Captivi: The Captives

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 636 sections

2.3.385
Philocrates, as up to this moment I have done, I will take all due care to endeavour that which may especially conduce to your interest, and to pursue the same with heart and soul, and with my ears.
2.3.388
You act just as you ought to act; now I wish you to give attention. In the first place of all, carry my respects to my mother and my father,
2.3.390
and to my relations, and if any one else you see well-disposed towards me: say that I am in health here, and that I am a slave, in servitude to this most worthy man, who has ever honored me more and more with his respect, and does so still.
2.3.393
Don’t you be instructing me as to that; I can, still, easily bear that in mind.
2.3.394
For, indeed, except that I have a keeper, I deem myself to be a free man.
2.3.395
Tell my father on what terms I have agreed with this party about his son.
2.3.396b
What I remember, it is sheer delay to be putting me in mind of.
2.3.397
To redeem him, and to send him back here in exchange for both of us.
2.3.398
I’ll remember it.
2.3.398b
But as soon as he can that is especially to the interest of us both.
2.3.399
You are not more anxious to see your son, than he is to see his.
2.3.400
My son is dear to myself, and his own to every man.
2.3.400b
Do you wish any other message to be carried to your father?
2.3.401b
Say that I am well here; and do you boldly tell him, Tyndarus, that we have been of dispositions for uninterrupted harmony between ourselves, and that you have neither been deserving of censure, nor that I have proved your enemy; and that still, amid miseries so great, you have shown implicit obedience to your master,
2.3.405
and that you have never abandoned me, either in deed or in fidelity, amid my wavering, unprosperous fortunes. When my father shall know this, Tyndarus, how well-disposed you have proved towards his son and himself, he will never be so avaricious but that he’ll give you your liberty for nothing. And by my own endeavours, if I return hence, I’ll make him do so the more readily.
2.3.410
For by your aid and kindness, and good disposition and prudence, you have caused me to be allowed to return to my parents once again, inasmuch as to Hegio you have confessed both my rank and my wealth; by means of which, through your wisdom, you have liberated your master from his chains.
2.3.414
The things which you mention I have done, and I am pleased that you remember this.
2.3.415
Deservedly have they been done for you by me; for now, Philocrates, if I, too, were to mention the things that you have kindly done for me, the night would cut short the day. For, had you been my slave even, no otherwise were you always obliging to me.
2.3.418b
Ye Gods, by our trust in you! behold the kindly disposition of these persons! How they draw the very tears from me!
2.3.420
See how cordially they love each other, and with what praises the servant has commended his master.
2.3.421b
I’ troth, he hasn’t commended me the one hundredth part of what he himself deserves to be commended in my praises.
2.3.423
Since, then, you have acted most becomingly, now there’s an opportunity to add to your good deeds in managing this matter with fidelity towards him.
2.3.425
I am not able more to wish it done, than by my endeavours to try to bring it about. That you may know this, Hegio, with praises do I call supreme Jove to witness that I will not prove unfaithful to Philocrates—
2.3.427b
You are a worthy fellow.
2.3.428
And that I will never in anything act otherwise towards him than towards my own self.
2.3.429
I wish you to put these speeches to the test, both by your deeds and your actions;
2.3.430
and inasmuch as I have said the less about you than I had wished, I wish you the more to give me your attention, and take you care not to be angry with me by reason of these words. But, I beseech you, reflect that you are sent hence home with a price set upon you at my risk, and that my life is here left as a pledge for you. Do not you forget me the very moment that you have left my presence,
2.3.435
since you will have left me here behind a captive in captivity for yourself, and don’t consider yourself as free, and forsake your pledge, and not use your endeavours for you to bring his son home again, in return for me. Understand that you are sent hence valued at twenty minae. Take care to prove scrupulously faithful; take care that you show not a wavering fidelity.
2.3.440
For my father, I am sure, will do everything that he ought to do. Preserve me as a constant friend to you, and find out this person so lately discovered. These things, by your right hand, holding you with my own right hand, do I beg of you; do not prove less true to me than I have proved to you. This matter do you attend to; you are now my master, you my patron, you my father;
2.3.445
to you do I commend my hopes and my fortunes.
2.3.445b
You have given injunctions enough. Are you satisfied if I bring back accomplished what you have enjoined?
2.3.446b
Satisfied.
2.3.447
According to your wishes, and (to TYNDARUS) according to yours, will I return hither provided. Is there anything else?
2.3.448b
For you to return back as soon as ever you can.
2.3.448c
The business itself reminds me of that.
2.3.449
Follow me, that I may give you your expenses for the journey at my banker’s;
2.3.450
on the same occasion I’ll get a passport from the Praetor.
2.3.450b
What passport?
2.3.451
For him to take with him hence to the army, that he may be allowed to go home from here. (To TYNDARUS.) You go in-doors.
2.3.452b
Speed you well.
2.3.452c
Right heartily, farewell.
2.3.452d
I’ faith, I compassed my design, when I purchased these men of the Quaestors out of the spoil. I have released my son from slavery, if so it pleases the Gods;
2.3.455
and yet I hesitated a long time whether I should purchase or should not purchase these persons. Watch that man indoors, if you please, you servants, that he may nowhere move a foot without a guard. I shall soon make my appearance at home; now I’m going to my brother’s, to see my other captives; at the same time I’ll enquire whether any one knows this young man.
2.3.460
(To PHILOCRATES.) Do you follow, that I may despatch you. I wish attention first to be paid to that matter.
3.1.461
Wretched is that man who is in search of something to eat, and finds that with difficulty; but more wretched is he who both seeks with difficulty, and finds nothing at all; most wretched is he, who, when he desires to eat, has not that which he may eat. But, by my faith, if I only could, I’d willingly tear out the eyes of this day;
3.1.465
—with such enmity has it filled all people towards me. One more starved out I never did see, nor one more filled with hunger, nor one who prospers less in whatever he begins to do. So much do my stomach and my throat take rest on these fasting holidays. Away with the profession of a Parasite to very utter and extreme perdition!
3.1.470
so much in these days do the young men drive away from them the needy drolls. They care nothing now-a-days for these Laconian men of the lowest benches—these whipping-posts, who have their clever sayings without provision and without money. They now-a-days seek those who, when they’ve eaten at their pleasure, may give them a return at their own houses. They go themselves to market, which formerly was the province of the Parasites.
3.1.475
They go themselves from the Forum to the procurers with face as exposed as the magistrates in court, with face exposed, condemn those who are found guilty; nor do they now value buffoons at one farthing; all are so much in love with themselves. For, when, just now, I went away from here, I came to some young men in the Forum: Good morrow, said I; whither are we going together to breakfast? On this, they were silent.
3.1.480
Who says, ‘here, at my house,’ or who makes an offer? said I. Just like dumb men, they were silent, and didn’t smile at me. Where do we dine? said I. On this they declined. I said one funny saying out of my best bon mots, by which I formerly used to get feasting for a month; not an individual smiled; at once I knew that the matter was arranged by concert.
3.1.485
Not even one was willing to imitate a dog when provoked; if they didn’t laugh, they might, at least, have grinned with their teeth. From them I went away, after I saw that I was thus made sport of. I went to some others; then to some others I came; then to some others—the same the result. All treat the matter in confederacy, just like the oil-merchants in the Velabrum.
3.1.490
Now, I’ve returned thence, since I see myself made sport of there. In like manner do other Parasites walk to and fro, to no purpose, in the Forum. Now, after the foreign fashion, I’m determined to enforce all my rights. Those who have entered into a confederacy, by which to deprive us of food and life,—for them I’ll name a day. I’ll demand, as the damages, that they shall give me ten dinners
3.1.495
at my own option, when provisions are dear: thus will I do. Now I’ll go hence to the harbour. There, is my only hope of a dinner; if that shall fail me, I’ll return here to the old gentleman, to his unsavoury dinner.
3.2.498
What is there more delightful than to manage one’s own interests well for the public good, just as I did yesterday,
3.2.500
when I purchased these men. Every person, as they see me, comes to meet me, and congratulates me on this matter. By thus stopping and detaining unlucky me, they’ve made me quite tired. With much ado have I survived from being congratulated, to my misfortune.
3.2.505
At last, to the Praetor did I get. There, scarcely did I rest myself. I asked for a passport; it was given me: at once I delivered it to Tyndarus. He started for home. Thence, straightway, after that was done, I passed by my house; and I went at once to my brother’s, where my other captives are. I asked about Philocrates from Elis, whether any one of them all knew the person.
3.2.510
This man (pointing to ARISTOPHONTES) called out that he had been his intimate friend; I told him that he was at my house. At once he besought and entreated me that I would permit him to see him. Forthwith I ordered him to be released from chains. Thence have I come. (To ARISTOPHONTES.) Now, do you follow me,
3.2.514_515
that you may obtain what you have besought of me, the opportunity of meeting with this person.
3.3.516
Now stands the matter so, that I would much rather that I had once existed, than that I still exist; now do my hopes, my resources, and my succour, desert me and spurn themselves. This is that day, when, for my life, no safety can be hoped; nor yet is death my end; nor hope is there, in fact, to dispel this fear for me;
3.3.520
nor cloak have I anywhere for my deceitful stratagems; nor for my devices or my subterfuges is there anywhere a screen presented to me. No deprecating is there for my perfidy; no means of flight for my offences. No refuge is there anywhere for my trusting; and no escape for my cunning schemes. What was concealed is now exposed; my plans are now divulged.
3.3.525
The whole matter is now laid open; nor is there any ado about this matter, but that I must perish outright, and meet with destruction, both on behalf of my master and myself. This Aristophontes has proved my ruin, who has just now come into the house. He knows me. He is the intimate friend and kinsman of Philocrates. Not Salvation herself can save me now, even if she wishes; nor have I any means of escape,
3.3.530
unless, perchance, I devise some artifice in my mind. (He meditates.) Plague on it!-how? What can I contrive?—what can I think of? Some very great folly and trifling I shall have to begin with. I’m quite at a loss.
3.4.533
Whither am I to say, now, that this man has betaken himself from the house out of doors?
3.4.534
Now, for a very certainty, I’m done for; the enemies are coming to you, Tyndarus!
3.4.535
What shall I say?—what shall I talk of? What shall I deny, or what confess? All matters are reduced to uncertainty. How shall I place confidence in my resources? I wish the Gods had destroyed you, before you were lost to your own country, Aristophontes, who, from a plot well concerted, are making it disconcerted. This plan is ruined outright, unless I find out for myself some extremely bold device.
3.4.540
Follow me. See, there is the man; go to him and address him.
3.4.540b
What mortal among mortals is there more wretched than myself?
3.4.541
Why’s this, that I’m to say that you are avoiding my gaze, Tyndarus? And why that you are slighting me as a stranger, as though you had never known me? Why, I’m as much a slave as yourself; although at home I was a free man, you, even from your childhood, have always served in slavery in Elis.
3.4.545
I’ faith, I’m very little surprised, if either he does avoid your gaze, or if he does shun you, who are calling him Tyndarus, instead of Philocrates.
3.4.547
Hegio, this person was accounted a madman in Elis. Don’t you give ear to what he prates about; for at home he has pursued his father and mother with spears,
3.4.550
and that malady sometimes comes upon him which is spit out Do you this instant stand away at a distance from him.
3.4.551b
Away with him further off from me.
3.4.551c
Do you say, you whipp’d knave, that I am mad, and do you declare that I have followed my own father with spears? And that I have that malady, that it’s necessary for me to be spit upon?
3.4.554
Don’t be dismayed; that malady afflicts many a person
3.4.555
to whom it has proved wholesome to be spit upon, and has been of service to them.
3.4.556
Why, what do you say? Do you, too, credit him?
3.4.556b
Credit him in what?
3.4.556c
That I am mad?
3.4.557
Do you see him, with what a furious aspect he’s looking at you? ’Twere best to retire, Hegio; it is as I said, his frenzy grows apace; have a care for yourself.
3.4.559
I thought that he was mad, the moment that he called you Tyndarus.
3.4.560
Why, he’s sometimes ignorant of his own name, and doesn’t know what it is.
3.4.561
But he even said that you were his intimate friend.
3.4.561b
So far from that, I never saw him. Why, really, Alcmaeon, and Orestes, and Lycurgus besides, are my friends on the same principle that he is.
3.4.563b
Villain, and do you dare speak ill of me, as well? Do I not know you?
3.4.564b
I’ faith, it really is very clear
3.4.565
that you don’t know him, who are calling him Tyndarus, instead of Philocrates. Him whom you see, you don’t know; you are addressing him as the person whom you don’t see.
3.4.567
On the contrary this fellow’s saying that he is the person who he is not; and he says that he is not the person who he really is.
3.4.568
You’ve been found, of course, to excel Philocrates in truthfulness.
3.4.569
By my troth, as I understand the matter, you’ve been found to brazen out the truth by lying. But i’ faith, prithee, come then, look at me.
3.4.570b
Well!
3.4.570c
Say, now; do you deny that you are Tyndarus?
3.4.571b
I do deny it, I say.
3.4.571c
Do you say that you are Philocrates?
3.4.572b
I do say so, I say.
3.4.572c
And do you believe him?
3.4.572d
More, indeed, than either you or myself. For he, in fact, who you say that he is (pointing to TYNDARUS), has set out hence to-day for Elis, to this person’s father.
3.4.574b
What father, when he’s a slave.
3.4.574c
And so are
3.4.575
you a slave, and yet you were a free man; and I trust that so I shall be, if I restore his son here to liberty.
3.4.577
How say you, villain? Do you say that you were born a free man [liber]?
3.4.578
I really do not say that I am Liber, but that I am Philocrates.

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