T. Maccius Plautus, Bacchides, ed. Friedrich Leo, 4.7

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799

Nicobvlvs

Constringe tu illi, Artamo, actutum manus.

Chrysalvs

Quid feci?
800

Nicobvlvs

Impinge pugnum, si muttiverit.

quid hae locuntur litterae?

Chrysalvs

Quid me rogas?

ut ab illo accepi, ad te obsignatas attuli.

Nicobvlvs

Eho tu, loquitatusne es gnato meo

male per sermonem, quia mi id aurum reddidit,

et te dixisti id aurum ablaturum tamen
805

per sycophantiam?

Chrysalvs

Egone istuc dixi?

Nicobvlvs

Ita.

Chrysalvs

Quis homost qui dicat me dixisse istuc?

Nicobvlvs

Tace,

nullus homo dicit: hae tabellae te arguont,

quas tu attulisti. em hae te vinciri iubent.

Chrysalvs

Aha, Bellorophontem tuos me fecit filius:
810

egomet tabellas tetuli ut vincirer. sine.

Nicobvlvs

Propterea hoc facio, ut suadeas gnato meo

ut pergraecetur tecum, tervenefice.

Chrysalvs

O stulte, stulte, nescis nunc venire te;

atque in eopse adstas lapide, ut praeco praedicat.
815

Nicobvlvs

Responde: quis me vendit?

Chrysalvs

Quem di diligunt

adulescens moritur, dum valet sentit sapit.

hunc si ullus deus amaret, plus annis decem,

plus iam viginti mortuom esse oportuit:

terrai ódium ámbulat, iam nil sapit
820

nec sentit, tantist quantist fungus putidus.

Nicobvlvs

Tun terrae me odium esse autumas? abducite hunc

intro atque adstringite ad columnam fortiter.

numquam auferes hinc aurum.

Chrysalvs

Át qui iam dabis.

Nicobvlvs

Dabo?
825

Chrysalvs

Atque orabis me quidem ultro ut auferam,

cum illum rescisces criminatorem meum

quanto in periclo et quanta in pernicie siet.

tum libertatem Chrysalo largibere;

ego adeo numquam accipiam.

Nicobvlvs

Dic, scelerum caput,

dic, quo in periclo est meus Mnesilochus filius?
830

Chrysalvs

Sequere hac me, faxo iam scies.

Nicobvlvs

Quo gentium?

Chrysalvs

Tres unos passus.

Nicobvlvs

Vel decem.

Chrysalvs

Agedum tu, Artamo,

forem hanc pauxillum áperi; placide, ne crepa;

sat est. accede huc tu. viden convivium?

Nicobvlvs

Video exadvorsum Pistoclerum et Bacchidem.
835

Chrysalvs

Qui sunt in lecto illo altero?

Nicobvlvs

Interii miser.

Chrysalvs

Novistine hominem?

Nicobvlvs

Novi.

Chrysalvs

Dic sodes mihi,

bellan videtur specie mulier?

Nicobvlvs

Admodum.

Chrysalvs

Quid illám, meretricemne esse censes?

Nicobvlvs

Quippini?

Chrysalvs

Frustra es.
840

Nicobvlvs

Quis igitur obsecrost?

Chrysalvs

Inveneris.

ex me quidem hodie numquam fies certior.

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.) — 4.7 focus

799 (Re-enter NICOBULUS, with SLAVES carrying fetters.)

NICOBULUS

Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant.

(The SLAVES bind him.)

CHRYSALUS

What have I done?
800

NICOBULUS

Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. (To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets.) What does this letter say?

CHRYSALUS

Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I’ve brought it sealed to you.

NICOBULUS

Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold,

and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick?
805

CHRYSALUS

Have I said so?

NICOBULUS

You have.

CHRYSALUS

What person is there, who says that I’ve said so?

NICOBULUS

Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, ’tis this that requests you to be chained.

(Points to the open tablets.)

CHRYSALUS

Ah! your son has been making a Bellerophon¹ of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so.
810

NICOBULUS

This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.

CHRYSALUS

(aside.)

O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale;

and that you are standing on the very stone² as the auctioneer puts you up.
815

NICOBULUS

(overhearing him.)

Answer me; who is selling me?

CHRYSALUS

He whom the Gods favour³ dies in youth, while he is in his health, has his senses and judgment sound. This person (pointing to NICOBULUS), if any God had favoured him, ought to have been dead more than ten years—aye, more than twenty years ago.

’Tis for long, he has walked, a nuisance, on the earth; so devoid is he of either judgment or sense. He is of as much value as a rotten mushroom is.
820

NICOBULUS

Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.

CHRYSALUS

No, but you’ll soon be giving it me.

NICOBULUS

I, give it you?
825

CHRYSALUS

You’ll be entreating me, too, of your own accord to receive it, when you shall come to know this accuser of mine, in how great danger and in what a dreadful situation he is. Then will you be offering his liberty to Chrysalus; but I certainly shan’t accept it.

NICOBULUS

Tell me, source of mischief,

tell me, in what danger is my son Mnesilochus.
830

CHRYSALUS

Follow me this way; I’ll soon let you know.

NICOBULUS

Where on earth shall I follow you?

CHRYSALUS

Only three steps.

NICOBULUS

Aye, ten even.

CHRYSALUS

Come, then, Artamo, do you open you this door out a very little way; softly, don’t make it creak. (The door of the house of BACCHIS is opened.) That’s enough. Now, step you hither. (To NICOBULUS, who looks in.) Do you see the entertainment?

NICOBULUS

(still looking in.)

I see Pistoclerus and Bacchis right opposite.
835

CHRYSALUS

Who are upon that other couch?

NICOBULUS

(looking on the other side.)

Wretch that I am, I’m undone.

CHRYSALUS

Do you recognize that person?

NICOBULUS

I do recognize him.

CHRYSALUS

Now tell me, if you please, does that woman seem of handsome appearance?

NICOBULUS

Very much so.

CHRYSALUS

Well, do you take her to be a courtesan?

NICOBULUS

Why not?

CHRYSALUS

You are mistaken.
840

NICOBULUS

Who is she then, prithee?

CHRYSALUS

You’ll find out from me. indeed, you’ll get no more information to-day.

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Nicobvlvs Constringe tu illi, Artamo, actutum manus.

Chrysalvs Quid feci? 800

Nicobvlvs Impinge pugnum, si muttiverit. quid hae locuntur litterae?

Chrysalvs Quid me rogas? ut ab illo accepi, ad te obsignatas attuli.

Nicobvlvs Eho tu, loquitatusne es gnato meo male per sermonem, quia mi id aurum reddidit, et te dixisti id aurum ablaturum tamen 805 per sycophantiam?

Chrysalvs Egone istuc dixi?

Nicobvlvs Ita.

Chrysalvs Quis homost qui dicat me dixisse istuc?

Nicobvlvs Tace, nullus homo dicit: hae tabellae te arguont, quas tu attulisti. em hae te vinciri iubent.

Chrysalvs Aha, Bellorophontem tuos me fecit filius: 810 egomet tabellas tetuli ut vincirer. sine.

Nicobvlvs Propterea hoc facio, ut suadeas gnato meo ut pergraecetur tecum, tervenefice.

Chrysalvs O stulte, stulte, nescis nunc venire te; atque in eopse adstas lapide, ut praeco praedicat. 815

Nicobvlvs Responde: quis me vendit?

Chrysalvs Quem di diligunt adulescens moritur, dum valet sentit sapit. hunc si ullus deus amaret, plus annis decem, plus iam viginti mortuom esse oportuit: terrai ódium ámbulat, iam nil sapit 820 nec sentit, tantist quantist fungus putidus.

Nicobvlvs Tun terrae me odium esse autumas? abducite hunc intro atque adstringite ad columnam fortiter. numquam auferes hinc aurum.

Chrysalvs Át qui iam dabis.

Nicobvlvs Dabo? 825

Chrysalvs Atque orabis me quidem ultro ut auferam, cum illum rescisces criminatorem meum quanto in periclo et quanta in pernicie siet. tum libertatem Chrysalo largibere; ego adeo numquam accipiam.

Nicobvlvs Dic, scelerum caput, dic, quo in periclo est meus Mnesilochus filius? 830

Chrysalvs Sequere hac me, faxo iam scies.

Nicobvlvs Quo gentium?

Chrysalvs Tres unos passus.

Nicobvlvs Vel decem.

Chrysalvs Agedum tu, Artamo, forem hanc pauxillum áperi; placide, ne crepa; sat est. accede huc tu. viden convivium?

Nicobvlvs Video exadvorsum Pistoclerum et Bacchidem. 835

Chrysalvs Qui sunt in lecto illo altero?

Nicobvlvs Interii miser.

Chrysalvs Novistine hominem?

Nicobvlvs Novi.

Chrysalvs Dic sodes mihi, bellan videtur specie mulier?

Nicobvlvs Admodum.

Chrysalvs Quid illám, meretricemne esse censes?

Nicobvlvs Quippini?

Chrysalvs Frustra es. 840

Nicobvlvs Quis igitur obsecrost?

Chrysalvs Inveneris. ex me quidem hodie numquam fies certior.

Current edition Perseus

NICOBULUS Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant. (The SLAVES bind him.)

CHRYSALUS What have I done? 800

NICOBULUS Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. (To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets.) What does this letter say?

CHRYSALUS Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I’ve brought it sealed to you.

NICOBULUS Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold, and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick? 805

CHRYSALUS Have I said so?

NICOBULUS You have.

CHRYSALUS What person is there, who says that I’ve said so?

NICOBULUS Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, ’tis this that requests you to be chained. (Points to the open tablets.)

CHRYSALUS Ah! your son has been making a Bellerophon 1 of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so. 810

NICOBULUS This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.

CHRYSALUS (aside.) O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale; and that you are standing on the very stone 2 as the auctioneer puts you up. 815

NICOBULUS (overhearing him.) Answer me; who is selling me?

NICOBULUS Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.

CHRYSALUS No, but you’ll soon be giving it me.

NICOBULUS I, give it you? 825

CHRYSALUS You’ll be entreating me, too, of your own accord to receive it, when you shall come to know this accuser of mine, in how great danger and in what a dreadful situation he is. Then will you be offering his liberty to Chrysalus; but I certainly shan’t accept it.

NICOBULUS Tell me, source of mischief, tell me, in what danger is my son Mnesilochus. 830

CHRYSALUS Follow me this way; I’ll soon let you know.

NICOBULUS Where on earth shall I follow you?

CHRYSALUS Only three steps.

NICOBULUS Aye, ten even.

CHRYSALUS Come, then, Artamo, do you open you this door out a very little way; softly, don’t make it creak. (The door of the house of BACCHIS is opened.) That’s enough. Now, step you hither. (To NICOBULUS, who looks in.) Do you see the entertainment?

NICOBULUS (still looking in.) I see Pistoclerus and Bacchis right opposite. 835

CHRYSALUS Who are upon that other couch?

NICOBULUS (looking on the other side.) Wretch that I am, I’m undone.

CHRYSALUS Do you recognize that person?

NICOBULUS I do recognize him.

CHRYSALUS Now tell me, if you please, does that woman seem of handsome appearance?

NICOBULUS Very much so.

CHRYSALUS Well, do you take her to be a courtesan?

NICOBULUS Why not?

CHRYSALUS You are mistaken. 840

NICOBULUS Who is she then, prithee?

CHRYSALUS You’ll find out from me. indeed, you’ll get no more information to-day.

Stable identifiers

Nicobvlvs

Constringe tu illi, Artamo, actutum manus.

Chrysalvs

Quid feci?
800

Nicobvlvs

Impinge pugnum, si muttiverit.

quid hae locuntur litterae?

Chrysalvs

Quid me rogas?

ut ab illo accepi, ad te obsignatas attuli.

Nicobvlvs

Eho tu, loquitatusne es gnato meo

male per sermonem, quia mi id aurum reddidit,

et te dixisti id aurum ablaturum tamen
805

per sycophantiam?

Chrysalvs

Egone istuc dixi?

Nicobvlvs

Ita.

Chrysalvs

Quis homost qui dicat me dixisse istuc?

Nicobvlvs

Tace,

nullus homo dicit: hae tabellae te arguont,

quas tu attulisti. em hae te vinciri iubent.

Chrysalvs

Aha, Bellorophontem tuos me fecit filius:
810

egomet tabellas tetuli ut vincirer. sine.

Nicobvlvs

Propterea hoc facio, ut suadeas gnato meo

ut pergraecetur tecum, tervenefice.

Chrysalvs

O stulte, stulte, nescis nunc venire te;

atque in eopse adstas lapide, ut praeco praedicat.
815

Nicobvlvs

Responde: quis me vendit?

Chrysalvs

Quem di diligunt

adulescens moritur, dum valet sentit sapit.

hunc si ullus deus amaret, plus annis decem,

plus iam viginti mortuom esse oportuit:

terrai ódium ámbulat, iam nil sapit
820

nec sentit, tantist quantist fungus putidus.

Nicobvlvs

Tun terrae me odium esse autumas? abducite hunc

intro atque adstringite ad columnam fortiter.

numquam auferes hinc aurum.

Chrysalvs

Át qui iam dabis.

Nicobvlvs

Dabo?
825

Chrysalvs

Atque orabis me quidem ultro ut auferam,

cum illum rescisces criminatorem meum

quanto in periclo et quanta in pernicie siet.

tum libertatem Chrysalo largibere;

ego adeo numquam accipiam.

Nicobvlvs

Dic, scelerum caput,

dic, quo in periclo est meus Mnesilochus filius?
830

Chrysalvs

Sequere hac me, faxo iam scies.

Nicobvlvs

Quo gentium?

Chrysalvs

Tres unos passus.

Nicobvlvs

Vel decem.

Chrysalvs

Agedum tu, Artamo,

forem hanc pauxillum áperi; placide, ne crepa;

sat est. accede huc tu. viden convivium?

Nicobvlvs

Video exadvorsum Pistoclerum et Bacchidem.
835

Chrysalvs

Qui sunt in lecto illo altero?

Nicobvlvs

Interii miser.

Chrysalvs

Novistine hominem?

Nicobvlvs

Novi.

Chrysalvs

Dic sodes mihi,

bellan videtur specie mulier?

Nicobvlvs

Admodum.

Chrysalvs

Quid illám, meretricemne esse censes?

Nicobvlvs

Quippini?

Chrysalvs

Frustra es.
840

Nicobvlvs

Quis igitur obsecrost?

Chrysalvs

Inveneris.

ex me quidem hodie numquam fies certior.

NICOBULUS

Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant.

(The SLAVES bind him.)

CHRYSALUS

What have I done?
800

NICOBULUS

Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. (To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets.) What does this letter say?

CHRYSALUS

Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I’ve brought it sealed to you.

NICOBULUS

Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold,

and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick?
805

CHRYSALUS

Have I said so?

NICOBULUS

You have.

CHRYSALUS

What person is there, who says that I’ve said so?

NICOBULUS

Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, ’tis this that requests you to be chained.

(Points to the open tablets.)

CHRYSALUS

Ah! your son has been making a Bellerophon¹ of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so.
810

NICOBULUS

This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.

CHRYSALUS

(aside.)

O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale;

and that you are standing on the very stone² as the auctioneer puts you up.
815

NICOBULUS

(overhearing him.)

Answer me; who is selling me?

NICOBULUS

Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.

CHRYSALUS

No, but you’ll soon be giving it me.

NICOBULUS

I, give it you?
825

CHRYSALUS

You’ll be entreating me, too, of your own accord to receive it, when you shall come to know this accuser of mine, in how great danger and in what a dreadful situation he is. Then will you be offering his liberty to Chrysalus; but I certainly shan’t accept it.

NICOBULUS

Tell me, source of mischief,

tell me, in what danger is my son Mnesilochus.
830

CHRYSALUS

Follow me this way; I’ll soon let you know.

NICOBULUS

Where on earth shall I follow you?

CHRYSALUS

Only three steps.

NICOBULUS

Aye, ten even.

CHRYSALUS

Come, then, Artamo, do you open you this door out a very little way; softly, don’t make it creak. (The door of the house of BACCHIS is opened.) That’s enough. Now, step you hither. (To NICOBULUS, who looks in.) Do you see the entertainment?

NICOBULUS

(still looking in.)

I see Pistoclerus and Bacchis right opposite.
835

CHRYSALUS

Who are upon that other couch?

NICOBULUS

(looking on the other side.)

Wretch that I am, I’m undone.

CHRYSALUS

Do you recognize that person?

NICOBULUS

I do recognize him.

CHRYSALUS

Now tell me, if you please, does that woman seem of handsome appearance?

NICOBULUS

Very much so.

CHRYSALUS

Well, do you take her to be a courtesan?

NICOBULUS

Why not?

CHRYSALUS

You are mistaken.
840

NICOBULUS

Who is she then, prithee?

CHRYSALUS

You’ll find out from me. indeed, you’ll get no more information to-day.