T. Maccius Plautus Curculio 5.2

PLANESIUM

My Phaedromus, make haste.

PHAEDROMUS

Make haste for what?

PLANESIUM

That you mayn’t let the Parasite escape;

the affair’s of consequence.

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PHAEDROMUS

Nothing have I ¹ of consequence; for what I did have I quickly made away with?

(Seizes CURCULIO.)

I’ve got him;

what’s the matter?

PLANESIUM

Ask him whence he got that ring: my father used to wear it.

CURCULIO

Why, troth, and so did my aunt.

PLANESIUM

My mother gave it him to wear.

CURCULIO

And your father, in his turn, to me.

PLANESIUM

You are talking nonsense.

CURCULIO

I’m in the habit; for by reason of it I make a livelihood the more easily. What is the matter now?

PLANESIUM

I entreat you, don’t be keeping me from finding my parents.

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CURCULIO

How can I? Have I got your father and mother hidden beneath the stone? (Holding up the ring.)

PLANESIUM

I was born a free woman.

CURCULIO

And so were many others, who are now in servitude.

PLANESIUM

Really now, I’m vexed.

CURCULIO

For my part, I’ve told you how this came into my possession. How often must you be told? I cheated the Captain at dice, I tell you.

(THERAPONTIGONUS.)

THERAPONTIGONUS

(eyeing CURCULIO.)

I’m all right; see, here he is whom I was looking for. How do you do, good sir?

610

CURCULIO

I hear you; three casts of the dice, if you like, even for that scarf of yours.

THERAPONTIGONUS

Why don’t you go to very perdition, with your casts and catch-pennies ² ? Either give me back the money or the young woman?

CURCULIO

(with an air of surprise.)

What money? what rubbish are you talking about to me? What young woman are you demanding back of me?

THERAPONTIGONUS

The one that you took away this day from the Procurer, you scoundrelly fellow.

CURCULIO

I took none away.

615

THERAPONTIGONUS

Why, surely, I see her. There she is. (Pointing to PLANESIUM.)

PHAEDROMUS

This young woman is free.

THERAPONTIGONUS

What, my female slave free, to whom I have never given her liberty?

PHAEDROMUS

Who gave you possession of her, or of whom did you buy her? Let me know that?

THERAPONTIGONUS

Why, I paid the money for her through my banker—a sum which I’ll have refunded to me fourfold by you and the Procurer.

PHAEDROMUS

You, who understand how to traffic in young women, kidnapped and of free birth, come you before the judge.

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THERAPONTIGONUS

I shan’t come.

PHAEDROMUS

I may call my witness ³ to the summons.

THERAPONTIGONUS

No, you mayn’t.

PHAEDROMUS

May Jupiter then utterly confound you: live without witnesses ⁴ then.

CURCULIO

But I’m a person that he may summon.

PHAEDROMUS

(to CURCULIO.)

Do you step this way. ⁵

THERAPONTIGONUS

What? A slave summoned as a witness?

Take you care.

CURCULIO

Well, that you may know it, I’m free.

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THERAPONTIGONUS

Then come before the judge. ⁶

There’s for you: take that.

(Gives him a blow.)

CURCULIO

O townsmen, townsmen, help.

THERAPONTIGONUS

Why do you bawl so?

PHAEDROMUS

What right have you to strike him?

THERAPONTIGONUS

Because I choose.

PHAEDROMUS

(to CURCULIO.)

Step this way you (pushes him towards the CAPTAIN); there, I’ll give him up to you. Hold your noise.

CURCULIO

Phaedromus, prithee do save me.

PHAEDROMUS

As I would myself and my own good Genius. Captain, prithee, do tell me whence you got that ring,

which this Parasite purloined from you.

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PLANESIUM

(kneeling before the CAPTAIN.)

By your knees, I do entreat you to give us that information.

THERAPONTIGONUS

What matters that to you? You might as well ask after this sabre and this scarf, how each came into my possession.

CURCULIO

What airs the swaggerer does give himself!

THERAPONTIGONUS

Send that fellow away (pointing to CURCULIO); then I’ll tell you all.

CURCULIO

It’s nonsense what he says.

PHAEDROMUS

Prithee, do let me know.

THERAPONTIGONUS

I’ll tell you: (to PLANESIUM) get up. Listen to this matter, and give attention. My father Periphanes used to wear it.

635

PLANESIUM

Ha! Periphanes?

THERAPONTIGONUS

He, before he died, gave it to me as being his son, as it was right he should.

PLANESIUM

O Jupiter!

THERAPONTIGONUS

And on that occasion he made me his heir.

PLANESIUM

O filial affection, do thou preserve me, since I have carefully preserved thee. Welcome, my brother.

THERAPONTIGONUS

How am I to believe that? Tell me, if you are speaking the truth, who was your mother?

PLANESIUM

Cleobula.

THERAPONTIGONUS

Who was your nurse?

PLANESIUM

Archestrata.

Amid the sacred rites of Bacchus she had carried me to see the sights after we had come thither, when now she had found me a place, a whirlwind arose ⁷ ; the scaffolding ⁸ of the stage there tumbled down; I was greatly alarmed, and then some one, I know not who, seized hold of me trembling and frightened, neither alive nor dead;

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and in what manner he carried me off I cannot say.

650

THERAPONTIGONUS

I recollect that disturbance happening; but, do you tell me, where is this person, who carried you away?

PLANESIUM

I know not; but (showing a ring) this ring I have all along preserved by me, with it long since was I lost.

THERAPONTIGONUS

Give it me to look at.

CURCULIO

(to PLANESIUM.)

Are you in your senses to be trusting it to that fellow?

(Holds her arm.)

PLANESIUM

Do you only leave me alone.

(She gives it to the CAPTAIN.)

THERAPONTIGONUS

(examining it.)

O Jupiter! This is the same that I presented you upon your birthday; I recognize it as easily as my own self. Welcome to you, my sister.

PLANESIUM

My brother, welcome to you.

PHAEDROMUS

I trust the Gods will prosper this matter for you.

CURCULIO

And I, for all of us.

(To the CAPTAIN.)

Do you, as having this day arrived, give a dinner in honor of your sister he (pointing to PHAEDROMUS), to-morrow, will give one in honor of his marriage; we promise that.

660

PHAEDROMUS

(to CURCULIO.)

Do you hold your tongue.

CURCULIO

I shan’t hold my tongue, as things are turning out so well. Captain, do you promise her to him; I’ll give the marriage-portion.

THERAPONTIGONUS

What is the marriage-portion?

CURCULIO

What, that I give? Why, that always as long as he lives he’s to feed me.

THERAPONTIGONUS

I’ troth, he says what’s fair;

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with my consent you shall do so.

But this Procurer owes me the thirty minae.

PHAEDROMUS

For what reason so?

THERAPONTIGONUS

Because he agreed with me on these terms to give it back: that if any one should assert her to be free born in due course of law, he would, without dispute, pay back all the money.

CURCULIO

Then let’s go to the Procurer.

670

THERAPONTIGONUS

I agree.

PHAEDROMUS

This first I wish; to despatch my matter.

THERAPONTIGONUS

What’s that?

PHAEDROMUS

That you will betroth her to me.

(The CAPTAIN considers.)

CURCULIO

Why do you hesitate, Captain, to give her as a wife to him?

THERAPONTIGONUS

If she is agreable.

PLANESIUM

My brother, it is my wish.

THERAPONTIGONUS

So be it then.

CURCULIO

You do rightly.

PHAEDROMUS

Captain, do you betroth me to her for my wife?

THERAPONTIGONUS

I do betroth her.

PHAEDROMUS

(pointing to CURCULIO.)

And to him do I promise support at my expense.

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CURCULIO

You do kindly. But

THER,

But see, here’s the Procurer coming; my treasurer ⁹ , I mean.