T. Maccius Plautus, Epidicus, ed. Friedrich Leo, 4.2

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570

Acropolistis

Quid est, pater, quod me excivisti ante aedis?
570

Periphanes

Vt matrem tuam

videas, adeas, advenienti des salutem atque osculum.

Acropolistis

Quam meam matrem?

Periphanes

Quae exanimata exsequitur aspectum tuom.

Philippa

Quis istaec est quam tu osculum mihi ferre iubes?

Periphanes

Tua filia.

Philippa

Haecine?

Periphanes

Haec.

Philippa

Egone osculum huic dem?

Periphanes

Quor non, quae ex te nata sit?

Philippa

Tú homo insanis.
575

Periphanes

Egone?

Philippa

Tune.

Periphanes

Quor?

Philippa

Quia ego hanc quae siet

neque scio neque novi, neque ego hanc oculis vidi ante hunc diem.

Periphanes

Scio quid erres: quia vestitum atque ornatum immutabilem

habet haec,

Philippa

aliter catuli longe olent, aliter suis.

ne ego eam novisse
580

Periphanes

Pro deum atque hominum fidem,

quid? ego lenocinium facio, quí habeam alienos domi

atque argentum egurgitem domo prosus? quid tu, quae patrem

tuom vocas me atque osculare, quid stas stupida? quid taces?

Acropolistis

Quid loquar vis?

Periphanes

Haec negat se tuam esse matrem.

Acropolistis

Ne fuat,

si non volt: equidem hac invita támen ero matris filia;
585

non med istanc cogere aequom est meam esse matrem, si nevolt.

Periphanes

Cur me igitur patrem vocabas?

Acropolistis

Tua istaec culpast, non mea.

non patrem ego te nominem, ubi tu tuam me appellas filiam?

hanc quoque etiam, si me appellet filiam, matrem vocem.

negat haec filiám me suam ésse: non ergo haec mater mea est.
590

postremo haec mea culpa non est: quae didici dixi omnia;

Epidicus mihi fuit magister.

Periphanes

Perii, plaustrum perculi.

Acropolistis

Numquid ego ibi, pater, peccavi?

Periphanes

Si hercle te umquam audivero

me patrem vocare, vitam tuam ego interimam.

Acropolistis

Non voco.

ubi voles pater esse, ibi esto; ubi noles, ne fueris pater.
595

Philippa

Quid, si ob eam rem hanc emisti, quia tuam gnatam es ratus,

quibus de signis agnoscebas?

Periphanes

Nullis.

Philippa

Qua re filiam

credidisti nostram?

Periphanes

Servos Epidicus dixit mihi.

Philippa

Quid si servo aliter visumst, non poteras novisse, obsecro? †

Periphanes

Quid ego, qui illam ut primum vidi, numquam vidi postea?
600

Philippa

Perii misera.

Periphanes

Ne fle, mulier. intro abi, habe animum bonum;

ego illam reperiam.

Philippa

Hinc Athenis civis eam émit Atticus:

adulescentem equidem dicebant emisse.

Periphanes

Inveniam, tace.

abi modo intro atque hanc asserva Circam Solis filiam.

ego relictis rebus Epidicum operam quaerendo dabo:
605

si invenio, exitiabilem égo illi faciam hunc ut fiat diem.—

Epidicus. 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

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

Translations (1)

Epidicus, or The Fortunate Discovery Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 4.2 focus

570 (Enter ACROPOLISTIS from the house.)

ACROPOLISTIS

Why is it, father, that you have called me out before the house?
570

PERIPHIANES

That you may see and accost your mother, and wish her health on her arrival, and give her kisses.

ACROPOLISTIS

(looking about.)

What mother of mine?

PERIPHIANES

(pointing to PHILIPPA.)

She who, half dead, is following your gaze.

PHILIPPA

Who is this that you are requesting to kiss me?

PERIPHIANES

Your own daughter.

PHILIPPA

What, she?

PERIPHIANES

She.

PHILIPPA

What—am I to kiss her?

PERIPHIANES

Why not, her who was born of you?

PHILIPPA

Man, you are mad.
575

PERIPHIANES

What, I?

PHILIPPA

Yes, you.

PERIPHANES

Why?

PHILIPPA

Because this woman—I neither know nor understand who she is, nor have I beheld her with my eyes before this day.

PERIPHIANES

I know why you are mistaken; because this woman has her dress and ornaments changed.

PHILIPPA

Puppies have one smell¹, pigs quite another;

I say that I do not know her, who she is.
580

PERIPHIANES

(stamping with rage.)

Oh! by our trust in Gods and men, what is this? Am I following the calling of a Procurer, to be keeping strange women in my house, and to be emptying my house of my money? (To ACROPOLISTIS.) What are you to be calling me your father and kissing me? Why stand you stupidly there? Why do you keep silent?

ACROPOLISTIS

What do you want me to say?

PERIPHIANES

(pointing to PHILIPPA.)

She denies that she is your mother.

ACROPOLISTIS

Don’t let her be so,

if she don’t choose. For my own part, whether she likes it or not, I shall be my mother’s daughter still. It isn’t right for me to compel this woman to be my mother if she doesn’t like.
585

PERIPHIANES

Why then did you call me father?

ACROPOLISTIS

That is your own fault, not mine; ought I not to call you father when you call me daughter? Her too, as well (pointing to PHILIPPA) if she were to call me daughter, I should call mother.

She declares that I am not her daughter; then she is not my mother. In fine, this is no fault of mine; what I’ve been taught, I’ve told you all of it. Epidicus was my instructor.
590

PERIPHIANES

I’m undone! I’ve upset my waggon²!

ACROPOLISTIS

Have I done anything amiss towards that?

PERIPHIANES

Upon my faith, if I ever hear you call me father, I’ll put an end to your life, you jade!

ACROPOLISTIS

I shan’t call you so.

When you want to be my father, then be so; when you don’t want, don’t be my father.
595

PHILIPPA

(to PERIPHANES.)

What? Did you purchase her for that reason, because you supposed her to be your daughter? By what signs did you recognize her?

PERIPHIANES

By none.

PHILIPPA

Why did you suppose her to be our daughter?

PERIPHIANES

My servant Epidicus told me so.

PHILIPPA

What if it had seemed to your servant otherwise? Prithee, could you not have known?

PERIPHIANES

How should I, who had never seen her after having once beheld her.
600

PHILIPPA

Wretched creature, I’m quite undone!

(Begins to weep.)

PERIPHIANES

Don’t weep, madam; go in-doors; be of good courage; I’ll find her out.

PHILIPPA

An Attic citizen from Athens here purchased her Indeed, they said it was a young man who had bought her.

PERIPHIANES

I will find her; hold your peace. Only do go in-doors, and keep an eye upon this Circe³, this daughter of the Sun.

(She goes into the house, followed by ACROPOLISTIS.)

All business laid aside, I’ll give my attention to seeking for Epidicus. If I find him, I’ll make this day become the final one for him.
605
(Exit.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Acropolistis Quid est, pater, quod me excivisti ante aedis? 570

Periphanes Vt matrem tuam videas, adeas, advenienti des salutem atque osculum.

Acropolistis Quam meam matrem?

Periphanes Quae exanimata exsequitur aspectum tuom.

Philippa Quis istaec est quam tu osculum mihi ferre iubes?

Periphanes Tua filia.

Philippa Haecine?

Periphanes Haec.

Philippa Egone osculum huic dem?

Periphanes Quor non, quae ex te nata sit?

Philippa Tú homo insanis. 575

Periphanes Egone?

Philippa Tune.

Periphanes Quor?

Philippa Quia ego hanc quae siet neque scio neque novi, neque ego hanc oculis vidi ante hunc diem.

Periphanes Scio quid erres: quia vestitum atque ornatum immutabilem habet haec,

Philippa aliter catuli longe olent, aliter suis. ne ego eam novisse 580

Periphanes Pro deum atque hominum fidem, quid? ego lenocinium facio, quí habeam alienos domi atque argentum egurgitem domo prosus? quid tu, quae patrem tuom vocas me atque osculare, quid stas stupida? quid taces?

Acropolistis Quid loquar vis?

Periphanes Haec negat se tuam esse matrem.

Acropolistis Ne fuat, si non volt: equidem hac invita támen ero matris filia; 585 non med istanc cogere aequom est meam esse matrem, si nevolt.

Periphanes Cur me igitur patrem vocabas?

Periphanes Perii, plaustrum perculi.

Acropolistis Numquid ego ibi, pater, peccavi?

Periphanes Si hercle te umquam audivero me patrem vocare, vitam tuam ego interimam.

Acropolistis Non voco. ubi voles pater esse, ibi esto; ubi noles, ne fueris pater. 595

Philippa Quid, si ob eam rem hanc emisti, quia tuam gnatam es ratus, quibus de signis agnoscebas?

Periphanes Nullis.

Philippa Qua re filiam credidisti nostram?

Periphanes Servos Epidicus dixit mihi.

Philippa Quid si servo aliter visumst, non poteras novisse, obsecro? †

Periphanes Quid ego, qui illam ut primum vidi, numquam vidi postea? 600

Philippa Perii misera.

Periphanes Ne fle, mulier. intro abi, habe animum bonum; ego illam reperiam.

Philippa Hinc Athenis civis eam émit Atticus: adulescentem equidem dicebant emisse.

Periphanes Inveniam, tace. abi modo intro atque hanc asserva Circam Solis filiam. ego relictis rebus Epidicum operam quaerendo dabo: 605 si invenio, exitiabilem égo illi faciam hunc ut fiat diem.—

Current edition Perseus

ACROPOLISTIS Why is it, father, that you have called me out before the house? 570

PERIPHIANES That you may see and accost your mother, and wish her health on her arrival, and give her kisses.

ACROPOLISTIS (looking about.) What mother of mine?

PERIPHIANES (pointing to PHILIPPA.) She who, half dead, is following your gaze.

PHILIPPA Who is this that you are requesting to kiss me?

PERIPHIANES Your own daughter.

PHILIPPA What, she?

PERIPHIANES She.

PHILIPPA What—am I to kiss her?

PERIPHIANES Why not, her who was born of you?

PHILIPPA Man, you are mad. 575

PERIPHIANES What, I?

PHILIPPA Yes, you.

PERIPHANES Why?

PHILIPPA Because this woman—I neither know nor understand who she is, nor have I beheld her with my eyes before this day.

PERIPHIANES I know why you are mistaken; because this woman has her dress and ornaments changed.

PHILIPPA Puppies have one smell 1 , pigs quite another; I say that I do not know her, who she is. 580

ACROPOLISTIS What do you want me to say?

PERIPHIANES (pointing to PHILIPPA.) She denies that she is your mother.

ACROPOLISTIS Don’t let her be so, if she don’t choose. For my own part, whether she likes it or not, I shall be my mother’s daughter still. It isn’t right for me to compel this woman to be my mother if she doesn’t like. 585

PERIPHIANES Why then did you call me father?

PERIPHIANES I’m undone! I’ve upset my waggon 2 !

ACROPOLISTIS Have I done anything amiss towards that?

PERIPHIANES Upon my faith, if I ever hear you call me father, I’ll put an end to your life, you jade!

ACROPOLISTIS I shan’t call you so. When you want to be my father, then be so; when you don’t want, don’t be my father. 595

PHILIPPA (to PERIPHANES.) What? Did you purchase her for that reason, because you supposed her to be your daughter? By what signs did you recognize her?

PERIPHIANES By none.

PHILIPPA Why did you suppose her to be our daughter?

PERIPHIANES My servant Epidicus told me so.

PHILIPPA What if it had seemed to your servant otherwise? Prithee, could you not have known?

PERIPHIANES How should I, who had never seen her after having once beheld her. 600

PHILIPPA Wretched creature, I’m quite undone! (Begins to weep.)

PERIPHIANES Don’t weep, madam; go in-doors; be of good courage; I’ll find her out.

PHILIPPA An Attic citizen from Athens here purchased her Indeed, they said it was a young man who had bought her.

Stable identifiers

Acropolistis

Quid est, pater, quod me excivisti ante aedis?
570

Periphanes

Vt matrem tuam

videas, adeas, advenienti des salutem atque osculum.

Acropolistis

Quam meam matrem?

Periphanes

Quae exanimata exsequitur aspectum tuom.

Philippa

Quis istaec est quam tu osculum mihi ferre iubes?

Periphanes

Tua filia.

Philippa

Haecine?

Periphanes

Haec.

Philippa

Egone osculum huic dem?

Periphanes

Quor non, quae ex te nata sit?

Philippa

Tú homo insanis.
575

Periphanes

Egone?

Philippa

Tune.

Periphanes

Quor?

Philippa

Quia ego hanc quae siet

neque scio neque novi, neque ego hanc oculis vidi ante hunc diem.

Periphanes

Scio quid erres: quia vestitum atque ornatum immutabilem

habet haec,

Philippa

aliter catuli longe olent, aliter suis.

ne ego eam novisse
580

Periphanes

Pro deum atque hominum fidem,

quid? ego lenocinium facio, quí habeam alienos domi

atque argentum egurgitem domo prosus? quid tu, quae patrem

tuom vocas me atque osculare, quid stas stupida? quid taces?

Acropolistis

Quid loquar vis?

Periphanes

Haec negat se tuam esse matrem.

Acropolistis

Ne fuat,

si non volt: equidem hac invita támen ero matris filia;
585

non med istanc cogere aequom est meam esse matrem, si nevolt.

Periphanes

Cur me igitur patrem vocabas?

Periphanes

Perii, plaustrum perculi.

Acropolistis

Numquid ego ibi, pater, peccavi?

Periphanes

Si hercle te umquam audivero

me patrem vocare, vitam tuam ego interimam.

Acropolistis

Non voco.

ubi voles pater esse, ibi esto; ubi noles, ne fueris pater.
595

Philippa

Quid, si ob eam rem hanc emisti, quia tuam gnatam es ratus,

quibus de signis agnoscebas?

Periphanes

Nullis.

Philippa

Qua re filiam

credidisti nostram?

Periphanes

Servos Epidicus dixit mihi.

Philippa

Quid si servo aliter visumst, non poteras novisse, obsecro? †

Periphanes

Quid ego, qui illam ut primum vidi, numquam vidi postea?
600

Philippa

Perii misera.

Periphanes

Ne fle, mulier. intro abi, habe animum bonum;

ego illam reperiam.

Philippa

Hinc Athenis civis eam émit Atticus:

adulescentem equidem dicebant emisse.

Periphanes

Inveniam, tace.

abi modo intro atque hanc asserva Circam Solis filiam.

ego relictis rebus Epidicum operam quaerendo dabo:
605

si invenio, exitiabilem égo illi faciam hunc ut fiat diem.—

ACROPOLISTIS

Why is it, father, that you have called me out before the house?
570

PERIPHIANES

That you may see and accost your mother, and wish her health on her arrival, and give her kisses.

ACROPOLISTIS

(looking about.)

What mother of mine?

PERIPHIANES

(pointing to PHILIPPA.)

She who, half dead, is following your gaze.

PHILIPPA

Who is this that you are requesting to kiss me?

PERIPHIANES

Your own daughter.

PHILIPPA

What, she?

PERIPHIANES

She.

PHILIPPA

What—am I to kiss her?

PERIPHIANES

Why not, her who was born of you?

PHILIPPA

Man, you are mad.
575

PERIPHIANES

What, I?

PHILIPPA

Yes, you.

PERIPHANES

Why?

PHILIPPA

Because this woman—I neither know nor understand who she is, nor have I beheld her with my eyes before this day.

PERIPHIANES

I know why you are mistaken; because this woman has her dress and ornaments changed.

PHILIPPA

Puppies have one smell¹, pigs quite another;

I say that I do not know her, who she is.
580

ACROPOLISTIS

What do you want me to say?

PERIPHIANES

(pointing to PHILIPPA.)

She denies that she is your mother.

ACROPOLISTIS

Don’t let her be so,

if she don’t choose. For my own part, whether she likes it or not, I shall be my mother’s daughter still. It isn’t right for me to compel this woman to be my mother if she doesn’t like.
585

PERIPHIANES

Why then did you call me father?

PERIPHIANES

I’m undone! I’ve upset my waggon²!

ACROPOLISTIS

Have I done anything amiss towards that?

PERIPHIANES

Upon my faith, if I ever hear you call me father, I’ll put an end to your life, you jade!

ACROPOLISTIS

I shan’t call you so.

When you want to be my father, then be so; when you don’t want, don’t be my father.
595

PHILIPPA

(to PERIPHANES.)

What? Did you purchase her for that reason, because you supposed her to be your daughter? By what signs did you recognize her?

PERIPHIANES

By none.

PHILIPPA

Why did you suppose her to be our daughter?

PERIPHIANES

My servant Epidicus told me so.

PHILIPPA

What if it had seemed to your servant otherwise? Prithee, could you not have known?

PERIPHIANES

How should I, who had never seen her after having once beheld her.
600

PHILIPPA

Wretched creature, I’m quite undone!

(Begins to weep.)

PERIPHIANES

Don’t weep, madam; go in-doors; be of good courage; I’ll find her out.

PHILIPPA

An Attic citizen from Athens here purchased her Indeed, they said it was a young man who had bought her.