T. Maccius Plautus Mercator 5.2

EUTYCHUS

(to himself.)

Thou who art the overlooker of Gods and of men, and the mistress of mortals as well, inasmuch as thou hast indulged me in this hope that I entertained, I do return thee thanks. What Deity is there now that is joyous with gladness like mine?

That was at home which I was in search of. There did I find six companions, life, friendship, my native land, festivity, mirth, and jollity. On finding these, at the same moment did I utterly destroy ten very bad things, wrath, hatred, folly, ruin, perverseness, grief, tears, exile, want, and loneliness.

845

Ye Gods, I pray you grant me a speedy opportunity of meeting him.

850

CHARINUS

(to himself, not seeing EUTYCHUS.)

I’m ready prepared, as you see. Pride I cast aside; I’m my own companion, attendant, horse, groom, esquire; I’m my own master, I, too, obey myself; for my own self do I carry what I require. O Cupid! how powerful art thou.

For easily dost thou render any one resolute through thy deeds, and then again, the same person diffident forthwith from being over bold.

855

EUTYCHUS

(to himself.)

I’m thinking which way to run in search of him.

CHARINUS

(continuing.)

The matter’s resolved upon, that I’ll seek her everywhere, wherever in the world she has been carried off from hence; and neither shall any river stand in my way, nor mountain, nor the sea,

indeed, nor heat, nor cold; I dread neither wind nor hail; the torrents of rain I’ll submit to; labour, heat, and thirst, will I endure. I’ll neither stop nor rest anywhere at night, or in the day, assuredly, before I shall have met with either my mistress or my death.

860

EUTYCHUS

(looking round.)

Some voice, I know not who’s, flew to my ear.

CHARINUS

(continuing.)

You do I invoke,

ye Lares of the roads ¹ , that you will kindly lend me aid.

865

EUTYCHUS

(seeing CHARINUS.)

Jupiter! isn’t that Charinus?

CHARINUS

(turning round.)

Fellow-citizens, fare ye well.

EUTYCHUS

(aloud.)

Charinus, stop, this instant.

CHARINUS

Who calls me back?

EUTYCHUS

Hope, Safety, Victory.

CHARINUS

What do you want with me?

EUTYCHUS

To go along with you.

CHARINUS

Look for another companion; these companions that have possession of me, will not part with me.

EUTYCHUS

Who are they?

CHARINUS

Care, misery, sickness, tears, and lamentation.

870

EUTYCHUS

Drive away those companions, and look this way and return.

CHARINUS

If indeed you wish to speak to me, do you follow.

(Moves on.)

EUTYCHUS

Stop, this instant!

CHARINUS

You do amiss, in delaying me as I haste; the sun is setting.

EUTYCHUS

If you would make haste in this direction, just as you are hastening in that one, you’d be doing more rightly;

this way there is now a prospering gale, only tack about. Here is a fair Westerly breeze; there is a showery Southern blast. The one causes a calm; the other stirs up all the waves. Betake yourself towards the land, Charinus, in this direction. Don’t you see right opposite? Black clouds and showers are coming on. Look now to the left,

875

how full the heaven is of brightness. Don’t you see right opposite?

880

CHARINUS

He has thrown religious scruples ² in my way; I’ll betake myself in that direction.

(Turns towards EUTYCHUS.)

EUTYCHUS

You are wise. O Charinus, turn your steps, and turn your feet as well, in the opposite direction.

Extend your arm. Catch hold of me. Do you hold me new?

CHARINUS

I’m holding you.

EUTYCHUS

Hold on, then.

Whither now were you going?

CHARINUS

Into banishment.

EUTYCHUS

What to do there?

CHARINUS

As a wretched person would.

EUTYCHUS

Don’t fear; this instant shall I restore you to joyousness before you go away.

885

CHARINUS

I’m going.

(Moves.)

EUTYCHUS

A thing that you especially long to hear, the same shall you hear for you to rejoice at. Stay this instant; I’m come as a friend, full of the kindest feelings.

CHARINUS

What is it?

EUTYCHUS

Your mistress—

CHARINUS

What of her?

EUTYCHUS

I know where she is.

CHARINUS

Prithee, do you?

EUTYCHUS

She’s safe and sound.

CHARINUS

Where is she safe?

EUTYCHUS

I know where.

CHARINUS

I’d much rather I did.

EUTYCHUS

Can’t you possibly be calm in your feelings?

890

CHARINUS

What if my feelings are agitated?

EUTYCHUS

I’ll bring them for you into a safe and tranquil state; don’t you fear.

CHARINUS

Prithee do say where she is —where you’ve seen her. Why are you mute? Speak—you are torturing to death wretched me by your silence.

EUTYCHUS

She isn’t far from here.

CHARINUS

Why then don’t you point her out, if you see her?

EUTYCHUS

I’ faith, I don’t see her at this moment; but I saw her just now.

895

CHARINUS

Why, then, don’t you cause me to see her?

EUTYCHUS

I will cause it.

CHARINUS

That means a long time for one in love.

EUTYCHUS

Are you still in apprehension? I’ll disclose it all. No person is there living more beloved by me than is he who has got her; nor is there one to whom it is right that I should be a better wisher.

CHARINUS

I don’t care about that; I’m looking for her.

EUTYCHUS

About her, then, I’m telling you.

Really, this has not come into my mind but this moment, to tell it you—

900

CHARINUS

Tell me, then, where she is.

EUTYCHUS

In our house.

CHARINUS

If you are telling the truth, a worthy house, and aptly built, I deem it. But how am I to credit that? Have you seen her; or do you speak from hearsay?

EUTYCHUS

I’ve seen her myself.

CHARINUS

Who took her to your house?

EUTYCHUS

Why, you’re asking an unfair question.

What matters it to you with whom she came?

CHARINUS

So long as she’s there—

EUTYCHUS

She certainly is.

CHARINUS

Then, for these tidings, do you wish whatever you please.

EUTYCHUS

What if I do wish?

CHARINUS

Pray to the Gods to bring its fulfilment.

EUTYCHUS

You are laughing at me.

CHARINUS

My fortunes, in fine, are redeemed, if I can see her.

But why don’t I lay aside this garb? (Goes to the door of DEMIPHO’S house, and calls.) Hallo, somebody, come here this instant out of doors. Come out, and bring me thence a cloak this way.

910

EUTYCHUS

Well, now how much you do gratify me.

CHARINUS

(to a BOY who enters, bringing his cloak.)

You boy, who have come with such speed, take my scarf (giving it), and now stand aside there; that, if these things are not true, I may hasten to go upon this intended journey.

(To EUTYCHUS.)

Are you telling the truth?

905

EUTYCHUS

Really, Charinus, you are not ashamed of anything.

Don’t you believe me?

CHARINUS

For my part, I really do believe everything that you tell me.

But why don’t you introduce me to her, that I may see her?

915

EUTYCHUS

Wait a little.

CHARINUS

Why am I to wait?

EUTYCHUS

It’s not a convenient moment to go into the house.

CHARINUS

You are torturing me to death.

EUTYCHUS

There’s no need, I tell you, for you to go into the house just now.

CHARINUS

Answer me-for what reason?

EUTYCHUS

She’s not at leisure.

CHARINUS

Why so?

EUTYCHUS

Because it isn’t convenient to her.

CHARINUS

Is it so? Not convenient to her who loves me, and whom I love in return?

He’s trifling with me in every way. I’m too foolish to believe him. He’s only delaying me. (Turns to the BOY.) I’ll put on my scarf again.

920

EUTYCHUS

Stop a little, and listen to this.

CHARINUS

(taking off the cloak.)

You boy, take this cloak ³ , please.

(Puts on the travelling scarf.)

EUTYCHUS

Really this hasn’t come but this moment into my mind to tell it you.

My mother’s dreadfully angry with my father, because he has brought into the house a harlot before her very eyes, while she was away in the country. She suspects that she’s his own mistress.

CHARINUS

(not attending to him.)

I’ve taken up my belt ⁴ .

(Puts it on.)

EUTYCHUS

She’s now enquiring into this matter in-doors.

CHARINUS

(inattentive.)

Now my sword’s in hand.

(Taking it from the BOY.)

EUTYCHUS

But if I were now to introduce you?

CHARINUS

(inattentive.)

I’ll take my bottle, and be off from here.

(Moves.)

EUTYCHUS

Stop, stop, Charinus!

CHARINUS

You are mistaken; you can’t deceive me.

EUTYCHUS

And, i’ faith, I have no wish.

CHARINUS

Why, then, don’t you allow me to proceed upon my journey?

EUTYCHUS

I won’t let you.

930

CHARINUS

I’m delaying myself. Boy, do you this instant be off hence in-doors.

(The BOY goes into the house.)

Now I’ve ascended the chariot; now I’ve taken the reins in my hands.

(Imitating the action of a charioteer.)

EUTYCHUS

You are not in your senses.

CHARINUS

Feet of mine, why don’t ye betake yourselves into the chariot, straight for Cyprus, since my father determines on my banishment?

EUTYCHUS

You are silly. Prithee, don’t be saying this.

CHARINUS

(as though to himself.)

I’m resolved to persist—

to use my endeavours to seek her out where she is.

935

EUTYCHUS

Why, she’s at our house.

CHARINUS

(as though to himself.)

For what that person said, he told a falsehood in it.

EUTYCHUS

Really, I told you the truth.

CHARINUS

(continuing.)

Now I’ve come to Cyprus.

EUTYCHUS

Nay, but follow me, that you may see her whom you are looking for.

(Moves towards his FATHER’S house.)

CHARINUS

(pretending not to hear.)

Enquiring there, I didn’t find her.

EUTYCHUS

I’ll not care then for my mother’s anger.

CHARINUS

(still pretending.)

I’ll still go on to seek her. Now I’ve got to Chalcis;

I see there my former host at Zacynthus; I tell him why I’ve come thither; I make enquiry if he has heard say who has brought her thither, who has got possession of her.

940

EUTYCHUS

Why don’t you cease that nonsense, and step with me this way in-doors?

CHARINUS

(still pretending.)

My host answered that figs grew, not bad ones, at Zacynthus.

EUTYCHUS

He didn’t say false there.

CHARINUS

(continuing.)

But he says that he has heard about my mistress, that she’s here at Athens.

EUTYCHUS

Really, this Zacynthian is quite a Calchas ⁵ .

CHARINUS

(continuing.)

I get aboard ship, and start at once. I’m now at home; now I’ve returned from banishment. My friend, Eutychus (turning towards him), greetings to you! How have you been? How are my parents? Are they well? Do you come to my mother, you say—you invite me kindly; you speak politely. At your house to-morrow; for the present at home.

So it is proper; so it ought to be done.

950

EUTYCHUS

How now? What are you dreaming about? This man’s not in his senses.

CHARINUS

Why don’t you, as a friend, make haste to cure me then?

EUTYCHUS

Follow me, please.

CHARINUS

(running close behind him.)

I’m following.

EUTYCHUS

(turning round.)

Softly, pray; you are treading on my heels. Don’t you hear me?

CHARINUS

I’ve heard you for some time past.

EUTYCHUS

I want a reconciliation to be made between my father and mother; for now she’s in a passion—

CHARINUS

(pushing him.)

Only do go on.

EUTYCHUS

About that woman—

955

CHARINUS

(pushing him.)

Only do go on.

EUTYCHUS

Therefore take care—

CHARINUS

(pushing him.)

Nay, but do go on then; I’ll make her as mild as Juno is when she’s kind to Jupiter.

(They go into the house of LYSIMACHUS.)