 | The Brothers |  |
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ACT II.
SCENE I.
Enter ÆSCHINUS, SANNIO, PARMENO, the Musick Girl, and a Croud of People.San.
Help, help, dear countrymen, for heaven's sake!
Assist a miserable harmless man!
Help the distrest!
Æsch.
to the Girl.]
Fear nothing: stand just there!
Why d'ye look back? you're in no danger. Never,
While I am by, shall he lay hands upon you.
San.
Ay, but I will, in spite of all the world.
Æsch.
Rogue as he is, he'll scarce do any thing
To make me cudgel him again to-day.
San.
One word, Sir Æschinus! that you may not
Pretend to ignorance of my profession;
I'm a Procurer.
Æsch.
True.
San.
And in my way
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Hereafter, to absolve yourself, you'll cry,
That you repent of having wrong'd me thus.
I shan't care that for your excuse. [snapping his fingers.]
Be sure,
I'll prosecute my right; nor shall fine words
Atone for evil deeds. I know your way.
—“I'm sorry that I did it: and I'll swear
“You are unworthy of this injury”—
Though all the while I'm us'd most scurvily.
Æsch.
to Par.]
Do you go forwards, Parmeno, and throw
The door wide open.
San.
That sha'n't signify.
Æsch.
to Parmeno.]
Now in with her!
San.
stepping between.]
I'll not allow it.
Æsch.
to Parmeno.]
Here!
Come hither, Parmeno!—you're too far off.—
Stand close to that Pimp's side—There—there—just there!
And now be sure you always keep your eyes
Stedfastly fix'd on mine; and when I wink,
To drive your fist directly in his face.
San.
Ay, if he dare.
Æsch.
to Par.]
Now mind!— [to Sannio.]
Let go the girl!
[Sannio still struggling with the Girl, Æschinus winks, and Parmeno strikes Sannio.
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Oh monstrous!
Æsch.
He shall double it, unless
You mend your manners. [Parmeno strikes Sannio again.
San.
Help, help: murder, murder!
Æsch.
to Parmeno.]
I did not wink: but you had better err
That way than t'other.—Now go in with her.
[Parmeno leads the Girl into Micio's House.
San.
How's this?—Do you reign King here, Æschinus?
Æsch.
Did I reign King, you should be recompens'd
According to your virtues, I assure you.
San.
What business have you with me?
Æsch.
None.
San.
D'ye know
Who I am, Æschinus?
Æsch.
Nor want to know.
San.
Have I touch'd ought of your's, Sir?
Æsch.
If you had,
You should have suffer'd for't.
San.
What greater right
Have you to take away my slave, for whom
I paid my money? answer me!
Æsch.
'Twere best,
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If you continue to be troublesome,
I'll have you dragg'd into the house, and there
Lash'd without mercy.
San.
How, a freeman lash'd!
Æsch.
Ev'n so.
San.
O monstrous tyranny! Is this,
Is this the liberty they boast of here,
Common to all?
Æsch.
If you have brawl'd enough,
Please to indulge me with one word, you Pimp.
San.
Who has brawl'd most, yourself, or I?
Æsch.
Well, well!
No more of that, but to the point!
San.
What point?
What wou'd you have?
Æsch.
Will you allow me then
To speak of what concerns you?
San.
Willingly:
Speak but in justice.
Æsch.
Very fine! a Pimp,
And talks of justice!
San.
Well, I am a Pimp;
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A publick nuisance, I confess it: yet
I never did You wrong.
Æsch.
No, that's to come.
San.
Prithee return to whence you first set out, Sir!
Æsch.
You, plague upon you for it! bought the girl
For twenty Minæ; which sum we will give you.
San.
What if I do not chuse to sell the girl?
Will you oblige me?
Æsch.
No.
San.
I fear'd you would.
Æsch.
She's a free-woman, and should not be sold,
And, as such, by due course of law I claim her.
Now then consider which you like the best,
To take the money, or maintain your action.
Think on this, Pimp, till I come back again.
[Exit.
He says this to Æschinus to intimidate him, alluding to the privileges allowed to the Procurers at Athens, on account of the profit accruing to the republick from their traffick in slaves. It was forbid to abuse them, on pain of disinheritance. Hence in Lucian a young man, complaining of being disinherited by his father, says, τις πορνοβοσκος υβρισται; “what slave-merchant accuses me of having mal-treated him?” Dacier.
This seems to be a translation from Diphilus, from whom this part of the fable was taken.
Ουκ εστιν ουδε τεχνιον εξωλεστερονΤου πορνοβοσκου.
No calling is more baneful and pernicious,
Than that of a Procurer.
Westerhovious.
The Procurer was a common character in the comedy of the antients; but if we may pronounce from their remains, we may venture to say that the character was never so finely painted in any part of their works, as in the following lines of Shakespeare.
Fie, sirrah, a bawd, a wicked bawd!The evil that thou causest to be done,
That is thy means to live. Dost thou but think,
What 'tis to cram a maw, or cloath a back
From such a filthy vice? Say to thyself,
From their abominable and beastly touches
I drink, I eat, array myself, and live.
Canst thou believe thy living is a life,
So stinkingly depending! Go mend, mend.
Measure for Measure.
Ego liberali illam assero causâ manu. Law terms. The defenders of the liberty of another were called Assertores, and the suit commenced on that account called Liberalis causa, an action of freedom. Donatus.
344
SCENE II.
SANNIOalone.
Oh Jupiter! I do not wonder now
That men run mad with injuries. He drags me
Out of my own house; cudgels me most soundly;
And carries off my slave against my will:
And after this ill treatment, he demands
The Musick-Girl to be made over to him,
At the same price I bought her.—He has pour'd
His blows upon me, thick as hail; for which,
Since he deserves so nobly at my hands,
He should no doubt be gratified.—Nay, nay,
Let me but touch the cash, I'm still content.
But this I guess will be the case: as soon
As I shall have agreed to take his price,
He'll produce witnesses immediately,
To prove that I have sold her.—And the money
Will be mere moon-shine.—“By and by.”—“To morrow.”
—Yet I could bear that too, tho' much wrong,
Might I but get the money after all:
For thus it is, friend Sannio; when a man
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And pocket the affronts of young gallants.
—But nobody will pay me, and I draw
Conclusions to no purpose.
SCENE III.
Enter SYRUS.Syrus.
to Æsch. within.]
Say no more!
Let me alone to talk with him! I warrant
I'll make him take the money; ay, and own
That he's well treated too.
[coming forward.
Why how now, Sannio?
What's the dispute I overheard just now
'Twixt you and my young master?
San.
Never was
Any dispute conducted more unfairly,
Than that between us two to-day! Poor I
With being drubb'd, and he with drubbing me,
'Till we were both quite weary.
Syrus.
All your fault.
San.
What could I do?
Syrus.
Give a young man his way.
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What could I give him more, who gave my face?
Syrus.
Nay, but d'ye know my meaning, Sannio?
To seem upon occasion to slight money,
Proves in the end, sometimes, the greatest gain.
Why prithee, blockhead, could you be afraid,
Had you abated somewhat of your right,
And humour'd the young gentleman, he would not
Have paid you back again with interest?
San.
I never purchase hope with ready money.
Syrus.
Away! you'll never thrive. You do not know
How to ensnare men, Sannio.
San.
Well, perhaps,
Your way were best: yet I was ne'er so crafty
But I had rather, when 'twas in my power,
Receive prompt payment.
Syrus.
Pshaw! I know your spirit:
As if you valued Twenty Minæ now,
So you might do a kindness to my master!
—Besides they say you're setting out for Cyprus.
[carelessly.
San.
Ha!
[alarm'd.
Syrus.
—And have bought up a large stock of goods
To carry over thither.—Hir'd a vessel.
That 'tis, I know, which keeps you in suspence:
When you return, I hope, you'll settle this.
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I shall not budge a foot.—Undone, by heav'n!
Urg'd by these hopes they've undertaken this.
[aside.
Syrus.
He fears. I've thrown a small rub in his way.
[aside.
San.
to himself.]
Confusion! they have nick'd me to a hair!
I've bought up sev'ral slaves, and other wares,
For exportation; and to miss my time
At Cyprus-fair would be a heavy loss.
Then if I leave this business broken thus,
All's over with me; and at my return
'Twill come to nothing, grown quite cold and stale.
“—What! come at last?—Why did you stay so long?
“Where have you been?”—that it were better lose it,
Than wait for it so long, or sue for't then.
Syrus,
coming up to him.]
Well, have you calculated what's your due?
San.
Monstrous oppression! Is this honourable,
Or just in Æschinus, to take away
My property by force?
Syrus.
So, so! he comes.
[aside.
—I have but one word more to say to you.
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Than run the risk to get or lose the whole,
E'en halve the matter: and he shall contrive
To scrape together by some means Ten Minæ.
San.
Alas, alas! am I in danger then
Of losing ev'n my very principal?
Shame on him! he has loosen'd all my teeth:
My head is swell'd all over like a mushroom:
And will he cheat me too?—I'm going no where.
Syrus.
Just as you please.—Have you ought else to say,
Before I go?
San.
Yes, one word, prithee Syrus!
However things have happen'd, rather than
I should be driven to commence a suit,
Let him return me my bare due at least;
The sum she cost me, Syrus.—I'm convinc'd
You've had no tokens of my friendship yet;
But you shall find I will not be ungrateful.
Syrus.
I'll do my best. But I see Ctesipho.
He is rejoic'd about his mistress.
San.
Say,
Will you remember me?
Syrus.
Hold, hold a little!
[Syrus and Sannio retire.
The merchants used to buy up slaves in all parts of Greece, to sell them at Cyprus, where a celebrated fair was kept for that purpose. Dacier.
Jamne enumerasti id, quod ad te rediturum putes? I have translated these words according to the interpretation of Donatus. Madam Dacier puts another sense upon them, and thinks they rather mean Sannio's calculation of his profits at Cyprus. The subsequent conversation between Syrus and Sannio inclined me rather to adopt the former opinion.
Syrus knew very well that Æschinus was ready to pay the whole, but offers Sannio half, that he might be glad to take his bare principal, and think himself well off into the bargain. Donatus.
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SCENE IV.
Enter CTESIPHO at another part of the Stage.Ctes.
Favours are welcome in the hour of need
From any hand; but doubly welcome, when
Conferr'd by those, from whom we most expect them.
O brother, brother, how shall I applaud thee?
Ne'er can I rise to such a height of praise
But your deservings will out-top me still:
For in this point I am supremely blest,
That none can boast so excellent a brother,
So rich in all good qualities, as I.
Syrus,
coming forward.]
O Ctesipho!
Ctes.
turning round.]
O Syrus! where's my brother?
Syrus.
At home, where he expects you.
Ctes.
Ha! [joyfully.]
Syrus.
What now?
Ctes.
What now!—By his assistance I live, Syrus.
Ah, he's a friend indeed! who disregarding
All his own interests for my advantage,
The scandal, infamy, intrigue, and blame,
All due to me, has drawn upon himself!
350
Creaks on the hinges.
[offering to go off.
Syrus.
Hold! 'tis Æschinus.
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.
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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.
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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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