T. Maccius Plautus, Captivi, ed. Friedrich Leo, 2.1

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195

Lorarii

Si di ímmortales íd voluerunt, vós hanc aerumnam éxsequi,
195

decét id pati animo aéquo: si id faciétis, levior lábos erit.

domi fuístis, credo, líberi:

nunc servitus si evenit, ei vos morigerari mos bonust

et erili imperio eamque ingeniis vostris lenem reddere.

indigna digna habenda sunt, erus quae facit.
200

Captivi

Oh oh oh.

Lorarivs

Éiulatione haud opus est, oculis haud lacrimantibus:

in ré mala animo sí bono utare, ádiuvat.

Tyndarvs

At nós pudet, quia cúm catenis súmus.

Lorarivs

At pigeat póstea

nostrum erum, si vos éximat vínculis,

aút solutós sinat, quós argento émerit.
205

Tyndarvs

Quid a nóbis metuit? scímus nos

nóstrum officiúm quod est, sí solutós sinat.

Lorarivs

Át fugam fíngitis: séntio quam rem ágitis.

Philocrates

Nós fugiamus? quó fugiamus?

Lorarivs

In patriam.

Philocrates

Apage, haud nós id deceat,

fúgitivos imitári.
210

Lorarivs

Immo edepol, si érit occasio, haúd dehortor.

Tyndarvs

Únum exoráre vos sínite nos.

Lorarivs

Quídnam id est?

Tyndarvs

Út sine hisce arbitris

átque vobis nobis détis lócum loquendi.

Lorarivs

Fíat. abscédite hinc: nós concedámus huc.

séd brevem orátionem íncipisse.
215

Tyndarvs

Em istúc mihi certum erat. cóncede huc.

Lorarivs

Abíte ab ístis.

Tyndarvs

Obnóxii ámbo

vóbis sumus própter hanc rém, quom quae vólumus nos

copia est † ea facitis nos compotes.

Philocrates

Sécede huc núnciam, sí videtúr, procul,

ne arbitri dicta nostra arbitrari queant
220

neu permanet palam haec nostra fallacia.

nam doli non doli sunt, nisi astu colas,

sed malum maxumum, si id palam provenit.

nam sí erus mihi es tu átque ego me túom esse servom assímulo,

tamen víso opust, cauto est opus, ut hoc sóbrie sineque árbitris
225

accúrate agátur, docte ét diligénter;

tanta íncepta rés est: haud sómniculóse hoc

agéndum est.

Tyndarvs

Ero út me volés esse.

Philocrates

Spéro.

Tyndarvs

Nam tú nunc vidés pro tuó caro cápite

carum ófferre mé meum capút vilitáti.
230

Philocrates

Scio.

Tyndarvs

At scíre memento, quándo id quód voles habébis;

nam fére maxima pars mórem hunc hominés habent: quod síbi volunt,

dum id ímpetrant, boní sunt;

sed íd ubi iam penes sése habent,

éx bonis péssimi et fraúdulentíssimi
235

fíunt: nunc út mihi té volo esse aútumo.

quód tibi suádeam, suádeam meó patri.

Philocrates

Pól ego si te aúdeam, meúm patrem nóminem:

nám secundúm patrem tu és pater próximus.

Tyndarvs

Aúdio.
240

Philocrates

Et proptérea saepiús te uti memíneris moneo:

non ego erus tibi, sed servos sum; nunc obsecro te hoc unum—

quoniam nobis di immortales animum ostenderunt suom,

ut qui erum me tibi fuisse atque esse conservom velint,

quom antehac pro iure imperitabam meo, nunc te oro per precem—

per fortunam incertam et per mei te erga bonitatem patris,
245

perque consérvitium commune, quód hostica evenit manu,

ne me secus honore honestes quam quom servibas mihi,

atque ut qui fueris et qui nunc sis meminisse ut memineris.

Tyndarvs

Scio quidem me te esse nunc et te esse me.

Philocrates

Em istuc si potes

memoriter meminisse, inest spes nobis ín hac astutia.
250

Captivi. 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

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

Translations (1)

Captivi: The Captives Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 1. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1912.) — 2.1 focus

195 (Enter, from the house, PHILOCRATES, TYNDARUS, and SLAVES and CAPTIVES of HEGIO.)

A SLAVE

If the immortal Gods have so willed it that you should undergo this affliction, it becomes you to endure it with equanimity; if you do so, your trouble will be lighter¹. At home you were free men, I suppose; now if slavery has befallen you, ‘tis a becoming way for you to put up with it, and by your dispositions to render it light, under a master’s rule.
195

Unworthy actions which a master does must be deemed worthy ones.
200

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

Alas! alas! alas!

A SLAVE

There’s no need for wailing; you cause much injury to your eyes. In adversity, if you use fortitude of mind, it is of service.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

But we are ashamed, because we are in bonds.

A SLAVE

But in the result it might cause vexation to our master, if he were to release you from chains,

or allow you to be loose, whom he has purchased with his money.
205

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

What does he fear from us? We know our duty, what it is, if he allows us to be loose.

A SLAVE

Why, you are meditating escape. I know what it is you are devising.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

We, make our escape? Whither should we escape?

A SLAVE

To your own country.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

Out upon you; it would ill befit us to be following the example of runaways.

A SLAVE

Why, faith, should there be an opportunity, I don’t advise you not.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

Do you allow us to make one request.

A SLAVE

What is it, pray?

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

That you will give us an opportunity of conversing, without these and yourselves for overlookers.

A SLAVE

Be it so; go you away from here, you people. Let’s step here, on one side.

(To the other CAPTIVES and SLAVES.)

But commence upon a short conversation only.
215

PHILOCRATES

O yes, it was my intention so to do. Step aside this way.

(to TYNDARUS.)

A SLAVE
(to the other CAPTIVES.)

Stand apart from them.

TYNDARUS
(to the SLAVE.)

We are both greatly obliged to you, by reason of your doing so, since you allow us to obtain what we are desirous of.

PHILOCRATES

Step here then, at a distance now, if you think fit,

that no listeners may be enabled to overhear our discourse, and that this plan of ours mayn’t be divulged before them for a stratagem is no stratagem, if you don’t plan it with art but it is a very great misfortune if it becomes disclosed. For if you are my master, and I represent myself as your servant,
220

still there’s need of foresight, and need of caution, that this may be carried out discreetly and without overlookers, with carefulness and with cautious prudence and diligence. So great is the mutter that has been commenced upon; this must not be carried out in any drowsy fashion.
225

TYNDARUS

Just as you shall desire me to be, I will be.

PHILOCRATES

I trust so.

TYNDARUS

For now you see that for your precious life I’m setting at stake my own, as dear to me.

PHILOCRATES

I know it.

TYNDARUS

But remember to know it when you shall be enjoying that which you wish for; for mostly, the greatest part of mankind follow this fashion; what they wish for, until they obtain it, they are rightminded; but when they have now got it in their power,

from being rightminded they become most deceitful, and most dishonest; now I do consider that you are towards me as I wish. What I advise you, I would advise my own father.
235

PHILOCRATES

I’ faith, if I could venture, I would call you father; for next to my own father, you are my nearest father.

TYNDARUS

I understand.
240

PHILOCRATES

And therefore I remind you the more frequently, that you may remember it. I am not your master, but your servant; now this one thing I do beseech you. Inasmuch as the immortal Gods have disclosed to us their wishes, that they desire me to have once been your master, and now to be your fellow-captive; what formerly of my right I used to command you, now with entreaties do I beg of you,

by our uncertain fortunes, and by the kindness of my father towards you, and by our common captivity, which has befallen us by the hand of the enemy, don’t you pay me any greater respect than I did you when you were my slave; and don’t you forget to remember who you were, and who you now are.
245

TYNDARUS

I know, indeed, that I now am you, and that you are I.

PHILOCRATES

Well, if you are able carefully to remember that, 1 have some hope in this scheme of ours.

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Captivi Oh oh oh.

Lorarivs Éiulatione haud opus est, oculis haud lacrimantibus: in ré mala animo sí bono utare, ádiuvat.

Tyndarvs At nós pudet, quia cúm catenis súmus.

Lorarivs At pigeat póstea nostrum erum, si vos éximat vínculis, aút solutós sinat, quós argento émerit. 205

Tyndarvs Quid a nóbis metuit? scímus nos nóstrum officiúm quod est, sí solutós sinat.

Lorarivs Át fugam fíngitis: séntio quam rem ágitis.

Philocrates Nós fugiamus? quó fugiamus?

Lorarivs In patriam.

Philocrates Apage, haud nós id deceat, fúgitivos imitári. 210

Lorarivs Immo edepol, si érit occasio, haúd dehortor.

Tyndarvs Únum exoráre vos sínite nos.

Lorarivs Quídnam id est?

Tyndarvs Út sine hisce arbitris átque vobis nobis détis lócum loquendi.

Lorarivs Fíat. abscédite hinc: nós concedámus huc. séd brevem orátionem íncipisse. 215

Tyndarvs Em istúc mihi certum erat. cóncede huc.

Lorarivs Abíte ab ístis.

Tyndarvs Obnóxii ámbo vóbis sumus própter hanc rém, quom quae vólumus nos copia est † ea facitis nos compotes.

Tyndarvs Ero út me volés esse.

Philocrates Spéro.

Tyndarvs Nam tú nunc vidés pro tuó caro cápite carum ófferre mé meum capút vilitáti. 230

Philocrates Scio.

Philocrates Pól ego si te aúdeam, meúm patrem nóminem: nám secundúm patrem tu és pater próximus.

Tyndarvs Aúdio. 240

Tyndarvs Scio quidem me te esse nunc et te esse me.

Philocrates Em istuc si potes memoriter meminisse, inest spes nobis ín hac astutia. 250

Current edition Perseus

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS Alas! alas! alas!

A SLAVE There’s no need for wailing; you cause much injury to your eyes. In adversity, if you use fortitude of mind, it is of service.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS But we are ashamed, because we are in bonds.

A SLAVE But in the result it might cause vexation to our master, if he were to release you from chains, or allow you to be loose, whom he has purchased with his money. 205

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS What does he fear from us? We know our duty, what it is, if he allows us to be loose.

A SLAVE Why, you are meditating escape. I know what it is you are devising.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS We, make our escape? Whither should we escape?

A SLAVE To your own country.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS Out upon you; it would ill befit us to be following the example of runaways.

A SLAVE Why, faith, should there be an opportunity, I don’t advise you not.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS Do you allow us to make one request.

A SLAVE What is it, pray?

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS That you will give us an opportunity of conversing, without these and yourselves for overlookers.

A SLAVE Be it so; go you away from here, you people. Let’s step here, on one side. (To the other CAPTIVES and SLAVES.) But commence upon a short conversation only. 215

PHILOCRATES O yes, it was my intention so to do. Step aside this way. (to TYNDARUS.)

A SLAVE (to the other CAPTIVES.) Stand apart from them.

TYNDARUS (to the SLAVE.) We are both greatly obliged to you, by reason of your doing so, since you allow us to obtain what we are desirous of.

TYNDARUS Just as you shall desire me to be, I will be.

PHILOCRATES I trust so.

TYNDARUS For now you see that for your precious life I’m setting at stake my own, as dear to me.

PHILOCRATES I know it.

PHILOCRATES I’ faith, if I could venture, I would call you father; for next to my own father, you are my nearest father.

TYNDARUS I understand. 240

TYNDARUS I know, indeed, that I now am you, and that you are I.

PHILOCRATES Well, if you are able carefully to remember that, 1 have some hope in this scheme of ours.

Stable identifiers

Captivi

Oh oh oh.

Lorarivs

Éiulatione haud opus est, oculis haud lacrimantibus:

in ré mala animo sí bono utare, ádiuvat.

Tyndarvs

At nós pudet, quia cúm catenis súmus.

Lorarivs

At pigeat póstea

nostrum erum, si vos éximat vínculis,

aút solutós sinat, quós argento émerit.
205

Tyndarvs

Quid a nóbis metuit? scímus nos

nóstrum officiúm quod est, sí solutós sinat.

Lorarivs

Át fugam fíngitis: séntio quam rem ágitis.

Philocrates

Nós fugiamus? quó fugiamus?

Lorarivs

In patriam.

Philocrates

Apage, haud nós id deceat,

fúgitivos imitári.
210

Lorarivs

Immo edepol, si érit occasio, haúd dehortor.

Tyndarvs

Únum exoráre vos sínite nos.

Lorarivs

Quídnam id est?

Tyndarvs

Út sine hisce arbitris

átque vobis nobis détis lócum loquendi.

Lorarivs

Fíat. abscédite hinc: nós concedámus huc.

séd brevem orátionem íncipisse.
215

Tyndarvs

Em istúc mihi certum erat. cóncede huc.

Lorarivs

Abíte ab ístis.

Tyndarvs

Obnóxii ámbo

vóbis sumus própter hanc rém, quom quae vólumus nos

copia est † ea facitis nos compotes.

Tyndarvs

Ero út me volés esse.

Philocrates

Spéro.

Tyndarvs

Nam tú nunc vidés pro tuó caro cápite

carum ófferre mé meum capút vilitáti.
230

Philocrates

Scio.

Philocrates

Pól ego si te aúdeam, meúm patrem nóminem:

nám secundúm patrem tu és pater próximus.

Tyndarvs

Aúdio.
240

Tyndarvs

Scio quidem me te esse nunc et te esse me.

Philocrates

Em istuc si potes

memoriter meminisse, inest spes nobis ín hac astutia.
250

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

Alas! alas! alas!

A SLAVE

There’s no need for wailing; you cause much injury to your eyes. In adversity, if you use fortitude of mind, it is of service.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

But we are ashamed, because we are in bonds.

A SLAVE

But in the result it might cause vexation to our master, if he were to release you from chains,

or allow you to be loose, whom he has purchased with his money.
205

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

What does he fear from us? We know our duty, what it is, if he allows us to be loose.

A SLAVE

Why, you are meditating escape. I know what it is you are devising.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

We, make our escape? Whither should we escape?

A SLAVE

To your own country.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

Out upon you; it would ill befit us to be following the example of runaways.

A SLAVE

Why, faith, should there be an opportunity, I don’t advise you not.

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

Do you allow us to make one request.

A SLAVE

What is it, pray?

PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS

That you will give us an opportunity of conversing, without these and yourselves for overlookers.

A SLAVE

Be it so; go you away from here, you people. Let’s step here, on one side.

(To the other CAPTIVES and SLAVES.)

But commence upon a short conversation only.
215

PHILOCRATES

O yes, it was my intention so to do. Step aside this way.

(to TYNDARUS.)

A SLAVE
(to the other CAPTIVES.)

Stand apart from them.

TYNDARUS
(to the SLAVE.)

We are both greatly obliged to you, by reason of your doing so, since you allow us to obtain what we are desirous of.

TYNDARUS

Just as you shall desire me to be, I will be.

PHILOCRATES

I trust so.

TYNDARUS

For now you see that for your precious life I’m setting at stake my own, as dear to me.

PHILOCRATES

I know it.

PHILOCRATES

I’ faith, if I could venture, I would call you father; for next to my own father, you are my nearest father.

TYNDARUS

I understand.
240

TYNDARUS

I know, indeed, that I now am you, and that you are I.

PHILOCRATES

Well, if you are able carefully to remember that, 1 have some hope in this scheme of ours.