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Heautontimorumenos · 163 BC

Act IV, Scene II

by Terence c. 195 – c. 159 BC

Translated by Henry Thomas Riley (1853)


SYRUS alone.

SYR. Unless my fancy deceives me, retribution will not be very, far off from me; so much by this incident are my forces now utterly driven into straits; unless I contrive by some means that the old man mayn’t come to know that this damsel is his son’s mistress. For as to entertaining any hopes about the money, or supposing I could cajole him, it’s useless; I shall be sufficiently triumphant, if I’m allowed to escape with my sides covered. I’m vexed that such a tempting morsel has been so suddenly snatched away from my jaws. What am I to do? Or what shall I devise? I must begin upon my plan over again. Nothing is so difficult, but that it may be found out by seeking. What now if I set about it after this fashion. (He considers.) That’s of no use. What, if after this fashion? I effect just about the same. But this I think will do. It can not. Yes! excellent. Bravo! I’ve found out the best of all-- I’ faith, I do believe that after all I shall lay hold of this same runaway money.

This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.

MLA

Terence. Heautontimorumenos, Act IV, Scene II. Translated by Henry Thomas Riley. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/work/terence-heautontimorumenos-riley/13/.

Chicago

Terence. Heautontimorumenos, Act IV, Scene II. Translated by Henry Thomas Riley. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/work/terence-heautontimorumenos-riley/13/.

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