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559
(Enter SCEPARNIO, from the Temple.)
SCEPARNIO
(to himself, aloud.)
What to-do is this, I’d like to know, that two young women
here in the Temple, in tears, are holding in their embrace the statue of Venus, dreading I know not what in their wretchedness? But they say that this last night they have been tossed about, and to-day cast on shore from the waves.
560
What to-do is this, I’d like to know, that two young women
here in the Temple, in tears, are holding in their embrace the statue of Venus, dreading I know not what in their wretchedness? But they say that this last night they have been tossed about, and to-day cast on shore from the waves.
560
LABRAX
(overhearing.)
Troth now, young man, prithee, where are these young women that you are talking of?
Troth now, young man, prithee, where are these young women that you are talking of?
SCEPARNIO
Here
(pointing) in the Temple of Venus.
Here
(pointing) in the Temple of Venus.
LABRAX
How many are there?
How many are there?
SCEPARNIO
Just as many as you and I make.
Just as many as you and I make.
LABRAX
Surely, they are mine.
565
Surely, they are mine.
565
SCEPARNIO
Surely, I know nothing about that.
Surely, I know nothing about that.
LABRAX
Of what appearance are they?
Of what appearance are they?
SCEPARNIO
Good-looking; I could even fall in love with either of them, if I were well liquored.
Good-looking; I could even fall in love with either of them, if I were well liquored.
LABRAX
Surely, they are the damsels.
Surely, they are the damsels.
SCEPARNIO
Surely, you are a nuisance; be off, go in and see, if you like.
Surely, you are a nuisance; be off, go in and see, if you like.
LABRAX
These must be my wenches in here, my dear Charmides.
These must be my wenches in here, my dear Charmides.
CHARMIDES
Jupiter confound you, both if they are and still if they are not.
Jupiter confound you, both if they are and still if they are not.
LABRAX
I’ll straightway burst into this Temple of Venus here.
570
I’ll straightway burst into this Temple of Venus here.
570
CHARMIDES
Into the bottomless pit, I would rather.
(LABRAX rushes into the Temple, and shuts the door.) Prithee, stranger, show me some spot where I may go to sleep.
Into the bottomless pit, I would rather.
(LABRAX rushes into the Temple, and shuts the door.) Prithee, stranger, show me some spot where I may go to sleep.
SCEPARNIO
Go to sleep there, wherever you please
(points to the ground); no one hinders, it’s free to the public.
Go to sleep there, wherever you please
(points to the ground); no one hinders, it’s free to the public.
CHARMIDES
(pointing to his clothes.)
But do you see me, in what wet clothes I’m dressed? Do take me under shelter; lend me some dry clothes,
while my own are drying; on some occasion I’ll return you the favour.
575
But do you see me, in what wet clothes I’m dressed? Do take me under shelter; lend me some dry clothes,
while my own are drying; on some occasion I’ll return you the favour.
575
SCEPARNIO
See, here’s my outer coat, which alone is dry; that, if you like, I’ll lend you.
(Takes it off and holds it out to him.) In that same I’m wont to be clothed, by that same protected, when it rains. Do you give me those clothes of yours; I’ll soon have them dried.
See, here’s my outer coat, which alone is dry; that, if you like, I’ll lend you.
(Takes it off and holds it out to him.) In that same I’m wont to be clothed, by that same protected, when it rains. Do you give me those clothes of yours; I’ll soon have them dried.
CHARMIDES
How now, are you afraid that, as I’ve been washed bare
1
last night at sea, I mayn’t be made bare again here upon shore?
How now, are you afraid that, as I’ve been washed bare
1
last night at sea, I mayn’t be made bare again here upon shore?
SCEPARNIO
Wash you bare, or anoint you well, I don’t care one fig
2
. I shall never entrust anything to you unless upon a pledge being taken. Do you either sweat away or perish with cold, be you either sick or well. I’ll put up with no stranger-guest in my house; I’ve had disagreements enough.
580
(Puts on his coat again, and goes into the house of DAEMONES.)
Wash you bare, or anoint you well, I don’t care one fig
2
. I shall never entrust anything to you unless upon a pledge being taken. Do you either sweat away or perish with cold, be you either sick or well. I’ll put up with no stranger-guest in my house; I’ve had disagreements enough.
580
CHARMIDES
What, are you off?
(A pause.) He’s a trafficker in slaves for money
3
; whoever he is,
he has no bowels
4
of compassion. But why in my wretchedness am I standing here, soaking? Why don’t I rather go away from here into the Temple of Venus, that I may sleep off this debauch which I got with drinking last night against the bent of my inclination? Neptune has been drenching us with salt water as though we were Greek wines
5
, and so he hoped that our stomachs might be vomited up with his salt draughts.
585
What need of words? If he had persisted in inviting us a little longer, we should have gone fast asleep there; as it is, hardly alive has he sent us off home. Now I’ll go see the Procurer, my boon companion, what he’s doing within.
590
(Goes into the Temple.)
What, are you off?
(A pause.) He’s a trafficker in slaves for money
3
; whoever he is,
he has no bowels
4
of compassion. But why in my wretchedness am I standing here, soaking? Why don’t I rather go away from here into the Temple of Venus, that I may sleep off this debauch which I got with drinking last night against the bent of my inclination? Neptune has been drenching us with salt water as though we were Greek wines
5
, and so he hoped that our stomachs might be vomited up with his salt draughts.
585
What need of words? If he had persisted in inviting us a little longer, we should have gone fast asleep there; as it is, hardly alive has he sent us off home. Now I’ll go see the Procurer, my boon companion, what he’s doing within.
590
Rudens. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
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