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178
(Enter PISTOCLERUS from the house of BACCHIS.)
(Stands aside.)
PISTOCLERUS
(to the FIRST BACCHIS within.)
’Tis strange that you are so earnestly begging me to return, who am able by no possible means to depart hence, if I were willing,
so bound down
1
, and so enchained with love do you hold me.
180
’Tis strange that you are so earnestly begging me to return, who am able by no possible means to depart hence, if I were willing,
so bound down
1
, and so enchained with love do you hold me.
180
CHRYSALUS
O, ye immortal Gods, I espy Pistoclerus! O, Pistoclerus, hail!
O, ye immortal Gods, I espy Pistoclerus! O, Pistoclerus, hail!
PISTOCLERUS
Hail, Chrysalus, to you!
Hail, Chrysalus, to you!
CHRYSALUS
I will at present compress many speeches for you in a small space. You are glad that I am come; I give you credit for it.
You promise me lodging and an entertainment coming from my journey, as it is befitting, and I agree to come. I bring you the sincere greetings of your friend. Would you ask me where he is? He’s come.
185
I will at present compress many speeches for you in a small space. You are glad that I am come; I give you credit for it.
You promise me lodging and an entertainment coming from my journey, as it is befitting, and I agree to come. I bring you the sincere greetings of your friend. Would you ask me where he is? He’s come.
185
PISTOCLERUS
Is he alive and well?
Is he alive and well?
CHRYSALUS
That I was wishful to enquire of yourself.
That I was wishful to enquire of yourself.
PISTOCLERUS
How can I know?
190
How can I know?
190
CHRYSALUS
No one better.
No one better.
PISTOCLERUS
Why, in what way?
Why, in what way?
CHRYSALUS
Because if she has been found whom he so loves, he is alive and well. If she is not found, he is not well, and is like to die. His mistress is the very life of a lover. If she is away, he is non-existent; if she is with him, his property is non-existent, and himself worthless and wretched.
But what have you done in respect of his commission?
195
Because if she has been found whom he so loves, he is alive and well. If she is not found, he is not well, and is like to die. His mistress is the very life of a lover. If she is away, he is non-existent; if she is with him, his property is non-existent, and himself worthless and wretched.
But what have you done in respect of his commission?
195
PISTOCLERUS
And ought I not to have his request complied with against his arrival, which his messenger brought to me from him? I’d sooner be dwelling in the realms of Acheron than not.
And ought I not to have his request complied with against his arrival, which his messenger brought to me from him? I’d sooner be dwelling in the realms of Acheron than not.
CHRYSALUS
How now, have you found out this Bacchis?
199200
How now, have you found out this Bacchis?
199200
PISTOCLERUS
Yes, and a Samian one too.
Yes, and a Samian one too.
CHRYSALUS
Prithee, do take care that no one handles her carelessly: you know how soon a Samian vessel
2
is wont to break.
Prithee, do take care that no one handles her carelessly: you know how soon a Samian vessel
2
is wont to break.
PISTOCLERUS
What now, your old habit?
What now, your old habit?
CHRYSALUS
Prithee, do tell me where she now is.
Prithee, do tell me where she now is.
PISTOCLERUS
Here, where you just now saw me coming out.
Here, where you just now saw me coming out.
CHRYSALUS
How capital that is! She’s living almost next door. Does she at all remember Mnesilochus?
205
How capital that is! She’s living almost next door. Does she at all remember Mnesilochus?
205
PISTOCLERUS
Do you ask me that? Aye, him alone does she esteem at the very highest value.
Do you ask me that? Aye, him alone does she esteem at the very highest value.
CHRYSALUS
Indeed!
Indeed!
PISTOCLERUS
Yes, and were you to believe her, distractedly in love—she quite longs for him.
Yes, and were you to believe her, distractedly in love—she quite longs for him.
CHRYSALUS
That’s good.
That’s good.
PISTOCLERUS
Yes, Chrysalus; see, now; not even so small
a space of time ever passes by as this
3
, out that she is uttering his name.
210
Yes, Chrysalus; see, now; not even so small
a space of time ever passes by as this
3
, out that she is uttering his name.
210
CHRYSALUS
I’ faith, so much the better.
(Moving, as if about to go.)
I’ faith, so much the better.
PISTOCLERUS
Yes; but—
(Holds him.)
Yes; but—
CHRYSALUS
Yes, faith
4
, I’d rather be off.
Yes, faith
4
, I’d rather be off.
PISTOCLERUS
And do you so unwillingly hear how your master’s interests have prospered?
And do you so unwillingly hear how your master’s interests have prospered?
CHRYSALUS
No, not the subject
5
, but the actor offends my feelings with his tediousness. Even
Epidicus, a play that I love quite as much as my own self,
were Pollio to act it
6
, no play would I see so reluctantly. But, does Bacchis seem handsome, as well, to you?
215
No, not the subject
5
, but the actor offends my feelings with his tediousness. Even
Epidicus, a play that I love quite as much as my own self,
were Pollio to act it
6
, no play would I see so reluctantly. But, does Bacchis seem handsome, as well, to you?
215
PISTOCLERUS
Do you ask the question? Had I not got a Venus, I should pronounce her a Juno.
Do you ask the question? Had I not got a Venus, I should pronounce her a Juno.
CHRYSALUS
I’ faith, Mnesilochus, as I find these matters proceeding, there’s something ready for you to love; ’tis needful that you find something to give her.
But, perhaps you have need of gold for that other one?
220
I’ faith, Mnesilochus, as I find these matters proceeding, there’s something ready for you to love; ’tis needful that you find something to give her.
But, perhaps you have need of gold for that other one?
220
PISTOCLERUS
Yes, some Philippeans.
Yes, some Philippeans.
CHRYSALUS
And you have need of it directly, perhaps?
And you have need of it directly, perhaps?
PISTOCLERUS
Aye, and even sooner than directly. For there’s a Captain coming here just now—
Aye, and even sooner than directly. For there’s a Captain coming here just now—
CHRYSALUS
A Captain, indeed!
A Captain, indeed!
PISTOCLERUS
Who is demanding some gold here for relinquishing Bacchis.
Who is demanding some gold here for relinquishing Bacchis.
CHRYSALUS
Let him come when he pleases, and so there be no delay.
The money’s at home; I fear not for myself, nor do I go begging to any man; so long, at least, as this heart of mine shall be armed with its inventiveness. Go in; I’ll manage here. Do you tell them in-doors, that Mnesilochus is coming to Bacchis.
225
Let him come when he pleases, and so there be no delay.
The money’s at home; I fear not for myself, nor do I go begging to any man; so long, at least, as this heart of mine shall be armed with its inventiveness. Go in; I’ll manage here. Do you tell them in-doors, that Mnesilochus is coming to Bacchis.
225
PISTOCLERUS
I’ll do as you request.
(Goes into the house of BACCHIS.)
I’ll do as you request.
CHRYSALUS
The money business belongs to me.
From Ephesus we have brought twelve hundred golden Philippeans, which our entertainer owed to our old gentleman. Hence, some contrivance
7
will I this day contrive, to procure gold for this son of my master thus in love. But there’s a noise at our door—who’s coming out of doors, I wonder?
230
(Stands aside.) The money business belongs to me.
From Ephesus we have brought twelve hundred golden Philippeans, which our entertainer owed to our old gentleman. Hence, some contrivance
7
will I this day contrive, to procure gold for this son of my master thus in love. But there’s a noise at our door—who’s coming out of doors, I wonder?
230
Bacchides. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.
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