Читать книгу The Comedies of Terence - Terence - Страница 37

Enter Crito.

Crito. In this street

They say that Chrysis liv’d: who rather chose

To heap up riches here by wanton ways,

Than to live poor and honestly at home:

She dead, her fortune comes by law to me.

But I see persons to inquire of. (Goes up.) Save you!

Mysis. Good now, who’s that I see? is it not Crito,

Chrysis’s kinsman? Aye, the very same.

Crito. O Mysis, save you!

Mysis. Save you, Crito!

Crito. Chrysis

Is then—ha?

Mysis. Aye, she has left us, poor souls!

Crito. And ye; how go ye on here?—pretty well?

Mysis. We?—as we can, as the old saying goes,

When as we would we can not.

Crito. And Glycerium,

Has she found out her parents?

Mysis. Would she had!

Crito. Not yet! an ill wind blew me hither then.

For truly, had I been appris’d of that,

I’d ne’er have set foot here: for this Glycerium

Was always call’d and thought to be her sister.

What Chrysis left, she takes possession of:

And now for me, a stranger, to commence

A lawsuit here, how good and wise it were,

Other examples teach me. She, I warrant,

Has got her some gallant too, some defender:

For she was growing up a jolly girl

When first she journeyed hither. They will cry

That I’m a pettifogger, fortune-hunter,

A beggar.—And besides it were not well

To leave her in distress.

Mysis. Good soul! troth Crito,

You have the good old-fashion’d honesty.

Crito. Well, since I am arriv’d here, bring me to her,

That I may see her.

Mysis. Aye, with all my heart.

Davus. I will in with them: for I would not choose

That our old gentleman should see me now.

Exeunt.