T. Maccius Plautus Stichus 1.1

PHILUMENA

Sister, I think that Penelope was wretched from her very soul, who was so long deprived of her husband; for from our own fortunes, whose husbands are absent from us, we judge of her feelings;

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for whose affairs, still, in their absence, both night and day, sister, as is becoming, we are ever anxious.

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PAMPHILA

’Tis right that we should do our duty; and we do not that any further than affection bids us.

PHILUMENA

But, sister, step this way a moment; I want

to speak about the affairs of my husband.

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PAMPHILA

Ain’t they prospering, pray?

PHILUMENA

I hope and wish so, indeed. But, sister, at this am I vexed, that your and my father, one who is esteemed as especially honorable among all his fellow-citizens, should be now acting the part of a dishonorable man;

who is undeservedly doing so great an injustice to our absent husbands, and is wishing to separate us from them. These things, sister, render me tired of existence; these things are a care and a vexation to me.

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(She sheds tears.)

PAMPHILA

Weep not, sister, nor do that to your feelings which your father is threatening to do. ’Tis to be hoped ² that he will act more righteously. I know him well; he says these things in jest; and he would not earn for himself the mountains of the Persians,

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which are said to be of gold ³ , to do that of which you are in dread. Still, if he does do it, it befits you by no means to be angry; nor will it happen without some reason.

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For this is the third year since our husbands have been away from home.

PHILUMENA

’Tis as you say; while, in the meantime, they may be living, and may be well ⁴ , they do not make us acquainted where they are, what they are doing, whether they are doing well, neither do they return.

PAMPHILA

And do you, sister, regret this, that they do not observe their duty, whereas you do yours?

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PHILUMENA

Troth, I do.

PAMPHILA

Hold your peace, if you please; take care, please, that I hear not that same thing from you in future.

PHILUMENA

And why, pray?

PAMPHILA

Because, i’ faith, in my opinion, ’tis proper for all prudent people

to observe and to do their duty. For that reason, sister, although you are the older, I advise you to remember your duty; and if they are unjust and act otherwise to us than is right, then, i’ faith, in exactly the same degree,

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that there may be no further mischief, it befits us studiously to remember our duty by all means in our power.

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PHILUMENA

’Tis good; I’m silenced.

PAMPHILA

But do take care and remember it.

PHILUMENA

I do not wish, sister, to be thought to be unmindful of my husband; nor has he thrown away the distinction that he conferred upon me.

For, by my troth, his kindness is pleasing and delightful to me; and, really, this choice of mine is not now irksome to me, nor is there any reason why I should wish to abandon this match. But, in fine, ’tis placed in our father’s power ⁵ ; that must be done by us which our relatives enjoin.

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PAMPHILA

I know it, and in thinking of it I am overwhelmed with grief; for already has he almost disclosed his sentiments.

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PHILUMENA

Let us consider, then, what is necessary for us to do.