T. Maccius Plautus, Bacchides, ed. Friedrich Leo, 3.6

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530

Mnesilochvs

Reddidi patrí omne aurum. nunc ego illam me velim
530

convenire, postquam inanis sum, contemptricem meam.

sed veniam mihi quam gravate páter dedit de Chrysalo;

verum postremo impetravi, ut ne quid ei suscenseat.

Pistoclervs

Estne hic meus sodalis?

Mnesilochvs

Estne hic hostis, quem aspicio, meus?

Pistoclervs

Certe is est.
535

Mnesilochvs

Is est.

Pistoclervs

Adibo contra et contollam gradum.

salvos sis, Mnesiloche.

Mnesilochvs

Salve.

Pistoclervs

Salvos quom peregre advenis,

cena detur.

Mnesilochvs

Non placet mi cena quae bilem movet.

Pistoclervs

Numquae advenienti aegritudo obiecta est?

Mnesilochvs

Atque acerruma.

Pistoclervs

Vnde?

Mnesilochvs

Ab homine quem mi amicum esse arbitratus sum antidhac.

Pistoclervs

Multi more isto atque exemplo vivont, quos cum censeas
540

esse amicos, reperiuntur falsi falsimoniis,

lingua factiosi, inertes opera, sublesta fide.

nullus est quoi non invideant rem secundam optingere;

sibi ne ínvideatur, ipsi ignavia recte cavent.

Mnesilochvs

Edepol ne tu illorum mores perquam meditate tenes.
545

sed etiam unum hoc: ex ingenio malo malum inveniunt suo:

nulli amici sunt, inimicos ipsi in sese omnis habent.

ei se cum frustrantur, frustrari alios stolidi existumant.

sicut est hic, quem esse amicum ratus sum atque ipsus sum mihi:

ille, quod in se fuit, accuratum habuit quod posset mali
550

faceret in me, inconciliaret copias omnis meas.

Pistoclervs

Improbum istunc esse oportet hominem.

Mnesilochvs

Ego ita esse arbitror.

Pistoclervs

Obsecro hercle loquere, quis is est.

Mnesilochvs

Benevolens vivit tibi.

nam ni ita esset, tecum orarem ut éi quod posses mali

facere faceres.
555

Pistoclervs

Dic modo hominem qui sit: si non fecero

ei male aliquo pacto, me esse dicito ignavissimum.

Mnesilochvs

Nequam homost, verum hercle amicus est tibi.

Pistoclervs

Tanto magis

dic quis est; nequam hominis ego parvi pendo gratiam.

Mnesilochvs

Video non potesse quin tibi eius nomen eloquar.

Pistoclere, perdidisti me sodalem funditus.
560

Pistoclervs

Quid istuc est?

Mnesilochvs

Quid est? misine ego ad te ex Epheso epistulam

super amica, ut mi invenires?

Pistoclervs

Fateor factum, et repperi.

Mnesilochvs

Quid? tibi non erat meretricum aliarum Athenis copia

quibuscum haberes rem, nisi cum illa quám ego mandassem tibi

occiperes tute † amare et mi ires consultum male?
565

Pistoclervs

Sanun es?

Mnesilochvs

Rem repperi omnem ex tuo magistro. ne nega.

perdidisti me.

Pistoclervs

Etiamne ultro tuis me prolectas probris?

Mnesilochvs

Quid? amas Bacchidem?

Pistoclervs

Duas ergo hic intus eccas Bacchides.

Mnesilochvs

Quid? duas?

Pistoclervs

Átque ambas sorores.

Mnesilochvs

Loqueris nunc nugas sciens.

Pistoclervs

Postremo, si pergis parvam mihi fidem arbitrarier,
570

tollam ego ted in collum atque intro hinc auferam.

Mnesilochvs

Immo ibo, mane.

Pistoclervs

Non maneo, neque tu me habebis falso suspectum.

Mnesilochvs

Sequor.—

Bacchides. T. Maccius Plautus. ed. Friedrich Leo. Berlin. 1895.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by The National Endowment for the Humanities.

Current edition Perseus

Bacchides (Latin) (Plautus. Plauti Comoediae, Volume 1. Leo, Friedrich, editor. Berlin: Weidmann, 1895.)

Translations (1)

Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.) — 3.6 focus

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

PISTOCLERUS

(apart.)

Isn’t this my friend?

MNESILOCHUS

(apart.)

Isn’t this my foe that I see?

PISTOCLERUS

For sure ’tis he.
535

MNESILOCHUS

’Tis he.

PISTOCLERUS

(apart.)

I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace. (Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!

MNESILOCHUS

Hail!

PISTOCLERUS

As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.

MNESILOCHUS

A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.

PISTOCLERUS

Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?

MNESILOCHUS

Aye, and a very grievous one.

PISTOCLERUS

From what quarter?

MNESILOCHUS

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

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

PISTOCLERUS

This same must me a bad man.

MNESILOCHUS

I judge that so he is.

PISTOCLERUS

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.

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.

MNESILOCHUS

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.

MNESILOCHUS

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?

MNESILOCHUS

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.

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

PISTOCLERUS

Are you in your senses?

MNESILOCHUS

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?

MNESILOCHUS

Why? You’re in love with Bacchis.

PISTOCLERUS

But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house.

MNESILOCHUS

How, two?

PISTOCLERUS

Aye, and the two are sisters.

MNESILOCHUS

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

MNESILOCHUS

Well, I’ll go; but stay a moment.

PISTOCLERUS

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.)

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Mnesilochvs Reddidi patrí omne aurum. nunc ego illam me velim 530 convenire, postquam inanis sum, contemptricem meam. sed veniam mihi quam gravate páter dedit de Chrysalo; verum postremo impetravi, ut ne quid ei suscenseat.

Pistoclervs Estne hic meus sodalis?

Mnesilochvs Estne hic hostis, quem aspicio, meus?

Pistoclervs Certe is est. 535

Mnesilochvs Is est.

Pistoclervs Adibo contra et contollam gradum. salvos sis, Mnesiloche.

Mnesilochvs Salve.

Pistoclervs Salvos quom peregre advenis, cena detur.

Mnesilochvs Non placet mi cena quae bilem movet.

Pistoclervs Numquae advenienti aegritudo obiecta est?

Mnesilochvs Atque acerruma.

Pistoclervs Vnde?

Mnesilochvs Ab homine quem mi amicum esse arbitratus sum antidhac.

Pistoclervs Multi more isto atque exemplo vivont, quos cum censeas 540 esse amicos, reperiuntur falsi falsimoniis, lingua factiosi, inertes opera, sublesta fide. nullus est quoi non invideant rem secundam optingere; sibi ne ínvideatur, ipsi ignavia recte cavent.

Pistoclervs Improbum istunc esse oportet hominem.

Mnesilochvs Ego ita esse arbitror.

Pistoclervs Obsecro hercle loquere, quis is est.

Mnesilochvs Benevolens vivit tibi. nam ni ita esset, tecum orarem ut éi quod posses mali facere faceres. 555

Pistoclervs Dic modo hominem qui sit: si non fecero ei male aliquo pacto, me esse dicito ignavissimum.

Mnesilochvs Nequam homost, verum hercle amicus est tibi.

Pistoclervs Tanto magis dic quis est; nequam hominis ego parvi pendo gratiam.

Mnesilochvs Video non potesse quin tibi eius nomen eloquar. Pistoclere, perdidisti me sodalem funditus. 560

Pistoclervs Quid istuc est?

Mnesilochvs Quid est? misine ego ad te ex Epheso epistulam super amica, ut mi invenires?

Pistoclervs Fateor factum, et repperi.

Mnesilochvs Quid? tibi non erat meretricum aliarum Athenis copia quibuscum haberes rem, nisi cum illa quám ego mandassem tibi occiperes tute † amare et mi ires consultum male? 565

Pistoclervs Sanun es?

Mnesilochvs Rem repperi omnem ex tuo magistro. ne nega. perdidisti me.

Pistoclervs Etiamne ultro tuis me prolectas probris?

Mnesilochvs Quid? amas Bacchidem?

Pistoclervs Duas ergo hic intus eccas Bacchides.

Mnesilochvs Quid? duas?

Pistoclervs Átque ambas sorores.

Mnesilochvs Loqueris nunc nugas sciens.

Pistoclervs Postremo, si pergis parvam mihi fidem arbitrarier, 570 tollam ego ted in collum atque intro hinc auferam.

Mnesilochvs Immo ibo, mane.

Pistoclervs Non maneo, neque tu me habebis falso suspectum.

Mnesilochvs Sequor.—

Current edition Perseus

PISTOCLERUS (apart.) Isn’t this my friend?

MNESILOCHUS (apart.) Isn’t this my foe that I see?

PISTOCLERUS For sure ’tis he. 535

MNESILOCHUS ’Tis he.

PISTOCLERUS (apart.) I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace. (Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!

MNESILOCHUS Hail!

PISTOCLERUS As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.

MNESILOCHUS A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.

PISTOCLERUS Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?

MNESILOCHUS Aye, and a very grievous one.

PISTOCLERUS From what quarter?

MNESILOCHUS From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend.

PISTOCLERUS This same must me a bad man.

MNESILOCHUS I judge that so he is.

PISTOCLERUS 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.

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.

MNESILOCHUS 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.

MNESILOCHUS 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?

MNESILOCHUS 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.

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

PISTOCLERUS Are you in your senses?

MNESILOCHUS 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?

MNESILOCHUS Why? You’re in love with Bacchis.

PISTOCLERUS But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house.

MNESILOCHUS How, two?

PISTOCLERUS Aye, and the two are sisters.

MNESILOCHUS 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

MNESILOCHUS Well, I’ll go; but stay a moment.

PISTOCLERUS 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.)

Stable identifiers

Mnesilochvs

Reddidi patrí omne aurum. nunc ego illam me velim
530

convenire, postquam inanis sum, contemptricem meam.

sed veniam mihi quam gravate páter dedit de Chrysalo;

verum postremo impetravi, ut ne quid ei suscenseat.

Pistoclervs

Estne hic meus sodalis?

Mnesilochvs

Estne hic hostis, quem aspicio, meus?

Pistoclervs

Certe is est.
535

Mnesilochvs

Is est.

Pistoclervs

Adibo contra et contollam gradum.

salvos sis, Mnesiloche.

Mnesilochvs

Salve.

Pistoclervs

Salvos quom peregre advenis,

cena detur.

Mnesilochvs

Non placet mi cena quae bilem movet.

Pistoclervs

Numquae advenienti aegritudo obiecta est?

Mnesilochvs

Atque acerruma.

Pistoclervs

Vnde?

Mnesilochvs

Ab homine quem mi amicum esse arbitratus sum antidhac.

Pistoclervs

Multi more isto atque exemplo vivont, quos cum censeas
540

esse amicos, reperiuntur falsi falsimoniis,

lingua factiosi, inertes opera, sublesta fide.

nullus est quoi non invideant rem secundam optingere;

sibi ne ínvideatur, ipsi ignavia recte cavent.

Pistoclervs

Improbum istunc esse oportet hominem.

Mnesilochvs

Ego ita esse arbitror.

Pistoclervs

Obsecro hercle loquere, quis is est.

Mnesilochvs

Benevolens vivit tibi.

nam ni ita esset, tecum orarem ut éi quod posses mali

facere faceres.
555

Pistoclervs

Dic modo hominem qui sit: si non fecero

ei male aliquo pacto, me esse dicito ignavissimum.

Mnesilochvs

Nequam homost, verum hercle amicus est tibi.

Pistoclervs

Tanto magis

dic quis est; nequam hominis ego parvi pendo gratiam.

Mnesilochvs

Video non potesse quin tibi eius nomen eloquar.

Pistoclere, perdidisti me sodalem funditus.
560

Pistoclervs

Quid istuc est?

Mnesilochvs

Quid est? misine ego ad te ex Epheso epistulam

super amica, ut mi invenires?

Pistoclervs

Fateor factum, et repperi.

Mnesilochvs

Quid? tibi non erat meretricum aliarum Athenis copia

quibuscum haberes rem, nisi cum illa quám ego mandassem tibi

occiperes tute † amare et mi ires consultum male?
565

Pistoclervs

Sanun es?

Mnesilochvs

Rem repperi omnem ex tuo magistro. ne nega.

perdidisti me.

Pistoclervs

Etiamne ultro tuis me prolectas probris?

Mnesilochvs

Quid? amas Bacchidem?

Pistoclervs

Duas ergo hic intus eccas Bacchides.

Mnesilochvs

Quid? duas?

Pistoclervs

Átque ambas sorores.

Mnesilochvs

Loqueris nunc nugas sciens.

Pistoclervs

Postremo, si pergis parvam mihi fidem arbitrarier,
570

tollam ego ted in collum atque intro hinc auferam.

Mnesilochvs

Immo ibo, mane.

Pistoclervs

Non maneo, neque tu me habebis falso suspectum.

Mnesilochvs

Sequor.—

PISTOCLERUS

(apart.)

Isn’t this my friend?

MNESILOCHUS

(apart.)

Isn’t this my foe that I see?

PISTOCLERUS

For sure ’tis he.
535

MNESILOCHUS

’Tis he.

PISTOCLERUS

(apart.)

I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace. (Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!

MNESILOCHUS

Hail!

PISTOCLERUS

As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.

MNESILOCHUS

A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.

PISTOCLERUS

Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?

MNESILOCHUS

Aye, and a very grievous one.

PISTOCLERUS

From what quarter?

MNESILOCHUS

From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend.

PISTOCLERUS

This same must me a bad man.

MNESILOCHUS

I judge that so he is.

PISTOCLERUS

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.

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.

MNESILOCHUS

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.

MNESILOCHUS

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?

MNESILOCHUS

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.

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

PISTOCLERUS

Are you in your senses?

MNESILOCHUS

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?

MNESILOCHUS

Why? You’re in love with Bacchis.

PISTOCLERUS

But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house.

MNESILOCHUS

How, two?

PISTOCLERUS

Aye, and the two are sisters.

MNESILOCHUS

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

MNESILOCHUS

Well, I’ll go; but stay a moment.

PISTOCLERUS

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.)