Lucius Seneca - Yale Required Reading - Collected Works (Vol. 2)

Æsch. I do wish it.

Mic. Why then, if you desire it, just come hither, Syrus, to me ( performing the ceremony of manumission ); be a free man. 100

Syr. You act generously; I return my thanks to you all;—and to you, Demea, in particular.

Dem. I congratulate you.

Æsch. And I.

Syr. I believe you. I wish that this joy were made complete—that I could see my wife, Phrygia, 101free as well.

Dem. Really, a most excellent woman.

Syr. And the first to suckle your grandchild, his son, today ( pointing to Æschinus ).

Dem. Why really, in seriousness, if she was the first to do so, there is no doubt she ought to be made free.

Mic. What , for doing that?

Dem. For doing that; in fine, receive the amount from me 102at which she is valued.

Syr. May all the Gods always grant you, Demea, all you desire.

Mic. Syrus, you have thrived pretty well to-day.

Dem. If, in addition, Micio, you will do your duty, and lend him a little ready money in hand for present use, he will soon repay you.

Mic. Less than this ( snapping his fingers ).

Æsch. He is a deserving fellow.

Syr. Upon my word, I will repay it; only lend it me.

Æsch. Do, father.

Mic. I’ll consider of it afterward.

Dem. He’ll do it, Syrus .

Syr. O most worthy man!

Æsch. O most kind-hearted father!

Mic. How is this? What has so suddenly changed your disposition, Demea ? What caprice is this ? What means this sudden liberality? 103

Dem. I will tell you:—That I may convince you of this, Micio, that the fact that they consider you an easy and kind-hearted man, does not proceed from your real life, nor, indeed, from a regard for virtue and justice; but from your humoring, indulging, and pampering them. Now therefore, Æschinus, if my mode of life has been displeasing to you, because I do not quite humor you in every thing, just or unjust, I have done: squander, buy, do what you please. But if you would rather have one to reprove and correct those faults, the results of which, by reason of your youth, you can not see, which you pursue too ardently, and are thoughtless upon, and in due season to direct you; behold me ready to do it for you.

Æsch. Father, we leave it to you; you best know what ought to be done. But what is to be done about my brother?

Dem. I consent. Let him have his mistress : 104with her let him make an end of his follies .

Mic. That’s right. ( To the Audience. ) Grant us your applause.

FOOTNOTES

1From δημὸς, “the people.”

2From Μικιὼν, a Greek proper name.

3From ἑγεῖσθαι, “to lead,” or “take charge of.”

4From αισχὸς, “disgrace.”

5From κτησὶς, “a patrimony,” and φῶς, “light.”

6From σαννὸς, “foolish.”

7One of the nation of the Getæ.

8See the Dramatis Personæ of the Eunuchus.

9From Syria, his native country.

10See the Dramatis Personæ of the Andria.

11See the Dramatis Personæ of the Eunuchus.

12See the Dramatis Personæ of the Heautontimorumenos.

13From κανθαρὸς “a cup.”

14 Of Æmilius Paulus )—This Play (from the Greek Ἀδελφοὶ “The Brothers”) was performed at the Funeral Games of Lucius Æmilius Paulus, who was surnamed Macedonicus, from having gained a victory over Perseus, King of Macedon. He was so poor at the time of his decease, that they were obliged to sell his estate in order to pay his widow her dower. The Q. Fabius Maximus and P. Cornelius Africanus here mentioned were not, as some have thought, the Curale Ædiles, but two sons of Æmilius Paulus, who had taken the surnames of the families into which they had been adopted.

15 Sarranian flutes )—The “Sarranian” or “Tyrian” pipes, or flutes, are supposed to have been of a quick and mirthful tone; Madame Dacier has consequently with much justice suggested that the representation being on the occasion of a funeral, the title has not come down to us in a complete form, and that it was performed with the Lydian, or grave, solemn pipe, alternately with the Tyrian. This opinion is also strengthened by the fact that Donatus expressly says that it was performed to the music of Lydian flutes.

16 Being Consuls )—L. Anicius Gallus and M. Cornelius Cethegus were Consuls in the year from the Building of the City 592, and B.C. 161.

17 Synapothnescontes )—Ver. 6. Signifying “persons dying together.” The “Commorientes” of Plautus is lost. It has been doubted by some, despite these words of Terence, if Plautus ever did write such a Play.

18 Of Diphilus )—Ver. 6. Diphilus was a Greek Poet, contemporary with Menander.

19 In war, in peace, in private business )—Ver. 20. According to Donatus, by the words “in bello,” Terence is supposed to refer to his friend and patron Scipio; by “in otio,” to Furius Publius; and in the words “in negotio” to Lælius, who was famed for his wisdom.

20 The old men )—Ver. 23. This is similar to the words in the Prologue to the Trinummus of Plautus, l. 16: “But expect nothing about the plot of this Play; the old men who will come hither will disclose the matter to you.”

21 To fetch him )—Ver. 24. “Advorsum ierant.” On the duties of the “adversitores,” see the Notes to Bohn’s Translation of Plautus.

22 Either have taken cold )—Ver. 36. Westerhovius observes that this passage seems to be taken from one in the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, l. 721, et seq. : “Troth, if I had had them, enough anxiety should I have had from my children; I should have been everlastingly adelphiented in mind: but if perchance one had had a fever, I think I should have died. Or if one in liquor had tumbled any where from his horse, I should have been afraid that he had broken his legs or neck on that occasion.” It may be remarked that there is a great resemblance between the characters of Micio here and Periplecomenus in the Miles Gloriosus.

23 To see you well )—Ver. 81. Cooke remarks, that though there are several fine passages in this speech, and good observations on human life, yet it is too long a soliloquy.

24 I was looking for )—Ver. 81. Donatus observes that the Poet has in this place improved upon Menander, in representing Demea as more ready to wrangle with his brother than to return his compliments.

25 Such a son as Æschinus )—Ver. 82. The passage pretty clearly means by “ubi nobis Æschinus sit,” “when I’ve got such a son as Æschinus.” Madame Dacier, however, would translate it: “Ask me—you, in whose house Æschinus is?” thus accusing him of harboring Æschinus; a very forced construction, however.

26 Broken open a door )—Ver. 88. The works of Ovid and Plautus show that it was no uncommon thing for riotous young men to break open doors; Ovid even suggests to the lover the expediency of getting into the house through the windows.

27 Does he feast )—Ver. 117. Colman has the following observation here: “The mild character of Micio is contrasted by Cicero to that of a furious, savage, severe father, as drawn by the famous Comic Poet, Caecilius. Both writers are quoted in the Oration for Caelias, in the composition of which it is plain that the orator kept his eye pretty closely on our Poet. The passages from Caecilius contain all that vehemence and severity, which, as Horace tells us, was accounted the common character of the style of that author.”