ACTUS II-SCENA VI. DAVUS, SIMO. HIC nunc me credit aliquam sibi fallaciam S. Quid Davus narrat? D. Æque quidquam nunc quidem. 5 D. Præter spem evenit: sentio: hoc male habet virum. D. Nihil hercle: aut, si adeo, bidui est, aut tridui, 10 Hæc sollicitudo: nosti; deinde desinet: DAVUS quiets all Simo's suspicions relative to Pamphilus. 1. IAMBIC TRIMETERS.-Davus seems to speak in such a manner that no one may hear him: but he takes care to be heard by Simo. D. 2. hic] Here in the street, instead of following Pamphilus who was ordered into the house, ii. 5. 13. 3. Quid Davus narrat ?] ¶ Spoken in a conciliatory manner, Simo having no cause to be displeased, as he has just gained what he professed to wish for, and is anxious probably to do away the effect of his angry words to him, i. 2. 28. This question does not imply that Simo had overheard lines 1, 2. but serves merely to open the conversation; "what have you got to tell me?" Æque quidquam nunc quidem.] i. e. nihil. The expression is elliptical, and thus explained by Perizonius, "6 'nunc quidem æque quicquam narro ac narro tunc cum nihil narro." R. D. TOr," any thing now indeed alike as before" when you came upon me by surprize, and asked, " Quid ais ?" to which I answered, Qua de re ?" i. 2. 13. Hence Simo, recollecting that the purport of Davus' answer then was to give him no satisfaction, asks "Nihilne ?"-Explain, however, "any thing alike," i. e. what you please,-I am at present indifferent as to what I shall say.-This last meaning, though novel, is not my own. 4. exspectabam] Exspectamus with respect both to good and bad; speramus with respect to good. D. Exspectamus as to things at a distance; speramus as to things at hand; whence he who exspectat, is considered more covetous, than he who sperat. D. on Adel. i. 2. 29. Simo was naturally waiting for Davus to say something, considering the nature of his last interview with him (Act i. Sc. 2.) and the unexpected consent of Pamphilus. 5. hoc male habet] i. e. hoc molestum est; as v. 4. 37. and Hec. iv. 2. 30. virum.] This word implies insult, when spoken in irony; compliment, otherwise. D. 6. Poti'ne es] ¶ Potisne es, i. e. potesne. The composition of potis-sum is easily to be traced through all parts of possum. Posse poteram, potui, potero, potuero, &c. for, potis-esse, eram, fui, ero, fuero, &c. 7. quippiam] For quidpiam ; used adverbially, qu. secundum quidpiam. See iv. 1. 18. 8. hospital consuetudinem?] Not meretricis amorem. He thus extenuates, that Davus may venture to tell the worst. D. hospitaï.] For hospita. This diæresis of a into ai occurs in Lucretius and Virgil, and occasionally in almost all poets. H. si 9. Nihil] ¶ For non; qu. secundum nihil; analogous to the use of quippiam, above. adeo,] ¶ Scil. res rediit (as Heaut. v. 2. 27.) or something similar: "If the matter has gone so far as that-if such be the case. 10. nosti;] For novisti, from novi used for the present time. The perfects of such verbs are equivalent to ordinary presents; and their pluperfects to ordinary perfects. This, however, is not always the case with novi, inasmuch as the regular nosco is not obsolete. deinde] T More than tum; for it implies, "then and thenceforward." Etenim ipsus secum eam rem reputavit via. S. Laudo. D. Dum licitum est ei, dumque ætas tulit, 15 Nunc uxore opus est; animum ad uxorem appulit. D. Nil propter hanc rem: sed est, quod succenset tibi. D. Ait nimium parce facere sumptum. S. Mene? D. Te. 20 Vix, inquit, drachmis est opsonatus decem. Num filio videtur uxorem dare? Quem, inquit, ad cœnam vocabo meorum æqualium 11. Etenim, &c.] Bentley reads: "Etenim ipsus eam rem recta reputavit via." Other wise recta is to be implied to via. See i. 2. 19. reputavit] Putamus, things present; reputamus, things past. D. on Eun. iv. 2. 48. See i. 1. 86. Tu quoque perparce nimium. non laudo. S. Tace. 25 D. Commovi. S. Ego, istæc recte ut fiant, videro. See Pitman, Soph. Ajax, 282. Quid est?] Bentley reads "Quid id est ?” and Nil. 19. nimium parce] The bride having entered her husband's house, the entire day was spent in sacrifices, revelling, and dancing. The Licinian law, while it had permitted the expenditure of 100 asses on any of certain particular days, allowed 200 for nuptials. The Julian law restricted the expenses of ordinary days to 200 asses; those of the Calends, Nones, and Ides, and some other festivals to 300; but allowed 100,000 sestertia on nuptial days and repotia. Ho. 12. Dum licitum est] Scil. per te; i. e. while you permitted. He admirably uses the language which Simo himself had employed: "Dum tempus ad eam rem tulit." The ancients said, placitum and puditum; we, placuit, puduit. D. ei,] It is well known, that in ei and rei, even in Lucretius, the first syllable is lengthened; but then they usually wrote them with double i, eii, reii. H. tulit,] See i. 2. 17. 14. virum fortem] ¶"A man of respectability." The use of fortis in the sense of frugi, bonus, perhaps arose from the fact that integrity and moral excellences are calculated to inspire fortitude and courage. Thus Horace, Od. i. 22. enlarges on the imperturbable and dauntless spirit of the man who is "Integer vitæ, scelerisque purus." 15. appulit.] As if from swelling waves and a boisterous tide; for love experiences such changes in its seasons. D. 21. Num filio] Does he seem like a person preparing for his son's marriage? 23. Potissimum] Scil. in dignity; for potis, makes potior, potissimus. D. ¶ Potissimum is here an adverb, meaning especially, and must be connected with quem, as it is not used in reference to time. Comp. below, v. 5. 6. where the word is undoubtedly the adverb. hic] Scil. where the young man is not present. D. ¶ Rather, "in this Quidnam hoc rei est? quid hic vult veterator sibi? ITA pol quidem res est, ut dixti, Lesbia: Fidelem haud ferme mulieri invenias virum. S. Ab Andria est ancilla hæc. quid narras? D. Ita est. S. Hem! 5 D. Utinam aut hic surdus, aut hæc muta facta sit. M. Nam, quod peperisset, jussit tolli. S. O Jupiter! Quid ego audio? actum est, si quidem hæc vera prædicat. L. Bonum ingenium narras adolescentis. M. Optimum. Sed sequere me intro, ne in mora illi sis. L. Sequor. 10 D. Quod remedium nunc huic malo inveniam? S. Quid hoc? Adeone est demens? ex peregrina? jam scio: ah! 26. Quidnam hoc rei est?] Either reflecting on what Davus has just said; or, seeing the women who are coming on the stage. D. Adopt the former. veterator.] Novitia mancipia were those who had not yet served a year, and were rude and simple; but veterana were those who had served for a longer period in the city, and were thus become crafty and cunning. Hence an old and experienced practitioner in knavery was called veterator, παλαιομώλωψ, παλίντριψ, τριβακὸς, ἀπατέων. L. 27. Illic] In that quarter; namely, in Davus. huic rei caput.] Adel. iv. 2. 29. "te esse huic rei caput." Virg. Æn. xi. 361. "caput horum et causa malorum." L. Simo overhears Mysis and Lesbia, speaking of the promise of Pamphilus to rear Glycerium's child; but discredits what he hears, imagining, to the relief of Davus, that their words are the result of a scheme of his slave to deter him, and that Glycerium's confinement is but a farce. 1. IAMBIC TRIMETERS. 2. ferme] For facile. D. ¶ Its proper acceptation is fere, as Dacier explains it. "You can almost not find;" equivalent to "you can rarely find." So Liv. xxii. 9. "Id non ferme decernitur, nisi cum tetra prodigia nunciata sunt." invenias] See i. 19. 3. D 3. Ab Andria ancilla] i, e. Andriæ ancilla; or, ex Andriæ ædibus ancilla; as iv. 1. 58. "a Glycerio ostium." R. D. ¶ Donatus explains "Ab Andria est by, "Andriæ favet;" not so well. quid narras?] Let this be spoken by Davus, not interrogating, but wondering, and, as it were, denying, or acquiescing reluctantly; and let "ita est" be the words of Simo, confirming what he had said. B. 4. Hem!] Surprized at what he hears. 5. Utinam] ¶ This dialogue between Mysis and Lesbia disconcerts Davus, fearing that Simo, when he hears it, will mistrust Pamphilus' profession of consent to the marriage, which he made at his instigation. Hic is Simo; hæc, Mysis. 7. actum est,] Derived from civil law, in which there is a regulation, that no one bring anew, before the judges, a cause already pleaded (actum). So, Phorm. "actum, aiunt, ne agas." D. prædicat.] ¶ i. e. dicit, narrat. In this sense it is frequent with comic writers. Vix tandem sensi stolidus. D. Quid hic sensisse ait? Me audivit stare, approperat. non sat commode Divisa sunt temporibus tibi, Dave, hæc. D. Mihin'? S. Num immemor es discipuli? D. Ego quid narres nescio. 20 S. Hicine, me si imparatum in veris nuptiis Adortus esset, quos mihi ludos redderet? tolli? See i. 1. 119. peregrina?] An old 13. primum affertur jam mihi] ¶ This present (jam) stratagem of Davus is, at all events, the first played upon me ;-as I am so lucky as to have detected it, I trust it shall be the last..—“ Is now for the first time presented to my view," might suggest itself as the meaning: but affertur seems equivalent to portare, ii. 6. 2. "sibi fallaciam portare.' ab hoc fallacia.] ¶ I prefer to connect "ab hoc fallacia;" not "affertur ab hoc." Compare i. 1. 129. 14. Hanc, &c.] Simo, from the contradictory statements which he has heard; from Davus in last scene, and from Mysis here; must lay one or other down as falsifying, and would naturally attribute the deceit in either case to Davus' machinations. The words of Mysis, which are true, he feels assured are false; while he continues to suspect Davus' sincerity in appearing favourable to the match (ii. 6. 9—15). simulant] ¶ Scil. Davus, Mysis, Lesbia. Chremetem absterreant.] T Scil. quo minus filiam suam det Pamphilo. 15. Juno Lucina,] Juno had two powers; -that whereby she was Pronuba, and presided over nuptials; and that whereby she was Lucina, and presided over parturition, giving light (lucem) to the new-born. E. Usually worshipped by the Greeks in trivia, before the doors, her temple being called izarnosov. ME. Lucina, as we learn from Horace, should, strictly, be invoked thrice. BA. Spoken behind the scenes. Hor. Ep. ad Pis.nec tamen intus Digna geri promes in scenam. " L. 17. non sat commode] As if it had been arranged by a scheme of Davus, that as soon as Simo might stand before the door, Glyce rium should that moment cry out. E. As all things should be done at their proper time and opportunity, Græcè xaigos RI. Metaphor from the drama, where each part of the piece should have its proper place in the Acts. DA. 18. Mihine?] Feigning not to understand. 19. Num immemor es discipuli ?] For he had said above, i. 2. 21. “si quis magistrum ceperit ad eam rem improbum." E. ¶ Al. "Num immemores discipuli; Have your disciples forgotten their parts ?" This I prefer. We can thus follow up the idea given on 17. by Dacier:-discipuli ?] The actors in a play; the magister or doctor is the poet. The actors here are Mysis, Lesbia, and Glycerium; Davus is the magister. Da. 20. Hicine, &c.] ¶ If the nuptials had been really arranged for this day, and Davus had then assailed me, as he has done now, how completely would my designs be frustrated! But now, as I only pretended a marriage not likely to take place, this annoyance is not so great; "nihil obsunt doli.” 21. Adortus esset,] Adorior, meaning "to undertake a thing," makes adortus; meaning "to begin to speak," it makes adorsus. However, they are used indiscriminately. E. quos mihi ludos redderet?] Read 66 66 quos me;" as Plautus often has "ludos me facitis." But, "mihi ludos reddere" does not appear to me Latin. B. ¶ So, in Plautus, "ludos operam facere," as Dol. observes, is operam perdere." "Mihi ludos reddere" should mean "to afford sport to me;" ludos reddere," "to make me sport," "to convert me into sport;" evidently the meaning to be conveyed here. me 22. Nunc] As I am now circumstanced. periclo] ¶ For I can punish him. in portu navigo.] Virg. Æn. vii. 598. "Nunc mihi parta quies, omnisque in limine portus." Equivalent to "in tranquillo, in vado, in tuto," &c. FAR. My vessel is in harbour, reckless of the capricious gale. The Athe ACTUS III. SCENA II. LESBIA, SIMO, DAVUS. ADHUC, Archilis, quæ adsolent, quæque oportet, Signa esse ad salutem, omnia huic esse video. Nunc primum fac, istæc ut lavet: post deinde, Quod jussi ei dare bibere, et quantum imperavi, 5 Date: mox ego huc revertar. Per, ecastor, scitus puer est natus Pamphilo. Deos quæso, ut sit superstes, quandoquidem ipse est ingenio Cumque huic veritus est optimæ adolescenti facere injuriam. 10 S. Non imperabat coram, quid opus facto esset puerperæ : nians were particularly partial to metaphors taken from navigation, on account of the superiority which they had attained in maritime affairs. Comp. Soph. Antig. 162. 190. Sept. Theb. 2. and Ed. Tyr. 24. SIMO is confirmed in the same idea (see Argument of last scene) and discusses the matter with Davus, who finally tells him that Pamphilus has begun to withdraw his affections from Glycerium, and is ready to marry. 1. BACCHIAC TETRAMETERS. — oportet,] The impersonal verb;-signa, the consequent to quæ, is subject to esse; and signa, the antecedent, is understood to omnia. In the English version, on the contrary, the antecedent is expressed and the consequent omitted. See above, prol. 3. Al. oportent, making signa its subject. 2. Signa ad salutem,] i. e. signa salutaria, quæ salutem promittant. Heaut. i. 2. 33. "ea sunt ad virtutem omnia:" ad virtutem apta, idonea. R. D. esse] ¶ For adesse, as εἶναι frequently for παρεῖναι. 3. deinde,] ¶ Next in due order. 4. dare] Al. dari, preferred by B. dare bibere,] For dare potum; the infinitive for the substantive. R. D. There are numerous instances, as well as this, in Terence and Plautus, of the e in dare being long. Heaut. iv. 4. 2. Ad. iii. 2. 13. Phorm. ii. 1. 31. H. ¶ Lucian, Cyclops and Neptune: δίδωσί μοι πιεῖν φαρμακόν τι ἐγχέας. imperavi,] Physicians are properly said, jubere and imperare, when they prescribe. R. D. 7. IAMBIC TETRAMETERS. -ut sit superstes:] Superstes here means salvus. Elsewhere, superstites are old persons. Whence superstitiosi are those who too much fear the gods; this being a sign of dotage. D. This custom of blessing new-born infants is imitated by Christians also, Luke, chap. i. WEITZ. It was the wish of devout parents that their good children might survive them. Heaut. v. 4. 7. ita mihi atque huic sis superstes." R. D. ipse] ¶ i. e. pater, scil. Pamphilus. This word often refers emphatically to the master of a family, or head of a house. Hor. "pater ipse domus." ingenio bono;] ¶ Scil. indutus. 9. Vel] For etiam. Virg. Ecl. viii. 59. "Carmina vel coelo possunt deducere lunam." Æn. xi. 259. “vel Priamo miseranda manus." D. ¶ Even this treacherous and palpable ("tam aperte," 13.) machination is not too extravagant to arise from you; such is your effrontery. He alludes to Lesbia calling out from the street, on such a subject, to Archilis, within. 10. coram,] Coram refers to some certain persons: palam, to all generally. D. In the presence of the women, who are within. Comp. v. 3. 29. opus facto] Opus in the sense of necessarium; see ii. 1. 37. Facto for factu; see Heaut. i. 1. 28. |