIC. {What}, for doing that?
DEM. For doing that; in fine, receive the amount from me[102] at which she is valued.
SYR. May all the Gods always grant you, Demea, all you desire.
MIC. Syrus, you have thrived pretty well to-day.
DEM. If, in addition, Micio, you will do your duty, and lend him a little ready money in hand for present use, he will soon repay you.
MIC. Less than this (_snapping his fingers_).
ÆSCH. He is a deserving fellow.
SYR. Upon my word, I will repay it; only lend it me.
ÆSCH. Do, father.
MIC. I’ll consider of it afterward.
DEM. He’ll do it, {Syrus}.
SYR. O most worthy man!
ÆSCH. O most kind-hearted father!
MIC. How is this? What has so suddenly changed your disposition, {Demea}? What caprice {is this}? What means this sudden liberality?[103]
DEM. I will tell you:-- That I may convince you of this, Micio, that the fact that they consider you an easy and kind-hearted man, does not proceed from your real life, nor, indeed, from {a regard for} virtue and justice; but from your humoring, indulging, and pampering them. Now therefore, Æschinus, if my mode of life has been displeasing to you, because I do not quite humor you in every thing, just {or} unjust, I have done: squander, buy, do what you please. But if you would rather have one to reprove and correct those faults, the results of which, by reason of your youth, you can not see, which you pursue too ardently, {and} are thoughtless upon, and in due season to direct you; behold me ready to do it for you.
ÆSCH. Father, we leave it to you; you best know what ought to be done. But what is to be done about my brother?
DEM. I consent. Let him have {his mistress}:[104] with her let him make an end {of his follies}.
MIC. That’s right. (_To the AUDIENCE._) Grant us your applause.
FOOTNOTES
[Footnote 1: From δημὸς, “the people.”]
[Footnote 2: From Μικιὼν, a Greek proper name.]
[Footnote 3: From ἡγεῖσθαι, “to lead,” or “take charge of.”]
[Footnote 4: From αισχὸς, “disgrace.”]
[Footnote 5: From κτησὶς, “a patrimony,” and φῶς, “light.”]
[Footnote 6: From σαννὸς, “foolish.”]
[Footnote 7: One of the nation of the Getæ.]
[Footnote 8: See the Dramatis Personæ of the Eunuchus.]
[Footnote 9: From Syria, his native country.]
[Footnote 10: See the Dramatis Personæ of the Andria.]
[Footnote 11: See the Dramatis Personæ of the Eunuchus.]
[Footnote 12: See the Dramatis Personæ of the Heautontimorumenos.]
[Footnote 13: From κανθαρὸς [“a cup.”]
[Footnote 14: _Of Æmilius Paulus_)--This Play (from the Greek Ἀδελφοὶ, “The Brothers”) was performed at the Funeral Games of Lucius Æmilius Paulus, who was surnamed Macedonicus, from having gained a victory over Perseus, King of Macedon. He was so poor at the time of his decease, that they were obliged to sell his estate in order to pay his widow her dower. The Q. Fabius Maximus and P. Cornelius Africanus here mentioned were not, as some have thought, the Curale Ædiles, but two sons of Æmilius Paulus, who had taken the surnames of the families into which they had been adopted.]
[Footnote 15: _Sarranian flutes_)--The “Sarranian” or “Tyrian” pipes, or flutes, are supposed to have been of a quick and mirthful tone; Madame Dacier has consequently with much justice suggested that the representation being on the occasion of a funeral, the title has not com