Perde 5
[Textpart 1]
What? Tell me.
LACHES
Go in-doors there (pointing to the house of PHIDIPPUS) to the women, and make the same promise, on oath,
to them; satisfy their minds, and clear yourself from this charge.
755
BACCHIS
I will do so; although, i’ faith, if it had been any other woman of this calling, she would not have done so, I am quite sure; present herself before a married woman for such a purpose! But I do not wish your son to be suspected on an unfounded report, nor appear inconstant, undeservedly, to you, to whom he by no means ought;
for he has deserved of me, that, so far as I am able, I should do him a service.
760
LACHES
Your language has rendered me quite friendly and well disposed toward you; but not only did they think so—I too believed it. Now that I have found you quite different from what I had expected, take care that you still continue the same—make use of my friendship as you please;
if otherwise—; but I will forbear, that you may not hear any thing unkind from me. But this one thing I recommend you make trial what sort of a friend I am, or what I can effect as such, rather than what as an enemy.
765
[Textpart 2]
Nothing at my house will I suffer you to be in want of; but whatever is requisite shall be supplied you in abundance. Still, when you are well fed and well drenched, do take care that the child has enough.
LACHES
My son’s father-in-law, I see, is coming; he is bringing a nurse for the child. (Accosting him.) Phidippus, Bacchis swears most solemnly.
770
PHIDIPPUS
Upon my faith, those women don’t fear the Gods; and I don’t think that the Gods care about them.
BACCHIS
I will give you up my female servants; with my full permission, examine them with any tortures you please. The business at present is this: I must make his wife return home to Pamphilus;
should I effect that, I shall not regret its being reported that I have been the only one to do what other courtesans avoid doing.Other courtesans avoid doing: Colman has the following quotation from Donatus: Terence, by his uncommon art, has attempted many innovations with great success. In this Comedy, he introduces, contrary to received prejudices, a good step-mother and an honest courtesan; but at the same time he so carefully assigns their motives of action, that by him alone every thing seems reconcilable to truth and nature; for this is just the opposite of what he mentions in another place, as the common privilege of all Poets, to paint good matrons and wicked courtesans. Perhaps the same good feeling prompted Terence, in showing that a mother-in-law and a courtesan could be capable of acting with good and disinterested feelings, which caused Cumberland to write his Play of The Jew, to combat the popular prejudice against that persecuted class, by showing, in the character of Sheva, that a Jew might possibly be a virtuous man.
775
LACHES
We find, Phidippus, that our wives have been unjustly suspectedHave been unjustly suspected: The words here employed are also capable of meaning, if an active sense is given to suspectas, our wives have entertained wrong suspicions; but the sense above given seems preferable, as being the meaning of the passage. by us in this matter. Let us now try her still further; for if your wife discovers that she has given credence to a false charge,
she will dismiss her resentment; but if my son is also angry, by reason of the circumstance that his wife has been brought to bed without his knowledge, that is a trifle: his anger on that account will speedily subside. Assuredly in this matter, there is nothing so bad as to be deserving of a separation.
780
PHIDIPPUS
I sincerely wish it may be so.
LACHES
Examine her; here she is; she herself will satisfy you.
PHIDIPPUS
Why do you tell me these things? Is it because you have not already heard what my feelings are
with regard to this matter, Laches? Do you only satisfy their minds.
785
