T. Maccius Plautus, Mercator, ed. Friedrich Leo, 2.4

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469

Charinvs

Pentheum diripuisse aiunt Bacchas: nugas maximas

fuisse credo, praeut quo pacto égo divorsus distrahor.
470

cur ego vivo? cur non morior? quid mihist in vita boni?

certumst, ibo ad medicum atque ibi me toxico morti dabo,

quando id mi adimitur, qua causa vitam cupio vivere.

Evtychvs

Mane, mane obsecro, Charine.

Charinvs

Quis me revocat?

Evtychvs

Eutychus,

tuos amicus et sodalis, simul vicinus proxumus.
475

Charinvs

Non tu scis, quantum malarum rerum sustineam.

Evtychvs

Scio;

omnia ego istaec auscultavi ab ostio, omnem rem scio.

Charinvs

Quid id est quod scis?

Evtychvs

Tuos pater volt vendere—

Charinvs

Omnem rem tenes.

Evtychvs

Tuam amicam.

Charinvs

Nimium multum scis.

Evtychvs

Tuis ingratiis.

Charinvs

Plurimum tu scis. sed qui scis esse amicam illam meam?
480

Evtychvs

Tute heri ipsus mihi narrasti.

Charinvs

Satin ut oblitus fui,

tibi me narravisse?

Evtychvs

Hau mirumst factum.

Charinvs

Te nunc consulo.

responde: quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Evtychvs

Non taces? cave tu istuc dixis.

Charinvs

Quid vis me igitur dicere?

Evtychvs

Vin patri sublinere pulchre me os tuo?
485

Charinvs

Sane volo.

Evtychvs

Visne eam ad portum—

Charinvs

Qui potius quam voles?

Evtychvs

Atque eximam

mulierem pretio?

Charinvs

Qui potius quam auro expendas?

Evtychvs

Vnde erit?

Charinvs

Achillem orabo, aurum ut mihi det, Hector qui expensus fuit.

Evtychvs

Sanun es?

Charinvs

Pol sanus si sim, non te medicum mi expetam.

Evtychvs

Tanti quanti poscit, vin tanti illam emi?
490

Charinvs

Auctarium

adicito vel mille nummum plus quam poscet.

Evtychvs

Iam tace.

sed quid ais? unde erit argentum quod des, quom poscet pater?

Charinvs

Invenietur, exquiretur, aliquid fiet; enicas.

Evtychvs

Iam istuc 'aliquid fiet' metuo.

Charinvs

Quin taces?

Evtychvs

Muto imperas.

Charinvs

Satin istuc mandatumst?
495

Evtychvs

Potin ut aliud cures?

Charinvs

Non potest.

Evtychvs

Bene vale.

Charinvs

Non edepol possum prius quam tu ad me redieris.

Evtychvs

Melius sanus sis.

Charinvs

Vale, vince ét me serva.

Evtychvs

Ego fecero.

domi maneto me.

Charinvs

Ergo actutum face cum praeda recipias.—

Mercator. 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

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

Translations (1)

Mercator, or The Merchant Perseus (Plautus. The Comedies of Plautus, Volume 2. Riley, Henry Thomas, translator. London: G. Bell and Sons, Ltd., 1913.) — 2.4 focus

469 (CHARINUS, alone.)

CHARINUS

(wringing his hands, and crying aloud.)

I’m lost—I’m undone.

They say that the Bacchanals tore Pentheus to pieces¹. I do believe that that was the merest trifle compared with the manner in which I am rent asunder in different ways.

Why do I exist? Why don’t I die? What good is there for me in life? I’m determined, I’ll go to a doctor², and there I’ll put myself to death by poison, since that is being taken from me for the sake of which I desire to remain in existence.

(He is going off.)

EUTYCHUS
(Enter EUTYCHUS, from the house of LYSIMACHUS.)

Stop, prithee, stop, Charinus.

CHARINUS

(turning.)

Who is it, that calls me back?

EUTYCHUS

Eutychus,

your friend and companion, your nearest neighbour as well.
475

CHARINUS

You don’t know³ what a vast weight of my woes I am enduring.

EUTYCHUS

I do know. I listened to it all at the door: I know the whole matter.

CHARINUS

What is it that you know?

EUTYCHUS

Your father wishes to sell—

CHARINUS

You have the whole matter.

EUTYCHUS

—Your mistress—

CHARINUS

You know by far too much.

EUTYCHUS

—Against your wish.

CHARINUS

You know everything. But how do you know that this woman is my mistress?
480

EUTYCHUS

You yourself told me yesterday.

CHARINUS

Isn’t it the fact that I had quite forgotten that I told you yesterday?

EUTYCHUS

It’s not surprising it is so.

CHARINUS

I now consult you. Answer me; by what death do you think that I should die in preference?

EUTYCHUS

Won’t you hold your peace? Take you care how you say that.

CHARINUS

What then do you wish me to say?

EUTYCHUS

Should you like me to trick your father nicely?
485

CHARINUS

I really should like it.

EUTYCHUS

Should you like me to walk to the harbour—

CHARINUS

What, rather than that you should fly?

EUTYCHUS

And release the fair one for a sum.

CHARINUS

What, rather than you should pay her weight in gold?

EUTYCHUS

Whence is it to come?

CHARINUS

I’ll entreat Achilles to lend me the gold with which Hector was ransomed

EUTYCHUS

Are you in your senses?

CHARINUS

I’ faith, if I were in my senses, I shouldn’t be seeking you for my physician.

EUTYCHUS

Do you wish her to be purchased for as high a price as he asks?
490

CHARINUS

Throw in something by way of surplus; even a thousand didrachms more than he shall demand.

EUTYCHUS

Now, do hold your peace. But what say you as to this? Whence will the money come, for you to give, when your father asks for it?

CHARINUS

It shall be found, it shall be sought out, something shall be done.

EUTYCHUS

You are worrying me to death. For I’m afraid of that Something shall be done.

CHARINUS

Why won’t you hold your tongue?

EUTYCHUS

You give your commands to one who is dumb.

CHARINUS

Is this matter sufficiently pointed out to you?
495

EUTYCHUS

Can’t you possibly be attending to something else?

CHARINUS

It isn’t possible.

EUTYCHUS

(going.)

Kindly fare you well.

CHARINUS

I’ faith, I cannot fare well, before you come back to me.

EUTYCHUS

To better purpose, recover your senses.

CHARINUS

Farewell, and prevail, and be my preserver.

EUTYCHUS

I’ll do so. Wait for me at home.

CHARINUS

Do you take care, then, to betake yourself back just now with the booty.

(Exit EUTYCHUS, and CHARINUS goes into DEMIPHO’S house.)

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Charinvs Pentheum diripuisse aiunt Bacchas: nugas maximas fuisse credo, praeut quo pacto égo divorsus distrahor. 470 cur ego vivo? cur non morior? quid mihist in vita boni? certumst, ibo ad medicum atque ibi me toxico morti dabo, quando id mi adimitur, qua causa vitam cupio vivere.

Evtychvs Mane, mane obsecro, Charine.

Charinvs Quis me revocat?

Evtychvs Eutychus, tuos amicus et sodalis, simul vicinus proxumus. 475

Charinvs Non tu scis, quantum malarum rerum sustineam.

Evtychvs Scio; omnia ego istaec auscultavi ab ostio, omnem rem scio.

Charinvs Quid id est quod scis?

Evtychvs Tuos pater volt vendere—

Charinvs Omnem rem tenes.

Evtychvs Tuam amicam.

Charinvs Nimium multum scis.

Evtychvs Tuis ingratiis.

Charinvs Plurimum tu scis. sed qui scis esse amicam illam meam? 480

Evtychvs Tute heri ipsus mihi narrasti.

Charinvs Satin ut oblitus fui, tibi me narravisse?

Evtychvs Hau mirumst factum.

Charinvs Te nunc consulo. responde: quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Evtychvs Non taces? cave tu istuc dixis.

Charinvs Quid vis me igitur dicere?

Evtychvs Vin patri sublinere pulchre me os tuo? 485

Charinvs Sane volo.

Evtychvs Visne eam ad portum—

Charinvs Qui potius quam voles?

Evtychvs Atque eximam mulierem pretio?

Charinvs Qui potius quam auro expendas?

Evtychvs Vnde erit?

Charinvs Achillem orabo, aurum ut mihi det, Hector qui expensus fuit.

Evtychvs Sanun es?

Charinvs Pol sanus si sim, non te medicum mi expetam.

Evtychvs Tanti quanti poscit, vin tanti illam emi? 490

Charinvs Auctarium adicito vel mille nummum plus quam poscet.

Evtychvs Iam tace. sed quid ais? unde erit argentum quod des, quom poscet pater?

Charinvs Invenietur, exquiretur, aliquid fiet; enicas.

Evtychvs Iam istuc 'aliquid fiet' metuo.

Charinvs Quin taces?

Evtychvs Muto imperas.

Charinvs Satin istuc mandatumst? 495

Evtychvs Potin ut aliud cures?

Charinvs Non potest.

Evtychvs Bene vale.

Charinvs Non edepol possum prius quam tu ad me redieris.

Evtychvs Melius sanus sis.

Charinvs Vale, vince ét me serva.

Evtychvs Ego fecero. domi maneto me.

Charinvs Ergo actutum face cum praeda recipias.—

Current edition Perseus

EUTYCHUS (Enter EUTYCHUS, from the house of LYSIMACHUS.) Stop, prithee, stop, Charinus.

CHARINUS (turning.) Who is it, that calls me back?

EUTYCHUS Eutychus, your friend and companion, your nearest neighbour as well. 475

CHARINUS You don’t know 3 what a vast weight of my woes I am enduring.

EUTYCHUS I do know. I listened to it all at the door: I know the whole matter.

CHARINUS What is it that you know?

EUTYCHUS Your father wishes to sell—

CHARINUS You have the whole matter.

EUTYCHUS —Your mistress—

CHARINUS You know by far too much.

EUTYCHUS —Against your wish.

CHARINUS You know everything. But how do you know that this woman is my mistress? 480

EUTYCHUS You yourself told me yesterday.

CHARINUS Isn’t it the fact that I had quite forgotten that I told you yesterday?

EUTYCHUS It’s not surprising it is so.

CHARINUS I now consult you. Answer me; by what death do you think that I should die in preference?

EUTYCHUS Won’t you hold your peace? Take you care how you say that.

CHARINUS What then do you wish me to say?

EUTYCHUS Should you like me to trick your father nicely? 485

CHARINUS I really should like it.

EUTYCHUS Should you like me to walk to the harbour—

CHARINUS What, rather than that you should fly?

EUTYCHUS And release the fair one for a sum.

CHARINUS What, rather than you should pay her weight in gold?

EUTYCHUS Whence is it to come?

CHARINUS I’ll entreat Achilles to lend me the gold with which Hector was ransomed

EUTYCHUS Are you in your senses?

CHARINUS I’ faith, if I were in my senses, I shouldn’t be seeking you for my physician.

EUTYCHUS Do you wish her to be purchased for as high a price as he asks? 490

CHARINUS Throw in something by way of surplus; even a thousand didrachms more than he shall demand.

EUTYCHUS Now, do hold your peace. But what say you as to this? Whence will the money come, for you to give, when your father asks for it?

CHARINUS It shall be found, it shall be sought out, something shall be done.

Charinvs

Pentheum diripuisse aiunt Bacchas: nugas maximas

fuisse credo, praeut quo pacto égo divorsus distrahor.
470

cur ego vivo? cur non morior? quid mihist in vita boni?

certumst, ibo ad medicum atque ibi me toxico morti dabo,

quando id mi adimitur, qua causa vitam cupio vivere.

Evtychvs

Mane, mane obsecro, Charine.

Charinvs

Quis me revocat?

Evtychvs

Eutychus,

tuos amicus et sodalis, simul vicinus proxumus.
475

Charinvs

Non tu scis, quantum malarum rerum sustineam.

Evtychvs

Scio;

omnia ego istaec auscultavi ab ostio, omnem rem scio.

Charinvs

Quid id est quod scis?

Evtychvs

Tuos pater volt vendere—

Charinvs

Omnem rem tenes.

Evtychvs

Tuam amicam.

Charinvs

Nimium multum scis.

Evtychvs

Tuis ingratiis.

Charinvs

Plurimum tu scis. sed qui scis esse amicam illam meam?
480

Evtychvs

Tute heri ipsus mihi narrasti.

Charinvs

Satin ut oblitus fui,

tibi me narravisse?

Evtychvs

Hau mirumst factum.

Charinvs

Te nunc consulo.

responde: quo leto censes me ut peream potissimum?

Evtychvs

Non taces? cave tu istuc dixis.

Charinvs

Quid vis me igitur dicere?

Evtychvs

Vin patri sublinere pulchre me os tuo?
485

Charinvs

Sane volo.

Evtychvs

Visne eam ad portum—

Charinvs

Qui potius quam voles?

Evtychvs

Atque eximam

mulierem pretio?

Charinvs

Qui potius quam auro expendas?

Evtychvs

Vnde erit?

Charinvs

Achillem orabo, aurum ut mihi det, Hector qui expensus fuit.

Evtychvs

Sanun es?

Charinvs

Pol sanus si sim, non te medicum mi expetam.

Evtychvs

Tanti quanti poscit, vin tanti illam emi?
490

Charinvs

Auctarium

adicito vel mille nummum plus quam poscet.

Evtychvs

Iam tace.

sed quid ais? unde erit argentum quod des, quom poscet pater?

Charinvs

Invenietur, exquiretur, aliquid fiet; enicas.

Evtychvs

Iam istuc 'aliquid fiet' metuo.

Charinvs

Quin taces?

Evtychvs

Muto imperas.

Charinvs

Satin istuc mandatumst?
495

Evtychvs

Potin ut aliud cures?

Charinvs

Non potest.

Evtychvs

Bene vale.

Charinvs

Non edepol possum prius quam tu ad me redieris.

Evtychvs

Melius sanus sis.

Charinvs

Vale, vince ét me serva.

Evtychvs

Ego fecero.

domi maneto me.

Charinvs

Ergo actutum face cum praeda recipias.—

EUTYCHUS
(Enter EUTYCHUS, from the house of LYSIMACHUS.)

Stop, prithee, stop, Charinus.

CHARINUS

(turning.)

Who is it, that calls me back?

EUTYCHUS

Eutychus,

your friend and companion, your nearest neighbour as well.
475

CHARINUS

You don’t know³ what a vast weight of my woes I am enduring.

EUTYCHUS

I do know. I listened to it all at the door: I know the whole matter.

CHARINUS

What is it that you know?

EUTYCHUS

Your father wishes to sell—

CHARINUS

You have the whole matter.

EUTYCHUS

—Your mistress—

CHARINUS

You know by far too much.

EUTYCHUS

—Against your wish.

CHARINUS

You know everything. But how do you know that this woman is my mistress?
480

EUTYCHUS

You yourself told me yesterday.

CHARINUS

Isn’t it the fact that I had quite forgotten that I told you yesterday?

EUTYCHUS

It’s not surprising it is so.

CHARINUS

I now consult you. Answer me; by what death do you think that I should die in preference?

EUTYCHUS

Won’t you hold your peace? Take you care how you say that.

CHARINUS

What then do you wish me to say?

EUTYCHUS

Should you like me to trick your father nicely?
485

CHARINUS

I really should like it.

EUTYCHUS

Should you like me to walk to the harbour—

CHARINUS

What, rather than that you should fly?

EUTYCHUS

And release the fair one for a sum.

CHARINUS

What, rather than you should pay her weight in gold?

EUTYCHUS

Whence is it to come?

CHARINUS

I’ll entreat Achilles to lend me the gold with which Hector was ransomed

EUTYCHUS

Are you in your senses?

CHARINUS

I’ faith, if I were in my senses, I shouldn’t be seeking you for my physician.

EUTYCHUS

Do you wish her to be purchased for as high a price as he asks?
490

CHARINUS

Throw in something by way of surplus; even a thousand didrachms more than he shall demand.

EUTYCHUS

Now, do hold your peace. But what say you as to this? Whence will the money come, for you to give, when your father asks for it?

CHARINUS

It shall be found, it shall be sought out, something shall be done.

EUTYCHUS

You are worrying me to death. For I’m afraid of that Something shall be done.

CHARINUS

Why won’t you hold your tongue?

EUTYCHUS

You give your commands to one who is dumb.