View:
By Line
839
(Enter PLESIDIPPUS and TRACHALIO, at a distance, on the other side of the stage.)
PLESIDIPPUS
And did the Procurer attempt by force and violence
to drag my mistress away from the altar of Venus?
840
And did the Procurer attempt by force and violence
to drag my mistress away from the altar of Venus?
840
TRACHALIO
Even so.
Even so.
PLESIDIPPUS
Why didn’t you kill him on the instant?
Why didn’t you kill him on the instant?
TRACHALIO
I hadn’t a sword.
I hadn’t a sword.
PLESIDIPPUS
You should have taken either a stick or a stone.
You should have taken either a stick or a stone.
TRACHALIO
What! ought I to have pelted this most villanous fellow with stones like a dog?
What! ought I to have pelted this most villanous fellow with stones like a dog?
LABRAX
(aside, on seeing them.)
By my troth, but I’m undone now; see, here’s Plesidippus;
he’ll be sweeping me away altogether this moment with the dust.
845
By my troth, but I’m undone now; see, here’s Plesidippus;
he’ll be sweeping me away altogether this moment with the dust.
845
PLESIDIPPUS
Were the damsels sitting on the altar even then when you set out to come to me?
Were the damsels sitting on the altar even then when you set out to come to me?
TRACHALIO
Yes, and now they are sitting in the same place.
Yes, and now they are sitting in the same place.
PLESIDIPPUS
Who is now protecting them there?
Who is now protecting them there?
TRACHALIO
Some old gentleman, I don’t know who, a neighbour of the Temple of Venus—he gave very kind assistance;
he is now protecting them with his servants—I committed them to his charge.
850
Some old gentleman, I don’t know who, a neighbour of the Temple of Venus—he gave very kind assistance;
he is now protecting them with his servants—I committed them to his charge.
850
PLESIDIPPUS
Lead me straight to the Procurer. Where is this fellow?
(They go towards LABRAX.)
Lead me straight to the Procurer. Where is this fellow?
LABRAX
Health to you.
Health to you.
PLESIDIPPUS
I want none of your healths. Make your choice quickly, whether you lad rather be seized by your throat wrenched
1
, or be dragged along; choose whichever you please, while you may.
I want none of your healths. Make your choice quickly, whether you lad rather be seized by your throat wrenched
1
, or be dragged along; choose whichever you please, while you may.
LABRAX
I wish for neither.
I wish for neither.
PLESIDIPPUS
Be off then, Trachalio, with all speed to the sea-shore; bid those persons that I brought with me to hand over this rascal to the executioner, to come from the harbour to the city to meet me; afterwards return hither and keep guard here. I’ll now drag this scoundrelly outcast to justice.
(Exit TRACHALIO. Pleusicles addresses LABRAX.)
855
Come, proceed to a court of justice.
860
Be off then, Trachalio, with all speed to the sea-shore; bid those persons that I brought with me to hand over this rascal to the executioner, to come from the harbour to the city to meet me; afterwards return hither and keep guard here. I’ll now drag this scoundrelly outcast to justice.
(Exit TRACHALIO. Pleusicles addresses LABRAX.)
855
Come, proceed to a court of justice.
860
LABRAX
In what have I offended?
In what have I offended?
PLESIDIPPUS
Do you ask? Didn’t you receive an earnest of me for this woman
(pointing to PALAESTRA), and carry her off from here?
Do you ask? Didn’t you receive an earnest of me for this woman
(pointing to PALAESTRA), and carry her off from here?
LABRAX
I didn’t carry her off.
I didn’t carry her off.
PLESIDIPPUS
Why do you deny it?
Why do you deny it?
LABRAX
Troth now, because I put her on board ship; carry her off
2
unfortunately, I couldn’t. For my part, I told you that this day I would make my appearance
at the Temple of Venus; have I swerved at all from that? Am I not there?
865
Troth now, because I put her on board ship; carry her off
2
unfortunately, I couldn’t. For my part, I told you that this day I would make my appearance
at the Temple of Venus; have I swerved at all from that? Am I not there?
865
PLESIDIPPUS
Plead your cause in the court of justice; here a word is enough. Follow me.
(They lay hold of him.)
Plead your cause in the court of justice; here a word is enough. Follow me.
LABRAX
(calling aloud.)
I entreat you, my dear Charmides, do come to my rescue; I am being seized with my throat wrenched.
(Enter CHARMIDES, from the Temple.)
I entreat you, my dear Charmides, do come to my rescue; I am being seized with my throat wrenched.
CHARMIDES
(looking about.)
Who calls my name?
Who calls my name?
LABRAX
Do you see me how I’m being seized?
Do you see me how I’m being seized?
CHARMIDES
I see, and view it with pleasure.
I see, and view it with pleasure.
LABRAX
Don’t you venture to assist me?
870
Don’t you venture to assist me?
870
CHARMIDES
What person is seizing you?
What person is seizing you?
LABRAX
Young Plesidippus.
Young Plesidippus.
CHARMIDES
What you’ve got, put up with; ’twere better for you, with a cheerful spirit, to slink to gaol; that has befallen you which many greatly wish for for themselves.
What you’ve got, put up with; ’twere better for you, with a cheerful spirit, to slink to gaol; that has befallen you which many greatly wish for for themselves.
LABRAX
What’s that?
What’s that?
CHARMIDES
To find for themselves that which they are seeking.
To find for themselves that which they are seeking.
LABRAX
I entreat you, do follow me.
875
I entreat you, do follow me.
875
CHARMIDES
You try to persuade me, just like what you are: you are being taken off to gaol, for that reason is it you entreat me to follow you?
You try to persuade me, just like what you are: you are being taken off to gaol, for that reason is it you entreat me to follow you?
PLESIDIPPUS
(to LABRAX.)
Do you still resist?
Do you still resist?
LABRAX
I’m undone.
I’m undone.
PLESIDIPPUS
I trust that may prove the truth. You, my dear Palaestra and Ampelisca, do you remain here in the meanwhile, until I return hither.
I trust that may prove the truth. You, my dear Palaestra and Ampelisca, do you remain here in the meanwhile, until I return hither.
SERVANT
I would advise them
rather to go to our house, until you return.
880
I would advise them
rather to go to our house, until you return.
880
PLESIDIPPUS
I’m quite agreable; you act obligingly.
(The SERVANTS open the door of the cottage, and PALAESTRA and AMPELISCA go in.)
I’m quite agreable; you act obligingly.
LABRAX
You are thieves to me.
You are thieves to me.
SERVANT
How, thieves?
How, thieves?
PLESIDIPPUS
Lead him along.
3
(The SERVANTS seize him.)
Lead him along.
3
LABRAX
(calling out.)
I pray and entreat you, Palaestra.
I pray and entreat you, Palaestra.
PLESIDIPPUS
Follow, you hang-dog.
Follow, you hang-dog.
LABRAX
Guest, Charmides!
Guest, Charmides!
CHARMIDES
I am no guest of yours; I repudiate your hospitality.
I am no guest of yours; I repudiate your hospitality.
LABRAX
What, do you slight me in this fashion?
What, do you slight me in this fashion?
CHARMIDES
I do so; I’ve been drinking with you once already
4
.
I do so; I’ve been drinking with you once already
4
.
LABRAX
May the Deities confound you.
885
May the Deities confound you.
885
CHARMIDES
To that person of yours, say that.
(PLESIDIPPUS leads LABRAX off, followed by the SERVANTS.) I do believe that men are transformed, each into a different beast. That Procurer, I guess, is transformed into a stock-dove
5
; for, before long, his neck will be in the stocks. He’ll to-day be building his nest in the gaol.
Still, however, I’ll go, that I may be his advocate,—if by my aid he may possibly be sentenced any the sooner.
890
To that person of yours, say that.
(PLESIDIPPUS leads LABRAX off, followed by the SERVANTS.) I do believe that men are transformed, each into a different beast. That Procurer, I guess, is transformed into a stock-dove
5
; for, before long, his neck will be in the stocks. He’ll to-day be building his nest in the gaol.
Still, however, I’ll go, that I may be his advocate,—if by my aid he may possibly be sentenced any the sooner.
890
Rudens. Plautus. Henry Thomas Riley (Translator). London. 1913.
Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.
Funding provided by NSF, NEH: Digital Libraries Initiative, Phase 2.