Perde 4
[Textpart 1]
She gave it me to keep for her, while she went to bathe. At first I paid no attention to it; but after I looked at it, I at once recognized it, and came running to you.
655
CHREMES
What do you suspect now, or have you discovered, relative to her?
SOSTRATA
I don’t know; unless you inquire of herself whence she got it, if that can possibly be discovered.
SYRUS
I’m undone! I see more hopesI see more hopes: Syrus is now alarmed that Antiphila should so soon be acknowledged as the daughter of Chremes, lest he may lose the opportunity of obtaining the money, and be punished as well, in case the imposition is detected, and Bacchis discovered to be the mistress of Clitipho and not of Clinia. from this incident than I desire.
If it is so, she certainly must be ours.
660
CHREMES
Is this woman living to whom you delivered the child?
660
SOSTRATA
I don’t know.
660
CHREMES
What account did she bring you at the time?
SOSTRATA
That she had done as I had ordered her.
CHREMES
Tell me what is the woman’s name, that she may be inquired after.
SYRUS
’Tis the very same. It’s a wonder if she isn’t found, and I lost.
CHREMES
Sostrata, follow me this way in-doors.
SOSTRATA
How much beyond my hopes has this matter turned out! How dreadfully afraid I was,
Chremes, that you would now be of feelings as unrelenting as formerly you were on exposing the child.
665
CHREMES
Many a time a man can not beA man can not be: This he says by way of palliating the cruelty he was guilty of in his orders to have the child put to death. such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it. Time has now so brought it about, that I should be glad of a daughter; formerly I wished for nothing less.
[Textpart 2]
Unless my fancy deceives me,Unless my fancy deceives me: Nisi me animus fallit. He comically repeats the very same words with which Sostrata commenced in the last Scene. retributionRetribution: Infortunium! was the name by which the slaves commonly denoted a beating. Colman has the following remark here: Madame Dacier, and most of the later critics who have implicitly followed her, tell us that in the interval between the third and fourth Acts, Syrus has been present at the interview between Chremes and Antiphila within. The only difficulty in this doctrine is how to reconcile it to the apparent ignorance of Syrus, which he discovers at the entrance of Clinia. But this objection, says she, is easily answered. Syrus having partly heard Antiphila’s story, and finding things likely to take an unfavorable turn, retires, to consider what is best to be done. But surely this is a most unnatural impatience at so critical a conjuncture; and, after all, would it not be better to take up the matter just where Terence has left it, and to suppose that Syrus knew nothing more of the affair than what might be collected from the late conversation between Chremes and Sostrata, at which we know he was present? This at once accounts for his apprehensions, which he betrayed even during that Scene, as well as for his imperfect knowledge of the real state of the case, till apprised of the whole by Clinia. will not be very far off from me; so much by this incident are my forces now utterly driven into straits;
SYRUS
unless I contrive by some means that the old man mayn’t come to know that this damsel is his son’s mistress. For as to entertaining any hopes about the money, or supposing I could cajole him, it’s useless; I shall be sufficient triumphant, if I’m allowed to escape with my sides covered.With my sides covered: He most probably alludes to the custom of tying up the slaves by their hands, after stripping them naked, when of course their latera or sides would be exposed, and come in for a share of the lashes. I’m vexed that such a tempting morsel has been so suddenly snatched away from my jaws. What am I to do? Or what shall I devise? I must begin upon my plan over again.
670
Nothing is so difficult, but that it may be found out by seeking. What now if I set about it after this fashion. (He considers.) That’s of no use. What, if after this fashion? I effect just about the same. But this I think will do. It can not. Yes! excellent. Bravo! I’ve found out the best of all—I’ faith, I do believe that after all I shall lay hold of this same run-away money.Runaway money: Fugitivum argentum. Madame Dacier suggests that this is a bad translation of the words of Menander, which were ἀποστρέψειν τὸν δραπέταν χρυσὸν, where χρυσὸς signified both gold and the name of a slave.
675
[Textpart 3]
Nothing can possibly henceforth befall me of such consequence
