View:
By Scene
753
(Enter TOXILUS, from the house.)
TOXILUS
(to himself.)
The foe subdued, the citizens safe, the state in tranquillity, peace fully ratified, the war finished, our affairs prospering, the army and the garrisons untouched;
inasmuch, Jupiter, and all you other Deities potent in the heavens, you have kindly aided us, for that reason do I return and give you thanks; because I have been fully revenged upon my foe. Now, for this reason, among my partners will I divide and allot the spoil.
755
(To the SLAVES in the house, who obey his orders.) Come out of doors; here, before the entrance and the door, I wish to entertain my commates with hospitality. Lay down the couches here; place here the things that are usual.
Here am I determined that my eagle
1
shall be first pitched;
from which spot I’ll cause all to become merry, joyous, and delighted, by the aid of whom those things which I wished to be effected have been rendered for me easy to be done; for worthless is the man who knows how to receive a kindness, and knows not how to return it.
760
(Enter LEMNISELENE, SAGARISTIO, and PAEGNIUM, from the house.)
The foe subdued, the citizens safe, the state in tranquillity, peace fully ratified, the war finished, our affairs prospering, the army and the garrisons untouched;
inasmuch, Jupiter, and all you other Deities potent in the heavens, you have kindly aided us, for that reason do I return and give you thanks; because I have been fully revenged upon my foe. Now, for this reason, among my partners will I divide and allot the spoil.
755
(To the SLAVES in the house, who obey his orders.) Come out of doors; here, before the entrance and the door, I wish to entertain my commates with hospitality. Lay down the couches here; place here the things that are usual.
Here am I determined that my eagle
1
shall be first pitched;
from which spot I’ll cause all to become merry, joyous, and delighted, by the aid of whom those things which I wished to be effected have been rendered for me easy to be done; for worthless is the man who knows how to receive a kindness, and knows not how to return it.
760
LEMNISELENE
My Toxilus, why am I without you? And why are you without me?
My Toxilus, why am I without you? And why are you without me?
TOXILUS
Come then, my own one, approach me, and embrace me, please.
Come then, my own one, approach me, and embrace me, please.
LEMNISELENE
Indeed I will.
(Embraces him.)
Indeed I will.
TOXILUS
O, nothing is there more sweet than this.
But, there’s a dear, apple of my eye, why don’t we at once betake us to the couches?
765
O, nothing is there more sweet than this.
But, there’s a dear, apple of my eye, why don’t we at once betake us to the couches?
765
LEMNISELENE
Everything that you wish, the same do I desire.
Everything that you wish, the same do I desire.
TOXILUS
It’s mutual. Come, come-come then. You, Sagaristio, recline in the upper place.
It’s mutual. Come, come-come then. You, Sagaristio, recline in the upper place.
SAGARISTIO
I don’t at all care for it. Give ne but equal shares in what I’ve earned.
I don’t at all care for it. Give ne but equal shares in what I’ve earned.
TOXILUS
All in good time.
All in good time.
SAGARISTIO
For me that
good time is too late.
For me that
good time is too late.
TOXILUS
Attend to the matter in hand. Take your place; this delightful day let’s keep as a joyous birthday of mine.
(To the SLAVES.) Bring water for our hands; arrange the table.
(The SLAVES obey, and the GUESTS take their places.) To you, blooming one
(addressing LEMNISELENE.) I give this blooming wreath.
(Places a garland on her head.) You shall be our governess here.
770
Come, lad, commence these games from the top with a round of seven cups.
Bestir your hands; make haste. Paegnium, you are slow in giving me the cups; really, do give them. Here’s luck to me, luck to you, luck to my mistress, luck to us all. This much wished-for day has been sent me by the Gods this day, inasmuch as I am allowed to embrace you a free woman.
(He drinks.)
Attend to the matter in hand. Take your place; this delightful day let’s keep as a joyous birthday of mine.
(To the SLAVES.) Bring water for our hands; arrange the table.
(The SLAVES obey, and the GUESTS take their places.) To you, blooming one
(addressing LEMNISELENE.) I give this blooming wreath.
(Places a garland on her head.) You shall be our governess here.
770
Come, lad, commence these games from the top with a round of seven cups.
Bestir your hands; make haste. Paegnium, you are slow in giving me the cups; really, do give them. Here’s luck to me, luck to you, luck to my mistress, luck to us all. This much wished-for day has been sent me by the Gods this day, inasmuch as I am allowed to embrace you a free woman.
LEMNISELENE
By your own agency it was effected.
(Giving him the cup.) This cup my hand presents to you, as it becomes a mistress to her love.
775
By your own agency it was effected.
(Giving him the cup.) This cup my hand presents to you, as it becomes a mistress to her love.
775
TOXILUS
Give it me.
Give it me.
LEMNISELENE
Take it.
(Gives him the cup.)
Take it.
TOXILUS
Here’s luck to him who envies me, and to him who rejoices in this joy.
(Drinks.)
Here’s luck to him who envies me, and to him who rejoices in this joy.
Persa. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.