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530
(Enter MNESILOCHUS from his father’s house.)
MNESILOCHUS
(as he enters.)
I’ve given up to my father all the gold. Now could I wish that she should meet me, after I am penniless, this fair one so scornful of me. Yet with what great difficulty did he grant me a pardon for Chrysalus. But I prevailed on him at last that he wouldn’t be at all angry with him.
530
I’ve given up to my father all the gold. Now could I wish that she should meet me, after I am penniless, this fair one so scornful of me. Yet with what great difficulty did he grant me a pardon for Chrysalus. But I prevailed on him at last that he wouldn’t be at all angry with him.
530
PISTOCLERUS
(apart.)
Isn’t this my friend?
Isn’t this my friend?
MNESILOCHUS
(apart.)
Isn’t this my foe that I see?
Isn’t this my foe that I see?
PISTOCLERUS
For sure ’tis he.
535
For sure ’tis he.
535
MNESILOCHUS
’Tis he.
’Tis he.
PISTOCLERUS
(apart.)
I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace.
(Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!
I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace.
(Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!
MNESILOCHUS
Hail!
Hail!
PISTOCLERUS
As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.
As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.
MNESILOCHUS
A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.
A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.
PISTOCLERUS
Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?
Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?
MNESILOCHUS
Aye, and a very grievous one.
Aye, and a very grievous one.
PISTOCLERUS
From what quarter?
From what quarter?
MNESILOCHUS
From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend.
From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend.
PISTOCLERUS
Many live after that manner and method, who, when you think them to be friends, are found false with their deceitfulness, strong in their talking, slothful in their doing, of faith infirm. Not one is there whom they don’t envy on their enjoying prosperity; through their own indolence do they themselves take right good care that no envy is directed against them.
540
Many live after that manner and method, who, when you think them to be friends, are found false with their deceitfulness, strong in their talking, slothful in their doing, of faith infirm. Not one is there whom they don’t envy on their enjoying prosperity; through their own indolence do they themselves take right good care that no envy is directed against them.
540
MNESILOCHUS
By my troth, you surely understand their ways most thoroughly. But still this one misfortune do they find from their bad disposition; they are the friends of no one, while they themselves are all at enmity against themselves; and these, while they are deceiving themselves, in their foolishness imagine that others are deceived. Just so is he whom I supposed to be as much a friend to me as I am to my own self.
545
He, so far as in him lay, has taken all care to do whatever injury he could towards me, to turn all my own resources against me.
550
By my troth, you surely understand their ways most thoroughly. But still this one misfortune do they find from their bad disposition; they are the friends of no one, while they themselves are all at enmity against themselves; and these, while they are deceiving themselves, in their foolishness imagine that others are deceived. Just so is he whom I supposed to be as much a friend to me as I am to my own self.
545
He, so far as in him lay, has taken all care to do whatever injury he could towards me, to turn all my own resources against me.
550
PISTOCLERUS
This same must me a bad man.
This same must me a bad man.
MNESILOCHUS
I judge that so he is.
I judge that so he is.
PISTOCLERUS
Troth now, prithee, do tell me who it is.
Troth now, prithee, do tell me who it is.
MNESILOCHUS
He lives on good terms with yourself. But were he not; so, I would entreat you to do him whatever harm you could do.
He lives on good terms with yourself. But were he not; so, I would entreat you to do him whatever harm you could do.
PISTOCLERUS
Only tell me the person, who he is; if I don’t do him an injury, some way or other, do you say that I’m the greatest of cowards.
Only tell me the person, who he is; if I don’t do him an injury, some way or other, do you say that I’m the greatest of cowards.
MNESILOCHUS
The person’s a bad one, but he’s your friend, i’ faith.
The person’s a bad one, but he’s your friend, i’ faith.
PISTOCLERUS
So much the rather, then, tell me who he is. In good sooth, I set no value on the esteem of a worthless person.
So much the rather, then, tell me who he is. In good sooth, I set no value on the esteem of a worthless person.
MNESILOCHUS
I appear, then, not to be able to avoid disclosing to you his name.
Pistoclerus, you have utterly undone me, your friend.
560
I appear, then, not to be able to avoid disclosing to you his name.
Pistoclerus, you have utterly undone me, your friend.
560
PISTOCLERUS
How’s that?
How’s that?
MNESILOCHUS
How’s that? Did I not send you a letter from Ephesus about my mistress, that you should find her out for me?
How’s that? Did I not send you a letter from Ephesus about my mistress, that you should find her out for me?
PISTOCLERUS
I own you did; and I have discovered her.
I own you did; and I have discovered her.
MNESILOCHUS
How now? Was there not a choice for you of other Courtesans in Athens, for you to form engagements with, instead of with her whom I had recommended to your care?
Could you yourself begin to love, and to contrive an injury against myself?
565
How now? Was there not a choice for you of other Courtesans in Athens, for you to form engagements with, instead of with her whom I had recommended to your care?
Could you yourself begin to love, and to contrive an injury against myself?
565
PISTOCLERUS
Are you in your senses?
Are you in your senses?
MNESILOCHUS
I have found out the whole affair from your tutor; don’t deny it. You’ve ruined me.
I have found out the whole affair from your tutor; don’t deny it. You’ve ruined me.
PISTOCLERUS
What, still upbraiding me without reason with these rebukes of yours?
What, still upbraiding me without reason with these rebukes of yours?
MNESILOCHUS
Why? You’re in love with Bacchis.
Why? You’re in love with Bacchis.
PISTOCLERUS
But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house.
But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house.
MNESILOCHUS
How, two?
How, two?
PISTOCLERUS
Aye, and the two are sisters.
Aye, and the two are sisters.
MNESILOCHUS
You are now designedly telling idle stories.
You are now designedly telling idle stories.
PISTOCLERUS
In fine, if you persist in thinking there’s but little confidence in me, I’ll take you upon my shoulders, and carry you hence into their house.
570
In fine, if you persist in thinking there’s but little confidence in me, I’ll take you upon my shoulders, and carry you hence into their house.
570
MNESILOCHUS
Well, I’ll go; but stay a moment.
Well, I’ll go; but stay a moment.
PISTOCLERUS
I will not stay, and you shall not be holding me under a false suspicion.
I will not stay, and you shall not be holding me under a false suspicion.
MNESILOCHUS
I follow you then.
(They go into the house of BACCHIS.)
I follow you then.
Bacchides. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.
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