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1357
(Enter GRIPUS, followed by DAEMONES, with the wallet.)
GRIPUS
Follow this way.
Where is this Procurer?
Hark you
(to LABRAX), see now; this person
(pointing at DAEMONES) has got your wallet.
Follow this way.
Where is this Procurer?
Hark you
(to LABRAX), see now; this person
(pointing at DAEMONES) has got your wallet.
DAEMONES
I have got it, and I confess that it is in my possession; and if it’s yours, you may have it. Everything, just as each particular was in it, shall in like manner be given safe to you.
(Holding it out.) Take it, if it’s yours.
1360
I have got it, and I confess that it is in my possession; and if it’s yours, you may have it. Everything, just as each particular was in it, shall in like manner be given safe to you.
(Holding it out.) Take it, if it’s yours.
1360
LABRAX
Immortal Gods, it is mine.
(Takes it.) Welcome, dear wallet.
Immortal Gods, it is mine.
(Takes it.) Welcome, dear wallet.
DAEMONES
Is it yours?
Is it yours?
LABRAX
Do you ask the question? If indeed, I’ faith, it were in Jove’s possession, still it is my own.
Do you ask the question? If indeed, I’ faith, it were in Jove’s possession, still it is my own.
DAEMONES
Everything in it is safe; there has only been one casket taken out of it, with some trinkets, by means of which this day I have found my daughter.
Everything in it is safe; there has only been one casket taken out of it, with some trinkets, by means of which this day I have found my daughter.
LABRAX
What person?
What person?
DAEMONES
Palaestra, who was your property, she has been discovered to be my own daughter.
Palaestra, who was your property, she has been discovered to be my own daughter.
LABRAX
By my troth, it has happily turned out so; since this matter has happened so fortunately for you according to your wishes, I’m rejoiced.
1365
By my troth, it has happily turned out so; since this matter has happened so fortunately for you according to your wishes, I’m rejoiced.
1365
DAEMONES
In that I don’t readily believe you.
In that I don’t readily believe you.
LABRAX
Aye, by my faith, that you may be sure that I’m rejoiced, you shan’t give me three obols for her; I excuse you.
Aye, by my faith, that you may be sure that I’m rejoiced, you shan’t give me three obols for her; I excuse you.
DAEMONES
I’ faith, you are acting kindly.
I’ faith, you are acting kindly.
LABRAX
No, troth; it’s really yourself, indeed, that’s doing so.
(Going off with the wallet.)
No, troth; it’s really yourself, indeed, that’s doing so.
GRIPUS
Hark you, you’ve got the wallet now.
Hark you, you’ve got the wallet now.
LABRAX
I have got it.
1370
I have got it.
1370
GRIPUS
Make haste.
Make haste.
LABRAX
Make haste about what?
Make haste about what?
GRIPUS
To pay me the money.
To pay me the money.
LABRAX
By my troth, I’ll neither give you anything nor do I owe you anything.
By my troth, I’ll neither give you anything nor do I owe you anything.
GRIPUS
What mode of proceeding is this? Don’t you owe it me?
What mode of proceeding is this? Don’t you owe it me?
LABRAX
Troth, not I indeed.
Troth, not I indeed.
GRIPUS
Didn’t you promise it me upon your oath?
Didn’t you promise it me upon your oath?
LABRAX
I did take an oath, and now I’ll take an oath, if it is in any way my own pleasure; oaths were invented for preserving property, not for losing it.
I did take an oath, and now I’ll take an oath, if it is in any way my own pleasure; oaths were invented for preserving property, not for losing it.
GRIPUS
Give me, will you, a great talent of silver, you most perjured fellow.
1375
Give me, will you, a great talent of silver, you most perjured fellow.
1375
DAEMONES
Gripus, what talent is it you are asking him for?
Gripus, what talent is it you are asking him for?
GRIPUS
He promised it me on oath.
He promised it me on oath.
LABRAX
I chose to swear;
(turning to DAEMONES) are you the priest
1
as to my perjury?
I chose to swear;
(turning to DAEMONES) are you the priest
1
as to my perjury?
DAEMONES
(to GRIPUS.)
For what reason did he promise you the money?
For what reason did he promise you the money?
GRIPUS
If I restored this wallet into his hands, he swore that he would give
me a great talent of silver.
1380
If I restored this wallet into his hands, he swore that he would give
me a great talent of silver.
1380
LABRAX
Find me a person with whom I may go to the judge, to decide whether you did not make the bargain with wicked fraudulence, and whether I am yet five-and-twenty years old
2
.
Find me a person with whom I may go to the judge, to decide whether you did not make the bargain with wicked fraudulence, and whether I am yet five-and-twenty years old
2
.
GRIPUS
(pointing to DAEMONES.)
Go to the judge with him.
Go to the judge with him.
LABRAX
No; I must have some other person.
No; I must have some other person.
DAEMONES
(to LABRAX.)
Then I shan’t allow you to take it away from him, unless I shall have found him guilty. Did you promise him the money?
Then I shan’t allow you to take it away from him, unless I shall have found him guilty. Did you promise him the money?
LABRAX
I confess it.
I confess it.
DAEMONES
What you promised my slave
must needs be my own. Don’t you be supposing, Procurer, that you are to be using your pimping honesty here. That can’t be.
1385
What you promised my slave
must needs be my own. Don’t you be supposing, Procurer, that you are to be using your pimping honesty here. That can’t be.
1385
GRIPUS
(to LABRAX.)
Did you fancy now that you had got hold of a person whom you might cheat? It must be paid down here
(holding his hand), good silver coin; I shall, at once, pay it to him
(pointing to DAEMONES), so that he may give me my liberty.
Did you fancy now that you had got hold of a person whom you might cheat? It must be paid down here
(holding his hand), good silver coin; I shall, at once, pay it to him
(pointing to DAEMONES), so that he may give me my liberty.
DAEMONES
Inasmuch, therefore, as I have acted courteously towards you, and by my means these things
(pointing to the wallet) have been saved for you—
Inasmuch, therefore, as I have acted courteously towards you, and by my means these things
(pointing to the wallet) have been saved for you—
GRIPUS
I’ faith, by my means, rather; don’t say by yours.
I’ faith, by my means, rather; don’t say by yours.
DAEMONES
(to GRIPUS.)
If you are prudent you’ll hold your tongue.
(To LABRAX.) Then it befits you in a like courteous manner kindly to return the obligation to myself, who so well merit the same.
If you are prudent you’ll hold your tongue.
(To LABRAX.) Then it befits you in a like courteous manner kindly to return the obligation to myself, who so well merit the same.
LABRAX
You are pleading, of course, for my right?
You are pleading, of course, for my right?
DAEMONES
(ironically.)
It would be a wonder if I didn’t, at a loss to myself, ask you to forego your right.
It would be a wonder if I didn’t, at a loss to myself, ask you to forego your right.
GRIPUS
(aside.)
I’m all right; the Procurer’s giving way; my freedom is at hand.
I’m all right; the Procurer’s giving way; my freedom is at hand.
DAEMONES
(pointing to GRIPUS.)
He found this wallet; he is my slave. I therefore have preserved this for you, together with a large sum of money.
1395
He found this wallet; he is my slave. I therefore have preserved this for you, together with a large sum of money.
1395
LABRAX
I return you thanks, and with regard to the talent that I promised on oath to him, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t receive it.
I return you thanks, and with regard to the talent that I promised on oath to him, there’s no reason that you shouldn’t receive it.
GRIPUS
Hark you, give it me then, if you are wise.
Hark you, give it me then, if you are wise.
DAEMONES
(to GRIPUS.)
Will you hold your tongue, or not?
Will you hold your tongue, or not?
GRIPUS
You pretend to be acting on my side: I tell you
by my troth, you shan’t do me out of that, if I did lose the other booty
3
.
1400
You pretend to be acting on my side: I tell you
by my troth, you shan’t do me out of that, if I did lose the other booty
3
.
1400
DAEMONES
You shall have a beating if you add a single word.
You shall have a beating if you add a single word.
GRIPUS
Troth now, do you kill me even; I’ll never be silent on any terms, unless my mouth is shut with the talent.
Troth now, do you kill me even; I’ll never be silent on any terms, unless my mouth is shut with the talent.
LABRAX
For yourself, in fact, is he using his exertions; do hold your tongue.
For yourself, in fact, is he using his exertions; do hold your tongue.
DAEMONES
Step this way, Procurer.
Step this way, Procurer.
LABRAX
Very well.
(They walk on one side.)
Very well.
GRIPUS
Proceed openly; I don’t want any whisperings or mumblings to be going on.
Proceed openly; I don’t want any whisperings or mumblings to be going on.
DAEMONES
Tell me, at what price did you buy that other young woman, Ampelisca?
1405
Tell me, at what price did you buy that other young woman, Ampelisca?
1405
LABRAX
I paid down a thousand didrachms.
I paid down a thousand didrachms.
DAEMONES
Should you like me to make you a handsome offer?
Should you like me to make you a handsome offer?
LABRAX
I should like it much.
I should like it much.
DAEMONES
I’ll divide the talent.
I’ll divide the talent.
LABRAX
You act fairly.
You act fairly.
DAEMONES
For that other woman Ampelisca, that she may be free, take you one half, and give the other half to him.
For that other woman Ampelisca, that she may be free, take you one half, and give the other half to him.
LABRAX
By all means.
1410
By all means.
1410
DAEMONES
For that half I’ll give his freedom to Gripus, by means of whom you found your wallet, and I my daughter.
For that half I’ll give his freedom to Gripus, by means of whom you found your wallet, and I my daughter.
LABRAX
You act fairly; I return you many thanks.
(They return to GRIPUS.)
You act fairly; I return you many thanks.
GRIPUS
How soon then is the money to be returned to me?
How soon then is the money to be returned to me?
DAEMONES
The money’s paid, Gripus; I’ve got it.
The money’s paid, Gripus; I’ve got it.
GRIPUS
You, faith; but I had rather it were myself.
You, faith; but I had rather it were myself.
DAEMONES
I’ faith, there’s nothing for you here, so don’t you be expecting it. I wish you to release him from his oath.
I’ faith, there’s nothing for you here, so don’t you be expecting it. I wish you to release him from his oath.
GRIPUS
(aside.)
Troth, I’m undone; if I don’t hang myself
4
, I’m utterly done for.
(Aloud.) I’ faith, after this day you certainly shall never be cheating me again.
Troth, I’m undone; if I don’t hang myself
4
, I’m utterly done for.
(Aloud.) I’ faith, after this day you certainly shall never be cheating me again.
DAEMONES
Dine here to-day, Procurer.
Dine here to-day, Procurer.
LABRAX
Be it so; the proposal is to my taste.
Be it so; the proposal is to my taste.
DAEMONES
Do you both follow me in-doors.
(He comes forward and addresses the AUDIENCE.) Spectators, I would invite you to dinner as well, were it not that I’m going to give nothing, and that there is no good cheer at all at home;
and if, too, I didn’t believe that you are invited to dinner elsewhere. But if you shall be willing to give hearty applause to this Play, do you all come to make merry at my house some sixteen years hence. Do you
(to LABRAX and GRIPUS) both dine here with me to-day.
1420
Do you both follow me in-doors.
(He comes forward and addresses the AUDIENCE.) Spectators, I would invite you to dinner as well, were it not that I’m going to give nothing, and that there is no good cheer at all at home;
and if, too, I didn’t believe that you are invited to dinner elsewhere. But if you shall be willing to give hearty applause to this Play, do you all come to make merry at my house some sixteen years hence. Do you
(to LABRAX and GRIPUS) both dine here with me to-day.
1420
GRIPUS
Be it so.
Be it so.
An ACTOR
(To the AUDIENCE)
Now give us your applause.
5
Now give us your applause.
5
Rudens. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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