Perde 1
[Textpart 1]
Were I to do this, really I should deem myself deserving of any calamity. But so long as he leads this life of penury, banished from his country through my severity, I will revenge his wrongs upon myself, toiling, making money, saving, and laying up for him.
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MENEDEMUS
At once I set about it; I left nothing in the house, neither movablesNeither movables: Vas is here used as a general name for articles of furniture. This line appears to be copied almost literally from one of Menander, which still exists. nor clothing; every thing I scraped together. Slaves, male and female, except those who could easily pay for their keep by working in the country, all of them I set up to auction and sold. I at once put up a bill
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to sell my house.To sell my house: On the mode of advertising houses to let or be sold among the Romans, see the Trinummus of Plautus, 1. 168, and the Note to the passage in Bohn’s Translation. I collected somewhere about fifteen talents, and purchased this farm; here I fatigue myself: I have come to this conclusion, Chremes, that I do my son a less injury, while I am unhappy; and that it is not right for me to enjoy any pleasure here,
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until such time as he returns home safe to share it with me.
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CHREMES
I believe you to be of an affectionate disposition toward your children,Toward your children: The plural liberos is here used to signify the one son which Menedemus has. So in the Hecyra, 1.217, the same word is used to signify but one daughter. This was a common mode of expression in the times of the earlier Latin authors. and him to be an obedient son, if one were to manage him rightly or prudently. But neither did you understand him sufficiently well, nor he you—a thing that happens where persons don’t live on terms of frankness together.
You never showed him how highly you valued him, nor did he ever dare put that confidence in you which is due to a father. Had this been done, these troubles would never have befallen you.
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MENEDEMUS
Such is the fact, I confess; the greatest fault is on my side.
CHREMES
But still, Menedemus, I hope for the best, and
I trust that he’ll be here safe before long.
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MENEDEMUS
Oh that the Gods would grant it!
CHREMES
They will do so. Now, if it is convenient to you—the festival of Bacchus Festival of Bacchus, Dionysia: It is generally supposed that there were four Festivals called the Dionysia, during the year, at Athens. The first was the Rural, or Lesser Dionysia, κατ a vintage festival, which was celebrated in the Demi or boroughs of Attica, in honor of Bacchus, in the month Poseidon. This was the most ancient of the Festivals, and was held with the greatest merriment and freedom; the slaves then enjoyed the same amount of liberty as they did at the Saturnalia at Rome. The second Festival, which was called the Lenaea, from ληνὸς, a wine-press, was celebrated in the month Gamelion, with Scenic contests in Tragedy and Comedy. The third Dionysian Festival was the Anthesteria, or Spring feast, being celebrated during three days in the month Anthesterion. The first day was called πιθοίγια, or the Opening of the casks, as on that day the casks were opened to taste the wine of the preceding year. The second day was called χοες, from χου a cup, and was probably devoted to drinking. The third day was called χυτροὶ, from χυτρὸς, a pot, as on it persons offered pots with flower-seeds or cooked vegetables to Dionysus or Bacchus. The fourth Attic festival of Dionysius was celebrated in the month Elaphebolion, and was called the Dionysia ἐν or Μεγαλὰ, the City or great festival. It was celebrated with great magnificence, processions and dramatic representations forming part of the ceremonial. From Greece, by way of Sicily, the Bacchanalia, or festivals of Bacchus, were introduced into Rome, where they became the scenes of and pretext for every kind of vice and debauchery, until at length they were put down in the year n.c. 187, with a strong hand, by the Consuls Spurius Posthumius Albinus and Q. Marcius Philippus; from which period the words bacchor and bacchator became synonymous with the practice of every kind of vice and turpitude that could outrage common decency. See a very full account of the Dionysia and the Bacchanalia in Dr. Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. is being kept here to-day—I wish you to give me your company.
CHREMES
Why not? Do, pray, spare yourself a little while. Your absent son would wish you do so.
MENEDEMUS
It is not right that I, who have driven him hence to endure hardships, should now shun them myself.
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CHREMES
Is such your determination?
CHREMES
Then kindly fare you wall.
MENEDEMUS
And you the same.
CHREMES
He has forced tears from me, and I do pity him. But as the day is far gone, I must remind Phania, this neighbor of mine,
to come to dinner. I’ll go see whether he is at home. (Goes to PHANIA’s door, makes the inquiry, and returns.) There was no occasion for me to remind him: they tell me he has been some time already at my house; it’s I myself am making my guests wait. I’ll go in-doors immediately. But what means the noise at the door of my house? I wonder who’s coming out! I’ll step aside here.
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