Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 684 sections

2.2.202
And I, Apaecides.
2.2.202b
And I, indeed, am Epidicus. But, master, I find that you’ve both met me at the nick of time.
2.2.203b
What’s the matter?
2.2.204
Wait, wait! (puffs and blows.) prithee, do let me get breath!
2.2.204b
By all means, rest yourself.
2.2.204c
I’m quite faint;
2.2.205
I must recover my breath.
2.2.205b
Do rest yourself at your leisure.
2.2.205c
Lend me your attention. All the men of the army have been remanded home from Thebes.
2.2.206b
Who knows for certain that this has been done?
2.2.207b
I say that it has been done.
2.2.207c
Are you sure of that?
2.2.207d
I am sure of it.
2.2.208
Why are you sure of it?
2.2.208b
Because I’ve seen the soldiers marching through the streets in shoals. They are bringing back their arms and their baggage-horses.
2.2.209b
Very good indeed!
2.2.210
Then, what prisoners they’ve got with them! boys, girls, in twos and threes; another one has got five; there’s a crowd in the streets; they are looking out each for his son.
2.2.212b
I’ troth, a business very well managed!
2.2.213
Then, filly as many of the courtesans as there are in the whole city were going decked out each to meet her lover;
2.2.215
they were going to trap them; that’s the fact, inasmuch as I gave especial attention to it; several of these had with them nets beneath their garments. When I came to the harbour, forthwith I espied her waiting there, and with her were four music-girls.
2.2.218b
With whom, Epidicus?
2.2.219
With her whom your son has been loving and doting on for years,
2.2.220
with whom he’s making all haste to ruin credit, property, himself, and yourself. She was on the lookout for him at the harbour.
2.2.221b
Just see the sorceress now!
2.2.222
But decked out, sparkling with gold, and adorned so splendidly! so nicely! so fashionably!
2.2.223
What was she drest in? Was it a royal robe, or was it a plain dress?
2.2.224
A skylight one, according as these women coin names for garments.
2.2.225
What! was she dressed in a skylight?
2.2.225b
What’s there wonderful in that? As though many women didn’t go through the streets decked out with farms upon them. But when the tax is demanded, they declare it cannot be paid; while to these hussies, to whom a larger tax is paid, it can be paid. Why, what new names every year these women are finding for their clothing—
2.2.230
the thin tunic, the thick tunic, your fulled linen cloth, chemises, bordered shifts’ the marigold or saffron-coloured dress, the under-petticoat or else the light vermilion dress, the hood, the royal or the foreign robe, the wave pattern or the feather-pattern, the wax or the apple-tint. The greatest nonsense! From dogs, too, do they even take the names.
2.2.234b
How so?
2.2.234c
They call one the Laconian. These names compel men to make auctions.
2.2.236
But do you say on as you commenced.
2.2.236b
Two other women behind me began to speak thus between themselves; I, like my wont, went away a little distance from them; I pretended that I wasn’t attending to their talk: I didn’t quite hear all, and still I wasn’t deceived
2.2.240
in a word they said.
2.2.240b
I long to hear it.
2.2.240c
Then one of them said to the other with whom she was talking—
2.2.241b
What?
2.2.241c
Be quiet then, that you may hear. After they had caught sight of her whom your son is dying for: Prithee, how happily and luckily has it befallen that woman for her lover to be wishing to set her free. Who is he?
2.2.245
said the other. She mentioned Stratippocles.
2.2.246b
Troth now, I’m undone; what is it I hear of you?
2.2.247
That which really took place. After this, I myself, when I heard them talking, began again to draw closer towards them little by little, as though the crowd of people was pushing me, whether I would or no.
2.2.249b
I understand.
2.2.250
Then the one asked the other, How do you know? Why, because a letter has been brought her to-day from Stratippocles; that he has borrowed money on interest from a banker at Thebes; that it is ready, and he himself has brought it for that purpose.
2.2.253b
Tell on—I’m undone!
2.2.254
She said that she had heard so from her and from the letter which she had seen.
2.2.255
What am I to do now? I ask your advice, Apaecides.
2.2.256
Let us find some clever, useful expedient; for he, indeed, will either be here just now, or is here already.
2.2.257b
If it were right for me to be wiser than you, I could give you some good advice, which you will praise, I fancy, both of you—
2.2.259b
Then where is it, Epidicus?
2.2.260
Yes, and useful for this purpose,
2.2.260b
Why do you hesitate to mention it?
2.2.261
It’s proper for yourselves, who are the wiser, to be the first to speak, and for me to speak afterwards.
2.2.262b
Aye, aye, of course—come, say on.
2.2.262c
But you’ll laugh at me.
2.2.263
On my word, we will not do so.
2.2.263b
Well then, if it pleases you, use my advice; if it doesn’t please you, find better.
2.2.265
There’s neither sowing nor reaping for me in this matter; only that I do wish the same that you wish.
2.2.266
I return you thanks. Make us partakers in your wisdom.
2.2.267
Let a wife at once be chosen for your son; and so take vengeance on this music-girl whom he wants to liberate, and who is corrupting him for you; and so let it be managed, that even until her dying day she may remain a slave.
2.2.270
It ought to be so managed.
2.2.270b
I am ready to do anything, so long only as this may be brought about
2.2.270c
Well then, now there’s an opportunity of doing so, before he comes into the city, as to-morrow he will be here; to-day he will not have come.
2.2.272b
How do you know?
2.2.272c
I do know, because another person told me, who came from there, that he would be here in the morning.
2.2.274
Then say you what we are to do.
2.2.274b
I’m of opinion that you ought to do thus:
2.2.275
you must pretend as though you were desirous to give her liberty to the music-girl for your own whim, and as though you were violently in love with her.
2.2.276b
To what advantage does that tend?
2.2.276c
Do you ask that? Why, that you may purchase her beforehand with money, before your son comes, and may say that you bought her to set her at liberty—
2.2.278b
I understand.
2.2.279
When she’s bought, you must remove her somewhere out of the city; unless your own
2.2.280
feelings are any way opposed.
2.2.280b
O no, skilfully suggested.
2.2.280c
But what say you, Apaecides?
2.2.281
Why, what should I? Except that I think you’ve contrived it very cleverly.
2.2.282
Then, in consequence, all thoughts of marriage with her will be removed from him, so that he will make no difficulties as to what you wish.
2.2.283b
Long life to you, wise as you are, it really does please us.
2.2.284b
Do you then skilfully do whatever you are going to do.
2.2.285
I’ faith, you speak to the purpose.
2.2.285b
I have found, too, how this suspicion may be removed from yourself.
2.2.286
Let me know it.
2.2.286b
You shall know it; just listen.
2.2.286c
He’s come with a breast full of counsel.
2.2.287
There’s need of a person to carry the money there for the music-girl; but there’s no equal necessity for yourself to do it.
2.2.288b
Why so?
2.2.288c
Lest he should think you are doing it for the sake of your son—
2.2.289b
Cleverly thought of!
2.2.289c
By which means you’ll keep him away from her;
2.2.290
lest any difficulty might arise by reason of that suspicion.
2.2.291
What person shall we find suited to this purpose?
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He will be the best; he will be able to take all due precautions, as he understands the laws and ordinances.
2.2.293
Epidicus, receive my thanks. But I’ll attend to this with all care.
2.2.293b
I’ll find him and bring him here to you, to whom the music-girl belongs;
2.2.295
and I’ll take the money along with him.
2.2.295b
For how much, at the lowest, can she be bought?
2.2.295c
What, she? Perhaps she might possibly be bought at the lowest for forty minae; but if you give me more, I shall return it. There’s no trickery in this matter. This money, too, of yours won’t be locked up ten days.
2.2.299
How so?
2.2.299b
Why, because another young man is dying with love for this woman,
2.2.300
one abounding in money, a great warrior, a Rhodian, a spoiler of his foes, a boaster; he’ll buy her of you, and give the money with pleasure. You only do it; there’s a large profit for you here.

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.