The Comedies of Terence | Page 3

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. Ph?drus, 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 of his own accord, to offer his only daughter as a wife to my son, with a very large portion. It pleased me; I betrothed him; this was the day appointed for the nuptials.
SOS. What then stands in the way? Why should they not take place?
SIM. You shall hear. In about a few days after these things had been agreed on, Chrysis, this neighbor, dies.
SOS. Bravo! You've made me happy. I was afraid for