Читать книгу The Comedies of Terence - Terence - Страница 42

Enter Pamphilus.

Pam. Who calls?—Undone! my father!

Simo. What say you? Most——

Chremes. Ah, rather speak at once

Your purpose, Simo, and forbear reproach.

Simo. As if ’twere possible to utter aught

Severer than he merits!—Tell me then; (To Pam.)

Glycerium is a citizen?

Pam. They say so.

Simo. They say so!—Oh amazing impudence!——

Does he consider what he says? does he

Repent the deed? or does his color take

The hue of shame?—To be so weak of soul,

Against the custom of our citizens,

Against the law, against his father’s will,

To wed himself to shame and this vile woman.

Pam. Wretch that I am!

Simo. Ah, Pamphilus! d’ye feel

Your wretchedness at last? Then, then, when first

You wrought upon your mind at any rate

To gratify your passion: from that hour

Well might you feel your state of wretchedness.

—But why give in to this? Why torture thus,

Why vex my spirit? Why afflict my age

For his distemp’rature? Why rue his sins?

—No; let him have her, joy in her, live with her.

Pam. My father!——

Simo. How, my father!—can I think

You want this father? You that for yourself

A home, a wife, and children have acquir’d

Against your father’s will? And witnesses

Suborn’d, to prove that she’s a citizen?

—You’ve gain’d your point.

Pam. My father, but one word!

Simo. What would you say?

Chremes. Nay, hear him, Simo.

Simo. Hear him?

What must I hear then, Chremes!

Chremes. Let him speak.

Simo. Well, let him speak: I hear him.

Pam. I confess,

I love Glycerium: if it be a fault,

That too I do confess. To you, my father,

I yield myself: dispose me as you please!

Command me! Say that I shall take a wife;

Leave her; I will endure it, as I may——

This only I beseech you, think not I

Suborn’d this old man hither.—Suffer me

To clear myself, and bring him here before you.

Simo. Bring him here!

Pam. Let me, father!

Chremes. ’Tis but just:

Permit him!

Pam. Grant me this!

Simo. Well, be it so.

Exit Pamphilus.

I could bear all this bravely, Chremes; more,

Much more, to know that he deceiv’d me not.

Chremes. For a great fault a little punishment

Suffices to a father.