Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 938 sections

4.6.789b
Take notice of the seal.
4.6.789c
I know it. Where is he himself?
4.6.789d
I don’t know.
4.6.790
I ought to know nothing now; I’ve forgotten everything. I know that I’m a slave; I know not even that which I do know. (Aside.) Now from the springe this thrush is catching at the worm; he’ll be finely noosed this day, so well I’ve set the snare.
4.6.794
Stay here but a moment; I’ll return to you directly, Chrysalus.
4.6.795
How he does dissemble with me; how ignorant I am of the business he’s about. He has gone to fetch slaves from in-doors to bind me. The ship speeds prosperously on; finely, too, is this craft boarding it. But I’ll hold my tongue, for I hear the door opening.
4.7.799
Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant.
4.7.800
What have I done?
4.7.800b
Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. (To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets.) What does this letter say?
4.7.801b
Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I’ve brought it sealed to you.
4.7.803
Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold,
4.7.805
and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick?
4.7.806b
Have I said so?
4.7.806c
You have.
4.7.807
What person is there, who says that I’ve said so?
4.7.807b
Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, ’tis this that requests you to be chained.
4.7.810
Ah! your son has been making a Bellerophon of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so.
4.7.812
This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.
4.7.814
O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale;
4.7.815
and that you are standing on the very stone as the auctioneer puts you up.
4.7.816
Answer me; who is selling me?
4.7.816b
He whom the Gods favour dies in youth, while he is in his health, has his senses and judgment sound. This person (pointing to NICOBULUS), if any God had favoured him, ought to have been dead more than ten years—aye, more than twenty years ago.
4.7.820
’Tis for long, he has walked, a nuisance, on the earth; so devoid is he of either judgment or sense. He is of as much value as a rotten mushroom is.
4.7.822
Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.
4.7.824b
No, but you’ll soon be giving it me.
4.7.825
I, give it you?
4.7.825b
You’ll be entreating me, too, of your own accord to receive it, when you shall come to know this accuser of mine, in how great danger and in what a dreadful situation he is. Then will you be offering his liberty to Chrysalus; but I certainly shan’t accept it.
4.7.829b
Tell me, source of mischief,
4.7.830
tell me, in what danger is my son Mnesilochus.
4.7.831
Follow me this way; I’ll soon let you know.
4.7.831b
Where on earth shall I follow you?
4.7.832
Only three steps.
4.7.832b
Aye, ten even.
4.7.832c
Come, then, Artamo, do you open you this door out a very little way; softly, don’t make it creak. (The door of the house of BACCHIS is opened.) That’s enough. Now, step you hither. (To NICOBULUS, who looks in.) Do you see the entertainment?
4.7.835
I see Pistoclerus and Bacchis right opposite.
4.7.836
Who are upon that other couch?
4.7.836b
Wretch that I am, I’m undone.
4.7.837
Do you recognize that person?
4.7.837b
I do recognize him.
4.7.837c
Now tell me, if you please, does that woman seem of handsome appearance?
4.7.838b
Very much so.
4.7.839
Well, do you take her to be a courtesan?
4.7.839b
Why not?
4.7.840
You are mistaken.
4.7.840b
Who is she then, prithee?
4.7.840c
You’ll find out from me. indeed, you’ll get no more information to-day.
4.8.842
Is this Mnesilochus, the son of Nicobulus, by force to detain my own mistress? What proceeding is this?
4.8.844
Who’s this?
4.8.844b
This Captain’s opportunely come for me.
4.8.845
He doesn’t consider that I am a soldier, but a woman, who cannot defend myself and mine. But may neither Bellona nor Mars ever put confidence in me, if I don’t put him out of life, if I meet him, or if I don’t make him lose possession of his existence.
4.8.850
Chrysalus, who’s this that’s threatening my son?
4.8.851
This is the husband of that woman with whom he is now reclining.
4.8.852
What! The husband?
4.8.852b
The husband, I say.
4.8.852c
Prithee, is she married then?
4.8.853
You’ll know before very long.
4.8.853b
Wretch that I am; I’m utterly undone.
4.8.854
How now? Does Chrysalus seem such a villain to you?
4.8.855
Come, chain me now, and do listen to your son. Didn’t I tell you that you would discover what sort of person he is?
4.8.857
What shall I do now?
4.8.857b
Order me at once to be released, if you please; for, if I’m not released, he’ll just now be overpowering the young man in our presence.
4.8.859
There’s no gain that I should this day take so much delight in making,
4.8.860
as I should in falling upon him as he reclines with her, so that I might kill them both.
4.8.861
Don’t you hear what he says Why don’t you order me to be released?
4.8.862
Unbind him. I’m ruined; wretch that I am! I’m in a dreadful fright.
4.8.863
Then I’d make her, who publicly puts up her person for sale, not to say that she has got a person for her to laugh at.
4.8.865
You may make terms with him for a little money.
4.8.866b
Make terms, then, I beg, for what you like; so that he mayn’t, in our presence, fall upon the young man, or kill him outright.
4.8.868
Unless the two hundred Philippeans are repaid to me at once, I’ll this instant swallow the lives of them both outright.
4.8.870
Make terms with him, if you can; prithee, do make haste; agree for any sum you like.
4.8.871b
I’ll go, and do it carefully. (Goes up to CLEOMACHUS.) Why are you exclaiming so?
4.8.872b
Where’s your master?
4.8.872c
Nowhere; I don’t know. Do you wish the two hundred pieces to be promised you at once, so as to make no riot or disturbance here?
4.8.875
There’s nothing that I would desire more.
4.8.875b
And that I may heap many a curse upon you?
4.8.876
Just as you please.
4.8.876b
How the villain does cringe.
4.8.877
(To CLEOMACHUS.) This is the father of Mnesilochus: follow me; he shall promise it you. Do you ask for the gold. As to the rest, a word’s enough.
4.8.879
What has been done?
4.8.879b
I’ve struck the bargain for two hundred Philippeans.
4.8.879c
Well done! Goddess Salvation,
4.8.880
thou hast saved me. Well, how soon am I to say I’ll pay it?
4.8.881
Do you ask it of him; and (to NICOBULUS) do you promise it him.
4.8.881b
I promise it. (To CLEOMACHUS.) Come, ask me.
4.8.882
Will you give me two hundred golden Philippean pieces, lawful money?
4.8.883b
They shall be given, say: do answer him.
4.8.883c
I’ll give them.
4.8.884
Well, now, filthy fellow is there anything owing to you?
4.8.885
Why are you plaguing him? Why are you frightening him about death? Both I and he wish you every ill luck. If you have a sword, still we have a spit at home; with which, in fact, if you provoke me,
4.8.890
I’ll make you more full of holes than a rat’s skin when caught in a trap. I’ faith, for my part, some time since I found out what suspicion it was that tormented you; namely, that he was with that wife of yours.
4.8.892
Yes; and so he is.
4.8.892b
So may Jupiter, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Hope, Latona, Ops, Virtue, Venus, Castor, Pollux, Mars, Mercury, Hercules,
4.8.895
Summanus, the Sun, Saturn, and all the Deities, prosper me, he neither reclines with her, nor walks, nor kisses, nor does that which is wont to be reported.
4.8.898
How he does swear! He’s saving me, however, by his perjury.
4.8.899
Where then, at this moment, is Mnesilochus?
4.8.899b
His father has sent him into the country.
4.8.900
And she has gone hence to the citadel, to see the temple of Minerva. The door’s open now; go in, and see if he’s there.
4.8.902
I’ll be off to the Forum next.
4.8.902b
Or rather, by my troth, to very perdition.
4.8.903
Am I to demand this gold to-day?

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