Part 20
Is lembus nostrae navi insidias dabat. occepi ego observare eos quam rem gerant. interea e portu nostra navis solvitur. ubi portu eximus, homines remigio sequi, neque aves neque venti citius. quoniam sentio 290 quae res gereretur, navem extemplo statuimus. quoniam vident nos stare, occeperunt ratem tardare[10] in portu.
(_warming up_) This galley was lying in wait for our ship. I began to keep an eye on their operations aboard her. Meanwhile our ship weighs anchor and moves out of the harbour. When we get outside they row after us fast as a bird, fast as the wind. Now that I noticed what was up, we brought to at once. Now that they saw us lying to they began to slow down there in the harbour.
_Nic._
Edepol mortalis malos. quid denique agitis?
God bless me, what rascals! What did you do then?
_Chrys._
Rursum in portum recipimus.
We put back to the harbour.
_Nic._
Sapienter factum a vobis. quid illi postea?
That was wise. What did they do after that?
_Chrys._
Revorsionem ad terram faciunt vesperi.
Toward evening they went ashore.
_Nic._
Aurum hercle auferre voluere: ei rei operam dabant.
By the Lord! They wanted to make off with the gold: that was their aim!
_Chrys._
Non me fefellit, sensi, eo exanimatus fui. quoniam videmus auro insidias fieri, capimus consilium continuo; postridie 300 auferimus aurum omne illis praesentibus palam atque aperte, ut illi id factum sciscerent.
I knew that well enough: I saw through it. That drove me frantic. Now that we perceived that they had designs on the gold, we laid our plans at once; the next day we carried it all ashore publicly and openly while they were by, to let them know it was done.
_Nic._
Scite hercle. cedo quid illi?
By Jove, a neat idea! Come, come, what did they do?
_Chrys._
Tristes ilico, quom extemplo a portu ire nos cum auro vident, subducunt lembum capitibus quassantibus. nos apud Theotimum omne aurum deposivimus, qui illic sacerdos est Dianae Ephesiae.
Looked doleful on the spot, and as soon as they see us go away from the harbour with the gold there’s a shaking of heads and they beach their galley. As for us, we deposited all the gold with Theotimus, the priest of Diana there at Ephesus.
_Nic._
Quis istic Theotimust?
(_suspiciously_) Who is that Theotimus?
_Chrys._
Megalobuli filius, qui nunc in Ephesost Ephesiis carissimus.
(_reassuringly_) Megalobulus’s son, sir, and quite the dearest man in all Ephesus to the Ephesians.
_Nic._
Ne ille hercle mihi sit multo tanto carior, 310 si me illo auro tanto circumduxerit.
Good Lord! He certainly would be a very, very much dearer man to me, if he should swindle me out of so much gold.
_Chrys._
Quin in eapse aede Dianai conditumst. ibidem publicitus servant.
Oh, but it’s stored in the temple of Diana itself. It’s in public keeping there.
_Nic._
Occidistis me; nimio hic privatim servaretur rectius. sed nilne attulistis inde auri domum?
Yes, worse luck! It would be a great deal safer in private keeping here. But you didn’t bring any of it home, not any?
_Chrys._
Immo etiam. verum quantum attulerit nescio.
To be sure, we did. Just how much we brought, though, I don’t know.
_Nic._
Quid? nescis?
What? Don’t know?
_Chrys._
Quia Mnesilochus noctu clanculum devenit ad Theotimum, nec mihi credere nec cuiquam in navi voluit: eo ego nescio quantillum attulerit; verum haud permultum attulit. 320
You see Mnesilochus visited Theotimus on the sly, by night, and he didn’t care to confide in me or anyone else aboard: so I don’t know just what trifle he did bring along; not very much, though.
_Nic._
Etiam dimidium censes?
As much as half, do you think?
_Chrys._
Non edepol scio; verum haud opinor.
Upon my soul, I don’t know; but I don’t believe so.
_Nic._
Fertne partem tertiam?
A third, eh?
_Chrys._
Non hercle opinor; verum verum nescio. profecto de auro nil scio nisi nescio. nunc tibimet illuc navi capiundumst iter, ut illud reportes aurum ab Theotimo domum. atque heus tu.
Bless my soul, I don t believe so; however, I don’t know. In fact, all I know about the money is that I don’t know. Now you’ll have to make a voyage there yourself, sir, so as to get it from Theotimus and bring it back home. And, oh, I say!
_Nic._
Quid vis?
Well?
_Chrys._
Anulum gnati tui facito ut memineris ferre.
See you remember to take your son’s ring along.
_Nic._
Quid opust anulo?
Ring? What for?
_Chrys._
Quia id signumst cum Theotimo, qui eum illi adferet, ei aurum ut reddat.
Because we arranged with Theotimus that he’s to give the gold to the man that brings him that ring.
_Nic._
Meminero, et recte mones. 330 sed divesne est istic Theotimus?
I shall remember; well you mentioned it, too. But is that Theotimus wealthy?
_Chrys._
Etiam rogas? quin auro habeat soccis subpactum solum?
Wealthy, eh? Wealthy? And he with gold soles on his shoes!
_Nic._
Cur ita fastidit?
What makes him so high and mighty?
_Chrys._
Tantas divitias habet; nescit quid faciat auro.
He’s so rich; he doesn’t know what to do with gold.
_Nic._
Mihi dederit velim. sed qui praesente id aurum Theotimo datumst?
(_sighing_) Wish he’d give it to me! But who was there when this money was given to Theotimus?
_Chrys._
Populo praesente: nullust Ephesi quin sciat.
The whole population, sir: there’s not a soul in Ephesus but knows about it.
_Nic._
Istuc sapienter saltem fecit filius, cum diviti homini id aurum servandum dedit; ab eo licebit quamvis subito sumere.
My son showed sense in that, at any rate,--giving it to a wealthy man to keep for him. You can get it from such a man at a moment’s notice.
_Chrys._
Immo em tantisper numquam te morabitur 340 quin habeas illud quo die illuc veneris.
Oh no, he’ll never keep you waiting, not--see here-- (_illustrating_) not so long: he’ll let you have it the day you arrive.
_Nic._
Censebam me effugisse a vita marituma, ne navigarem tandem hoc aetatis senex; id mi haud, utrum velim, licere intellego: ita bellus hospes fecit Archidemides. ubi nunc est ergo meus Mnesilochus filius?
I thought I had escaped from the seafaring life, that an old man of my age might really be done with voyaging. But no choice is left me, I perceive, in this case--thanks to the tactics of my charming friend Archidemides. Where is my son Mnesilochus at present, then?
_Chrys._
Deos atque amicos iit salutatum ad forum.
Gone to the forum to pay his respects to the gods and his friends.
_Nic._
At ego hinc eo ad illum, ut convenam quantum potest.
Well, I shall go and try to find him as soon as possible. [EXIT TO FORUM.
_Chrys._
Ille est oneratus recte et plus iusto vehit. exorsa haec tela non male omnino mihi est: 350 ut amantem erilem copem facerem filium, ita feci, ut auri quantum vellet sumeret, quantum autem lubeat reddere ut reddat patri.
(_gleefully_) He’s nicely freighted, he is, in fact, overfreighted. Not a half bad sort of web I’ve woven here! To set up the young master in funds for his love affair, I’ve fixed things so that he can take as much of the gold as he wants himself, yes, and pass on to his father as much as he likes to pass on.
senex in Ephesum ibit aurum arcessere, hic nostra agetur aetas in malacum modum, siquidem hic relinquet neque secum abducet senex med et Mnesilochum. quas ego hic turbas dabo! sed quid futurumst, cum hoc senex resciverit, cum se excucurisse illuc frustra sciverit nosque aurum abusos? quid mihi fiet postea? 360
The old man will go to Ephesus to fetch the gold and we’ll be living a downy life of it here, that is, if the old chap leaves us here and doesn’t drag me and Mnesilochus along with him. Oh, won’t I turn things upside down here! (_pauses_) But what’ll happen when the old man discovers it? When he finds out he’s gone on a wild goose chase and we’ve used up the cash? What will happen to me then?
credo hercle adveniens nomen mutabit mihi facietque extemplo Crucisalum me ex Chrysalo. aufugero hercle, si magis usus venerit. si ero reprehensus, macto ego ilium infortunio: si illi sunt virgae ruri, at mihi tergum domist. nunc ibo, erili filio hanc fabricam dabo super auro amicaque eius inventa Bacchide.
Gad! I suppose he’ll change my name for me the minute he gets back, and transform me from Chrysalus to Crossalus on the spot. Oh, well, I’ll run for it, if it looks advisable. If I am caught, he’ll have his fill of discomfort: if he’s got rods on the farm, well, I’ve got a back on my person. Now I’ll be off and let the young master know about this gold trick and his mistress Bacchis being found. [EXIT Chrysalus.
## ACTVS III
## ACT III
_Lydus_
Pandite atque aperite propere ianuam hanc Orci, obsecro.
(_wildly, inside Bacchis’s house_) Quick, quick, open up, I beseech you, unclose this door of hell! ENTER _Lydus_ HURRIEDLY.
nam equidem haud aliter esse duco, quippe quo nemo advenit, nisi quem spes reliquere omnes, esse ut frugi possiet. 370 Bacchides non Bacchides, sed bacchae sunt acerrumae. apage istas a me sorores, quae hominum sorbent sanguinem. omnis ad perniciem instructa domus opime atque opipare-- quae ut aspexi, me continuo contuli protinam in pedes.
For I verily believe it is nothing else, a place where no man enters save him who has lost all hopes of his capacity for good. Bacchises! No Bacchises these, but the wildest of Bacchantes. Avaunt, avaunt, ye sisters who suck the blood of men! Their whole abode is tricked out as a gilded, gorgeous lure to ruin--as soon as I perceived the nature of my surroundings I fled, fled forthwith.
egone ut haec conclusa gestem clanculum? ut celem patrem, Pistoclere, tua flagitia aut damna aut desidiabula?[11] (376) neque mei neque te tui intus puditumst factis quae facis, (379) quibus tuom patrem meque una, amicos, adfinis tuos 380 tua infamia fecisti gerulifigulos flagiti.[12] de me hanc culpam demolibor iam et seni faciam palam, (383) ut eum ex lutulento caeno propere hinc eliciat foras.
(_violently to those within_) Am I the man to carry this shut up within me, to keep it secret? To conceal from your father, Pistoclerus, your enormities, your extravagances, your horrid resorts?[11] Neither in my sight, nor your own, did you feel any shame at your actions, actions, you infamous creature, that make your father, and me too, and your friends and relatives accessories to your disgrace. (_making off_) I am going to clear myself of blame in the matter this very minute and inform his poor old father of it all, so that he may hurry and draw him forth from this filthy slough.
III. 2.
## Scene 2.
ENTER _Mnesilochus_, FOLLOWED AT SOME DISTANCE BY SLAVES CARRYING HIS LUGGAGE.
_Mnes._
Multimodis meditatus egomet mecum sum, et ita esse arbitror homini amico, qui est amicus ita uti nomen possidet, nisi deos ei nil praestare, id opera expertus sum esse ita nam ut in Ephesum hinc abii--hoc factumst ferme abhinc biennium-- ex Epheso huc ad Pistoclerum meum sodalem litteras misi, amicam ut mi inveniret Bacchidem. illum intellego 390 invenisse, ut servos meus mi nuntiavit Chrysalus.
I’ve given the question careful consideration, and what I believe is this: nothing but Heaven itself excels a friend who is a friend in the full sense of the term; I’ve found this is so from my own experience. After I went away from here to Ephesus--almost two years ago, that was--I sent a letter from there to my chum Pistoclerus asking him to find my mistress, Bacchis, for me. And find her he did, it seems, according to that fellow Chrysalus of mine.
condigne is quam techinam de auro advorsum meum fecit patrem, ut mi amanti copia esset[13] nam pol quidem meo animo ingrato homine nihil inpensiust, malefactorem amitti satius quam relinqui beneficum; nimio inpendiosum praestat te quam ingratum dicier; illum laudabunt boni, hunc etiam ipsi culpabunt mali.
(_pauses_) Quite worthy of Chrysalus, that scheme of his against my father to get the money, so that my amorous self might have supplies. (_pauses_) Well, well, to my own mind there’s nothing more expensive than being an ingrate. Letting a malefactor off is better than turning your back on a benefactor. The name of being too extravagant is a great deal better for you than that of being ungrateful. Good men will speak well of the first sort of fellow: even rascals themselves will blame the second.
qua me causa magis cum cura esse aecum, obvigilatost opus. nunc, Mnesiloche, specimen specitur, nunc certamen cernitur, sisne necne ut esse oportet, malus, bonus quoivis modi, 400 iustus iniustus, malignus largus, comis incommodus. cave sis te superare servom siris faciundo bene utut eris, moneo, haud celabis. sed eccos video incedere patrem sodalis et magistrum. hinc auscultabo quam rem agant.
I must take all the more care, then, how I act and keep my eyes open. Here’s where you show a sample of yourself, Mnesilochus; here’s where you’re put to the test whether you’re the man you should be or not--bad or good, whatever you are--just or unjust--mean or generous--gentleman or cad. Mind you look out not to let your servant be your better in doing the kindly thing. No matter what you’ll be, I warn you you can’t conceal it. (_looking down street_) Hullo, though! Here come my chum’s father and tutor ambling along. I’ll listen to what they’re up to from over here. (_withdraws_)
III. 3.
## Scene 3.
ENTER _Lydus_ AND _Philoxenus_.
_Lydus_
Nunc experiar, sitne aceto tibi cor acre in pectore. sequere.
(_struggling to control himself_) Now we shall see whether or no you have a heart of fiery feeling within you. Follow me!
_Phil._
Quo sequar? quo ducis nunc me?
(_calmly_) Follow you where? Where are you taking me to now?
_Lydus_
Ad illam quae tuom perdidit, pessum dedit tibi filium unice unicum
To the woman who has depraved, destroyed your one and only son!
_Phil._
Heia, Lyde, leniter qui saeviunt sapiunt magis. minus mirandumst, illaec aetas si quid illorum facit, quam si non faciat. feci ego istaec itidem in adulescentia. 410
Gently, gently, Lydus! “Ire restrained is wisdom gained.” It’s less surprising to have a youngster up to something of that kind than not. I’ve done the same sort of thing myself in my younger days.
_Lydus_
Ei mihi, ei mihi, istaec illum perdidit assentatio nam absque te esset, ego illum haberem rectum ad ingenium bonum nunc propter te tuamque pravos factus est fiduciam Pistoclerus.
Oh-h-h dear, oh dear! It is that very tolerance that has been his undoing. Why, but for you, I should have made a good moral man of him: as it is, you and your support have made a debauchee of Pistoclerus.
_Mnes._
Di immortales, meum sodalem hic nominat. quid hoc negoti est, Pistoclerum Lydus quod erum tam ciet?
(_aside_) Good God! My chum’s name! What does this mean-- Lydus running down his master Pistoclerus so?
_Phil._
Paulisper, Lyde est libido homini suo animo obsequi; iam aderit tempus, cum sese etiam ipse oderit. morem geras; dum caveatur, praeter aequom ne quid delinquat, sine.
A man’s eager to have his fling for a little while, Lydus; the time will soon come when he’ll actually loathe himself for it. Give him rein; so long as he’s careful not to go too far in his indiscretions, why, let him be.
_Lydus_
Non sino, neque equidem illum me vivo corrumpi sinam. sed tu, qui pro tam corrupto dicis causam filio, 420 eademne erat haec disciplina tibi, cum tu adulescens eras? nego tibi hoc annis viginti fuisse primis copiae, digitum longe a paedagogo pedem ut efferres aedibus.
I will not let him be, no, nor let him be corrupted and live to see it, never! But you--with your pleas for a son so corrupted--was your own training of this same sort when you were a young man? I say no, I say you never had a chance during the first twenty years of your life to stir a single finger’s breadth from the house without your tutor.
ante solem exorientem nisi in palaestram veneras, gymnasi praefecto haud mediocris poenas penderes. id quom optigerat, hoc etiam ad malum accersebatur malum: et discipulus et magister perhibebantur improbi. ibi cursu luctando hasta disco pugilatu pila saliendo sese exercebant magis quam scorto aut saviis: ibi suam aetatem extendebant, non in latebrosis locis. 430
Unless you had arrived at the athletic grounds before sunrise, it was no slight penalty the Gymnasium Director imposed on you. When this had happened, this further trouble was added, that pupil and teacher too were held to be disgraced. There it was by running, wrestling, throwing the spear and discus, boxing, ball, jumping, they used to get their exercise, rather than by means of wenches, or kisses: it was there they used to spend their lives, not in dark dens of vice.
inde de hippodromo et palaestra ubi revenisses domum, cincticulo praecinctus in sella apud magistrum adsideres cum libro: cum legeres, si unam peccavisses syllabam, fieret corium tam maculosum quam est nutricis pallium.
Then when you had returned home from the track and field, all neat and trim you would sit on your chair before your teacher with your book: and while you were reading, if you had missed a single syllable, your hide would be made as spotted as a nurse’s gown.
_Mnes._
Propter me haec nunc meo sodali dici discrucior miser; innocens suspicionem hanc sustinet causa mea.
(_aside_) It’s torment, hang it, to have my chum coming in for all this on my account; it’s for my sake he’s shouldering this suspicion, poor innocent.
_Phil._
Alii, Lyde, nunc sunt mores.
(_soothingly_) The customs of to-day are different, Lydus.
_Lydus_
Id equidem ego certo scio. nam olim populi prius honorem capiebat suffragio, quam magistro desinebat esse dicto oboediens; at nunc, prius quam septuennis est, si attingas eum manu, 440 extemplo puer paedagogo tabula disrumpit caput.
Indeed they are! I realize the truth of that. Why, in the old days a young man would be holding office, by popular vote, before he had ceased to hearken to his teacher’s precepts. But nowadays, before a youngster is seven years old, if you lay a finger on him, he promptly takes his writing tablet and smashes his tutor’s head with it.
cum patrem adeas postulatum, puero sic dicit pater: “noster esto, dum te poteris defensare iniuria.” provocatur paedagogus: “eho senex minimi preti, ne attigas puerum istac causa, quando fecit strenue.”[14] (445) itur illinc iure dicto. hocine hic pacto potest (447) inhibere imperium magister, si ipsus primus vapulet?
When you go to his father with a protest, he talks to the youngster in this strain: (_mimicking_) “You’re father’s own boy so long as you can defend yourself against abuse.” Then the tutor is summoned: “Hey, you worthless old baggage, don’t you touch my boy merely for acting like a lad of spirit!“ Judgment pronounced, the court adjourns. Can a teacher exert authority here under such conditions, if he is beaten first himself?
_Mnes._
Acris postulatio haec est. cum huius dicta intellego, mira sunt ni Pistoclerus Lydum pugnis contudit. 450
(_aside_) Here’s a warm protest! Judging from his remarks, it’s a wonder if Pistoclerus hasn’t been punching Lydus’s head.
_Lydus_
Sed quis hic est, quem astantem video ante ostium? o Philoxene, deos propitios me videre quam illum haud mavellem mihi.
(_looking in the direction of Mnesilochus_) But who is this I see standing in front of the door? (_recognizing him_) Ah, Philoxenus, that is a man whose support I should value no less than that of the gods!
_Phil._
Quis illic est?
Who is it?
_Lydus_
Mnesilochus, gnati tui sodalis.[15] haud consimili ingenio atque ille est qui in lupanari accubat. fortunatum Nicobulum, qui illum produxit sibi.
Mnesilochus, your son’s chum. And a youth so, so different from the one lolling in that vile house! (_pointing to Bacchis’s_) Happy, happy Nicobulus to have brought up such a lad!
_Phil._
Salvos sis, Mnesiloche, salvom te advenire gaudeo.
(_stepping forward_) How are you, Mnesilochus? I’m glad to see you safely back.
_Mnes._
Di te ament, Philoxene.
(_heartily shaking hands_) God bless you, Philoxenus!
_Lydus_
Hic enim rite productust patri: in mare it, rem familiarem curat, custodit domum, obsequens oboediensque est mori atque imperiis patris. hic sodalis Pistoclero iam puer puero fuit; 460 triduom non interest aetatis uter maior siet: verum ingenium plus triginta annis maiust quam alteri.
Ah, yes, here is a son to rejoice a father’s heart: goes to sea, attends to family affairs, is the bulwark of the home, observes and obeys his father’s every wish and word. He was Pistoclerus’s chum even when they were boys--not three days’ difference between them so far as age is concerned, but this lad is more than thirty years his senior in native sense.
_Phil._
Cave malo et compesce in illum dicere iniuste.
(_angrily_) Look out for yourself, and stop speaking about the lad unfairly!
_Lydus_
Tace. stultus es qui illi male aegre patere dici qui facit.[16] (464)
Peace! fool that you are to be pained at hearing him badly spoken of, when he is bad![16]
_Mnes._
Quid sodalem meum castigas, Lyde, discipulum tuom? (467)
(_innocently_) Why are you finding fault with my chum, Lydus, your own pupil?
_Lydus_
Periit tibi sodalis.
(_tragically_) Your chum has perished!
_Mnes._
Ne di sirint.
God forbid!
_Lydus_
Sic est ut loquor. quin ego cum peribat vidi, non ex audito arguo.
It’s just as I tell you. Ah yes, I myself beheld him in the act: I am not accusing him on hearsay.
_Mnes._
Quid factum est?
What has happened?
_Lydus_
Meretricem indigne deperit.
He is shockingly infatuated with a courtesan.
_Mnes._
Non tu taces? 470
(_apparently scandalized_) Oh, don’t say such a thing!
_Lydus_
Atque acerrume aestuosam: absorbet ubi quemque attigit.
Yes, and a perfect maelstrom of a woman: she sucks down every man who comes within her reach.
_Mnes._
Ubi ea mulier habitat?
Where does this woman live?
_Lydus_
Hic.
(_pointing_) Here.
_Mnes._
Unde esse eam aiunt?
Where do they say she is from?
_Lydus_
Ex Samo.
Samos.
_Mnes._
Quae vocatur?
What is her name?
_Lydus_
Bacchis.
Bacchis.
_Mnes._
Erras, Lyde: ego omnem rem scio quem ad modumst. tu Pistoclerum falso atque insontem arguis. nam ille amico et benevolenti suo sodali sedulo rem mandatam exsequitur. ipsus neque amat nec tu creduas.
(_with an air of relief_) You’re mistaken, Lydus: I know all about the matter, just how it stands. That’s a false charge of yours, and Pistoclerus is innocent. Why, he’s fulfilling a commission for a friend and well-wisher of his, a chum, and doing it zealously. He doesn’t love her himself, and you mustn’t think he does.
_Lydus_
Itane oportet rem mandatam gerere amici sedulo, ut ipsus in gremio osculantem mulierem teneat sedens? nullo pacto res mandata potest agi, nisi identidem manus ferat ei ad papillas, labra a labris nusquam auferat? 480
(_sharply_) Does executing this commission for his friend, and doing it zealously, call for his sitting down and holding the girl in his lap while she kisses him? Is there no way of his carrying out this commission save by his embracing her time and again in unseemly fashion and never taking his lips an inch from hers?
nam alia memorare quae illum facere vidi dispudet: cum manum sub vestimenta ad corpus tetulit Bacchidi me praesente, neque pudere quicquam. quid verbis opust? mini discipulus, tibi sodalis periit, huic filius; nam ego illum periisse dico quoi quidem periit pudor.[17] (485)
Why, I feel ashamed to mention other things I saw him do, dreadful, dreadful things, in my presence--and never a trace of shame about him. Why say more? My pupil, your chum, this father’s son, has perished; for perished I say he has, when his sense of shame has perished.[17]
_Mnes._