 | The Brothers |  |
SCENE V.
Enter ÆSCHINUS.Æsch.
Where is that rascal?
San.
behind.]
He enquires for me.
Has he brought out the cash with him?—Confusion!
I see none.
Æsch.
to Ctesipho.]
Ha! well met: I long'd to see you.
How is it, Ctesipho? All's safe. Away
With melancholy!
Ctes.
Melancholy! I
Be melancholy, who have such a brother?
Oh my dear Æschinus! thou best of brothers,
—Ah, I'm asham'd to praise you to your face,
Lest it appear to come from flattery,
Rather than gratitude.
351
Away, you fool!
As if we did not know each other, Ctesipho.
It only grieves me, we so lately knew this,
When things were almost come to such a pass,
That all the world, had they desir'd to do it,
Could not assist you.
Ctes.
'Twas my modesty.
Æsch.
Pshaw! it was folly, and not modesty.
For such a trifle, almost fly your country?
Heaven forbid it!—fie, fie, Ctesipho!
Ctes.
I've been to blame.
Æsch.
Well, what says Sannio?
Syrus.
He's pacified at last.
Æsch.
I'll to the Forum,
And pay him off.—You, Ctesipho, go in
To the poor girl.
San.
Now urge the matter, Syrus!
[apart to Syrus.
Syrus.
Let's go; for Sannio wants to be at Cyprus.
San.
Not in such haste: tho' truly I've no cause
To loiter here.
352
You shall be paid: ne'er fear!
San.
But all?
Syrus.
Yes, all: so hold your tongue, and follow!
San.
I will.
[Exit after Æschinus—Syrus going.
Ctes.
Hist! hark ye, Syrus!
Syrus,
turning back.]
Well, what now?
Ctes.
For heaven's sake discharge that scurvy fellow
Immediately; for fear, if further urg'd,
This tale should reach my father's ears: and then
I am undone for ever.
Syrus.
It sha'n't be.
Be of good courage! meanwhile, get you in,
And entertain yourself with Her; and order
The couches to be spread, and all prepar'd.
For, these preliminaries once dispatch'd,
I shall march homewards with provisions.
Ctes.
Do!
And since this business has turn'd out so well,
Let's spend the day in mirth and jollity!
[Exeunt severally.
The character of Sannio is well sustained. He immediately takes to himself the infamous name of rascal, and acknowleges it with joy, thinking he is enquired after, in order to be paid; and droops afterwards, not on account of hard words and ill usage, but only for fear he should not get his money. Donatus.
In Menander the young man was on the point of killing himself. Terence has softened this circumstance.
Donatus.We know that the circumstance of carrying off the Musick-Girl was borrowed from Diphilus: yet it is plain that there was also an intrigue of Ctesipho's in the play of Menander: which gives another proof of the manner in which Terence used the Greek Comedies.
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