T. Maccius Plautus Persa 4.4

SAGARISTIO

Doesn’t Athens seem to you a rich and opulent place?

DAUGHTER

I’ve seen the appearance of the city; the customs of the people I’ve observed but little of.

550

TOXILUS

(apart.)

At the very outset has she forborne to make a wise remark.

DORDALUS

(apart.)

I cannot by her very first words form an estimate of her wisdom.

SAGARISTIO

What as to that which you have seen? How does the city seem fortified to you, with its wall?

DAUGHTER

If the inhabitants have good morals, I think it’s properly fortified.

If Perfidiousness, and Peculation, and Avarice are exiled from the city, Envy in the fourth place, Ambition in the fifth, Scandal in the sixth, Perjury in the seventh.

555

TOXILUS

(apart.)

Bravo!

DAUGHTER

Idleness in the eighth, Injustice in the ninth, Immorality, which is the very worst in its attack, in the tenth.

If these things shall not be away from it, a wall a hundred-fold were too little for preserving its interests.

560

TOXILUS

(apart.)

What say you?

DORDALUS

(apart.)

What do you mean?

TOXILUS

(apart.)

You are among those ten companions; you must depart in banishment from here.

DORDALUS

(apart.)

Why so?

TOXILUS

(apart.)

Because you are perjured.

DORDALUS

(apart.)

Really she has spoken not without some cleverness.

TOXILUS

(apart.)

That’s to your advantage, I say; you buy her.

DORDALUS

(apart.)

Upon my faith, the more I look at her, the more she pleases me.

TOXILUS

(apart.)

If you do buy her,

immortal Gods, no other Procurer will be more wealthy than yourself; at your will you’ll be turning people out of their estates and households; you’ll be transacting business with men of the highest rank; they’ll be longing for your favour; they’ll be coming to make merry at your house.

565

DORDALUS

(apart.)

But I shan’t allow them to be admitted.

TOXILUS

(apart.)

But then at night they’ll be singing ¹ before your threshold, and be burning down your door;

do you at once order your house to be fastened with a door of iron ² , change for a house of iron, fix in thresholds of iron, a bar of iron and a ring; if you don’t prove sparing of the iron, do you order thick fetters of iron to be rivetted upon yourself.

570

DORDALUS

(apart.)

Away to utter perdition!

TOXILUS

(pushing him.)

Go then, make purchase of her, and follow my advice.

DORDALUS

(apart.)

Only let me know how much he asks for her.

575

TOXILUS

(apart.)

Should you like me to call him here?

DORDALUS

(apart.)

I’ll go to him.

TOXILUS

(accosting him.)

How fare you, guest?

SAGARISTIO

I’m come; I’ve brought her (pointing to the DAMSEL.) as I just now said I would. For yesterday at night the ship arrived in harbour: I want her to be sold, if she can; if she cannot, I intend to go away from here as soon as I can.

DORDALUS

Greetings to you, young man.

SAGARISTIO

If indeed I shall dispose of her at her own price—

TOXILUS

(pointing to DORDALUS.)

Why, you’ll either sell her handsomely with him for your purchaser, or you can to no one.

580

SAGARISTIO

Are you a friend of his?

TOXILUS

In the same measure as all the Divinities who inhabit the heavens.

DORDALUS

Then you are an assured enemy to me; for to the race of procurers no God was ever so kind as to prove propitious.

SAGARISTIO

Attend to the business in hand. Have you any need to purchase her?

DORDALUS

If you have need for her to be sold,

I, too, have need to purchase her; if you have no sudden occasion to sell, just in the same degree have I to buy.

585

SAGARISTIO

State a sum; name a price.

DORDALUS

The commodity is your own; it’s for you to name a sum.

TOXILUS

(to SAGARISTIO.)

He asks what’s right.

SAGARISTIO

Do you wish to buy at a bargain?

DORDALUS

Do you wish to sell at a handsome profit?

TOXILUS

I’ faith, I’m sure that both of you would like to do so.

DORDALUS

Come, boldly name your price.

SAGARISTIO

I tell you beforehand; no one will dispose of her to you on warranty. Do you so understand it, then?

DORDALUS

I understand it.

Declare what’s the lowest price at which you’ll offer her, for which she may be taken by the purchaser.

590

TOXILUS

Hold your tongue, hold your tongue. Really, upon my faith, you are a very simple man, with your childish ways.

DORDALUS

Why so?

TOXILUS

Why because I wish you first to make enquiries of the damsel which relate to your interest.

DORDALUS

And really, upon my faith, you’ve given me no bad advice. Look at that, will you. I, an experienced Procurer, had almost fallen into the pit,

if you had not been here. How important a point it is to have a person your friend at hand when you are about anything.

595

TOXILUS

I want you to make enquiry of her, of what family or in what country she was born, or of what parents, so that you mayn’t say that you’ve bought her at hazard by my persuasion or suggestion.

DORDALUS

On the contrary, I approve of your counsel, I tell you.

TOXILUS

(to SAGARISTIO.)

Unless it’s troublesome, he’s desirous to make a few enquiries of her.

SAGARISTIO

By all means;

at his own pleasure.

600

TOXILUS

(to DORDALUS.)

Why do you delay? Go to him yourself; and do you yourself ask him as well, that you may be allowed to make such enquiries as you please; although he has told me that he gives permission to do so of her, still I had rather that you yourself should go to him, that he mayn’t be holding you in contempt.

DORDALUS

You give me very proper advice. (Accosting SAGARISTIO.) Stranger, I should like to ask some questions of her.

(Pointing to the YOUNG WOMAN.)

SAGARISTIO

From earth to heaven, whatever you like.

DORDALUS

Just bid her to step this way to me.

605

SAGARISTIO

(to the YOUNG WOMAN.)

Go you, then, and humour him. (To DORDALUS.) Make enquiry, question her, just as you please.

TOXILUS

(to DORDALUS.)

Well, well ³ , get on then; make your preparations. (Aside to the YOUNG WOMAN.) Take you care to commence with a good omen.

DAUGHTER

The auspices are favourable.

TOXILUS

(Aside to the YOUNG WOMAN.)

Hold your tongue. ⁴ (To DORDALUS.) Step you aside here; I will now conduct her to you.

DORDALUS

Do what you think is most for my interest.

TOXILUS

(to the YOUNG WOMAN, who advances with him.)

Follow me. (To DORDALUS.) I’ve brought her, if you are wishful to make any enquiries of her.

DORDALUS

But I want you to be present.

TOXILUS

I cannot do otherwise than pay attention to this stranger (pointing to SAGARISTIO.) whom my master bade me show courtesy to. What if he doesn’t choose that I should be present together with you?

SAGARISTIO

Yes, but do come.

TOXILUS

(to DORDALUS.)

I’ll lend you my assistance, then.

DORDALUS

You’re lending it yourself as well when you are assisting your friend.

TOXILUS

Examine her. (Aside to the YOUNG WOMAN.) Hark you, be on your guard.

615

DAUGHTER

(aside.)

Enough has been said to me. (Aloud.) Although I am a slave, I know my duty, so that whatever he asks I’ll tell the truth as I have heard it.

TOXILUS

(pointing to DORDALUS.)

Young woman, this is an honorable man.

DAUGHTER

I believe you.

TOXILUS

You’ll not be long in servitude with him.

DAUGHTER

I’ faith, and so I trust, if my parents do their duty.

DORDALUS

I do not wish you to be surprised, if we make enquiries of you

about either your country or your parents.

620

DAUGHTER

Why should I be surprised at that, my dear sir? My state of servitude has forbidden me to be surprised at any misfortune of my own.

TOXILUS

(aside.)

May the Gods confound her! so cunning and crafty is she. She has got shrewd sense: how readily she does say what’s needed.

DORDALUS

What’s your name?

TOXILUS

(aside.)

Now I’m afraid she’ll be tripping.

DAUGHTER

My name was Lucris ⁵ in my own country.

TOXILUS

The name and the omen are worth any price. Why don’t you make purchase of her? (Aside.) I was greatly afraid that she would be tripping. She has got herself free.

625

DORDALUS

If I make purchase of you, I trust that you’ll prove Lucris to myself as well.

TOXILUS

If you do make purchase of her, never, on my word, do I think that she’ll remain your slave throughout the month.

DORDALUS

And so indeed I’d hope, i’ faith.

TOXILUS

That what you wish may come to pass, employ your own energies.

(Aside.) In nothing even as yet has she made a slip.

630

DORDALUS

Where were you born?

DAUGHTER

According to what my mother told me,in the kitchen ⁶ , in a corner on the left hand.

TOXILUS

(to DORDALUS.)

This woman will prove a lucky Courtesan for you; she has been born in a warm spot, where full oft there is an abundance of all good things. (Aside.) The Procurer was taken in when he asked where she was born.

She has played him off nicely.

635

DORDALUS

But I ask of you, what is your country?

DAUGHTER

What should be mine but that where I now am?

DORDALUS

But this I’m asking, what was?

DAUGHTER

Everything that was, do I consider as nothing, since it was, and is not now. Just like a man when he has breathed forth his spirit; why enquire of him who he was?

TOXILUS

(aside.)

So may the Deities kindly favour me, right cleverly. And yet I really do pity her.

DORDALUS

But still, young woman, come, tell me at once which is your country? Why are you silent?

640

DAUGHTER

For my part, I really am telling you my country. Since I’m in servitude here, this is my country.

TOXILUS

Do cease now making enquiries about that. Don’t you see that she’s unwilling to declare, lest you should recall to her the remembrance of her misfortunes?

DORDALUS

What’s the matter? Is your father in captivity?

DAUGHTER

Not in captivity; but what he had, he has lost.

TOXILUS

She will prove to be born of a good family; she knows how to say nothing but the truth.

645

DORDALUS

Who was he? Tell me his name?

DAUGHTER

Why should I tell of him, wretched man, who he was? For the present ’twere proper for him to be called Miserable, and me Miserable.

DORDALUS

What kind of a person was he considered by the public?

DAUGHTER

Not a person more acceptable; slaves and free persons all liked him.

TOXILUS

You do speak of a miserable man,

inasmuch as he’s almost lost himself, and has lost his friends.

650

DORDALUS

I shall purchase her, I think.

TOXILUS

What, still I think?

DORDALUS

I imagine that she’s of a noble family. ⁷

TOXILUS

You’ll make riches by her.

DORDALUS

May the Gods grant it so.

TOXILUS

Do you only buy her.

DAUGHTER

Now this I tell you: my father will be here directly, when he knows that I’ve been sold, and will ransom me thus separated from him.

TOXILUS

What say you now?

DORDALUS

What’s the matter?

TOXILUS

Do you hear what she says?

655

DAUGHTER

For although his fortunes are broken, he still has friends.

(Pretends to cry.)

DORDALUS

Don’t weep, please; you’ll soon be at liberty, if—you have sweethearts enough ⁸ . Would you like to belong to me?

DAUGHTER

So long, indeed, as I don’t belong to you too long. I’d like.

TOXILUS

How well she does keep in mind her liberty. She’ll be producing you fine hauls. About it, if you are about it. I’ll go back to him. (To the YOUNG WOMAN.) Do you follow me. (To SAGARISTIO) I’ve brought her back to you.

DORDALUS

Young man, are you disposed to sell her?

660

SAGARISTIO

I’d like it, rather than lose her.

DORDALUS

Do you compress it then into a few words; state the price at which she’s offered.

SAGARISTIO

I’ll do so, as I see you wish it. Take her for a hundred minae.

DORDALUS

That’s too much.

SAGARISTIO

For eighty.

DORDALUS

That’s too much.

SAGARISTIO

There can’t a didrachm be abated from the price which I shall now name.

DORDALUS

What is it, then? Speak out at once and name it.

SAGARISTIO

At your own risk, she’s offered at sixty minae.

665

DORDALUS

Toxilus, what am I to do?

TOXILUS

(aside to DORDALUS.)

The Gods and Goddesses are pursuing you with their vengeance, you rogue, for not making haste to purchase her.

DORDALUS

Take them, then.

TOXILUS

Well done, you have got a rich prize! Be off, and fetch the money out here. On my faith, she’s not dear at three hundred minae.

SAGARISTIO

Hark you, for her clothing there’ll be ten minae added to this as well.

DORDALUS

Yes, be deducted, not added.

670

TOXILUS

Do hold your tongue, will you; don’t you see that he’s seeking an excuse to have the bargain broken? Why don’t you be off and fetch the money?

DORDALUS

(to TOXILUS, as he is going.)

Hark you, do you keep an eye upon him.

TOXILUS

Why don’t you then go in?

DORDALUS

I’ll go and fetch the money.

(Goes into his house.)