T. Maccius Plautus Bacchides 4.10

NICOBULUS

Pray, whose voice is it that sounds near me?

CHRYSALUS

O Nicobulus!

NICOBULUS

What’s the matter?

CHRYSALUS

O, capital!

NICOBULUS

Well, have you done aught of what I sent you upon?

980

CHRYSALUS

What—ask you that? Step closer this way.

NICOBULUS

(coming nearer.)

Well, I do come closer.

CHRYSALUS

I am an excellent pleader. By rebuking him, and by whatever hard language I really was able to think of, I forced the fellow to tears.

NICOBULUS

What did he say?

CHRYSALUS

He uttered not a word: crying, he listened in silence to what I was saying; in silence he wrote down on his tablets; these sealed he gave to me;

he bade me deliver them to you. (Gives him the tablets.) But I am afraid that they sing to the same tune that the former ones did. Observe the seal, is it his?

985

NICOBULUS

I recognize it. I’d like to read them over.

(Goes to a distance.)

CHRYSALUS

Read them through. (Aside.) Now is the upper lintel ¹ being cut down, now is the destruction of Troy near at hand. The wooden horse is shaking it right cleverly.

NICOBULUS

Chrysalus, just step here while I am reading these through.

CHRYSALUS

Prithee, what need is there for me to be near you?

NICOBULUS

That you may know what’s written here.

CHRYSALUS

I don’t care, and I don’t wish to know.

NICOBULUS

Still, do come here.

990

CHRYSALUS

What need is there?

NICOBULUS

Hold your tongue.

CHRYSALUS

I’ll stay.

CHRYSALUS

I won’t, I say.

NICOBULUS

But I will, I say.

CHRYSALUS

What need is there?

NICOBULUS

Still do you only do that which I bid you.

CHRYSALUS

I’ll come. ’Tis right to do so; your own servant ought to be obedient at your command.

(Goes up to him.)

NICOBULUS

(looking at the tablets.)

Heyday! he hasn’t been sparing ² of his wax or pen. But whatever it is, I’m resolved to read it through. Attend to me, please, this very instant.

CHRYSALUS

When you choose, read on; I devote to you the attention of my ears.

NICOBULUS

(looking close.)

Bless me! the letters are small.

CHRYSALUS

To one, indeed, who cannot see well with his eyes but they are quite large enough for one who can see well.

NICOBULUS

Give your attention then.

995

(He reads.) Father, I beseech you, do give two hundred Philippeans to Chrysalus, if you wish me to be safe or alive for you—

CHRYSALUS

By my troth, really a very great mistake,

I tell you.

NICOBULUS

What’s the matter?

CHRYSALUS

He hasn’t first written the salutation to you.

1000

NICOBULUS

(looking.)

I don’t see it anywhere.

CHRYSALUS

Even from its very commencement the letter is an impertinent one.

If you are wise, you’ll not give it; but at the best, if you give it him, why, let him find out some other porter for himself, if he is wise; for I won’t carry it if you order me ever so much. I’ve been quite enough suspected as it is, when I was guiltless of a fault.

NICOBULUS

Listen on now, while I read through what’s written.

1005

(Reading.) I am ashamed, father, to appear before you in your presence; such disgraceful conduct of mine have I heard that you are aware of, that I have formed an intercourse with the wife of a strange Captain.

By my troth, you are not joking there; for I have saved your life from the consequences of this foul deed with two hundred golden Philippeans.

1010

CHRYSALUS

There’s not a particle of these things but what I’ve told him.

NICOBULUS

(reading.)

I confess that I have acted foolishly. But I beseech you, father, do not forsake me, if, in my folly, I have transgressed.

Of fierce desires, and eyes uncontrolled, have I been; I have been urged on to do a deed of which I am now ashamed. It were proper, then, that you should have taken heed before you were ashamed.

1015

CHRYSALUS

All these very same words did I say to him only just now.

NICOBULUS

(reading.)

I beseech you, father, to consider that it is enough that Chrysalus

has reproached me with many cutting words, and by his advice has made me a better man, so that ’tis right that you should return him sincere thanks.

1020

CHRYSALUS

Is that written there?

NICOBULUS

Look and see, then you’ll know.

(Shows him the letter.)

CHRYSALUS

He that has so offended, how humble to all he is, and of his own accord.

NICOBULUS

(reading.)

Now, father, if even yet I may be allowed to ask anything of you, do give me two hundred Philippean pieces, I do entreat you.

1025

CHRYSALUS

By my troth, now, not one even, if you are wise.

NICOBULUS

Let me read on. (Reading.) In set form ³ I have taken an oath that I would give this to the woman this day before nightfall,

ere she leaves me. Now, father, have a care that I be not forsworn, and take me hence away from her as soon as you can, on whose account I have incurred so much loss and guilt. Take care and let not the two hundred pieces be a cause of annoyance to you; I will repay you innumerable times as much, if I live.

1030

Farewell, and do attend to these matters. Now, Chrysalus, what do you think?

1035

CHRYSALUS

I won’t give you one bit of advice this day, and I won’t run the risk, that if any mistake is made, you should say that you had done it by my counsel. But, as I conceive, if I were in your place,

I would rather give the gold than suffer him to be corrupted. There is a twofold choice consider which you would adopt; either to lose the gold, or for a lover to be forsworn. I neither order you, nor forbid you, nor do I persuade you.

1040

NICOBULUS

I’m sorry for him.

CHRYSALUS

You don’t do anything surprising—he is your son.

If still more must be lost, ’tis better for it to go, than for this disgrace to be everywhere proclaimed.

1045

NICOBULUS

By my troth, I certainly had much rather he had been at Ephesus, so long as he was well, than that he had returned home. But why don’t I hasten to get rid of that which is doomed to be squandered away?

I’ll bring you just now from in-doors twice two hundred Philippeans, both those which, a little time since, to my sorrow, I promised to the Captain, and these others. Wait there; I’ll be out to you, Chrysalus, this instant.

1050

(Goes into his house.)

CHRYSALUS

Troy is laid waste, the chiefs have razed Pergamus. I knew some time ago that I should be the ruin of Pergamus.

I’ faith I wouldn’t dare make a bet with him who should say that I was deserving of severe torture; so great confusion am I making. But the door makes a noise; the plunder’s being brought forth from Troy. For the present I’ll hold my tongue.

1055

(with the money in two bays.)

NICOBULUS

Take you this gold, Chrysalus; go, carry it to my son.

But I’ll go hence to the market-place to pay this to the Captain.

1060

CHRYSALUS

For my part, I’ll not receive it; do you seek somebody at once to take it. I won’t have it entrusted to me.

NICOBULUS

But do take it; you’re worrying me now.

(Holds it to him.)

CHRYSALUS

For my part, I’ll not take it.

NICOBULUS

But, prithee do.

CHRYSALUS

I am telling you what is the fact.

NICOBULUS

You are delaying me.

CHRYSALUS

I don’t want, I say, the gold to be entrusted to me. At all events, find some person to keep a watch upon me.

NICOBULUS

You’re plaguing me.

CHRYSALUS

Well, give it me, if it must be so.

(Holds out his hand.)

NICOBULUS

(gives him the money.)

Take care of it. I’ll be back here just now.

(Exit.)

CHRYSALUS

I’ve taken care—that you shall be a most wretched old fellow; this is bringing an undertaking to a fair ending; even as it has proved my lot to go rejoicing, laden with the spoil.

With safety to myself, and the city taken by stratagem, I now bring home my whole army unhurt. But, Spectators, don’t you now be surprised that I don’t go in triumph; ’tis such a common thing, I don’t care for it. Still however, the soldiers shall be received with the usual honeyed wine.

1070

Now I’ll carry off all this booty at once to the Quaestor ⁴ .

1075

(Goes into the house of BACCHIS.)

PHILOXENUS

(Enter PHILOXENUS.)

The more I revolve it in my breast, what disturbances my son has raised, into what a course of life, and into what habits he unwittingly has headlong plunged himself, the greater is my concern, and the more do I dread lest he may be ruined or corrupted. I know it; I once was of the same age, and I did all these things; but in a quiet way.

I was gay, I had my mistress, I drank, I feasted, I made presents, but still it was seldom I did so. The methods, too, please me not which I see parents in general employ towards their sons. I have determined to give some latitude to my son, that he may have some scope for his inclinations. I think that’s right; but still, I don’t wish him to give way too much to sloth and wantonness. Now I’m going to Mnesilochus,

1080

to see whether, as I requested, by his endeavours he has turned him for me to virtue and to sobriety; as, indeed, I am sure he has done if he has met him, of such a disposition is he by nature.

(Exit.)