Page:Comedies of Publius Terentius Afer (1870).djvu/178

 160 ADELPHI. Act IV. Sc. 4.

Heg.You will do all a kindness,

Relieving the poor soul in doubt and dread,

Whose spirits need it too; you will be glad

When you have done it. If you think not so,

I will go there alone and tell the news.

Mic. Nay, I will go myself.

Heg. You will do best;

For the unfortunate are jealous, too,

And doubtful of the world; they ever dread

It, contumelious upon poverty.

And the best way to calm their throbbing hearts

And justify her husband, is to go.

Mic. Ah! that is true.

Heg. Come, let us go together.

ACT IV.— Scene 4.— Æschinus.

Æs. I am half driven wild: a thunderbolt,

To fall from heaven, thus at unawares,

Not dreaming of such thing — I am at sea.

My members all are quivering with fear;

My mind is all bewildered with its dread;

My soul is all in doubt and cannot think.

How shall I clear myself of all this cloud

Of treasons and of thoughts unmerited,

For Sostrata believes this Psaltrian

Purchased for me? The old dame tells me so.

I met her on the way — she sought the midwife

I asked her of the health of Pamphila —

If she were in the pangs — when she began

Exclaiming, Ai ! Ai ! Æschinus — I pray

Mock us no more, with words and broken faith.