Читать книгу Yale Classics - Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 55

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Enter Æschinus, from the house of Micio.

Æsch. (to himself.) They really are killing me while too intent on performing the nuptials with all ceremony; the whole day is being wasted in their preparations.

Dem. Æschinus! how goes it?

Æsch. Ha, my father! are you here?

Dem. Your father, indeed, both by affection and by nature; as I love you more than my very eyes; but why don’t you send for your wife?

Æsch. So I wish to do; but I am waiting for the music-girl90 and people to sing the nuptial song.

Dem. Come now, are you willing to listen to an old fellow like me?

Æsch. What is it?

Dem. Let those things alone, the nuptial song, the crowds, the torches,91 and the music-girls, and order the stone wall in the garden92 here to be pulled down with all dispatch, and bring her over that way; make but one house of the two; bring the mother and all the domestics over to our house.

Æsch. With all my heart, kindest father.

Dem. (aside.) Well done! now I am called “kind.” My brother’s house will become a thoroughfare; he will be bringing home a multitude, incurring expense in many ways: what matters it to me? I, as the kind Demea, shall get into favor. Now then, bid that Babylonian93 pay down his twenty minæ. (To Syrus.) Syrus, do you delay to go and do it?

Syr. What am I to do?

Dem. Pull down the wall: and you, Geta, go and bring them across.

Geta. May the Gods bless you, Demea, as I see you so sincere a well-wisher to our family.

Geta and Syrus go into Micio’s house.

Dem. I think they deserve it. What say you, Æschinus, as to this plan?

Æsch. I quite agree to it.

Dem. It is much more proper than that she, being sick and lying-in, should be brought hither through the street.

Æsch. Why, my dear father, I never did see any thing better contrived.

Dem. It’s my way; but see, here’s Micio coming out.