T. Maccius Plautus Trinummus 4.3

STASIMUS

(to himself.)

Stasimus, make you haste with all speed; away with you to your master’s house, lest on a sudden, through your folly, fears should arise for your shoulder-blades ¹ .

Quicken your pace, make haste; ’tis now a long while since you left the house. If you shall be absent when inquired after by your master, take you care, please, that the smacks of the bull’s-hide ² don’t clatter thick upon you. Don’t you cease running. See now, Stasimus, what a worthless fellow you are; and isn’t it the fact that you have forgotten your ring ³ at the liquor- shop ⁴ after you have been washing your throat with warm drink?

1010

Turn about, and run back now, to seek it, while the thing has but just happened.

1015

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

Whoever he is, his throat is his taskmaster ⁵ ; that teaches this fellow the art of running.

STASIMUS

What, good-for-nothing fellow, are you not ashamed of yourself? having lost your memory after only three cups? And really, because you were there drinking together with such honest fellows, who could keep their hands off ⁶ the property of another without difficulty;

—is it among such men that you expect you may recover your ring?

Chiruchus was there, Cerconicus, Crimnus, Cricolabus, Collabus ⁷ , whipped-necks ⁸ , whipped-legs, iron-rubbers, whipped-knaves.

1020

By my faith, any one of these could steal the sole of his shoe from a running footman ⁹ .

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

So may the Gods love me, a finished thief.

STASIMUS

Why should I go seek what is gone for ever?

Unless I would bestow my pains, too, by way of addition over and above to my loss. Why, then, don’t you consider that what is gone is gone? Tack about, then ¹⁰ . Betake yourself back to your master.

1025

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

This fellow is no runaway; he remembers his home.

STASIMUS

I wish that the old-fashioned ways of old-fashioned days, and the old-fashioned thriftiness, were in greater esteem here, rather than these bad ways.

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

Immortal Gods! this man really is beginning to talk of noble doings! He longs for the old-fashioned ways; know that he loves the old-fashioned ways, after the fashion of our forefathers.

1030

STASIMUS

For, now-a-days, men’s manners reckon of no value what is proper, except what is agreable. Ambition now is sanctioned by usage, and is free from the laws. By usage, people have the license to throw away their shields, and to run away from the enemy.

To seek honor thereby in place of disgrace is the usage.

1035

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

A shameless usage.

STASIMUS

Now-a-days, ’tis the usage to neglect the brave.

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

Aye, ’tis really shocking.

STASIMUS

The public manners have now got the laws in their power; to them they are more submissive than are parents to their children ¹¹ . In their misery, these laws are even hung up ¹² against the wall with iron nails,

where it had been much more becoming for bad ways to be fixed up.

1040

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

I’d like to go up and accost this person; but I listen to him with much pleasure, and I’m afraid, if I address him, that he may begin to talk on some other subject.

STASIMUS

And, for these ways, there is nothing rendered sacred by the law. The laws are subservient to usage; but these habits are hastening to sweep away both what is sacred and what is public property.

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

By my troth, ’twere right for some great calamity to befal these bad customs.

1045

STASIMUS

Ought not this state of things to be publicly censured? For this kind of men are the enemies of all persons, and do an injury to the entire people. By a non-observance of their own honour, they likewise destroy all trust even in those who merit it not; inasmuch as people form an estimate of the disposition of these from the disposition of those fellows.

If you lend ¹³ a person any money, it becomes lost for any purpose as one’s own. When you ask for it back again, you may find a friend made an enemy by your kindness. If you begin to press still further, the option of two things ensues—either you must part with that which you have entrusted, or else you must lose that friend.

As to how this suggests itself to me, I have by actual experience been lately put in mind of it.

1050

CHARMIDES

(behind.)

Surely this is my servant Stasimus?

1055

STASIMUS

For as to him to whom I lent the talent, I bought myself an enemy with my talent, and sold my friend. But I am too great a simpleton to be attending to public matters rather than (what’s my immediate interest) obtain safety for my back. I’ll go home.

(Moves as if going.)

CHARMIDES

Hallo, you! Stop, this instant! Harkye; hallo, you!

STASIMUS

I’ll not stop.

CHARMIDES

I want you.

STASIMUS

What if I myself don’t want you to want me.

1060

CHARMIDES

Why, Stasimus, you are behaving very rudely.

STASIMUS

’Twere better for you to buy some one to give your commands to.

CHARMIDES

I’ faith, I have bought one, and paid the money, too. But if he is not obedient to my orders, what ani I to do?

STASIMUS

Give him a severe punishment.

CHARMIDES

You give good advice; I am resolved to do so.

STASIMUS

Unless, indeed, you are under obligations to him.

CHARMIDES

If he is a deserving person, I am under obligations to him; but if he is otherwise, I’ll do as you advise me.

STASIMUS

What matters it to me whether you have good or bad slaves?

1065

CHARMIDES

Because you have a share in this matter both of the good and of the bad.

STASIMUS

The one share I leave to yourself; the other share, that in the good, do you set down ¹⁴ to my account.

CHARMIDES

If you shall prove deserving, it shall be so. Look back at me—I am Charmides.

STASIMUS

Ha! what person is it that has made mention of that most worthy man?

CHARMIDES

’Tis that most worthy man himself.

1070

STASIMUS

O seas, earth, heavens, by my trust in you—do I see quite clearly with my eyes? Is this he, or is it not? ’Tis he! ’Tis certainly he; ’tis he beyond a doubt! O my most earnestly wished-for master, health to you!

CHARMIDES

Health to you, too, Stasimus!

STASIMUS

That you are safe and sound, I—

CHARMIDES

(interruptitng him.)

I know it, and I believe you. But wave the rest; answer me this; how are my children,

my son and daughter, whom I left here?

1075

STASIMUS

They are alive, and well.

CHARMIDES

Both of them, say you?

STASIMUS

Both of them.

CHARMIDES

The Gods willed me to be safe and preserved from dangners. The rest that I want to know I will inquire about in-doors at my leisure. Let us go in-doors; follow me.

STASIMUS

Where are you going now?

CHARMIDES

Where else but to my house?

STASIMUS

Do you suppose that we are living here?

CHARMIDES

Why, where else should I suppose?

STASIMUS

Now—

1080

CHARMIDES

What about now?

STASIMUS

This house is not our own.

CHARMIDES

What is it I hear from you?

STASIMUS

Your son has sold this house.

CHARMIDES

I’m ruined.

STASIMUS

For silver minae; ready money counted out.

CHARMIDES

How many?

STASIMUS

Forty.

CHARMIDES

I’m undone. Who has purchased it?

STASIMUS

Callicles, to whom you entrusted your affairs; he has removed here to live, and has turned us out of doors.

CHARMIDES

Where is my son now living?

1085

STASIMUS

Here, in these back buildings.

(Points to the side of the house.)

CHARMIDES

I’m utterly undone.

STASIMUS

I thought that this would be distressing to you when you heard of it.

CHARMIDES

To my sorrow, amid extreme dangers I have been borne over vast oceans, with the peril of my life I have preserved myself among robbers full many in number, and I have returned safe. Now, to my misery, I am here undone

by reason of those same persons for whose sake I have been struggling at this time of life Grief is depriving me of my senses. Support me, Stasimus.

1090

STASIMUS

Do you wish me to fetch you some water?

CHARMIDES

When my fortunes were in their mortal struggle, then was it befitting that water should be sprinkled ¹⁵ upon them.