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615
(Enter LYCUS, from his house.)
LYCUS
(speaking to ANTHEMONIDES,
within .)
I’ll return here this moment, Captain. I wish to find us some fitting guests, to join us. Meanwhile, they’ll bring the entrails; and at the same time, the women, I suppose, will soon be making their appearance at home after the sacrifice. But why are such a number of people coming this way? I wonder what they are bringing?
615
He, too, in the scarf, that’s following at a distance, who is he, I wonder? He is not an Aetolian.
620
I’ll return here this moment, Captain. I wish to find us some fitting guests, to join us. Meanwhile, they’ll bring the entrails; and at the same time, the women, I suppose, will soon be making their appearance at home after the sacrifice. But why are such a number of people coming this way? I wonder what they are bringing?
615
He, too, in the scarf, that’s following at a distance, who is he, I wonder? He is not an Aetolian.
620
ADVOCATI
We greet you, Lycus. Although against our will, we give you this salutation, and although in a very moderate degree do we entertain good wishes for procurers.
We greet you, Lycus. Although against our will, we give you this salutation, and although in a very moderate degree do we entertain good wishes for procurers.
LYCUS
May you all be fortunate—a thing that I know for certain you neither will be, nor will Fortune permit it so to be.
May you all be fortunate—a thing that I know for certain you neither will be, nor will Fortune permit it so to be.
ADVOCATI
That is a treasure hoarded in the tongues of fools, to deem it gainful to speak amiss to their superiors.
625
That is a treasure hoarded in the tongues of fools, to deem it gainful to speak amiss to their superiors.
625
LYCUS
He who knows not the road by which to arrive at the sea, him it befits to seek a river as his own companion. I know not the way of speaking abusively to you.
Now you are the rivers to me; you I’m resolved to follow. If you speak blessings, along your banks I’ll follow you; if you utter curses, along your track I’ll go.
630
He who knows not the road by which to arrive at the sea, him it befits to seek a river as his own companion. I know not the way of speaking abusively to you.
Now you are the rivers to me; you I’m resolved to follow. If you speak blessings, along your banks I’ll follow you; if you utter curses, along your track I’ll go.
630
ADVOCATI
To do good to the bad is a danger just as great as to do bad to the good.
To do good to the bad is a danger just as great as to do bad to the good.
LYCUS
But why?
But why?
ADVOCATI
You shall learn.
If you do any good to the bad, the benefit is lost: if you do any bad to the good, it lasts for a length of time.
635
You shall learn.
If you do any good to the bad, the benefit is lost: if you do any bad to the good, it lasts for a length of time.
635
LYCUS
Cleverly said! But what does that matter to me?
Cleverly said! But what does that matter to me?
ADVOCATI
Because for the sake of your own well-doing we came hither, although in a very moderate degree do we entertain good wishes for procurers.
Because for the sake of your own well-doing we came hither, although in a very moderate degree do we entertain good wishes for procurers.
LYCUS
If you bring anything that’s good, I give you thanks.
640
If you bring anything that’s good, I give you thanks.
640
ADVOCATI
Of our own, we neither bring nor give you anything that’s good, nor do we promise you, nor, in fact, do we wish to give it.
Of our own, we neither bring nor give you anything that’s good, nor do we promise you, nor, in fact, do we wish to give it.
LYCUS
I’ faith, I do believe yon; such is your kindly feeling. But what now do you wish?
I’ faith, I do believe yon; such is your kindly feeling. But what now do you wish?
ADVOCATI
(pointing to COLLYBISCUS)
This person in the scarf, whom you see,
with him Mars is angered.
645
This person in the scarf, whom you see,
with him Mars is angered.
645
COLLYBISCUS
(aside, to himself.)
May he be so indeed with your own heads!
May he be so indeed with your own heads!
ADVOCATI
We are now bringing him here, Lycus, to you, for tearing asunder
1
.
We are now bringing him here, Lycus, to you, for tearing asunder
1
.
COLLYBISCUS
(aside, to himself.)
This huntsman,
myself, will be going home to-day with some spoil; the dogs are cleverly driving Lycus into the toils.
This huntsman,
myself, will be going home to-day with some spoil; the dogs are cleverly driving Lycus into the toils.
LYCUS
Who is this person?
Who is this person?
ADVOCATI
We really don’t know who he is, except that some time since, after daybreak, when we went down to the harbour,
at the same moment we saw him landing from a merchant-ship. Disembarking, he came up to us at once—he saluted us; we answered him.
650
We really don’t know who he is, except that some time since, after daybreak, when we went down to the harbour,
at the same moment we saw him landing from a merchant-ship. Disembarking, he came up to us at once—he saluted us; we answered him.
650
COLLYBISCUS
(aside.)
The artful fellows! how cleverly they do enter upon the plot!
The artful fellows! how cleverly they do enter upon the plot!
LYCUS
What after that?
655
What after that?
655
ADVOCATI
Then he joined in discourse with us: he said that he was a foreigner, unacquainted with this city: that he wanted a convenient place to be found here, for him to indulge his appetite. We brought the man to you; if the Gods are favourable to you, it’s an opportunity for you to ply your trade.
Then he joined in discourse with us: he said that he was a foreigner, unacquainted with this city: that he wanted a convenient place to be found here, for him to indulge his appetite. We brought the man to you; if the Gods are favourable to you, it’s an opportunity for you to ply your trade.
LYCUS
Is he eager to that degree?
660
Is he eager to that degree?
660
ADVOCATI
He has got gold.
He has got gold.
LYCUS
(aside.)
That booty is mine.
That booty is mine.
ADVOCATI
He wishes to drink
and wench.
He wishes to drink
and wench.
LYCUS
I’ll find him a nice place.
I’ll find him a nice place.
ADVOCATI
But still he wants to be quite private, in a quiet way, that no persons may know it, and that there may be no overlookers; for he has been a soldier in Sparta, as, indeed, he himself has told us, with King Attalus
2
;
from there he fled hither, when the town was surrendered.
665
But still he wants to be quite private, in a quiet way, that no persons may know it, and that there may be no overlookers; for he has been a soldier in Sparta, as, indeed, he himself has told us, with King Attalus
2
;
from there he fled hither, when the town was surrendered.
665
COLLYBISCUS
(aside.)
Very clever that, about the soldier! about Sparta, most capital!
Very clever that, about the soldier! about Sparta, most capital!
LYCUS
(in a low voice.)
May the Gods and Goddesses bestow many blessings on you, for having given me kindly information, and finding me a choice prey.
May the Gods and Goddesses bestow many blessings on you, for having given me kindly information, and finding me a choice prey.
ADVOCATI
Aye,
and, as he himself has told us, that you may receive him the better,
he has brought three hundred Philippean pieces as a provision.
670
Aye,
and, as he himself has told us, that you may receive him the better,
he has brought three hundred Philippean pieces as a provision.
670
LYCUS
I’m a king if I can to-day entice this man to my house.
I’m a king if I can to-day entice this man to my house.
ADVOCATI
Nay but, he really is your own.
Nay but, he really is your own.
LYCUS
By my troth, prithee, do persuade him to take up his abode at my house,
as the best lodging.
By my troth, prithee, do persuade him to take up his abode at my house,
as the best lodging.
ADVOCATI
It befit us neither to persuade nor to dissuade
a person who is a foreigner; you’ll transact your own business, if you are prudent. We have brought the ringdove for you, even to the trapping-ground; now it’s better for yourself to catch him, if you wish him to be caught.
675
(They move as if going.)
It befit us neither to persuade nor to dissuade
a person who is a foreigner; you’ll transact your own business, if you are prudent. We have brought the ringdove for you, even to the trapping-ground; now it’s better for yourself to catch him, if you wish him to be caught.
675
LYCUS
Are you going now?
Are you going now?
COLLYBISCUS
(to the ASSISTANTS.)
What about the matters that I commissioned you upon, strangers?
3
What about the matters that I commissioned you upon, strangers?
3
ADVOCATI
(pointing to LYCUS.)
It’s better for you, young sir, to speak to him about your own concerns;
he’s clever in those matters which you are enquiring about.
680
It’s better for you, young sir, to speak to him about your own concerns;
he’s clever in those matters which you are enquiring about.
680
COLLYBISCUS
(aside.)
But, for my part, I could like you to see when I deliver him the gold.
But, for my part, I could like you to see when I deliver him the gold.
ADVOCATI
(aside.)
At a distance there we shall be witnesses of that.
At a distance there we shall be witnesses of that.
COLLYBISCUS
(to the ASSISTANTS.)
You’ve given me kind assistance.
(The ASSISTANTS
go out of sight.
You’ve given me kind assistance.
LYCUS
(aside, so as to be heard.)
The profit comes to me.
The profit comes to me.
COLLYBISCUS
(aside, to himself.)
Age, just so, indeed, the way that the ass kicks
4
with his heels.
Age, just so, indeed, the way that the ass kicks
4
with his heels.
LYCUS
I’ll speak the fellow fairly.
(To COLLYBISCUS.) A stranger salutes a stranger; I’m glad that you have arrived in safety.
685
I’ll speak the fellow fairly.
(To COLLYBISCUS.) A stranger salutes a stranger; I’m glad that you have arrived in safety.
685
COLLYBISCUS
May the Deities grant you many blessings, since you wish me well.
May the Deities grant you many blessings, since you wish me well.
LYCUS
They say that you are in search of a lodging.
They say that you are in search of a lodging.
COLLYBISCUS
I am in search.
I am in search.
LYCUS
So those persons told me, who left me just now,
that you are in search of one that is
free from flies.
690
So those persons told me, who left me just now,
that you are in search of one that is
free from flies.
690
COLLYBISCUS
By no means in the world.
By no means in the world.
LYCUS
Why so?
Why so?
COLLYBISCUS
LYCUS
Upon my faith, for sure, I can provide you a charming one, if, indeed, you can put up with yourself being in a charming room, on a couch charmingly laid, a charming damsel cuddling you.
695
Upon my faith, for sure, I can provide you a charming one, if, indeed, you can put up with yourself being in a charming room, on a couch charmingly laid, a charming damsel cuddling you.
695
COLLYBISCUS
You are in the
right road, Procurer.
You are in the
right road, Procurer.
LYCUS
Where, with Leucadian, Lesbian, Thasian,
and Coan
wine
7
, toothless with old age
8
, you may soak yourself. There I’ll quite drench you with the effusion of unguents. Why many words? I’ll cause, when you’ve bathed, the bathkeeper to set up unguent-shop there. But
(speaking confidentially) all these things that I have mentioned let out their services for pay.
700
Where, with Leucadian, Lesbian, Thasian,
and Coan
wine
7
, toothless with old age
8
, you may soak yourself. There I’ll quite drench you with the effusion of unguents. Why many words? I’ll cause, when you’ve bathed, the bathkeeper to set up unguent-shop there. But
(speaking confidentially) all these things that I have mentioned let out their services for pay.
700
COLLYBISCUS
Why so?
705
Why so?
705
LYCUS
Because they demand ready money.
Because they demand ready money.
COLLYBISCUS
Why, upon my faith, you are not more ready to receive than I to give.
Why, upon my faith, you are not more ready to receive than I to give.
LYCUS
9
Why then follow me in-doors.
9
Why then follow me in-doors.
COLLYBISCUS
10
Lead me in-doors, then; you’ve got me devoted
to your will.
(The ASSISTANTS come forward. LYCUS and COLLYBISCUS go apart.)
10
Lead me in-doors, then; you’ve got me devoted
to your will.
ADVOCATI
(among themselves.)
What if we call Agorastocles hither out of doors, that he himself may be his own witness, past all exception?
(They go to the door of AGORASTOCLES
and call out, in a loud whisper. Hallo! you that are to catch the thief, come out quickly, that you yourself may witness him giving the gold to the Procurer.
What if we call Agorastocles hither out of doors, that he himself may be his own witness, past all exception?
(They go to the door of AGORASTOCLES
and call out, in a loud whisper. Hallo! you that are to catch the thief, come out quickly, that you yourself may witness him giving the gold to the Procurer.
Poenulus. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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