T. Maccius Plautus Aulularia 4.10

EUCLIO

What person is it that speaks there?

LYCONIDES

’Tis I, wretch that I am.

EUCLIO

Yes, and so am I, and wretchedly ruined, whose lot is misfortune so great and sorrow.

LYCONIDES

Be of good courage.

EUCLIO

How, prithee, can I be so?

LYCONIDES

Because that deed which is afflicting your mind, I did it, and I confess it.

EUCLIO

What is it I hear from you?

LYCONIDES

That which is the truth.

735

EUCLIO

What evil, young man, have I deserved, by reason of which you should do thus, and go to ruin both me and my children?

LYCONIDES

A Divinity was my prompter; he prompted me to do it ¹ .

EUCLIO

How?

LYCONIDES

I confess that I have done wrong, and I know that I deserve censure; for that reason I’m come to beseech you, that, with feelings assuaged, you will pardon me.

EUCLIO

Why did you dare do so, to touch that which was not your own?

740

LYCONIDES

What do you wish to be done? The thing has been done; it can’t be undone. I believe that the Gods willed it, for if they hadn’t willed it, I know it wouldn’t have happened.

EUCLIO

But I believe that the Gods have willed that I should be the death of you in fetters.

LYCONIDES

Don’t say that!

EUCLIO

What business then have you to touch what is my own against my will?

LYCONIDES

Because I did it under the evil influence of wine and love.

745

EUCLIO

Most audacious man, that you should dare to come here to me with that speech, you impudent fellow! For if this is lawful, so that you may be able to excuse it—let us openly, in broad daylight, plunder their golden trinkets from ladies—after that, if we are caught, let us excuse ourselves, that we did it when intoxicated,

by reason of being in love. Too cheap are wine and love, if one in liquor and in love is allowed to do with impunity whatever he pleases.

750

LYCONIDES

But I come to you of my own accord to supplicate you on account of my folly.

EUCLIO

Persons don’t please me, who, when they’ve done wrong, excuse themselves. You knew that you had no right there; you oughtn’t to have touched ² .

LYCONIDES

Therefore, inasmuch as I did dare to touch, I make no objection to keep by all means.

755

EUCLIO

You, keep what is my own against my will?

LYCONIDES

Against your will, I do not ask; but I think that that which was yours ought to be mine ³ . Moreover, Euclio, you’ll find, I say, that mine it ought to be.

EUCLIO

Now really, on my word, I’ll drag you to the Praetor and take proceedings ⁴ against you,

unless you make restitution.

760

LYCONIDES

Make restitution of what to you?

EUCLIO

What you’ve stolen of mine.

LYCONIDES

I, stolen of yours? Whence, or what is it?

EUCLIO

So shall Jupiter love you, how ignorant you are about it!

LYCONIDES

Unless, indeed, you tell me what you are enquiring for.

EUCLIO

The pot of gold, I say, I’m asking back of you, which you confessed to me that you had taken away.

LYCONIDES

By my faith, I’ve neither said so, nor have I done it.

EUCLIO

Do you deny it?

LYCONIDES

Yes, I do utterly deny it; for neither the gold nor yet this pot, what it means, do I know or understand.

765

EUCLIO

Give me up that pot which you took away from the wood of Sylvanus. Come, give it me back! I would rather give you the one-half of it. Although you are a thief to me, I’ll not be hard upon the thief. Give it me back.

LYCONIDES

You are not in your senses, to call me a thief; I thought, Euclio, that you

had come to the knowledge of another matter; as concerns myself, it is a great matter which I wish to speak with you upon at your leisure, if you are at leisure.

770

EUCLIO

Tell me, in good faith, have you not stolen that gold?

LYCONIDES

In good faith, No.

EUCLIO

Nor know who has taken it away?

LYCONIDES

In good faith, No, to that as well.

EUCLIO

But if you should know who has taken it away, will you discover it to me?

LYCONIDES

I will do so.

EUCLIO

Nor accept of a share from him,

whoever he is, for yourself, nor harbour the thief?

775

LYCONIDES

Even so.

EUCLIO

What if you deceive me?

LYCONIDES

Then may great Jupiter do unto me what he pleases.

EUCLIO

I’m satisfied. Come, then, say what you wish.

LYCONIDES

If you know me but imperfectly, of what family I’m born: Megadorus here is my uncle; Antimachus was my father; my name is Lyconides;

Eunomia is my mother.

780

EUCLIO

I know the family; now, what do you want?

LYCONIDES

I want to know this. You have a daughter of yours?

EUCLIO

Why, yes, she’s there at home.

LYCONIDES

You have, I think, recently betrothed her to my uncle?

EUCLIO

You have the whole matter.

LYCONIDES

He has now bade me announce to you his refusal of her ⁵ .

EUCLIO

A refusal, when the things are got ready, and the wedding’s prepared?

May all the immortal Gods and Goddesses confound him, so far as is possible, by reason of whom this day, unhappy wretch that I am, I have lost so much gold!

785

LYCONIDES

Be of good heart, and speak in kindly terms; now, a thing—may it turn out well and prosperously to you and your daughter.—May the Gods so grant—say.

EUCLIO

May the Gods so grant.

LYCONIDES

And for me, too, may the Gods so grant it. Now, then, do you listen.

The man that admits a fault is not so much to be despised, if he feels a sense of shame when he excuses himself. Now, Euclio, I do beseech you, that what unawares I have done wrong towards yourself or your daughter, you will grant me pardon for the same, and give her for a wife to me, as the laws demand. I confess that I did violence to your daughter

790

on the festival of Ceres, by reason of wine and the impulse of youth.

795

EUCLIO

Woe is me! What shocking deed do I hear of you?

LYCONIDES

Why do you exclaim? You whom I’ve made to be a grandfather now at the very wedding of your daughter. For your daughter has just been brought to bed in the ninth month after—calculate the number ⁶ ; for that reason, in my behalf, has my uncle sent his refusal.

Go in-doors; enquire whether it is so or not as I say.

800

EUCLIO

I’m undone utterly; so very many misfortunes unite themselves for my undoing. I’ll go in-doors, that I may know what of this is true.

(He goes into his house.)

LYCONIDES

I’ll follow you this instant. This matter seems now to be pretty nearly in the haven of safety. Now, where to say my servant Strobilus is, I don’t know,

but yet I’ll wait here still a little while; after that I’ll follow this man indoors; now, in the meantime, I’ll give him leisure to enquire of the nurse about my doings, the attendant of his daughter, whether she knows the truth.

805

(Moves as if going.)