T. Maccius Plautus, Epidicus, ed. Friedrich Leo, 3.4

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437

Miles

Cave praéterbitas ullas aedis, quin roges,

senex híc ubi habitat Periphanes Platenius.

incertus tuom cave ad me rettuleris pedem.

Periphanes

Adulescens, si istunc hominem, quem tu quaeritas,
440

tibi commonstrasso, ecquam abs te inibo gratiam?

Miles

Virtute belli armatus promerui, ut mihi

omnis mortalis agere deceat gratias.

Periphanes

Non repperisti, adulescens, tranquillum locum,

ubi tuas virtutes explices, ut postulas.
445

nam strenuiori deterior si praedicat

suas pugnas, de illius illae fiunt sordidae.

sed istúm quem quaeris Periphanem Platenium,

ego sum, si quid vis.

Miles

Nempe quem in adulescentia

memorant apud réges armis, arte duellica
450

divitias magnas indeptum?

Periphanes

Immo si audias

meas púgnas, fugias manibus dimissis domum.

Miles

Pol égo magis unum quaero, meas cui praedicem,

quam illum qui memoret suas mihi.

Periphanes

Hic non est locus;

proin tu alium quaeras cui centones sarcias.
455

atque haec stultitiast me illi vitio vortere

egomet quod factitavi in adulescentia,

cum militabam: pugnis memorandis meis

eradicabam hominum auris, quando occeperam.

Miles

Animum advorte, ut quod ego ad te advenio intellegas.

meam amicam audivi te esse mercatum.

Periphanes

Attatae,

nunc demum scio ego hunc qui sit: quem dudum Epidicus

mihi praedicavit militem. adulescens, itast

ut dicis, emi.
460

Miles

Volo te verbis pauculis,

si tibi molestum non est.

Periphanes

Non edepol scio,

molestum necne sit, nisi dicis quid velis.

Miles

Mi illam ut tramittas, argentum accipias: adest.

nam quid ego apud te vera parcam proloqui?

ego illám volo hodie facere libertam meam,
465

mihi concubina quae sit.

Periphanes

Te absolvam brevi:

argenti quinquaginta mi illa empta est minis;

si sexaginta mihi denumerantur minae,

tuas póssidebit mulier faxo ferias;

atque ita profecto, ut eam ex hoc exoneres agro.
470

Miles

Estne empta mi istis legibus?

Periphanes

Habeas licet.

Miles

Conciliavisti pulchre.

Periphanes

Heus, fóras educite

quam introduxistis fidicinam. atque etiam fides,

ei quae accessere, tibi addam dono gratiis.

age accipe hanc sis.
475

Miles

Quae te intemperiae tenent?

quas tu mihi tenebras trudis? quin tu fidicinam

produci íntus iubes.

Periphanes

Haec ergo est fidicina.

hic alia nullast.

Miles

Non mihi nugari potes.

quin tu huc producis fidicinam Acropolistidem?

Periphanes

Haec inquamst.
480

Miles

Non haec inquamst. non novisse me

meam rere amicam posse?

Periphanes

Hanc, inquam, filius

meus deperibat fidicinam.

Miles

Haec non est ea.

Periphanes

Quid? non est?

Miles

Non est.

Periphanes

Vnde haec igitur gentiumst?

equidem hercle argentum pro hac dedi.

Miles

Stulte datum

reor et peccatum largiter.
485

Periphanes

Immo haec east.

nam servom misi, qui illum sectari solet

meum gnátum: is ipse hanc destinavit fidicinam.

Miles

Em istíc homo te articulatim concidit, senex,

tuos servos.

Periphanes

Quid? concidit?

Miles

Sic suspiciost,

nam pro fidicina haec cerva supposita est tibi.
490

senex, tibi os est sublitum plane et probe.

ego illám requiram iam ubi ubi est.—

Periphanes

Bellator, vale.

euge, euge, Epidice, frugi es, pugnavisti, homo es,

qui me emunxisti mucidum, minimi preti.

mercatus te hodie est de lenone Apoecides?
495

Fidicina

Fando ego istunc hominem numquam audivi ante hunc diem,

neque me quidem emere quisquam ulla pecunia

potuit: plus iam sum libera quinquennium.

Periphanes

Quid tibi negotist meae domi igitur?

Fidicina

Audies.

conducta veni, ut fidibus cantarem seni,
500

dum rem divinam faceret.

Periphanes

Fateor me omnium

hominum esse Athenis Atticis minimi preti.

sed tu novistin fidicinam Acropolistidem?

Fidicina

Tam facile quam me.

Periphanes

Vbi habitat?

Fidicina

Postquam liberast

ubi habitet dicere admodum incerte scio.
505

Periphanes

Eho an libera illa est? quis eam liberaverit,

volo scíre, si scis.

Fidicina

Id quod audivi audies.

Stratippoclem aiunt Periphanai filium

absentem curavisse ut fieret libera.

Periphanes

Perii hercle, si istaec vera sunt; planissume
510

meum exenteravit Epidicus marsuppium.

Fidicina

Haec sic audivi. numquid me vis ceterum?

Periphanes

Malo cruciatu ut pereas atque abeas cito.

Fidicina

Fides non reddis?

Periphanes

Neque fides neque tibias.

propera igitur fugere hinc, si te di amant.
515

Fidicina

Abiero.

flagitio cum maiore post reddes tamen.—

Periphanes

Quid nunc? qui in tantis positus sum sententiis, †

eamne egó sinam impune? immo etiam si alterum

tantum perdundumst, perdam potius quam sinam

me impune irrisum esse, habitum depeculatui
520

ei sic data esse verba praesenti palam!

atque mé minoris facio prae illo, qui omnium

legum atque iurum fictor, conditor cluet;

is etiam sese sapere memorat: malleum

sapientiorem vidi excusso manubrio.
525

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.) — 3.4 focus

437 (Enter a CAPTAIN, with his SERVANT.)

A CAPTAIN

(to his SERVANT.)

Take care not to pass by any house without asking where lives the old gentleman, Periphanes of Plothea¹. Take care that you don’t return to me without knowing it.

PERIPHIANES

(coming forward.)

Young man, if I point out to you the person whom you are in search of, what thanks shall I get of you?
440

A CAPTAIN

In arms, by the might of war, I’ve deserved that all people ought to give me thanks.

PERIPHIANES

You haven’t found out, young man, a tranquil spot

where to recount your virtues as you wish; for, if an inferior vaunts his battles to a superior, by his lips they become soiled; but this Periphanes of Plothea whom you are seeking, I am he, if you want him for anything.
445

A CAPTAIN

Him, you mean, who in his youth

among kings in arms, by his skill in war, gained vast wealth?
450

PERIPHIANES

Aye, if you were to hear of my achievements, drop ping your hands you would run off home.

A CAPTAIN

I’ faith, I’m rather in search of one to whom to speak of my own, than of one to be speaking of his to me.

PERIPHIANES

This is not the place for it.

Do you then look out for another person, into whom to stuff your scraps of nonsense².
455
(Aside.)

And yet this is folly, for me to impute that to him as a fault, which I myself used to do in my youth when I was a soldier; in recounting my battles I used to tear out men’s ears by the roots, when I had once begun.

A CAPTAIN

Lend your attention, that you may learn what I’ve come to you about. I’ve heard that you have purchased my mistress.

PERIPHIANES

(aside.)

Heyday! now at last I know who he is; the officer whom Epidicus was telling me about a short time since. (To the OFFICER.) Young man, it is

as you say; I have purchased her.
460

A CAPTAIN

I want a few words with you, if it is not inconvenient to you.

PERIPHIANES

Upon my faith, I don’t know whether it’s convenient or not, until perhaps you say what you want.

A CAPTAIN

I want you to transfer her to me, and take the ransom.

PERIPHIANES

You may have her.³

A CAPTAIN

But why should I hesitate to speak out to you? I wish at once to make her my freed-woman, that she may be my mistress⁴.

PERIPHIANES

I’ll make short work with you; she was bought for me for fifty minae of silver; if sixty minae are paid down to me, I’ll let the damsel employ your holidays⁵,

and so assuredly so, that, if you like, you may remove her from this country.
470

A CAPTAIN

Is she then purchased by me?

PERIPHIANES

On those terms you may have her.

You have made a good bargain.

(Going to the door of his house.)

Hallo there! bring out of doors the Music-girl you took in. The harp, too, as well, that was thrown in with her, I’ll make you a present of it for nothing.

PERIPHIANES
(MUSIC-GIRL.) (taking her by the hand and leading her to the CAPTAIN.)

Come, take her, please.
475

A CAPTAIN

What madness possesses you? What mystery are you devising for me? Why don’t you order the Music-girl⁶ to be brought from in-doors?

PERIPHIANES

Why, this is the Music-girl. There’s no other one here.

A CAPTAIN

You can’t impose on me. Why don’t you bring out here the Music-girl Acropolistis?

PERIPHIANES

This, I tell you, is she.
480

A CAPTAIN

This, I tell you, is not she. Do you suppose that I can’t know my own mistress?

PERIPHIANES

It was this Music-girl, I tell you, for whom my son was dying with love.

A CAPTAIN

This is not she.

PERIPHIANES

How, not she?

A CAPTAIN

It is not.

PERIPHIANES

Where in the world, then, does, she come from? For my part, i’ faith, I certainly paid the money for her.

A CAPTAIN

Foolishly paid, I guess, and a mighty mistake.

PERIPHIANES

Nay, but this is she; for I sent the servant who is in the habit of attending my son; he himself this moment purchased the Music-girl.

A CAPTAIN

Well then, this fellow has cut you up joint by joint, old gentleman, this servant of yours.

PERIPHIANES

How, cut me up?

A CAPTAIN

Such is my suspicion;

for she has been palmed upon you for that Music-girl. Old gentleman, you’ve been bubbled clearly and cleverly. I shall now go seek her wherever she is.
490

Warrior, farewell!

(Exeunt the OFFICER and SERVANT.)

PERIPHIANES

(stamnping with rage.)

Bravo, bravo! Epidicus You’re a clever fellow! You have fought well—you’re a man! you’ve wiped my nose when snivelling, worthless fellow that I am!

(To the MUSIC-GIRL.)

Did Apaecides purchase you to-day of the procurer? (A pause.) Come now, tell me.
495

MUSIC-GIRL

I never heard of that person before to-day, nor, indeed, was any one able to purchase me for any money; I’ve been free now for more than five years.

PERIPHIANES

What business have you, then, at my house?

MUSIC-GIRL

You shall hear;

I came, being hired to perform for an old gentleman while he was sacrificing.
500

PERIPHIANES

I do confess that I am the most worthless of all men in Athens of Attica. But do you know Acropolistis the Music-girl?

MUSIC-GIRL

As well as my own self.

PERIPHIANES

Where does she live?

MUSIC-GIRL

Since she has been made free,

I don’t know for certain.
505

PERIPHIANES

Well now, I should like to know who has made her free, if you know?

MUSIC-GIRL

That which I have heard, you shall hear; I heard that Stratippocles⁷, the son of Periphanes, had provided in his absence that she should be made free.

PERIPHIANES

By heavens, I’m undone⁸, most clearly, if these things are true. Epidicus has disembowelled my purse!
510

MUSIC-GIRL

I’ve heard to that effect. Do you want me for anything else?

PERIPHIANES

Away to perdition in the veriest torments, and off this instant!

MUSIC-GIRL

Won’t you give me back my harp?

PERIPHANES

Neither harp nor pipes.

Make haste, then, and escape from here, if the Gods love you!
515

MUSIC-GIRL

I’ll be off. At a future time, however, you’ll restore it, with the greater disgrace⁹ to yourself.

(Exit.)

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

What now? Shall I, who have been placed before so many edicts¹⁰, allow him to get with impunity? No; even though as much again should be required to be lost, I’ll lose it rather than

allow myself to be held in derision with impunity and plundered by them. That I should have been thus cheated openly to my face, and that I should have been set at nought before this Apaecides, who is famed as being the framer and founder of all the laws and ordinances! He too declares that he is a wise man! that the hammer,
520

forsooth, should be wiser than the handle¹¹!
525
(He stands aside.)

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Search the Perseus Catalog for:

Miles Cave praéterbitas ullas aedis, quin roges, senex híc ubi habitat Periphanes Platenius. incertus tuom cave ad me rettuleris pedem.

Periphanes Adulescens, si istunc hominem, quem tu quaeritas, 440 tibi commonstrasso, ecquam abs te inibo gratiam?

Miles Virtute belli armatus promerui, ut mihi omnis mortalis agere deceat gratias.

Periphanes Non repperisti, adulescens, tranquillum locum, ubi tuas virtutes explices, ut postulas. 445 nam strenuiori deterior si praedicat suas pugnas, de illius illae fiunt sordidae. sed istúm quem quaeris Periphanem Platenium, ego sum, si quid vis.

Miles Nempe quem in adulescentia memorant apud réges armis, arte duellica 450 divitias magnas indeptum?

Periphanes Immo si audias meas púgnas, fugias manibus dimissis domum.

Miles Pol égo magis unum quaero, meas cui praedicem, quam illum qui memoret suas mihi.

Periphanes Hic non est locus; proin tu alium quaeras cui centones sarcias. 455 atque haec stultitiast me illi vitio vortere egomet quod factitavi in adulescentia, cum militabam: pugnis memorandis meis eradicabam hominum auris, quando occeperam.

Miles Animum advorte, ut quod ego ad te advenio intellegas. meam amicam audivi te esse mercatum.

Periphanes Attatae, nunc demum scio ego hunc qui sit: quem dudum Epidicus mihi praedicavit militem. adulescens, itast ut dicis, emi. 460

Miles Volo te verbis pauculis, si tibi molestum non est.

Periphanes Non edepol scio, molestum necne sit, nisi dicis quid velis.

Miles Mi illam ut tramittas, argentum accipias: adest. nam quid ego apud te vera parcam proloqui? ego illám volo hodie facere libertam meam, 465 mihi concubina quae sit.

Periphanes Te absolvam brevi: argenti quinquaginta mi illa empta est minis; si sexaginta mihi denumerantur minae, tuas póssidebit mulier faxo ferias; atque ita profecto, ut eam ex hoc exoneres agro. 470

Miles Estne empta mi istis legibus?

Periphanes Habeas licet.

Miles Conciliavisti pulchre.

Periphanes Heus, fóras educite quam introduxistis fidicinam. atque etiam fides, ei quae accessere, tibi addam dono gratiis. age accipe hanc sis. 475

Miles Quae te intemperiae tenent? quas tu mihi tenebras trudis? quin tu fidicinam produci íntus iubes.

Periphanes Haec ergo est fidicina. hic alia nullast.

Miles Non mihi nugari potes. quin tu huc producis fidicinam Acropolistidem?

Periphanes Haec inquamst. 480

Miles Non haec inquamst. non novisse me meam rere amicam posse?

Periphanes Hanc, inquam, filius meus deperibat fidicinam.

Miles Haec non est ea.

Periphanes Quid? non est?

Miles Non est.

Periphanes Vnde haec igitur gentiumst? equidem hercle argentum pro hac dedi.

Miles Stulte datum reor et peccatum largiter. 485

Periphanes Immo haec east. nam servom misi, qui illum sectari solet meum gnátum: is ipse hanc destinavit fidicinam.

Miles Em istíc homo te articulatim concidit, senex, tuos servos.

Periphanes Quid? concidit?

Miles Sic suspiciost, nam pro fidicina haec cerva supposita est tibi. 490 senex, tibi os est sublitum plane et probe. ego illám requiram iam ubi ubi est.—

Periphanes Bellator, vale. euge, euge, Epidice, frugi es, pugnavisti, homo es, qui me emunxisti mucidum, minimi preti. mercatus te hodie est de lenone Apoecides? 495

Fidicina Fando ego istunc hominem numquam audivi ante hunc diem, neque me quidem emere quisquam ulla pecunia potuit: plus iam sum libera quinquennium.

Periphanes Quid tibi negotist meae domi igitur?

Fidicina Audies. conducta veni, ut fidibus cantarem seni, 500 dum rem divinam faceret.

Periphanes Fateor me omnium hominum esse Athenis Atticis minimi preti. sed tu novistin fidicinam Acropolistidem?

Fidicina Tam facile quam me.

Periphanes Vbi habitat?

Fidicina Postquam liberast ubi habitet dicere admodum incerte scio. 505

Periphanes Eho an libera illa est? quis eam liberaverit, volo scíre, si scis.

Fidicina Id quod audivi audies. Stratippoclem aiunt Periphanai filium absentem curavisse ut fieret libera.

Periphanes Perii hercle, si istaec vera sunt; planissume 510 meum exenteravit Epidicus marsuppium.

Fidicina Haec sic audivi. numquid me vis ceterum?

Periphanes Malo cruciatu ut pereas atque abeas cito.

Fidicina Fides non reddis?

Periphanes Neque fides neque tibias. propera igitur fugere hinc, si te di amant. 515

Fidicina Abiero. flagitio cum maiore post reddes tamen.—

Current edition Perseus

A CAPTAIN (to his SERVANT.) Take care not to pass by any house without asking where lives the old gentleman, Periphanes of Plothea 1 . Take care that you don’t return to me without knowing it.

PERIPHIANES (coming forward.) Young man, if I point out to you the person whom you are in search of, what thanks shall I get of you? 440

A CAPTAIN In arms, by the might of war, I’ve deserved that all people ought to give me thanks.

PERIPHIANES You haven’t found out, young man, a tranquil spot where to recount your virtues as you wish; for, if an inferior vaunts his battles to a superior, by his lips they become soiled; but this Periphanes of Plothea whom you are seeking, I am he, if you want him for anything. 445

A CAPTAIN Him, you mean, who in his youth among kings in arms, by his skill in war, gained vast wealth? 450

PERIPHIANES Aye, if you were to hear of my achievements, drop ping your hands you would run off home.

A CAPTAIN I’ faith, I’m rather in search of one to whom to speak of my own, than of one to be speaking of his to me.

A CAPTAIN Lend your attention, that you may learn what I’ve come to you about. I’ve heard that you have purchased my mistress.

PERIPHIANES (aside.) Heyday! now at last I know who he is; the officer whom Epidicus was telling me about a short time since. (To the OFFICER.) Young man, it is as you say; I have purchased her. 460

A CAPTAIN I want a few words with you, if it is not inconvenient to you.

PERIPHIANES Upon my faith, I don’t know whether it’s convenient or not, until perhaps you say what you want.

A CAPTAIN I want you to transfer her to me, and take the ransom.

PERIPHIANES You may have her. 3

A CAPTAIN But why should I hesitate to speak out to you? I wish at once to make her my freed-woman, that she may be my mistress 4 .

PERIPHIANES I’ll make short work with you; she was bought for me for fifty minae of silver; if sixty minae are paid down to me, I’ll let the damsel employ your holidays 5 , and so assuredly so, that, if you like, you may remove her from this country. 470

A CAPTAIN Is she then purchased by me?

PERIPHIANES On those terms you may have her. You have made a good bargain. (Going to the door of his house.) Hallo there! bring out of doors the Music-girl you took in. The harp, too, as well, that was thrown in with her, I’ll make you a present of it for nothing.

PERIPHIANES (MUSIC-GIRL.) (taking her by the hand and leading her to the CAPTAIN.) Come, take her, please. 475

A CAPTAIN What madness possesses you? What mystery are you devising for me? Why don’t you order the Music-girl 6 to be brought from in-doors?

PERIPHIANES Why, this is the Music-girl. There’s no other one here.

A CAPTAIN You can’t impose on me. Why don’t you bring out here the Music-girl Acropolistis?

PERIPHIANES This, I tell you, is she. 480

A CAPTAIN This, I tell you, is not she. Do you suppose that I can’t know my own mistress?

PERIPHIANES It was this Music-girl, I tell you, for whom my son was dying with love.

A CAPTAIN This is not she.

PERIPHIANES How, not she?

A CAPTAIN It is not.

PERIPHIANES Where in the world, then, does, she come from? For my part, i’ faith, I certainly paid the money for her.

Miles

Cave praéterbitas ullas aedis, quin roges,

senex híc ubi habitat Periphanes Platenius.

incertus tuom cave ad me rettuleris pedem.

Periphanes

Adulescens, si istunc hominem, quem tu quaeritas,
440

tibi commonstrasso, ecquam abs te inibo gratiam?

Miles

Virtute belli armatus promerui, ut mihi

omnis mortalis agere deceat gratias.

Periphanes

Non repperisti, adulescens, tranquillum locum,

ubi tuas virtutes explices, ut postulas.
445

nam strenuiori deterior si praedicat

suas pugnas, de illius illae fiunt sordidae.

sed istúm quem quaeris Periphanem Platenium,

ego sum, si quid vis.

Miles

Nempe quem in adulescentia

memorant apud réges armis, arte duellica
450

divitias magnas indeptum?

Periphanes

Immo si audias

meas púgnas, fugias manibus dimissis domum.

Miles

Pol égo magis unum quaero, meas cui praedicem,

quam illum qui memoret suas mihi.

Periphanes

Hic non est locus;

proin tu alium quaeras cui centones sarcias.
455

atque haec stultitiast me illi vitio vortere

egomet quod factitavi in adulescentia,

cum militabam: pugnis memorandis meis

eradicabam hominum auris, quando occeperam.

Miles

Animum advorte, ut quod ego ad te advenio intellegas.

meam amicam audivi te esse mercatum.

Periphanes

Attatae,

nunc demum scio ego hunc qui sit: quem dudum Epidicus

mihi praedicavit militem. adulescens, itast

ut dicis, emi.
460

Miles

Volo te verbis pauculis,

si tibi molestum non est.

Periphanes

Non edepol scio,

molestum necne sit, nisi dicis quid velis.

Miles

Mi illam ut tramittas, argentum accipias: adest.

nam quid ego apud te vera parcam proloqui?

ego illám volo hodie facere libertam meam,
465

mihi concubina quae sit.

Periphanes

Te absolvam brevi:

argenti quinquaginta mi illa empta est minis;

si sexaginta mihi denumerantur minae,

tuas póssidebit mulier faxo ferias;

atque ita profecto, ut eam ex hoc exoneres agro.
470

Miles

Estne empta mi istis legibus?

Periphanes

Habeas licet.

Miles

Conciliavisti pulchre.

Periphanes

Heus, fóras educite

quam introduxistis fidicinam. atque etiam fides,

ei quae accessere, tibi addam dono gratiis.

age accipe hanc sis.
475

Miles

Quae te intemperiae tenent?

quas tu mihi tenebras trudis? quin tu fidicinam

produci íntus iubes.

Periphanes

Haec ergo est fidicina.

hic alia nullast.

Miles

Non mihi nugari potes.

quin tu huc producis fidicinam Acropolistidem?

Periphanes

Haec inquamst.
480

Miles

Non haec inquamst. non novisse me

meam rere amicam posse?

Periphanes

Hanc, inquam, filius

meus deperibat fidicinam.

Miles

Haec non est ea.

Periphanes

Quid? non est?

Miles

Non est.

Periphanes

Vnde haec igitur gentiumst?

equidem hercle argentum pro hac dedi.

Miles

Stulte datum

reor et peccatum largiter.
485

Periphanes

Immo haec east.

nam servom misi, qui illum sectari solet

meum gnátum: is ipse hanc destinavit fidicinam.

Miles

Em istíc homo te articulatim concidit, senex,

tuos servos.

Periphanes

Quid? concidit?

Miles

Sic suspiciost,

nam pro fidicina haec cerva supposita est tibi.
490

senex, tibi os est sublitum plane et probe.

ego illám requiram iam ubi ubi est.—

Periphanes

Bellator, vale.

euge, euge, Epidice, frugi es, pugnavisti, homo es,

qui me emunxisti mucidum, minimi preti.

mercatus te hodie est de lenone Apoecides?
495

Fidicina

Fando ego istunc hominem numquam audivi ante hunc diem,

neque me quidem emere quisquam ulla pecunia

potuit: plus iam sum libera quinquennium.

Periphanes

Quid tibi negotist meae domi igitur?

Fidicina

Audies.

conducta veni, ut fidibus cantarem seni,
500

dum rem divinam faceret.

Periphanes

Fateor me omnium

hominum esse Athenis Atticis minimi preti.

sed tu novistin fidicinam Acropolistidem?

Fidicina

Tam facile quam me.

Periphanes

Vbi habitat?

Fidicina

Postquam liberast

ubi habitet dicere admodum incerte scio.
505

Periphanes

Eho an libera illa est? quis eam liberaverit,

volo scíre, si scis.

Fidicina

Id quod audivi audies.

Stratippoclem aiunt Periphanai filium

absentem curavisse ut fieret libera.

Periphanes

Perii hercle, si istaec vera sunt; planissume
510

meum exenteravit Epidicus marsuppium.

Fidicina

Haec sic audivi. numquid me vis ceterum?

Periphanes

Malo cruciatu ut pereas atque abeas cito.

Fidicina

Fides non reddis?

Periphanes

Neque fides neque tibias.

propera igitur fugere hinc, si te di amant.
515

Fidicina

Abiero.

flagitio cum maiore post reddes tamen.—

A CAPTAIN

(to his SERVANT.)

Take care not to pass by any house without asking where lives the old gentleman, Periphanes of Plothea¹. Take care that you don’t return to me without knowing it.

PERIPHIANES

(coming forward.)

Young man, if I point out to you the person whom you are in search of, what thanks shall I get of you?
440

A CAPTAIN

In arms, by the might of war, I’ve deserved that all people ought to give me thanks.

PERIPHIANES

You haven’t found out, young man, a tranquil spot

where to recount your virtues as you wish; for, if an inferior vaunts his battles to a superior, by his lips they become soiled; but this Periphanes of Plothea whom you are seeking, I am he, if you want him for anything.
445

A CAPTAIN

Him, you mean, who in his youth

among kings in arms, by his skill in war, gained vast wealth?
450

PERIPHIANES

Aye, if you were to hear of my achievements, drop ping your hands you would run off home.

A CAPTAIN

I’ faith, I’m rather in search of one to whom to speak of my own, than of one to be speaking of his to me.

A CAPTAIN

Lend your attention, that you may learn what I’ve come to you about. I’ve heard that you have purchased my mistress.

PERIPHIANES

(aside.)

Heyday! now at last I know who he is; the officer whom Epidicus was telling me about a short time since. (To the OFFICER.) Young man, it is

as you say; I have purchased her.
460

A CAPTAIN

I want a few words with you, if it is not inconvenient to you.

PERIPHIANES

Upon my faith, I don’t know whether it’s convenient or not, until perhaps you say what you want.

A CAPTAIN

I want you to transfer her to me, and take the ransom.

PERIPHIANES

You may have her.³

A CAPTAIN

But why should I hesitate to speak out to you? I wish at once to make her my freed-woman, that she may be my mistress⁴.

PERIPHIANES

I’ll make short work with you; she was bought for me for fifty minae of silver; if sixty minae are paid down to me, I’ll let the damsel employ your holidays⁵,

and so assuredly so, that, if you like, you may remove her from this country.
470

A CAPTAIN

Is she then purchased by me?

PERIPHIANES

On those terms you may have her.

You have made a good bargain.

(Going to the door of his house.)

Hallo there! bring out of doors the Music-girl you took in. The harp, too, as well, that was thrown in with her, I’ll make you a present of it for nothing.

PERIPHIANES
(MUSIC-GIRL.) (taking her by the hand and leading her to the CAPTAIN.)

Come, take her, please.
475

A CAPTAIN

What madness possesses you? What mystery are you devising for me? Why don’t you order the Music-girl⁶ to be brought from in-doors?

PERIPHIANES

Why, this is the Music-girl. There’s no other one here.

A CAPTAIN

You can’t impose on me. Why don’t you bring out here the Music-girl Acropolistis?

PERIPHIANES

This, I tell you, is she.
480

A CAPTAIN

This, I tell you, is not she. Do you suppose that I can’t know my own mistress?

PERIPHIANES

It was this Music-girl, I tell you, for whom my son was dying with love.

A CAPTAIN

This is not she.

PERIPHIANES

How, not she?

A CAPTAIN

It is not.

PERIPHIANES

Where in the world, then, does, she come from? For my part, i’ faith, I certainly paid the money for her.

A CAPTAIN

Foolishly paid, I guess, and a mighty mistake.

PERIPHIANES

Nay, but this is she; for I sent the servant who is in the habit of attending my son; he himself this moment purchased the Music-girl.

A CAPTAIN

Well then, this fellow has cut you up joint by joint, old gentleman, this servant of yours.