Perde 4
[Textpart 5]
Go home, and pray to the Gods that you may have your wife; be off.
700
AESCHINUS
What! have my wife now?
MICIO
Now, as soon as possible.
AESCHINUS
May all the Gods detest me, father, if I do not love you better than even my very eyes!
MICIO
What! better than her?
AESCHINUS
Well, where is this Milesian?
MICIO
Departed, vanished, gone on board ship; but why do you delay?
do you rather go and pray to the Gods; for I know, for certain, that they will rather be propitious to you,Propitious to you: Donatus remarks that there is great delicacy in this compliment of Aeschinus to Micio, which, though made in his presence, does not bear the semblance of flattery. Madame Dacier thinks that Terence here alludes to a line of Hesiod, which says that it is the duty of the aged to pray. Colman suggests that the passage is borrowed from some lines of Menander still in existence. as being a much better man than I am.
705
MICIO
I’ll go in-doors, that what is requisite may be prepared. You do as I said, if you are wise.
AESCHINUS
What can be the meaning of this? Is this being a father, or this being a son? If he had been a brother or familiar companion, how could he have been more complaisant!
Is he not worthy to be beloved? Is he not to be imprinted in my very bosom? Well then, the more does he impose an obligation on me by his kindness, to take due precaution not inconsiderately to do any thing that he may not wish. But why do I delay going in-doors this instant, that I may not myself delay my own nuptials?
710
[Textpart 6]
I am quite tired with walking: May the great Jupiter confound you, Syrus, together with your directions!
DEMEA
I have crawled the whole city over; to the gate, to the pond—where not? There was no joiner’s shop there; not a soul could say he had seen my brother; but now I’m determined to sit and wait at his house till he returns.
[Textpart 7]
I’ll go and tell them there’s no delay on our part.
720
DEMEA
But see here’s the very man: O Micio, I have been seeking you this long time.
