Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 684 sections

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Dramatis Personae PERIPHIANES, an aged Athenian of rank. STRATIPPOCLES, his son by a former wife. APAECIDES, an aged Athenian, friend of Periphanes. EPIDICUS, servant of Periphanes. CHAERIBULUS, a young Athenian, friend of Stratippocies. THESPRIO, armour-bearer to Stratippocles. A CAPTAIN of . A BANKER. PHILIPPA, a woman of , the mother of Telestis. ACROPOLISTIS, a music-girl, mistress of Stratippocles. TELESTIS, daughter of Periphanes and Philippa. A MUSIC-GIRL.
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(Scene—Athens: before the houses of PERIPHANES, APAECIDES, and CHAERIBULUS.)
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THE SUBJECT. The plot of this Play is of an involved nature. Periphanes, an aged Athenian, has a son, born in wedlock, named Stratippocles. By Philippa, a woman of Epidaurus, whom he has formerly seduced, he has had a daughter, named Telestis who has been residing with her mother at Thebes. A war arising between the Athenians and Thebans, Stratippocles, on setting out for the army, commissions Epidicus, his father’s servant, to purchase for him Acropolistis, a music-girl, of whom lie is enamoured. Epidicns, on this, persuades Periphanes that this girl is really his daughter by Philippa, whom he has not seen for many years, and that she has been taken captive at Thebes, and brought to Athens. On this the old man gives Epidicus the requisite sum, and she is brought home and introduced to him as his daughter Telestis. In the meantime, Stratippocles meets with another damsel who has been taken captive, and agrees with a Banker to borrow forty mince, for the purpose of purchasing her. He returns to Athens, and resolves not to meet his father until he has paid the money to the Banker and gained possession of the damsel, and Epidicus is threatened by him with a severe punishment, if he does not manage to raise the sum required. On this he accosts his aged master, and tells him that he must find a wife for his son, who is about to purchase a singing-girl of the name of Acropolistis. The old man is persuaded to give a sum of money to Epidicus for the purpose of buying Acropolistis, that she may be kept out of the way of his son. On receiving the money, Epidicus hands it over to Stratippocles, to be paid to the Banker. The old gentleman having that morning ordered a singing-girl to be hired to perform at a sacrifice at his house, she is brought to him as Acropolistis, having been instructed how to play her part. A Captain, who admires Acropolistis, having heard that Periphanes has purchased her, applies to him, and offers to give him a profit of ten minae if he will transfer her to him. Periphanes, thereupon, brings to him the music-girl who is assuming that character (while the real Acropolistis is taken for his daughter), on which the Captain discovers the deception, and Periphanes finds out that the girl is already free, and has been only brought to his house to perform at the sacrifice. At this conjuncture Philippa arrives, having heard that her daughter has been brought to Athens. Periphanes meets her, and assures her that her daughter is safe at his house. On this, Philippa is introduced to Acropolistis, and declares that she is not her daughter, and that Periphanes has been imposed upon. On being questioned,Acropolistis confesses that she has only called Periphanes her father because lie has called her his daughter. Epidicus, on being discovered to be guilty of this second fraud upon his master, is greatly alarmed; but just then he perceives the Banker, who has come for the money, leading the Theban captive. He immediately recognizes her as Telestis, the real daughter of Periphanes and Philippa, Stratippocles, somewhat to his sorrow, is informed that the captive is his half-sister, and therefore, most probably, consoles himself with Acropolistis. For making this discovery, Epidicus is not only pardoned by Periphanes, but receives his freedom.
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THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. An old gentleman, thinking her his daughter, purchases (Emit) a music-girl, by the advice (Persuasu) of his servant, who, a second time (Iterum), substitutes for him, in place of his son’s mistress, another one hired; he gives (Dat) to his master’s son the money; with it the young man, not knowing it (Imprudens), purchases his sister. Soon afterwards, by the aid of a woman whom he has seduced, and of a Captain, the old man understands (Cognoscit) that he has been imposed upon, as (Ut) the one is in search of his mistress, the other of her daughter. But (Sed) on finding his daughter, he gives his servant his liberty.
1.1.1
Harkye! young man.
1.1.1b
Who pulls me by the cloak, when thus in haste?
1.1.2
An intimate.
1.1.2b
I confess it; for with your annoyance you are too intimate.
1.1.3
But do look back, Thesprio!
1.1.3b
What? Is it Epidicus that I see?
1.1.5
Why surely you’ve the use of your eyes.
1.1.6
Greetings to you.
1.1.6b
May the Gods grant what you desire. I’m glad that you’ve got here safe.
1.1.7b
What besides?
1.1.7c
According to the usage, a dinner shall be given you.
1.1.8b
I agree.
1.1.8c
What to do?
1.1.8d
That I’ll accept it, if you offer it.
1.1.9
How are you? Fare you as you could wish?
1.1.9a
The proof’s before you.
1.1.10
Marvellous! You seem quite plump and hearty.
1.1.10b
Thanks to this.
1.1.11
Which, indeed, you ought to have parted with long ago.
1.1.12
I’m less of a pilferer now than formerly.
1.1.12b
How so?
1.1.12c
I rob above-board.
1.1.13
May the immortal Gods confound you, with what huge strides you do walk! for when I caught sight of you at the harbour, I began to run at a rapid pace;
1.1.15
I was hardly able to overtake you just now.
1.1.15b
You are a town wit.
1.1.15c
I know that you, on the other hand, are a military gentleman.
1.1.16b
Speak out as boldly as you please.
1.1.17
How say you? Have you been well all along?
1.1.17b
In a varied way.
1.1.17c
Those who are well in a varied way, a race of men of the goat kind or of the panther kind, don’t please me.
1.1.19
What do you wish me to tell you but that which is fact?
1.1.19b
To answer to these things fairly;
1.1.20
how’s our master’s son? Is he well?
1.1.20b
Stout as a boxer and an athlete.
1.1.21
You’ve brought me joyous tidings on your arrival. But where is he?
1.1.22b
I came here together with him.
1.1.22c
Where is he then? Unless, perchance, you’ve brought him in your wallet, or, perhaps, in your knapsack.
1.1.23b
May the Gods confound you!
1.1.23c
I want to make enquiries of you. Lend me your attention; attention shall be lent you in return.
1.1.25
You say what’s law.
1.1.25b
It becomes me to do so.
1.1.25c
But why now are you acting the Praetor over us?
1.1.26
What other person in Athens will you say is more deserving of it than I?
1.1.26a
But still, Epidicus, one thing is wanting for your Praetorship.
1.1.27b
What, pray?
1.1.27c
You shall know; two lictors two osier bundles of twigs—
1.1.28b
Woe unto you! But how say you—?
1.1.29b
What is it you ask?
1.1.29c
Where are the arms of Stratippocles?
1.1.30
I’ faith, they’ve gone over to the enemy.
1.1.30b
What, his arms?
1.1.30c
Aye, and quickly too.
1.1.30a
Do you say that seriously?
1.1.31a
Seriously I say it; the enemy have got them.
1.1.32
By my troth, a disgraceful affair.
1.1.32b
Still, before now, other persons have done the same. This affair will turn out to his honor.
1.1.33b
How so?
1.1.33c
Because it has been so to others before.
1.1.34
Mulciber, I suppose, made the arms which Stratippocles had;
1.1.35
they flew over to the enemy.
1.1.35b
Why, then, e’en let this son of Thetis lose them; the daughters of Nereus will bring him others.
1.1.37
Only this must be looked to, that material may be found for the armourers, if in each campaign he yields a spoil to the enemy.
1.1.39
Have done now with these matters.
1.1.39b
You yourself make an end of them when you please.
1.1.40
Cease your enquiries then.
1.1.40b
Say, where is Stratippocles himself?
1.1.41
There is a reason, for which reason he has been afraid to come together with me.
1.1.41b
Pray, what is it?
1.1.42
He doesn’t wish to see his father as yet.
1.1.42b
For what reason?
1.1.42c
You shall hear; because he has purchased out of the spoil a young female captive of charming and genteel figure.
1.1.44b
What is it I hear from you?
1.1.44c
That which I’m telling you.
1.1.45
Why has he purchased her?
1.1.45b
To please his fancy.
1.1.45c
How many fancies has this man? For assuredly, before he went away from home to the army, he himself commissioned me, that a music-girl whom he was in love with should be purchased of a Procurer for him. That I have managed to accomplish for him.
1.1.49
Whichever way the wind is at sea, Epidicus, in that direction the sail is shifted.
1.1.50
Woe unto wretched me! He has utterly undone me!
1.1.50b
What’s the meaning of this? What’s the matter, pray?
1.1.51
Well now—she whom he has bought, at what sum has he purchased her?
1.1.51b
A very little.
1.1.51c
That I don’t ask you.
1.1.52
What then?
1.1.52b
For how many minae?
1.1.52c
For so many.
1.1.52cc
Forty minae?
1.1.53
For that purpose, he borrowed the money on interest of a Banker at Thebes, at a didrachm for each silver mina per day.
1.1.54b
Surprising!
1.1.55
This Banker, too, has come together with him, and is dunning for his money.
1.1.56
Immortal Gods! now I’m fairly done for!
1.1.56b
Why so, or.what’s the matter, Epidicus?
1.1.57b
He has proved my ruin!
1.1.57c
Who?
1.1.57d
Who? He who lost his arms.
1.1.58
But why so?
1.1.58b
Because he himself was every day sending me letters from the army—but I shall hold my tongue; it’s best to do so.

Perseus Latin. CTS URN phi0119.phi009.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.