Perde 2
BYRRHIA
My master, so far as I learn, has missed his wife.
SIMO
Now, then, go in-doors, that you mayn’t be causing delay when you are wanted.
BYRRHIA
Is there, in no case, putting trust in any man? That is a true proverb which is wont to be commonly quoted, that all had rather it to be well for themselves than for another. I remember noticing, when I saw her, that she was a young woman of handsome figure; wherefore I am the more disposed to excuse Pamphilus,
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if he has preferred that he himself, rather than the other, should embrace her in his slumbers. I’ll carry back these tidings, that, in return for this evil he may inflict evil upon me.Inflict evil upon me: Malum. the usual name by which slaves spoke of the beatings they were in the habit of receiving at the hands or by the order of their irascible masters. Colman has the following remarks: Donatus observes on this Scene between Byrrhia, Simo, Pamphilus, and Davus, that the dialogue is sustained by four persons, who have little or no intercourse with each other; so that the Scene is not only in direct contradiction to the precept of Horace, excluding a fourth person, but is also otherwise vicious in its construction. Scenes of this kind are, I think, much too frequent in Terence, though, indeed, the form of the ancient Theatre was more adapted to the representation of them than the modern. The multiplicity of speeches aside is also the chief error in this dialogue; such speeches, though very common in dramatic writers, ancient and modern, being always more or less unnatural.
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[Textpart 6]
He now supposes that I’m bringing some trick to bear against him, and that on that account I’ve remained here.
SIMO
What does he say, Davus?What does he say, Davus?: Quid, Dave, narrat? This reading Vollbehr suggests in place of the old one, Quid Davus narrat> and upon good grounds, as it appears. According to the latter reading we are to suppose that Davus is grumbling to himself, on which Simo says, What does Davus say? It seems, however, much more likely that Davus accompanies Pamphilus to the door, and speaks to him before he goes in, and then, on his return to Simo, the latter asks him, What does he say, Davus?
DAVUS
Just as much as nothing.Just as much as nothing: Aeque quidquam nunc quidem. This is a circumlocution for nothing at all: somewhat more literally perhaps, it might be rendered just as much as before. Perizonius supplies the ellipsis with a long string of Latin words, which translated would mean, Now, indeed, he says equally as much as he says then, when he says nothing at all.
SIMO
What, nothing? Eh?
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DAVUS
Nothing at all.
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SIMO
And yet I certainly was expecting something.
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DAVUS
It has turned out contrary to your expectations. (Aside.) I perceive it; this vexes the man.
SIMO
Are you able to tell me the truth?
DAVUS
I? Nothing more easy.
SIMO
Is this marriage at all disagreeable to him, on account of his intimacy with this foreign woman?
DAVUS
No, faith; or if at all, it is a two or three days’ annoyance this—you understand. It will then cease. Moreover, he himself has thought over this matter in a proper way.
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DAVUS
While it was allowed him, and while his years prompted him,
he intrigued; even then it was secretly. He took precaution that that circumstance should never be a cause of disgrace to him, as behooves a man of principle;
