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Terence · Heauton Timorumenos §546..-603..

Chremes Scolding Clitipho and Syrus's Pledged Girl Scheme

Passage 12 of 20 · Latin

Summary

Chremes urges Syrus to execute the plot, but soon catches his son Clitipho behaving inappropriately with Bacchis and scolds him severely. After Clitipho is sent away to prevent the truth from being exposed, Syrus begins to spin a new trick for Chremes involving a captive girl left as a pledge for a debt.

§546..At te adiutare oportet adolescentuli
[Chremes] But you ought to help for the sake of the young man.
§547..Causa. §547b..Facile equidem facere possum, si iubes: §548..Etenim quo pacto id fieri soleat calleo.
[Syrus] I can easily do indeed, if you command: for indeed I know well in what way that is usually done.
§549..Tanto hercle melior. §549b..Non est mentiri meum.
[Chremes] So much the better, by Hercules. [Syrus] Lying is not my way.
§550..Fac ergo. §550b..At heus tu, facitodum eadem haec memineris, §551..Si quid huius simile forte aliquando evenerit, §552..Ut sunt humana, tuus ut faciat filius.
[Chremes] Do it then. [Syrus] But look here, mind you remember these same things, if by chance anything similar to this should ever happen, as human affairs go, that your own son should do.
§553..Non usus veniet, spero. §553b..Spero hercle ego quoque.
[Chremes] No such need will arise, I hope. [Syrus] I hope so too, by Hercules.
§554..Neque eo nunc dico, quo quicquam illum senserim:
§555..Sed si quid, ne quid.
Nor do I say this now because I have perceived anything in him: but if anything, lest anything.
Quae sit eius aetas vides.
You see what his age is.
§556..Et nae ego te, si usus veniat, magnifice, Chreme, §557..Tractare possim.
§557b..De istoc, quum usus venerit, §558..Videbimus quid opus sit: nunc istuc age.
And indeed I, if the need should arise, Chremes, could magnificently manage you. [Chremes] About that, when the need arises, we will see what is necessary: now do that which is at hand.
§559..Nunquam commodius unquam herum audivi loqui, §560..Nec quum male facerem crederem mihi impunius §561..Licere.
[Syrus] (Aside) I have never heard a master speak more conveniently, nor did I believe that it would be allowed to me to do wrong with more impunity.
Quisnam a nobis egreditur foras?
Who on earth is coming out from our house?
§562..Quid istuc, quaeso? qui istic mos est, Clitipho? itane fieri oportet?
[Chremes] (To Clitipho) What is that, pray? What kind of behavior is that, Clitipho? Ought things to be done so?
§563..Quid ego feci? §563b..Vidine ego te modo manum in sinum huic meretrici §564..Inserere? §564b..Acta haec res est: perii. §564c..Mene? §564d..Hisce oculis; ne nega.
[Clitipho] What have I done? [Chremes] Didn't I just see you thrust your hand into the bosom of this courtesan? [Syrus] (Aside) It is all over: I am undone. [Clitipho] Me? [Chremes] With these very eyes; do not deny it.
§565..Facis adeo indigne iniuriam illi, qui non abstineas manum:
§566..Nam istaec quidem contumelia est, §567..Hominem amicum recipere ad te, atque eius amicam subagitare.
You are doing him indeed a shameful injury, by not keeping your hand off: for this is indeed an insult, to receive a friend into your house, and to fondle his mistress.
§568..Vel heri in vino quam immodestus fuisti! §568b..Factum. §568c..Quam molestus!
Even yesterday in your wine, how immoderate you were! [Clitipho] It happened. [Chremes] How annoying!
§569..Ut equidem, ita me Di ament, metui quid futurum denique esset.
I indeed, so may the Gods love me, feared what would happen in the end.
§570..Novi ego amantium animum: advertunt graviter quae non censeas.
I know the mind of lovers: they notice deeply what you would not think of.
§571..At mihi fides apud hunc est nihil me istius facturum, pater.
[Clitipho] But I have trust with him that I would do nothing of the sort, father.
§572..Esto: at certe concedas hinc aliquo ab ore eorum aliquantisper.
[Chremes] Be it so: but at least step aside somewhere from their presence for a little while.
§573..Multa fert libido: ea prohibet facere tua praesentia.
Passion prompts many things: your presence prevents them from doing them.
§574..Ego de me facio coniecturam: nemo est meorum amicorum hodie §575..Apud quem expromere omnia mea occulta, Clitipho, audeam; §576..Apud alium prohibet dignitas, apud alium ipsius facti pudet, §577..Ne ineptus, ne protervus videar; quod illum facere credito.
I judge from myself: there is none of my friends today in whose presence, Clitipho, I would dare to lay open all my secrets; in the case of one, dignity prevents it, in the case of another, I am ashamed of the deed itself, lest I should seem foolish or impudent; believe that he does the same.
§578..Sed nostrum est intelligere, utcumque atque ubicumque opus sit obsequi.
But it is our duty to understand, and to comply whenever and wherever there is need.
§579..Quid istic narrat? §579b..Perii. §579c..Clitipho, haec ego praecipio tibi?
[Syrus] (Aside) What is he talking about? [Clitipho] (Aside) I am undone. [Chremes] Clitipho, am I instructing you in these things?
§580..Hominis frugi et temperantis functus es officium? §580b..Tace sodes.
Have you performed the duty of an honest and temperate man? [Clitipho] (To Syrus) Be quiet, please.
§581..Recte sane. §581b..Syre, pudet me. §581c..Credo; neque id iniuria.
[Syrus] (To Chremes) Right indeed. [Clitipho] (Aside) Syrus, I am ashamed. [Syrus] (To Clitipho) I believe it; and not without cause.
§582..Quin mihi molestum est. §582b..Pergis hercle? §582c..Verum dico quod videtur.
[Clitipho] Nay, it is annoying to me. [Syrus] (To Clitipho) Are you going on, by Hercules? [Chremes] I speak what seems to be the truth.
§583..Non accedam ad illos? §583b..Eho quaeso, una accedendi via est?
[Clitipho] May I not go near them? [Syrus] Come, please, is there only one way of going near them?
§584..Actum est: hic prius se indicarit quam ego argentum effecero.
(Aside) It is all over: he will betray himself before I can get the money.
§585..Chreme, vin tu homini stulto mihi auscultare? §585b..Quid faciam? §585c..Iube hunc §586..Abire hinc aliquo. §586b..Quo hinc abeam ego? §586c..Quo? quo libet: da illis locum.
Chremes, will you listen to me, a foolish fellow? [Chremes] What shall I do? [Syrus] Order him to depart from here somewhere. [Clitipho] Where should I depart from here? [Syrus] Where? wherever you like: leave the place to them.
§587..Abi deambulatum. §587b..Deambulatum quo? §587c..Vah! quasi desit locus.
[Chremes] Go away for a walk. [Clitipho] A walk where? [Syrus] Oh! as if there were a lack of places.
§588..Abi sane istac, istorsum, quo vis. §588b..Recte dicit: censeo.
Go that way, this way, wherever you want. [Chremes] He says rightly: I think so too.
§589..Di te eradicent, Syre, qui me hinc extrudis. §589b..At §590..Tu pol tibi istas posthac comprimito manus.
[Clitipho] May the Gods destroy you root and branch, Syrus, for thrusting me out from here. [Syrus] (To Clitipho) But you, by Pollux, keep those hands of yours quiet hereafter.
§591..Censen vero? quid illum porro credis facturum, Chreme, §592..Nisi eum, quantum tibi opis Di dant, servas, castigas, mones?
(To Chremes) Do you really think so? What do you think he will do hereafter, Chremes, unless, as far as the Gods give you power, you keep, chastise, and advise him?
§593..Ego istuc curabo. §593b..Atqui nunc, here, hic tibi asservandus est.
[Chremes] I will take care of that. [Syrus] But now, master, he must be kept under watch by you here.
§594..Fiet. §594b..Si sapias: nam mihi iam minus minusque obtemperat.
[Chremes] It shall be done. [Syrus] If you are wise: for now he obeys me less and less.
§595..Quid tu? ecquid de illo quod dudum tecum egi egisti, Syre? aut
[Chremes] What about you? Syrus, have you done anything about what I discussed with you a while ago?
§596..Repperisti, tibi quod placeat? an nondum etiam? §596b..De fallacia §597..Dicis? st! inveni nuper quandam. §597b..Frugi es: cedo, quid est?
Or have you found anything that pleases you? Or not yet? [Syrus] About the trick you speak? Sh! I have just found a certain one. [Chremes] Good fellow: out with it, what is it?
§598..Dicam: verum, ut aliud ex alio incidit. §598b..Quidnam, Syre?
[Syrus] I will tell you: but as one thing happens after another. [Chremes] What is it, Syrus?
§599..Pessima haec est meretrix. §599b..Ita videtur. §599c..Immo si scias.
[Syrus] This courtesan is a very bad woman. [Chremes] So it seems. [Syrus] Nay, if you but knew.
§600..Vah, vide, quod inceptet facinus.
Oh, look what a wicked deed she is starting.
Fuit quaedam anus Corinthia §601..Hic: huic drachmarum argenti haec mille dederat mutuum.
There was a certain old Corinthian woman here: to her this woman had lent a thousand silver drachmas.
§602..Quid tum? §602b..Ea mortua est: reliquit filiam adolescentulam.
[Chremes] What then? [Syrus] She died: she left a young daughter.
§603..Ea relicta huic arrhaboni est pro illo argento.
She was left to this woman as a pledge for that money.

Notes

  1. §550facitodum eadem haec memineris ... tuus ut faciat filius — `facitodum` is the future imperative `facito` with the emphatic particle `dum`. It is followed by the subjunctive perfect `memineris` without `ut`, meaning 'be sure to remember.' The clause `ut tuus faciat filius` (that your own son may do [likewise]) functions as the object clause dependent on this verbal construction.
  2. §565qui non abstineas manum — The relative pronoun `qui` is used with the subjunctive `abstineas` (present, second-person singular) to introduce a relative clause of cause ('since you do not keep...'). It provides the direct ground for the accusation of `iniuriam illi` in the main clause.
  3. §577quod illum facere credito — The neuter singular relative pronoun `quod` refers back to the entire situation described in the preceding lines (being ashamed or afraid to reveal one's secrets). `credito` is a second-person singular future imperative, meaning 'believe that he (Clinia) does the same.'
  4. §584hic prius se indicarit quam ego argentum effecero — `indicarit` is a syncopated form of `indicaverit` (subjunctive perfect or future perfect indicative) introduced by `prius... quam`. In terms of temporal relationship, it emphasizes that Clitipho will betray himself (future perfect/subjunctive) before Syrus finishes raising the money (future perfect `effecero`).

Cite this passage

Terence, Heauton Timorumenos §546..-603... Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0134.phi002.humanitext-lat2:546..-603..

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