Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 684 sections

2.2.302b
I really pray the Gods it may be so.
2.2.302c
You’ll obtain your prayer.
2.2.303
Why then, don’t you go in-doors and bring the money out here? I’ll go visit the Forum. Epidicus, do you come thither.
2.2.304b
Don’t you go away from there before I come to you.
2.2.305
I’ll wait till then.
2.2.305b
Do you follow me in-doors.
2.2.305c
Go and count it out; I’ll not detain you at all.
2.3.306
I do think that in the Attic land there is no spot of land so fertile as is this Periphanes of ours; why, from the locked and sealed-up money-chest I summon forth silver just as much as I please.
2.3.310
But this, i’ troth, I am afraid of, that if the old man should come to know it, he’ll be making parasites of elm-twigs, to be shaving me quite clean. But one matter and consideration disturbs me—what music-girl, one that goes out on hire, I’m to show to Apaecides. (He muses.) And that as well I’ve got: this morning the old gentleman bade me
2.3.315
bring for him on hire some music-girl to his house here, to sing for him while he was performing a sacrifice. She shall be hired, and be instructed beforehand in what way she’s to prove herself cunning towards the old man. I’ll away in-doors; I’ll get the money out of the swindled old fellow.
3.1.320
I’m distractedly in suspense and worn to the heart with waiting how the fair promises of Epidicus will turn out for me. I’ve been tormented too long. Whether there is to be anything, or whether there is not, I wish to know.
3.1.323b
For all these resources you may still seek some other resources for yourself. For my part, I knew at the first, or the instant, that there was no help for you in him.
3.1.325b
Upon my faith, I’m ruined!
3.1.326
You act absurdly in tormenting yourself in mind. By my troth, if I should catch him, I would never allow that slave of a fellow to be laughing at us with impunity.
3.1.328
What can you expect him to do, you, who have such great wealth at home, and have not a coin of it, as you say, and have in yourself no resources for your friend?
3.1.331
I’ faith, if I had had it, I should have proffered it with pleasure; but something in some manner, in some way, in some direction, from some person, some hope I have for you, that there’ll be some good fortune for you to share with me.
3.1.333
Woe to you, you sneaking fellow.
3.1.333b
Why does it please you to abuse me?
3.1.334
Why, because you are prating to me about something in some manner, from somewhere or other, from some persons,
3.1.335
that nowhere exists, and I won’t admit it to my ears. Of no more assistance are you unto me than he who never yet has been born.
3.2.337
You’ve done your duty then; it now befits me to do mine. Through this care of mine, you may be allowed to be at ease. (In a lower voice.) This, in fact, is now lost to you; don’t at all be setting your hopes on it. (Holding some of the coins in his hands.) How very shining it is! You only trust me for that.
3.2.340
This way I’m going to act, this way my forefathers have acted before me. O ye immortal Gods, what a brilliant day you have bestowed upon me in this how propitious and how favourable to my requests! But why do I delay to take my departure hence, that I may bear this supply with lucky auspices to the colony. I’m delaying while I’m standing here. But what means this? Before the house I see the two companions,
3.2.345
my master and Chaeribulus. (Accosting them.) What are you doing? Take this, will you.
3.2.346
How much is there in this?
3.2.346b
As much as is enough, and more than enough; a superabundance; I’ve brought more by ten minae than you owe to the Banker. So long as I please and obey you, I value my own back at a straw.
3.2.349
But why so?
3.2.349b
Because I shall make your father a bag-murderer.
3.2.350
What kind of expression is that?
3.2.350b
I don’t at all care for your old-fashioned and every-day words; you chouse by purses full, but I’ll chouse by bags full. For the procurer took away a whole lot of money for the music-girl (I paid it; with these hands I counted it out), her whom your father supposes to be his own daughter. Now, again, that your father may be deceived, and assistance be provided for you,
3.2.355
I’ve discovered a method. In such a way have I persuaded the old gentleman—and had a talk to this effect, that, when you returned, you might not have possession of her—
3.2.356b
Bravo!—bravo!
3.2.357
She’s now at your house in place of her.
3.2.357b
I understand.
3.2.357c
Now he has given me Apaecides by way of guarantee in this matter (he’s waiting for me at the Forum), as if to seem the purchaser.
3.2.359b
Not a bad precaution!
3.2.359c
The cautious man’s now taken in himself;
3.2.360
your own father himself placed this purse around my neck. He’s making preparation, that immediately on your arrival home you shall be married.
3.2.362
In one way only will he persuade me; if Orcus takes her away from me, who has been brought with me.
3.2.363b
Now I’ve hit upon this scheme: I’ll go by myself alone to the procurer’s house; I’ll instruct him,
3.2.365
if any one comes to him, to say that the money has been paid him for the music-girl; inasmuch as, the day before yesterday, I paid it down with my own hands for this mistress of yours, whom your father takes to be his own daughter. Then the procurer, unknowingly, will be staking his accursed head,
3.2.370
as though he had received the money for her who has now been brought here together with you.
3.2.371
You are more versatile than a potter’s-wheel.
3.2.371b
Now I’ll get ready some artful music-girl, who’s hired at a didrachm, to pretend that she has been purchased, and cleverly to trick the two old fellows: Apaecides, together with her, will bring her to your father.
3.2.374b
How adroitly managed!
3.2.375
Her, prepared beforehand with my devices, and provided with my schemes, I shall send to him. But I’m talking at too great length; you have delayed me too long: you now know these things how they are to be; I’ll be off.
3.2.377b
Success attend you!
3.2.378
He is very clever at artful tricks.
3.2.378b
Indeed, by his plans, he has saved me, that’s sure.
3.2.379b
Let’s go hence into my house.
3.2.380
Yes, and a little more joyfully than I came out of your house, by the courage and conduct of Epidicus, do I return into camp with the spoil.
3.3.382
Not only for the sake of the face were it right for men to have a mirror for themselves wherein to look at their faces; but one with which they might be enabled to examine the heart of discretion,
3.3.385
and therefore be able to examine the resources of the mind; when they had looked in that, they might afterwards consider how they had once passed their lives in youth. Just as myself, for instance, who, for the sake of my son, began to torment myself in mind, as though my son
3.3.390
had been guilty of some offence against, me, or as though my own misdeeds had not been most heavy in my youth. In truth, we old fellows are out of our senses sometimes. This, in my own opinion at least, has proved advantageous. But my friend Apaecides is coming with the spoil.
3.3.395
I’m glad that the negotiator has returned safe.
3.3.396
How goes it?
3.3.396b
The Gods and Goddesses are favouring you.
3.3.396c
The omen pleases me.
3.3.397
A person with whom all things go on prosperously. But do you order her to be taken in-doors.
3.3.398b
Hallo there! come out of doors here, some one. (A SERVANT comes out.) Take that woman into the house!
3.3.400
And, do you hear?
3.3.400b
What do you desire?
3.3.400c
Take care you don’t permit this woman to associate with my daughter, or to see her. Now do you understand? I wish her to be shut up apart in that little chamber; there’s a great difference between the manners of a maiden and a courtesan.
3.3.404
You speak cleverly and judiciously; each man cannot keep too strict a guard upon the chastity of his daughter.
3.3.406
Upon my faith, we certainly did forestall this woman from your son just in time.
3.3.407b
Why so?
3.3.407c
Because another person told me that he had just seen your son here.
3.3.409
I’ troth, he was stirring in this business.
3.3.409b
Upon my faith, it really is so, clearly.
3.3.410
You really have a clever servant, and worth any price.
3.3.411
At his weight in gold he would not be dear.
3.3.411a
How well he kept that Music-girl quite in ignorance that she was purchased for you; so full of joke and fun did he bring her hither along with him.
3.3.414
It’s wonderful how that could be managed.
3.3.414b
He said that you were going to offer a sacrifice at home for your son,
3.3.416
because he had returned safe from Thebes.
3.3.416b
He hit upon the right thing.
3.3.417
Yes, and he himself told her that she had been hired to assist you here in the sacrifice. He said that you were about to perform it, and that you had a sacrifice at home.
3.3.420
But I then made pretence that I was ignorant, as it were, inasmuch as I made myself out half-witted.
3.3.421b
Why yes; it was right to do so.
3.3.422
An important trial of a friend is going on at the Forum; I want to go as his advocate.
3.3.423b
Go, and when you have leisure, return to me mediately.
3.3.424b
I’ll be here just now.
3.3.425
Nothing is there more opportune to man than a friend in need; without labour of your own, what you want is done nevertheless. If I had commissioned any one upon this business, a less skilful person, and less fitted for this matter, he would have been gulled; and so, grinning with his white teeth,
3.3.430
my son would have most deservedly laughed at me.
3.3.435
But who is this I see coming this way, that with his swaggering makes his scarf to be streaming in the wind?
3.4.437
Take care not to pass by any house without asking where lives the old gentleman, Periphanes of Plothea. Take care that you don’t return to me without knowing it.
3.4.440
Young man, if I point out to you the person whom you are in search of, what thanks shall I get of you?
3.4.443
In arms, by the might of war, I’ve deserved that all people ought to give me thanks.
3.4.444
You haven’t found out, young man, a tranquil spot
3.4.445
where to recount your virtues as you wish; for, if an inferior vaunts his battles to a superior, by his lips they become soiled; but this Periphanes of Plothea whom you are seeking, I am he, if you want him for anything.
3.4.4489b
Him, you mean, who in his youth
3.4.450
among kings in arms, by his skill in war, gained vast wealth?
3.4.451b
Aye, if you were to hear of my achievements, drop ping your hands you would run off home.
3.4.453
I’ faith, I’m rather in search of one to whom to speak of my own, than of one to be speaking of his to me.
3.4.454b
This is not the place for it.
3.4.455
Do you then look out for another person, into whom to stuff your scraps of nonsense.
3.4.431
And yet this is folly, for me to impute that to him as a fault, which I myself used to do in my youth when I was a soldier; in recounting my battles I used to tear out men’s ears by the roots, when I had once begun.
3.4.456
Lend your attention, that you may learn what I’ve come to you about. I’ve heard that you have purchased my mistress.
3.4.457b
Heyday! now at last I know who he is; the officer whom Epidicus was telling me about a short time since. (To the OFFICER.) Young man, it is
3.4.460
as you say; I have purchased her.
3.4.460b
I want a few words with you, if it is not inconvenient to you.

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.