Perde 2
[Textpart 4]
By my troth, I certainly will away with it, when I have such a brother as you. O my dear Aeschinus! O my brother! Alas! I am unwilling to praise you any more to your face,
CTESIPHO
lest you should think I do so rather for flattery than through gratitude.
270
AESCHINUS
Go to, you simpleton! as though we didn’t by this time understand each other, Ctesipho. This grieves me, that we knew of it almost too late, and that the matter had come to such a pass, that if all mankind had wished they could not possibly have assisted you.
AESCHINUS
Pooh! that is folly, not shame; about such a trifling
matter to be almost flying the country!Flying the country: Donatus tells us, that in Menander the young man was on the point of killing himself. Terence has here softened it into leaving the country. Colman remarks: We know that the circumstance of carrying off the Music-girl was borrowed from Diphilus; yet it is plain from Donatus that there was also an intrigue by Ctesipho in the Play of Menander; which gives another proof of the manner in which Terence used the Greek Comedies. ’Tis shocking to be mentioned; I pray the Gods may forbid it!
275
AESCHINUS
What says Sannio to us at last?
SYRUS
He is pacified at last.
AESCHINUS
I’ll go to the Forum to pay him off; you, Ctesipho, step in-doors to her.
SANNIO
Syrus, do urge the matter.
SYRUS
Let us be off, for he is in haste foe’ Cyprus.He is in haste for Cyprus: Donatus remarks that this is a piece of malice on the part of Syrus, for the purpose of teasing Sannio.
SANNIO
Not particularly so; although still, I’m stopping here doing nothing at all.
SYRUS
It shall be paid, don’t fear.
SANNIO
But he is to pay it all.
280
SYRUS
He shall pay it all; only hold your tongue and follow us this way.
280
CTESIPHO
Harkye, harkye, Syrus.
SYRUS
Well now, what is it?
CTESIPHO
Pray do discharge that most abominable fellow as soon as possible; for fear, in case he should become more angry, by some means or other this matter should reach my father, and then I should be ruined forever.
