Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 684 sections

4.1.567
Let me see her, whether it is she or no.
4.1.567b
Hallo there! you—Canthara, this instant bid my daughter come out before the house, that she may see her mother.
4.1.569b
My spirits now at last return to me.
4.2.570
Why is it, father, that you have called me out before the house?
4.2.570b
That you may see and accost your mother, and wish her health on her arrival, and give her kisses.
4.2.572
What mother of mine?
4.2.572b
She who, half dead, is following your gaze.
4.2.573
Who is this that you are requesting to kiss me?
4.2.573b
Your own daughter.
4.2.574
What, she?
4.2.574b
She.
4.2.574c
What—am I to kiss her?
4.2.574d
Why not, her who was born of you?
4.2.575
Man, you are mad.
4.2.575b
What, I?
4.2.575c
Yes, you.
4.2.575d
Why?
4.2.575e
Because this woman—I neither know nor understand who she is, nor have I beheld her with my eyes before this day.
4.2.577
I know why you are mistaken; because this woman has her dress and ornaments changed.
4.2.579
Puppies have one smell, pigs quite another;
4.2.580
I say that I do not know her, who she is.
4.2.580b
Oh! by our trust in Gods and men, what is this? Am I following the calling of a Procurer, to be keeping strange women in my house, and to be emptying my house of my money? (To ACROPOLISTIS.) What are you to be calling me your father and kissing me? Why stand you stupidly there? Why do you keep silent?
4.2.584
What do you want me to say?
4.2.584b
She denies that she is your mother.
4.2.584c
Don’t let her be so,
4.2.585
if she don’t choose. For my own part, whether she likes it or not, I shall be my mother’s daughter still. It isn’t right for me to compel this woman to be my mother if she doesn’t like.
4.2.587
Why then did you call me father?
4.2.587b
That is your own fault, not mine; ought I not to call you father when you call me daughter? Her too, as well (pointing to PHILIPPA) if she were to call me daughter, I should call mother.
4.2.590
She declares that I am not her daughter; then she is not my mother. In fine, this is no fault of mine; what I’ve been taught, I’ve told you all of it. Epidicus was my instructor.
4.2.592b
I’m undone! I’ve upset my waggon!
4.2.593
Have I done anything amiss towards that?
4.2.593b
Upon my faith, if I ever hear you call me father, I’ll put an end to your life, you jade!
4.2.594b
I shan’t call you so.
4.2.595
When you want to be my father, then be so; when you don’t want, don’t be my father.
4.2.596
What? Did you purchase her for that reason, because you supposed her to be your daughter? By what signs did you recognize her?
4.2.597b
By none.
4.2.597c
Why did you suppose her to be our daughter?
4.2.598b
My servant Epidicus told me so.
4.2.599
What if it had seemed to your servant otherwise? Prithee, could you not have known?
4.2.600
How should I, who had never seen her after having once beheld her.
4.2.601
Wretched creature, I’m quite undone!
4.2.601b
Don’t weep, madam; go in-doors; be of good courage; I’ll find her out.
4.2.602b
An Attic citizen from Athens here purchased her Indeed, they said it was a young man who had bought her.
4.2.603b
I will find her; hold your peace. Only do go in-doors, and keep an eye upon this Circe, this daughter of the Sun.
4.2.605
All business laid aside, I’ll give my attention to seeking for Epidicus. If I find him, I’ll make this day become the final one for him.
5.1.607
The Banker is inattentive to me, not to seek the money of me, or bring this woman who has been purchased out of the spoil. But see—here comes Epidicus How’s this, that in gloominess his brow is wrinkled?
5.1.610
If Jupiter unto himself were to take the eleven Gods beside himself, even then, all of them would not be able to rescue Epidicus from torture. I’ve seen Periphanes buying the thongs; Apaecides was together with him; now, I do believe that these persons are in search of me. They have found it out; they know that they’ve been imposed upon.
5.1.614b
What are you about, my ready occasion?
5.1.614c
That which a wretched fellow is about.
5.1.615
What’s the matter with you?
5.1.615b
Why don’t you prepare for me the necessaries for flight before I’m quite undone? For the two fleeced old gentlemen are hunting for me through the city; they are carrying in their hands handcuffs an inch and a half thick.
5.1.618
Be of good heart—
5.1.618b
Of course I will, whose freedom is so close at hand.
5.1.619
I will preserve you.
5.1.619b
I’ faith, they’ll do it better for me, if they catch me.
5.1.620
But who’s this young woman, this greyish old fellow, too, that’s coming along?
5.1.621
This is the Banker, and this is the woman whom I purchased out of the spoil.
5.1.621b
What, is this she?
5.1.622
It is she. Isn’t she just like what I told you? Look at her.
5.1.622a
Is it she?
5.1.623
Survey her, Epidicus. Even from her nail to the top of her hair she is most lovely! Is she not? Do look at her! Observe her! You’ll be looking at a picture beautifully painted.
5.1.625
Judging from your words you are foretelling that my hide will be beautifully painted; me, whom Apelles and Zeuxis, the pair of them, will be painting with elm-tree pigments.
5.1.627
Immortal Gods! I’m surprised at your slowness. The man that’s spoken of in the proverb with swollen feet, would have got here sooner than you have arrived for me.
5.1.629
I’ faith, ’twas she delayed me.
5.1.629b
If indeed you delayed for her sake,
5.1.630
because she wished it, you have come too quickly.
5.1.631
Well, well, dispatch with me and count out the money, that I mayn’t be detaining my friends.
5.1.632
It has been counted out.
5.1.632b
Take this bag; put it into it.
5.1.632c
You come discreetly provided! Wait till I bring out the money to you.
5.1.633b
Make haste.
5.1.633c
It’s at home.
5.1.634
Have I the use of my eyes quite unimpaired, or is it otherwise?
5.1.635
Do I not behold in you, Telestis, the daughter of Periphanes, born at Thebes of your mother Philippa, and conceived at Epidaurus?
5.1.637
What person are you who are making mention of the name of my parents and my own?
5.1.638
Don’t you know me?
5.1.638b
Not, indeed, so far as recurs to my mind just now.
5.1.639
Don’t you remember my bringing you a crescent upon your birthday, and a little gold ring for your finger?
5.1.640b
I remember it. What, are you that person?
5.1.641b
I am, and (pointing to STRATIPPOCLES, at a distance) he there is your brother by another mother and the same father.
5.1.643
What of my father? Is he alive?
5.1.643b
Be of calm and composed feelings; hold your peace.
5.1.644
The Gods will that from being lost I should be saved, if you speak the truth.
5.1.645
I have no occasion to be telling untruths to you.
5.1.646
Take this money, Banker; here are forty minae. If any piece shall be doubtful I’ll change it.
5.1.647b
You do well. Kindly farewell.
5.1.648
Now then you are my own—
5.1.648b
Why yes—sister, i’ faith, that you may know it as well. Greetings to you, brother.
5.1.649b
Is this woman in her senses?
5.1.649c
In her senses, if she calls you her brother.
5.1.650
How’s this? Have I just now become her brother while going in-doors and coming out?
5.1.651
What good fortune there is, do you in silence keep your peace thereon and rejoice.
5.1.652
Sister, you have both lost and found me!
5.1.652b
Simpleton, hold your tongue! Through my endeavours, there’s ready for you at home, in fact, a Music-girl for you to make love to; I too, through my endeavours, have restored your sister to liberty.
5.1.655
Epidicus, I confess—
5.1.655b
Be off into the house, and order the water to be made warm for her. The rest I’ll let you know afterwards, when there’s leisure.
5.1.657
Follow me this way, sister.
5.1.657b
I’ll bid Thesprio come across to you. But remember, if the old gentlemen are at all savage, you, with your sister, to run and help me.
5.1.659b
That will be easy.
5.1.660
Thesprio, come this way through the garden. Come to my rescue at home! The matter’s of importance! (To himself.) I care much less for the old fellows than I did just now. I’ll return in-doors, that the strangers may be attended to on their arrival. I’ll tell these same things that I know, in-doors to Stratippocles. I shall not take to flight; I’m determined to be there at home, and he shan’t throw it in my teeth

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.