T. Maccius Plautus, Epidicus, ed. Friedrich Leo, 4.1

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526

Philippa

Sí quid est homini míseriarum quód miserescat, míser ex animost.

íd ego expérior, cui múlta in unúm locum

cónfluont, quaé meum péctus pulsánt simul:

multiplex aerumna me exercitam habet,

paupértas, pavór territát mentem ánimi,
530

neque úbi meas spes cóllocem habeo úsquam munitúm locum.

ita gnáta mea hostiumst potita, neque ea nunc ubi sit scio.

Periphanes

Quis illaec est mulier, timido pectore peregre adveniens

quae ipsa se miseratur?

Philippa

In his dictust locis habitare mihi

Periphanes.
535

Periphanes

Me nominat haec; credo ego illi hospitio usus venit.

Philippa

Pervelim mercedem dare, qui monstret eum mihi hominem aut ubi habitet.

Periphanes

Noscito ego hanc, nam videor nescio ubi mi vidisse prius.

éstne ea an nón east quam animus retur meus?

Philippa

Di boni, visitavi antidhac?

Periphanes

Certo eást quam in Épidauro paupérculam memini cómprimere.
540

Philippa

Plane hícine est, qui mihi in Épidauro primús pudicitiam pépulit.

Periphanes

Quaé meo compréssu peperit fíliam quam dómi nunc habeo.

quíd si adeam—

Philippa

Hau scio án congrediar—

Periphanes

Si haéc east.

Philippa

Si is ést homo, sicut

ánni multi dúbia dant.

Periphanes

Lónga dies meum incértat animum. sín east quam incerte aútumo,
545

hánc congrediar ástu.

Philippa

Múliebris adhibenda míhi malitia nunc est.

Periphanes

Cómpellabo.

Philippa

Orátionis áciem contra cónferam.

Periphanes

Salva sis.

Philippa

Salutem accipio mi et meis.

Periphanes

Quid ceterum?

Philippa

Salvos sis: quod credidisti reddo.

Periphanes

Haud accuso fidem.

novin ego te?
550

Philippa

Si ego te novi, animum inducam, ut tu noveris.

Periphanes

Vbi te visitavi?

Philippa

Inique iniuriu's iniurius es.

Periphanes

Quid iam?

Philippa

Quia

tuae memoriae interpretari me aequom censes.

Periphanes

Commode

fabulata es.

Philippa

Mira memoras.

Periphanes

Te memini—

Philippa

Em istuc rectius.

Perphanes

Meministin—

Philippa

Memini id quod memini.

Periphanes

At in Epidauro—

Philippa

Ah, guttula

pectus ardens mi aspersisti.
555

Periphanes

Virgini pauperculae,

tuaeque matri me levare paupertatem?

Philippa

Tun is es,

qui per voluptatem tuam in me aerumnam obsevisti gravem?

Periphanes

Ego sum. salve.

Philippa

Salva sum, quia te esse salvom sentio.

Periphanes

Cedo manum.

Philippa

Accipe. aerumnosam et miseriarum compotem

mulierem retines.
560

Periphanes

Quid est quod voltus turbatust tuos?

Philippa

Filiam quam ex te suscepi—

Periphanes

Quid eam?

Philippa

Eductam perdidi.

hostium est potita.

Periphanes

Habe animum lenem et tranquillum. tace.

domi meae eccam salvam et sanam. nam postquam audivi ilico

ex meo servo, illam esse captam, continuo argentum dedi,

ut emeretur. ille eam rem ádeo sobrie et frugaliter
565

accuravit, ut ut ad alias res est impense inprobus.

Philippa

Fac videam, si mea, si salva mihi sit.

Periphanes

Eho, istinc, Canthara,

iube Telestidem huc prodire filiam ante aedis meam,

ut suam videat matrem.

Philippa

Remigrat animus nunc demum mihi.

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.) — 4.1 focus

526 (Enter PHILIPPA, at a distance.)

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

If a mortal being has aught of misery, through which, miserable creature, to be wretched from the heart, that same do I experience, for whom full many a woe unites in the same spot, which, all, at the same instant are beating against my breast. A multitude of troubles keep me in suspense.

Poverty and misery alarm the thoughts of my heart; nor have I anywhere a spot of safety where to fix my hopes; in such a way has my daughter fallen into the power of the enemy¹; nor do I know where she now is.
530

PERIPHIANES

(apart.)

Who is this woman coming from a distance with a breast filled with alarms, and who thus bewails her lot?

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

It was told me that Periphanes was living in this neighbourhood.

PERIPHIANES

(apart.)

She’s mentioning me; need of hospitality has befallen her, I suppose.

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

I would be very willing to give a reward to any one who would point me out that man, or where he dwells.

PERIPHIANES

(apart.)

I recognize her; for I think I have seen her before; where, I know not. Is it, or is it not she, whom my mind suspects her to be?

PHILIPPA

(seeing him.)

Good Gods! I have seen this person before!

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

It surely is she, a poor woman whom I remember having an intrigue with at Epidaurus.
540

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

Surely it is he, who at Epidaurus first violated my maiden modesty.

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

She who had the daughter by me whom I’ve now got at home.

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

What if I accost him?

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

I don’t know whether to make up to her.

If this is she—

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

But if it is the man, as length of years renders me doubtful—

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

Length of time renders my mind uncertain. But if it is she, whom with some doubt I conjecture it to be, I’ll accost her circumspectly.
545

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

A woman’s artfulness must be employed by me.

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

I’ll address her.

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

I’ll bring my powers of conversation to bear against him.

PERIPHIANES

(accosting her.)

Health to you!

PHILIPPA

That health I accept for me and mine.

PERIPHIANES

What besides?

PHILIPPA

Health to yourself; what you lent me, I return.

PERIPHIANES

I don’t impeach your punctuality.

Don’t I know you?
550

PHILIPPA

If I know you, I’ll move your feelings, so that you shall know me.

PERIPHIANES

Where have I been in the habit of seeing you?

PHILIPPA

You are unfairly hard upon me.

PERIPHIANES

Why so?

PHILIPPA

Because you think it right that I should be the prompter of your memory.

PERIPHIANES

You speak to the purpose.

PHILIPPA

You say what’s strange to me, Periphanes.

PERIPHIANES

Ah now! that’s better.

Do you remember, Philippa—

PHILIPPA

Yes, I remember that.

PERIPHIANES

At Epidaurus—

PHILIPPA

Ah! you have moistened my burning breast with a little drop of comfort.

PERIPHIANES

How I relieved the poverty of you, a poor young maiden, and your mother?

PHILIPPA

What, are you he who for your own gratification brought heavy troubles upon me?

PERIPHIANES

I am he. Health to you.

PHILIPPA

I am in health, since I see you in health.

PERIPHIANES

Give me your hand.

PHILIPPA

(extending her hand, which he takes.)

Take it—you hold by the hand a woman distrest and full of woes.

PERIPHIANES

What is it that disturbs your features?

PHILIPPA

The daughter whom I had by you—

PERIPHIANES

What of her?

PHILIPPA

When I had brought her up, I lost her; she fell into the hands of the enemy.

PERIPHIANES

Keep your mind in quiet and at rest. Why look, she’s here at my house safe and sound. For immediately I heard from my servant that she was a captive, instantly I gave the money for her to be purchased;

he managed this affair as discreetly and frugally as in other matters he is egregiously—dishonest.
565

PHILIPPA

Let me see her, whether it is she or no.

PERIPHIANES

(going to the door of his house.)

Hallo there! you—Canthara, this instant bid my daughter² come out before the house, that she may see her mother.

PHILIPPA

My spirits now at last return to me.

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Periphanes Quis illaec est mulier, timido pectore peregre adveniens quae ipsa se miseratur?

Philippa In his dictust locis habitare mihi Periphanes. 535

Periphanes Me nominat haec; credo ego illi hospitio usus venit.

Philippa Pervelim mercedem dare, qui monstret eum mihi hominem aut ubi habitet.

Periphanes Noscito ego hanc, nam videor nescio ubi mi vidisse prius. éstne ea an nón east quam animus retur meus?

Philippa Di boni, visitavi antidhac?

Periphanes Certo eást quam in Épidauro paupérculam memini cómprimere. 540

Philippa Plane hícine est, qui mihi in Épidauro primús pudicitiam pépulit.

Periphanes Quaé meo compréssu peperit fíliam quam dómi nunc habeo. quíd si adeam—

Philippa Hau scio án congrediar—

Periphanes Si haéc east.

Philippa Si is ést homo, sicut ánni multi dúbia dant.

Periphanes Lónga dies meum incértat animum. sín east quam incerte aútumo, 545 hánc congrediar ástu.

Philippa Múliebris adhibenda míhi malitia nunc est.

Periphanes Cómpellabo.

Philippa Orátionis áciem contra cónferam.

Periphanes Salva sis.

Philippa Salutem accipio mi et meis.

Periphanes Quid ceterum?

Philippa Salvos sis: quod credidisti reddo.

Periphanes Haud accuso fidem. novin ego te? 550

Philippa Si ego te novi, animum inducam, ut tu noveris.

Periphanes Vbi te visitavi?

Philippa Inique iniuriu's iniurius es.

Periphanes Quid iam?

Philippa Quia tuae memoriae interpretari me aequom censes.

Periphanes Commode fabulata es.

Philippa Mira memoras.

Periphanes Te memini—

Philippa Em istuc rectius.

Perphanes Meministin—

Philippa Memini id quod memini.

Periphanes At in Epidauro—

Philippa Ah, guttula pectus ardens mi aspersisti. 555

Periphanes Virgini pauperculae, tuaeque matri me levare paupertatem?

Philippa Tun is es, qui per voluptatem tuam in me aerumnam obsevisti gravem?

Periphanes Ego sum. salve.

Philippa Salva sum, quia te esse salvom sentio.

Periphanes Cedo manum.

Philippa Accipe. aerumnosam et miseriarum compotem mulierem retines. 560

Periphanes Quid est quod voltus turbatust tuos?

Philippa Filiam quam ex te suscepi—

Periphanes Quid eam?

Philippa Eductam perdidi. hostium est potita.

Periphanes Habe animum lenem et tranquillum. tace. domi meae eccam salvam et sanam. nam postquam audivi ilico ex meo servo, illam esse captam, continuo argentum dedi, ut emeretur. ille eam rem ádeo sobrie et frugaliter 565 accuravit, ut ut ad alias res est impense inprobus.

Philippa Fac videam, si mea, si salva mihi sit.

Periphanes Eho, istinc, Canthara, iube Telestidem huc prodire filiam ante aedis meam, ut suam videat matrem.

Philippa Remigrat animus nunc demum mihi.

Current edition Perseus

PERIPHIANES (apart.) Who is this woman coming from a distance with a breast filled with alarms, and who thus bewails her lot?

PHILIPPA (to herself.) It was told me that Periphanes was living in this neighbourhood.

PERIPHIANES (apart.) She’s mentioning me; need of hospitality has befallen her, I suppose.

PHILIPPA (to herself.) I would be very willing to give a reward to any one who would point me out that man, or where he dwells.

PERIPHIANES (apart.) I recognize her; for I think I have seen her before; where, I know not. Is it, or is it not she, whom my mind suspects her to be?

PHILIPPA (seeing him.) Good Gods! I have seen this person before!

PERIPHIANES (to himself.) It surely is she, a poor woman whom I remember having an intrigue with at Epidaurus. 540

PHILIPPA (to herself.) Surely it is he, who at Epidaurus first violated my maiden modesty.

PERIPHIANES (to himself.) She who had the daughter by me whom I’ve now got at home.

PHILIPPA (to herself.) What if I accost him?

PERIPHIANES (to himself.) I don’t know whether to make up to her. If this is she—

PHILIPPA (to herself.) But if it is the man, as length of years renders me doubtful—

PERIPHIANES (to himself.) Length of time renders my mind uncertain. But if it is she, whom with some doubt I conjecture it to be, I’ll accost her circumspectly. 545

PHILIPPA (to herself.) A woman’s artfulness must be employed by me.

PERIPHIANES (to himself.) I’ll address her.

PHILIPPA (to herself.) I’ll bring my powers of conversation to bear against him.

PERIPHIANES (accosting her.) Health to you!

PHILIPPA That health I accept for me and mine.

PERIPHIANES What besides?

PHILIPPA Health to yourself; what you lent me, I return.

PERIPHIANES I don’t impeach your punctuality. Don’t I know you? 550

PHILIPPA If I know you, I’ll move your feelings, so that you shall know me.

PERIPHIANES Where have I been in the habit of seeing you?

PHILIPPA You are unfairly hard upon me.

PERIPHIANES Why so?

PHILIPPA Because you think it right that I should be the prompter of your memory.

PERIPHIANES You speak to the purpose.

PHILIPPA You say what’s strange to me, Periphanes.

PERIPHIANES Ah now! that’s better. Do you remember, Philippa—

Periphanes

Quis illaec est mulier, timido pectore peregre adveniens

quae ipsa se miseratur?

Philippa

In his dictust locis habitare mihi

Periphanes.
535

Periphanes

Me nominat haec; credo ego illi hospitio usus venit.

Philippa

Pervelim mercedem dare, qui monstret eum mihi hominem aut ubi habitet.

Periphanes

Noscito ego hanc, nam videor nescio ubi mi vidisse prius.

éstne ea an nón east quam animus retur meus?

Philippa

Di boni, visitavi antidhac?

Periphanes

Certo eást quam in Épidauro paupérculam memini cómprimere.
540

Philippa

Plane hícine est, qui mihi in Épidauro primús pudicitiam pépulit.

Periphanes

Quaé meo compréssu peperit fíliam quam dómi nunc habeo.

quíd si adeam—

Philippa

Hau scio án congrediar—

Periphanes

Si haéc east.

Philippa

Si is ést homo, sicut

ánni multi dúbia dant.

Periphanes

Lónga dies meum incértat animum. sín east quam incerte aútumo,
545

hánc congrediar ástu.

Philippa

Múliebris adhibenda míhi malitia nunc est.

Periphanes

Cómpellabo.

Philippa

Orátionis áciem contra cónferam.

Periphanes

Salva sis.

Philippa

Salutem accipio mi et meis.

Periphanes

Quid ceterum?

Philippa

Salvos sis: quod credidisti reddo.

Periphanes

Haud accuso fidem.

novin ego te?
550

Philippa

Si ego te novi, animum inducam, ut tu noveris.

Periphanes

Vbi te visitavi?

Philippa

Inique iniuriu's iniurius es.

Periphanes

Quid iam?

Philippa

Quia

tuae memoriae interpretari me aequom censes.

Periphanes

Commode

fabulata es.

Philippa

Mira memoras.

Periphanes

Te memini—

Philippa

Em istuc rectius.

Perphanes

Meministin—

Philippa

Memini id quod memini.

Periphanes

At in Epidauro—

Philippa

Ah, guttula

pectus ardens mi aspersisti.
555

Periphanes

Virgini pauperculae,

tuaeque matri me levare paupertatem?

Philippa

Tun is es,

qui per voluptatem tuam in me aerumnam obsevisti gravem?

Periphanes

Ego sum. salve.

Philippa

Salva sum, quia te esse salvom sentio.

Periphanes

Cedo manum.

Philippa

Accipe. aerumnosam et miseriarum compotem

mulierem retines.
560

Periphanes

Quid est quod voltus turbatust tuos?

Philippa

Filiam quam ex te suscepi—

Periphanes

Quid eam?

Philippa

Eductam perdidi.

hostium est potita.

Periphanes

Habe animum lenem et tranquillum. tace.

domi meae eccam salvam et sanam. nam postquam audivi ilico

ex meo servo, illam esse captam, continuo argentum dedi,

ut emeretur. ille eam rem ádeo sobrie et frugaliter
565

accuravit, ut ut ad alias res est impense inprobus.

Philippa

Fac videam, si mea, si salva mihi sit.

Periphanes

Eho, istinc, Canthara,

iube Telestidem huc prodire filiam ante aedis meam,

ut suam videat matrem.

Philippa

Remigrat animus nunc demum mihi.

PERIPHIANES

(apart.)

Who is this woman coming from a distance with a breast filled with alarms, and who thus bewails her lot?

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

It was told me that Periphanes was living in this neighbourhood.

PERIPHIANES

(apart.)

She’s mentioning me; need of hospitality has befallen her, I suppose.

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

I would be very willing to give a reward to any one who would point me out that man, or where he dwells.

PERIPHIANES

(apart.)

I recognize her; for I think I have seen her before; where, I know not. Is it, or is it not she, whom my mind suspects her to be?

PHILIPPA

(seeing him.)

Good Gods! I have seen this person before!

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

It surely is she, a poor woman whom I remember having an intrigue with at Epidaurus.
540

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

Surely it is he, who at Epidaurus first violated my maiden modesty.

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

She who had the daughter by me whom I’ve now got at home.

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

What if I accost him?

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

I don’t know whether to make up to her.

If this is she—

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

But if it is the man, as length of years renders me doubtful—

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

Length of time renders my mind uncertain. But if it is she, whom with some doubt I conjecture it to be, I’ll accost her circumspectly.
545

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

A woman’s artfulness must be employed by me.

PERIPHIANES

(to himself.)

I’ll address her.

PHILIPPA

(to herself.)

I’ll bring my powers of conversation to bear against him.

PERIPHIANES

(accosting her.)

Health to you!

PHILIPPA

That health I accept for me and mine.

PERIPHIANES

What besides?

PHILIPPA

Health to yourself; what you lent me, I return.

PERIPHIANES

I don’t impeach your punctuality.

Don’t I know you?
550

PHILIPPA

If I know you, I’ll move your feelings, so that you shall know me.

PERIPHIANES

Where have I been in the habit of seeing you?

PHILIPPA

You are unfairly hard upon me.

PERIPHIANES

Why so?

PHILIPPA

Because you think it right that I should be the prompter of your memory.

PERIPHIANES

You speak to the purpose.

PHILIPPA

You say what’s strange to me, Periphanes.

PERIPHIANES

Ah now! that’s better.

Do you remember, Philippa—

PHILIPPA

Yes, I remember that.

PERIPHIANES

At Epidaurus—

PHILIPPA

Ah! you have moistened my burning breast with a little drop of comfort.