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Terence · Heauton Timorumenos §cast..-subject_1..

Dramatis Personae and Summary of the Plot

Passage 1 of 20 · Latin

Summary

Introduction of the cast of characters and the overall background plot of Terence's 'Heauton Timorumenos', including the abandonment and recognition of a child and a father's self-imposed penance.

§cast..## Fabulae Interlocutores.
## Fabulae Interlocutores.
ANTIPHILA, amica Cliniae.
ANTIPHILA, amica Cliniae.
BACCHIS, amica Clitiphonis.
BACCHIS, amica Clitiphonis.
CHREMES, Clitiphonis pater.
CHREMES, Clitiphonis pater.
CLINIA, Menedemi filius.
CLINIA, Menedemi filius.
CLITIPHO, Chremetis filius.
CLITIPHO, Chremetis filius.
DROMO, servus Menedemi.
DROMO, servus Menedemi.
MENEDEMUS, Cliniae pater.
MENEDEMUS, Cliniae pater.
NUTRIX. PHRYGIA, ancilla.
NUTRIX. PHRYGIA, ancilla.
SOSTRATA, Chremetis uxor.
SOSTRATA, Chremetis uxor.
SYRUS, servus Chremetis.
SYRUS, servus Chremetis.
§subject_1..INTRODUCTION. THE plot of the Heautontimorumenos turns, as is often the case, partly upon the recognition of a child which had been exposed as an infant.
INTRODUCTION. THE plot of the Heautontimorumenos turns, as is often the case, partly upon the recognition of a child which had been exposed as an infant.
Sostrata the wife of Chremes had an infant daughter, which her husband refused to bring up, and ordered to be exposed.
Sostrata the wife of Chremes had an infant daughter, which her husband refused to bring up, and ordered to be exposed.
She gave it to an old woman for that purpose, attaching to its dress a ring, from a superstitious feeling that the child ought not to be entirely disinherited.
She gave it to an old woman for that purpose, attaching to its dress a ring, from a superstitious feeling that the child ought not to be entirely disinherited.
The old woman, instead of exposing the child, brought her up as her own daughter, and named her Antiphila.
The old woman, instead of exposing the child, brought her up as her own daughter, and named her Antiphila.
When she grew up she attracted the attention of Clinia. son of Menedemus.
When she grew up she attracted the attention of Clinia. son of Menedemus.
Their attachment continued for some time before it came to the knowledge of Clinia’s father.
Their attachment continued for some time before it came to the knowledge of Clinia’s father.
As soon as he discovered it he began to persecute his son about the affair, till at last the young man, to put an end to the dispute, went to Asia, and there entered the service of the king.
As soon as he discovered it he began to persecute his son about the affair, till at last the young man, to put an end to the dispute, went to Asia, and there entered the service of the king.
No sooner had he gone than his father repented his severity; and finding that his son was past recall, he determined, as the only amends he could make, to inflict upon himself a continual penance.
No sooner had he gone than his father repented his severity; and finding that his son was past recall, he determined, as the only amends he could make, to inflict upon himself a continual penance.
He sold his house, and all his servants except a few to work upon a farm which he purchased.
He sold his house, and all his servants except a few to work upon a farm which he purchased.
There he kept himself at work from morning to night.
There he kept himself at work from morning to night.
Three months passed in this way, and at the end of that time, Clinia, who could not support any longer his absence from his mistress, returns and is received into the house of Chremes, whose son Clitipho had been his friend from his childhood.
Three months passed in this way, and at the end of that time, Clinia, who could not support any longer his absence from his mistress, returns and is received into the house of Chremes, whose son Clitipho had been his friend from his childhood.
No sooner has he arrived than his servant Dromo is sent with Syrus, Clitipho’s slave, to bring Antiphila to her lover.
No sooner has he arrived than his servant Dromo is sent with Syrus, Clitipho’s slave, to bring Antiphila to her lover.
Syrus discharges his errand more cleverly than was intended; he found Antiphila alone, for her reputed mother, Philtere, had died in the interval, and in circumstances which shewed that she was still faithful to Clinia.
Syrus discharges his errand more cleverly than was intended; he found Antiphila alone, for her reputed mother, Philtere, had died in the interval, and in circumstances which shewed that she was still faithful to Clinia.
Thinking besides to do a stroke of business for his own master, he brings at the same time Bacchis, Clitipho’s mistress, a very different character from Antiphila: and that Chremes may have no suspicion of this connection of his son’s, it is arranged that Bacchis shall pass for Clinia’s mistress, and Antiphila for one of her servants.
Thinking besides to do a stroke of business for his own master, he brings at the same time Bacchis, Clitipho’s mistress, a very different character from Antiphila: and that Chremes may have no suspicion of this connection of his son’s, it is arranged that Bacchis shall pass for Clinia’s mistress, and Antiphila for one of her servants.
While this is going on, Chremes and Menedemus have been talking together; Chremes remonstrating with Menedemus upon his unintelligible conduct in working himself to death instead of superintending his slaves, and Menedemus explaining his reasons by an account of what led to his son’s departure, and his consequent determination to punish himself till his return.
While this is going on, Chremes and Menedemus have been talking together; Chremes remonstrating with Menedemus upon his unintelligible conduct in working himself to death instead of superintending his slaves, and Menedemus explaining his reasons by an account of what led to his son’s departure, and his consequent determination to punish himself till his return.

Notes

  1. §subject_1..Clinia. son of — The period after 'Clinia' is highly likely a typographical error for a comma, forming an appositive phrase meaning 'Clinia, son of Menedemus'.
  2. §subject_1..repented his severity — The verb 'repented' is used transitively here, taking 'severity' as its direct object.
  3. §subject_1..except a few to work upon a farm — The infinitive clause 'to work upon a farm' modifies the remaining 'few' (servants), serving an adjectival or adverbial function to indicate their designated purpose or task.

Cite this passage

Terence, Heauton Timorumenos §cast..-subject_1... Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0134.phi002.humanitext-lat2:cast..-subject_1..

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