 | The Brothers |  |
SCENE IV.
Enter ÆSCHINUS.Æsch.
They murder me with their delays; and while
They lavish all this pomp upon the nuptials,
They waste the live-long day in preparation.
Dem.
How does my son?
Æsch.
My father! Are you here?
Dem.
Ay, by affection, and by blood your father,
Who love you better than my eyes.—But why
Do you not call the bride?
'Tis what I long for:
But wait the musick and the singers.
Dem.
Pshaw!
Will you for once be rul'd by an old fellow?
Æsch.
Well?
Dem.
Ne'er mind singers, company, lights, musick;
But tell them to throw down the garden-wall,
As soon as possible. Convey the bride
That way, and lay both houses into one.
Bring too the mother, and whole family,
Over to us.
Æsch.
I will. Oh charming father!
Dem.
aside.]
Charming! See there! He calls me charming now.
—My brother's house will be a thorough-fare;
Throng'd with whole crouds of people; much expence
Will follow; very much: what's that to me?
I am call'd charming, and get into favour.
—Ho! order Babylo immediately
To pay him Twenty Minæ.—Prithee, Syrus,
Syrus.
What?
Dem.
Down with the wall!— [Exit Syrus.]
—You Geta, go, and bring
The ladies over.
Geta.
Heaven bless you, Demea,
For all your friendship to our family!
[Exit Geta.
Dem.
They're worthy of it.—What say You to this?
[to Æsch.
Æsch.
I think it admirable.
Dem.
'Tis much better,
Than for a poor soul, sick, and lying-in,
To be conducted thro' the street.
Æsch.
I never
Saw any thing concerted better, Sir.
Dem.
'Tis just my way.—But here comes Micio.
The bride was usually thus attended, and Lucian speaks of this retinue, and I believe took the passage from Menander, where he says, Και αυλητριδας, και θορυβον, και υμεναιον αδοντας τινας, &c. “the players on the flute, the company, and singers of the nuptial song.” Dacier.
Jube nunc jam dinumeret illi Babylo viginti minas. All the commentators and translators have been extremely puzzled at this passage. It does not become the last comer to be positive, where so many conjectures have already been offered and rejected. But if one may determine from the context, which is commonly the best way as well as the most natural and obvious, it should seem that Demea means to give an order to one of his servants to give Æschinus Twenty Minæ. He has already determined to be very generous, and another instance of his bounty occurs in the last scene, where he pays down the money for the freedom of Phrygia.—In this very speech he is pleasantly considering within himself the expence, which he disregards so as he can but get into favour. In consequence of which resolution it is natural to suppose that he immediately gives an order for issuing money to defray the charges of pulling down walls, entertaining company, &c.
| The Brothers | |