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110
(Enter, from his house, HEGIO and a SLAVE.)
HEGIO
Now, give attention you, if you please. Those two captives whom I purchased yesterday of the Quaestors out of the spoil, put upon them chains of light weight
1
; take off those greater ones with which they are bound. Permit them to walk, if they wish, out of doors, or if in-doors,
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but so that they are watched with the greatest care. A captive at liberty is like a bird that’s wild; if opportunity is once given for escaping, ‘tis enough; after that, you can never catch him.
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Now, give attention you, if you please. Those two captives whom I purchased yesterday of the Quaestors out of the spoil, put upon them chains of light weight
1
; take off those greater ones with which they are bound. Permit them to walk, if they wish, out of doors, or if in-doors,
110
but so that they are watched with the greatest care. A captive at liberty is like a bird that’s wild; if opportunity is once given for escaping, ‘tis enough; after that, you can never catch him.
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A SLAVE
Doubtless we all are free men more willingly than we live the life of slaves.
Doubtless we all are free men more willingly than we live the life of slaves.
HEGIO
You, indeed, don’t seem to think so
2
.
You, indeed, don’t seem to think so
2
.
A SLAVE
If I have nothing to give, should you like me to give myself to flight
3
?
If I have nothing to give, should you like me to give myself to flight
3
?
HEGIO
If you do so give yourself, I shall at once have something to be giving to you.
If you do so give yourself, I shall at once have something to be giving to you.
A SLAVE
I’ll make myself just like the wild bird you were telling of.
I’ll make myself just like the wild bird you were telling of.
HEGIO
’Tis just as you say; for if you do so, I’ll be giving you to the cage
4
.
But enough of prating; take you care of what I’ve ordered, and be off.
(The SLAVE goes into the house.) I’ll away to my brother’s, to my other captives; I’ll go see whether they’ve been making any disturbance last night. From there I shall forthwith betake myself home again.
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’Tis just as you say; for if you do so, I’ll be giving you to the cage
4
.
But enough of prating; take you care of what I’ve ordered, and be off.
(The SLAVE goes into the house.) I’ll away to my brother’s, to my other captives; I’ll go see whether they’ve been making any disturbance last night. From there I shall forthwith betake myself home again.
125
ERGASILUS
(apart.)
It grieves me that this unhappy old man is following the trade of a slave-dealer,
by reason of the misfortune of his son. But, if by any means he can be brought back here, I could even endure for him to become an executioner.
130
It grieves me that this unhappy old man is following the trade of a slave-dealer,
by reason of the misfortune of his son. But, if by any means he can be brought back here, I could even endure for him to become an executioner.
130
HEGIO
(overhearing him.)
Who is it that’s speaking?
Who is it that’s speaking?
ERGASILUS
’Tis I, who am, pining at your affliction, growing thin, waxing old, and shockingly wasting away. Wretched man that I am,
I’m but skin and bone through leanness; nor does anything ever do me good that I eat at home; even that ever so little which I taste out of doors, the same refreshes me.
135
’Tis I, who am, pining at your affliction, growing thin, waxing old, and shockingly wasting away. Wretched man that I am,
I’m but skin and bone through leanness; nor does anything ever do me good that I eat at home; even that ever so little which I taste out of doors, the same refreshes me.
135
HEGIO
Ergasilus, save you!
Ergasilus, save you!
ERGASILUS
(crying.)
May the Gods kindly bless you, Hegio!
May the Gods kindly bless you, Hegio!
HEGIO
Don’t weep.
Don’t weep.
ERGASILUS
Must I not weep for him? Must I not weep for such a young man?
Must I not weep for him? Must I not weep for such a young man?
HEGIO
I’ve always known you to be a friend to my son, and I have understood him to be so to you.
I’ve always known you to be a friend to my son, and I have understood him to be so to you.
ERGASILUS
Then at last do we men know our blessings, when we have lost those things which we once had in our power. I, since your son fell into the power of the enemy,
knowing by experience of what value he was, now feel his loss.
145
Then at last do we men know our blessings, when we have lost those things which we once had in our power. I, since your son fell into the power of the enemy,
knowing by experience of what value he was, now feel his loss.
145
HEGIO
Since you, who are no relation, bear his misfortune so much amiss, what is it likely that I, a father, should do, whose only son he is?
Since you, who are no relation, bear his misfortune so much amiss, what is it likely that I, a father, should do, whose only son he is?
ERGASILUS
I, no relation to him? He, no relation to me? Oh, Hegio! never do say that, nor come to such a belief.
To you he is an only child, but to me he is even more only than an only one.
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I, no relation to him? He, no relation to me? Oh, Hegio! never do say that, nor come to such a belief.
To you he is an only child, but to me he is even more only than an only one.
150
HEGIO
I commend you, in that you consider the affliction of your friend your own affliction. Now be of good heart.
I commend you, in that you consider the affliction of your friend your own affliction. Now be of good heart.
ERGASILUS
(crying.)
O dear!
O dear!
HEGIO
(half-aside.)
’Tis this afflicts him,
5
that the army for guttling is now disbanded.
Meanwhile, have you found no one to command for you the army that you mentioned as disbanded?
’Tis this afflicts him,
5
that the army for guttling is now disbanded.
Meanwhile, have you found no one to command for you the army that you mentioned as disbanded?
ERGASILUS
What do you think? All to whom it used to fall are in the habit of declining that province since your son Philopolemus was taken prisoner.
What do you think? All to whom it used to fall are in the habit of declining that province since your son Philopolemus was taken prisoner.
HEGIO
I’ faith, ‘tisn’t to be wondered at, that they are in the habit of declining that province. You have necessity for numerous troops, and those of numerous kinds.
Well, first you have need of the Bakerians
6
. Of these Bakerians there are several kinds, You have need of Roll-makerians, you have need too of Confectionerians, you have need of Poultererians, you have need of Beccaficorians; besides, all the maritime forces are necessary for you.
160
I’ faith, ‘tisn’t to be wondered at, that they are in the habit of declining that province. You have necessity for numerous troops, and those of numerous kinds.
Well, first you have need of the Bakerians
6
. Of these Bakerians there are several kinds, You have need of Roll-makerians, you have need too of Confectionerians, you have need of Poultererians, you have need of Beccaficorians; besides, all the maritime forces are necessary for you.
160
ERGASILUS
How the greatest geniuses do frequently lie concealed! How great a general now is this private individual!
165
How the greatest geniuses do frequently lie concealed! How great a general now is this private individual!
165
HEGIO
Only have good courage; for I trust that in a few days I shall bring him back home. For see now; there’s a captive here, a young man of Elis,
born of a very high family, and of very great wealth; I trust that it will come to pass that I shall get my son in exchange for him.
170
Only have good courage; for I trust that in a few days I shall bring him back home. For see now; there’s a captive here, a young man of Elis,
born of a very high family, and of very great wealth; I trust that it will come to pass that I shall get my son in exchange for him.
170
ERGASILUS
May the Gods and Goddesses grant it so!
May the Gods and Goddesses grant it so!
HEGIO
But are you invited out anywhere to dinner?
7
But are you invited out anywhere to dinner?
7
ERGASILUS
Nowhere that I know of. But, pray, why do you ask me?
Nowhere that I know of. But, pray, why do you ask me?
HEGIO
Because this is my birthday;
for that reason I’d like you to be invited to dinner at my house.
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Because this is my birthday;
for that reason I’d like you to be invited to dinner at my house.
175
ERGASILUS
’Tis kindly said.
’Tis kindly said.
HEGIO
But if you can be content to eat a very little—
8
But if you can be content to eat a very little—
8
ERGASILUS
Aye, even ever so little; for on such fare as that do I enjoy myself every day at home.
Aye, even ever so little; for on such fare as that do I enjoy myself every day at home.
HEGIO
Come, then, please, set yourself up for sale.
9
Come, then, please, set yourself up for sale.
9
ERGASILUS
I’ll put myself up for purchase, just like a landed estate, unless any one shall privately make a better offer that pleases myself and my friends more, and to my own conditions will I bind myself.
I’ll put myself up for purchase, just like a landed estate, unless any one shall privately make a better offer that pleases myself and my friends more, and to my own conditions will I bind myself.
HEGIO
You are surely selling me a bottomless pit
10
, and not a landed estate. But if you are coming, do so in time.
You are surely selling me a bottomless pit
10
, and not a landed estate. But if you are coming, do so in time.
ERGASILUS
Why, for that matter, I’m at leisure even now.
Why, for that matter, I’m at leisure even now.
HEGIO
Go then, and hunt for a hare; at present, in me you have but a ferret
11
,
for my fare is in the way of frequenting a rugged road.
185
Go then, and hunt for a hare; at present, in me you have but a ferret
11
,
for my fare is in the way of frequenting a rugged road.
185
ERGASILUS
You’ll never repulse me by that, Hegio, so don’t attempt it. I’ll come, in spite of it, with teeth well shod.
You’ll never repulse me by that, Hegio, so don’t attempt it. I’ll come, in spite of it, with teeth well shod.
HEGIO
Really, my viands are but of a rough sort
12
.
Really, my viands are but of a rough sort
12
.
ERGASILUS
Are you in the habit of eating brambles?
Are you in the habit of eating brambles?
HEGIO
Mine is an earthy dinner.
Mine is an earthy dinner.
ERGASILUS
A pig is an earthy animal.
A pig is an earthy animal.
HEGIO
Earthy from its plenty of vegetables.
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Earthy from its plenty of vegetables.
190
ERGASILUS
Treat your sick peoples
13
at home with that fare? Do you wish anything else?
Treat your sick peoples
13
at home with that fare? Do you wish anything else?
HEGIO
Come in good time.
Come in good time.
ERGASILUS
You are putting in mind one who remembers quite well.
(Exit.)
You are putting in mind one who remembers quite well.
HEGIO
I’ll go in-doors, and in the house I’ll make the calculation how little money I have at my banker’s; afterwards I’ll go to my brother’s, whither I was saying I would go.
(Goes into his house.)
I’ll go in-doors, and in the house I’ll make the calculation how little money I have at my banker’s; afterwards I’ll go to my brother’s, whither I was saying I would go.
Captivi. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1912.
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