§513Gravidam dixit esse; inventum est falsum: nunc, postquam videt
Davus: "She said she was pregnant; that was found to be false.
§514Nuptias domi apparari, missa est ancilla ilico §515Obstetricem arcessitum ad eam, et puerum ut afferret simul.
Now, after he sees the wedding being prepared at home, a maidservant was sent immediately to fetch a midwife to her, and to bring a child at the same time.
Unless this happens, so that you see the child, the wedding is not disturbed at all." Simo: "What do you say?
§518Id consili capere, cur non dixti extemplo Pamphilo? §519Quis igitur eum ab illa abstraxit nisi ego? nam omnes nos quidem
When you had understood that they were forming that plan, why did you not tell Pamphilus immediately?" Davus: "Who then dragged him away from her except me?
§520Scimus quam misere hanc amarit: nunc sibi uxorem expetit.
For indeed we all know how miserably he loved her; now he seeks a wife for himself.
§521Postremo id mihi da negoti: tu tamen idem has nuptias §522Perge facere ita ut facis: et id spero adiuturos deos. §523Immo abi intro: ibi me opperire, et quod parato opus est para. §524Non impulit me haec nunc omnino ut crederem: §525Atque haud scio an quae dixit sint vera omnia: §526Sed parvi pendo: illud mihi multo maximum est §527Quod mihi pollicitus est ipse gnatus.
Lastly, give that business to me; you, however, just the same, this wedding continue to carry on as you are doing; and I hope the gods will assist in this." Simo: "Nay, go inside; wait for me there, and prepare what needs to be prepared." "(Aside) This has not induced me to believe entirely now; and yet I do not know but that all the things he said are true; but I care little; that is by far the greatest thing to me which my son himself promised me.
Nunc Chremem §528Conveniam: orabo gnato uxorem: si impetro, §529Quid alias malim quam hodie has fieri nuptias?
Now Chremes I will meet; I will beg a wife for my son; if I obtain it, why should I prefer any other time than today for this wedding to take place?
For as to what my son promised, I have no doubt but that, if he should be unwilling, I can deservedly compel him.
§532Atque adeo in ipso tempore eccum ipsum obviam.
And indeed, in the very nick of time, behold him coming to meet me.
§533Iubeo Chremetem. §533bO, te ipsum quaerebam. §533cEt ego te. §533dOptato advenis. §534Aliquot me adiere ex te auditum qui aiebant hodie filiam §535Meam nubere tuo gnato: id viso tune an illi insaniant. §536Ausculta paucis: et quid ego te velim et tu quod quaeris scies. §537Ausculto: loquere quid velis. §538Per te deos oro et nostram amicitiam Chreme §539Quae incepta a parvis cum aetate accrevit simul, §540Perque unicam gnatam tuam et gnatum meum, §541Cuius tibi potestas summa servandi datur, §542Ut me adiuves in hac re, atque ita ut nuptiae §543Fuerant futurae fiant. §543bAh ne me obsecra:
I greet Chremes." Chremes: "Oh, I was looking for you yourself." Simo: "And I you." Chremes: "You arrive opportunely." "Some people have approached me, saying they heard from you that today my daughter is marrying your son; I come to see whether you or they are mad." Simo: "Listen for a moment; and you will know both what I want of you and what you ask." Chremes: "I am listening; speak what you wish." Simo: "By the gods I entreat you, and by our friendship, Chremes, which, begun in childhood, has grown together with our age, and by your only daughter and my son, to whom the supreme power of saving is given to you, that you help me in this matter, and that the wedding, just as it had been intended to be, may take place." Chremes: "Ah, do not entreat me; as if you ought to obtain this from me by begging.
§544Quasi hoc te orando a me impetrare oporteat. §545Alium esse censes nunc me atque olim cum dabam?
Do you think I am different now from what I was once when I promised her?
§546Si in rem est utrique ut fiant, arcessi iube.
If it is to the advantage of both that it should take place, order her to be sent for.
§547Sed si ex ea re plus mali est quam commodi §548Utrique, id oro te in commune ut consulas, §549Quasi illa tua sit, Pamphilique ego sim pater. §550Immo ita volo itaque postulo ut fiat Chreme: §551Neque postulem abs te nisi ipsa res moneat. §551bQuid est? §552Irae sunt inter Glycerium et gnatum. §552bAudio. §553Ita magnae ut sperem posse avelli. §553bFabulae. §554Profecto sic est. §554bSic hercle ut dicam tibi: §555Amantium irae amoris integratio est. §556Hem, id te oro ut ante eamus dum tempus datur, §557Dumque eius libido occlusa est contumeliis, §558Prius quam harum scelera et lacrimae confictae dolis §559Reducunt animum aegrotum ad misericordiam:
But if from that matter there is more of evil than of benefit to both, I beg you to consult for our common interest, as if she were yours, and I were the father of Pamphilus." Simo: "Nay, Chremes, I so wish and so request that it be done; nor would I request it of you, unless the matter itself urged me." Chremes: "What is it?" Simo: "There is anger between Glycerium and my son." Chremes: "I hear you." Simo: "So great that I hope he can be torn away." Chremes: "Nonsense." Simo: "Indeed, it is so." Chremes: "By Hercules, it is so to this extent, let me tell you: The quarrels of lovers are the restoration of love." Simo: "Ah, I beg you that we go ahead of this while time is given, and while his passion is shut out by affronts, before the wickedness of these women and tears feigned by tricks bring his sick mind back to pity.
§560Uxorem demus: spero consuetudine et
Let us give him a wife.
§561Coniugio liberali devinctum Chreme §562Dein facile ex illis sese emersurum malis. §563Tibi ita hoc videtur: at ego non posse arbitror §564Neque illum hanc perpetuo habere, neque me perpeti. §565Qui scis ergo istuc nisi periclum feceris? §566At istuc periclum in filia fieri grave est. §567Nempe incommoditas denique huc omnis redit: §568Si eveniat quod Di prohibeant, discessio.
I hope that, bound by habit and a respectable marriage, Chremes, he will afterwards easily emerge from those evils." Chremes: "It seems so to you; but I do not think it possible either that he should keep her permanently, or that I should endure it." Simo: "How do you know that then, unless you make a trial?" Chremes: "But to make that trial with one's daughter is a serious matter." Simo: "To be sure, all the inconvenience at last comes down to this: if that should happen which may the gods forbid, a separation.
§569At si corrigitur, quot commoditates vide: §570Principio amico filium restitueris; §571Tibi generum firmum et filiae invenias virum.
But if he is reformed, see how many advantages there are: in the first place, you will have restored a son to a friend; you will find for yourself a reliable son-in-law and a husband for your daughter." Chremes: "What shall I say?
§572Quid istic? si ita istuc animum induxti esse utile, §573Nolo tibi ullum commodum in me claudier. §574Merito te semper maximi feci Chreme. §575Sed quid ais? §575bQuid? §575cQui scis eos nunc discordare inter se? §576Ipsus mihi Davus qui intimus est eorum consiliis dixit;
If you have so persuaded your mind that this is useful, I do not wish any convenience of yours to be blocked by me." Simo: "Deservedly I have always esteemed you most highly, Chremes." "But what do you say?" Chremes: "What?" Simo: "How do you know that they are now at variance with each other?" "Davus himself, who is most intimate with their plans, told me;"