Part 25
EPILOGUE
SPOKEN BY THE COMPANY.
Hi senes nisi fuissent nihili iam inde ab adulescentia, non hodie hoc tantum flagitium facerent canis capitibus; neque adeo haec faceremus, ni antehac vidissemus fieri, ut apud lenones rivales filiis fierent patres. 1210 spectatores, vos valere volumus et clare adplaudere.
Unless these old men had been worthless from their very youth, they would not be guilty of such an enormity as this to-day when their heads are hoary; nor, indeed, would we have presented such a comedy, unless we had seen before now how fathers become their sons’ rivals at places of unsavoury repute. Spectators, we wish you health and--your loud applause.
* * * * *
[Footnote 1: Leo notes lacuna here: _aedis_ Ritschl.]
[Footnote 2: Leo notes lacuna here: _fide_ Leo.]
[Footnote 3: Corrupt (Leo): _perii_ MSS: _prope_ Ritschl.]
[Footnote 4: Leo brackets following v., 67: _ubi pro disco damnum capiam, pro cursura dedecus?_]
[Footnote 5: Leo brackets following v., 69: _ubique imponat in manum alius mihi pro cestu cantharum._]
[Footnote 6: Leo brackets following v., 107: _simul huic nescio cui, turbare qui huc it, decedamus._]
[Footnote 7: Leo brackets following v., 150: _video nimio iam multo plus quam volueram._ ]
[Footnote 8: Leo brackets following v., 153, 154: _nil moror discipulos mihi iam plenos sanguinis._ _valens afflictat me vacivom virium._]
[I have no liking for these full-blooded pupils: the sturdy youngster is bullying me, destitute of strength as I am.]
[Footnote 9: Leo brackets following v., 166, 167: _edepol fecisti furtum in aetatum malum_ _cum istaec flagitia me celavisti et patrem._]
[Good heavens! Such villainy in a lad of your age, concealing such atrocities from me and from your father!]
[Footnote 10: _Tardare_ Hauptius: _turbare_ MSS.]
[Footnote 11: Leo brackets following v., 377-378: _quibus patrem et me teque amicosque omnes affectas tuos_ _ad probrum, damnum, flagitium appellere una et perdere._]
[You are doing your best by such conduct to bring ignominy, loss, disgrace, upon every one of us, your father and me and yourself and all your friends, and ruin us.]
[Footnote 12: Leo brackets following v., 382: _nunc prius quam malum istoc addis, certumst iam dicam patri_]
[Footnote 13: _sed eccum video incedere_ follows in MSS: Leo brackets.]
[Footnote 14: Leo brackets following v., 446: _it magister quasi lucerna uncto expretus linteo._]
[Footnote 15: _Pistocleri_ follows in MSS: Leo brackets.]
[Footnote 16: Leo brackets following v., 465, 466: _nam illum meum malum promptare malim quam peculium._ Phil. _Quidem?_ Lydus _Quia, malum si promptet, in dies faciat minus._ ]
[Yes, yes, I should rather have him administer my punishment than my money. _Phil._ Why so? _Lydus_ Because if he administered my punishment, there would soon be none left.]
[Footnote 17: Leo brackets following v., 486-488: _quid opust verbis? si opperiri vellem paulisper modo,_ _ut opinor, illius inspectandi mi esset maior copia,_ _plus viderem quam deceret, quam me atque illo aequom foret._]
[Why say more? If I had wished to remain but a little longer, I should have had further opportunity to observe his conduct, I suppose, and I should have seen more than was proper, more than became me and him.]
[Footnote 18: Leo brackets the following v., 519a-519c: _sed autem quam illa umquam meis opulentiis_ _ramenta fiat gravior aut propensior,_ _mori me malim excruciatum inopia._]
[However, rather than have my money make her a fraction the weightier or heavier, I’d prefer to perish in the pangs of want.]
[Footnote 19: Corrupt (Leo): _tute (etiam)_ Seyffert: _tute (eam)_ Lindsay.]
[Footnote 20: Leo notes lacuna here: _Quae te (male) mala_ Lindsay.]
[Footnote 21: Corrupt (Leo). _At quidem hercle est ad perdundum magis quam ad scribundum cita_ Camerarius: various readings MSS.]
[Footnote 22: Leo notes lacuna here: _tu (scelus)_ Ritschl.]
[Footnote 23: Corrupt (Leo): _Latona Spes_ MSS: _Luna Spes_ Bergk: _Lato Spes_ Ussing.]
[Footnote 24: Leo brackets the following v., 931: _cepi expugnavi amanti erili filio aurum ab suo patre._]
[Footnote 25: Leo brackets the following v., 937-940: _Epiust Pistoclerus: ab eo haec sumptae; Mnesilochus Sino est_ _relictus, ellum non in busto Achilli, sed in lecto accubat;_ _Bacchidem habet secum: ille olim habuit ignem qui signum daret,_ _hunc ipsum exurit; ego sum Vlixes, cuius consilio haec gerunt._]
[Our Epius is Pistoclerus: from his hands were they taken. Mnesilochus is Sinon the abandoned. Behold him! not lying at Achilles’ tomb, but on a couch, he has a Bacchis with him, that one of old had a fire, to give the signal,--but this Sinon is burning himself. I am Ulysses whose counsel directs it all.]
[Footnote 26: Leo brackets the following v., 962-965: _ibi vix me exsolvi: id periclum adsimilo, Vlixem ut praedicant_ _cognitum ab Helena esse proditum Hecubae, sed ut olim ille se_ _blanditiis exemit et persuasit se ut amitteret,_ _item ego dolis me illo extuli e periclo et decepi senem_]
[Then it was I just managed to get free: this danger I liken to that they tell of when Ulysses was recognized by Helen and betrayed to Hecuba. But as he, in former days, got away by means of his honeyed words and persuaded her to let him go, so also I, by means of my wiles, got out of danger and deceived the old man.]
[Footnote 27: Leo brackets the following v., 973-977: _sed Priamus hic multo illi praestat: non quinquaginta modo,_ _quadringentos filios habet atque equidem omnis lectos sine probro:_ _eos ego hodie omnis contruncabo duobus solis ictibus._ _nunc Priamo nostro si est quis emptor, comptionalem senem_ _vendam ego, venalem quem habeo, extemplo ubi oppidum ex pugnavero._]
[But this Priam is far superior to that one, not a mere fifty sons has he; he has four hundred, yes, and every one is unquestionably a choice and flawless specimen. This day I will annihilate ’em all with just two blows. Now, if there is anyone who cares to buy our Priam, I will sell off the old gentleman I have on sale, as a job lot, the moment I have taken the town by storm.]
[Footnote 28: _ut quod iubeo facias_ follows in MSS: Leo brackets.]
[Footnote 29: Leo brackets the following v., 1081: _duxi, habui scortum. potavi, dedi, donavi, sed enim id raro._]
[Footnote 30: Leo brackets the following v., 1100: _immo edepol sic ludos factum_]
[Footnote 31: _Minae ambae_ Colerus: _thimiame_ MSS.]
[Footnote 32: _tis_ Schroeder: _is_ MSS.]
* * * * *
[Transcriber’s Corrections: _Bacchides_ (_The Two Bacchises_)
I. 2. EXEUNT INTO THE HOUSE OF _Bacchis_ text reads THE HOUSE OF _Bacchus_
III. 5. l. 553 _Mnes._ Benevolens vivit tibi. speaker not named in Latin text
IV. 4. l. 640 _Chrys._ Hunc hominem... text reads _Cyhrs._
IV. 9. l. 1065 _Nic._ Ohe, odiose facis. speaker not named in Latin text
V. 1. l. 1112 _Nic._ At mihi Chrysalus optumus homo... text reads _At mhi..._
V. 2. waiting for us to breathe our last with celerity text reads _with clerity_ ]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
CAPTIVI
THE CAPTIVES
* * * * *
ARGVMENTVM
ARGUMENT OF THE PLAY
*C*aptust in pugna Hegionis filius; *A*lium quadrimum fugiens servus vendidit. *P*ater captivos commercatur Aleos, *T*antum studens ut natum captum recuperet; *E*t inibi emit olim amissum filium. *I*s suo cum domino veste versa ac nomine *V*t amittatur fecit: ipsus plectitur; *E*t is reduxit captum, et fugitivum simul, *I*ndicio cuius alium agnoscit filium.
One of Hegio’s sons has been taken prisoner in a battle with the Eleans; the other was stolen by a runaway slave and sold when he was four years old. The father, in his great anxiety to recover the captured boy, bought up Elean prisoners of war; and among those that he purchased was the son he had lost many years before. This son, having exchanged clothes and names with his Elean master, secured the latter’s release, taking the consequences himself. This master of his returned, bringing Hegio’s captive son, and along with him that runaway slave, whose disclosures led to the recognition of the other son.
PERSONAE
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
ERGASILVS PARASITUS HEGIO SENEX LORARIVS PHILOCRATES ADULESCENS TYNDARVS SERVUS ARISTOPHONTES ADULESCENS PVER PHILOPOLEMVS ADULESCENS STALAGMVS SERVUS
ERGASILUS, _a parasite._ HEGIO, _an old gentleman._ SLAVE OVERSEER, _belonging to Hegio._ PHILOCRATES, _a young Elean captive._ TYNDARUS, _his slave, captured with him._ ARISTOPHONTES, _a young Elean captive._ A PAGE, _in the service of Hegio._ PHILOPOLEMUS, _Hegio’s son._ STALAGMUS, _Hegio’s slave._
_Scene:--A city in Aetolia. A street on which stands Hegio’s house._
PROLOGVS
PROLOGUE
_Tyndarus_ AND _Philocrates_ ARE CHAINED, IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE POSITION, TO A PILLAR IN FRONT OF _Hegio’s_ HOUSE
Hos quos videtis stare his captives duos, illi qui astant,[1] hi stant ambo, non sedent; hoc vos mihi testes estis me verum loqui. senex qui his habitat Hegio est huius pater.
These two prisoners you see standing here, well, both of those bystanders are men who are--standing, not sitting down. (_Prologue laughs uproariously at his pleasantry_) I leave it to you if so much is not true. The old man that lives yonder--(_pointing to Hegio’s house_) Hegio, by name-- is this man’s (_pointing to Tyndarus_) father.
sed is quo pacto serviat suo sibi patri, id ego hic apud vos proloquar, si operam datis. seni huic fuerunt filii nati duo; alterum quadrimum puerum servos surpuit eumque hinc profugiens vendidit in Alide patri huius. iam hoc tenetis?[2] optume est. 10
But how it happens that he is the slave of his own father I shall (_jauntily_) here in your midst proclaim, with your kind attention. This old gentleman had two sons. One of them, when he was four years old, was stolen by a slave who took to his heels and sold the boy in Elis to the father of this worthy (_pointing to Philocrates_) here. Now you take me? Very good!
negat hercle ille ultimus. accedito. si non ubi sedeas locus est, est ubi ambules, quando histrionem cogis mendicarier. ego me tua causa, ne erres, non rupturus sum. vos qui potestis ope vestra censerier, accipite relicuom: alieno uti nil moror.
Bless my soul! That gentleman at the back says he does not. Let him step this way--. (_no move in audience_) In case there is no opportunity to take a seat, sir, you can take a (_pointing to an exit_) stroll, seeing you insist on making an actor turn beggar. I have no intention of bursting myself, merely to keep you from misunderstanding the plot. (_to rest of audience_) As for you gentlemen who do own enough property to pay taxes on, let me discharge my debt-- none of the credit system for me.
fugitivos ille, ut dixeram ante, huius patri domo quem profugiens dominum abstulerat vendidit. is postquam hunc emit, dedit eum huic gnato suo peculiarem, quia quasi una aetas erat. 20 hic nunc domi servit suo patri, nec scit pater; enim vero di nos quasi pilas homines habent.
That runaway slave, as I said before, stole his young master when he decamped and sold him to this (_indicating Philocrates_) man’s father. This gentleman, on buying the boy, gave him to this son of his for his very own, the two being of about the same age. Now here he is, back home, his own father’s slave without his father knowing it. Ah yes, the gods use us mortals as footballs!
rationem habetis, quo modo unum amiserit. postquam belligerant Aetoli cum Aleis, ut fit in bello, capitur alter filius: medicus Menarchus emit ibidem in Alide. coepit captivos commercari hic Aleos, si quem reperire possit qui mutet suom, illum captivom: hunc suom esse nescit, qui domist.
Well, you comprehend the way in which he lost one son. Later, when war broke out between the Aetolians and Eleans, the other son was taken prisoner--a common occurrence in times of war--and a doctor, Menarchus, in that same Elis, bought the young man. Hegio then began to buy up Elean captives, hoping to get hold of one that he could exchange for his son--the captive son, that is: for he has no idea that this man at his home is his own child.
et quoniam heri indaudivit, de summo loco 30 summoque genere captum esse equitem Aleum, nil pretio parsit, filio dum parceret: reconciliare ut facilius posset domum, emit hosce e praeda ambos de quaestoribus.
And inasmuch as he heard it rumoured yesterday that an Elean knight of the very highest rank and family connections had been captured, he had no thought of saving money if only he could save his son. So in the hope of getting that son back home more readily he bought both of these prisoners from the commissioners who were disposing of the spoils.
hisce autem inter sese hunc confinxerunt dolum. quo pacto hic servos suom erum hinc amittat domum. itaque inter se commutant vestem et nomina; illic vocatur Philocrates, hic Tyndarus: huius illic, hic illius hodie fert imaginem.
These same prisoners, however, have got together and laid a scheme, as you can see, to the end that the slave here (_indicating Tyndarus_) may send his master off home. Accordingly, they have exchanged clothes and names with each other. That one (_indicating Tyndarus_) is calling himself Philocrates, and this one (_indicating Philocrates_) Tyndarus: each is posing as the other for the time being.
et hic hodie expediet hanc docte fallaciam, 40 et suom erum faciet libertatis compotem, eodemque pacto fratrem servabit suom reducemque faciet liberum in patriam ad patrem, imprudens: itidem ut saepe iam in multis locis plus insciens quis fecit quam prudens boni.
And Tyndarus here is going to work out this trick to-day like an artist, and set his master at liberty. By so doing he will rescue his own brother, too, and enable him to return home to his father a free man, all quite unwittingly,--as in so many cases before now a man has often done more good unconsciously than wittingly.
sed inscientes sua sibi fallacia ita compararunt et confinxerunt dolum itaque hi commenti, de sua sententia ut in servitute hic ad suom maneat patrem: ita nunc ignorans suo sibi servit patri; 50 homunculi quanti sunt, quom recogito! haec res agetur nobis, vobis fabula.
But all unconsciously, in their trickery, they have so planned and contrived and schemed, acting upon their own ideas, that Tyndarus will stay here as his own father’s slave. So now it is his father he is serving unawares. What helpless creatures we mortals be, when I stop to reflect! All this will be fact on the boards, fiction for the benches.
sed etiam est, paucis vos quod monitos voluerim. profecto expediet fabulae huic operam dare. non pertractate facta est neque item ut ceterae: neque spurcidici insunt versus, immemorabiles; hic neque periurus leno est nec meretrix mala neque miles gloriosus; ne vereamini, quia bellum Aetolis esse dixi cum Aleis: foris illic extra scaenam fient proelia. 60
About one thing more, though, I should like to offer a word or two of suggestion. It will undeniably be to your profit to pay attention to this play. It is not composed in the hackneyed style, is quite unlike other plays; nor does it contain filthy lines that one must not repeat. In this comedy you will meet no perjured pimp, or unprincipled courtesan, or braggart captain. Let not my statement that the Aetolians and Eleans are at war alarm you: engagements will take place off the stage yonder.
nam hoc paene iniquomst, comico choragio conari desubito agere nos tragoediam. proin si quis pugnam expectat, litis contrahat: valentiorem nactus adversarium si erit, ego faciam ut pugnam inspectet non bonam, adeo ut spectare postea omnis oderit.
It would almost amount to imposition, you know, for us, in our comedy get-up, to try to present a tragedy all of a sudden. So if anyone is looking for a battle scene, let him pick a quarrel: if he gets a good strong opponent, I promise him a glimpse of a battle scene so unpleasant that hereafter he will hate the very sight of one.
abeo. valete, iudices iustissimi domi duellique duellatores optumi.
(_turning to go_) And so good-bye to you, most just of judges here at home and doughtiest of fighters in the field. [EXEUNT _Prologue_ AND _Captives_.
## ACTVS I
## ACT I
ENTER _Ergasilus_ LOOKING HUNGRY AND FORLORN.
_Erg._
Iuventus nomen indidit Scorto mihi, eo quia invocatus soleo esse in convivio. 70 scio absurde dictum hoc derisores dicere, at ego aio recte. nam scortum in convivio sibi amator, talos quom iacit, scortum invocat.
The young fellows have dubbed me Missy, on the ground that whenever they’re at their banquets I feel called upon to be with ’em. To be sure, the professional wags say it is an absurd nickname, but I protest it’s a good one. For at banquets when the young sparks are playing dice they call upon their missies, yes, their missies, to be with ’em as they make a throw.
estne invocatum an non est? est planissume; verum hercle vero nos parasiti planius, quos numquam quisquam neque vocat neque invocat. quasi mures semper edimus alienum cibum; ubi res prolatae sunt, quom rus homines eunt, simul prolatae res sunt nostris dentibus.
Does missy feel called upon to be with ’em, or not? Most unmistakably. But by heaven, I tell you we parasites feel the call more unmistakably still, for no one else ever feels for us or calls us, either. Like mice, we’re forever nibbling at some one else’s food. When the holidays come, and men hie ’em to their country estates, our grinders take a holiday, too.
quasi, cum caletur, cocleae in occulto latent, 80 suo sibi suco vivont, ros si non cadit, item parasiti rebus prolatis latent in occulto miseri victitant suco suo, dum ruri rurant homines quos ligurriant.
It’s the same as snails hiding in their holes during the dog days and living on their own juices when there’s no dew falling: that’s the way with parasites during the holidays-- hide in their holes, poor devils, and subsist on their own juices while the people they could get pickings from are in the rural regions ruralizing.
prolatis rebus parasiti venatici sumus, quando res redierunt, molossici odiosicique et multum incommodestici. et hic quidem hercle, nisi qui colaphos perpeti potest parasitus frangique aulas in caput, [3]ire extra portam Trigeminam ad saccum licet. 90 quod mihi ne eveniat, non nullum periculum est.
So long as the holidays last we parasites are greyhounds: when they’re over we are wolf-hounds and dear-hounds and bore- hounds, very much so. And, by gad, in this town, at least, if a parasite objects to being banged about and having crockery smashed on his cranium, he can betake himself to the far side of Three Arch Gate and a porter’s bag. (_ruefully_) Which is precious likely to be my own fate.
nam postquam meus rex est potitus hostium-- ita nunc belligerant Aetoli cum Aleis; nam Aetolia haec est, illic est captus in Alide, Philopolemus, huius Hegionis filius senis, qui hie habitat, quae aedes lamentariae mihi sunt, quas quotienscumque conspicio fleo;
For after my patron fell in with the enemy--the Aetolians, you see, are at war now with the Eleans; this is Aetolia, you understand, and it’s there in Elis that Philopolemus is a captive, Philopolemus being the son of Hegio here, the old gentleman that lives in (_pointing_) that house (and a lamentatious house it is! every time I look at it, it makes me weep!)
nunc hic occepit quaestum hunc fili gratia inhonestum et maxime alienum ingenio suo: homines captives commercatur, si queat 100 aliquem invenire, suom qui mutet filium. quod quidem ego nimis quam cupio[4] ut impetret: nam ni illum recipit, nihil est quo me recipiam.
--well, now Hegio has taken up his present business, all for his son’s sake, ungentlemanly business as it is, and quite beneath a man of his type. He’s buying up prisoners of war, to see if he can’t come across one to exchange for his boy. And Lord! how I do yearn for him to succeed! You see, it’s a matter of his coming home, or my going hungry.
nam nulla est spes iuventutis, sese omnis amant; ille demum antiquis est adulescens moribus, cuius numquam voltum tranquillavi gratiis. condigne pater est eius moratus moribus. nunc ad eum pergam. sed aperitur ostium, unde saturitate saepe ego exii ebrius.
For our young fellows are absolutely unpromising--egoists, the whole lot of ’em! But he is a young gentleman of the old school, that lad: I never smoothed the wrinkles out of his brow without getting more than a thankye for it. His father is just such another perfect gentleman. Now for a call on him. (_moves toward Hegio’s house_) But there goes his door, out of which I’ve often come so full of food I was fairly tipsy. (_withdraws_)
I. 2.
## Scene 2.
ENTER _Hegio_ WITH _Slave Overseer_.
_Hegio_
Advorte animum sis tu: istos captives duos, 110 heri quos emi de praeda a quaestoribus, eis indito catenas singularias istas, maiores, quibus sunt iuncti, demito;
Attention, please, my man. Those two captives that I bought yesterday from the commissioners in charge of the spoils-- put the light irons on them and take off the heavy ones they’re coupled with.
sinito ambulare, si foris si intus volent, sed uti adserventur magna diligentia. liber captivos avis ferae consimilis est: semel fugiendi si data est occasio, satis est, numquam postilla possis prendere.
Let them walk out here or inside, whichever they please; but look after them sharp, mind you. A captive free is a regular wild bird: once given a chance to flit, that is enough--you can never get hold of him again.
_Lor._ _Over._
Omnes profecto liberi lubentius sumus quam servimus.
Well, of course sir, we’d all rather be free than slaves.
_Hegio._
Non videre ita tu quidem. 120
That seems untrue of you at any rate.[A]
[Footnote A: Implying that he had not tried to save money to buy his liberty.]
_Lor._ _Over._
Si non est quod dem, mene vis dem ipse--in pedes?
In case I haven’t anything else to give you, how about my giving you--the slip?
_Hegio_
Si dederis, erit extemplo mihi quod dem tibi.
Give me that, and I shall shortly have something to give you.
_Lor._ _Over._
Avis me ferae consimilem faciam, ut praedicas.
I’ll copy that wild bird you speak of.
_Hegio_
Ita ut dicis: nam si faxis, te in caveam dabo. sed satis verborumst. cura quae iussi atque abi. ego ibo ad fratrem ad alios captives meos, visam ne nocte hac quippiam turbaverint. inde me continuo recipiam rursum domum.
Exactly--for then I’ll cage you. But enough of this. Mind my orders and be off with you. I’ll drop in at my brother’s for a look at my other prisoners, and see if they made any disturbance last night. Then I’ll return home again at once. [EXIT _Overseer_ INTO HOUSE.
_Erg._
Aegre est mi, hunc facere quaestum carcerarium propter sui gnati miseriam miserum senem. 130 sed si ullo pacto ille huc conciliari potest, vel carnificinam hunc facere possum perpeti.
(_with a loud sigh_) It does grieve me to see the poor old gentleman at this gaoler’s job for his poor son’s sake. (_in lower tone_) However, if he only manages to get the lad back here somehow, let him turn hangman, too,--I can stand it.
_Hegio_
Quis hic loquitur?
(_looking round_) Who is that speaking here?
_Erg._
Ego, qui tuo maerore maceror, macesco, consenesco et tabesco miser; ossa atque pellis sum miser a macritudine; neque umquam quicquam me iuvat quod edo domi: foris aliquantillum etiam quod gusto, id beat.
(_stepping forward_) I--a man that am all worn out by your woe, that am getting thin, growing old, pining away in sorrow; I’m nothing but skin and bones, I feel for you so. Nothing I eat--at home--ever does me any good, (_aside_) But how I do relish the merest morsel when I’m dining out!
_Hegio_
Ergasile, salve.
Ah, good day, Ergasilus.
_Erg._
Di te bene ament, Hegio.
God bless you, Hegio, bless you bounteously! (_grasps Hegio’s hand fervently and bursts into tears_)
_Hegio_
Ne fle.
Don’t cry.
_Erg._