Читать книгу The Greatest Works of Roman Classical Literature - Луций Анней Сенека - Страница 33

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Enter Syrus, at the other side of the stage.

Syr. (to himself.) We just now told the old gentleman the whole affair just as it happened; I never did see any one more delighted.

Dem. (apart.) O Jupiter! the folly of the man!

Syr. (continuing.) He commended his son. To me, who put them upon this project, he gave thanks——

Dem. (apart) I shall burst asunder.

Syr. (continuing.) He told down the money instantly, and gave me half a mina besides to spend. That was laid out quite to my liking.

Dem. (apart.) Very fine—if you would wish a thing to be nicely managed, intrust it to this fellow.

Syr. (overhearing him.) Ha, Demea! I didn’t see you; how goes it?

Dem. How should it go? I can not enough wonder at your mode of living here.

Syr. Why, really silly enough, and, to speak without disguise, altogether absurd. (Calls at the door of Micio’s house.) Dromo, clean the rest of the fish; let the largest conger-eel play a little in the water; when I come back it shall be boned;49 not before.

Dem. Is profligacy like this——

Syr. As for myself, it isn’t to my taste, and I often exclaim against it. (Calls at the door.) Stephanio, take care that the salt fish is well soaked.

Dem. Ye Gods, by our trust in you! is he doing this for any purpose of his own, or does he think it creditable to ruin his son? Wretch that I am! methinks I already see the day when Æschinus will be running away for want, to serve somewhere or other as a soldier.50

Syr. O Demea! that is wisdom indeed,—not only to look at the present moment, but also to look forward to what’s to come.

Dem. Well—is this Music-girl still with you?

Syr. Why, yes, she’s in-doors.

Dem. How now—is he going to keep her at home?

Syr. I believe so; such is his madness!

Dem. Is it possible?

Syr. An imprudent lenity in his father, and a vicious indulgence.

Dem. Really, I am ashamed and grieved at my brother.

Syr. Demea! between you there is a great—I do not say it because you are here present—a too great difference. You are, every bit of you, nothing but wisdom; he a mere dreamer. Would you indeed have suffered that son of yours to act thus?

Dem. I, suffer him? Would I not have smelt it out six months before he attempted it?

Syr. Need I be told by you of your foresight?

Dem. I pray he may only continue the same he is at present!

Syr. Just as each person wishes his son to be, so he turns out.

Dem. What news of him? Have you seen him to-day?

Syr. What, your son? (Aside.) I’ll pack him off into the country. (To Demea.) I fancy he’s busy at the farm long before this.

Dem. Are you quite sure he is there?

Syr. What!—when I saw him part of the way myself——

Dem. Very good. I was afraid he might be loitering here.

Syr. And extremely angry too.

Dem. Why so?

Syr. He attacked his brother in the Forum with strong language about this Music-girl.

Dem. Do you really say so?

Syr. Oh dear, he didn’t at all mince the matter; for just as the money was being counted out, the gentleman came upon us by chance, and began exclaiming, “Oh Æschinus, that you should perpetrate these enormities! that you should be guilty of actions so disgraceful to our family!”

Dem. Oh, I shall weep for joy.

Syr. “By this you are not squandering your money only, but your reputation.”

Dem. May he be preserved to me! I trust he will be like his forefathers. (Weeping.)

Syr. (aside.) Heyday!

Dem. Syrus, he is full of these maxims.

Syr. (aside.) Strange, indeed! He had the means at home of learning them.

Dem. I do every thing I can; I spare no pains; I train him up to it: in fine, I bid him look into the lives of men, as though into a mirror, and from others to take an example for himself. Do this, I say——

Syr. Quite right.

Dem. Avoid that——

Syr. Very shrewd.

Dem. This is praiseworthy——

Syr. That’s the thing.

Dem. That is considered blamable——

Syr. Extremely good.

Dem. And then, moreover——

Syr. Upon my honor, I have not the leisure to listen to you just at present: I have got some fish just to my taste, and must take care they are not spoiled; for that would be as much a crime in me, as for you, Demea, not to observe those maxims which you have just been mentioning; and so far as I can, I lay down precepts for my fellow-servants on the very same plan; “this is too salt, that is quite burned up, this is not washed enough, that is very well done; remember and do so another time.” I carefully instruct them so far as I can to the best of my capacity. In short, Demea, I bid them look into their sauce-pans as though into a mirror,51 and suggest to them what they ought to do. I am sensible these things are trifling which we do; but what is one to do? According as the man is, so must you humor him. Do you wish any thing else?

Dem. That more wisdom may be granted you.

Syr. You will be going off into the country, I suppose?

Dem. Directly.

Syr. For what should you do here, where, if you do give any good precepts, no one will regard them?

Goes into Micio’s house.