← All works

Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery

Perseus Latin · Perseus Latin · 684 sections

1. 5.1.665

   that he has been provoked by my running away. I’ll away in-doors; I’ve been talking too long.

2. 5.2.666

   Hasn’t this fellow quite made a laughing-stock of us two decrepit old people?

3. 5.2.667b

   Why yes, I’ faith, you’ve really kept me plagued in a shocking fashion.

4. 5.2.668

   Now do hold your tongue. Only let me catch the fellow!

5. 5.2.668b

   I’ll tell you now, that you may know it. It’s best for you to seek another companion; so much, while I’ve been following you,

6. 5.2.670

   has the congested blood, from weariness, come down into the knees of poor me.

7. 5.2.671

   After how many fashions has this fellow made sport of me and you to-day! besides, how he has disembowelled my silver resources for me!

8. 5.2.673

   Away with him from me; for surely he’s the son of Vulcan in his wrath: wherever he touches, he sets all on fire; if you stand by him, he scorches you with his heat.

9. 5.2.675

   More than the twelve Gods, the immortal Gods as many as are in the heavens, are now assistants in my rescue, and are fighting on my side. As to whatever I have offended in, I have aid and assistance at home. All my enemies I quite spurn by the heels.

10. 5.2.678b

    Where in the world shall I look for him?

11. 5.2.679

    So long as you look for him without me, you may look for him even in the middle of the sea, as far as I’m concerned.

12. 5.2.680

    Why are you looking for me? Why are you taking this trouble? Why are you worrying him? (Pointing to APAECIDES.) See, here I am. Have I run away from you? Have I betaken myself from the house? Have I hid myself from your sight? I don’t entreat you either. Do you wish to bind me? Look then, I present my hands. (Holding out his hands.) You have got thongs; I saw you purchase them. Why do you delay now? Do bind me!

13. 5.2.685

    It’s all over. He gives bail to me of his own accord for his appearance.

14. 5.2.685b

    Why don’t you bind me?

15. 5.2.686

    A wicked slave, upon my faith!

16. 5.2.686b

    Really, Apaecides, I don’t want you to intercede for me.

17. 5.2.687b

    You easily obtain your wish, Epidicus.

18. 5.2.688

    Are you going to do anything?

19. 5.2.688b

    What, at your pleasure?

20. 5.2.688c

    Troth, at my own, indeed, and not at yours, are these hands to be bound by you to-day.

21. 5.2.689b

    But I don’t choose; I shan’t bind them.

22. 5.2.690

    He’s preparing to throw a dragnet over you; he’s framing some plan, I know not what.

23. 5.2.691

    You are causing delay to yourself, while I stand unbound; bind them, I tell you, bind them together.

24. 5.2.692

    But I choose rather to question you unbound.

25. 5.2.692b

    But you shall know nothing.

26. 5.2.693

    What am I to do?

27. 5.2.693b

    What are you to do? Let him be complied with.

28. 5.2.693c

    You are a worthy person, Apaecides.

29. 5.2.694

    Hold out your hands then.

30. 5.2.694b

    They don’t at all object; bind them fast together too.

31. 5.2.695

    Don’t be afraid.

32. 5.2.695b

    I’m submissive.

33. 5.2.695c

    When the job is done, then pronounce your judgment.

34. 5.2.696a

    There, that is good.

35. 5.2.696

    Now then, to the point, with your enquiries of me; ask me what you please.

36. 5.2.697

    In the first place, with what assurance did you presume to say that she who was bought the day before yesterday was my daughter?

37. 5.2.698b

    I chose to; on that assurance.

38. 5.2.699

    Do you say so? You chose to?

39. 5.2.699b

    I do say so. Even lay me a wager that she is not the daughter—

40. 5.2.700

    A woman whom the mother declares she doesn’t know?

41. 5.2.700b

    Then, if she isn’t the daughter of her mother, make me a bet about it, my didrachm to your talent.

42. 5.2.701b

    Why, that’s a mere catch. But who is this woman?

43. 5.2.702b

    The mistress of your son, that you may know the whole matter.

44. 5.2.703

    Did I not give you the thirty minae for my daughter?

45. 5.2.703b

    I confess that they were given, and that with that money I purchased this Music-girl, your son’s mistress,

46. 5.2.705

    instead of your daughter. As to those thirty minae, in fact, I imposed upon you.

47. 5.2.706

    For what reason did you play a trick upon me about that hired Music-girl?

48. 5.2.707b

    I’ faith, I really did do it, and I think it was rightly done.

49. 5.2.708

    In the last place, what has been done with the silver I gave you?

50. 5.2.708b

    I’ll tell you; I gave it to a person neither bad nor yet good—your son Stratippocles.

51. 5.2.710

    Why did you dare to give it him?

52. 5.2.710b

    Because it pleased me.

53. 5.2.710c

    Plague on it! what insolence is this?

54. 5.2.711

    Am I to be bawled at just as if I were a slave?

55. 5.2.711b

    As you are a free man, I rejoice.

56. 5.2.712

    I have deserved to become so.

57. 5.2.712b

    You—deserved?

58. 5.2.712c

    Go look in-doors; I’ll let you know that this is the truth.

59. 5.2.713b

    What’s the matter?

60. 5.2.713c

    The thing itself will tell you so at once. Only do go in-doors.

61. 5.2.714b

    Aye, aye! this is not without its meaning.

62. 5.2.714c

    Do you keep an eye on him, Apaecides.

63. 5.2.715

    What’s the meaning of this, Epidicus?

64. 5.2.715b

    I’ faith, it’s with the greatest injustice that I’m standing here bound, through whose aid his daughter has been discovered to-day.

65. 5.2.717

    Do you say that you have found his daughter?

66. 5.2.717b

    I have found her, and she is at home. But how hard it is, when, for services done, you reap a harvest of evil.

67. 5.2.719

    What, her whom this day we’ve both been weary with seeking throughout the city?

68. 5.2.720

    I’m weary with finding, you weary with seeking.

69. 5.2.721

    Why do you entreat me thus earnestly in his behalf? For I find that he does deserve that I should be pleased to act according to his deserts. (To EPIDICUS.) Hold out your hands, you, that I may unbind them.

70. 5.2.723

    Don’t you touch them.

71. 5.2.723b

    But do you present them to me.

72. 5.2.723c

    I don’t choose.

73. 5.2.723d

    You don’t do right.

74. 5.2.724

    Upon my faith, I’ll never allow myself to be unbound this day, unless you give me satisfaction.

75. 5.2.725

    You ask what’s very fair and very just. Shoes, a tunic, and a cloak I’ll give you.

76. 5.2.726b

    What next, after that?

77. 5.2.726c

    Your freedom.

78. 5.2.726d

    But after that? There’s need for a new-made freed-man to pick a bit.

79. 5.2.727b

    It shall be given; I’ll find you food.

80. 5.2.728

    On my word, never this day shall you release me, unless you beg my pardon.

81. 5.2.728b

    I do entreat you, Epidicus, to forgive me, if unawares in fault I’ve done anything wrong.

82. 5.2.730

    But by way of return for this matter, be a free man.

83. 5.2.730b

    Against my inclination do I grant you this pardon, but I’m compelled by necessity. Unbind them then, if you choose.

84. 5.2.732

    (coming forward.) This is that man who by his roguery has gained his freedom. Clap your hands, and fare you well! Stretch your loins, and rise from your seats.

← Previous — showing 601–684 of 684

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.