T. Maccius Plautus Captivi 1.2

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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A SLAVE

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 .

A SLAVE

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.

A SLAVE

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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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.

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HEGIO

(overhearing him.)

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.

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HEGIO

Ergasilus, save you!

ERGASILUS

(crying.)

May the Gods kindly bless you, Hegio!

HEGIO

Don’t weep.

ERGASILUS

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.

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.

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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?

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.

150

HEGIO

I commend you, in that you consider the affliction of your friend your own affliction. Now be of good heart.

ERGASILUS

(crying.)

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?

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.

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.

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ERGASILUS

How the greatest geniuses do frequently lie concealed! How great a general now is this private individual!

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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.

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ERGASILUS

May the Gods and Goddesses grant it so!

HEGIO

But are you invited out anywhere to dinner? ⁷

ERGASILUS

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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ERGASILUS

’Tis kindly said.

HEGIO

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.

HEGIO

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.

HEGIO

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.

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.

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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.

HEGIO

Really, my viands are but of a rough sort ¹² .

ERGASILUS

Are you in the habit of eating brambles?

HEGIO

Mine is an earthy dinner.

ERGASILUS

A pig is an earthy animal.

HEGIO

Earthy from its plenty of vegetables.

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ERGASILUS

Treat your sick peoples ¹³ at home with that fare? Do you wish anything else?

HEGIO

Come in good time.

ERGASILUS

You are putting in mind one who remembers quite well.

(Exit.)

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.)