Andria; or, The Fair Andrian (793b-835)

You should have told me that before.

Do you suppose that it makes little difference whether you do things according to impulse,

as nature prompts, or from premeditation?

It was said that Chrysis used to live in this street, who preferred to gain wealth here dishonorably to living honestly as a poor woman in her own country: by her death that property has descended to me by law. [*]

But I see some persons of whom to make inquiry. (Accosting them.) Good-morrow to you.

Prithee, whom do I see? Isn’t this Crito, the kinsman of Chrysis? It is he.

O Mysis, greetings to you.

Welcome to you, Crito.

Is Chrysis then—? [*] Alas!

Too truly. She has indeed left us poor creatures quite heart-broken.

How fare you here, and in what fashion? Pretty well?

What, we? Just

as we can, as they say; since we can’t as we would.

How is Glycerium? Has she discovered her parents yet?

I wish she had.

What, not yet? With no favorable omen did I set out for this place; for, upon my faith, if I had known that, I never would have moved a foot hither. She was always said to be, and was looked upon as her sister;

what things were hers she is in possession of; now for me to begin a suit at law here, the precedents of others warn me, a stranger, [*] how easy and profitable a task it would be for me. At the same time, I suppose that by this she has got some friend and protector; for she was pretty nearly a grown-up girl when she left there. They would cry out

that I am a sharper; that, a pauper, I’m hunting after an inheritance; besides, I shouldn’t like to strip the girl herself.

O most worthy stranger! I’faith, Crito, you still adhere to your good old-fashioned ways.

Lead me to her, since I have come hither, that I may see her.

By all means.

I’ll follow them; I don’t wish the old man to see me at this moment.

Enough already, enough, Simo, has my friendship toward you been proved. Sufficient hazard have I begun to encounter; make an end of your entreaties, then. While I’ve been endeavoring to oblige you, I’ve almost fooled away my daughter’s prospects in life.

Nay but, now in especial, Chremes, I do beg and entreat of you, that the favor, commenced a short time since in words, you’ll now complete by deeds.

See how unreasonable you are from your very earnestness; so long as you effect what you desire, you neither think of limits to compliance, nor what it is you request of me; for if you did think, you would now forbear to trouble me with unreasonable requests.

What unreasonable requests?

Do you ask? You importuned me to promise my daughter to a young man engaged in another attachment, averse to the marriage state,

to plunge her into discord and a marriage of uncertain duration; that through her sorrow and her anguish I might reclaim your son. You prevailed; while the case admitted of it I made preparations. Now it does not admit of it; you must put up with it; they say that she is a citizen of this place; a child has been born; do cease to trouble us.

By the Gods, I do conjure you not to bring your mind to believe

those whose especial interest it is that he should be as degraded as possible. On account of the marriage, have all these things been feigned and contrived. When the reason for which they do these things is removed from them, they will desist.