Adelphoe

Excerpt from The Adelphi of Terence: As It Is Performed at the Royal College of St. Peter, Westminster, Together With the Verse Translation of George Colamn, the Elder, Queen's Scholar From 1746 to 1751

And what a world Of fears possess me now! How anxious that my son is not return'd Lest he take cold, or fall, or break a limb - Gods, that a man should suffer any one To wind himself so close about his heart, As to grow dearer to him than himself And yet he is not my son, but my brother's, Whose bent of mind is wholly different. I, from youth upward even to this day, Have led a quiet and serene town-life And, as some reckon fortunate, ne'er married. He, in all points the Opposite Of this, Has pass'd his days entirely in the country With thrift, and labour; married; had two sons; The elder boy is by adoption mine I've brought him up; kept; lov'd him as my own Made him my joy, and all my soul holds dear.