Adelphi; or, The Brothers (211-290)

SYRUS

speaking to AECHINUS within. Say no more; I myself will arrange with him; I'll make him glad to take the money at once, and say besides that he has been fairly dealt with. Addressing SANNIO. Sannio, how is this, that I hear you have been having some dispute or other with my master?

SANNIO

I never saw a dispute on more unequal terms

[*] than the one that has happened to-day between us; I, with being thumped, he, with beating me, were both of us quite tired.

SYRUS

Your own fault.

SANNIO

What could I do?

SYRUS

You ought to have yielded to the young man.

SANNIO

How could I more so, when to-day I have even afforded my face to his blows?

SYRUS

Well—are you aware of what I tell you? To slight money on some occasions is sometimes the surest gain. What!—were you afraid, you greatest simpleton alive, if you had parted with ever so little

[*] of your right, and had humored the young man, that he would not repay you with interest?

SANNIO

I do not pay ready money for hope.

SYRUS

Then you'll never make a fortune. Get out with you, Sannio; you don't know how to take in mankind.

SANNIO

I believe that to be the better plan—but I was never so cunning as not, whenever I was able to get it, to prefer getting ready money.

SYRUS

Come, come, I know your spirit; as if twenty minae were any thing at all to you in comparison to obliging him; besides, they say that you are setting out for Cyprus—

SANNIO

(aside.) Hah!

SYRUS

That you have been buying up many things to take thither; and that the vessel is hired. This I know, your mind is in suspense; however, when you return thence, I hope you'll settle the matter.

SANNIO

Not a foot do stir: Heavens! I'm undone! Aside. It was upon this hope they devised their project.

SYRUS

aside. He is alarmed. I've brought the fellow into a fix.

SANNIO

aside. Oh, what villainy!—Just look at that; how he has nicked me in the very joint.

[*] Several women have been purchased, and other things as well, for me to take to Cyprus. [*] If I don't get there to the fair, my loss will, be very great. Then if I postpone this business, and settle it when I come back from there, it will be of no use; the matter will be quite forgotten. "Come at last?" they'll say. "Why did you delay it? Where have you been?" So that I had better lose it altogether than either stay here so long, or be suing for it then.

SYRUS

Have you by this reckoned

[*] up what you calculate will be your profits?

SANNIO

Is this honorable of him? Ought Aeschinus to attempt this? Ought he to endeavor to take her away from me by downright violence?

SYRUS

aside. He gives ground. To SANNIO. I have this one proposal to make; see if you fully approve of it. Rather than you should run the risk, Sannio, of getting or losing the whole, halve it. He will manage to scrape together ten minae

[*] from some quarter or other.

SANNIO

Ah me! unfortunate wretch, I am now in danger of even losing part of the principal. Has he no shame? He has loosened all my teeth; my head, too, is full of bumps with his cuffs; and would he defraud me as well? I shall go nowhere.

SYRUS

Just as you please. Have you any thing more to say before I go?

SANNIO

Why yes, Syrus, i' faith, I have this to request. Whatever the matters that are past, rather than go to law, let what is my own be returned me; at least, Syrus, the sum she cost me. I know that you have not hitherto made trial of my friendship; you will have no occasion to say that I am unmindful or ungrateful.

SYRUS

I'll do the best I can. But I see Ctesipho; he's in high spirits about his mistress.

SANNIO

What about what I was asking you?

SYRUS

Stay a little.

CTESIPHO

From any man, when you stand in need of it, you are glad to receive a service; but of a truth it is doubly acceptable, if he does you a kindness who ought to do so. O brother, brother, how can I sufficiently commend you? This I am quite sure of; I can never speak of you in such high terms but that your deserts will surpass it. For I am of opinion that I possess this one thing in especial beyond all others, a brother than whom no individual is more highly endowed with the highest qualities.

SYRUS

O Ctesipho!

CTESIPHO

O Syrus, where is Aeschinus?

SYRUS

Why, look—he's at home, waiting for you.

CTESIPHO

speaking joyously. Ha!

SYRUS

What's the matter?

CTESIPHO

What's the matter? 'Tis through him, Syrus, that I am now alive—generous creature! Has he not deemed every thing of secondary importance to himself in comparison with my happiness? The reproach, the discredit, my own amour and imprudence, he has taken upon himself. There can be nothing beyond this; but what means that noise at the door?

SYRUS

Stay, stay; 'tis Aeschinus himself coming out.

AESCHINUS

Where is that villain?

SANNIO

aside. He's looking for me.[*] Is he bringing any thing with him? Confusion! I don't see any thing.

AESCHINUS

to CTESIPHO. Ha! well met; you are the very man I was looking for. How goes it, Ctesipho? All is safe: away then with your melancholy.

CTESIPHO

By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Aeschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face, lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude.

AESCHINUS

Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn't by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you.

CTESIPHO

I felt ashamed.

AESCHINUS

Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling matter to be almost flying the country!

[*] 'Tis shocking to be mentioned; I pray the Gods may forbid it!

CTESIPHO

I did wrong.

AESCHINUS

in a lower voice. What says Sannio to us at last?

SYRUS

He is pacified at last.

AESCHINUS

I'll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her.

SANNIO

aside to SYRUS. Syrus, do urge the matter.

SYRUS

to AESCHINUS. Let us be off, for he is in haste foe' Cyprus.

[*]

SANNIO

Not particularly so; although still, I'm stopping here doing nothing at all.

SYRUS

It shall be paid, don't fear.

SANNIO

But he is to pay it all.

SYRUS

He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way.

SANNIO

I'll follow.

CTESIPHO

as SYRUS is going. Harkye, harkye, Syrus.

SYRUS

turning back. Well now, what is it?

CTESIPHO

aside. Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever.

SYRUS

That shall not happen, be of good heart; meanwhile enjoy yourself in-doors with her, and order the couches

[*] to be spread for us, and the other things to be got ready. As soon as this business is settled, I shall come home with the provisions.

CTESIPHO

Pray do so. Since this has turned out so well, let us make a cheerful day of it. CTESIPHO goes into the house of MICIO; and exeunt AESCHINUS and SYRUS, followed by SANNIO.

SOSTRATA

Prithee, my dear nurse, how is it like to end?

CANTHARA

Like to end, do you ask? I' troth, right well, I trust.

SOSTRATA

Her pains are just beginning, my dear.

CANTHARA

You are in a flight, now, just as though you had never been present on such an occasion—never been in labor yourself.

SOSTRATA

Unfortunate woman that I am! I have not a person at home; we are quite alone; Geta too is absent. I have no one to go for the midwife, or to fetch Aeschinus.

CANTHARA

I' faith, he'll certainly be here just now, for he never lets a day pass without visiting us.

SOSTRATA

He is my sole comfort in my afflictions.

CANTHARA

Things could not have happened, mistress, more for the advantage of your daughter than they have, seeing that violence was offered her; so far as he is concerned, it is most lucky,—such a person, of such disposition and feelings, a member of so respectable a family.

SOSTRATA

It is indeed as you say; I entreat the Gods that he may be preserved to us. They stand apart, on seeing GETA.