T. Maccius Plautus Poenulus 5.4

ADELPHASIUM

’Twas worth the while, to-day, of him who has a taste for loveliness

to afford a feast to his eyes, in coming hither to the Temple this day to see the sights. Upon my faith, I was charmed there to-day with the most elegant offerings of the courtesans, worthy of Venus, the most handsome Goddess; nor did I despise her worship this day; so great an abundance of beauteous objects was there there, each nicely arranged in its own place.

1175

The odours of Arabia and of myrrh filled everything. The festive day seemed to be affected with no gloom, Venus, nor did thy Temple; so great a throng of her dependants was there, who had come to Venus of Calydon.

ANTERASTYLIS

But certainly, as far indeed as regarded us two, sister, we were all-powerful in our prayers, beauteous and gainers of her favour; neither were we there held in ridicule by the young men, which, i’ faith, sister, happened to all the rest.

ADELPHASIUM

I’d rather that it should so appear to other persons, than that you, sister, should praise yourself.

ANTERASTYLIS

Indeed, I trust so.

1185

ADELPHASIUM

Troth, and so do I, when I reflect of what breeding we and the others are. We were born in that station, that it befits us to be unblemished by faultiness.

HANNO

(apart.)

Jupiter, who dost preserve and feed the race of men, through whom we pass this mortal life, in whose hands are the hopes of life in all men, prithee, do grant this day as a prosperous one

for my fortunes! Those whom I’ve missed for many years,

and whom when little I lost from their native land, to them restore their liberty, that I may be sure that for an indomitable sense of duty there is a reward.

1190

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

I’ll engage that Jove shall do it all; for to me he is indebted ¹ , and stands in awe of me.

HANNO

(apart.)

Prithee, do hold your peace.

(He weeps.)

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

Kinsman, do not weep.

ANTERASTYLIS

(apart.)

As it is a pleasure for a man, my sister, if he succeeds in anything, to have the credit of victory, just so did we this day among the rest excel them all in beauty.

ADELPHASIUM

Sister, you are more silly than I could wish. Prithee, do you really think yourself a beauty,

if your face has not been besmeared with soot ² ?

1195

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

O kinsman! O kinsman, dearest of all kinsmen ³ to me!

HANNO

(apart.)

What is it, son of my cousin? My son, tell me, what is it you wish?

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

Why, really, I do wish you to attend to this.

HANNO

(apart.)

Why, really, I am attending to it.

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

Kinsman, kinsman, dearest of all kinsmen to me!

HANNO

(apart.)

What’s the matter?

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

She’s a clever and a nice girl. How shrewd she is!

HANNO

(apart.)

She has her father’s disposition in being shrewd.

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

How’s that? This long time, i’ faith, she has surely used up your shrewdness.

’Tis from here (pointing to himself) she now derives her shrewdness; ’tis from here her sense; whatever she does shrewdly, through my love does she act so shrewdly.

1200

ADELPHASIUM

We are not born of that rank, although we are slaves, sister, that it should befit us to do anything which any man may laugh at. Many are the faults of women; but of the many, this one is the greatest, to please themselves too much, and to give their attention too little to pleasing the men.

ANTERASTYLIS

It was a very great delight that was portended in our sacrifice of the entrails, sister, and what the soothsayer said about us both—

1205

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

I wish he had said something about me!

ANTERASTYLIS

That we should be free in a few days, in spite of our owner. I don’t know why I should hope for that, unless the Gods or our parents do something.

AGORASTOCLES

(apart.)

’Twas through confidence in me ⁴ , kinsman, upon my faith, that the soothsayer promised them

liberty, I’m sure of it, because he knows I’m in love with her.

1210

ADELPHASIUM

Sister, follow me this way.

(Moves as if going.)

ANTERASTYLIS

I follow.

(Moves also.)

HANNO

(stepping forward.)

Before you go away ⁵ , I want you both. Unless it’s inconvenient, stop.

ADELPHASIUM

Who’s calling us back?

AGORASTOCLES

One who wishes to do you a kindness.

ADELPHASIUM

There’s opportunity for doing it. But who is the person?

AGORASTOCLES

A friend of yours.

ADELPHASIUM

One who is not an enemy, in fact.

AGORASTOCLES

This is a good man, my love.

ADELPHASIUM

I’ faith, I should prefer him rather than a bad one.

AGORASTOCLES

If, indeed, friendship must be engaged in, with such a person ought it to be engaged in.

1215

ADELPHASIUM

I don’t beg for it.

AGORASTOCLES

He wishes to do you many services.

ADELPHASIUM

Being good yourself you will be doing good to the good.

HANNO

I will cause you joy—

ADELPHASIUM

And, i’ faith, we pleasure to you.

HANNO

And liberty.

ADELPHASIUM

At that price you’ll easily make us your own.

AGORASTOCLES

My kinsman, so may the Gods bless me, if I were Jupiter,

upon my faith I’d at once marry her for my wife, and pack Juno out of doors. How quietly did she utter her words, how considerately and becomingly! how modestly did she frame her speech! certainly she is my own!

1220

HANNO

(apart to AGORASTOCLES.)

But how skilfully I accosted her!

AGORASTOCLES

Cleverly and becomingly, upon my faith.

HANNO

Am I still to go on testing them?

AGORASTOCLES

Compress it in a few words; the people who are sitting here are getting thirsty ⁶ .

HANNO

Well, why don’t we proceed to do that which was to be done? (To the WOMEN.) I summon you to justice.

1225

AGORASTOCLES

Seize hold of this one, kinsman, if you are wise. Should you like me to catch hold of her?

ADELPHASIUM

Is this person your kinsman, Agorastocles?

AGORASTOCLES

I’ll soon let you know. Now, by my word, I’ll be nicely revenged on you; for I’ll make—you my bride.

HANNO

Come before a court of justice; don’t delay!

AGORASTOCLES

Summon me as your witness ⁷ , and take me; I’ll be a witness for you; and after that, her (pointing to ADELPHASIUM) will I love and embrace. But ’twas this, indeed, I intended to say—why yes, I did say that which I intended to say.

1230

HANNO

(to the DAMSELS.)

You are lingering. I summon you to justice, unless it is more becoming for you to be dragged thither.

ADELPHASIUM

Why do you summon us to justice? What are we in your debt?

AGORASTOCLES

He’ll tell it there.

ADELPHASIUM

Are even my own dogs barking at me?

AGORASTOCLES

Then, troth, do you caress me;

give me a kiss in place of a piece of meat; present your lips in place of a bone ⁸ : that way I’ll render this dog more smooth for you than oil.

1235

HANNO

Come on, if you are coming.

ADELPHASIUM

What have we done to you?

HANNO

You are thieves, both of you.

ADELPHASIUM

What, we, as regards you?

HANNO

You, I say.

AGORASTOCLES

And I know it.

ADELPHASIUM

What theft is this?

AGORASTOCLES

Enquire of him.

HANNO

Because for many years you have been concealing my daughters from me,

and, in fact, persons free-born, and free, and born of the highest rank.

1240

ADELPHASIUM

I’ faith, you’ll never find that villany to have been committed by us.

AGORASTOCLES

Make a bet of a kiss now, if you are not forsworn, which is to give it to the other.

ADELPHASIUM

I’ve nothing to do with you; prithee, get you gone.

AGORASTOCLES

But, i’ faith, I’ve got something to do with you; for he is my kinsman; it’s necessary for me to be his advocate.

And I’ll inform him how you are guilty of many a theft, and in what way you have got his daughters as slaves at your house, whom you know to be free women stolen from their native land.

1245

ADELPHASIUM

Where are these, or who are they, prithee?

AGORASTOCLES

(aside to HANNO.)

They have been teased sufficiently.

HANNO

(aside.)

Why not speak out, then?

AGORASTOCLES

(aside.)

I’ faith, I’m of that opinion, kinsman.

ADELPHASIUM

I’m dreadfully afraid

what this business can mean, my sister; so astounded am I, I stand here without my senses.

1250

HANNO

Damsels, give me your attention. In the first place, if it could possibly come to pass, for the Gods not to send upon the innocent what is undeserved, that could I have wished to happen; now for the good the Gods bestow upon me, upon yourselves and upon your nurse ⁹ , ’tis due that we should give to the Deities our endless thanks,

since the immortal Gods approve and reward our piety. You are my daughters, both of you, and this is your relation, Agorastocles, the son of my cousin.

1255

ADELPHASIUM

Prithee, are they deluding us with imaginary joys?

AGORASTOCLES

Really, so may the Deities preserve me, this is your father. Give him your hands.

ADELPHASIUM

(embracing him.)

Welcome, father! unhoped-for by us, allow us to embrace you!

ANTERASTYLIS

(embracing him.)

Welcome, father! much wished and longed for!

We are both your daughters;

we both embrace you.

AGORASTOCLES

Who’ll be for embracing me in the next place?

HANNO

Now am I happy! Now with this delight do I allay the miseries of many a year.

ADELPHASIUM

We hardly seem to believe this.

HANNO

I’ll tell you something to make you believe it the more:

why, it was your nurse who recognized me first.

1265

ADELPHASIUM

Prithee, where is she?

HANNO

(pointing to AGORASTOCLES.)

She’s at his house.

AGORASTOCLES

(to ADELPHASIUM, who is embracing her father .)

Pray, why does it please you to clasp his neck so long,

before he has betrothed you to me?

Dear one, much longed-for, blessings on you!

(He embraces her.)

ADELPHASIUM

(struggling.)

Do leave off your salutations!

AGORASTOCLES

I will leave off.

And you the other one. ¹⁰

(To ANTERASTYLIS, whom he embraces.

ANTERASTYLIS

(struggling.)

I don’t want that; ¹¹ you torment me to death!

HANNO

Let us each clasp the other in our arms,

than whom is there anything on earth more happy?

1270

AGORASTOCLES

Blessings befall the deserving.

(Pointing to HANNO.) At last his wishes are realized!

O Apelles! O Zeuxis ¹² the painter! why did you die too soon? Would that you could paint a subject after this! For I don’t care for other common painters to be treating subjects of this description.

HANNO

Gods and Goddesses all! I return you deservedly extreme thanks,

for having blest me with this gladness so supreme and with these joys so great; as my daughters have returned to me and into my possession.

1275

ADELPHASIUM

My father, your own piety has clearly come to our aid.

AGORASTOCLES

Kinsman, take care and keep it in memory that you’ve betrothed your elder daughter to me—

HANNO

I remember it.

AGORASTOCLES

The portion, too, that you promised.