‘Nay, perchance thou wilt rise above the grey air, and flee on high, like the swift birds. Alas for me, and alas again, for mine exceeding evil fortune, alas for me that have left my father’s house, and following this bull, on a strange sea-faring I go, and wander lonely. But I pray thee that rulest the grey salt sea, thou Shaker of the Earth, propitious meet me, and methinks I see thee smoothing this path of mine before me. For surely it is not without a god to aid, that I pass through these paths of the waters!

So spake she, and the horned bull made answer to her again—

‘Take courage, maiden, and dread not the swell of the deep. Behold I am Zeus, even I, though, closely beheld, I wear the form of a bull, for I can put on the semblance of what thing I will. But ’tis love of thee that has compelled me to measure out so great a space of the salt sea, in a bull’s shape. Lo, Crete shall presently receive thee, Crete that was mine own foster-mother, where thy bridal chamber shall be. Yea, and from me shalt thou bear glorious sons, to be sceptre-swaying kings over earthly men.’

So spake he, and all he spake was fulfilled. And verily Crete appeared, and Zeus took his own shape again, and he loosed her girdle, and the Hours arrayed their bridal bed. She that before was a maiden straightway became the bride of Zeus, and she bore children to Zeus, yea, anon she was a mother.

TROUBLE COMES TO TOWN

The Brothers

Terence

Translated by Betty Radice, 1965

The Brothers is a Roman comedy by Terence (c. 195/185–c. 159 BC), who was born in Carthage to Libyan parents in the second century BC and came as a slave to Rome, where he was later freed. A man named Demea has two sons, the younger of whom, Ctesipho, he has raised in the countryside. Demea’s brother Micio, meanwhile, has raised the elder, his nephew Aeschinus, in the city of Athens. While Demea has been a severe father, Micio has taken a rather hands-off approach to parenting, and his ward Aeschinus is consequently something of a reprobate. This play, which was based on a Greek comedy by Menander (author of Story 31), has a characteristically elaborate plot. Aeschinus has impregnated a girl called Pamphila and promised to marry her. But then his brother Ctesipho comes to town, lets loose, and has him procure a Music Girl for him. Aeschinus agrees to cover for his brother and conceal the Music Girl but is then suspected of taking her for himself. His future mother-in-law, Sostrata, hears about the Music Girl as Pamphila is giving birth to his child. In this extract from the play, Aeschinus considers his options and is confronted by his father, who playfully feigns ignorance of recent events.