(DEMEA.) DEMEA. Nunquam ita quisquam bene subducta ratione ad vitam fuit Quin res, aetas, usus semper aliquid apportet novi, Aliquid moneat; ut illa quae te scire credas nescias, Et quae tibi putaris prima in experiendo repudies: Quod nunc mihi evenit; nam ego vitam duram quam vixi usque adhuc Prope iam excurso spatio mitto. Id quamobrem? Re ipsa repperi Facilitate nihil esse homini melius neque clementia. Id esse verum ex me atque ex fratre cuivis facile est noscere. Ille suam semper egit vitam in otio, in conviviis, Clemens, placidus, nulli laedere os, arridere omnibus: Sibi vixit; sibi sumtum fecit: omnes bene dicunt, amant. Ego ille agrestis, saevus, tristis, parcus, truculentus, tenax, Duxi uxorem: quam ibi miseriam vidi! Nati filii, Alia cura. Porro autem illis dum studeo ut quam plurimum Facerem, contrivi in quaerendo vitam atque aetatem meam. Nunc exacta aetate hoc fructi pro labore ab his fero, Odium. Ille alter sine labore patria potitur commoda: Illum amant, me fugitant: illi credunt consilia omnia; Illum diligunt; apud illum sunt ambo: ego desertus sum. Illum ut vivat optant; meam autem mortem exspectant. Scilicet Ita eos meo labore eductos maximo hic fecit suos Paulo sumptu: miseriam omnem ego capio; hic potitur gaudia. Age, age, nunc iam experiamur porro contra quid ego possiem Blande dicere, aut benigne facere, quando eo provocat. Ego quoque a meis me amari et magni pendi postulo: Si id fit dando atque obsequendo, non posteriores feram. Deerit. Id mea minime refert qui sum natu maximus.

demeo demeo numquam ita quisquam bene subduco ratio ad vita sum quin res aetas utor semper aliquis apporto nosco aliquis moneo ut ille qui tu scio credo nescio et qui tu putaris primus in experior repudio qui nunc ego evenio nam ego vita durus quam vivo usque adhuc prope iam excurso spatium mitto is quamobrem res ipse reperio facilitas nihil sum homo bonus neque clemens is sum verus ex ego atque ex frater quivis facilis sum nosco ille suus semper ago vita in otium in convivium clemens placidus nullus laedo os arrideo omnis sui vivo sui sumtum facio omnis bene dico amo ego ille agrestis saevus tristis parcus truculentus tenax duco uxor quam ibi miseria video nascor filius alius cura porro autem ille dum studeo ut quam multus facio contero in quaero vita atque aetas meus nunc exigo aetas hic fruor pro labor ab hic fero odium ille alter sine labor patria potio commodus ille amo ego fugito ille credo consilium omnis ille diligo apud ille sum ambo ego desero sum ille ut vivo opto meus autem mors exspecto scilicet ita is meus labor educo maximus hic facio suus paulus sumo miseria omnis ego capio hic potio gaudium ago ago nunc iam experior porro contra quis ego possiem blandus dico aut benignus facio quando is provoco ego quoque ab meus ego amo et magnus pendo postulo si is fio do atque obsequor non posterus fero desum is meus paruus refero qui sum natus magnus


(GETA. DEMEA.) GETA Hera, ego huc ad hos provisam quam mox virginem Arcessant: sed eccum Demeam. Salvus sies. DEMEA O, qui vocare? GETA Geta. DEMEA Geta, hominem maximi Preti te esse hodie animo iudicavi meo: Nam is mihi profecto est servus spectatus satis Cui dominus curae est, ita uti tibi sensi, Geta: Et tibi ob eam rem, si quid usus venerit, Libens bene faxim. Meditor esse affabilis; Et bene procedit. GETA Bonus es quum hace existimas. DEMEA Paulatim plebem primulum facio meam.

geta demeo geta hera ego huc ad hic provideo quam mox virgo arcesso sed ecce demea salvus sum demeo o qui vocaris geta geta demeo geta homo magnus pretium tu sum hodie animus judico meus nam is ego profecto sum servus specto satis qui dominus cura sum ita uti tu sentio geta et tu ob is res si quis utor venio libet bene facio meditor sum affabilis et bene procedo geta bonus sum qui hace existimo demeo paulatim plebs primulis facio meus


(SANNIO. AESCHINUS. PARMENO.) SANNIO Obsecro, populares, ferte misero atque innocenti auxilium: Subvenite inopi. AESCHINUS Otiose nunc iam ilico hic consiste. Quid respectas? nihil pericli est: nunquam dum ego adero hic te tanget. SANNIO Ego istam invitis omnibus— AESCHINUS Quamquam est scelestus non committet hodie unquam iterum ut vapulet. SANNIO Aeschine audi: ne te ignarum fuisse dicas meorum morum; Leno ego sum. AESCHINUS Scio. SANNIO At ita ut usquam fuit fide quisquam optima. Tu quod te posterius purges hanc iniuriam mihi nolle Factam esse huius non faciam: crede hoc; ego meum ius persequar; Neque tu verbis solves unquam quod mihi re male feceris. Novi ego vestra haec: Nollem factum; iusiurandum dabitur te esse Indignum iniuria hac; indignis quum egomet sim acceptus modis. AESCHINUS Abi prae strenue ac fores aperi. SANNIO Ceterum hoc nihil facis. AESCHINUS I intro iam nunc. SANNIO At enim non sinam. AESCHINUS Accede illuc Parmeno; Nimium istoc abisti: hic propter hunc adsiste. Hem, sic volo. Cave nunc iam oculos a meis oculis quoquam demoveas tuos: Ne mora sit si innuerim quin pugnus continuo in mala haereat. SANNIO Istuc volo ergo ipsum experiri. AESCHINUS Hem, serva: omitte mulierem. SANNIO O facinus indignum! AESCHINUS Geminabit nisi caves. SANNIO Hei misero mihi! AESCHINUS Non innueram: verum in istam partem potius peccato tamen. I nunc iam. SANNIO Quid hoc rei est! regnumne Aeschine hic tu possides? AESCHINUS Si possiderem ornatus esses ex tuis virtutibus. SANNIO Quid tibi rei mecum est? AESCHINUS Nihil. SANNIO Quid? nostin qui sim? AESCHINUS Non desidero. SANNIO Tetigin tui quicquam? AESCHINUS Si attigisses ferres infortunium. SANNIO Qui tibi magis licet meam habere pro qua ego argentum dedi? Responde. AESCHINUS Ante aedes non fecisse erit melius hic convicium; Nam si molestus pergis esse iam intro abripiere atque ibi Usque ad necem operiere loris. SANNIO Loris liber? AESCHINUS Sic erit. SANNIO O hominem impurum! hicine libertatem aiunt aequam esse omnibus? AESCHINUS Si satis iam debacchatus es leno audi si vis nunc iam. SANNIO Egon debacchatus sum autem, an tu in me? AESCHINUS Mitte ista, atque ad rem redi. SANNIO Quam rem? quo redeam? AESCHINUS Iamne me vis dicere id quod ad te attinet? SANNIO Cupio; aequi modo aliquid. AESCHINUS Vah! leno iniqua me non vult loqui. SANNIO Leno sum, fateor, pernicies communis adolescentium; Periurus, pestis; tamen tibi a me nulla orta est iniuria. AESCHINUS Nam hercle etiam hoc restat. SANNIO Illuc quaeso redi quo coepisti, Aeschine. AESCHINUS Minis viginti tu illam emisti; quae res tibi vertat male. Argenti tantum dabitur. SANNIO Quid si ego tibi illam nolo vendere, Coges me? AESCHINUS Minime. SANNIO Namque id metui. AESCHINUS Neque vendendam censeo, Quae libera est; nam ego liberali illam assero causa manu. Nunc vide utrum vis; argentum accipere, an causam meditari tari tuam? Delibera hoc dum ego redeo leno. SANNIO Pro supreme Iupiter! Minime miror qui insanire occipiunt ex iniuria. Domo me eripuit; verberavit; me invito abduxit meam: Homini misero plus quingentos colaphos infregit mihi. Ob malefacta haec tantidem emtam postulat sibi tradier. Verum enim, quando bene promeruit, fiat: suum ius postulat. Age iam cupio, si modo argentum reddat. Sed ego hoc hariolor; Ubi me dixero dare tanti, testes faciet ilico Vendidisse me: de argento somnium: mox; Cras redi. Id quoque possum ferre si modo reddat; quanquam iniurium est. Verum cogito id quod res est: quando eum quaestum occeperis, Accipienda et mussitanda iniuria adolescentium est. Sed nemo dabit: frustra has egomet mecum rationes puto.

sannio aeschinus parmeno sannio obsecro popularis fero mitto atque innocens auxilium subvenio inops aeschinus otiosus nunc iam ilico hic consisto quis respicio nihil periculum sum numquam dum ego adsum hic tu tango sannio ego iste invitus omnis aeschinus quamquam sum scelestus non committo hodie umquam iterum ut vapulo sannio aeschines audio ne tu ignarus sum dico meus mos leno ego sum aeschinus scio sannio at ita ut usquam sum fides quisquam bonus tu qui tu posterus purgo hic iniuria ego nolo facio sum hic non facio credo hic ego meus ius persequor neque tu verbum solvo umquam qui ego res malus facio novius ego vester hic nolo facio iusiurandum do tu sum indignus iniuria hic indignus qui nos sum accipio modus aeschinus abeo prae strenuus atque foris aperio sannio ceterum hic nihil facio aeschinus eo intro iam nunc sannio at enim non sino aeschinus accedo illic parmeno nimium istoc abeo hic propter hic assisto hem sic volo caveo nunc iam oculus ab meus oculus quoquam demoveo tuus ne mora sum si innuo quin pugnus continuo in malus haereo sannio iste volo ergo ipse experior aeschinus hem servo omitto mulier sannio o facinus indignus aeschinus gemino nisi caveo sannio hei mitto ego aeschinus non innuo verus in iste pars potis pecco tamen eo nunc iam sannio quis hic res sum regnum aeschines hic tu possideo aeschinus si possideo orno sum ex tuus virtus sannio quis tu res ego sum aeschinus nihil sannio quis nosco qui sum aeschinus non desidero sannio tango tuus quisquam aeschinus si attingo fero infortunium sannio qui tu magis licet meus habeo pro qui ego argentum do respondeo aeschinus ante aedes non facio sum bonus hic convicium nam si molestus pergo sum iam intro abripio atque ibi usque ad nex operio lorus sannio lorus liber aeschinus sic sum sannio o homo impurus hic libertas aio aequus sum omnis aeschinus si satis iam debacchor sum leno audio si volo nunc iam sannio ego debacchor sum autem an tu in ego aeschinus mitto iste atque ad res redeo sannio quam res quo redeo aeschinus jam ego volo dico is qui ad tu attineo sannio cupio aequum modo aliquis aeschinus vah leno iniquus ego non volo loquor sannio leno sum fateor pernicies communis adolesco perjurus pestis tamen tu ab ego nullus orior sum iniuria aeschinus nam hercules etiam hic resto sannio illic quaeso redeo quo coepio aeschines aeschinus minae viginti tu ille emo qui res tu verto malus argentum tantus do sannio quis si ego tu ille nolo vendo cogo ego aeschinus paruus sannio namque is metuo aeschinus neque vendo censeo qui liber sum nam ego liberal ille assero causa manus nunc video utrum volo argentum accipio an causa meditaris taris tuus delibero hic dum ego redeo leno sannio pro superus iupiter paruus miro qui insanio occipio ex iniuria domus ego eripio verbero ego invito abduco meus homo mitto multus quingenti colaphus infringo ego ob malefacio hic tantus emtam postulo sui trado verus enim quando bene promereo fio suus ius postulo ago iam cupio si modo argentum reddo sed ego hic hariolor ubius ego dico do tantus testis facio ilico vendo ego de argentum somnium mox creo redeo is quoque possum fero si modo reddo quamquam injurius sum verus cogo is qui res sum quando is quaestus occipio accipio et mussito iniuria adolesco sum sed nemo do frustra hic nos ego ratio puto


Here the action of the play commences. Demea coming into town hears of this new outrage of Aeschinus’, and accuses his brother Micio of being the cause of all this excess. It was his indulgence that had made Aeschinus so dissolute. How different was the conduct of his brother Ctesipho who had been brought up strictly at home in the country! Micio in return justifies his mode of education. Meanwhile Aeschinus is busied, with the assistance of his slave Parmeno, in arranging matters with Sannio, who blusters loudly at first, but finds at last that the best plan is to pocket his affront and trust to the young men to pay him, for he will lose more by waiting to prosecute the affair, as he is on the eve of a voyage to Cyprus, than if he abandons the slave altogether. The news of Aeschinus’ prank had spread over the city, and it was now carried to Sostrata his destined mother-in-law by Geta her slave, who had witnessed the whole affair. Sostrata sends her trusty Geta to Hegio, an old friend of her late husband Simulus, who will stand by her, and see that her daughter has justice done her. Demea in the mean time is in consternation, for he has heard that Ctesipho was with Aeschinus when this music girl was carried off; but Syrus, one of Micio’s slaves, contrives, with great skill, to make the fact increase his good opinion of his son; for he represents Ctesipho to have taken part in the affair only to blame his brother’s dissolute conduct, and says that as soon as the matter was over he had returned to the country to his usual work. Demea is greatly affected to find that he has one son who is a credit to his family, and sets off for his farm. On his way he meets Hegio, from whom he learns the circumstances of Aeschinus’ connexion with Pamphila; and at the same time he finds from one of his farm servants that Ctesipho has never been to the farm at all, as Syrus had pretended. These news send him back to Micio in a rage; but he is again met with a new fiction by Syrus, who revenges himself on him by sending him on a fool’s errand over the whole town to look for his brother. Micio meanwhile has been with Hegio to Sostrata and Pamphila, and has comforted them by giving his consent to the marriage of the young lady and Aeschinus. Demea now returns from his fruitless search after his brother, and there is a general disturbance, particularly when one of the slaves accidentally betrays the fact of Ctesipho’s being in Micio’s house, where his father finds him with the music girl. After some more discussions between Demea and Micio, the former suddenly determines to change his demeanour; and to the surprise of every one whom he meets, and not a little to his own, he acts the courteous and complaisant man. He falls in with all their humours, and promotes the happiness of all parties. Pamphila is married to Aeschinus; Sannio is paid; Micio is made to marry Sostrata; Hegio is provided for; and Syrus and his wife are freed in consideration of the great services which the cunning slave had rendered to morality. The play concludes with a speech in which Demea explains the meaning of his late conduct, and gives his hearers a little wholesome advice for the future.

here thos actio of thos play commences demeo coming into town hears of this new outrage of aeschinus and accuso hic brother micio of being thos cause of all this excess eo was hic indulgence that had made aeschinus so dissolvo how differo was thos conduct of hic brother ctesipho who had been brought up strictly at home in thos country micio in return justifies hic modus of education meanwhilis aeschinus is busied with thos assistance of hic slave parmeno in arranging matters with sannio who blusters loudly at first but finds at last that thos best plan is to pocket hic affront and trust to thos young ego to pay him for he will lose mos by waiting to prosecute thos affair as he is os thos ex of ab voyage to cyprus than if he abandons thos slave altogether thos news of aeschinus prank had spread over thos city and eo was now carried to sostrata hic destined mother in law by geta her slave who had witnessed thos whole affair sostrata sends her trusty geta to hegio an old friend of her latus husband simulus who will stand by her and see that her daughter hic justice donec her demeo in thos meo timeo is in consternation for he hic heard that ctesipho was with aeschinus when this music girl was carried off but syrus o of micio senatus slaves contrives with great skill to make thos fact increase hic good opinio of hic son for he represents ctesipho to ha taken part in thos affair only to blame hic brother senatus dissolvo conduct and says that as soon as thos matter was over he had returned to thos country to hic usual work demeo is greatly affected to find that he hic o son who is ab credo to hic family and sets off for hic farm os hic way he meets hegio from whom he learns thos circumstances of aeschinus connexion with pamphila and at thos same timeo he finds from o of hic farm servants that ctesipho hic never been to thos farm at all as syrus had pretended thesis news send him back to micio in ab rage but he is again met with ab new fiction by syrus who revenges himself os him by sending him os ab fool senatus errand over thos whole town to look for hic brother micio meanwhilis hic been with hegio to sostrata and pamphila and hic comforted them by giving hic consent to thos marriage of thos young lady and aeschinus demeo now returns from hic fruitless search after hic brother and there is ab general disturbance particularly when o of thos slaves accidentally betrays thos fact of ctesipho senatus being in micio senatus house where hic father finds him with thos music girl after some mos discussions between demeo and micio thos former suddenly determines to change hic demeanour and to thos surprise of every o whom he meets and not ab little to hic own he acts thos courteous and complaisant man he falls in with all their humours and promotes thos happiness of all parties pamphila is married to aeschinus sannio is paid micio is made to marry sostrata hegio is provided for and syrus and hic wife aris freed in consideration of thos great services which thos cunning slave had rendered to morality thos play concludo with ab speech in which demeo explains thos meaning of hic latus conduct and gives hic hearers ab little wholesome advice for thos sum


FABULAE INTERLOCUTORES. AESCHINUS, adolescens. CANTHARA, nutrix Pamphilae. CTESIPHO, adolescens, frater Aeschini. DROMO, servus Micionis. DEMEA, senex, frater Micionis, pater Aeschini et Ctesiphonis. GETA, servus Sostratae. HEGIO, senex, propinquus Pamphilae. MICIO, senex, frater Demeae, pater adoptivus Aeschini. PAMPHILA, filia Sostratae, amica Aeschini. SANNIO,leno. SOSTRATA, mater Pamphilae. SYRUS, servus Aeschini.

fabula interlocutor aeschinus adolesco canthara nutrix pamphilae ctesipho adolesco frater aeschines dromos servus micio demeo senex frater micio pater aeschines et ctesiphonis geta servus sostratae hegio senex propinquus pamphilae micio senex frater demea pater adoptivus aeschines pamphila filia sostratae amicus aeschines sannio leno sostrata mater pamphilae syrus servus aeschines