Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 684 sections

1.1.60
It’s best for a man in servitude to know more than he says; that’s true wisdom.
1.1.61
On my faith, I don’t understand why you are alarmed. You are frightened, Epidicus; I see it by your countenance. You seem here, in my absence, to have got into some scrape or other.
1.1.63
Can’t you cease annoying me?
1.1.63b
I’ll be off.
1.1.63c
Stand still; I’ll not let you go from here.
1.1.64
Why do you hold me back?
1.1.64b
Is he in love with her whom he has purchased out of the spoil?
1.1.64c
Do you ask me?
1.1.65
He dotes to death upon her.
1.1.65b
The hide will be stripped from off my back.
1.1.66
He loves her, too, more than ever he loved you.
1.1.66b
May Jupiter confound you!
1.1.67
Let me go now; for he has forbidden me to go to our house; he ordered me to come here (pointing to the house) to our neighbour’s, Chaeribulus; there he bade me wait; he’s about to come there himself.
1.1.69b
Why so?
1.1.69c
I’ll tell you;
1.1.70
because he doesn’t wish to meet with or see his father, before he has paid down this money which is owing for her.
1.1.72
O dear! an involved business, i’ faith.
1.1.72b
Do let go of me, that I may now be off forthwith.
1.1.73
When the old gentleman knows this, our ship will fairly founder.
1.1.75
What matters it to me in what way you come to your end?
1.1.77
Because I don’t wish to perish alone; I’d like you to perish with me, well-wisher with well-wisher.
1.1.78b
Away with you from me to utter and extreme perdition with those terms of yours!
1.1.79b
Be off, then, if you are in great haste about anything.
1.1.80
I never met with any person from whom I parted with greater pleasure.
1.1.81
He’s gone away from here; you are now alone. In what plight this matter is, you now see, Epidicus. Unless you have some resources in your own self, you are done for. Ruination so great is impending over you—unless you support yourself stoutly, you cannot hold up; to such a degree are mountains of misfortune threatening to tumble on you.
1.1.85
Neither does any plan just now please me by means of which to find myself disengaged from my entanglement. To my misfortune, by my trickeries I have forced the old man to imagine that he was making purchase of his own daughter; whereas he has bought for his own son
1.1.90
a music-girl whom he was fond of, and whom on his departure he commissioned me about. He now, to please his fancy, has brought another one from the army. I’ve lost my hide, for when the old man finds out that he has been played tricks with, he’ll be flaying my back with twigs. But still, do you take all precautions.
1.1.95
That’s of no use! clearly this head of mine is addled! You are a worthless fellow, Epidicus. (In another tone.) What pleasure have you in being abusive? Because you are forsaking yourself. What am I to do? Do you ask me the question? Why you yourself, in former days, were wont to lend advice to others.
1.1.100
Well, well; something must be found out. But why delay to go meet the young man, that I may know how the matter stands? And here he is himself. He is in a grave mood. He’s coming with Chaeribulus, his year’s-mate. I’ll step aside here, whence at my leisure I’ll follow their discourse.
1.2.104
I’ve told you all the matter, Chaeribulus, and
1.2.105
I have fully disclosed to you the sum of my griefs and loves.
1.2.106
You are foolish, Stratippocles, beyond your age and lineage. Does it shame you, because you have bought a captive girl, born of good family, from among the spoil? Who will there be to impute it as a fault to you?
1.2.109
Through doing this, I’ve found that those who are envious are all enemies to me;
1.2.110
but I’ve never offered or criminal assault against her chastity.
1.2.111
Then, so far, in my opinion at least, you are a still more deserving man, inasmuch as you are temperate in your passion.
1.2.112
He effects nothing who consoles a desponding man with his words: he is a friend, who, in dubious circumstances, aids in deed when deeds are necessary.
1.2.114
What do you wish me to do?
1.2.114b
To lend me forty minae of silver,
1.2.115
to be paid to the Banker from whom I borrowed it on interest.
1.2.116
On my word, if I had it, I would not deny you.
1.2.116b
What then does it signify your being bounteous in talk, if all aid in the matter is dead outright.
1.2.118
Why faith, I myself am quite wearied and distracted with being dunned.
1.2.119
I had rather my friends of that sort were thrust into a furnace than into litigation.
1.2.120
But now I could wish to buy me the assistance of Epidicus at a weighty price, a fellow whom I’ll hand over well-liquored with stripes to the baker, unless he this day finds me forty minae before I’ve mentioned to him the last syllable of the sum.
1.2.124
The matter’s all right; he promises well; he’ll keep faith, I trust.
1.2.125
Without any expenditure of my own, an entertainment is already provided for my shoulder-blades. I’ll accost the man. (He goes up to STRATIPPOCLES.) The servant Epidicus wishes health to his master Stratippocles, on his arrival from abroad.
1.2.127b
Where is he?
1.2.127c
Here he is; I’m delighted that you have returned safe.
1.2.128b
I believe you as much in that as I do myself.
1.2.129
Have you been well all along?
1.2.129b
I’ve been free from disease; in mind I’ve been ailing.
1.2.130
As regarded myself, I’ve taken care of what you entrusted to me; it has been obtained; the female captive has been bought, about which matter you were sending me letters so often.
1.2.132b
You’ve lost all your labour.
1.2.132c
But why have I lost it?
1.2.133
Because she is not dear to my heart, nor does she please me.
1.2.133b
What means it, then, that you gave me such strict injunctions, and sent letters to me?
1.2.135
Formerly I did love her; but now another passion influences my heart.
1.2.136
I’ faith, it is a shocking thing for that to be unpleasant for a man which you have managed well for him; where I’ve done well, I’ve in reality done ill, since love has shifted sides.
1.2.138
I wasn’t right in my mind when I sent those letters to you.
1.2.139
Is it proper that I should be the atonement for your folly,
1.2.140
so as for you to substitute my back as the scape-goat for your folly?
1.2.141
Why are we making words about that? This man (pointing to himself) has need of forty minae, ready money, and in all haste, for him to pay a Banker, and speedily too.
1.2.143
Only tell me from what quarter you wish me to get them. From what banker am I to seek them?
1.2.144
From where you like. But if I don’t finger them before sunset,
1.2.145
don’t you enter my house; off with yourself to the mill.
1.2.146
You easily say that without risk and concern, and with a gay heart. I know our floggers; I feel the pain when I’m beaten.
1.2.148
How say you now? Will you suffer me to destroy myself?
1.2.148b
Don’t do that. I’ll cope with this peril and bold attempt in preference.
1.2.150
Now you please me; now do I commend you.
1.2.150b
I’ll submit to this in any way that’s pleasing to you.
1.2.151
What then is to be done about this music-girl?
1.2.151b
Some method shall be found out; by some means I’ll disengage myself; some way I shall get extricated.
1.2.152b
You are full of scheming; I know you of old.
1.2.153b
There is a rich Captain of Eubœa, abounding in plenty of gold, who, when he knows that that one was bought for you, and that this other one has been brought here,
1.2.156
will forthwith be entreating you, of his own accord, to transfer that other one to him. But where is she whom you have brought with you?
1.2.156b
I shall have her here just now.
1.2.157
What are we now doing here?
1.2.157b
Let’s go in-doors here at your house, that, for the present, we may pass this day merrily.
1.2.158b
Go in-doors; I’ll now call a council in my heart to adopt measures about this money business,
1.2.160
against whom, in especial, war is to be declared, and out of whom I’m to get the money. Epidicus, consider what you are to do; thus suddenly has this business been thrown upon you. But now you must not be slumbering, nor have you any leisure for delay. Now must you be daring! ’Tis my fixed determination to lay siege to the old man. I’ll go indoors; I’ll tell the young man, my master’s son,
1.2.165
not to walk abroad here, or come anywhere in the way of the old gentleman.
2.1.166
Mostly all men are ashamed when they have no occasion to be; when they ought to be ashamed, then does shame forsake them, when there’s a necessity for their being ashamed. That man, in fact, are you. What is there to be ashamed of
2.1.170
in your bringing home a wife, poor, but born of good family? Especially her, whose daughter you say this girl is, who is at your house?
2.1.173
I have some regard for my son.
2.1.173b
But, i’ faith, the wife whom you buried I thought you had felt some respect for;
2.1.175
whose tomb as oft as you see, you straightway sacrifice victims to Orcus; and not without reason, in fact, since you’ve been allowed to get the better of her by surviving her.
2.1.177b
Ah me! I was a Hercules while she was with me; and, upon my faith, the sixth labour was not more difficult to Hercules than the one that fell to my lot.
2.1.180
I’ faith, money’s a handsome dowry.
2.1.180b
Troth, so it is, which isn’t encumbered with a wife.
2.2.181
Hist! hist! be silent, and have good courage; with a fair omen have I come out of doors, the bird upon the left hand. (Pointing to his head.) I’ve got a sharp knife, with which to embowel the old man’s purse;
2.2.184_185
but see! here he is before the house of Apaecides, the two old fellows, just as I want. Now I shall change me into a leech, and suck out the blood of these who are called the pillars of the Senate.
2.2.189_190
Let him be married at once.
2.2.189_190b
I approve of your design.
2.2.191
For I’ve heard that he’s entangled with love with a certain music-girl, I don’t know who. At that I’m vexed to death.
2.2.192b
By my troth, all the Deities do aid, amplify, and love me; really, these men themselves are pointing out to me the way by means of which I’m to get the money out of them. Now then, come, equip yourself, Epidicus, and throw your cloak about your neck (suiting the action to the word.)
2.2.195
and pretend as though you had been in search of the man all the city over. On with it, if you are going to do it! (He hurries past the OLD MEN as though he didn’t see them, and calls out aloud.) Immortal Gods! I do wish I could meet with Periphanes at home, whom I’m tired with searching for all over the city, throughout the doctors’ shops, throughout the barbers’ shops, in the gymnasium, and in the Forum, at the perfumers’ shops and the butchers’ stalls, and round about the bankers’ shops.
2.2.200
I’m become hoarse with enquiring; I’ve almost dropped down with running.
2.2.201
Epidicus!
2.2.201b
Who is it that’s calling Epidicus back?
2.2.201c
It’s I, Periphanes.

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.