GIFT OF Spinel/o T MACCI PLAVTI TRINVMMVS RECENSVIT FRIDERICVS RITSCHELIVS EDITIO TERTIA A FRIDERICO SCHOELL RECOGNITA SYRACVSIS IN NOV. EROR. TYPIS D. MASON ET SOC CIOIQCCCXCV THE Trinumtnus of Plautus TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH BY H. O. SIBLEY (Verse : The Argument, Prologue and the Three Lyric Monologues) AND FRANK SMALLEY (Prose) SYRACUSE NEW YORK PRESS OF D. MASON & CO. 1895 768$. t cUor James -Roscoc \u\ ^. f. xvBo^c oncoura^cipcnt tBc PCpFO^ucfion of t^c -broaD potter arc ar incentive to tbo cuhiVMtion of fibcraf GRAECA ' THENSAVRVS PHILEMONIS ACTA ' CONIECTVRA PRIMO ROMAE ANNO ANTE CHRISTVM ' CLXXXVIII ' LVDIS MEGALENSIBVS QVI ' IN ' MATRIS MAGNAE HONOREM ' PR I DIE NONAS APRILES ' ET ' QVINQVE ' DIES INSEQVENTES ' QVOT ANNIS ' FIEBANT HANC ' FABVLAM PLAVTI IN ' PRIMIS PROBAM EGIT ' GREX E SVMMA CLASSE * DISCIP ' VNIVERSITATIS SYRACVSANAE CVRATIONE PROF LING LAT XVII KAL ' IVN ' CIOIOCCCXCV ' SYRACVSIS - IN NOV. EBOR PRAEBVEKE . OPERAM PRAESES DAY PROPRAESES FRENCH ' DECANVS VERNON ' PROF EMENS INSTR REDINGTON ALIIQVE GRATIAS ' AGIT CVRATOR CONLEGIO ARTIVM ELEGANTIVM PRO AVXILIO MODOS FECIT PROF ' FREY ' PARIETES ' SCAENICOS PROF DI FELICE ' DESIGNAV1T IDEM INVOLVCRVM HVIVS LIBELL1 ORNAVJT THE ' GREEK ' ORIGINAL WAS THE THEXSATRl'S OF PHILEMON THE TRIXUMMUS IS SUPPOSED TO ' HAVE BEEN' ACTED FOR THE ' FIRST ' TIME IN ROME IX THE YEAR 188 B C AT THE ' MEGALENSIAN FESTIVAL WHICH WAS - ANNUALLY CELEBRATED ' IN HONOR O* ' THE MOTHER OF THE GODS (CYBELE) ' FOR SIX DAYS . BEGINNING ' OX 'THE FOURTH OF APRIL SOME MEMBERS* OF THE SENIOR CLASS ' OF THE SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ' UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE LATIN DEPARTMENT BROUGHT ' OUT THIS HIGHLY MORAL PLAY OF PLAUTUS AT SYRACUSE ' X ' Y ' MAY 16 ' 1895 CHANCELLOR DAY VICECHAX FRENCH DEAN VERXON PROF EMEXS ' IXSTR REDINGTON AND OTHERS RENDERED ASSISTANCE. THE ' MANAGEMENT ' IS UNDER OBLIGATION TO ' THE FINE- ARTS COLLEGE ' FOR ' AID PROF FREY WROTE THE MUSIC PROF DI ' FELICE ' MADE THE DESIGN FOR THE SCENE AND FOR THE ' COVER ' OF THIS LIBRETTO 'THE . FOLLOWIXG IS THE CAST OF CHARACTERS MISSES KLOCK AND STONE The Prologue MR. H. B. TILBURY . Megaronulei MR. H. H. REVNOLDS . Callicles MR. C. S. GAGER . Lysiieles MR. F. P. SCHEN--K . Phiito MR. A. D. BtRRY . Lcsbomcits MR. J. W. STEVENS Stasi.nu* MR. J. F. REKD . . CkarmMes MR. W. W. XlcHOLS . Sycophants MR. G. H. BASKERRILLU . Tibictn ARGVMENTVM Thensaurum clam apstrusum abiens peregre Charmides Remque omnem amico Callicli mandat suo. Istoc apsente male rem perdit filius. Nam et aedis uendit : has mercatur Callicles. Virgo itidotata soror istius poscitur. Minus quo cum inuidia ei det dotem Callicles, Mandat qui dicat aurum ferre se a patre. Vt uenit ad aedis, hunc deludit Charmides Senex, ut rediit : quoius nubunt liberi. THE ARGUMENT. When on the point of travelling abroad, Old Charmides consigns a hidden treasure, And all his wealth, to Callicles, his friend. While he is absent, foolishly his son Squanders the property, and even sells The homestead. This is bought by Callicles. The young man's maiden sister, though undowered, Is asked in marriage. Callicles, that he May give with less invidious remark A dowry to her, hires a man to say He brings gold from her father. As the man Comes to the house, the old man Charmides, Who has returned, meets and makes sport of him. The old man's children marry happily. PERSONAE LVXVRIA cum INOPIA PROLOGVS MEGARONIDES SENEX CALLICLES SENEX LYSITELES ADVLESCENS PHILTO SENEX LESBONICVS ADVLESCENS STASIMVS SERVOS CHARMIDES SENEX SYCOPHANTA CANTOR THE CHARACTERS. / LUXURY. PROLOGUE, - \ POVERTY, ///^ daughter of Luxury MEGARONIDES, an old man. CALLICLES, an old man. LYSITELES, a young man, son of Philto. PHILTO, an old man. LESBONICUS, a young man, son of Channides. STASIMUS, a slave. CHARM IDES, an old man. SYCOPHANTA, a trickster. A CANTOR. PROLOGVS LVXV.RIA. INOPIA LVXVRIA Sequere hac me, gnata, ut munus fungaris tuom. INOPIA Sequor : sed finem fore quern dicam nescio. LVXVRIA Adest : em illaec sunt aedes : i intro nunciam. Nunc ne quis erret uostrum, paucis in uiam Deducam, si quidem operam dare promittitis. 5 (Nunc igitur primum quae ego sim, et quae illaec siet Hue quae abiit intro, dicam si animum aduortitis.) Primum mihi Plautus nomen Luxuriae indidit : Turn illanc mihi esse gnatam uoluit Inopiam. Sed ea quid hue intro ierit inpulsii meo, 10 Accipite et date uociuas auris dmn eloquor. Adulescens quidamst, qui in hisce habitat aedibus : Is rem paternam me adiutrice perdidit. Quoniam ei, qui me aleret, nil uideo esse relicui, Dedi ei meam gnatam, quicum una aetatem exigat. 15 Sed de argumento ne exspectetis fabulae: Senes, qui hue uenient, i rem uobis aperient. (Huic graece nomen est Thensauro fabulae : Philemo scripsit : Plautus uortit barbare : Nomen Trinummo fecit, nunc hoc uos rogat 2o Vt liceat possidere hanc nomen fabulam.) Tantiimst. ualete : adeste cum silentio. THE PROLOGUE. LUXURY AND POVERTY. Lux. Follow me this way, daughter, to perform Thy mission. Po. I do follow thee, but sooth, I know not what our journey's end will be. Lu. 'Tis near, for yonder is the house. Do thou Enter straightway. Now, friends, that none may fail To understand the matter, I in brief, If you but aid my effort, will explain. First, who I am, and who, if you attend, The maid just gone within, I will declare. Plautus, the bard, has named me Luxury, And given Poverty, the maiden, for my child. But why she enters here at my impulse, Now learn, and while I speak give lively ear. A youth who dwells within, I urging on, Hath brought to ruin his father's fine estate ; And since I see that he hath nothing left With which to nourish me, I've given my child, That he with her may pass his time of need. But that thou may not wait in expectation Th' unfolding of the story, two old men Will enter, and to you disclose the plot. Philemon wrote the play, 'tis called in Greek " The Treasure ;" Plautus turned it into Latin, And named it "The Three Pieces ;" he entreats That it may be allowed to bear this name. Enough, farewell ; give kind and silent ear. 14 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. ACTVS I MEGARONIDES Amicum castigare ob meritam noxiam Inmoenest facinus, uerum in aetate utile Et conducibile. nam ego amicum hodie meum 25 Concastigabo pro conmerita noxia : Inuitis, ni id me muitet ut faciam fides. ^ Nam hie nimium morbus mores inuasit bonos: Ita plerique omnis iam sunt intermortui. Sed dum illi aegrotant, interim mores mali 30 Quasi herba inrigua succreuere uberrume: Eorum licet iam metere messem maxumam Neque quicquam hie uile nunc est nisi mores mali. Nimioque hie pluris paiiciorum gratiam Faciunt pars hominum quam id quod prosint pluribus. 35 Ita uincunt illud conducibile gratiae, Quae in rebus multis opstant odiossaeque sunt Remoramque faciunt rei-priuatae et publicae. CALLICLES. MEGARONIDES CALLICLES Larem corona nostrum decorari uolo : Vxor, uenerare, ut nobis haec habitatio 40 Bona fausta felix fortunataque euenat Teque ut, quam primum possit, uideam emortuam. MEGARONIDES. Hie illest, senecta aetate qui factust puer, Qui admisit in se culpam castigabilem. Adgrediar hominem. CALLICLES Quoia hie uox prope me sonat ? 45 MEGARONIDES Tui beneuolentis, si ita's ut ego te uolo : Sin aliter es, inimfci atque iratiitibi. THE TRixrMMijs OF i'i \rii- 15 ACT I SCENE I (Enter MEGARONIDES.) ME. To reprove a friend justly for his misdeeds is a thankless office, yet, as life goes, it is wholesome and profitable. I shall, therefore, visit upon my friend to-day well-deserved censure for his offense. Unwilling t would be, but that fidelity bids me do it. For here disease has fastened so firmly upon good morals that almost all are near to death. But while these languish bad morals like well- watered plants thrive most luxuriantly. There is nothing cheap here now except bad morals ; but of these one can reap a plenteous harvest. Some men here value the favor of the few much more highly than the general good. Thus favor has greater influence than the public weal, and serves oftentimes to thwart and annoy, and is obstructive to both private and public interests. SCENE II (Enter CALLICLES//W;/ his house and speaking to his wife who is within.} CA. I desire our household god to be crowned with a gar- land. Wife, reverently entreat that our dwelling here may be blest and favored, prospered and fortunate (turning away from the door} and that, as soon as possible, I may welcome your death. ME. (Aside.} There's the man who has become a child in his old age, and is guilty of conduct that deserves punishment. I'll speak to him. CA. Whose voice is this that sounds near me ? ME. The voice of your good friend if you are such as I would wish you ; if not^the voice of your foe, angry with you. 16 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CALLICLES O amice, salue. MEGARONIDES Et tu edepol salue, Callicles. Valen ? ualuistin ? CALLICLES Valeo, et ualui rectius. 50 MEGARONIDES Quid tua agid uxor ? ut ualet ? CALLICLES Plus quam ego uolo. MEGARONIDES Bene herclest illam tibi ualere et uiuere. CALLICLES Credo hercle te gaudere, si quid mihi malist. MEGARONIDES. Omnibus amicis, quod mihist, cupio esse item. CALLICLES Eho tu, tua uxor quid agit? MEGARONIDES Inmortalis est : 55 Viuit uicturaque est. CALLICLES Bene hercle nuntias, Deosque oro ut uitae tuae superstes suppetat. MEGARONIDES Dum quidem hercle tecum niipta sit, sane uelim. CALLICLES Vin conmutemus ? tiiam ego ducam et tu meam ? MEGARONIDES Nempe enim tu, credo, me inprudentem obrepseris. 60 Habeas ut nanctu's : nota mala res optumast. Nam ego nunc si ignotam capiam, quid agam nesciam. CALLICLES Ne tu hercle faxo haud nescias quam rem egeris : THE TRINL'MML'S OF PLAUTUS. 17 CA. Ah, my friend, greeting to you. ME. And hearty greeting to you, Callicles. Are you well ? Have you been well ? CA. Fairly well. ME. How fares your wife ? Is she hale ? CX. Better than I wish. ME. Ton my word, I'm glad, for your sake, that she is alive and well. CA. Of course you are happy if any misfortune befalls me. ME. I wish the same for all my friends as for myself. CA. Come now, its your turn. How's your wife thriving ? ME. She's immortal ; she is living and will keep on living. CA. Surely that's good news. I pray the gods that she may outlive you. ME. Aye, were she yours I would fervently wish the same. CA. Would you like to exchange wives, I taking your's and you mine ? ME. Obviously you are trying to creep upon me una wares- Keep the wife you have. The evil that is known is the most easily endured. For if I should now venture on an untried ill, it would puzzle my wits what to do. CA. Be well assurred that you would soon be aware of the character of your deal. I'll promise you that you would not 18 PLAVTT TR1NVMMVS. Faxo haiid tantillum dederis uerborum mihi. MEGARONIDES Edepol proinde ut diu uiuitur, bene uiuitur. 65 Sed hoc animum aduorte atque aiifer ridicularia : Nam ego dedita opera hue ad te uenio. CALLICLES Quid uenis ? MEGARONIDES Malis te ut uerbis multis multum obiurigem. CALLICLES Men? MEGARONIDES Niimquis est hie alius praeter me atque te ? CALLICLES Nemost. MEGARONIDES Quid tu igitur rogitas, tene obiurigem ? 70 Nisi tu me mihimet censes dicturiim male. Nam si in te aegrotant artes antiquae tuae, Omnibus amicis morbum tu incuties grauem, 75 Vt te uidere audireque aegroti sient. CALLICLES Qui in mentem uenit tibi istaec dicta dicere ? MEGARONIDES Quia omnis bonos bonasque adcurare addecet, Suspitionem et culpam ut apVe_ segregent. CALLICLES Non p.otis utrumque fieri. MEGARONIDES Quapropter ? CALLICLES Rogas ? 80 Ne admittam culpam, ego meo sum promus pectori : Suspitiost in pectore alieno sita. Nam mine ego si te siirrupuisse siispicer loui coronam de capite ex Capitolio, THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 19 defraud me a whit in that bargain. ME. Well, after all, as one lives long with another, he lives on comfortably. But, your attention, jests aside ; I have a pur- pose in coming to you. CA. Why have you come ? ME. To censure you severely and at length. CA. Me? Ms. There is no one here besides you and me, is there ? CA. There is no one. ME. Why do you ask, then, whether I am to censure you? Unless you suppose that I am going to chide myself. For if your former virtues have become diseased you will infect all your friends with a serious malady, so that they will be sick at seeing and hearing you. CA. What put it into your head to utter words like these ? ME. Because all honorable men and women should carefully guard against suspicion and guilt. CA. To avoid both is not possible. ME. Why so? CA. Do you ask ? I carry the key of my own heart to lock out guilt, but suspicion is harbored in the heart of another. For example, if I were to suspect that you had stolen the laurel crown from the head of the statute of Jove surmounting thes um- mit of the Capitol ; and although you be innocent, if, neverthe- 20 PLAVTT TR1NVMMVS. Qui in columine astat summo : si id non feceris, 85 Atque id tamen mihi liibeat suspicarier : Qui tu id prohibere me potes ne siispicer ? Sed istiic negoti cupio scire quid siet. MEGARONIDES Haben tu amicum aut familiarem quempiam, Quoi pectus sapiat ? CALLICLES fidepol baud dicam dolo 90 Sunt quos scio esse amicos, sunt quos suspicor : Sed tu ex amicis certis mi es certissumus. Siquid scis me fecisse inscite aut mprobe, 95 Si id non me accusas, tute obiurgandu's. MEGARONIDES Scio, Et si alia hue causa ad te adueni, aequom postulas. CALLICLES Exspecto siquid dicas. MEGARONIDES Primumdum omnium Male dictitatur tibi uolgo in sermonibus. Turpilucricupidum te /uocant ciues tui ; i oo Turn autem sunt alii, qui te uolturium uocant : Hostisne an ciuis comedis, parui pendere. Haec quom audio in te dici, discrucior miser. CALLICLES Est atque non est mi in manu, Megaronides : Quin dicant, non est : merito ut ne dicant, id est. 105 MEGARONIDES Fuitne hie tibi amicus Charmides ? .CALLICLES Est et fuit. Id ita esse ut credas, rem tibi auctorem dabo. Nam postquam hie eius rem confregit filius Videtque ipse ad pauperiem prostratum esse se Suamque filiam esse adultam ufrginem, I JQ Simul eius matrem, suarnpte uxorem, mortuam ; Quoniam hinc iturust ipsus in Seleuciam, conmendauit ufrginem gnatam suam THE TRINUMMUS )K PLATU>. "21 less, I am pleased to suspect you, how can you prevent this suspicion ? But I am anxious to know what that business of yours is. ME. Have you any friend or acquaintance whose judgment is trustworthy ? CA. I will speak with perfect frankness. There are some whom I know to be my friends, and others whom I suppose to be, but I count you the fastest friend of all. If you know of any base or foolish act which I have done and do not call me to account, you deserve yourself to be reproved. ME. Quite true, and if for any other purpose I have come to you, your sentence is just. CA. I wait, if you have aught to say. ME. First, then, people generally speak ill of you. Your fellow citizens nickname you Turpilucricupidum (covetous of base gain), and some call you a vulture, saying that you care little whether you devour stranger or fellow citizen. When I hear these charges against you I am greatly. -distressed. CA. This matter both is and is not in my power, Megaron- ides. I cannot prevent evil reports, I can prevent their being deserved. ME. Was not this Charmides your friend ? CA. He was and is my friend, and I will state to you a fact as evidence. After his son had squandered his fortune, and he saw that he was reduced to poverty, that his daughter was grouw to womanhood, and that his wife, the daughter's mother, was dead, now that, he was to depart for Selencia, he confided to my charge all his property, his maiden daughter and that profli- 22 PLAVTI TRtNVMMVS. Et rem suam omnem et ilium corrumptum iilium. Haec, si mi inimicus esset, credo baud crederet. 115 MEGARONIDES Quid tu adulescentem, quern esse corrumptum uides, Qui tuae mandatus est fide et fiduciae, Quin eum restituis ? quin ad frugem conrigis ? Ei rei operam dare te fiierat aliquanto aequius, Siqui probiorem facere posses, non uti 120 In can clem tute accederes infamiam Malumque ut eius cum tuo misceres malo. CALLTCLES Quid feci ? MEGARONIDES Quod homo nequam. CALLICLES Non istuc meumst. MEGARONIDES Emistin de adulescente hasce aedes ? quid taces ? Vbi niinc tute habitas. CALLICLES Emi atque argentum dedi 125 (Minas quadraginta, adulescenti ipsi in inanum). MEGARONIDES Dedisti argentum ? CALLICLES Factum, neque facti piget. MEGARONIDES Edepol fide adulescentem mandatum malae. Dedistine hoc facto ei gladium qui se occideret ? Quid sectiust [aut quid interest] dare te in manus 130 Argentum amanti homini adulescenti, animi ampoti, Qui exaedificaret suam incohatam ignauiam ? CALLICLES Non ego illi argentum redderem ? MEGARONIDES Non redderes, Neque de illo quicquam neque emeres neque uenderes, THK TRIXUMMIS OF PLAUTUS. 23 gate son. If he were unfriendly to me, I do not think that he would have so trusted me. ME. What about that young man whom you know to be profligate and who was committed to your trusty and faithful care? Why do you not reform him? Why do you not direct him into an honorable course ? It would have been much more fitting for you to stiive by some means to make of him a better man than to share his infamy by mingling your own dishonor with his. CA. What have I done ? ME. Deeds worthy of a villain. CA. That characterization does not fit me. ME. Have you not bought of the young man this house Why are you silent ? where you are now residing ? CA. I bought it and paid the money, forty minae, into his own hands. ME. You paid him money ? CA. I did and do not regret it. ME. Well, truly, a young man committed to a faithless guardian ! Did you not by this act put into his hands a sword for self-destruction ? What else is it, or how differ, when to a young man full of passion and devoid of will-power you pay over money by which he may complete the building, already under way, of his own dishonor ? CA. Ought I not to have paid him the money ? ME. You ought not ; nor to buy anything of him, nor sell 24 t>LAVTI TRINVMMVS. Nec qui deterior esset, faceres copiam. 135 Inconciliastin' cum, qui mandatust tibi ? Ille qui mandauit, exturbasti ex aedibus ? Edepol mandatum pulcre et curatum probe. Crede huic tutelam : suam rem melius gesserit/ CALLICLES Subigis maledictls me tuis, Megaronides, 140 Nouo modo adeo ut, quod meae concreditumst 7 * Tacitiirnitati clam, fide et fiduciae, Ne enuntiarem quoiquam neu facerem palam, Vt mihi necesse sit iam id tibi concredere. ' MEGARONIDES Mihi quod credideris, siimes ubi posiueris. 145 CALLICLES Circumspicedum te, nequis adsit arbiter. MEGARONIDES Non cst CALLICLES Sed quaeso idcntidem circiimspice. MEGARONIDES #####!## Ausculto siquid dicas. CALLICLES Si taceas, loquar. Quoniam hinc est profccturus peregre Charmides, Thensaiirum demonstrauit mihi in hisce aedibus, 150 Hie in conclaui quodam. sed circiimspice. MEGARONIDES Nemo Me est. CALLICLES Nummum Philippeum ad tria milia. Id solus solum per amicitiam et per fidem Flens me opsecrauit suo ne gnato crederem, Neu quoiquam unde ad eum id posset permanascere. 155 Nunc si ille hue saluos reuenit, reddam suom sibi ; Si quid eo fucrit, certe illius filiae, Quae mihi mandatast habeo dotem cunde dem, Vt earn in se disrnam condicionem conlocem. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTTS, 25 anything to him, nor furnish any means to hasten his ruin. Have you not duped him who was confided to your trust ? Have you not ousted from his house the man who gave the trust ? Egad ! a trust nobly and honorably managed ! Only make him guardian and he will feather his own nest. GA. By your reproaches, Megaronides, you compel me, in a manner quite unexpectevl, to impart to you that which was con- fided to my faithful and constant secrecy with the it junction not to disclose it to any one nor make it public. ME. Whatever you deposit with me you can have again on demand. CA. Look about to make sure that we are not overheard. ME. There is no one near. CA. But I beg you to keep a sharp outlook. ME. (After looking around}. I am attentive if you have anything to say. CA. Be silent and I will speak. When Charmides went abroad he showed me a treasure in his house, locked in a certain room, but look around. ME. There is no one here. CA. Of about three thousand philippeans (about $10,000). He and I being alone, with tears he begged me by our friend- ship and mutual confidence that I would not reveal it to his son, nor to anyone from whom he could learn the secret. Now, if he returns in safety I will restore to him his property. If anything should befall him I have at least wherewith to provide a dowry for his daughter, whom he committed to my charge, so that I may provide for her a marriage worthy of her station. PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. MEGARONIDES Pro di immortales, uerbis paucis quam cito 160 Alium fecisti me : alius ad te ueneram. Sed ut occepisti, perge porro proloqui. CALLTCLES Quid tibi ego dicam, qui illius sapientiam Et meam fidelitatem et celata omnia Paene ille ignauos funditus pessiim dedit ? 165 MEGARONIDES Quidiim ? CALLICLES Quia, ruri dum ego sum unos sex dies, Me apsente atque insciente, inconsultii meo, Aedis uenalis hasce inscribit litteris. MEGARONIDES Adesuriuit et inhiauit acrius. Lupus opseruauit, dum dormitaret canes: 170 Gregem uniuorsum uoluit totum auortere. CALLICLES Fecisset edepol, ni haec praesensisset canes. Sed nunc rogare hoc ego uicissim te uolo : Quid fuit officium meum me facere, fac sciam. Vtrum mdicare me ei thensaurum aequom fuit, 175 Aduorsum quam eius me opsecrauisset pater ? An ego alium dominum paterer fieri hisce aedibus ? Qui emisset, eius essetne ea pecunia ? Emi egomet potius aedis : argentum dedi Thensauri causa, ut saluom amico traderem. 180 Neque adeo hasce emi mihi nee ussurae meae : llli redemi russum, a me argentum dedi. Haec sunt : si recte seu peruorse facta sunt, iLgo me fecisse confiteor, Megaronides. Em mea malfacta, em meam iam auaritiam tibi: 185 Hascine propter res maledicas famas ferunt ? MEGARONIDES. TIav6ai : uicisti castigatorem tuom. Occlusti linguam : nihil est quod respondeam. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 'i\ ME. Good Heavens ! how quickly with few words you have completely changed me ! I came to you a different man But proceed as you have begun. CA. How shall I describe to you the way in which, that scapegrace nearly upset his father's precaution, my fidelity and the whole secret ? ME. How, then ? CA. Why, while I was spending a few days in the country, without informing or consulting me he^advertised the house for sale by a placard. ME. He was very hungry and opened his mouth very eagerly. The wolf was on the watch while the dog was asleep ; he wanted to ravage the whole flock at onee. CA. And, as I live, he would have done it, if this dog hadn't smelt it out beforehand. But now, in turn, I want to ask you a question. What do you think it was my duty to do ? Ought I to have revealed to him the treasure in the face of his father's earne t entreaty? Or ought I to have suffered a stranger to become owner of the house ? Would not the treasure be the property of the purchaser ? To avoid all, I myself bought the house. I paid the money to save the treasure, in order that I might restore it intact to my friend. Nor did I even buy the house for my own use, but redeemed it for him, paying the money out of my own pocket. These are my acts; and whether right or wrong, I acknowledge them, Megaronides. Here are my misdeeds, here is my avarice for you. It is for these that I am slandered. ME. Desist ! You have vanquished your reprover. You have closen my mouth ; I can make no reply. 28 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CALLICLES Nunc ego te quaeso ut me opera et consilio iuues, Conmunicesque hanc mecum meam prouinciam. MEGARONIDES Polliceor operam. CALLICLES Ergo ubi eris paulo post ? MEGARONIDES Domi. CALLICLES Numqufd uis ? MEGARONIDES Cures tuam fidem. CALLICLES Fit sedulo. MEGARONIDES Sed quid ais ? CALLICLES Quid uis ? MEGARONIDES Vbi nunc adulescens habet ? CALLICLES Posticulum hoc recepit, quom aedis uendidit. MEGARONIDES Istuc uolebam scire. i sane nunciam. 195 Sed quid ais, quid nunc uirgo ? nempe apud test ? CALLICLES Itast, luxtaque earn euro cum mea. MEGARONIDES Recte facis. CALLICLES Numquid, priusquam abeo, me rogaturu's ? MEGARONIDES Vale. Nihil est profecto stultius neque stolidius, THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 29 CA. Now I request that you give me aid and counsel and share with me the government of this province of mine. ME. I pledge you my aid. CA. Where will you be a little later ? ME. At home. CA. Anything more ? ME. Keep your trust. CA. With all care. ME. But another thing. CA. What is that ? ME. Where is the young man staying now ? CA. He reserved this small building in the rear when he sold the house. ME. That is what I wanted to know. I will not detain you longer. But, stay ! What about the girl ? Of course, she's at your house ? CA. Yes, I care for her the same as for my own daughter. i ME. You do well. CA. Anything more before I go '* ME. Xo ; farewell, Assuredly nothing can be compared with 30 PLAVTT TRINVMMVS. [Neque mendaciloquom neque adeo argutum magis,] 200 Neque confidentiloquius nec[ue peiiurius, Quam urban! adsidui ciues quos scurras uocant. Atque egomet me adeo cum illis una ibidem traho : Qui illorum uerbis falsis acceptor fui, Qui omni'a se simulant scire neque quicquam sciunt. 205 (Quod quisque in animod habet aut habituriist, sciunt: Sciunt, quid in aurem rex reginae dixerit : Sciunt, quod luno fabulatast ciim loue:) [Quae neque futura neque sunt, tamen illi sciunt.J Falson' an uero laudent, culpent quern uelint, 210 Non flocci faciunt, dum illud quod lubeat sciant. Omnis mortalis hunc aiebant Calliclem Indignum ciuitate ac sese uiuere, Bonis qui hunc adulescentem euortisset suis. Ego de eorum uerbis famigeratorurn insciens 215 Prosilui amicum castigatum innoxium. Quod si exquiratur usque apstirpe auctoritas, Vnde quidque auditum dicant : nisi id adpareat, Famigeratori res sit cum damno et malo : Hoc ita si fiat, piiblico fiat bono ; Pauci sint faxim qui sciant quod nesciunt, Occlusioremque habeant stultiloquentiam. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 31 these busybodies of the town whom they call gossips, for folly and stupidity, for prating falsehoods, for audacious and perjured assertions. And I put myself in the same class for crediting their lies. They pretend to know everything, but actually know nothing at all. They know what every man has in mind or is going to have ; they know what the king whispered into the ear of the queen ; they know what Juno said in conversation with Jove. That which does not exist nor ever will exist, yet they know it just the same. When they wish to praise or blame a person, they care not a whit whether their words are true or false, only so they get credit for knowing whatever suits their notion. Everybody was saying that this man Callicles is unworthy of citizenship, unfit to live, for having defrauded that young man out of his property. I, prompted by their scandals, hastened, in my ignorance, to censure my innocent friend. Now, if, when scandals are traced to their source and no authority for them be found, a fine and punishment were meted out to the scandal- mongers, the result would be a public blessing. I would see to it there be precious few to know what they don't know and that they put a check on their silly tattle. 32 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. ACTVS II LYSITELES Multas res simitu in meo corde uorso, Multum in cogitando dolorem indipiscor. (Egomet me coquo et macero et defetigo : 225 Magister mihi exercitor animus nunc est.) Sed hoc non liquet nee satis cogitatumst, Vtram potius harum mihi artem expetessam, Vtram aetati agundae arbiter firmiorem : Amorin me au rei opsequi potius par sit : 230 (Vtra in parte plus sit uoluptatis uitae Ad aetatem agundam.) De hac re mihi satis hau liquet : nisi hoc sic faciam, opinor, Vt utramque rem simul exputem, iudex sim reusque ad earn rem. Ita faciam : ita placet. 235 Omnium primum amoris arteis quern ad modum expediant eloquar. Numquam amor quemquam nisi cupidum postulat se hominem in plagas Conicere : eos petit, eos sectatur, subdole ab re consulit : Blandiloquentulust, harpago, mendax, cuppes, Despoliator, latebricolarum hominum comimptor, 240 Celatum indagator. Nai) qui atnat, quod amat quom extemplo eius sauiis per- ciilsus est, flico res foras labitur, liquitur. 'Da mihi hoc, mel meum, si me amas, si aiides.' Atque ibi ille cuculus : 'o ocelle mi, fiat : 245 Et istuc et si amplius uis dari, dabitur.' Ibi pendentem ferit : iam amplius orat ; [Non satis id est mali, ni ampliust etiam,] Quod bibit, quod comest, quod facit sumpti. 250 Nox datur : ducitur familia tota : Vestipljca, unctor ? auri custos, flabelliferae, sandaligerulae, THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 33 ACT II SCENE I (Enter LYSITELES.) Lv So many matters in my mind at once I turn, that constant cogitation brings Me great distress ; and I do harass, fret, And so fatigue myself that now my mind Becomes a training master. But my thinking Doth not make it clear, nor settle quite Which of these arts to follow, which to deem Of more importance for the game of life, Pursuit of love or wealth ; on which sides falls, In spending time, more pleasure. On this point My mind is not quite clear, nor will it be, Unless I should consider both together, And in the matter be both judge and culprit. I like that notion, I will do it. First I'll state the arts of love, how they proceed. Love never seeks a victim save a fool Eager to cast himself into his snare. Such he aims at, pursues, and to their harm Gives counsel. He's a flatterer, a liar, A baited hook, a dainty loving scamp, A thief, corrupter of the brothel-haunters, A pryer-into-secrets. He who has A lady-love, when stabbed with coaxing kisses, How fast his substance melts and glides away ! " If thou dost love me, sweet, please give me this." And he, the cuckoo, thereupon replies, " My little jewel, thou shalt have it ; yes If thou dost wish, I'll give thee that, and more." And then she plies the spineless fool ; at once She asks for more, and what she eats and drinks, The expense she makes, is not enough ill Unless more follows. Night comes on. The whole Establishment is mustered, wardrobe maid, Anointer, treasurer, fan and slipper bearers, 34 PLAVTI TR1NVMIMVS. Cantrices, cistellatrices, nuntii renuntii, Raptores panis et peni. Fit ipse, dum illis comis est, 255 Inops amator. Haec ego quom cum meo animo repute [et recolo ], Vbi qui eget, preti quam sit parui : 2$^ Apage amor, non places, nil ego ted utor. Quamquam illud dulcest, esse et bibere, 'Amor amari dat satis quod aegrest : 260 Fugit forum, fugat suos cognatos, Fugat se ipsus ap suo contutu [Neque eum sibi amicum uolunt dici.J Mille modis amor ignorandust, procul abdendus atque ap- standust. Nam qui in amorem praecipitauit, peius perit quasi saxo saliat. 265 Apage te sis, amor : tuas res tibi habeto. Amor, amicus mihi ne fuas : Siint tamen, quos miseros misere maleque habeas, Quos tibi fecisti obnoxios. Certa res est ad frugem adplicare animum : 270 Quamquam ibi grandis capitur labos. Boni sibi.haec expetunt, rem, fidem, honorem, Gloriam et gratiam : hoc probis pretiumst E6 mihi magis lubet cum probis potius Quam inprobis uiuere uanidicis. 275 PHILTO. LYSITELES PHILTO Quo illic homo fcSras se penetrauit ex aedibus ? LYSITELES Pater adsum : inpera quiduis, neque ero in mora tibi, Nee latebrose me aps tuo conspectu occultabo. PHILTO Feceris par tuis ceteris factis, Si patrem percoles. tuam per pietatem, 280 Nolo ego cum inprobis te uiris, gnate mi, Neque in uia neque in foro necullum sermonem exsequi. TIIF. TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 35 Singers, and bearers of the money box, And those that carry tidings to and fro, Robbers of bread and meat. Polite to these The lover soon himself is destitute. Revolving this in mind, as I reflect How little one is thought of when he's poor, I cry, "Begone, Love, I've no use for thee !" To eat and drink is sweet, yet love bestows Of bitter a full dose. He flees the forum, Scatters thy kinsmen, drives thee from their sight, Nor do they wish him to be called their friend. Love in a thousand ways should be ignored, Driven away, kept at a distance. Yes ; For he who falls in love as surely dies As if he leaped from the Tarpeian rock. Begone, Love, please, attend thine own affairs, And mayst thou never be a friend of mine. Yet there are always some whom thou dost hold In wretched bondage, and hast made, alas, Thy ready servants. Now pursuit of wealth Is sure to fix the mind on honest business, Although thereby it must assume great care. Good men pursue wealth, credit, honor, fame, And favor. These reward the just. And so, I more incline to live with honest men Than cast my lot with hypocrites and liars. SCENE II (Enter PmLTO/rem his house.} PH. Where hath that boy of mine betaken himself? Lv. Father, I'm here, command me, there shall be No loitering, nor ever from thy sight Shall I conceal myself. PH. Tis well, my son ; If thou thy sire dost .honor, thou wilt act In keeping with thy previous conduct quite, And filial love. I greatly wish thee, b y, With wicked men to have no speech at all In street nor forum ; for too well I know otf IM.AVTI TRINVMIUVS. Noui_ego hoc saeculum, moribus qiiibus sit: Malus bonum malum esse uolt, ut sit sui similis ; Turbant, miscent mores mali, rapax, auarus, inuidus : 285 Sacrum profanum, puplicum priuatum habent, hiulca gens. Haec ego doleo, haec sunt quae excruciant, haec dies noctes canto ut caueas. Quod manu nequeunt tangere, tantum fas habent quo manus apstineant : Cetera rape, trahe, fuge, late. Lacrumas mi haec quom uideo eliciunt, quia ego ad hoc genus duraui hominum. 290 Quin prius me ad pluris penetraui ? Nam hi mores maiorum laudant, eosdem lutitant quos conlaudant. Jiis ego de artibus gratiarn facio, Ne inbuas eis tuom ingenium. Meo modo moribus uiuito antiquis: 295 Quae ego tibi praecipio, ea facito. Nihil ego istos moror faeceos mores, Quibus boni sese dedecorant. Haec tiBi si mea capesses inperia, Multa bona in pectore consident. 300 LYSITELES Semper ego usque ad hanc aetatem ab ineunte adulescentia Tuis seruiui seruitutem inpcriis, praeceptis, pater. Pro fngenio ego me liberum esse latus sum, pro inperio tuo Meum animum tibi seruitutem seruire aequom censui. PHILTO Quf homo cum animo inde ab ineunte aetate depugnat suo. 305 Vtrum itane esse mauelit, ut eum animus aequom censeat, An ita potius, ut parentis cum esse et cognaif uelint : Si animus hominem pepulit, actumst, animo seruit, non sibi; Sin ipse animum pepulit, uiuit, uictor uictoriim cluet. Tu si animum_ uicisti potius quam animus te, est quod 310 gaudeas. (Nimio satiust, lit opust ita ted esse, quam ut animo lubet. Qui animum uincunt, quam quos animus, semper probioivs cluent.) THi: TRIM' MM US *M PLAUTUS. 37 The morals of this age. The bad man wishes The good man like himself. Bad-moraled men Rapacious, greedy, envious, create Confusion and disturbance. This vile tribe, With mouth wide open, seize upon for prey Public and private, sacred and profane. This state of things grieves and distresses me And so I harp about it day and night To keep thee on thy guard. What with the hand They cannot touch, this only do they think It right to keep their hands from. Other things Pillage and plunder, then escape and hide. Viewing the morals of the day, I weep That I have lived to see this race of men. Why did I, not, before these evils, join That greater host below ? Men now extol The virtues of the fathers, then asperse The very men they praise. Such arts as these I beg thee not to practice, not to taint Thy nature with them. Like thy father live, And in the good old way. Remember, too, My precepts. I say nothing as regards The wild and foolish habits of thy youth, With such oftimes good men disgrace themselves. If my instructions thou wilt only heed, Many good precepts in thy heart will sink. Lv From my earliest youth I have ever, father, been obedient to your command and teachings, deeming myself a free man by nature, I have yet thought it just to subject my inclination to your authority. PH. The man who from early life, contending against his bent, seeks to settle the question whether his inclinations, or, better, the good advice of parents and friends shall determine his course, will be ruined and become a slave to passion if inclina- tion prevails ; whereas, if he gets the mastery over self, while he lives he will enjoy the distinction of the grandest victory. You have reason to rejoice if you have ruled your spirit rather than your spirit you. It is far better to follow the dictates of prudence than of passion. Fairer is ever their repute who in this contest win than theirs who yield. 38 PLAVTI LYSITELES Istaec ego mi semper habui aetati integumentiim meae, Ne penetrare n me usquam, ubi esset damni conciliabolum, Neu noctu irem obambulatum, neii suom adimerem alteri 315 Ne tibi aegritudinem, pater, parerem, parsi sedulo : Sarta tecta tua praecepta usque habui mea modestia. PHILTO Exprobras, bene quod fecisti ? libi fecisti, non mihi. Mfhi quidem aetas actast fernie, tua istuc refert maxume. Benefacta benefactis aliis pertegito, ne perpluant : Is probust, quern paenitet, quam probus sit et fru^i bonae. (Qui ipsus sibi satis placet, nee probus est nee frugf bonae : Qui ipsus se contemnit, in eost indoles industriae.) LYSITELES 6b earn rem haec, pater, autumaui, qufa res quaedamst, quam uolo Kgo me aps te exorare. PHILTO Quid id est ? ueniam dare iam gestio. 325 LYSITELES Adulescenti hinc gene re sumino, arnico atque aequali meo, Minus qui caute et cogitate suam rem tractauit, pater, Bene uolo ego illi facere, si tu non neuis. PHILTO Nempe de tuo ? LYSITELES De meo : nam quod tuomst, meumst, omne meum autem tuormt. PHILTO Quid is ? egetne ? LYSITELES Eget. PHILTO Habuitne rem ? LYSITELES Habuit. PHILTO Qui earn perdidit ? 330 Piiblicisne adfinis fuit an maritumis negotiis ? THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. . 9 LY. I have always had those precepts of yours as a shelter to my youth, to keep me from the assemblies of the vicious, from night-revelry and from defrauding others. I have studiously refrained, father, from causing you pain and have always dis- creetly observed your rules without a breach. PH. Why vaunt your merits ? Your upright life has bene- fited you, not me, a fact of the greatest importance to you, but the sands of my life are well-nigh run. Heap good deeds on good deeds lest they lose their value. He is the good and honorable man who aims at higher excellences, not he who is satisfied with his merits. That man has a true genius for life's work who thinks modestly of himself. LY. I have made these remarks, father, because I would like to obtain a certain favor from you. PH. What is it ? I am longing to grant it. LY. If you do not object, father, I would like to do a kind- ness to a young mail here of noble birth, my friend and com- panion, who has handled his means with too little care and foresight. PH. Out of your own means of course. LY. Out of my own means ; for all that is yours is mine and mine is yours. PH. What of him ? Is he in want ? LY. He is. PH. Did he have means ? LY. He did. PH. How did he lose it ? Was he engaged in business pre- taining to the State or in ventures at sea ? Was it in trade, or 40 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. Mercaturan', an uenalis habuit, ubi rem perdidit ? LYSITELES Nihil istorum. PHILTO Quid igitur ? LYSITELES Per comitatem edepol, pater. Praeterea aliquantum animi causa in deliciis disperdidit. PHILTO Edepol hominem praemandatum ferme [et] familianter, 335 Qui quidem nuiquam per uirtutem rem confregit, aique eget. Nil moror eum tibi esse amicum cum eius modi uirtutibus. LYSITELES Quia sine omni malitiast, tolerare ei egestatem uolo. PHILTO De mendico male meretur, qui ei dat quod edit aiit bibat : Nam et illud quod dat perditet illi prodit uitam ad miseriam. 340 Non eo haec dico, quin quae tu uis ego uelim et faciam lubens : Sed ego hoc uerbum quom illi quoidam dico, praemostro tibi, Vt ita te aliorum miserescat, ne tis alios misereat. LYSITELES Deserere ilium et deiuuare in rebus aduorsis pudet. PHILTO Pol pudere quam pigere praestat totidem litteris. 345 LYSITELES fidepol deum uirtute dicam, pater, et maiorum et tua Multa bona bene parta habemus : bene si amico feceris. p^ PHILTO D.9, magnis diuitiis si quid demas, plus fit an minus ? LYSITELES Minus, pater, sed ciui inmuni scin quid cantari solet ? 350 'Quod babes ne habeas, et illuc quod non babes habeas : malum, Quando equidem nee tibi bene esse pute pad neque alteri.' PHILTO Scio equidem istuc ita solere fieri: uerum, gnate mi, Is est inmunis, quoi nihil est qui miinus fungatur suom. THK TKIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 41 was he dealing in slaves when" he lost it ? LY. None of these. PH. How then V LY. Through liberality, to be sure, father. Besides he has squandered considerable on pleasures and self indulgence. PH. 'Pon my word, a very friendly commendation of a man who has shattered his fortune by no honorable means and yet is in want. I do not care to have you on terms of friendship with virtues of that kind. LY. Because he is not at all vicious I would like to relieve his wants. PH. He deserves ill of a beggar who supplies him food and drink, for he both loses what he gives and prolongs for the latter a life of misery. Not but that I am willing and glad to do as you desire, but while I state this maxim for the benefit of your unnamed friend, I caution you not to pity others in such a way that others may have to pity you. LY. I am ashamed to desert him in his trouble and withhold assistance. PH. Nay, but shame is better than blame, though the letters number the same. LY. Truly, by the blessing of heaven, I may say, father, and through your aid and that of our ancestors we have a fine fortune. Do not blame yourself if you have shown kindness to a friend ; rather should you be ashamed if you have failed to do so. PH. If from a large fortune you take away something, does it decrease or diminish ? LY. It becomes less, father; but do you know the lines people sing about a niggardly man ? " May you not have what you have, and have what you have not ; for you, wretch, permit your possessions to benefit neither yourself nor others." PH. I am well aware of that custom ; but, my son, he is, in the true sense, niggardly who has nothing with which to do his part. 42 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. LYSITELES Deum uirtute habemus, et qui nosmet utamur, pater, 355 Et aliis qui comitati simus beneuolentibus. PHILTO Non edepol tibi pernegare possum quidquam quod uelis. Quoii egestatem tolerare uis ? loquere audacter patri. LYSITELES Lesbonico hinc adulescenti, Charmidai filio, Qui illic habitat. PHILTO Quin comedit quod fuit, quod non fuit ? 360 LYSITELVS Ne exprobra, pater : multa eueniunt homini, quae uolt quae neuolt. PHILTO Mentire edepol, gnate, atque id nunc facis baud consuetudine. Nam sapiens quidem pol ipsus fingit fortunam sibi : E6 non multa quae neuolt eueniunt, nisi fictor malust. LYSITELES Multa illi opera opust ficturae, qui se fictorem probum 365 Vitae agundae esse expetit : sed hie admodurn adulescentulust. PHILTO Non aetate, uerutn ingenio apiscitur sapientia. Agidum eloquere, quid dare illi nunc uis ? LYSITELES Nil quicquam, pater. Tu modo ne me prohibeas accipere, si quid det mihi. 370 PHILTO An eo egestatem ei tolerabis, sf quid ab illo acceperis ? LYSITELES E6, pater. PHILTO Pol ego istam uolo me rationem edoceas LYSITELES Licet. Scin tu ilium quo genere gnatus sit ? THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 43 LY. Thanks to the gods, we have both enough for ourselves and with which to be liberal to our friends. PH. Really, I cannot altogether refuse anything you wish. Who is the person whose wants vou would relieve ? Speak freely to your father. LY. This young Lesbonicus, son of Charmides, who resides there. PH. What, he who has eaten up all he had and more, too ? LY. Do not reproach him, father: fortune brings evil as well as good. PH. Nay, but you are mistaken, my son, and you do not usually reason thus; for the wise man is most certainly the architect of his own fortune, and unless he is an unskilled work- man, the unwished for does not often result. LY. He must bestow much pains on his fashioning who would form with skill the course of life ; but he is quite young. PH. Wisdom is not acquired by years^ but depends on dis- position. But, come, now, tell me what you wish to give him. LY. Nothing whatever, father ; only that you will not pre- vent my acceptance if he should offer anything to me. PH. Is that the way you are to relieve his wants, by accept- ing something from him ? LY. That is the way, father. PH. Egad! I wish you would show me how that can be done. LY. I will. Do you know the standing of his family ? 44 PLAYTI TR1XVM.MVS. PHILTO Scio, adprime, probo. LYSITELES Soror illist adiilta uirgo grandis : earn cupio, pater, Diicere uxorem sine dote. PHILTO Sine dote uxoremne ? LYSITELES Ita, 375 Tua re salua : hoc pacto ab illo summam inibis gratiam, Ncque commodius lillo pacto ei poteris auxiliarier. PHILTO f Egone indotatam te uxorem ut patiar ? LYSITELES Patiundumst pater: Et eo pacto addideris nostrae lepidam famam familiae. PHILTO Multa ego possum docta dicta [et] qudmuis facunde loqui : 380 Hfstoriam ueterem atque antiquam haec mea senect'us siistinet. Verum ego quando te et amicitiam et -. gratiam in nostram domum Video adlicere, etsi aduorsatus tibi fui, istac iudico : Tibi permitto, posce, duce, LYSITELES Di te seruassint mihi. Sed ad istam adde gratiam ununi. PHILTO Quid id est autem unum ? LYSITELES Elo(juar. 385 Tiite ad eum adeas ut concilies, tiite poscas. PHILTO Eccere. LYSITELES .Njmio citius taansiges : firmum omne erit, quod tu egeris. Grauius tuom erit unum uerbum ad earn rem quam centum mea. THE TRIXT.MMUS OF PLAUTUS. 4o PH. Yes; very high. Lv. He has a sister who is now of marriageable age. I desire to take her for a wife, father, without a dowry. PH. What ! A wife without a dowry ! Lv. Just so, but without expense to you. In this way you will obtain his warmest esteem and cannot, in any other manner, so opportunely assist him. PH. And shall I suffer you to take a wife without a dowry ? Lv. You must permit me, father, and thus you will gain an excellent reputation for our family. PH. I could utter many wise sayings and speak very fluently on this subject ; for this old age of mine could relate the stories of former days. But since I see that your purpose is to gain friendship and esteem for our family, although I was averse, I decide in your favor ; I give my permission ; ask for the girl and marry her. Lv. May the gods preserve you ! But grant me an additional favor. PH. Well, what is that ? Lv. I will tell you. Do \nn go to him, you win him over, you ask for her. PH. Did you ever hear the like ! Lv. You will bring it about much more quickly than I could ; ail that you do will be done to stay. One word of yours to that effect will have more weight than a hundred of mine. 46 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. PHILTO Ecce autem in benignitate repperi negotium. Dabitur opera. LYSITELES Lepidus uiuis. haec sunt aedes, hie habet : 390 Lesbonicost no men. age rem ciira : ego te opperiar domi. PHILTO Non optuma haec sunt, neque ut ego aecum censeo : Verum meliora sunt quam quae deterruma. Sed hoc unum consolatur me atque animum meum, Quia qui nil aliud, nisi quod sibi soli placet, 395 Consiilit aduorsum filium, nugas agit : Miser ex animo fit, factius nihilo facit Suae senectuti acriorem hiemem parat, Quom illam inportunam temptestatem conciet. Sed aperiuntur aedes, quo ibam : commodum 400 Ipse exit Lesbonicus cum seruo foras. LESBONICVS. STASIMVS. PHILTO LESBONICVS Minus quindecim dies sunt, quom pro hisce aedibus Minas quadraginta accepisti a Callicle. Estne hoc quod dico, Stasime ? STASIMVS Quom considero, Memiiusse uideor fieri. LESHONICVS Quid factumst eo ? 405 STASIMUS, Exessum, expotum, exunctum, elutum in balineis. Piscator, pistor apstulit, lanii, coqui, Holitores, myropolae, aiicupes : contit cito. Non hercle minus diuorse distrahitur cito, Quam si tu obicias formicis papauerem. 410 LESBONICVS Minus hercle in istis rebus sumptumst SL-X minis. THE TR1NUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 47 PH. See now into what a troublesome job I've got myself by my affability ! You can count on my assistance. LY. You are very kind. This is the house ; here he resides ; his name is Lesbonicus. Quickly attend to the matter. I will await you at home. (Exit LYSITELES.) SCENE III PH. This is not the best course, nor does it seem to me to be reasonable ; it is, on the other hand, not the worst possible course. But my feelings are consoled by this one reflection, that the man who determines with regard to his son only what is agreeable to himself, acts foolishly. He suffers in mind and in no way advances his end. He is preparing a more severe winter for his old age when he provokes an unseasonable storm upon his head. But some one is opening the door of the house to which I was going. Lesbonicus himself with his slave is coming out Justin time. SCENE IV (PHILTO steps to one side, Etiter LESBONICUS and STASIMUS from the house.} LE. It is less than a fortnight since you received from Cal- licles forty minae for this house. Am I not right, Stasimus ? ST. When I consider I seem to recall that it is so. LE. What has been done with it ? ST. Eaten up, drunk up, spent on ointments, spent on baths ; the fish dealer and the baker have carried it off, and the butchers, the cooks, the green-grocers, the perfumers and the poulterers; it was soon gone. Ye gods! it was scattered in all directions as quickly as a poppy thrown to ants. at certainly less than six minae were spent in that way. 48 I'l.AVTl TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Quid, quod dedisti scortis ? LESBONICVS Ibidem una traho. STASIMVS Quid, .quod ego frudaui ? LESBONICVS Em istaec ratio m ax u mast. STASIMVS Non tibi illud adparere, si sumas, potest, Nisi tu inmortale rere esse argent um tibi. 415 PHILTO Sero atque stulte, prius quod cautum oportuit, Postquam comedit rem, post rationem putat. LESBONICVS Nequaquam argenti ratio conparet tamen. STASIMVS Ratio quidem hercle adparet : argenturn oi'xerai. Minas quadraginta accepisti a Callicle. 420 Et ille aedis mancupio aps te accepit. LESBONICVS . \dniodum. PHILTO Pol opmo adfinis noster aedis uendidit. Pater quom peregre ueniet, in portast locus : Nisi forte in uentrem filio conrepserit. STASIMVS Mille drachumarum tarpezitae Olympico, 425 Quas de ratione dehibuisti, redditae. LESBONICVS Nempe quas spopondi. STASIMVS Immo 'quas despondi' inquito, Pro illo adulescente, quern tu esse aibas diuitem. LESBONICVS Factum. THK TRIXL'MMUS OF PLAUT: 40 ST. What of that you gave to courtesans ? LE. I included that. ST. What of that that I embezzled ? LE. Ah ! that's the biggest leak of all. ST. The account can't be clear to you if you simply do the spending, unless you suppose that your money will last forever. PH. (Aside.} Foolish fellow, he reckons the cost when it's too late, after his money is all gone. He ought to have thought of that before. LE. And yet the account is by no means clear. ST. Heavens ! the account is clear enough ; it's the money that is clear gone. You got forty minae from Callicles and he took possession of the house. LE. Exactly. PH. (Aside.} Well, I declare! I believe our future kins- man has sold his house. When his father returns from abroad he will have to consort with beggars, unless he creeps into the stomach of his son. ST. We paid to the banker Olympicus a thousand drachmae which you owed him on account. LE. You mean that which I pledged as security. ST. S=iy rather what you got rid of by pledging as security for that ian who you said was rich. LF i true. SO PLATVI TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Vt quidem illud perierit. LESBONICVS Factum id quoquest. Nam nunc eum uidi miserum et me eiius miseritumst. 430 STASIMVS Miseret te aliorutn, tui nee rniseret nee, pudet. PHILTO Tempust adeundi. LESBONICVS Estne hie Philto qui aduenit ? Is herclest ipsus. STASIMFS Edepol ne ego istum uelim Meum fieri seruom cum 5110 peculio. PHILTO Erum atque seruom plurumum Philto iubet 435 Saluere, Lesbonicum et Stasimum. LESBONICVS Di duint Tibi, Philto, quaequomque optes. quid agit fflius ? PHILTO Bene uolt tibi. LESBONICVS Edepol mutuom ni^ciim facit. STASIMVS Nequam illud uerbumst 'bene uolt', nisi qui bcne facit. Ego quoque uolo esse liber : nequidquam uolo. 440 Hie postulet frugi esse : nugas postulet. PHILTO Meus gnatus me ad te mfsit, inter te atque nos Adfinitatem ut conciliarem et gratiam. Tuam uolt sororem diicere uxorem : et mihi Sententia eademst et uolo. LESBONICVS Hau nosco tuom ; 445 THK TKIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. .51 ST. True yes, that that's a dead loss. LE. Yes, that is also true. But I found him in trouble and was sorry for him. ST. You have pity for others, but neither pity nor shame for yourself. PH. It's time to speak to him (coming forward}. LE. Isn't that Philto who is coming ? It certainly is he. ST. Ye gods ! but I'd like to have him for my slave with his bank account. PH. Lesbonicus and Stasimus, master and slave, how do you do ? I am very happy to see you. LE. We are delighted to meet you, Philto. How is your son ? PH. He is your well-wisher. LE And I cordially reciprocate his good wishes. ST. (Aside.} Good wishes are useless without good deeds. I also wish to be free, but the wish is vain. Should my master wish to keep steady he couldn't make it go. PH. My son has sent me to you to propose a bond of friend- ship and family alliance between you and us. He would like to marry your sister, and I sympathize with his desire and join in the proposal. LE. This is not like you, sir. In your prosperity you are 52 PLATVl TRINVMMVS. Bonis tuis rebus meas res inrides malas. PHILTO Homo ego sum, tu homo's: ita me amabit luppiter, Neque te derisum aduenio neque dignum puto. Verum hoc quod dixi, meus me orauit tilins Vt tuam sororem poscerem uxorem sibi. 450 LESBONICUS Mearum me rerum nouisse aequomst ordinem. Cum uostra nostra non est aequa factio : Adfinitate.tn uobis aliam quaerite. STASIMVS Satin tu sanu's mentis aut animi tui, Qui condicionem hanc repudies ? nam ilium tibi 455 Ferentariurn esse amicum inuentum intellego. LESBONICVS Abin hmc dierecte ? SPASIMVS Si hercle ire occipiam, uotes. LESBONICVS Nisi me aliud quid uis, Philto, respondi tibi. PHILTO Benigniorem, Lesbonice, te mihi, Quam nunc experior esse, confido fore. 460 Nam et stiilte facere et stulte fabularier. Vtrumque, Lesbonice, in aetate hau bonumst. STASIMVS Verum hercle hie dicit. LESBONICVS Oculum ego ecfodiam tibi, Si uerbum addideris. 'STASIMVS Hercle quin dicam tarn en : Nam si sic non licebit, luscus dixero. 465 PHILTO Ita tu nunc dicis. non esse aequiperabilis Vostras cum nostris factiones atque opes ? LESBONICVS Dico. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 53 mocking my misfortunes. PH. I am a man ; you are a man. I swear by high heaven that I have not come to mock you nor do I think you deserving such treatment. But as I said, my son begged me to ask for him your sister in marriage. LE. . It is proper for me to recognize the rank befitting my fortune. My social position is not on an equality with yours. Seek, therefore, a more suitable match elsewhere. ST. Have you gone completely daft, to reject such a match as this ? Why, I perceive that you have found here a friend in need. LE. Oh, you go and be hanged ! ST. By heavens, if I should start you'd prevent me. LE. If that is all, Philto, you have my answer. PH. I trust that you will yet be more favorable to me, Les. bonicus, than I now find, you; for in this life of ours neither foolish actions nor foolish words are helpful. ST. By Jove, he's right. LE. If you say another word, I'll gouge out your eye. ST. Gad ! I'll speak it just the same in one way or another ; if not with two eyes, then as a one-eyed man. PH Do I understand you to say that you are inferior to our family in social position and in means ? LE. I do say so. 54 PLAVTl TRINV.M.MVS. PHILTO Quid ? nunc si in aedem ad cenam ueneris, Atque ibi opulentus tibi par forte obuenerit : (Adposita cena sit, popularem quam uocant : 470 Si illi congestae sint epulae a cluentibus,) Si quid tibi placeat, quod illi congestum siet, Edisne an incenatus cum opulento accubes ? LESBONICVS Edim, nisi si ille uotet. STASIMVS At pol ego, etsi uotet, Edim atque ambabus malis expletis-uorem, 475 Et quod illi placeat, praeripiam potissumum : Nefijfue illi concedam quicquam de uita mea. Verecundari neminem aput mensam decet : Nam ibi de diuinis atque humanis cernitur. PHILTO Rem fabulare. STASIMVS Non tibi dicam dolo : 480 Decedam ego illi de uia, de semita, De honore populi : uerum quod ad uentrem attinet, Non hercle hoc longe, nisi me pugnis uicerif Cena hac annonast sine^sacris hereditas. PHILTO Semper tu hoc facito, Lesbonice, cogites, 485 Id optumum esse, tute uti sis optumus : Si id nequeas, saltern ut optumis sis proxumus. Nunc condicionem hanc, quam ego fero et quam aps te peto, Dare atque accipere, Lesbonice, te uolo. Dei diuites sunt, deos decent opulentiae 490 Et facti'ones : uerum nos homunculi Vatillum animai : quam quom extemplo emisimus, - Aequo mendicus atque ille opulentissumus Censetur censu ad Accheruntem mortuos. STASIMVS Mirum quin tu illo Jecum diuitias feras : 495 Vbi mortuos sis, ita sis ut nomen cluet. THE TRIXr.MMTS OF PLAUTUS. .".'. PH. Take an illustration. Suppose, for instance, that you had come to a feast, and that a wealthy man chanced to be your table companion, and that the dinner called the public banquet was served up ; now, if his clients should heap up before him rich vianJs of which you are fond, would you eat or would you sit dinnerless beside your wealthy neighbor ? LE. I would eat uuless he forbad me. ST. Good gracious, but I'd eat even if he did forbid me. I'd eit and cram both cheeks full, and if there was anything that he was fond of that would be the very first thing I'd snatch, and I wouldn't yield to him a whit in what concerns my living. A man has no business to be bashful at the table, for there matters human and divine are decided. PH. Your words are to the point. ST. I'll tell you the honest truth. I'll give him the right of way in the street and on the walk, and I'll not compete with him for public office ; but when it comes to the stomach, ye saints ! I won't yield a hair's breadth unless he pomids me into it. As prices go now a dinner is an unencumbei^^Mieritance. PH. Always bear this in mind, Lesbonicus; it is the best policy to be perfect, and if you fail of that, to come as near to it as possible. Now this match that I propose and seek, I desire you to accept and grant, Lesbonicus. The gods are really rich ; wealth and rank befit them. But we poor mortals, soon as the spark of life leaves us, whether beggars or millionaires, in the limbo of the dead, are rated just alike. ST. It is strange that you don't take your money with you there. When you are dead, dead you will be, as the word means. 50 PLAYTl TRTNVMMVS. PHILTO Nunc ut scias hie factiones atque opes Non esse neque nos tuam neglegere gratiam : Sine dote posco tuam sororem filio. Quae res bene uortat. habeon pactam ? quid taces ? 500 STASIMVS Pro di inmortales, condicionem quoins modi ! PHILTO Quin fabulare 'di bene uortant : spondeo' ? STASIMVS Eht-u, ubi dicto nil erat usus, spondeo Diccbat : iiunc hoc, quom opus est, non quit dicere. LESBONICVS Quom adfinitate uostra me arbitramini 505 Digniim, habeo uobis, Philto, magnam gratiam. Sed si haec res grauiter cecidit stultitia mea, Philto, est ager sub urbe nobis : nam is de diuitiis meis Soliis superfit praeter uitam relicuos. 510 PHILTO Profecto dotem nil moror. LEBONICVS Certumst dare. STASIMVS NostranJne, ere, uisjjpl^cem, quae nos educat, Abalienare a nobis I^^Se sis feceris. Quid edemus nosme^ostea ? LESBONICVS Etiam tu taces ? Tibi egon rationem reddam ? STASIMVS Plane periimus, 5 1 5 Nisi quid ego conminiscor. Philto, te uolo. PHILTO Siqufd uis, Stasime. STASIMVS Hue concede aliquantum. PHILTO Licet. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 57 PH. Now that you may know that there is in this matter no question of social position or wealth and that we do not under- value your regard, I ask your sister without dowry for my son. And may it turn out happily ! Do you agree to the bethrothal ? Why are you silent ? ST. Immortal gods ! what a rare proposal ! PH. Why do you not say, " Heaven's blessing upon it ! I promise." ST. Ah ! \Vhen there is nothing to be gained in making promises he can make them fast enough, but when it is really needful to promise he can't say the word. LE I am very thank f ul to you, Philto, that you deem me worthy of kinship with you. But though my fortune has been ruined by my folly, Philto, I have a piece of land near the city wkkh I will give for my sister's dowry ; for of my wealth that is all [ haveJeft except my life. i. R , I care nothing about a dowry. LE. But I am resolved to give one. ST. (Aside to Lesbonicus.} Will you take from us, master, the nurse that nourishes us ? Take care how you do that, I beg of you. How are we to be supported in the future ? LE. Will you hold your tongue? Am I accountable to you '? ST. (Aside.} We are utterly ruined unless I can contrive some scheme. (To Philto.} Philto, I want to speak with you. PH. I am at your service, Stasimus. ST. Step here, a little aside. PH. Certainly. (They retire.} 58 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Arcano tibi ego hoc dico, ne ille ex te sciat Neue alius quisquam. PHILTO Crede audacter quidlubet. STASIMVS Per deos atque homines dico, ne tu illunc agrum 520 Tuom siris umquam fieri neque gnati tui. Ei rei argumenta dicam. PHILTO Audire edepol lubet. STASIMVS Primum omnium olim terra quom proscinditur, In quincto quoque siilco moriuntur boues. PHILTO Apage. STASIMVS Accheruntis ostium in nostrost agro. 525 Turn uinum, priusquam coctumst, pendet putidum. LESBONICVS Consuadet homini, credo, etsi scelestus est, At mi intidelis non est. STASIMVS Audi cetera. Postid frumenti qvom alibi messis maxumast, Tribus tantis illi minus redit quam opseueris, 530 PHILTO Em istic oportet o.seri mores malos, Si in opserendo p6ssint interfieri. STASINVS Neque umquam quisquamst, quoius ille ager fuit. Quin pessume ei res uorterit. cjuoium fuit, Alii exolatum abierunt, alii emortui, 535 Alii se suspendere. em nunc hie quoius est, Vt ad incitas redactust. PHILTO Apage a me istum agrum. THL TRINUMMTS OF PLAUTI -V.) ST. I tell you this is secrecy. Do not tell my master nor anyone else. PH. Trust me confidently with anything you like. ST. I say to you, in heaven's name, never suffer that farm to belong to you or your son And I'll tell you why. PH. Bltss me ! I would like to hear. ST. Well, then, first of all, whenever the ground is being plowed, in every fifth furrow, the oxen drop down dead. PH. Away with it! ST. The entrance to hell is on that farm of ours. And then, the grapes rot on the vines before they are ripe. LE. (Aside). He is persuading the man, I suppose. Al- though he is a rascal, yet he is true to me. ST. Hear the rest. When everywhere else the crops are unusually large that farm yields only one-third of what was sown on it. PH. Ah ! there's the place to sow bad morals if they can be killed in the sowing. ST. Every owner of that farm has had very bad luck ; some went into exile, others are dead and gone, and still others have hanged themselves. Why, the present owner is reduced to extremity. PH None of that farm for me ! GO PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Magis apage dicas, si omnia ex me audmeris. Nam fulguritae sunt alternas arbores: Sues moriuntur angina'd acerrume : 540 Oues scabrae sunt, tarn glabrae, em, quam haec est manus. Turn autem Surorum, genus quod patientissumumst Hominum, nemo exstat qui ibi sex menses uixerit : Ita cuncti solstitial! morbo decidunt. PHILTO Credo ego istuc, Stasime, ita esse : sed Camparis genus 545 Multo Surorum iam antidit patientiam. Sed is est ager profecto, ut te audiui loqui, Malos in quern omnes pubh'ce mitii decet : Sicut fortunatorum memorant insulas, Quo cuncti, qui aetatem egerint caste suam, 550 Conueniant : contra istoc detrudi maleficos Aequom uidetur, qui quidem istius sit modi, STASIMVS Hospitiumst calamitatis. quid uerbis opust ? Quamuis malam rem quaeras, illic repericis. PHILTO At tu hercle et illi et alibi. STASIMVS Caue sis dixeris 555 Me tibi dixisse hoc. PHILTO Dixti tu arcano satis. STASIMVS Quin hie quidem cupit ilium apse abalienarier, Siquem reperire possit, quoii os sTiblinat. > PHILTO Meus quidem hercle numquam fiet. STASIMVS Si sapies quidem. Lepide hercle de agro ego hunc senem deterrui : 560 Nam qui uiuamus nihil est, si ilium amiserit. PHILTO Redeo ad te, Lesbonice. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTWS. 61 ST. You'd have greater reason to say that if I should tell you all. Why, every other tree has been struck by lightning, fthe, swine die of severe attacks of quinsey, the sheep are mangy, a^d as bare of wool, sir, as this hand. And then of the Syrians, the hardiest race of men on earth, not one survives who has lived there six months; so surely do all succumb to midsummer fever. PH. Doubtless that is all true, Stasimus ; the Campanians, however, are a far hardier race than the Syrians. But, most assuredly, if your description is correct^ that farm 'is the spot to which bad men should be deported by public sentence. Just as they tell us of the islands of the blest where all meet together who have lived virtuously ; so, on the other hand, it would be a good plan to banish evil doers to your farm, since it is such a hell on earth. ST. It's the very harbor of calamity. But why multiply words ? Look for any evil you please, you'll find it there. PH. But, my life for it, you will find it there and elsewhere, too. ST. Be careful not to mention that I have told you this. PH. You have confided your secret to safe keeping. ST. For, really, he wants to rid himself of that farm if he can find anyone to bamboozle. PH. Depend upon it, it will never be mine. ST. Right, if you are wise*. (Aside.) Cleverly, by Jingo, I've frightened the old fellow out of taking the farm. Why, we've nothing on which to live if he lets that go. Pii. I return to you, Lesbonicus. 62 PLAVTI T KIN VMM VS. LESBONICVS Die sodes mihi, Quid hie est locutus tecum ? PHILTO Quid censes ? homost : Volt fieri liber, uerum quod det non habet. LESBONICVS jt' Et ego esse locuples, uerum nequicquam nolo. 565 STASIMVS Licitumst si uelles : nunc,.quom nihil est, non licet. LESBONICVS Quid tecum, Stasime ? STASIMVS De istoc, quod dixti modo. Si ante uolisses, esses : nunc sero cupis. PHILTO De dote mecum conueniri nil potis : Quod tibi lubet, tute agito cum .gnato meo. 570 Nunc tuam sororem filio posco meo : Quae res bene uortat. quid nunc ? etiam consulis ? LESBONICVS Quid istic ? qundo ita uis, di bene uortant : spondeo. PHILTO Numquam edepol quoiquam tarn expectatus fiiius Natiist, quam illuc est 'spondeo' natum mihi. 575 STASIMVS Di fort \mabunt uostra consilia. PHILTO Ita uolo. I hac, Lesbonice, mecum, ut coram nuptiis Dies constituatur : eadem haec confirmabimus. LESBONICVS Sed, Stasime, abi hue ad meam sororem ad Calliclem : Di hoc riegoti quo modo actumsfr. STASIMVS Ibitur. 580 LESBONICVS Et gratulator meae sorori. THE TRINl'MMUS OF PLAUTUS. 63 LE. Tell me, if you please, what he said to you. PH. What would he naturally? He's a human being. He wants his freedom, but has nothing with which to purchase it. LE. And I would like wealth, but the wish is vain. ST. (In a low tone.} You had the chance if you'd been willing to take it; now, with nothing left, you've no chance. LE. What are you muttering to yourself, Stasimus ? ST. About what you said just now. If yo*u had wished it before you could have been rich ; now you are wishing it when it's too late. PH. No arrangement can be made with me about a dowry. Transact that business with my son as you like. Now I ask your sister for him, and may it turn out happily ! What now, still considering ? LE. Well, I'll not contend. Since you so wish it, Heaven's blessing on it ! I betroth her. PH. Never, I'll wager, was a son born to any man, so anxiously hoped for, as I have hoped for the birth of that " I betroth her." ST. The gods will bless the engagement. PH. That is my wish. Come this way with me, Lesbonicus, in order that, in the presence of the parties, a day may be set for the nuptials. At the same time we will confirm this compact. (Exit PHILTO to his house.} LE. But, Stasimus, go to my sister at the house of Collides and tell her how this matter has been arranged. ST. I will go. * LE. And congratulate my sister, 64 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Scilicet. LESBONICVS Die Callicli, med ut conueniat STASIMVS I modo. LESBONICVS De dote ut uideat quid facto opus sit. STASIMVS I modo LESBONICVS Nam certumst sine dote baud dare. STASIMVS Quin tu i modo. LESBONICVS Neque enim illi damno umquam esse patiar - STASIMVS Abi modo. Meam neglegentiam. STASIMVS I modo LESBONICVS .Nullo modo Aequom uidetur quin, quod peccarim, STASIMVS I modo. LESBONICVS Potissumum mihi id opsit. STASIMVS I modo. LESBONICVS 6 pater, En umquam aspiciam te ? STASIMVS I modo, i modo, i modo. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 65 ST. Of course. LE Tell Callicles to meet me ST. Why, you had better go. LE. In order that he may decide what is to be done about a dowry. ST. You go. LE. For I am resolved that she shall have a dowry. ST. Begone now yourself. LE. For I will never suffer her to lose ST. Do be off now. LE. Throng 1 ) my neglect. ST. Go : LE. li seems but just that for my offenses ST. Begone ! LE. 1 should be the one to suffer most. ST. Go ! LE. O my father ! Shall I ever see you again ? ST. Begone! Begone! Begone! 66 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. LESBONICVS Eo : tu istuc cura quod te iussi ; ego iam hie ero. 590 STASIMVS Tandem inpetrrmi abiret. di uostram fidem, Edepol re grs!a pessume gestam probe, Si quid-em ager nobis saluos est : ctsi admodum In ambiguost etiam nunc, (juid ca re fuat. Si is alienatur, actumst de collo me^ 595 Gestandust percgre clupeus, galea, sarcina * ^ * * * Effugiet ex urbe, ubi erunt factae nuptiae : Ibit statim aliquo in maxumam malam crucem, Latrocinatum aut in Asiam aut in Ciliciam. Ibo hue quo mi inperatumst, esti odi hanc domum 600 Postquam cxurbauit hie nos nostris aedibus. THE TRIXl'MMUS OF PLAUTUS. '67 LE I go. You do as I have ordered. I will be back here directly. (Exit Ltsbonicus, following Philto ) ST. At last I've got him off. Ye gods ! after such hard luck what good luck now, if we can only save the farm! Still, even yet there is some doubt how the thing will turn out. But if we do part with the land it's all up with my neck. In foreign lands I'll have to carry shield, helmet and baggage. * * * He will flee from the city as soon as the wedding is over. He'll be off somewhere to utter ruin as usual, going to Asia or Cilicia to serve as a mercenary. I'll go where he ordered me although I hate this house, ever since the present owner bundled us out. (Exit.) 68 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. ACTVS III CALLICLES. STASIMVS CALLICLES Quomodo tu istuc, Stasime, dixti ? STASIMVS Nostrum erilem fflium Lesbonicum suam sororem despondisse; em, hoc modo. 'CALLICLES Quoi homini despondit ? STASIMVS Lysiteli Philtonis filio, Sine dote. CALLICLES Sine dote ille illam in tantas diuitias dabit ? 605 Non credibile dices. STASIMVS. At tu nu! his edepol creduas. Si hoc non credis, ego credidero CALLICLES Quid ? STASIMVS Me nihili pendcre. CALLICLES Quam dudum istuc aut ubi actumst ? STASIMVS Ilico, hie ante ostium : Tarn modo, inquit Praenestinus. CALLICLES- 1 anton' in re jjerdita Quam in je salua Lesbonicus factus est frugalior? 'HL rtUNUMMtfS t>F 1'LAtTUS. ACT III SCENE i (Enter CALLICLES and STASIMUS.) CA. How did you say, Stasimus ? ST. My master's son, Lesbonicus. has betrothed his sister. See! That's how. CA. To whom ? ST. To Lysiteles, Philto's son, without a dowry. CA. Will he marry her into so wealthy a family without a dowry ? I can't believe what you say. ST. Why of course, you wouldn't believe. If you don't believe this I'll believe CA. What ? ST. That I don't care a fig whether you believe it or not. CA. How long since this was done, and where ? ST. Right here before this door, in a moment like (just now) . as the Praesnestines say. CA. Has Lesbonicus become a more thrifty manager in his bankruptcy than when he had means ? 70 PLAVTI TRINVM.MVS. STASIMVS Atque equidem ipsus ultro uenit Philto oraturn filio. CALLICLES Flagitium quidem hercle fiet, nisi dos dabitur uirgini. Postremo edepol ego istam rein ad med attinere intellego. Ibo ad meum castigatorem atque ab eo consilium petam. STASIMVS Propemodum, quid illic festinet, sentio et subolet mihi : 615 Vt agrg euortat Lesbonicum, quando euotit aedibus. (3 ere Charmides, quoin apsenti hie tua res distrahitur tibi, Vtinatn te rediisse saluom uideam, ut inimicos tuos VJciscare et mihi, ut erga te fui et sum, referas gratiam. Ni'inium diflidlest reperiri amicum ira ut noincn clues, 620 Quoi tuam quom rem credideris, sine omni cura dormias. Sed generum nostrum ire eccillum uideo cum adfini sun. NesG4o quid non satis inter eos conuenit : celeri gradu EiiiU uterque : ille reprehendit hunc priorem patlio. Haud ei euscheme adstiterunt. hue aliquantum apscessero : 625 Est lubido otationem audire duorum adfinium. LYSITELES. LESBONICVS. STASIMVS. LYSITELES Sta ilico : noli auorsari, neque te occultassis mihi. LESBONICVS Potin' ut me ire, quod profectus sum, sinas ? LYSITELES Si in rem tuam, Lesbonice, esse uideatur, gloriae aut famae sinam. LESBONICVS Quod est facillumum, facis. LYSITELES Quid id est ? LESBONICVS Amico iniuriam. 630 LYSITELES Neque meumst neque facere didici. 1'HK 1RIM MM!\- ' >F PL ACT US. 1 1 ST. And what is more, Philto came in person of his own and accord to plead for his son. CA. It will surely be a scandal to let the girl marry without a dowry. In short, as a matter of fact, I perceive that this matter concerns me. I will go to my critic and ask his advice. (Exit.} ST. I have a suspicion and some inkling of his object in hastening there. It is to get the farm away from Lesbonicus as he got the house. O my master, Charmides, since in your absence your property is being squandered,, would that I could see you back in safety that you might wreak vengpatfce on your enemies and reward me for my past and present devotion to you.. It is extiemely difficult to find a friend in the true sense of the word ; one to whom you can entrust your interests and then go to sleep with no concern But, hello, I see our son-in-law coming with his brother-in-law. They have had a falling out over something or other. They're both hurrying right along. Lesbonicus is ahead, and Lysiteles catches him by the cloak. They have stopped and are standing in no becoming attitude. I'll step aside here a little. I'd like to hear the conversation between these two brothers in law. SCENE II LY. Stop right where you are. Do not turn away nor hide your face from me. LE. Will you not let me go where I was bound ? LY. If it appears to be to your interest, Lesbonicus, in the way of honor or reputation, I will. LE. You are doing what it is very easy to do. LY. What is that ? LE. Wrong to a friend. LY. That's not my way either by nature or training. 72 PLAVTI TR1XYMMYS. LESBONICVS Indoctus quam docte facis ! Quid faceres, si quis docuisset te ut sic odio esses mihi ? Bene quom simulas facere mihi te, male facis, male consults. LYSITELES Egone ? LKSBONICVS Tu ne. LYSITELES ' Quid male facio ? LESBONICVS Quod ego nolo, id quom facis. LYSITELES Tuae rei bene consulere cupio. LESBONICVS Tun mi es melior quam ego mihi ? 635 Sat sapio, satis, in rem quae sint meam, ego conspicio mihi. LYSITELES An id est sapere, ut qui beneficium a beneuolente repudies ? LESBONICVS Nullum beneficium esse duco id, quom quoi facias non placet. Scio ego et senlio ipse quid agam : neque mensjofficio migrat, Nee tuis depellar dictis quin rumori seruiam. 640 LYSITELES Quid ais ? nam retineri nequeo quin dicam ea quae promeres : Itan tandem hanc maiiores famam tradiderunt tibi tui, Vt uirtute eorum anteperta per flagitium perderes Atque honori p6sterorum tuorum ut uindex fieres ? Tibi paterque auosque facilem fecit et planam uiam 645 Ad quaerundum honorem : tu fecisti ut difticilis foret, Culpa maxume et desidia tuisque stultis moribus. Praeoptauisti, amorem tuom uti uirtuti praeponeres : Nunc te hoc facto credis posse optegere errata ? aha. non itast. Cape sis uirtutem animo et corde expelle desidiam tuo. 650 In foro operam amicis da, ne in lecto amicae ut solitus es. Atque istum ego agrum tibi relinqui ob earn rem denixe expeto, Vt tibi sit, qui te conrigere possis : ne omnino inopiam I UK TRIXUMMUS OF PLAU'l I ^. t3 LE. How skillfully you do it without training! What skill you would show if some one had instructed you how to be troublesome to me ! While you pretend kindness you wrong me in deed and counsel. LY. I ? LE. You indeed. LY. How ? LE. By doing that which is displeasing to me. LY. I desire to consult your interests. LE. Are you better to me than I am to myself? I have sufficient discretion and understanding to know what is to my advantage. LY. What ! Do you call this discretion, to reject a favor proffered by a friend ? LE. I consider that no favor which is displeasing to the recipient. I know and am sensible of what I am doing and my understanding does not refuse its functions. Neither am I dissuaded by your reasoning from having respect for public opinion LY. You respect for public opinion ! Why, I cannot refrain from saying what you deserve. Was it for this, pray, that your ancesters bequeathed to you an unsullied namq that you by scandalous conduct might destroy what their excellence acquired ? That you might preserve fair fame for your posterity your father and grandfather opened for you a plain and easy path to dis- tinction. You have made it exceedingly difficult by vice and indolence and your shameless conduct. You have preferred lust to honor. Now do you think that you can cover up your faults by this assumed virtue ? No, sir, you cannot do it. Let virtue rule your life and abandon your course of indolence and vice. Give your services to your friends in the courts and not * * * * as you are wont to do. And I greatly desire that you retain possession of that farm of yours, that it may be useful 74 PLAVTI TRINV.MMVS. Ciues obiectare possint tibi, quos tu inimicos hnbes. LESBONICVS. Omnia ego istaec quae tu dixti scio, uel exsignauero : 655 Vt rem patriam et gloriam maiorum foedarfm meum. SciDam ut esse me deceret, facere non quibam miser : I ia ui Veneris uictus, otio aptus in fraudem incidi. Sed tibi nunc, proinde lit merere, summam habebo gratiam. LYSITELES At operam perire meam sic et te haec dicta spernere 660 Perpeti nequeo : simul me piget parum pude^e te. Et postremo, nisi mi auscultas atque hoc quod dico facis, TuuTpone te latebis facile ne inueniat te honor : In occulto iacebis, quom te maxume clariim uoles. Pernoui equidem, Lesbonice, ingenium tuom ingenuom ad- modum : 665 Scio te sponte non tuapte errasse, sed amorem tibi Pectus opscurasse : atque ipse amoris teneo omnis uias Itast amor, ballista ut iacitur : nil sic celerest neque uolat : Atque is mores hominum moros et morosos efficit. Minus placet quod consuadetur: quod dissuadetiir, placet. 670 Quom inopiast, cupias : quando eius copiast, turn non uelis. [ file qui aspellit, is compellit : ille qui consuadet, uetat.] Insanum malumst hospitio deuorti ad Cupidinem. Sed te moneo hoc etiam atque etiam ut reputes, quid facere expetas. Si istuc, quod conare, facis, incendio incendes genus. 675 Turn igitur aquae erit tibi cupido, qui restinguas [ocius] : Atque si eris nactus, proincie ut corde amantes sunt cati, Ne scintillam quidem relinques, genus qui congliscat tuom. LESBONICVS Facil est inuentu: datur ignis, tarn etsi ab inimico petas. Sed tu obiurgans me a peccatis rapis deteriorem in uiam. 680 Meam sororem tibi dem suades sine dote, aha, non conuenit Me, qui tantam abusus sum rem patriam, porro in ditiis Esse agrumque habere, egere illam autem, ut merito me oderit. Numquam erit alienis grauis, qui suis se concinnat leuem. Sicut dixi, faciam : nolo te iactari diutius. LYSITELES Tanton meliust te sororis causa egestatem exsequi, I' UK TRIM" MM US OF PLAU'n 75 for your reform ; so that your enemies may not reproach you with utter destitution. LE. I know, and will even set m\ seal to all that you have said ; that I have squandered my inheritance and sullied the honor of my family. I knew what was right, but, wretched man, I could not do it. So chained was I by strong passion, so bound by indolence, that I fell into vice But you have now my warmest thanks as you deserve. LY. But I cannot suffer my labor to be thus lost, and my counsels spurned. At the same time I am grieved that you have so little shame. And, in short, unlrss you listen to me and do as I advise, you will stand in your own light, and honor will not easily find you; in obscurity you will remain when you shall desire above all things to win distinction. I know full well your noble nature, Lesbonicus. I know that you have not strayed from the path of virtue at your own impulse, but that the eyes of your soul have been blinded by passion ; and I understand all the ways of the passion of love. Love is like a ball shot from a cannon ; nothing is so fleet nor flies so swiftly. And it is love that makes a man's moods silly and captious. When there is a scarcity of anything, he wants that; when it abounds, he does not care for it, The one driving him away, invites him, while he who persuades, prohibits That which is most commended, pleases him the least ; but he is pleased with that from which you .would dissuade him It is an outrageously bad inn to put up at the sign of Cupid. But I advise you to consider again and again what you will choose to do. If you go on as you now promise, you will set on fire your family ; and then you will long for water with which quickly to quench the flames, and if you obtain it, like wondrously cunning lovers, you will not leave a spark by which your family may be rekindled. LE. That's easily found. You can get fire even from an enemy. But in chiding me you are urging me from my faults to a worse course. You are trying to persuade me to give you my sister without a dowry. Ah, it is not fitting that I, who have wasted so large an inheritance, should in future be rich and possess a larm, while she will be in want and will justly detest me. Never will he be a man of influence with strangers, whose conduct prevents the esteem of his friends. I will do as I have said. Do not trouble yourself further about it. LY. Is it so much better that you, tor your sister's sake, should suffer want, and that I by preference have the farm, by 70 PLAVTt TklN \M.\1\ x Atque [eum] agrum me habere quam te, tua qui toleres moenia ? LESBONICVS Nolo ego mihi te tarn prospicere, qui meam egestatem leues, . Sed ut inops infamis ne sim : ne mi hanc famam differant, Me germanam meam sororem in concubinatum tibi, 690 Si sine dote dem, dedisse magis quam in matrimonium. Quis me mprobior perhibeatur esse ? haec famigeratio Te honestet, me conlutulentet, si sine dote duxeris. Tibi sit emolumentum honoris : mihi quod obiectent siet. LYSITELES Quid ? te dictatorem censes fore, si aps te agrum acceperim ? 695 LESBONICVS Neque uolo neque postulo neque censeo : uerum tamen Is est honos homini pudico, meminisse officium suom. LYSITELES Scio equidem te animatus ut sis : ufdeo, subolet, sentio : Id agis ut, ubi adfinitatem inter nos nostram adstrinxeris, Atque agrum dederis nee quicquam hie tibi sit cmj uitam colas, 700 Effugias ex urbe inanis, profugus patriam deseras (Cognates, adfinitatem, amicos factis nuptiis). Mea opera hinc proterritum te meaque auaritia amument. Id me conmissurum ut patiar fieri, ne animum indiixeris. STASIMVS Noenum possum quin exclamem: euge euge, Lysiteles, itdXiv: 705 Facile palmam habes : hie uictust : uicit tua comoedia. (Hie agit magis ex argumento et uersus melioris facit. Etiam ob stultitiam tuam te tueris ? multabo mina.) LESBONICVS Quid tibi interpellatio aut in consilium hue accessioist ? STASIMVS Eodem pacto quo hue accessi, apscessero. LESBONICVS I hac mecum domum, 710 Lysiteles : ibi de istis rebus plura fabulabimuf. il ego in occulto agere soleo. meus ut animust, eloquar : Si mihi tua soror, ut ego aequom censeo, ita nuptum datur Sine dote neque tu hinc abituru's, quod meumst, id erit tuom ; Sin aliter animatus es, bene quod agis eueniat tibi. 715 Ego amicus numpuam tibi ero alio pacto : sic sententiast. THE TRTNTMMrs OF PLAUTTS. 77 means of which you might discharge the duties of your station ? LE. I do not wish you to be devising means for relieving my wants, but rather to see that I, though poor, be not disgraced, and that this report about me be not published abroad, that I have given you my own sister in concubinage, because undowered, rather than in marriage. Who would be considered more shame- less than I ? Such a report would bring honor to you but disgrace to me. If you were to marry her without a dowry it would enhance your reputation but be a matter of reproach to me. Lv. What ! Do you think you will be dictator if I accept that favor from you ? LE. I neither wish, ask nor think it ; but this is honor, for an upright man to remember his duty. Lv. I know what your purpose is. I see it, I detect and perceive it. As soon as the knot is tied that will make us relatives, and you have given up that land and have nothing on which to live, you will flee from the city penniless. The wedding over, you will desert your country, your relatives and friends and go into exile. People will say that it was through me and my avarice that you were frightened away. Do not imagine that I will suffer myself to be a party to such a transaction. ST. \Vell now I can't help exclaiming, Bravo! Bravo! Lysiteles, Encore ! You easily win the prize ; he is beaten ; your acting is better. (To Lesbonicus.} He plays better in character and his lines are superior. Are you such a dolt as to maintain your part still ? I'll fine you a mina. LE. What business have you to interrupt us ? What brought you here to our counsels V ST. That which brought me here shall take me away. (Re- tires, } LE. Step this way to my house, Lysiteles ; there we will further discuss these matters. LY. I am wont to do nothing in secret. I speak my mind openly. If, as seems to me proper, your sister is given to me in marriage, without dowry, and you do not abandon home, what is mine is yours. But if you are disposed otherwise, I wish you prosperity. I can never be your friend on other terms. That's my ultimatum. (Exit Lesbonicus abruptly."] 78 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Abit hercle ille quidem. ecquid audis, Lysiteles : ego te uolo. Hie quoque hinc abut. Stasime, restas solus, quid ego nunc agam, Nisi uti sarciiicamconstringam et clupeum ad dorsum accommodem, Fulmeutas iubeam suppingi^occis? non sisti potesl. 720 Video caculam inilitarem me futurum hand longius. Atque aliquem ad regem in saginam si erus se coniexit meus, Credo ad summos bellatores acrem fugitorem fore, Et capturum spolia ibi ilium qui ero aduorsus uenerit. Egomet autem, quom extemplo arcum et pharetram et sagittas sumpsero, 725 Cassidem in caput, dormibo placideVl in tabernaculo. Ad forum ibo : niidius sextus quoi taientum miituom Dedi, reposeam, ut habeam mecum quod feram uiaticam. MEGARONIDES. CALLICLES MEGARONIDES Vt mihi rem narras, Callicles, nullo rnodo Pote fieri prosus quin dos detur uirgini 730 CALLICLES Namque hercle honeste fieri ferine non potest, Vt earn perpetiar ire in matrimonium Sine dote, quom eius rem penes me habeam domi. ***** MEGARONIDES ***** Parata dos domist : nisi exspectare uis, Vt earn sine dote frater nuptum conlocet : 735 Post adeas tute Philtonem et clotem dare Te ei dicas : facere id eius ob amicitiam patris. Verum hoc ego uereor, ne istaec pollicitatio Te in crimen^ppulo_p6nat atque infamiam . Non temere dicant te benignum uirgini : 740 Datam tibi dotem, ei quam dares, eius a patre : Ex^ea largiri te illi neque ita, ut sit data, Columem te sistere ei, sed detr'axe autument. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 79 ST. Great Scott ! he's gone. Do you hear, Lysiteles ? I want to speak with you. (Exit Lysiteles abruptly.} And he's gone, too. Stasimus, you're alone. What's before me now but to pack my knapsack, sling my shield on my back and have heels put on my shoes ? The thing can't be stopped. I see that I must soon be a soldier's drudge When my master has hired out his services to some king I doubt not that when compared with the mightiest warriors he will prove himself to be foremost in retreat, and that there he will capture the spoil who shall come against my master. But I, soon as ever I have armed myself with bow, quiver and arrows, and placed the helmet on my head, will sleep peace- fully in my tent. I'll go to the forum and demand the return of the talent I loaned six days ago so as to have something to take along for travelling expenses. (Exit.} SCENE III (Enter MEGARONIDES and CALLICLES.) ME. As you state the case, Callicles, a dowry must, by all means, be given to the girl. CA. Certainly ; for it would scarcely be decent for me to per- mit her to marry without a dowry, when I have her fortune in my possession at home * * * * ME. * * * * You have a dowry ready at your house, un- less you choose to wait until her brother has consummated the marriage without a dowry, and then you go to Philto and tell him that you will give- her a dowry, your motive being friendship for her father. Yet I fear that any such proffer would expose you to the slander and calumnies of the people. They would say that with good reason you are generous to the young woman ; that her father left with you a dowry to be given her, and with that you are so liberal to her; and that you-do not hand over to her the entire amount, but that you have embezzled a -portion of 80 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. Nunc si opperiri uis aduentum Charmidi, Perlongumst : huic ducendi interea apscesserit 745 Lubido : atqui ea condicio uel primariast. CALLICLES Nam hercle omnia istaec ueniunt in mentem mihi. MEGARONIDES Vide si hoc utibile magis atque in rem deputas : Ipsum adeas Lesbonicum edoctum ut res se habet. CALLICLES Vt ego nunc adulescenti thensaurum indices 7^0 Indomito, pleno amoris ac lasciuiae ? Minume, minume hercle uero. nam certo scio, Lociim quoque ilium omnem, ubi situst, comederit. Quern fodere metuo, sonitum ne ille exaiidiat, Neu rem ipsam indaget, dotem dare si dixerim. 755 MEGARONIDES Quo pacto ergo igitur clam dos depromi potest ? CALLICLES Dum occasio ei rei reperiatur, interim Ab amico alicunde mutuom argentum rogem. MEGARONIDES Potin' est ab amico aliciinde exorari ? CALLICLES Potest. MEGARONIDES Gerrae : ne tu illud uerbum actutum inueneris : 760 'Mihi quidem hercle non est quod dem mutuom ' CALLICLES Malim hercle ut uerum dicant quain ut dent mutuom. MEGARONIDES Sed uide consilium, si placet. CALLICLES Quid consilist ? MEGARONIDES Scitum ? ut ego opinor ? consilium inueni, THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. SI it. But again, if you await the return of Charmides, it will be a long time. Meantime this young man may lose his inclination to marry ; and this is an extraordinarily fine offer. CA. I agree with you, for, as I live, all these points presented themselves to my mind. ME. See if you think this plan more useful and advisable; that you go to Lesbonicus and tell him how the matter stands. CA. But should I disclose the treasure to a young man incap- able of self-control, wholly possessed of passion and wantonness ? 1 Good heavens, no ! by no means. For I know of a certainty that he would consume the very place where it is buried. I dare not dig there for fear that he will hear the sound and in conse- quence discover the money. He surely would do so if I should offer to give the dowry. ME. How, then, can the dowry money be secretly taken out? CA. Until an opportunity should occur for it, I could, mean- while, ask for a loan of the money from some friend. ME. Could you prevail upon some friend to loan it ? CA. I could. ME. Bosh ! You would certainly meet with this answer at once: "Upon my \vord, I really have no money to loan." CA. Upon my word, I would prefer that they speak the . truth rather than make the loan. ME. But here's a plan. See if it pleases you. CA. What is your plan ? ME, I think I have hit upon a shrewd one. 82 PLAVTT TRTNVMMVS. CALLICLES Quid est ? MKGARONIDES Homo conducatur aliquis iam quantum potest, 765 Ignnta facie, quae hie non uisitata sit. Mendacilocum aliquem * Falsidicum, confidentem. CALLICLES Quid turn postea ? 770 MEGARONIDES Is homo exornetur graphice in peregrinum modum, Quasi ad adulescentem a patre ex Seleucia Veniat : salutem ei niintiet uerbis patris : Ilium bene gerere rem et ualere et uiuere : Et eum rediturum actiitum. ferit epistulas Duas : eas nos consignemus, quasi sint a patre. 775 Det alteram illic, alteram dicat tibi Dare sese uelle. CALLICLES Pergo yorro dicere. MEGARONIDES Seque aurum ferre uirgini dotem a patre Dicat, patremque id iussisse aurum tibi dare. Tenes iam ? CALLICLES Propemodo, atque ausculto perlubens. 780 MEGARONIDES Turn tu igitur demus adulescenti aurum dabis, Vbi erit locata ufrgo in matrimonium. CALLICLES Scite hercle sane. MEGARONIDES Hoc, ubi thensaurum effoderis, Suspitionem ab adulescente amoueris. Censebit aurum esse a patre adlatum tibi : 785 Tu de thensauro siimes. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 83 CA. Let's hear it. ME. Let's hire, as soon as possible, some fellow of an un- usual aspect, not commonly seen here. He must be some men- dacious fellow, * * * * an impudent imposter. CA. And what then ? ME. Let the fellow be cleverly dressed up in foreign style as if he had come to our young man from his father at Seleucia, and salute him in his father's name, saying that he is alive, well and prospering, and is on the point of returning. And have him bring two letters, which we will have sealed as though from his father ; have him give one to him and say that he desires to give the other to you. CA. Go on, tell me more. ME. Have him say that he is bringing gold as a dowry to the young woman from her father, and that the father bade him de- liver it to you. Do you get the point yet? CM Pretty nearly, and I am listening with great interest. ME. Then, accordingly, at last, when the girl has been mar- ried, you will give the young man the gold for her. CA. Very cleverly planned, I confess. ME. By this means you will arouse no suspicion in the mind of the young man when you dig up the money. He will sup- pose that the gold was brought to you from his father, while you will take it from the hoard, 84 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CALLICLES Satis scite ct probe : Quamquamjioc me aetatis sycophantarf pudet. Sed epfstulas quando opsignatas adferet, Non arbitraris turn adulescentem anuli Paterni signum nouisse ? MEGARONIDES Etiam tu taces ? 790 Sescentae ad earn rem causae possunt conligi. Ilium quern ante habuit perdidit, fecit nouom. lam si opsignatas non feret, dici hoc potesr, Apud portiiores eas resignatas sibi Inspectasque esse. in huius modi negotio 795 Diem sermone terere segnities merast : Quamuis seremones possunt longi texier. Abi ad thensaurum iam confestim clanculum : Seruos, ancillas amoue : atque audin ? CALLICLES Quid est ? MEGARONIDES Vxorem quoque eampse hanc rem uti celes face : 800 Nam pol tacere numquam quicquamst quod queant. Quid mine stas ? quin tu hmc te amoues et te moues ? Aperi, deprome inde auri ad hanc rem quod sat est : Continued operi denuo : sed clanculum, Sicut praecepi : cunctos exturba aedibus. 805 CALLICLES Ita faciam. MEGARONIDES Enim nimis longo sermone utimur : Diem conficimus quod iam properatost opus. Nihil est de signo quod uereare : me uide. Lepidast ilia causa, ut conmemoraui, dicere Apud portitores esse inspectas. denique 810 Diei tempus non uides ? quid ilium putas Natura ilia atque ingenio ? iam dudum ebriust ; THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAl ( A. Quite cleverly and skillfully planned : although I am ashamed, at my time of life, to play a double part. But when he brings the letters sealed do you not suppose that the young man will know his father's signet ? ME. Oh, nonsense ! A thousand explanations can be sug- gested. For example, he has lost the old one and had a new one made. And then, if he should bring them not sealed, he could say that they were opened and inspected by the Customs officers. It's mere waste of time to spend the day talking over difficulties of this kind. We could indulge in discussions without end. Go to the hoard now secretly at once. Send away your servants, male and female, and do you hear ? CA. What ? ME. See that you conceal this matter from that wife of yours as well, for, deuce take it ! there is not a thing about which she can ever hold her tongue. Why are you standing now ? Why are you not off and stirring ? Open up the treasure, take from it gold sufficient for this purpose, and at once cover it up again ; but all in secret. As I have admonished you, bundle them all out of the house. CA. I'll do it. ME. But come now, we are talking too long. We are wasting the day while there is need of haste. Have no fear about the seal. Leave that to me. That's a capital excuse to give as I have said, viz. : That the letters were inspected by the Customs officers. Besides, do you not see the time of day ? In what state do you imagine that a man of his nature and disposition is ? He's been drunk now for some time. He will be satisfied with tfC PLAVTI TRIN VMM VS. Quiduis probari ei poterit. turn, quod maxumist, Adferre, non se petere hinc dicet. CALLICLES lam sat est. MEGARONIDES Ego sycophantam iam conduco deJorQ, 815 [Epistulasque iam consignabo duas:] Eumque hue ad adulescentem meditatum probe Mittam. CALLICLES Eo ego ergo igitur intro ad officium meum. Tu istuc age. MEGARONIDES Actum reddam nugacissume. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAT'ITs. any explanation whatsoever. And then a point of the greatest importance the sharper will say that he is bringing money, not seeking it. CA. Well, that's enough. ME. I will at once hire a sharper from the torum and then seal the two letters and send him here to the young man well drilled. CA. I'll go in then and look after my part ; you attend to that. ME. I'll see that it is managed in the shrewdest manner. PLAV'I I TR1X Y.MAI \ S. ACTVS IV CHARMIDES Salipotenti multipotenti louis fratri aetherei Neptuno 820 Lagus lubens laudcs ago gratas gratisque habeo et fluctibus salsis, Quos penes mei fuit potestas, bonis mis quid foret et meae uitae .Quom suis me ex locis in patriam urbem usque columem reducem faciunt. Atque tibi ego, Neptune, ante alios deos gratis ago atque habeo summas. Nam te omnes saeuomque seuerumque, auidis moribus con- memorant, 825 Spurcificum, inmanem, intolerandum, uesanum : ego contra opera expertus. Nam pol placidum te et clementem eo usque inodo, ut uolui, usus sum in alto. Atque tuam hanc apud homines gloriam auribus iam acceperam ante: Pauperibus te parcere solitum, dites damnare atque domare Abi, laudo : scis ordine, ut aequomst, tractare homines; hoc dis dignumst : 830 [Semper mendicis modesti sint * * nobilis apud homines] Fidus fuisti : infidum esse iterant, nam apsque foret te, sat scio in alto Distraxissent.disque tulissent satellites tui miserum foede, Bonaque item omnia una oiexuni passim caeruleos per campos : Ita iam quasi canes, haud secus circumstant nauem turbine uenti : 835 Imbres fluctusque atque procellae infensae fremere frangere malum, Ruere antemnas, scindere uela : ni pax propitia foret praesto, THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 89 ACT IV SCENE I (Enter CHARMIDES, just arrived from the Piraeus.} CH. To Neptune, mighty ruler of the sea, And brother of Etherial Jove, with joy And pleasure give I grateful praise; and I Do also feel the liveliest gratitude To those wild, briny billows, in whose power Was cast the hazard of my goods and life, Since from their kingdom to my native town They bring me back unharmed. Neptune, to thee, Before all other gods, the greatest thanks I give and feel. While all declare that thou Art cruel, stern, and fierce to swallow up, Filthy, intolerable, inhuman, mad, My own experience hath been different. As I have wished, so I upon the deep Have always found thee calm and mild. Trris, too, Much to thy credit among men I've heard : That thou art wont to spare tne poor, the rich Bring down in pride, and make to suffer loss. I'm satisfied, I praise thee, thou know'st how According to condition men to treat As it is just. This, too, is worthy gods : Always to be consi lerate to the poor, But Otherwise to men of high repute. Thou hast been faithful, though men keep declaring That thou art treacherous. Without thy aid, Thy minion storms had torn my wretched form To shreds, and with it all my goods as well Had scattered wide o'er ocean's azure waste. Like howling dogs the winds in whirling rage Sweep round the ship, storms, billows, hostile blasts Bellow, and shiver the mast, break down the yards, And rend the sails; all this, even now, had not 90 PLATVI TRINVMMVS. Apage a me sis : dehi'nc iam certumst otio dare me : satis par- turn habeo, Quibus aerumnis deluctaui, filio dum dimtias quaero. Sed quis hie est, qui in plateam ingreditur ciim nouo ornatu specieque ? 840 Pol quamquam domi cupio, opperiar : quam Me rem agat, simul animum aduortam. SYCOPHANTA. CHARMIDES SYCOPHANTA Huic ego die nomen Trinummo facio : nam ego o'peram meam Tribus riummis hodie locaui ad artis naugatorias. Aduenio ex Seleiicia, Macedonia, Asia atque Arabia, 845 Quas ego neque oculis neque pedibus umquam usurpaui meis. Vitlen egestas quid negoti dat homini misero mali ? Quin ego nunc subigor trium nummum causa, ut hasce epistulas Dicam ab eo homine me accepisse, quern ego c^ui sit homo nescio, Neque noni neque natus necne fuerit, id solide scio. 850 CHARMIDES Pol hie quidem fungino generest : capite se totum tegit. Hilurica facies uidetur hominis : eo ornatu aduenit. SYCOPHANTA Ille qui me condiixit, ubi conduxit, abduxit domum : Quae uoluit, mihi dixit, docuit et praemonstravit prius, Quomodo quidque agerem. nunc adeo si quid ego addidero amplius, 855 Eo conductor melius de me nogas conciliauerit. Vt ille me exornauit, ita sum ornatus : argentum hoc facit : Ipse ornamenta a chorago haec sumpsit suo periculo. Nunc ego si potero ornamentis hominem circumducere, Dabo operam, ut me esse ipsum plane sycophantam sentiat. 860 CHARMIDES Quam magis specto, minus placet mihi hominis facies. mira sunt, Ni illic homost aut dormitator aut sector zonarius. Loca contemplat, circumspectat sese atque aedis noscitat : Credo edepol quo mox furatum ueniat, speculatur loca. THE TRINU.MMUS OF PLAUTUS. 9 Thy favor been propitiously at hand. Away, thou sea ! henceforth I am resolved To give myself to peaceful rest ; for I Have, by the troubles I have wrestled with While seeking riches'for my son, secured Sufficient for myself. (Enter SYCOPHANTA in foreign costume with a very large hat.} But who is this Entering the street with foreign garb and mien ? By Jove ! though I do long to be at home, I'll wait, and see what this strange fellow's at. SCENE II SYCOPHANTA and CHARMIDES SY. (Not seeing Charmides.} To this day I give the name of Trinummus (three Pieces], because I have to-day let out my services in a swindling scheme for three pieces of money. I have just arrived from Seleucia, Macedonia, Asia and Arabia, places on which I have never set eye nor foot. See, will you, to what business poverty brings a poor fellow. Why, I am now even obliged, for three pieces ot money, to say that I have received these letters from a man of whom I am ignorant. I not only do not know him, but do not know of a certainty that such a man was ever born. CH. (Aside.} My stars ! this fellow belongs to the mushroom family. He's all head. His countenance seems to be of the lllyrian type and his dress as well. SY. My employer when he hired me took me to his house. He told me what he wanted of me, taught and pointed out to me in advance how I was to do everything. Now if I myself shall add more, my employer will get more trickery out of me than he bargained for. I am diessed just as he got me up. It's money that does this. He obtained my costume from the cos- turner at his own risk. Now if I can cheat him out of the costume, I'll convince him that, without his training, I am something of a trickster myself. CH. (Aside.} The more I look at him, the less does the ap- pearance of the-fellow please me. It's very strange if he is not either a trickster or a cutpurse. He is viewing the locality, he is looking about him and examining the house. I am confident he is exploring the place so as to come shortly and steal. I feel 92 PLATVI TRINVMMVS. Magis lubidost opseruare quid agat : ei rei operam dabo. 865 SYCOPHANTA Has regiones' demonstrauit mihi ille conductor meus : Apud illas aedis sistendae mihi sycophantiae. Fores pultabo. CHARMIDES Ad nostras aedis hie quidem habet rectam uiam : Hercle opinor mi aduenienti hac noctu agitandumst uigilias. SYCOPHANTA Aperite hoc, aperite. heus, ecquis his foribus tutelam gerit? 870 CHARMIDES Quid, adulescens, quaeris ? quid uis ? quid istas pultas ? SYCOPHANTA Heus, sen ex, Lesbonicum hinc adulescentem quaero in his regionibus Vbi habitet, et item alterum ad istanc capitis albitudinem, Calliclem quern aibat uocari, qui has mihi dedit epistulas. CHARMIDES Meum gnatum hie quidem Lesbonicum quaerit et amicum meum 875 Quoi ego liberosque bonaque conmendaui, Calliclem. SYCOPHANTA Fac me, si scis, certiorem, hisce homines ubi habitant, pater. CHARMIDES Quid cos quaeris ? aut quis es ? aut unde es ? aut unde ad- uenis ? SYCOPHANTA Census quom sum, iuratori recte rationem dedi. CHARMIDES * * * * * * # SYCOPHANTA Multa simul rogas : nescio quid expediam postissumum. 880 Si unum quidquid singillatim et placide percontabere, Et meum nomen et mea facta et itinera ego faxo scias. CHARMIDES Faciam ita ut uis. agedum, nomen primum memora tuom mihi. THE TRTNUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 93 even more inclined to watch his actions.. I'll give this thing my attention. SY. This is the place that my employer pointed out to me. At this house my game is to be played. I'll knock at the door. CH. (Aside.) Why, he's going straight to rny house. By heavens, I guess I'll have to keep watch to-night although just arrived. SY. (Knocks at the door t>f Charmides* house,} Open this door! Open ! Hello ! Where's the porter? CH. What are you looking for, young man ? What do you want ? Why are you knocking at that door ? SY. Hello there, old man. I am looking for a young man, Lesbonicus, to find his place of residence hereabouts, and also for another man about as white-headed as you. The man who gave me these letters said that his name is Callicles. CH. (Aside.) He is evidently looking for my son, Lesbonicus, and my friend Callicles, to whom I committed my children and my property. SY. Inform me if you can, father, where these parties live? CH What do you want of them ? Or who are you ? Or where are you from ? Or whence do you come ? SY. When questioned by the censor's officer I gave the correct return. - SY. You ask many questions at once. I don't know which to answer first. If you will a^k them all,- one at a time and without getting excited, I'll tell you my name, my business and my travels. CH. I will do as you wish. Come then ? first, tell rne your name, 94 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. SYCOPHANTA Magnum facinus incipissis petere. CHARMIDES Quid ita ? SYCOPHANTA Quia, pater, Si ante lucem ire hercle occipias a meo primo nomine, 885 Concubium sit noctis, priusquam ad postremum perueneris. CHARMIDES Opus factost uiatico ad tuom nomen, ut tu praedicas. SYCOPHANTA Est minusculum alterum, quasi uesculum uinarium. CHARMIDES Quid istuc est nomen, adulescens ? SYCOPHANTA 'Pax' id est nome i milii : Hoc contidianumst. CHARMIDES Edepol nomen nugatorium : 890 Quasi dicas, si quid crediderim tibi, ' pax ' periisse ilico. Hie homo solide sycophantast. ([uid ais tu, adulescens? SYCOPHANTA Quid est ? CHARM-IDES filoquere, isti tibi quid homines debent, quos tu quaeritas ? SYCOPHANTA Pater istius adulescentis dedit has duas mi epi^tulas, Lesbonici : is mi est amicus. CHARMIDES Teneo hunc manufestarium : 895 Me sibi epistulas dedisse dicit. ludam hominem probe. * * * * w * SYCOPHANTA Ita ut occepi, si animum aduortas, dicam. CHARMIDES Dabo operam tibi. THE TRIXUMMUS OF FLATUS. 95 SY. You have entered upon a large undertaking. CH. Why so ? SY. Because, father, if you should begin before daylight at the first part of my name, night would overtake you before you came to the end of it. CH. According to your story one would need provisions for the journey in compassing your name. SY. I have another little name like a small wine flask. CH. What is your name, young man ? SY. Pax ; that's my name. That's my every day name. CH. Egad, a tricky name ! As if you should say when I had entrusted something to you, pax ! it instantly disappears. (Aside.) This fellow is an out and out scamp. (To SY.) I say, young man SY. Well. CH. Tell me what those men whom you were inquiring for have to do with you. SY. The father of that young man, Lesbonicus, gave these two letters to me. He's my friend. CH. (Aside.) I have him now unmasked. He says I gave him letters. I'll have fine sport with him. SY. I'll proceed as I began, if you'll give attention. CH. I will attend. 96 PLAVTI TRTNVMMVS. SYCOPHANTA Hanc me iussit Lesbonico dare suo gnato epistulam, Et item hanc alteram suo amico Callici iussit dare. CHARMIDES Mihi quoque edepol, quom hie naugatur, contra naugari lu- bet. 900 Vbi ipse erat ? SYCOPHANTA Bene rem gerebat. CHARMIDES Ergo ubi ? SYCOPHANTA In Seleucia. CHARMIDES ****** Ab ipson' istas accepisti ? SYCOPHANTA E jpanibus dedit ipse in manus. CHARMIDES Qua faciest homo ? SYCOPHANTA Sesquipede quidamst quam tu longior. CHARMIDES Haeret haec res, siquidem ego a])sens sum quam praesens longior. Nouistin' hominem ? SYCOPHANTA Ridicule rogitas, quocum una cibum 900 Capere soleo. CHARMIDES Quid eist nomen ? SYCOPHANTA Quod edepol homini probo CHARMIDES kubet audire, THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 97 SY. He bade me give this letter to his own son, Lesbonicus, and the other to his friend, Callicles. CH. (Aside.} By heavens, seeing he is an imposter, I think I'll do a little cheating in return. ( To SY.) Where was he ? SY. Carrying on a prosperous business. CH. But where ? SY. In Seleucia. CH. *#**** You received these from him in person ? SY. With his own hand he placed them in mine. CH. What 'is his personal appearance ? SY. Taller than you by a foot and a half. CH. (Aside.} That's very strange if I am taller when away than when at home. (To SY.) Are you aquainted with the gentleman ? SY. What a ridiculous question, seeing I am in the habit of taking my meals with him. CH. What's his name ? Sv. The name, by Jove ! of an honorable man. CH. I'd like to hear it, 98 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. SYCOPHANTA Illi edepol illi (Hi uae misero mihi. CHARMIDES Quid est negoti ? SYCOPHANTA Deuoraui nomen inprudens modo. CHARMIDES Non placet, qui amicos intra dentes conclusos habet. SYCOPHANTA Atqui etiam modo uorsabatur mi in labris primoribus. 910 CHARMIDES Temperi huic hodie anteueni. SYCOPHANTA Teneor manufesto miser. CHARMIDES lam reconmentatu's nomen ? SYCOPHANTA Deum me hercle atque hominiim pudet. CHARMIDES Vide modo hominem ut noueris. SYCOPHANTA Tarn quam me. fieri istuc solet : Quod in manu teneas atque oculis uideas, id desideres. Litteris reconminiscar: C est principium nomini. 915 CHARMIDES Callias ? SYCOPHANTA Non est. CHARMIDES Callippus ? SYCOPHANTA Non est. CHARMIDES Callidemides,? SYCOPHANTA Non est. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 99 Sv. His name, deuce take it I- his name his name I'll be confounded ! CH. What's the matter ? SY. Like a fool, I've just swallowed the name. CH. I don't think much of a man who keeps his friends shut up inside his teeth. SY. Why, just this moment I had the name on the very tip of my tongue. CH. (Aside.} Just in the nick of time I got here to-day ahead of this rascal. SY. (Aside.} Fool that I am ! I'm plainly caught. CH. Have you yet recalled the name ? SY. (Aside.} Heavens ! but I'm in a shameful plight. CH. Just see how well you know the man. SY. As well as I know myself. But this is not an uncommon experience to miss the very thing you are holding in your hand or are looking at. I will recall the name by letters. C is the first letter. Ctf. Callias ? SY. No. CH. Callippus ? SY. Xo. CH. Callidemides ? SY. Xo,. 100 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. S CHARMIDES Callinicus ? SYCOPHANTA Non est. CHARMIDES Callimarchus ? SYCOPHANTA Nil agis : Neque adeo edepol flocci facio, quando egomet memini mihi. CHARMIDES At enim multi Lesbonici sunt hie : nisi nomen patris Dice 1 ?, non possum istos raostrare homines, quos tu quaeritas^c)2o Quod ad exemplumst? coniectura si reperire possumus. SYCOPHANTA Ad hoc exemplumst : Char. CHARMIDES Chares ? an Charicles ? numnam Charmides ? SYCOPHANTA Em istic erat. qul istum di perdant. CHARMIDES Dixi ego iam dudum tibi : #"',-., * * * * Bene te potius dicere aequomst homini amico quam male. SYCOPHANTA Satin' inter labra atque dentes latuit uir minumi preti ? 925 CHARMIDES Ne male loquere apsenti amico. SYCOPHANTA Quid ergo ille ignauissumus Mi latitabat ? CHARMIDES Si adpellasses, respondisset nomini. Sed ipse ubist ? SYCOPHANTA Pol ilium reliqui ad Rhadamantem in Cercopia, OFTMC UNIVERSITY 1'HK TRINUMMUS OF PLAltTTS. CH. Callinicus ? SY. No. CH. Callimarchus ? SY. It's no use; and I'll be hanged if I care a fig about it. for I'll recall it in due time. CH. But it's important, for there are many persons about here bearing the name of Lesbonicus, and unless you can tell the name of his father I cannot direct you to the persons whom you are seeking. What is the name like ? We may be able to get it by guessing. SY. It is like this : Char. CH. Chares? or Charicles ? It is'nt Charmides, is it? SY. Ah, that's the man. May the gods confound him'! CH. I have already given you that name before. ******#* It is more fitting for you to speak well of a friend than ill. SY. Why did the worthless fellow lie hid between my lips and teeth ? CH. Speak not ill of an absent friend. SY. Why, then, did the lazy rascal try to hide himself from me ? CH. If you had called his name he would have answered. But where is he ? SY. Well, I left him at Rhadamas in Cercopia. 102 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES ****** Quis homost me insipientior, qui ipse, egomet ubi sim, quaeri- tem ? Sed nil discondiicit huic rei. quid ais ? quid hoc quod te rogo : 930 Quos locos adiisti ? SYCOPHANTA Nimium mirimodis mirabiles. CHARMIDES Lubet audire, nisi molestumst. SYCOPHANTA Quin discupio dicere. Omnium primum in Pontum aduecti ad Arabiam terram sumus. CHARMIDES Eho, An etiam Arabiast in Ponto ? SYCOPHANTA Est : non ilia, cubi tus gignitur, Sed' ubi apsinthium fit atque cunila gallinacea, 935 CHARMIDES Nimium graphicum nugatorem. [sed ego sum insipientior, Qui, egomet unde redeam, hunc rogitem, quae ego sciam atque hie nesciat] : Nisi quia lubet experiri, quo euasurust denique. Sed quid ais ? quo inde isti porro ? SYCOPHANTA . ^^ Si animum aduortas, eloquar Ad caput amnis, quo ^d5S*.caelo exoritur sub solio louis. 940 CHARMIDES Sub solio louis ? SYCOPHANTA Ita dico. CHARMIDES E caelo? SYCOPHANTA Atque e medio quidem. "THE I'RI^UMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 103 CH * * * * * * * (Aside.} Who is so great a simpleton as I to be inquiring where I myself am. But nothing is out of place in this affair. (To SY ) Say ! what do you say to this : what places have you visited ? SY. Places exceedingly and astonishingly wonderful. CH. I would like to hear about them, if it's no trouble. SY. Nay, I'm bursting to tell you. First of all, going to Pontus, we came to the land of Arabia. CH. What ! do you mean to say that Arabia is in Pontus ? SY. Yes : not that Arabia where frankincense is produced, but where wormwood and wild marjoram are found. CH. (Aside.) A very exquisite rascal this. But I am too great a simpleton to be asking this fellow from what place I am myself returned, a fact known to me but not to him; only that I want to see where he will end at last. (To SY.) Well, where did you go next ? SY. Listen and I'll tell you. We went to the source of the river that rises in heaven beneath the throne of Jove. CH. Be eath the throne of Jove ? SY. Certainly. CH. Flows out of heaven ? SY. Yes ; out of the very midst. 104 PLAVTI TRIN VMM VS. CHARMIDES Eho, An etiam in caelum escendisti ? SYCOPHANTA Immo horiola aduecti sumus Vsque aqua aduorsji per amnem. CHARMIDES Eho, an tu etiam uidisti louem ? SYCOPHANTA fium alii di isse ad uillam aibant seruis depromptum cibum. Deinde porro CHARMIDES Deinde porro nolo quicquam praedices. 945 SYCOPHANTA Taceo ego hercle, si est molestum. CHARMIDES Nam pudicum neminem Deputare oportet, qui aps terra ad caelum peruenerit. SYCOPHANTA Faciam ita ut te uelle uideo. sed mostra hosce hominis mihi, Quos ego quaero, quibus me oporet has deferre epistulas. CHARMIDES Quid ais ? tu nunc si forte eumpse Charmidem conspexeris 950 Ilium quern tibi istas dedisse conmemoras epistulas, Nouerisne hominem ? SYCOPHANTA Ne tu edepol me arbitrare beluam, Qui quidem non nouisse possim, quicum aetatem exegerim. An ille tarn esset stultus, qui mi mille nummum crederet Phiiippum, quod me aurum deferre iussit ad gnatum suom 955 Atque ad amicum Calliclem, quoi rem aibat mandasse hie suam ? Mihin concrederet, ni me ille et ego ilium nouissem adprobe ? ' CHARMIDES finim uero ego nunc sycophantae huic sycophantari uolo, Si hunc possum illo mille nummum Phiiippum circumducere, Quod sibi me dedisse dixit. quern ego qui sit homo nescio, 960 I UK TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 105 CH. What ! do you mean that you ascended to heaven ? SY. Yes ; that is, \ve sailed in a small skiff on the river, up the stream. CH. Oho ! and you even saw Jove ? SY The other gods said that he had gone to his estate to distribute rations to his slaves. Then after that CH. Then after that I want to hear no more from you. SY. I'll say no more if it annoys you. CH. For no one can be considered a man of honor who claims to have visited heaven. SY. I will do as I see you wish. But show me those men for whom I'm looking and to whom I must give these letters. CH. Say ! if you should ch mce to see Charmides himself, who, you say, gave you those letters, would you recognize him ? SY. Good gracious ! you take me for a blockhead, not to know the man with whom I have been living. Would he be so foolish as to entrust to me a thousand gold philippeans which he commissioned me to bring to his son and to his friend Callicles, to whom he said he had confided his property, would he thus trust me if he did not know me well, and I him ? CH (Aside.} I would really like to swindle this swindler, if I could cheat him out of those thousand philippeans which he says I gave him. Would I entrust money to a perfect stranger on whom 106 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. Neque oculis ante hunc diem unquam uidi, eine aurum cre- derem ? Quoi, si capitis res sit, nummum nuquam credam plumbeum. Adgrediundust hie homo mi astu. heus, Pax, te tribus uerbis uolo. SYCOPHANTA Vel trecentis. CHARMIDES Haben tu id aurum, quod accepisti a Charmide ? SYCOPHANTA Atque etiam Philippiim, numeratum illius in mensa manu, 965 Mille nummum. CHARMIDES Nempe ab ipso id accepisti Charmide ? SYCOPHANTA Mirum quin ab auo eius aut proauo acciperem, qui sunt mortui. CHARMIDES Adulescens, cedodum istuc aurum mihi. SYCOPHANTA Quod ego dem aurum tibi ? CHARMIDES Quod te a me accepisse fassu's. SYCOPHANTA Aps te accepisse ? CHARMIDES Ita loquor. SYCOPHANTA Quis tu homo's? CHARMIDES Qui mille nummum tibi dedi, ego sum Char- mides. 970 SYCOPHANTA Neque edepol tu is es neque hodie is umquam eris auro huic quidem .. Abi sis, nugat6r: nugari nugatori postulas. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 107 T never set .eyes till this day ? If my life depended on it I would not trust him with money even made of lead. I must deal with him adroitly (To SY.) Hello, Pax, a few words with you. SY. Many if you like. CH. Have you that gold which you received from Charmides ? SY. Yes sir, a thousand philippeans counted on the table with his own hand. CH. You say that you received it from Charmides in person ? SY. It would be strange if I received it from his father or grandfather who are dead. CH. Young man, hand over that gold to me. SY. Hand over what gold ? CH. That which you acknowledged you received from me. SY. Received from you ? CH. That is what I say. SY. And who in the world are yon ? CH. I am Charmides who gave you the thousand pieces of money. SY. By heavens, you are not he and you never will be he to-day at least so far -as the gold is concerned. Get out, you cheat ! you are trying to trick a trickster. 108 PLAVTT TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES Charmides ego surr. SYCOPHANTA Nequiquam hercle es : nam nihil auri fero. Nimis argute me obrepsisti in_eapse occasiuncula. Posquam ego me aurum ferre dixi, pos tu factu's Charmides: 975 Prius non tu is eras, quam auri feci mentionem nil agis. Prom tute itidem ut charmidatu's, rursum te decharmida. CHARMIDES Quis ego sum igitur, siquidem is non sum, qui sum? SYCOPHANTA Quid id ad me attinet ? Dum (lie ne sis, quern ego esse nolo, sis mea causa qui lubet. [Prius non is eras qui eras, nunc is factu's qui turn non eras.] 980 CHARMIDES Age siquid agis SYCOPHANTA Quid ego agam ? CHARMIDES Aurum redde. SYCOPHANTA Dormitas, senex. CHARMIDES Fassu's Charmidem dedisse aurum tibi. SYCOPHANTA Scriptum quidem. CHARM IDES Properas an non properas ire actutum ab.his rcgionibus, Dormitator, priusquam ego hie te iubeo mulcari male ? SYCOPHANTA Quam 6b rem ? CHARMIDES Quia ilium quern ementitu's, is ego sum ipsus Charmides, 985 Quern, tibi epistulas dedisse aiebas. SYCOPHANTA Eho, quaeso an tu is es ? THL TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 109 CH. I am Charmides. SY. By Jove, you are he to no purpose, for I bring no gold. Very cleverly you have crept upon me in the very nick of time. After I said that I was bringing gold, then you became Charmides ; but you were not he before I made mention of the gold. It won't work. Just as you have Charmidised yourself, so again uncharmidise yourself. CH. Who am I thenseeing I am not he who I am ? SY. What's that to me ? Provided you are not the man I wish you not to bejyou can be whoever you like for all I care. Before you were not who you were ; now you have become who then you were not. CH. Come, if you are going to do anything, do it. SY. What shall I do ? CH. Give me back the gold. SY. You're dreaming, old man. CH. You have acknowledged that Charmides gave you the gold. SY. Yes, on paper. CH. Swindler, will you or will you not leave this place in- stantly, before I order you soundly thrashed ? SY. Why so ? CH. Because I am the very Charmides about whom you have been lying and who you said gave you letters. SY. Oho ! Are you really he V HO PLAVTI TR1NVMMVS. CHARMIDES Is enim uero sum. SYCOPHANTA Am tu tandem ? is ipsusne's ? CHARMIDES Aio. SYCOPHANTA I psns es ? CHARMIDES Ipsus, inquam, Charmides sum. SYCOPHANTA Ergo ipsusne's ? CHARMIDES Ipsissumus. Abin hinc ab oculis ? N. "" SYCOPHANTA Enirn uero sero quoniam hue aduenis, Vapulabis meo arbitratud et nouorum aedilium. 990 CHARMIDES At etiam maledicis ? SYCOPHANTA Immo saluos quando equidem aduenis, Di me perdant si te flocci facio an periisses prius. Ego ob hanc operam argentum accepi : te macto infortunio. Ceterurn qui sis, qui non sis, ciccum non interduim. Ibo, ad ilium renuntiabo qui mini tris nummos dedit, 995 Vt sciat se perdidisse. ego abeo. male uiue et uale : Qui te di omnes aduenientem peregre perdant, Charmides. CHARMIDES Postquam file hinc abiit, post loquendi libere Videtur tempus uenisse atque occasio. lam diidum meum ille pectus pungit aculeus, 1000 Quid illi negoti fuerit ante aedis meas. Nam epistulae illae mihi concenturiant metum In corde et illud mille nummum, quam rem agant. Numquam edepol temere tinnit tintinnabulum. [Nisi illud tractat aut mouet, mutumst, tacet.] 1005 THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. Ill CH. To be sure, I am he. SY. Do you say so ? he himself? CH. Yes. SY. Are you he himself? CH. I say I am Charmides himself. SY. Are you then his own self? CH. His own very self. Will you get out of my sight ? SY. Well now, really, since you have arrived late, you shall he flogged, by my verdict and that of the new aediles. CH. What, abusing me ! SY. Nay, seeing that you have arrived in safety, the deuce take me if I care a straw if you had perished first. I've got my money for this job. My curse on you ! It's no concern of mine who you are or who you are not. I'll go and tell my employer that he has wasted his three pieces of money. I'm off. Bad luck to you ! May all the gods confound you, Charmides, for coming from abroad. (Exit.) CH. Now, that he is gone the time and opportunity seem to have come for speaking freely. Just now my mind is pained with sharp anxiety to know what this business before my house means. For that letter marshalls in my heart an army of fears, and that thousand pieces of money too, and the meaning of it all. For a bell surely never rings for nothing. It is silent, it is still, unless some one handles it or moves it. 112 PI.AVTI TRINVMMVS. Sed quis hie est, qui hue in plateam cursuram incipit ? Lubet opseruare quid agat : hue concessero. STASIMVS. CHARM IDES STASIMVS Stasime, fac te propere celerem, recipe te ad dominiim domum, Ne subito malum exoriatur scapulis stultitia tua. Adde gradum, adpropera : iam dudum iactumst, quom abiisti domo. i oio Caue sis tibi, ne bubuli in te cottabi crebri crepent, Si aberis ab eri quaestione. ne destiteris currere. Ecce hominem te, Stasime, nihili : satin' in ihermopolio Condalium es oblitus, postquam thermopotasti gutturem ? Recipe te et recurre petere re recenti. CHARM IDES Huic quisquis est, 1015 Gurguliost exercitor : is hominem cursuram docet. STASIMVS Quid, homo nihili, non pudet te ? tribusne te poteriis Memoriae esse oblitum ? an uero, quia cum frugi hom|nibus Ibi bibisti qui ab^alieno facile cohiberent man us, Inter eosne homines condalium te redipsci postulas ? 1020 Chiruchus fuit, Cerconicus, Crinus, Cricolabus, Collabus, Collicrepidae, cruricrepidae, ferriteri, mastigiae : Quorum hercle unus, surrupiat current! cursori solum. CHARMIDES Ita me di ament, graphicum furem. STASIMVS Quid ego quod periit petarn? Nisi etiam laborem ad damnum adpo iam iiti^rjHrjv insuper. 1025 Quin tu, quod periit ? periisse diicis ? cape uorsoriam : Recipe te ad erutn. CHARMIDES Non fugitiuost hie homo : conmeminit domi. STASIMVS V tin a m ueteres ueterum mores, ueteres parsimoniae Potius in maiore honore hie essent quam mores mali. THE TRTXTMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 113 (Enter STASIMUS somewhat intoxicated.} But who is this that comes running this way along the street ? I have a mind to observe what he is about. I will step aside here. SCENE III ST. Stasimus, make haste with all speed, run home to your master, lest for your folly, fears for your back will suddenly arise. Hurry up, quicken your pace. It's a long time since you 'left home. If you are absent when your master inquires for you, look out if the rawhide doesn't clatter on your back like hailstones. Don't stop running. (Stopping and looking at his hand.) Hold on, Stasimus, you good-for-nothing fellow! Didn't you forget your ring in the saloon after washing your throat with something hot ? Run back and look for it before it's too late. CH. (Aside.) Whoever this fellow is his throat is his trainer, and teaches him the art of running. Sr. What, worthless fellow, ar'n't you ashamed of yourself? To have lost your memory after three glasses ! Is it, to be sure, because you drank there with honest fellows, who easily keep their hands off from other people's property ; among men like these do you hope to recover your ring ? There was Chiruchus (Close-fist), Cerconicus (Cocktail), Crinus (Catch-crumb), Crico- labus (Crib-ring), Collabus (Cakeling), clatter-necks, clatter-shins, fetter-galls and whipped-knaves men, any one of whom, I swear, could steal the sole from the shoe of a racer ? CH. (Aside.) Ye saints, an exquisite thief! ST. Why look for what's gone forever ? I'd simply add, besides, the loss of my labor. Why not conclude that what's lost is lost ? About ship ! and be off to your master. CH. (Aside.} This fellow is no runaway. He remembers his home. ST. Would that the old-fashioned virtues of former men and the old-time thrift were more honored here than the evil morals of these days. 114 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES Di inmortales, basilica hie quidem facinora inceptat loqui. 1030 Vetera quaerit, uetera amare hunc more maiorum scias. STASTMVS Nam nunc homines nihili faciunt quod licet, nisi quod lubet. Ambitio iam more sanctast, liberast a legibus. Scuta iacere fugereque hostis more habent licentiam : Petere honorem pro flagitio more fit. CHARMIDES Morem inprobum. I0 35 STASIMVS Strenuos nunc praeterire more fit. CHARMIDES Nequam quidem. STASIMVS Mores leges perduxerunt iam in potestatem suam, Magis quis sunt obnoxiosae quam parentes liberis. Eae misere etiam ad parietein sunt fixae clauis ferreis, Vbi malos mores adfigi nimio fuerat aequius. 1040 CHARMIDES Lubet"adire atque adpellare hunc : uerum ausculto perlubens, Et metuo, si conpellabo, ne aliam rem occipiat loqui. (STASIMVS Neque istis quicquam lege sanctumst. leges mori seruiunt, Mores autem rapere properant qua sacrum qua piiplicutn. CHARMIDES Hercle istis malam rem magnam moribus dignumst dari.) 1045 STASIMVS Non hoc puplice animaduorti ? nam id genus hominum homini- bus Vniuorsis est aduorsum atque omni populo male facit. Male fidem seruando illis quoque abrogant etiam fidem, Qui nil meriti : quippe eorum ex ingenio ingenium horum pro- bant. Siquoi mutuom quid dederis, fit pro proprio perditum. 1050 Quom repetas, inimicum amicurn inuenias, benficio tuo. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 115 CH. (Aside.} Immortal gods! he is beginning to speak of right royal reforms. He recalls the former times. You might know that he loves the good old times after the manner of his forefathers. ST. For now-a-days men disregard what is proper unless it is agreeable to them. Political corruption is now sanctioned by custom and is freed from legal restraints Custom gives license to throw away your shield and to flee from an enemy. It has be- come customary to ask for public honors in return for a disgrace- ful act. CH. (Aside.} A shameful custom ! ST. It's the usage now to neglect the brave. CH. (Aside.} Surely an infamous custom ! ST. Public morals have the laws now in their power and keep them in more rigid subjection than children do their parents. The unhappy laws are fastened (crucified) to the walls with iron nails, where bad morals might be more properly hung. CH. (Aside.} I would like to approach and speak to this fellow, but I am listening with much pleasure and I am afraid if I speak to him he will begin to talk of something else. ST. And nothing is legally sacred in the eyes of these bad morals. Laws are subservient to them, and besides they are hastening to drag down whatever has a sacred or a public character. CH. (Aside.} Without a doubt some severe punishment should be visited upon those bad morals. ST. To think that this should not be punished by the State ! For men of this class are public enemies, and are harmful to all the people. By violation of good faith they deprive of credit others also who do not merit distrust, because men judge them from the character of the worthless. If you loan a person any- thing it is lost as concerns your private interest in it. When you ask for it you find that by your favor you have changed your friend into an enemy. If you begin to press your claim you have 116 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. (Si mage exigere occupias, duarum rerum exoritur optio : Vel illud quod credideris perdas, uel ilium amicum amiseris.) Hoc qui in mentem uenerit mi ? re ipsa modo conmonitus sum. CH.ARMIDES Meus est hie quidem Stasimus seruos. STASIMVS Nam ego talentum mutuom 1055 Quoi dederam, talento inimicum mi emi, amicum uendidi. Sed ego sum insipientior, qui rebus curem puplicis Potius quam, id quod proxumumst, meo tergo tutelam geram. Eo domum. CHARMIDES Heus tu, asta ilico. audi, heiis tu. STASIMVS Non sto. CHARMIDES Te uolo. STASIMVS Quid, si egomet te uelle nolo ? CHARMIDES Aha, nimium, Stasime, saeuiter. 1060 STASIMVS T^mere meliust, quoi inperes. CHARMIDES Pol ego emi atque argentum dedi. Sed si non dicto aiidiens est, quid ago ? STASIMVS Da magnum malum. CHARMIDES Bene mones : ita facere certumst. STASIMVS Nisi quidem es obnoxius. CHARMIDES Si bonust, obnoxius sum : sin secust, faciam lit mones. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. ll? your choice of two evils, namely, to lose either your money or your friend. If you should ask how this occurred to my mind, I would answer that I have just had it impressed on me by my own experience. CH. (Aside.} This is, sure enough, my slave Stasimus. ST. For the man to whom I loaned a talent, by means of that talent, I bought for an enemy and sold as a friend. But I am a great simpleton to be concerned for public morals rather than for that which comes nearer home taking good care of my back. I'll be off home. CH. Hello, there ! Stop right where you are. Hear me. Hello, you ! ST. I won't stop. CH. I want you. ST. What if I don't want you to want me ? CH. Ah, Stasimus ; you act very rudely. ST. You'd better buy some one to order around. CH. By heavens, I have bought him and paid my money for him. But if he refuses to obey what am I to do ? ST. Punish him severely. CH. That's good advice, and I intend to follow it. ST. Unless, of course, you are under obligations to him. CH. If he is good, I am ; if otherwise, I'll do as you advise. 118 PLAVTI TR1NVMMVS. STASIMVS Quid id ad me attinet, bonisne seruis tu utare an mails ? 1065 CHARMIDES Quia boni malique in ea re pars tibist. STASIMVS Partem alteram Tibi permitto : illam alteram apud me, quod bonist, adponito. CHARMIDES Si eris meritus, fiet. respice hue ad me : ego sum Charmides. STASIMVS Hem, quis est qui mentionem homo hominis fecit optumi ? CHARMIDES Ipsus homo optumus. STASIMVS Mare, terra, caelum, di, uostram fidem, 1070 Satin' ego oculis plane uideo ? estne ipsus an non est ? is est. Certe is est, is est profecto. o mi ere exoptatissume, Salue. CHARMIDES Salue, Stasime. STASIMVS Saluom te CHARMIDCS Scio et credo tibi. Sed omitte alia : hoc mihi responde : liberi quid agunt mei, Quos reliqui hie filium atque filiam ? STASIMVS Viuont, ualent. I0 75 CHARMIDES Nempe uterque ? STASIMVS Vterque. CHARMIDES Di me saluom et seruatum uolunt. Cetera intus otiosse percontabor, quae uolo. Eamus intro: sequere. STASIMVS Quo tu te agis ? THE TRINUMMUS OP PLAUTUS. 11 ( . ST. What is it to me whether your slaves are good or bad. ? CH. Because you have a part in that " good or bad." ST. I'll give to you the other part; set down to me the good part. CH. If you deserve it I will. Look back at me. I am Char- mides. ST. Ha ! Who is making mention of that most worthy man? CH. That most worthy man himself. ST Seas, earth and skies ! Ye gods in heaven ! Do my eyes see clearly ? Is it really he, or is it not ? It is ; surely it is he ; there is no mistake. O, my ardently longed-for master, God bless you ! CH. And you, Stasimus ! ST. That you are safe CH. I know what you would say, and do not doubt it. But piss over all else and tell me how my son and daughter are, whom I left here. ST. They are alive and well. CH. You mean both ? ST. Both. CH. The f gods have graciously brought me back safe and sound. What else I want to know I will ask you in the house at leisure Let us go in. Follow me. ST. Way, where are you going? 120 fLAVTl TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES Quonam nisi domum ? STASIMVS Hicine nos habitare censes? CHARMIDES Vbinam ego alibi censeam ? STASIMVS lam CHARMIDES Quid iam ? STASIMVS Non sunt nostrae aedis staec. CHARMIDES Quid ego ex ted audio ? 1080 STASIMVS Vendidit tuos gnatus aedis. CHARMIDES Perii. STASIMVS Praesen tarn's Argenti minis numeratis. CHARMIDES Quot? STASIMVS Quadraginta. CHARMIDES (Jccidi. Quis eas emit ? STASIMVS Callicles, quoi tuam rem commendaueras : Is habitatum hue conmigrauit nosque exturbauit foras. CHARMIDES Vbi nunc filius meus habitat ? STASIMVS Hie in hoc posticulo 1085 CHARMIDES Male disperii. THE TRIXUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 121 CH. Home, of course. ST. Do you imagine that we live here ? CH. Where else should I suppose we live ? ST. Now CH. Now what ? ST. That is not our house. CH. What's that you say ? ST. Your son has sold the house. CH. I'm ruined ! ST. For silver min^e paid down. CH. How many ? ST. Forty. CH. That ends me. Who bought it ? ST. Callicles, to whom you entrusted your affairs. He has moved here to live, and has turned us out. * CH. Where is my son now living ? ST. Here in this rear building. CH. I am brought to ruin. 122 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. STASIMVS Credidi aegre tibi id, ubi audisses, fore. CHARMIDES Ego miser summis aerumnis sum per maria maxuma Vectus, capital! periclo per praedones plurumos Me seruaui, saluos redii : nunc hie disperii miser Propter eosdem, quorum causa fui hac aetate exercitus. 1090 Adimit animum mi aegritudo. Stasime, tene me. STASIMVS Visne aquam Tibi petam ? CHARMIDES Res quom animam agebat, turn esse offusam oportuit. CALLICLES. CHARMIDES. STASIMVS CALLICLES Quid hoc hie clamoris audio ante aedis meas ? CHARMIDES O Callicles, o Callicles, o Callicles, Qualine amico rnea conmendaui bona ! CALLICLES Probo et fideli et fido et cum magna fide. Et salue et saluom te aduenisse gaudeo. CHARMIDES Credo, omnia istaec si ita sunt ut praedicas. Sed quis istest tuos ornatus ? CALLICLES Ego dicam tibi. Thensaurum effodiebam intus dotem filiae noo Tuae quae daretur. sed intus narrabo tibi Et hoc et alia : sequere. CHARMIDES Stasime ! STASIMVS Em. THK TR1XUMMUS OF PL.AUli l^l) ST. I thought this would distress you when you heard it. CH. I, wretched man, have traversed vast seas in the midst of the greatest perils, I have preserved my life in extreme danger through robbers on every side, in safety I have returned. Now here I am, miserably ruined through those very persons for whose sake I have been toiling at my time of life. Sorrow makes me faint. Support me, Stasimus. (Falls half fainting into the arms of Stasimus. ST. Shall I bring water for you ? CH. When my property was breathing its last, water should have been poured on it. SCENE IV (Enter CALLICLES, spade in hand.} CA. What noise is this I hear before my house ? CH. OCallicles! OCallicles! O Callicles ! To what kind of a friend have I entrusted my property? CA. To a true friend, faithful, trustworthy and of strict fidelity. I greet you, and am delighted to see you back in safety. CH. I do not doubt, if everything is as you say. But what means this dress of yours? CA. I will tell you. I was digging up the treasure in there as a dowry for your daughter. But I will relate to you within this and other matters. Step in. CH. Stasimus. ST, Here. 124 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES Strenue Curre in Piraeum atque unum curriculum face. Videbis iam illic nauem qua aduecti sumus. lubeto Sagarionem quae inperauerim Curare ut efferantur, et tu ito simul. Solutumst portitori iam portorium: Nihil est morae. cito ambula : actutum redi. STASIMVS Illic sum atque hie sum. CALLICLES Sequere tu hac me intro. CHARMIDES Sequor. STASIMVS Hie meo ero amicus solus firmus restitit : mo Neque demutauit animum de firma fide, Quamquam labores multos ob rem et liberos Apsentis mei eri eum ego cepisse censeo. Sed hie unus, ut ego suspicor, seruat fidem. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 125 CH. Run quickly and without stopping to the Piraeus (harbor]. You will see there the ship in which I came Tell Sagario to see that the things are brought as I ordered him, and you go with him. I have already paid the duty. With all speed : hurry up ; return quickly. ST. I am there and back again. CA. Come with me into the house. CH. I attend you. (Exeunt Collides and Charmides.} ST. This man alone has continued a steadfast friend to my master, and has not swerved from unshaken fidelity, although I think he has experienced much trouble on account of the property and the children ot my absent master. But he alone, I believe, has been true to him. 126 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. ACTVS V LYSITELES *r Hie homost hominum omnium praecipuos, IIT 5 Voluptatibus gaudiisque antepotens. Ita commoda quae cupio eueniunt, Quod ago, subit, adsecue sequitur : Ita gaiidiis gaudia suppeditant. Modo me Stasimus Lesbonici seruos conuenit cfomi \j 1120 Is milii dixit suom erum peregre hue aduenisse CFiarmidem. Niinc mi is propere conueniundust, ut, quae cum eius filio Egi, ei rei fundus pater sit potior.^ eo ego. sed fores Hae sonitu suo moram mihi obiciunt incommode. CAARM1DE3. CALLICLES. LYSITELE^ CHARMIDES Neque fuit neque erit neque esse quemquam hominem in terrad arbitror, ^25 Quoius fides fidelitasque amicum erga aequiperet tuam. '^ Nam exaedificauisset me, apsque te foret, ex hisce adibus. ~~ / A CALLICLES Siquid amicum erga bene feci aut consului fideliter, Non uideor meruisse laudem, culpa caruisse Arbitror. Nam beneficium homoni proprium quod d.itur,prosum peril: i Quod datum utendiimst, repetundi id copiast, quando uelis. CHARMIDES , '^ fist ita ut tu dicis. sed ego hoc nequeo mirari satis, ft* Eum sororem despondisse suam in tarn fortem familiani, L/siteli quidem Philtonis filio. LYSITELES Enim me nominat. THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 127 ACT V SCENE I (Enter LYSITELES.) LY. Here stands the happiest man on earth, a King In pleasure and delight. What I most wish Turns out propituously, what I attempt Yields to my hand, success attends me close. So joys are heaped on joys in richest store. Stasimus, the slave of Lesbonicus, just now came to my house and informed me that his master Charmides has arrived from abroad. Now I must meet him without delay, in order that the father may confirm with better authority, my arrangements with his son. I will go. But I hear some one opening the door. This unfortunatelv delays me. SCENE II , (Enter CHARMIDES and CALLICLES from the house. LYSITELES retires a little} CH. Thej-e never has been, never shall be, nor is there now on earth, I think, any man whose fidelity and constancy to a friend is equal to yours; for had it not been for you my son would have turned me out of house and home. CA. If in any respect I have served a friend or faithfully con- sulted his advantage, I deem myself not deserving praise but free from blame; for a gift bestowed on a man is beyond reclaim, but a loan can be recalled at will. CH. It is as you say. But I am greatly surprised that he espoused his sister to one of so excellent a family, to Lysiteles, in- deed, the son of Philto. LY. (Aside.} He positively mentions my name. 128 PLAVTI TRINNMMVS. CALLICLES Familiam optumam occupauit. . LYSITELES Quid ego cesso hos conloqui ? IJ 35 Sed maneam etiam, opmor: namque hoc commodum orditur loqui. CHARMIUES Vah. CALLICLES Quid est ? CHARMIDES Oblitus intus dudum tibi sum dicere : Modo mi aduenienti nugator quidam occessit obuiam, Nimis pergraphicus sycophanta. is mille nummum se aiireum Meo datu tibi ferre et gnato Lesbonico aibat meo : 1140 Quern ego nee qui esset noueram neque lisquam conspexi prius. Sed quid rides ? CALLICLES Meo adlegatu uenit, quasi qui aurum mihi Ferret aps te, quod darem tuae gnatae dotem : ut filius Tuos, quando illi a me darem, esse adlatum id aps te crederet, Neu qui rem ipsam posset intellegere, thensaurum tuom 1145 Me esse penes, atque a me lege populi patrium posceret. CHARMIDES Scite edepol. CALLICLES Megaronides conmunis hoc meus et tuos Beneuolens conmentust. CHARMIDES Quin conlaudo consilium et probo. LYSITELES Quid ego ineptus, dum sermonem uereor interriimpere, Solus sto nee, quod conatus sum agere, ago ? hominis con- loquar. 1150 THE TRINUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 129 CA. He has got into one of the best families. Lv. Why should I delay speaking to them ? But I think I will wait awhile yet, for he is opportunely beginning to speak of this matter. CH. Ah ! CA. What is it ? CH. I forgot to tell you just now inside. Just as I was ar- riving a certain swindler met me a most exquisite sharper. He said that he was bringing to you and my son Lesbonicus a thousand gold pieces which I had given him. I did not know him and had never before seen him. But why do you laugh ? CA. He came by my direction, as if he were bringing money from you for me to give as a dowry to your daughter, in order that your son, when I should give it to her from my own means, might think that it came irom you, and might remain ignorant of the fact that your treasure was in my possession and might not dem md it from me by law as his patrimony. CH. A very clever scheme. CA. Megaronides, our mutual friend devised the plan. CH. Indeed I applaud and approve his device. LY. (Aside.} Why should I, fearing to interrupt their con- versation stand here alone like a simpleton, and not finish my business ? I will speak to the men, 130 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES Quis hie est, qui hue ad nos incedit ? LYSITELES Charmidem socerum suom Lysiteles salutat. CHARMIDES Di dent tibi, Lysiteles, quae uelis. CALLICLES Non ego sum dignus salutis ? LYSITELES Immo salue, Callicles. Hunc priorem aequomst me habere : tunica propior palliost. CALLICLES Deos uolo consilia uobis uostra recte uortere. JI 55 CHARMIDES Filiam meam tibi desponsam esse audio. LYSITELES Nisi tu neuis. CHARMIDES Immo haud nolo. LYSITELES Sponden tu ergo tuam gnatam uxorem mihi ? CHARMIDES Spondeo et mille aiiri Philippum dotis. LYSITELES Dotem nil moror. CHARMIDES Si ilia tibi placet, placenda dos quoquest quam dat tibi. Postremo quod uis non duces, nisi illud quod non uis fe- res. 1 1 60 CALLICLES Ins hie orat. LYSITELES Inpetrabit te aduocato atque arbitro, Istac lege filiam tuam sponden nij uxorem dari ? 1 HK IR1XUMMUS <>K PLAUTVri. 131 CH. Who is the person that is coming toward us ? Lv. Lysiteles salutes his father-in-law, Charmides. CH. Heaven bless you, Lysiteles ! CA. Am I not worthy of a salutation ? LY. Yes indeed ; how do you do, Callicles. It is proper for me to give him the preference. The shirt is nearer one's person than the cloak. CA. I pray the gods wisely to direct your plans. CH. I learn that my daugther is betrothed to you. LY. True, unless you object. CH. Nay, I do not object. Lv. Do you then promise me your daughter for my wife ? CH. I do, and a thousand golden philippeans as a dowry. LY. I care nothing for a dowry. CH. If my daughter pleases you the dowry that she brings must also please you. In short, you shall not have that which you do want unless you take that which you do not want. CA. His plea is just. LY. He shall win his case by your advocacy and decision. On this condition do you promise me your daughter for my wife? 132 PLAVTI TRINVMMVS. CHARMIDES Spondeo. CALLICLES Et ego spondeo itidem. LYSITELES Oh, saluete adfines mei. CHARMIDES Atqui edepol sunt res, quas propter tibi tamen suscensui. LYSITELES Quid ego feci ? CHARMIDES Meum corrumpi quia perpessu's filium. l i&5 LYSITELES Si id mea uoluntate factumst, est quod mihi suscenseas. * * * * * * * Sed sine me hoc aps te inpetrare, quod uolo. CHARMIDES Quid id est ? LYSITELES Scies : Siquid stulte fecit, ut ea missa facias omnia. Quid quassas caput ? CHARMIDES Cruciatur cor mi et metuo. LYSITELES Quidnam id est ? CHARMIDES Quom ille itast ut eum esse nolo, id crucior : metuo, si tibi 1170 Denegem quod me oras, ne me leuiorem erga te putes. Non grauabor : faciam ita ut uis. LYSITELES Probus es. eo, ut ilium euocem. CHARMIDES Miserumst male promerita, ut merita sint, si ulcisci non licet. LYSITELES Aperite hoc, aperite propere et Lesbonicum,- si domist, Euocate foras: ita subitumst, quod eum conuentum uolo. 1175 THE TkiNUMMUS OF PLAUTI-. lo'.J CH. I promise her. CA. And I also join in the promise. LY. Heaven bless you, my kinsmen ! CH. And yet I declare to you, I have had reason to be angry with you. LY. What have I done ? CH. You have suffered my son to become profligate. LY. If this were done with my consent you would have reason to be angry with me. * * * * * * * * But grant me this one desire. CH. What is that ? LY. Namely this : If he has acted foolishly, that you will condone all the past. Why do you shake your head ? CH. I am in sore distress and in fear. LY. What do you mean ? CH. I am distressed because he is not what I would like him to be. I am in fear that you will think me rather inconsiderate of you if I refuse your request. I will not stand out ; I will do as you desire. LY. Thank you. I will go and call him out. CH. It's a pity that one cannot punish profligacy as it deserves. LY. {Knocking at the door.) Open this door, open quickly and call out Lesbonicus if he is at home. The case is urgent ; I want to see him at once. 134 PLAVTT TRINVMMVS. LESBONICVS. LYSITELES. CHARMIDES CALLICLES LESBONICVS Quis homo tarn tumultuoso sonitu me exciuit foras ? LYSITELES Beneuolens tuos atque amicus. LESBONICVS Satine saluae ? die mihi. LYSITELES Recte : tuom patrem rediisse saluom peregre gaudeo. LESBONICVS Quis id ait ? LYSITELES Ego. LESBONICVS Tun uidisti ? LYSITELES Et tute item uideas licet. LESBONICVS (3 pater, pater mi, salue. CHARMIDES Salue multum, gnate mi. 1180 LESBONICVS Siquid tibi, pater, laboris CHARMIDES Nihil euenit, ne time : Bene re gesta saluos redeo. si tu modo frugi esse uis, * * * * * * Haec tibi pactast Callicletis filia. LESBONICVS Ego ducam, pater, Et earn et si quam aliam iubebis. CHARMIDES Quamquam tibi suscensui Miseria una uni quidem hominist adfatim. THE TR1XUMMUS OF PLAUTUS. 135 SCENK Til (Enter LESBONICUS from the house.} LE. Who is calling for me with such a racket ? Lv. A friend kindly disposed to you. LE. Is all well with you ? Assure me. LY. Quite well. I am delighted that your father has returned from abroad in safetv. *. LE. Who says so ? LY. I do. LE. Have you seen him ? LY. I have, and you may also see him. LE. O father, my father, I am glad to see you. CH. And I am very glad to see you, my son. LE. If to you any trouble CH. No trouble ; never fear ! I have prospered and return in safety. On condition that you live an upright life * * * the daughter of Callicles has been betrothed to you. LE. I will marry her, father ; her and any one else besides if you shall bid me. CH. Although I was angry with you, one affliction is quite enough for one man. 136 PLAVTI TRTNVMMVS. CALLICLES Immo huic parumst : 1 185 Nam si pro peccatis centum ducat uxoris, parumst. LESBONICVS . At iam posthac temperabo. CHARMIDES Dicis, si facias modo. LYSITELES Numquid causaest quin uxorem eras domum ducam ? CHARMIDES 6ptumumst. Tu in perendinum paratus sis ut ducas. CANTOR Plaudite. THE TR1NUM.MUS OF PLAUTUS. 137 CA. Nay, it's too little for him. It would be too little, if, for his sins, he should have to marry a hundred wives. LE. But from now on I will be temperate. CH. We have your promise ; well and good if you will keep it. LY. Is there any reason why my wedding should not take place to-morrow ? CH. None whatever. (To LESBONICUS.) And you be ready to marry on the day after. orTHC \ CANTOR. 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