Humanitext Reader

Terence · Phormio §subject_2

The Love Affairs and Marriage of Antipho

Passage 2 of 20 · Latin

Summary

Phaedria falls in love with a music girl but despairs due to his lack of money. Meanwhile, Antipho falls in love with the orphaned Phanium, and with the help of the parasite Phormio, succeeds in marrying her by using an Athenian law, though he lives in fear of his father's return.

§subject_2Phaedria fell madly in love with a music girl, whom he diligently escorted every day to and from the school where she used to go for her finishing lessons; but his case was desperate, for he had not a farthing, and she could not be got from Dorio, the ‘leno,’ without hard cash.
Phaedria fell madly in love with a music girl, whom he diligently escorted every day to and from the school where she used to go for her finishing lessons; but his case was desperate, for he had not a farthing, and she could not be got from Dorio, the ‘leno,’ without hard cash.
Nor was it long before Antipho got into a similar scrape, which had a very different end, but one quite as embarrassing to him.
Nor was it long before Antipho got into a similar scrape, which had a very different end, but one quite as embarrassing to him.
For when Chremes reached Lemnos he found that his birds had flown.
For when Chremes reached Lemnos he found that his birds had flown.
Phanium and her mother, tired of waiting for him, now that Phanium was grown up, had started for Athens in search of him, with their nurse Sophrona.
Phanium and her mother, tired of waiting for him, now that Phanium was grown up, had started for Athens in search of him, with their nurse Sophrona.
They inquire every where for Stilpho, but no such person is to be heard of, and they are reduced to great distress, in consequence of which the mother dies soon after their arrival.
They inquire every where for Stilpho, but no such person is to be heard of, and they are reduced to great distress, in consequence of which the mother dies soon after their arrival.
By a singular chance Antipho happens at this moment to see Phanium, as she is lamenting the death of her mother, and falls desperately in love with her at first sight.
By a singular chance Antipho happens at this moment to see Phanium, as she is lamenting the death of her mother, and falls desperately in love with her at first sight.
He goes to Sophrona, who will not consent to allow any acquaintance but on condition of marriage; and Antipho will sacrifice himself to a girl without a penny rather than lose her altogether.
He goes to Sophrona, who will not consent to allow any acquaintance but on condition of marriage; and Antipho will sacrifice himself to a girl without a penny rather than lose her altogether.
But how is the marriage to be brought about without exposing Antipho to his father’s most severe censure? It is managed in the following way.
But how is the marriage to be brought about without exposing Antipho to his father’s most severe censure? It is managed in the following way.
Phormio, a parasite, who seems to have been under considerable obligations to these young men in the way of good living (see ii. 2. 22), gives him this advice.
Phormio, a parasite, who seems to have been under considerable obligations to these young men in the way of good living (see ii. 2. 22), gives him this advice.
There is an Athenian law, that orphans should be taken in marriage or portioned out by their nearest relation.
There is an Athenian law, that orphans should be taken in marriage or portioned out by their nearest relation.
He will pretend to be Phanium’s guardian, and will bring an action against Antipho, as her nearest relation, and as Antipho has no money he will of course be obliged to marry her.
He will pretend to be Phanium’s guardian, and will bring an action against Antipho, as her nearest relation, and as Antipho has no money he will of course be obliged to marry her.
So Demipho will not be able to say a word.
So Demipho will not be able to say a word.
The plan succeeds to admiration.
The plan succeeds to admiration.
Phormio gains his suit, and Antipho immediately marries Phanium.
Phormio gains his suit, and Antipho immediately marries Phanium.
He is devoted to his wife, but lives in continual dread of his father’s return; and is quite as wretched in consequence of his success as Phaedria is because his case is hopeless.
He is devoted to his wife, but lives in continual dread of his father’s return; and is quite as wretched in consequence of his success as Phaedria is because his case is hopeless.

Notes

  1. §subject_2his birds had flown — Literally meaning "his birds had flown," this metaphorically indicates that the wife and daughter (Phanium and her mother), whom Chremes expected to find, had already left Lemnos for Athens.
  2. §subject_2Nor was it long before... — An idiomatic construction meaning "it did not take long until..." or "soon afterwards..." The negative main clause "nor was it long" followed by the "before" clause emphasizes that the event occurred shortly after.
  3. §subject_2but on condition of marriage — Here, "but" is used prepositionally meaning "except," modifying "consent to allow any acquaintance" to express a strict limitation: she would not permit any acquaintance unless it was on the condition of marriage.

Cite this passage

Terence, Phormio §subject_2. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0134.phi004.humanitext-lat2:subject_2

Please note the AI-draft status of the translation and the date accessed.

Translation, notes and summary are AI-generated drafts, revised through reader feedback.