Perde 5
[Textpart 4]
I’ve heard it from herself a thousand times.
SIMO
I suppose, Chremes, that you believe that we all rejoice at this discovery.
CHREMES
So may the Gods bless me, I do believe it.
PAMPHILUS
What remains to be done, father?
SIMO
The event itself has quite brought me to reconcilement.
PAMPHILUS
O kind father! With regard to her as a wife, since I have taken possession of her, Chremes will not offer any opposition.
CHREMES
The plea is a very good one, unless perchance your father says any thing to the contrary.
PAMPHILUS
Of course, I agree.
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SIMO
Then be it so. Of course—Then be it so: Nempe id. Scilicet. Colman has the following remark on this line: Donatus, and some others after him, understand these words of Simo and Pamphilus as requiring a fortune of Chremes with his daughter; and one of them’ says that Simo, in order to explain his meaning, in the representation, should produce a bag of money. This surely is precious refinement, worthy the genius of a true Commentator. Madame Dacier, who entertains a just veneration for Donatus, doubts the authenticity of the observation ascribed to him. The sense I have followed is, I think, the most obvious and natural interpretation of the words of Pamphilus and Simo, which refers to the preceding, not the subsequent, speech of Chremes.
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CHREMES
Her portion, Pamphilus, is ten talents.
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PAMPHILUS
I alm satisfied.
CHREMES
I’ll hasten to my daughter. Come now, (beckoning.) along with me, Crito; for I suppose that she will not know me.
SIMO
Why don’t you order her to be sent for hither, to our house?
PAMPHILUS
Well thought of; I’ll at once give charge of that to Davus.
SIMO
Because he has another matter that more nearly concerns himself, and of more importance.
PAMPHILUS
Father, he is not rightly bound. He is not rightly bound: Non recte vinctus, meaning it was not well done to bind him. The father pretends to understand him as meaning (which he might equally well by using the same words), non satis stricte. he wasn’t tightly enough bound; and answers I ordered that he should be, referring to his order for Davus to be bound hand and foot. Donatus justly observes that the disposition of the old gentleman to joke is a characteristic mark of his thorough reconciliation.
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