| [II. 2.] | Scene 2. |
|
enter Pistoclerus from house of Bacchis.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Mirumst me ut redeam te opere tanto quaesere,
qui abire hinc nullo pacto possim, si velim
180
ita me vadatum amore vinctumque adtines.
|
(to Bacchis within) It seems curious, your begging me
so hard to come back, when I couldn't possibly leave you if
I wanted, when you've got me so bound over to you, held fast
in the fetters of love.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Pro di immortales, Pistoclerum conspicor.
o Pistoclere, salve.
|
Ye everlasting gods! It's Pistoclerus. What ho, sir! How are
you?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Salve, Chrysale.
|
And yourself, Chrysalus?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Compendi verba multa iam faciam tibi
venire tu me gaudes: ego credo tibi,
hospitium et cenam pollicere, ut convenit
peregre advenienti: ego autem venturum adnuc
salutem tibi ab sodali solidam nuntio
rogabis me ubi sit: vivit.
|
Here's for saving you the trouble of a long speech, sir.
You're glad I've come: I believe you. You promise to do the
honours and dine me, the stranger from afar, and so you
should: for my part, I accept. I bring you cordial greetings
from your chum. You'll ask me where he is: alive.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Nempe recte valet?
|
(eagerly) And well, well, of course?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Istuc volebam ego ex te percontarier.
|
That's what I wanted to ask you.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Qui scire possum?
|
How can I know?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Nullus plus.
|
None better.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
190
Quemnam ad modum?
|
Why, how so?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quia si illa inventa est, quam ille amat, recte valet,
si non inventa est, minus valet moribundusque est
animast amica amanti. si abest, nullus est;
si adest, res nullast. ipsus est—nequam et miser,
sed tu quid factitasti mandatis super?
|
Because if his ladylove has been discovered, he's perfectly
well: if she's not discovered, he's not so well; he's at
death's door. His love is life to a lover: if she's away,
he's lost; if she's there, his cash is lost, he himself
being—a poor good-for-nothing fool. But you—what have you
been doing about his commission?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Egon ut, quod ab illoc attigisset nuntius,
non impetratum id advenienti ei redderem?
regiones colere mavellem Acherunticas.
|
I? Am I the man to let him arrive and find the request his
messenger mentioned unattended to? I'd sooner pass my days
in the lower regions.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Eho, an invenisti Bacchidem?
|
Hullo! You haven't found Bacchis?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
199, 200
Samiam quidem.
|
Yes, the Samian one.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Vide quaeso, ne quis tractet illam indiligens;
scis tu ut confringi vas cito Samium solet.
|
(affecting terror) Heavens! do see that no one
handles that one carelessly; you know that Samian[D]
ware, how
precious brittle it is.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Iamne ut soles?
|
The same old wag, eh?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Dic ubi ea nunc est, obsecro.
|
Tell me where she is now, for heaven's sake.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Hic, exeuntem me unde aspexisti modo.
|
Here in the house you just saw me coming out of.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Ut istuc est lepidum: proximae viciniae
habitat, ecquidnam meminit Mnesilochi?
|
Here's a go! Residing in the immediate neighbourhood! Well,
well! does she remember Mnesilochus?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Rogas?
immo unice unum plurimi pendit.
|
Remember him? More than that, she thinks he's the one and
only man on earth.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Papae.
|
Oh pshaw!
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Immo ut eam credis? misera amans desiderat.
|
More than that, what do you suppose her feelings are? The
poor affectionate thing is dying for him.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Scitum istuc.
|
Quite charming!
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Immo, Chrysale, em, non tantulum
210
umquam intermittit tempus quin eum nominet.
|
More than that, Chrysalus—look!—she doesn't let even so
much (illustrating) time pass without mentioning his
name.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Tanto hercle melior.
|
Humph! So much the better of her.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Immo—
|
More than that—
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Immo hercle abiero
potius.
|
(bored) More than that, by gad, I'd rather get out of
range!
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Num invitus rem bene gestam audis eri?
|
You don't object to hearing that your master is in a
prosperous situation, do you?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Non res, sed actor mihi cor odio sauciat.
etiam Epidicum, quam ego fabulam aeque ac me ipsum amo,
nullam aeque invitus specto, si agit Pellio.
sed Bacchis etiam fortis tibi visast?
|
It's not the situations that make me sick unto death; it's
your confounding acting. Even the Epidicus[E]—a comedy
I love as well as my own self—well, there's not a one I so
object to seeing, if Pellio's playing in it. But you really
consider Bacchis a fine lively one, do you?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Rogas?
ni nanctus Venerem essem, hanc Iunonem dicerem.
|
Do you ask me that? If[F]
I hadn't lighted on Venus myself, I'd call her Juno.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Edepol, Mnesiloche, ut hanc rem natam intellego,
quod ames paratumst: quod des inventost opus.
nam istic fortasse auro est opus.
|
(half aside) Well, by gad, Mnesilochus, as far as I
can understand the present situation, you've got your love:
the wherewithal is what you need to find. (to
Pistoclerus) For I dare say there is need of gold in the
affair.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
220
Philippeo quidem.
|
Yes, and good coin of the realm.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Atque eo fortasse iam opust.
|
And furthermore, I dare say it's needed soon.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Immo etiam prius:
nam iam huc adveniet miles.
|
No, before that, even: for a Captain's due here soon.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Et miles quidem?
|
Indeed? A Captain, too?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Qui de amittenda Bacchide aurum hic exiget.
|
Who'll be after money for letting Bacchis go.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Veniat quando volt, atque ita ne mihi sit morae.
domist: non metuo nec ego quoiquam supplico,
dum quidem hoc valebit pectus perfidia meum.
abi intro, ego hic curabo. tu intus dicito
Mnesilochum adesse Bacchidi.
|
(airily) Let him come when he wants, yes, and let him
take care not to keep me waiting. I'm provided: I fear no
man and supplicate no man, not I,—at least as long as this
heart of mine can prompt a good stiff lie. Inside with you:
(grandly waving Pistoclerus in) I'll take charge here
myself. You tell Bacchis in there that she may expect
Mnesilochus at once.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Faciam ut iubes.
|
Very well.
[exit.]
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Negotium hoc ad me adtinet aurarium.
230
mille et ducentos Philippum attulimus aureos
Epheso, quos hospes debuit nostro seni.
inde ego hodie aliquam machinabor machinam,
unde aurum efficiam amanti erili filio.
sed foris concrepuit nostra: quinam exit foras?
|
It's my look out, this business of the exchequer. We've
brought twelve hundred sovereigns from Ephesus, money a
friend there owed our old man. I'll machinate some
machinations to-day for transferring part of said gold to my
lovesick young master. (listening) But there goes our
door! Wonder who's coming out. (steps aside)
|
| [II. 3.] | Scene 3. |
|
enter Nicobulus from his house.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Ibo in Piraeum, visam ecquae advenerit
in portum ex Epheso navis mercatoria.
nam meus formidat animus, nostrum tam diu
ibi desidere neque redire filium.
|
I'll walk down to the Piraeus and see if any merchantman has
come in from Ephesus. It worries me to have my son dilly-dallying there
so long and not returning.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Extexam ego illum pulchre iam, si di volunt.
240
haud dormitandumst: opus est chryso Chrysalo.
adibo hunc, quem quidem ego hodie faciam hic arietem
Phrixi, itaque tondebo auro usque ad vivam cutem.
servos salutat Nicobulum Chrysalus.
|
(aside) I'll unravel him handsomely now, God willing.
No sleepyheadedness allowed: Chrysalus, you must be a golden
chrysalis! Here's at him—the man I'll certainly make a
[G]Phrixus's ram here to-day,
and by the same token shear off
his gold right down to the quick! (aloud, ceremoniously)
Greetings to Nicobulus from servant Chrysalus, sir.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Pro di immortales, Chrysale, ubi mist filius?
|
Chrysalus! for the love of heaven where is my son?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quin tu salutem primum reddis quam dedi?
|
(affecting pique) Why don't you return my greeting
first, sir?
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Salve. sed ubinamst Mnesilochus?
|
How d'ye do. (more animatedly) But where on earth is
Mnesilochus?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Vivit, valet.
|
Alive and well.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Venitne?
|
Has he come?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Venit.
|
He has.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Euax, aspersisti aquam.
benene usque valuit?
|
(fervently Oh, good, good! That news is like a dash
of water! Has he been well all this time?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Pancratice atque athletice.
|
In fighting trim, a perfect athlete.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid hoc? qua causa eum in Ephesum miseram,
250
accepitne aurum ab hospite Archidemide?
|
How about it? The business I sent him to Ephesus for? Did he
get the gold from my friend Archidemides?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Heu, cor meum et cerebrum, Nicobule, finditur,
istius hominis ubi fit quomque mentio.
tun hospitem illum nominas hostem tuom?
|
(disgustedly) Ugh! My heart and head fairly split,
sir, whenever I hear that fellow mentioned. Call that friend
of yours fiend, won't you?
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid ita, obsecro hercle?
|
Bless my soul! Why, for heaven's sake?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quia edepol certo scio,
Volcanus, Luna, Sol, Dies, dei quattuor,
scelestiorem nullum inluxere alterum.
|
Good Lord! Because I'm positive the four gods, Fire, Moon,
Sun, and Day, never shone on a more abandoned villain.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quamne Archidemidem?
|
Than Archidemides?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quam, inquam, Archidemidem.
|
Yes, than Archidemides.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid fecit?
|
What has he done?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quid non fecit? quin tu id me rogas?
primumdum infitias ire coepit filio,
260
negare se debere tibi triobolum.
continuo antiquom hospitem nostrum sibi
Mnesilochus advocavit, Pelagonem senem;
eo praesente homini extemplo ostendit symbolum.
quem tute dederas, ad eum ut ferret, filio.
|
What hasn't he done? Why don't you ask me that? Well, in the
first place he began lying to your son and disclaimed
owing you a single sixpence. Immediately Mnesilochus
summoned that old gentleman, Pelagon, that's been our friend
so long; in his presence he promptly shows the fellow the
token, the one you gave your son yourself to carry to him.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid ubi ei ostendit symbolum?
|
(anxiously) And what when he showed him the token?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Infit dicere
adulterinum et non eum esse symbolum.
quotque innocenti ei dixit contumelias!
adulterare eum aibat rebus ceteris.
|
(indignantly) He cries out it's a counterfeit and not
the right token at all. And how he did heap insults on your
innocent boy! Said he was an old hand at counterfeiting.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Habetin aurum? id mihi dici volo.
|
Have you got the money? Do tell me that.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
270
Postquam quidem praetor recuperatores dedit.
damnatus demum, vi coactus reddidit
ducentos et mille Philippum.
|
To be sure, after the judge had appointed arbitrators, he
was finally convicted, and, under compulsion, he handed over
twelve hundred pounds.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Tantum debuit.
|
(with a sigh of relief) That was all he owed.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Porro etiam ausculta pugnam quam voluit dare.
|
There's more still, sir,—listen how he wanted to knock us
out.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Etiamnest quid porro?
|
More still?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Em, accipitrina haec nunc erit.
|
Now then! (aside) This'll be a regular hawk swoop.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Deceptus sum. Autolyco hospiti aurum credidi.
|
(hotly) I've been deceived! I've trusted my gold to
an Autolycus[H]
of a friend!
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quin tu audi.
|
Come, come, listen.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Immo ingenium avidi haud pernoram hospitis.
|
Ah, no, I didn't fathom his greedy soul.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Postquam aurum abstulimus, in navem conscendimus,
domi cupientes. forte ut adsedi in stega,
dum circumspecto, atque ego lembum conspicor
280
longum. strigorem maleficum exornarier.
|
After we got the gold we embarked, eager for home. I was
sitting on deck, and while I was looking around, my eye just
happened to fall on a long, staunch, wicked-looking galley
being fitted out for sea.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Perii hercle, lembus ille mihi laedit latus.
|
Hell and fury! That galley is ramming me amidships!
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Is erat communis cum hospite et praedonibus.
|
(with emphasis) It was owned between your friend and
some pirates.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Adeon me fuisse fungum, ut qui illi crederem,
cum mi ipsum nomen eius Archidemides
clamaret dempturum esse, si quid crederem?
|
(agonized) Could I have been such an imbecile as to
trust the fellow when his very name, Archidemides, fairly
bawled out that I'd be damned easy, if I did trust him with
anything?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Is lembus nostrae navi insidias dabat.
occepi ego observare eos quam rem gerant.
interea e portu nostra navis solvitur.
ubi portu eximus, homines remigio sequi,
290
neque aves neque venti citius. quoniam sentio
quae res gereretur, navem extemplo statuimus.
quoniam vident nos stare, occeperunt ratem
tardare[10]
in portu.
|
(warming up) This galley was lying in wait for our
ship. I began to keep an eye on their operations aboard her.
Meanwhile our ship weighs anchor and moves out of the
harbour. When we get outside they row after us fast as a
bird, fast as the wind. Now that I noticed what was up, we
brought to at once. Now that they saw us lying to they began
to slow down there in the harbour.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Edepol mortalis malos.
quid denique agitis?
|
God bless me, what rascals! What did you do then?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Rursum in portum recipimus.
|
We put back to the harbour.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Sapienter factum a vobis. quid illi postea?
|
That was wise. What did they do after that?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Revorsionem ad terram faciunt vesperi.
|
Toward evening they went ashore.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Aurum hercle auferre voluere: ei rei operam dabant.
|
By the Lord! They wanted to make off with the gold: that was
their aim!
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Non me fefellit, sensi, eo exanimatus fui.
quoniam videmus auro insidias fieri,
300
capimus consilium continuo; postridie
auferimus aurum omne illis praesentibus
palam atque aperte, ut illi id factum sciscerent.
|
I knew that well enough: I saw through it. That drove me
frantic. Now that we perceived that they had designs on the
gold, we laid our plans at once; the next day we carried it
all ashore publicly and openly while they were by, to let
them know it was done.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Scite hercle. cedo quid illi?
|
By Jove, a neat idea! Come, come, what did they do?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Tristes ilico,
quom extemplo a portu ire nos cum auro vident,
subducunt lembum capitibus quassantibus.
nos apud Theotimum omne aurum deposivimus,
qui illic sacerdos est Dianae Ephesiae.
|
Looked doleful on the spot, and as soon as they see us go
away from the harbour with the gold there's a shaking of
heads and they beach their galley. As for us, we deposited
all the gold with Theotimus, the priest of Diana there at
Ephesus.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quis istic Theotimust?
|
(suspiciously) Who is that Theotimus?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Megalobuli filius,
qui nunc in Ephesost Ephesiis carissimus.
|
(reassuringly) Megalobulus's son, sir, and quite the
dearest man in all Ephesus to the Ephesians.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
310
Ne ille hercle mihi sit multo tanto carior,
si me illo auro tanto circumduxerit.
|
Good Lord! He certainly would be a very, very much dearer
man to me, if he should swindle me out of so much gold.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quin in eapse aede Dianai conditumst.
ibidem publicitus servant.
|
Oh, but it's stored in the temple of Diana itself. It's in
public keeping there.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Occidistis me;
nimio hic privatim servaretur rectius.
sed nilne attulistis inde auri domum?
|
Yes, worse luck! It would be a great deal safer in private
keeping here. But you didn't bring any of it home, not any?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Immo etiam. verum quantum attulerit nescio.
|
To be sure, we did. Just how much we brought, though, I don't know.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid? nescis?
|
What? Don't know?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quia Mnesilochus noctu clanculum
devenit ad Theotimum, nec mihi credere
nec cuiquam in navi voluit: eo ego nescio
320
quantillum attulerit; verum haud permultum attulit.
|
You see Mnesilochus visited Theotimus on the sly, by night,
and he didn't care to confide in me or anyone else aboard:
so I don't know just what trifle he did bring along; not
very much, though.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Etiam dimidium censes?
|
As much as half, do you think?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Non edepol scio;
verum haud opinor.
|
Upon my soul, I don't know; but I don't believe so.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Fertne partem tertiam?
|
A third, eh?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Non hercle opinor; verum verum nescio.
profecto de auro nil scio nisi nescio.
nunc tibimet illuc navi capiundumst iter,
ut illud reportes aurum ab Theotimo domum.
atque heus tu.
|
Bless my soul, I don t believe so; however, I don't know. In
fact, all I know about the money is that I don't know. Now
you'll have to make a voyage there yourself, sir, so as to
get it from Theotimus and bring it back home. And, oh, I
say!
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid vis?
|
Well?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Anulum gnati tui
facito ut memineris ferre.
|
See you remember to take your son's ring along.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Quid opust anulo?
|
Ring? What for?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Quia id signumst cum Theotimo, qui eum illi adferet,
ei aurum ut reddat.
|
Because we arranged with Theotimus that he's to give the
gold to the man that brings him that ring.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
330
Meminero, et recte mones.
sed divesne est istic Theotimus?
|
I shall remember; well you mentioned it, too. But is that
Theotimus wealthy?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Etiam rogas?
quin auro habeat soccis subpactum solum?
|
Wealthy, eh? Wealthy? And he with gold soles on his shoes!
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Cur ita fastidit?
|
What makes him so high and mighty?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Tantas divitias habet;
nescit quid faciat auro.
|
He's so rich; he doesn't know what to do with gold.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Mihi dederit velim.
sed qui praesente id aurum Theotimo datumst?
|
(sighing) Wish he'd give it to me! But who was there
when this money was given to Theotimus?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Populo praesente: nullust Ephesi quin sciat.
|
The whole population, sir: there's not a soul in Ephesus but
knows about it.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Istuc sapienter saltem fecit filius,
cum diviti homini id aurum servandum dedit;
ab eo licebit quamvis subito sumere.
|
My son showed sense in that, at any rate,—giving it to a
wealthy man to keep for him. You can get it from such a man
at a moment's notice.
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
340
Immo em tantisper numquam te morabitur
quin habeas illud quo die illuc veneris.
|
Oh no, he'll never keep you waiting, not—see here—
(illustrating) not so long: he'll let you have it the
day you arrive.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
Censebam me effugisse a vita marituma,
ne navigarem tandem hoc aetatis senex;
id mi haud, utrum velim, licere intellego:
ita bellus hospes fecit Archidemides.
ubi nunc est ergo meus Mnesilochus filius?
|
I thought I had escaped from the seafaring life, that an old
man of my age might really be done with voyaging. But no
choice is left me, I perceive, in this case—thanks to the
tactics of my charming friend Archidemides. Where is my son
Mnesilochus at present, then?
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Deos atque amicos iit salutatum ad forum.
|
Gone to the forum to pay his respects to the gods and his friends.
|
| Nic. | Nic. |
|
At ego hinc eo ad illum, ut convenam quantum potest.
|
Well, I shall go and try to find him as soon as possible.
[exit to forum]
|
| Chrys. | Chrys. |
|
Ille est oneratus recte et plus iusto vehit.
350
exorsa haec tela non male omnino mihi est:
ut amantem erilem copem facerem filium,
ita feci, ut auri quantum vellet sumeret,
quantum autem lubeat reddere ut reddat patri.
|
(gleefully) He's nicely freighted, he is, in fact,
overfrighted. Not a half bad sort of web I've woven here! To
set up the young master in funds for his love affair, I've
fixed things so that he can take as much of the gold as he
wants himself, yes, and pass on to his father as much as he
likes to pass on.
|
|
senex in Ephesum ibit aurum arcessere,
hic nostra agetur aetas in malacum modum,
siquidem hic relinquet neque secum abducet senex
med et Mnesilochum. quas ego hic turbas dabo!
sed quid futurumst, cum hoc senex resciverit,
cum se excucurisse illuc frustra sciverit
360
nosque aurum abusos? quid mihi fiet postea?
|
The old man will go to Ephesus to fetch
the gold and we'll be living a downy life of it here, that
is, if the old chap leaves us here and doesn't drag me and
Mnesilochus along with him. Oh, won't I turn things
upside down here!
(pauses) But what'll happen when
the old man discovers it? When he finds out he's gone on a
wild goose chase and we've used up the cash? What will
happen to me then?
|
|
credo hercle adveniens nomen mutabit mihi
facietque extemplo Crucisalum me ex Chrysalo.
aufugero hercle, si magis usus venerit.
si ero reprehensus, macto ego ilium infortunio:
si illi sunt virgae ruri, at mihi tergum domist.
nunc ibo, erili filio hanc fabricam dabo
super auro amicaque eius inventa Bacchide.
|
Gad! I suppose he'll change my name for
me the minute he gets back, and transform me from Chrysalus
to Crossalus on the spot. Oh, well, I'll run for it, if it
looks advisable. If I am caught, he'll have his fill of
discomfort: if he's got rods on the farm, well, I've got a
back on my person. Now I'll be off and let the young master
know about this gold trick and his mistress Bacchis being
found.
[exit Chrysalus.]
|
| [III. 3.] | Scene 3. |
|
enter Lydus and Philoxenus.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Nunc experiar, sitne aceto tibi cor acre in pectore.
sequere.
|
(struggling to control himself) Now we shall see
whether or no you have a heart of fiery feeling within you.
Follow me!
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Quo sequar? quo ducis nunc me?
|
(calmly) Follow you where? Where are you taking me to now?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Ad illam quae tuom
perdidit, pessum dedit tibi filium unice unicum
|
To the woman who has depraved, destroyed your one and only son!
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Heia, Lyde, leniter qui saeviunt sapiunt magis.
minus mirandumst, illaec aetas si quid illorum facit,
quam si non faciat. feci ego istaec itidem in adulescentia.
|
Gently, gently, Lydus! "Ire restrained is wisdom gained."
It's less surprising to have a youngster up to something of
that kind than not. I've done the same sort of thing myself
in my younger days.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Ei mihi, ei mihi, istaec illum perdidit assentatio
nam absque te esset, ego illum haberem rectum ad ingenium bonum
nunc propter te tuamque pravos factus est fiduciam
Pistoclerus.
|
Oh-h-h dear, oh dear! It is that very tolerance that has
been his undoing. Why, but for you, I should have made a
good moral man of him: as it is, you and your support have
made a debauchee of Pistoclerus.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Di immortales, meum sodalem hic nominat.
quid hoc negoti est, Pistoclerum Lydus quod erum tam ciet?
|
(aside) Good God! My chum's name! What does this
mean—Lydus running down his master Pistoclerus so?
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Paulisper, Lyde est libido homini suo animo obsequi;
iam aderit tempus, cum sese etiam ipse oderit. morem geras;
dum caveatur, praeter aequom ne quid delinquat, sine.
|
A man's eager to have his fling for a little while, Lydus;
the time will soon come when he'll actually loathe himself
for it. Give him rein; so long as he's careful not to go too
far in his indiscretions, why, let him be.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Non sino, neque equidem illum me vivo corrumpi sinam.
420
sed tu, qui pro tam corrupto dicis causam filio,
eademne erat haec disciplina tibi, cum tu adulescens eras?
nego tibi hoc annis viginti fuisse primis copiae,
digitum longe a paedagogo pedem ut efferres aedibus.
|
I will not let him be, no, nor let him be corrupted and live
to see it, never! But you—with your pleas for a son so
corrupted—was your own training of this same sort when you
were a young man? I say no, I say you never had a chance
during the first twenty years of your life to stir a single
finger's breadth from the house without your tutor.
|
|
ante solem exorientem nisi in palaestram veneras,
gymnasi praefecto haud mediocris poenas penderes.
id quom optigerat, hoc etiam ad malum accersebatur malum:
et discipulus et magister perhibebantur improbi.
ibi cursu luctando hasta disco pugilatu pila
saliendo sese exercebant magis quam scorto aut saviis:
430
ibi suam aetatem extendebant, non in latebrosis locis.
|
Unless you had arrived at the athletic grounds before sunrise, it
was no slight penalty the Gymnasium Director imposed on you.
When this had happened, this further trouble was added, that
pupil and teacher too were held to be disgraced.
There it was by running, wrestling, throwing the spear and discus,
boxing, ball, jumping, they used to get their exercise,
rather than by means of wenches, or kisses: it was there
they used to spend their lives, not in dark dens of vice.
|
|
inde de hippodromo et palaestra ubi revenisses domum,
cincticulo praecinctus in sella apud magistrum adsideres
cum libro: cum legeres, si unam peccavisses syllabam,
fieret corium tam maculosum quam est nutricis pallium.
|
Then when you had returned home from the track and field,
all neat and trim you would sit on your chair before your
teacher with your book: and while you were reading, if you
had missed a single syllable, your hide would be made as
spotted as a nurse's gown.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Propter me haec nunc meo sodali dici discrucior miser;
innocens suspicionem hanc sustinet causa mea.
|
(aside It's torment, hang it, to have my chum coming
in for all this on my account; it's for my sake he's
shouldering this suspicion, poor innocent.
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Alii, Lyde, nunc sunt mores.
|
(soothingly The customs of to-day are different,
Lydus.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Id equidem ego certo scio.
nam olim populi prius honorem capiebat suffragio,
quam magistro desinebat esse dicto oboediens;
440
at nunc, prius quam septuennis est, si attingas eum manu,
extemplo puer paedagogo tabula disrumpit caput.
|
Indeed they are! I realize the truth of that. Why, in the
old days a young man would be holding office, by popular
vote, before he had ceased to hearken to his teacher's
precepts. But nowadays, before a youngster is seven years
old, if you lay a finger on him, he promptly takes his
writing tablet and smashes his tutor's head with it.
|
|
cum patrem adeas postulatum, puero sic dicit pater:
"noster esto, dum te poteris defensare iniuria."
provocatur paedagogus: "eho senex minimi preti,
ne attigas puerum istac causa, quando fecit
strenue."[14]
(445)
(447)
itur illinc iure dicto. hocine hic pacto potest
inhibere imperium magister, si ipsus primus vapulet?
|
When you go to his father with a protest, he talks to the
youngster in this strain: (mimicking) "You're
father's own boy so long as you can defend yourself against
abuse." Then the tutor is summoned: "Hey, you worthless old
baggage, don't you touch my boy merely for acting like a lad
of spirit!" Judgment pronounced, the court adjourns. Can a
teacher exert authority here under such conditions, if he is
beaten first himself?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Acris postulatio haec est. cum huius dicta intellego,
450
mira sunt ni Pistoclerus Lydum pugnis contudit.
|
(aside) Here's a warm protest! Judging from his
remarks, it's a wonder if Pistoclerus hasn't been punching
Lydus's head.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Sed quis hic est, quem astantem video ante ostium? o Philoxene,
deos propitios me videre quam illum haud mavellem mihi.
|
(looking in the direction of Mnesilochus) But who is
this I see standing in front of the door? (recognizing
him) Ah, Philoxenus, that is a man whose support I
should value no less than that of the gods!
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Quis illic est?
|
Who is it?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Mnesilochus, gnati tui sodalis.[15]
haud consimili ingenio atque ille est qui in lupanari accubat.
fortunatum Nicobulum, qui illum produxit sibi.
|
Mnesilochus, your son's chum. And a youth so, so different
from the one lolling in that vile house! (pointing to
Bacchis's) Happy, happy Nicobulus to have brought up
such a lad!
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Salvos sis, Mnesiloche, salvom te advenire gaudeo.
|
(stepping forward) How are you, Mnesilochus? I'm glad
to see you safely back.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Di te ament, Philoxene.
|
(heartily shaking hands) God bless you, Philoxenus!
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Hic enim rite productust patri:
in mare it, rem familiarem curat, custodit domum,
obsequens oboediensque est mori atque imperiis patris.
460
hic sodalis Pistoclero iam puer puero fuit;
triduom non interest aetatis uter maior siet:
verum ingenium plus triginta annis maiust quam alteri.
|
Ah, yes, here is a son to rejoice a father's heart: goes to
sea, attends to family affairs, is the bulwark of the home,
observes and obeys his father's every wish and word. He was
Pistoclerus's chum even when they were boys—not three days'
difference between them so far as age is concerned, but this
lad is more than thirty years his senior in native sense.
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Cave malo et compesce in illum dicere iniuste.
|
(angrily) Look out for yourself, and stop speaking
about the lad unfairly!
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Tace.
stultus es qui illi male aegre patere dici qui
facit.[16]
(464)
|
Peace! fool that you are to be pained at hearing him badly
spoken of, when he is bad![16]
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
(467)
Quid sodalem meum castigas, Lyde, discipulum tuom?
|
(innocently) Why are you finding fault with my chum,
Lydus, your own pupil?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Periit tibi sodalis.
|
(tragically) Your chum has perished!
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Ne di sirint.
|
God forbid!
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Sic est ut loquor.
quin ego cum peribat vidi, non ex audito arguo.
|
It's just as I tell you. Ah yes, I myself beheld him in the
act: I am not accusing him on hearsay.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Quid factum est?
|
What has happened?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Meretricem indigne deperit.
|
He is shockingly infatuated with a courtesan.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
470
Non tu taces?
|
(apparently scandalized) Oh, don't say such a thing!
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Atque acerrume aestuosam: absorbet ubi quemque attigit.
|
Yes, and a perfect maelstrom of a woman: she sucks down
every man who comes within her reach.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Ubi ea mulier habitat?
|
Where does this woman live?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Hic.
|
(pointing) Here.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Unde esse eam aiunt?
|
Where do they say she is from?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Ex Samo.
|
Samos.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Quae vocatur?
|
What is her name?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Bacchis.
|
Bacchis.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Erras, Lyde: ego omnem rem scio
quem ad modumst. tu Pistoclerum falso atque insontem arguis.
nam ille amico et benevolenti suo sodali sedulo
rem mandatam exsequitur. ipsus neque amat nec tu creduas.
|
(with an air of relief) You're mistaken, Lydus: I
know all about the matter, just how it stands. That's a
false charge of yours, and Pistoclerus is innocent. Why,
he's fulfilling a commission for a friend and well-wisher of
his, a chum, and doing it zealously. He doesn't love her
himself, and you mustn't think he does.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Itane oportet rem mandatam gerere amici sedulo,
ut ipsus in gremio osculantem mulierem teneat sedens?
nullo pacto res mandata potest agi, nisi identidem
480
manus ferat ei ad papillas, labra a labris nusquam auferat?
|
(sharply) Does executing this commission for his
friend, and doing it zealously, call for his sitting down
and holding the girl in his lap while she kisses him? Is
there no way of his carrying out this commission save by his
embracing her time and again in unseemly fashion and never
taking his lips an inch from hers?
|
|
nam alia memorare quae illum facere vidi dispudet:
cum manum sub vestimenta ad corpus tetulit Bacchidi
me praesente, neque pudere quicquam. quid verbis opust?
mini discipulus, tibi sodalis periit, huic filius;
nam ego illum periisse dico quoi quidem periit
pudor.[17]
(485)
|
Why, I feel ashamed to
mention other things I saw him do, dreadful, dreadful
things, in my presence—and never a trace of shame about
him. Why say more? My pupil, your chum, this father's son,
has perished; for perished I say he has, when his sense of
shame has perished.[17]
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
(489)
Perdidisti me, sodalis. egone ut illam mulierem
490
capitis non perdam? perire me malis malim modis.
satin ut quem tu habeas fidelem tibi aut cui credas nescias?
|
You've wrecked my life, (with special acrimony) chum!
Oh, won't I wreck that woman's! I'd rather die a dog's death
than not get even with her! Can it really be you don't know
whom to think loyal to you, whom to trust?
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Viden ut aegre patitur gnatum esse corruptum tuom,
suom sodalem, ut ipsus sese cruciat aegritudine?
|
(to Philoxenus) Do you see how he suffers at your
son, his chum, being corrupted; how his very soul is
tormented?
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Mnesiloche, hoc tecum oro, ut illius animum atque ingenium regas;
serva tibi sodalem et mihi filium.
|
Mnesilochus, try to control the lad's impulses and
disposition, I beg you. Save your chum for yourself and my
son for me.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Factum volo.
|
(vehemently) I wish I might!
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Melius esset, me quoque una si cum illo relinqueres.
|
(to Philoxenus) It would be better for you to leave
me with him, too.
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
Adfatim est.
|
No, no, he'll manage.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Mnesiloche, cura, ei, concastiga hominem probe,
qui dedecorat te, me amicosque alios flagitiis suis.
|
Mnesilochus, take charge of him! Go, rate him well—for
degrading you, and me and his other friends with his
enormities.
|
| Phil. | Phil. |
|
In te ego hoc onus omne impono. Lyde, sequere hac me.
|
I put the whole load on your shoulders. (turns to go)
This way, Lydus; come.
|
| Lydus | Lydus |
|
Sequor.
|
(gloomily) Very well.
[exeunt Philoxenus and Lydus.
|
| [III. 6.] | Scene 6. |
|
enter Mnesilochus from house.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
530
Reddidi patri omne aurum. nunc ego illam me velim
convenire, postquam inanis sum, contemptricem meam.
sed veniam mihi quam gravate pater dedit de Chrysalo;
verum postremo impetravi, ut ne quid ei suscenseat.
|
I've handed over the whole sum to my father. Now's the time
I should like her to meet me, now that I haven't a sou—my
Lady Disdain! (pausing) But how father did hate to
pardon Chrysalus for me! However, I finally induced him to
swallow his wrath.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Estne hic meus sodalis?
|
(approaching Nicobulus's house) Isn't that my chum?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Estne hic hostis, quem aspicio, meus?
|
Isn't that my enemy I see?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Certe is est.
|
(beaming) It certainly is.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Is est.
|
(glowering) It is.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Adibo contra et contollam gradum.
salvos sis, Mnesiloche.
|
I'll step up and meet him. (hurries to him)
Mnesilochus! bless you!
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Salve.
|
(gruffly) Same to you.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Salvos quom peregre advenis,
cena detur.
|
(enthusiastically) We must have a dinner, now you're
safe back from abroad.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Non placet mi cena quae bilem movet.
|
I have no desire for a dinner that stirs my bile.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Numquae advenienti aegritudo obiecta est?
|
(wonderingly) You haven't met with any trouble on
your return, have you?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Atque acerruma.
|
Yes, of the worst sort.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Unde?
|
What caused it?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Ab homine quem mi amicum esse arbitratus sum antidhac.
|
A man I always took for a friend till now.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
540
Multi more isto atque exemplo vivont, quos cum censeas
esse amicos, reperiuntur falsi falsimoniis,
lingua factiosi, inertes opera, sublesta fide.
nullus est quoi non invideant rem secundam optingere;
sibi ne invideatur, ipsi ignavia recte cavent.
|
(indignantly) There are plenty of fellows amongst us
of that character and description, fellows you regard as
friends only to find 'em treacherous traitors—energetic
talkers, lazy doers, and ready deserters. There's no one
they don't envy his good luck. As for themselves, they take
proper care no one envies them—their own inertness looks
out for that.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Edepol ne tu illorum mores perquam meditate tenes.
sed etiam unum hoc: ex ingenio malo malum inveniunt suo:
nulli amici sunt, inimicos ipsi in sese omnis habent.
ei se cum frustrantur, frustrari alios stolidi existumant.
sicut est his, quem esse amicum ratus sum atque ipsus sum mihi:
550
ille, quod in se fuit, accuratum habuit quod posset mali
faceret in me, inconciliaret copias omnis meas.
|
(dryly) Well, well! You certainly have a very
intimate acquaintance with their characteristics. But
there's this one thing to add: they're cursed by their own
cursed dispositions: friends to no man as they are, they
themselves have foes in all men. When they're deceiving
themselves the fools fancy they are deceiving others. That's
the way with this man I thought was as good a friend to me
as I am to myself: as far as in him lay he took pains to do
me all the harm he could, to defraud me of all I had.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Improbum istunc esse oportet hominem.
|
The fellow must be a perfect villain!
|
|
Mnes.
|
Mnes.
|
|
Ego ita esse arbitror.
|
Precisely my own opinion.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Obsecro hercle loquere, quis is est?
|
(more indignantly) By Jove, now! Who is he? Tell me,
tell me.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Benevolens vivit tibi.
nam ni ita esset, tecum orarem ut ei quod posses mali
facere faceres.
|
A man on good terms with you. Yes, but for that, I'd beg you
to do him any damage you could.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Dic modo hominem qui sit sit: non fecero
ei male aliquo pacto, me esse dicito ignavissimum.
|
Only tell me who the fellow is: if I don't damage him
somehow, you can call me the most spiritless wretch on
earth.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Nequam homost, verum hercle amicus est tibi.
|
He's a scoundrel, but good Lord, he is a friend of yours!
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Tanto magis
dic quis est; nequam hominis ego parvi pendo gratiam.
|
All the more reason for telling me who he is; it's little I
care for the favour of a scoundrel.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Video non potesse quin tibi eius nomen eloquar.
560
Pistoclere, perdidisti me sodalem funditus.
|
I see there is nothing for me to do but give you his name.
Pistoclerus, (bitterly) you have ruined me, your
chum, ruined me utterly.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Quid istuc est?
|
(aghast) Eh? What's that?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Quid est? misine ego ad te ex Epheso epistulam
super amica, ut mi invenires?
|
What's that? Didn't I send you a letter from Ephesus about
my mistress, asking you to find her for me?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Fateor factum, et repperi.
|
To be sure you did—and I did find her.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Quid? tibi non erat meretricum aliarum Athenis copia
quibuscum haberes rem, nisi cum illa quam ego mandassem tibi
occiperes tute[19]
amare et mi ires consultum male?
|
What? Weren't there enough other women in Athens for you to
philander with, without beginning to make love to her, the
girl I had entrusted to you, and trying this underhand trick
on me?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Sanun es?
|
Are you sane?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Rem repperi omnem ex tuo magistro. ne nega.
perdidisti me.
|
I have the whole story from your tutor. You needn't deny it.
You have ruined me.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Etiamne ultro tuis me prolectas probris?
|
(getting irritated) Can it be you're bent on
provoking me with this uncalled for abuse of yours?
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Quid? amas Bacchidem?
|
Eh? You do love Bacchis?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Duas ergo his intus eccas Bacchides.
|
Well, but look you, there are two Bacchises in here.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Quid? duas?
|
(astonished) What? Two?
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Atque ambas sorores.
|
And sisters, too.
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Loqueris nunc nugas sciens.
|
Now you're talking rot, and you know it.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
570
Postremo, si pergis parvam mihi fidem arbitrarier,
tollam ego ted in collum atque intro hinc auferam.
|
See here now, if you go on making light of my word, I'll
perch you up on my neck and carry you off inside. (seizes
him)
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Immo ibo, mane.
|
No, no, I'll go: wait.
|
| Pistoc. | Pistoc. |
|
Non maneo, neque tu me habebis falso suspectum.
|
I won't wait, and I won't have you suspecting me falsely,
either. (pulls him toward door)
|
| Mnes. | Mnes. |
|
Sequor.
|
I'm coming.
[exeunt into house.
|