§577Et is mihi suadet nuptias quantum queam ut maturem.
Simo: "And he urges me to hasten the wedding as much as I can.
§578Num censes faceret filium nisi sciret eadem haec velle?
Do you think he would do so unless he knew that my son wanted these same things?
§579Tute adeo iam eius verba audies.
You shall hear his own words right now.
Heus evocate huc Davum.
Hey, call Davus out here!
§580Atque eccum: video ipsum foras exire. §580bAd te ibam. §580cQuidnam est? §581Cur uxor non accersitur? iam advesperascit.
And look, there he is: I see him coming out." Davus: "I was going to you." Simo: "What is it?" Davus: "Why is the bride not fetched?
§581bAudin tu illum?
It is already getting dark." Simo: "Do you hear him?
§582Ego dudum non nihil veritus sum Dave abs te, ne faceres idem §583Quod vulgus servorum solet dolis ut me deluderes §584Propterea quod amat filius. §584bEgone istuc facerem? §584cCredidi: §585Idque adeo metuens vos celavi quod nunc dicam. §585bQuid? §585cScies: §586Nam propemodum habeo iam fidem. §586bTandem cognosti qui siem?
Davus, for some time I was somewhat afraid of you, lest you should do the same as the common run of servants are wont, and delude me by tricks, because my son is in love." Davus: "I do that?!" Simo: "I did think so; and, fearing that very thing, I concealed from you what I will now tell." Davus: "What?" Simo: "You shall know; for I have now almost complete confidence in you." Davus: "Have you at last recognized what kind of person I am?" Simo: "There was not going to be a wedding." Davus: "What?
Not?" Simo: "But for that reason I pretended, so that I might test you." Davus: "What do you say?" Simo: "That's how it is." Davus: "Look, I could never have understood that.
§587cSed ea gratia §588Simulavi vos ut pertentarem. §588bQuid ais? §588cSic res est. §588dVide, §589Numquam istuc ego quivi intellegere. Vah consilium callidum. §590Hoc audi: ut hinc te introire iussi opportune hic fit mihi obviam. §590bHem, §591Numnam periimus? §591bNarro huic quae tu dudum narrasti mihi. §592Quidnam audio? §592bGnatam ut det oro, vixque id exoro. §592cOccidi. §592dHem, §593Quid dixisti? §593bOptime inquam factum. §593cNunc per hunc nulla est mora.
Ah, what a clever plan!" Simo: "Listen to this: as I ordered you to go in, he opportunely met me." Davus: "(Aside) Oh, are we completely ruined?" Simo: "I told him what you told me just now." Davus: "(Aside) What on earth do I hear?" Simo: "I begged him to give his daughter, and with difficulty I prevailed on him." Davus: "(Aside) I am dead." Simo: "Oh, what did you say?" Davus: "I said, 'Excellent work.'" Simo: "Now on his part there is no delay." Chremes: "I will just go home, tell them to make preparations, and bring back word here." Simo: "Now I beg you, Davus, since you alone brought about this wedding for me—" Davus: "I indeed, alone!" Simo: "strive further to reform my son for me." Davus: "By Hercules, I will do so diligently." Simo: "You can do so now while his mind is provoked." Davus: "Rest easy." Simo: "Come then, where is he himself now?" Davus: "It would be strange if he isn't at home." Simo: "I will go to him, and tell him the very same things I told you." Davus: "(Aside) I am no more.
§594Domum modo ibo: ut apparentur dicam: atque huc renuntio. §595Nunc te oro Dave quoniam solus mihi effecisti has nuptias— §596Ego vero solus. §596bcorrigere mihi gnatum porro enitere. §597Faciam hercle sedulo. §597bPotes nunc dum animus irritatus est. §598Quiescas. §598bAge igitur ubi nunc est ipsus? §598cMirum ni domi est. §599Ibo ad eum: atque eadem haec tibi quae dixi dicam itidem illi. §599bNullus sum. §600Quid causae est quin hinc in pistrinum recta proficiscar via?
What reason is there why I shouldn't start straight for the workhouse?
§601Nihil est preci loci relictum; iam perturbavi omnia: §602Herum fefelli; in nuptias conieci herilem filium; §603Feci hodie ut fierent insperante hoc atque invito Pamphilo.
There is no room left for entreaty; I have now thrown everything into confusion: I deceived my master; I have plunged my master's son into a wedding; I brought it about today that it should take place, though Chremes did not expect it and Pamphilus was unwilling.
Hem
Oh, what cleverness!
§604Astutias! quod si quiessem nihil evenisset mali.
If only I had remained quiet, no harm would have occurred.
§605Sed eccum video ipsum: occidi.
But look, I see him coming: I am dead.
§606Utinam mihi esset aliquid hic quo me nunc praecipitem darem. §607Ubi illic est scelus qui me perdidit? §607bPerii. §607cAtque hoc confiteor mihi §608Iure obtigisse; quandoquidem tam iners tam nulli consili
Would that I had something here with which to cast myself headlong now." Pamphilus: "Where is that scoundrel who ruined me?" Davus: "(Aside) I am lost." Pamphilus: "And I confess this has happened to me justly; since I am so sluggish, so devoid of counsel.
§609Sum. Servon fortunas meas me commisisse futili?
To think that I committed my fortunes to a worthless servant!
§610Ergo pretium ob stultitiam fero: sed inultum numquam id auferet.
Therefore I bear the penalty for my folly; but he shall never carry it off unpunished.
§611Posthac incolumem sat scio fore me nunc si hoc devito malum.
Hereafter I know well enough I shall be safe, if only I escape this evil now.
§612Nam quid ego nunc dicam patri? Negabon velle me modo
For what shall I say now to my father?
§613Qui sum pollicitus ducere? Qua fiducia id facere audeam?
Shall I refuse, having just now promised to marry?
§614Nec quid me nunc faciam scio.
With what face could I dare to do that?
§614bNec quid me; atque id ago sedulo.
Nor do I know what to do with myself now." Davus: "(Aside) Nor do I know what to do with myself; and I am working on that diligently.
§615Dicam aliquid iam inventurum ut huic malo aliquam producam moram. §616Ohe. §616bVisus sum. §616cEhodum bone vir quid ais? viden me consiliis tuis
I'll tell him that I will find something soon to gain some delay for this evil." Pamphilus: "Aha!" Davus: "(Aside) I've been seen." Pamphilus: "Look here, 'good man', what do you say?
§617Miserum impeditum esse?
Do you see me miserably entangled by your counsels?
§617bAt iam expediam. §617cExpedies? §617dCerte Pamphile. §618Nempe ut modo. §618bImmo melius spero. §618cOh tibi ego ut credam furcifer?
But I'll disentangle you soon." Davus: "Certainly, Pamphilus." Pamphilus: "You'll disentangle me?" Davus: "Certainly, Pamphilus." Pamphilus: "Doubtless just as you did just now." Davus: "No, better, I hope." Pamphilus: "Oh, to think that I should trust you, you gallows-bird!
§619Tu rem impeditam et perditam restituas? Hem quo fretus siem,
You restore a matter entangled and ruined?
§620Qui me hodie ex tranquillissima re coniecisti in nuptias.
Ah, on what should I rely, you who today from a state of complete tranquility plunged me into a wedding.
§621Annon dixi esse hoc futurum? §621bDixti. §621cQuid meritus? §621dCrucem. §622Sed sine paululum ad me redeam: iam aliquid dispiciam. §622bHei mihi §623Cum non habeo spatium ut de te sumam supplicium ut volo: §624Namque hoc tempus praecavere mihi me haud te ulcisci sinit.
Did I not say this would happen?" Davus: "You did." Pamphilus: "What do you deserve?" Davus: "The gallows." Davus: "But allow me to recover myself a little; I will see something soon." Pamphilus: "Ah me, since I have no time to take punishment on you as I wish: for the present crisis requires me to look out for myself, and does not allow me to avenge myself on you.
§625Hocine est credibile aut memorabile §626Tanta vecordia innata cuiquam ut siet §627Ut malis gaudeant atque ex incommodis §628Alterius sua ut comparent commoda? ah
Is this believable or fit to be recorded, that such great madness should be innate in anyone that they rejoice in evils, and from the misfortunes of another should seek to secure their own advantages?
§629Idne est verum? immo id est genus hominum pessimum in
Ah, is that true?
§630Denegando modo quis pudor paululum adest:
Nay, that is the worst class of men, in whom there is some little shame only in refusing:"