 | The Brothers |  |
SCENE V.
Enter MICIO.Micio,
at entering.]
My brother order it, d'ye say? where is he?
—Was this your order, Demea?
'Twas my order;
And by this means, and every other way,
I would unite, serve, cherish, and oblige,
And join the family to our's!
Æsch.
Pray do, Sir!
[to Micio.
Micio.
I don't oppose it.
Dem.
Nay, but 'tis our duty.
First, there's the mother of the bride—
Micio.
What then?
Dem.
Worthy and modest.
Micio.
So they say.
Dem.
In years.
Micio.
True.
Dem.
And so far advanc'd, that she is long
Past child-bearing, a poor lone woman too,
With none to comfort her.
Micio.
What means all this?
Dem.
This woman 'tis your place to marry, brother;
—And your's [to Æsch.]
to bring him to't.
Micio.
I marry her?
Dem.
You.
Micio.
I?
Dem.
Yes, you I say.
Micio.
Ridiculous!
to Æsch.]
If you're a man, he'll do't.
Æsch.
to Micio.]
Dear father!
Micio.
How!
Do you then join him, fool?
Dem.
Nay, don't deny.
It can't be otherwise.
Micio.
You've lost your senses!
Æsch.
Let me prevail upon you, Sir!
Micio.
You're mad.
Away!
Dem.
Oblige your son.
Micio.
Have you your wits?
I a new-married man at sixty-five!
And marry a decrepid poor old woman!
Is that what you advise me?
Æsch.
Do it, Sir!
I've promis'd them.
Micio.
You've promis'd them indeed!
Prithee, boy, promise for yourself.
Dem.
Come, come!
What if he ask'd still more of you?
Micio.
As if
This was not ev'n the utmost.
Dem.
Nay, comply!
Be not obdurate!
Dem.
Come, come, promise him.
Micio.
Won't you desist?
Æsch.
No, not till I prevail.
Micio.
This is mere force.
Dem.
Nay, nay, comply, good Micio!
Micio.
Tho' this appears to me absurd, wrong, foolish,
And quite repugnant to my scheme of life,
Yet, if you're so much bent on't, let it be!
Æsch.
Obliging father, worthy my best love!
Dem.
aside.]
What now?—This answers to my wish.—What more?
—Hegio's their kinsman, [to Micio.]
our relation too,
And very poor. We shou'd do him some service.
Micio.
Do what?
There is a little piece of ground,
Which you let out near town. Let's give it him
To live upon.
Micio.
So little, do you call it?
Dem.
Well, if 'tis large, let's give it. He has been
Father to Her; a good man; our relation.
It will be given worthily. In short,
That saying, Micio, I now make my own,
Which you so lately and so wisely quoted;
“It is the common failing of old men,
“To be too much intent on worldly matters.”
Let us wipe off that stain. The saying's true,
And should be practis'd.
Micio.
Well, well; be it so,
If he requires it.
[pointing to Æsch.
Æsch.
I beseech it, father.
Dem.
Now you're indeed my brother, soul and body.
Micio.
I'm glad to find you think me so.
Dem.
I foil him
At his own weapons.
[aside.
Obliging indeed!
The Poet's conduct here is justly liable to censure: the only consideration that can be urged in his defence is, that he meant to shew the inconveniencies arising from too unbounded a good-nature. But Micio has all along been represented so agreeable, and possessed of so much judgment, good sense, and knowledge of the world, that this last piece of extravagance must shock probability, and offend the delicacy of the spectator.
Patrick.Apud Menandrum senex de nuptiis non gravatur. Ergo Terentius ευρητικως.
Donatus.It is surprising that none of the criticks on this passage have taken notice of this observation of Donatus, especially as our loss of Menander makes it rather curious. It is plain that Terence in the plan of this last act followed Menander: and in the present circumstance though he has adopted the absurdity of marrying Micio to the old lady, yet we learn from Donatus that he rather improved on his original by making Micio express a repugnance to such—a match, which it seems he did not in the play of Menander.
| The Brothers | |