The Comedies of Terence | Page 3

you.
SOSIA. Consider it as said; that these things are to be taken care of, I
suppose.[25]
SIM. No, it's another matter.
SOS. What is there that my ability can effect for you more than this?
SIM. There's no need of that ability in the matter which I have in hand;
but of those {qualities} which I have ever known as existing in you,
fidelity and secrecy.
SOS. I await your will.
SIM. Since I purchased you, you know that, from a little child, your
servitude with me has always been easy and light. From a slave I made
you my freedman;[26] for this reason, because you served me with
readiness. The greatest recompense that I possessed, I bestowed upon
you.
SOS. I bear it in mind.
SIM. I am not changed.
SOS. If I have done or am doing aught that is pleasing to you, Simo, I
am glad that it has been done; and that the same has been gratifying to
you, I consider {sufficient} thanks. But this is a cause of uneasiness to
me; for the recital is, as it were, a censure[27] to one forgetful of a

kindness. But tell me, in one word, what it is that you want with me.
SIM. I'll do so. In the first place, in this affair I give you notice: this,
which you suppose to be such, is not a real marriage.
SOS. Why do you pretend it then?
SIM. You shall hear all the matter from the beginning; by that means
you'll be acquainted with both my son's mode of life and my own
design, and what I want you to do in this affair. For after he had passed
youthfulness,[28] Sosia, and had obtained free scope of living, (for
before, how could you know or understand his disposition, while
youthful age, fear, and a master[29] were checking him?)--
SOS. That's true.
SIM. What all young men, for the most part, do,-- devote their attention
to some particular pursuit, either to training horses or dogs for hunting,
or to the philosophers;[30] in not one of these did he engage in
particular beyond the rest, and yet in all of them in a moderate degree. I
was pleased.
SOS. Not without reason; for this I deem in life to be especially
advantageous; that {one do} nothing to excess.[31]
SIM. Such was his mode of life; readily to bear and to comply with all;
with whomsoever he was in company, to them to resign himself; to
devote himself to their pursuits; at variance with no one; never
preferring himself to them. Thus most readily you may acquire praise
without envy, and gain friends.
SOS. He has wisely laid down his rule of life; for in these days
obsequiousness begets friends; sincerity, dislike.
SIM. Meanwhile, three years ago,[32] a certain woman from Andros
removed hither into this neighborhood, driven by poverty and the
neglect of her relations, of surpassing beauty and in the bloom of youth.

SOS. Ah! I'm afraid that this Andrian will bring some mischief.
SIM. At first, in a modest way, she passed her life with thriftiness and
in hardship, seeking a livelihood with her wool and loom. But after an
admirer made advances, promising her a recompense, {first} one and
then another; as the disposition of all mankind has a downward
tendency from industry toward pleasure, she accepted their proposals,
{and} then began to trade {upon her beauty}. Those who then were her
admirers, by chance, as it {often} happens, took my son thither that he
might be in their company. Forthwith I {said} to myself, "He is surely
caught; he is smitten."[33] In the morning I used to observe their
servant-boys coming or going away; I used to make inquiry, "Here, my
lad, tell me, will you, who had Chrysis yesterday?" for that was the
name of the Andrian (touching SOSIA on the arm).
SOS. I understand.
SIM. Phædrus, or Clinias, or Niceratus, they used to say; for these three
then loved her at the same time. "Well now, what {did} Pamphilus
{do}?" "What? He gave his contribution;[34] he took part in the
dinner." Just so on another day I made inquiry, but I discovered nothing
whatever that affected Pamphilus. In fact, I thought him sufficiently
proved, and a great pattern of continence; for he who is brought into
contact with dispositions of that sort, and his feelings are not aroused
even under such circumstances, you may be sure that he is already
capable of undertaking the governance of his own life. This pleased me,
and every body with one voice {began} to say all {kinds of} flattering
things, and to extol my {good} fortune, in having a son endowed with
such a disposition. What need is there of talking? Chremes, influenced
by this report, came to me