Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 938 sections

2.2.215
were Pollio to act it, no play would I see so reluctantly. But, does Bacchis seem handsome, as well, to you?
2.2.216b
Do you ask the question? Had I not got a Venus, I should pronounce her a Juno.
2.2.218
I’ faith, Mnesilochus, as I find these matters proceeding, there’s something ready for you to love; ’tis needful that you find something to give her.
2.2.220
But, perhaps you have need of gold for that other one?
2.2.220b
Yes, some Philippeans.
2.2.221
And you have need of it directly, perhaps?
2.2.221b
Aye, and even sooner than directly. For there’s a Captain coming here just now—
2.2.222b
A Captain, indeed!
2.2.223
Who is demanding some gold here for relinquishing Bacchis.
2.2.224
Let him come when he pleases, and so there be no delay.
2.2.225
The money’s at home; I fear not for myself, nor do I go begging to any man; so long, at least, as this heart of mine shall be armed with its inventiveness. Go in; I’ll manage here. Do you tell them in-doors, that Mnesilochus is coming to Bacchis.
2.2.228b
I’ll do as you request.
2.2.229
The money business belongs to me.
2.2.230
From Ephesus we have brought twelve hundred golden Philippeans, which our entertainer owed to our old gentleman. Hence, some contrivance will I this day contrive, to procure gold for this son of my master thus in love. But there’s a noise at our door—who’s coming out of doors, I wonder?
2.3.235
To the Piraeus will I go; I’ll go see whether any merchant-ship has come into harbour from Ephesus. For my mind misgives me; my son lingers there so long, and does not return.
2.3.239
Now, I’ll finely unravel him, if the Gods are propitious.
2.3.240
There must be no sleeping; gold is requisite for Chrysalus. I’ll accost him, whom for sure this day I’ll make a ram of Phryxus of; so, even to the quick, will I shear him of his gold. (Accosting him.) His servant Chrysalus salutes Nicobulus.
2.3.244
O, immortal Gods! where is my son?
2.3.245
Why don’t you return the salutation first, which I gave you?
2.3.246
Well, save you. But where on earth is Mnesilochus?
2.3.246b
He is alive and well.
2.3.247
Is he not come?
2.3.247b
He is come.
2.3.247c
Hurra! you’ve brought me to my senses. And has he all along been well?
2.3.248b
Aye, well as a boxer and an athlete.
2.3.249
But what as to this—the business on account or which I sent him hence to Ephesus?
2.3.250
Has he rot received the gold from his entertainer, Archidemides?
2.3.251
Alas! my heart and my brain are cleft, Nicobulus, whenever mention is made of that fellow. Why don’t you call that entertainer of his your enemy?
2.3.254
Troth now, prithee, why so?
2.3.254b
Because, i’ faith, I know for sure,
2.3.255
that Vulcan, the Moon, the Sun, the Day, those four Divinities, never shone upon another more wicked.
2.3.257
What, than Archidemides? Dear me!
2.3.257b
Than Archidemides, I say.
2.3.258
What has he done?
2.3.258b
What has he not done? Why don’t you ask me that? In the first place, then, he began to make denials to your son,
2.3.260
and to assert that he didn’t owe three obols to you. Forthwith, Mnesilochus summoned to himself there our ancient host, the old gentleman, Pelago; in his presence, he at once showed the fellow the token, which you yourself had given to your son to deliver to him.
2.3.265
Well—when he showed him the token?
2.3.265b
He began to say that it was counterfeit, and that it was not a true token; and how many reproaches he did utter against him so undeserving of them! and he said that in other matters he had committed forgery.
2.3.269
Have you not the gold? In the first place, I want that to be told me.
2.3.270
Yes, after the Praetor had appointed delegates; being cast, at length compelled by force he paid down twelve hundred Philippeans.
2.3.272b
He owed that much.
2.3.273
Besides, listen to another struggle of his, as well, which he was desirous to enter on.
2.3.274
What, besides, as well?
2.3.274b
Oho! this will turn out now a regular hawk’s nest.
2.3.275
I’ve been deceived. I’ve entrusted my gold to an Autolycus for my host!
2.3.276
Nay, but do you listen—
2.3.276b
Well, I wasn’t aware of the disposition of my avaricious entertainer.
2.3.277
Afterwards, at last we had got the gold, and embarked on board ship, desirous for home. By chance, as I was sitting on the deck, while I was looking about me, at that moment I beheld
2.3.280
a long bark being fitted out by this cheating knave.
2.3.281
Troth, I’m undone; that bark breaks my heart.
2.3.282
This was held in partnership by your host and some pirates.
2.3.283
And that I should be such a blockhead as to trust him, when his very name of Archidemides
2.3.285
cried aloud to me that he would deprive me of it, if I should entrust anything to him.
2.3.286
This bark was lying in wait for our ship. I began to watch them, to see what business they were about. Meanwhile, from harbour our ship set sail. When we had fully left the harbour, these fellows began to follow with their oars;
2.3.290
nor birds, nor winds more swiftly. As I discovered what scheme was being carried out, at once we dropped anchor. As they beheld us stopping, they began to keep their vessel back in harbour.
2.3.293b
Wicked wretches, by my troth. What did you do at last?
2.3.294b
We returned again into harbour.
2.3.295
’Twas cleverly done by you. What after that?
2.3.296
At nightfall they returned ashore.
2.3.297
Troth now, they intended to carry off the gold; they were attempting that plan, no doubt.
2.3.298
It didn’t escape me; I discovered it: I was almost terrified to death by it. As I saw that a scheme was being laid against the gold,
2.3.300
forthwith on this we came to this determination; the next day we carried away all the gold thence in their presence, openly and publicly, that they might know it was done.
2.3.303
Skilfully managed, i’ faith. Tell me, what did they?
2.3.303b
Chopfallen at once,—soon as ever they saw us leaving the harbour with the gold,
2.3.305
shaking their heads, they hauled their bark ashore. We deposited all the gold with Theotimus, who is a priest there of Ephesian Diana.
2.3.308
Who is this Theotimus?
2.3.308b
The son of Megalobyzus, who is now living at Ephesus, a man most dear to the Ephesians.
2.3.310
By my troth, he’ll surely turn out very much more dear to me if he shall chouse me out of all that gold.
2.3.312
But it is stowed away in the very temple itself of the Goddess Diana; there they keep guard at the public expense.
2.3.313b
You kill me outright; much more safely would it have been kept in private hands.
2.3.315
But haven’t you brought any of the gold home here?
2.3.316
O yes; but how much he has brought, I don’t know.
2.3.317
How’s that?—not know?
2.3.317b
Because Mnesilochus went privately by night to Theotimus; and didn’t wish to entrust it to me, nor to any one in the ship. For that reason I don’t know
2.3.320
how much he has brought, but he hasn’t brought very much.
2.3.321
Do you think it was even a half?
2.3.321b
By my troth, I know not; but I don’t think it.
2.3.322b
Does he bring a third part?
2.3.323
Troth, I think not; but I do not know the truth. Indeed, I know nothing at all about the gold, except that I do know nothing about it.
2.3.325
Now, you yourself must take a voyage there on board ship, to carry home this gold from Theotimus; and, hearkye—
2.3.327b
What do you want?
2.3.327c
Take care and remember to carry your son’s ring.
2.3.328b
What need is there of the ring?
2.3.329
Because that is the token agreed on with Theotimus, that the person who brings it to him,
2.3.330
to him he is to give up the gold.
2.3.330b
I’ll remember it, and you advise me well. But is this Theotimus rich?
2.3.331b
What, do you ask that? Why, hasn’t he the soles fastened to his shoes with gold?
2.3.333
Why does he thus despise it?
2.3.333b
He has such immense riches; he doesn’t know what to do with his gold.
2.3.334b
I wish he’d give it me.
2.3.335
But in whose presence was this gold delivered to Theotimus?
2.3.336
In presence of the people; there’s not a person in Ephesus but what knows it.
2.3.337
My son at least did wisely there, in entrusting that gold to a rich man to keep. From him it may be recovered even at a moment’s notice.
2.3.340
Aye, and look here, he’ll never keep you waiting even thus much (shows his finger-nail) from receiving it on the very day you arrive there.
2.3.342
I thought that I had escaped a seafaring life, and that, at length, an old man of my years, I shouldn’t be sailing about. But now I find that I’m not allowed to have the choice whether I would or no;
2.3.345
’tis my fine host Archidemides has done me this. Where, then, is my son, Mnesilochus, at present?
2.3.347
He has gone to the market-place to pay his respects to the Deities and his friends.
2.3.348
Then I’ll go hence to meet him as soon as I can.
2.3.349
He’s right well loaded, and carries more than his proper burden.
2.3.350
Not so very badly has this web been commenced by me, that I may find means for the son of my master in his amour. I’ve managed it so, that he may take as much of the gold as he chooses, and give up to his father as much as he may like to give up. The old gentleman will be going hence to Ephesus to fetch his gold;

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0119.phi004.perseus-eng2. Via the Perseus Digital Library / Open Greek and Latin TEI corpora. Licence: Available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source.