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Longfellow's Evangeline, Voices, Sea-side and Fire-side. 4*. 6'ev. G. S. Cotter in 1827, but in it he avowedly omits a large portion of the text, and a still larger portion without the least intimation. In the present translation, particular attention has been given to the difficult and obscure passages, and it may not be presumptuous to hope that the Notes will be found of value to the classical student. It is hardly necessary to remind the Reader that the asterisks in the text denote where portions of the original are lost. H. T. B, CONTENTS. PAGE AMPHITRYON; OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE 1 RUDENS; THE FISHERMAN *S ROPE ...... 63 MERCATOB; THE MERCHANT 133 CISTELLARIA; OR, THE CASKET 185 TRCCULENTUS ; THE CHURL 209 PERSA; THE PERSIAN ........ 255 CASINA; OR, THE STRATAGEM DEFEATED 303 P>ut the " cavea," or part of the theatre where the Audience sat, to see that there were no persons likely to have been hired for the purpose of applauding a particular actor. * Whole theatreyVer. 66. " Cavea." Literally, " the seats" or " benches" where the Audiew *a*. AMPHITRYON ; another. By valour has he declared that you exist as victora, not by canvassing or unfair dealing. Why any the less should there be the same principle for the player, which there is for the greatest man ? By merit, not by favourers, ought we to seek our ends. He who does aright has ever favourers enough, if there is honesty in them in whose disposal this matter 1 rests. This, too, he directed me likewise in his injunctions, that there should be inspectors over the players ; that, he who should have procured suborned persons to applaud himself, or ae who should have contrived for another to give less satis- faction, from the same they might strip off his dress and leather 3 mask I don't wish you to be surprised, for what reason Jupiter now concerns himself about actors. Don't be surprised, Jupiter himself is about to take part in this play. Why are you wondering at this ? As though, indeed, a new thing were now mentioned, that Jupiter takes to the calling of a player. But a year since 3 , when here on the stage the actors invoked Jupiter, he came ; he aided them. Besides, surely in Tragedy he has a place. This play, I say, Jupiter himself will take a part in this day, and I together with him. Now do you give attention while 1 shall relate to you the subject of this Comedy. This city is Thebes ; in that house there (^pointing). Am- phitryon 4 dwells, born at Argos, of an Argive sire ; whose 1 This matter) Ver. 80. The award of the prize. 2 Leather) Ver. 85. " Corium." It is a matter of doubt whether this word means the " persona," or "leather mask" worn by the actors, or the actor's own hide or skin, which would suffer on his being flogged. 3 A year since) Ver. 91. It is conjectured that he is here dealing a hit at some Poet who had recently introduced Jupiter on the stage, perhaps in an awkward manner or at an untimely moment not as taking part himself in the piece, but at the prayer of some one of the characters. Horace reprehends a similar practice in his time : " Nee Deus intersit, nisi dignus vjndice nodus ;" meaning, that a Deity may only be introduced when the circumstances are such as to warrant his interference. 4 Amphitryon) Ver. 98. Perseus was the son of Jupiter and Danae. By An- dromeda, he was the father of Alcseus, Sthenelus, Nestor, and Electryon. Alcaeus was the father of Amphitryon, while Electryon was the father of Alcmena, by Lysidice, the daughter of Pelops. Amphitryon, having accidentally slain Elec- tryon, fled with his daughter Alcmena, who had been betrothed to him, to the court of Creon, King of Thebes. The brother of Alcmena having been slain by the Teleboans or Taphians, who inhabited certain islands on the coast of Acarnania, Amphitryon undertook an expedition against them, at the head of the forces of Creon. OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 7 wife is Alcmena, daughter of Electryon. This Amph.tryon is now the general of the Theban troops ; for between the Tele- boans and the Theban people there is war. He, before he de- parted hence for the expedition, left his wife Alcmena pregnant. But I believe that you already know how my father is disposed how free in these affairs he has been, and how great a lover of many a woman, if any object once has captivated him. Un- known to her husband, he began to love Alcmena, and took temporary possession of her person for himself, and made her pregnant, too, by his embrace. Now, that more fully you may understand the matter with respect to Alcmena, she is preg- nant by both ; both by her husband and by supreme Jupiter. And my father is now lying here (he points to the house) in-doors with her ; and for this reason is this night made longer, while he is taking this pleasure with her whom he desires. But he has so disguised himself, as though he were Amphitryon. Now, that you may not be surprised at this dress of mine, in- asmuch as I have come out here this way in servile garb, an an- cient and an antique circumstance, made new, will I relate to you, by reason of which I have come to you attired in this new fashion ; for lo ! my father Jupiter, now in the house, changes himself into the likeness of Amphitryon, and all the servants who see him think it is he, so shifting in his shape does he render himself when he chooses. I have taken on myself the form of the servant Sosia, who has gone hence together with Amphitryon on the expedition, that I may be able to serve my father in his amour, and that the servants may not be enquiring who I am, when they see me here frequenting oft the house. Now, as they will suppose me a servant and their fellow-servant, not any one will enquire who I am, or why I'm come. My father, now iu-doors, is gratifying his inclination, and is embracing her of whom he is especially enamoured. What has been done tUere at the army, my father is now re- lating to Alcmena. She, who really is with a paramour, thinks that he is her own husband. There, my father is now relating how he has routed the legions of the enemy ; how he has been enriched with abundant gifts. Those gifts which there were given to Amphitryon, we have carried off; what he pleases, my father easily performs. Now will Amphitryon come hither this day from the army, his servant too, whose form I am bearing. Now, that you may be able the more easily to distinguish 8 AMPHITRYON ; Act I. between us, I always shall carry these little wings here (painting) upon my broad-brimmed cap ; then besides, for my father there will be a golden tuft beneath his cap ; that mark will not be upon Amphitryon. These marks no one of these domestics will be able to see ; but you will see them. But yonder is Sosia, the servant of Amphitryon ; he is now coming yonder from the harbour, with a lantern. I will now drive him, as he arrives, away from the house. Attend, it will be worth the while of you spectators, for Jupiter and Mercury to perform here the actors' part. ACT I. SCENE I. Enter SOSIA, with a Lantern. Sos. (to himself}. What other person is there more bold than I, or who more stout of heart, who know the humours of young men 1 , and who am walking at this hour of night alone ? What shall I do, if now the officers of the watch 3 should thrust me into prison. To-morrow shall I be dealt out from there 3 , just as though from a store-closet, for a whipping ; nor will it be allowed me to plead my cause, nor will there be a bit of aid from my master ; nor will there be a person but that they will imagine, all of them, that I am deserving. And so will eight sturdy fellows be thumping on wretched me just like an anvil ; in this way, just come from foreign parts, I shall be received with hospitality by the public. The inconsiderate- ness of my master compels me to this, who has packed me off from the harbour at this time of night whether I would or no. Couldn't he as well have sent me here by daylight ? For thia reason, is servitude to a man of high station a greater hardship; 1 Of young men) Ver. 154. He alludes to the broils of the night, occasioned by the vagaries of wild and dissolute young men perhaps not much unlike the Mohawks, whose outrageous pranks are mentioned in the Spectator and Swift's Journal to Stella. * Officers of the watch) Ver. 155. Literally, the " Tresviri." As usual, though the Scene is laid in Greece, Roman usages are introduced by Plautus. The officers here mentioned were called " nocturni Tresviri." It was their pro- vince to take up all suspicious characters found abroad during the night. They were attended, probably, by lictors, or subordinate officers, who are here referred to as " homines octo validi," " eight sturdy fellows." 3 Dealt out from there) Ver. 156. He compares the gaol, or place of confine- ment, to a store-closet, and means to say, that as food is brought thence to be dressed, so shall he be brought from the gaol to be dressed, in the way of havjnj bis back lashed. Sc. 1. on, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 9 for this reason is the servant of a wealthy man the more wretched: both night and day, without ceasing, there is enough, and more than enough of work for him ; for doing or for saying occasion is ever arising, so that you can't be at rest. The master, abounding in servants 1 , and free from labour himself, thinks that whatever he happens to choose, can be done ; he thinks that just, and reckons not what the labour is ; nor will he ever consider whether he commands a thing that's reasonable or unreasonable. Wherefore, in ser- vitude many hardships do befall us ; in pain this burden must be borne and endured. MERC, (to the AUDIENCE). 'Twere with better reason for me to complain of servitude after this fashion ; I, who to-day was free, and whom my father is now employing as a slave : this fellow is complaining, who was born a slave. Sos. (to himself). Really I am a rascal beyond a doubt; for only this moment it has suggested itself to me, that on my arrival I should give thanks, and address the Gods for their kindnesses vouchsafed. For surely, by my troth, if they were only desirous to give me a return according to my deserts, they would commission some person on my arrival soundly to box my ears, since those kindnesses which they have done me I have held as worthless and of no value. MEEC. (apart). He does what people are not generally in the habit of doing, in knowing what his deserts are. Sos. (to himself). What I never expected, nor any one else of my townsmen, to befall him, that same has come to pass, for us to come home safe and sound. Victorious, the enemy con- quered, the troops are returning home, this very mighty war brought to an end, and the enemy slain. A city that has caused many a bitter death for the Theban people, that same has been conquered by the strength and valour of our sol- diers, and taken by storm, under the command and conduct of my master Amphitryon in especial. With booty, terri- tory, and glory 2 , too, has he loaded his fellow-citizens, and for Creon, King of Thebes, has he firmly fixed his sway. From the harbour he has sent me before him to his house 1 Abounding in jervants) Ver. 170. " Dives operis." LiteraUy, "rich in la- bour," abounding in slaves to labour for him. * And glory) Ver. 193. " Adorea." This was literally the allowance or largess of corn which was distributed io troops after a victory ; hence it figuratively sig- nifies " honor" or " glory." 10 AMPHITRYON J Act I. that I may bear these tidings to his wife, how he has pro- moted the public good by his guidance, conduct, and com- mand. This now will I consider, in what manner I shall address her, when I've arrived there. If I tell a falsehood, I shall be doing as I am accustomed after my usual wont ; for when they were fighting with all their might, then with all my might I ran away. But still I shall pretend as though I was present, and I'll tell her what I heard. But in what manner and with what expressions it is right for me to tell my story, I still wish first to consider here with myself. (He assumes an attitude of thought.} In tl ese terms will I give this narrative. " In the first place, when we arrived there, when first we made land, Amphitryon immediately made choice of the powerful men among the chieftains. Those he despatched on the embassy, and bade them tell his mind to the Tele- boans ; that if without constraint and without warfare they should be ready to deliver up what was plundered and the plunderers, and if they should be ready to restore what they had carried off, he would immediately conduct the army home- wards, that the Greeks would depart from their territory, and that he would grant peace and quietness to them : but if they should be otherwise disposed, and not concede the things which he demanded, he, in consequence, would attack their city with extreme violence and with his men. When the embassa- dors had repeated these things, which Amphitryon had en- joined, in order to the Teleboans, being men stout of heart, relying on their valour, and confident in their prowess, they rebuked our embassadors very rudely. They answered that they were able in warfare to protect themselves and theirs, and that at once they must lead the arm/ with all haste out of their territories. When the embassadors brought back this mes- sage, straightway Amphitryon drew out all his army from the encampment ; on the other side, the Teleboans led forth their legions from the town, furnished with most gorgeous arms. After they had gone forth on either side in full array, the soldiers were marshalled, the ranks were formed. We, after our manner and usage, drew up our legions ; the enemy, too, drew up their legions facing us. Then either general went forth into the mid-space beyond the throng of the ranks, and thej parleyed together. It was agreed between them, that, which ever side should be conquered in that battle, they should sur- render up their city, lauds, altars, hearths, and themselves. Sc. I. OE, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 11 After that was done, the trumpets on either side gave the signal ; the earth re-echoed, they raised a shout on either side. Each general, both upon this side and on that, offered vows to Jupiter, and then encouraged his troops. Each man according to his ability does that which each one can and has the strength to do ; he smites with his falchion ; the weapons crash ; the welkin bellows with the uproar of the men ; of breaths and pantings a cloud is formed ; men fall by wounds inflicted by men. At length, as we desired, our troops conquered ; the foe fell in numbers ; ours, on the other hand, pressed on ; firm in our strength, we were victorious. But still not one betook himself to flight, nor yet gave way at his post, but standing there 1 he waged the combat. Sooner than quit the spot, they parted with their lives ; each, as he stood, lay there and kept his rank in death. When my master Amphitryon saw this, at once he ordered the cavalry on the right to charge. The cavalry obeyed directly ; from the right wing, with a tremendous shout, with brisk onset they rushed on ; and rightfully did they slaughter and trample down the impious forces of the foe." MERC, (apart). Not even one word of these has he yet uttered correctly ; for I was there in the battle personally, and my father too, when it was fought. Sos. (continuing). " The enemy betook themselves to flight. Then was new spirit added to our men, the Teleboans flying, with darts were their bodies filled, and Amphi- tryon himself, with his own hand, struck off the head of Pterelas their king. This battle was being fought there even from the morning till the evening. This do I the better remember for this reason ; because on that day I went with- out my breakfast. But night at last, by its interposing, cut short this combat. The next day, the chiefs came weep- ing from the city to us at the camp. With covered hands 3 , they entreated us to pardon their offences ; and they all sur- 1 Standing there) Ver. 239. This seems to be the true meaning of " statim** in this passage. 7 With covered hands) -Ver. 257. He alludes here to the carrying of the " ve- lamenta," which were branches of olive, surrounded with bandages of wool, and held in the hands of those who sued for mercy or pardon. The wool covered the hand, and was emblematical of peace, the hand being thereby rendered powerleM to effect mischief. 12 AMPHITRYON ; Act I. rendered up themselves, and all things divine and human, their citr and their children, into the possession and unto the disposal of the Theban people. Lastly, by reason of his va- lour, a golden goblet was presented to my master Amphitryon, from which king Pterelas 1 had been used to drink." These things I'll thus tell my mistress. I'll now proceed to obey my master's order and to betake me home. (He moves.) MEEC. (apart). Heyday! he's about to come this way; I'll go meet him ; and I'll not permit this fellow at any time to-day to approach this house. Since I have his form upon myself, I'm resolved to play the fellow off. And indeed, since I have taken upon me his figure and his station, it ia right for me likewise to have actions and manners like to his. Therefore it befits me to be artful, crafty, very cunning, and by his own weapon, artfulness, to drive him from the door. But what means this ? He is looking up at the sky. I'll watch what scheme he's about. Sos. (looking up at the sky). Upon my faith, for sure, if there is aught besides that I believe, or know for cer- tain, I do believe that this night the God of Night 2 has gone to sleep drunk ; for neither does the Wain move itself in any direction in the sky, nor does the Moon bestir herself anywhere from where she first arose ; nor does Orion 3 , or the Evening Star 4 , or the Pleiades, set. In 1 King Pterelas} Ver. 261. Pterela, or Pterelas, was the son of Hippothoe, the cousin of Amphitryon and Alctnena. He had a daughter named Cymetho, or Cometho, and his fate was said to depend upon the preservation of a certain lock of his hair. Cymetho, smitten with love for Amphitryon, or, according to some accounts, for Cephalus, his associate in the enterprise, cut off the fatal lock, and, like Scylla, betrayed her father, who was afterwards slain by Amphitryon. 2 God of Night) Ver. 272. " Nocturnus" is generally supposed here to mean the " God of Night," though some Commentators have fancied that by it the Evening Star is signified. * Nor does Orion) Ver. 275. " Jugula" means either the three stars composing the girdle of Orion or the Constellation Orion itself. It also was the name of two stars in the Constellation Cancer, or the Crab, which were also called " Aselli," or " the Little Asses." The plural, " Jugulae," is more generally used. " Septen- triones" was a name of the " Ursa Major," or " Greater Bear," also called by us "Charles's Wain." It received its name from "septem," "seven," and "ter- riones," " oxen that ploughed the earth," from its fancied resemblance to a string of oxen. 4 The Evening Star) Ver. 275. " Vesperago" is a name of Hesperus, or the Evening Star ; while the Constellation of the Pleiades was sometimes known by the name of " Vergilise." Sc. I. OE, JUPITEK IN DISGUISE. 13 such a fashion are the stars standing st*. ck-still, and the night is yielding not a jot to the day. MERC, (apart). Gro on, Night, as you've begun, and pay obedience to my father. In best style 1 , the best of services are you performing for the best of beings ; in giving this, you reap a fair return. Sos. (to himself). I do not think that I have ever seen a longer night than this, except one of like fashion, which live- long night I was hanging up, having been first whipped. Even that as well, by my troth, does this one by far exceed in its length. I' faith, I really do believe that the Sun's asleep, and is thoroughly drenched. It's a wonder to me if he hasn't indulged himself a little too much at dinner. MERC, (apart). Do you really say so, you scoundrel ? Do you think that the Gods are like yourself ? I' faith, you hang-dog, I'll entertain you for these speeches and misdeeds of yours ; only come this way, will you, and you'll find your ruin. Sos. (to himself). Where are those wenchers, who unwil- lingly lie a-bed alone ? A rare night this for making the best of what was a bad bargain at first 2 . MERC, (apart). My father then, according to this fellow's words, is doing rightly and wisely, who in his amorousness, indulging his passion, is lying in the embraces of Alcmena. Sos. (to himself). I'll go tell Alcmena, as my master ordered me. {Advancing, he discovers MERCURY.) But who is this fellow that I see before the house at this time of night ? I don't like it. MERC, (aside). There is not in existence another such cow- ardly fellow as this. Sos. (aside). Now, when I think of it, this fellow wishes to take my mantle off once more 3 . MERC, (aside). The fellow's afraid ; I'll have some sport with him. Sos. (aside). I'm quite undone, my teeth are chattering. For sure, on my arrival, he is about to receive me with the 1 In lest style) Ver. 278. " Optnmo optume optumam operam." There is a clumsy attempt at wit in this alliteration. 1 Bad bargain at first) Ver. 288. This line has been a little modified in the translation. 1 Take my mantle off once more) Ver. 294. " Detexere." This tern wai properly applied to the act of taking cloth, when woven, fr*n off the loom. Sosia here uaes it in the sense of stripping himself of it. 1-i AMPIIITRTOK ; Act I. hospitality of his fist. He's a merciful person, I suppose ; now, because my master lias obliged me to keep awake, with his fists just now he'll be making me go to sleep. I'm most confoundedly undone. Troth now, prithee, look, how big and how strong he is. MERC, (aside). I'll talk at him aloud, he shall hear what I say. Therefore indeed, in a still greater degree, shall he conceive fears within himself. (In a loud voice, holding up hisjists.) Come, fists, it's a long time now since you found provision for my stomach ; it seems to have taken place quite a long time ago, when yesterday you laid four men asleep, ttript naked. Sos. (aside}. I'm dreadfully afraid lest I should be chang- ing my name here, and become a Quintus 1 instead of a Sosia. He declares that he has laid four men asleep ; I fear lest I should be adding to that number. MEBC. (throwing about his arms). "Well, now then for it. This is the way I intend. Sos. (aside). He is girded tight; for sure, he's getting himself ready. MERC. He shan't get off without getting a thrashing. Sos. (aside). What person, I wonder ? MERC. Beyond a doubt, whatever person comes this way, he shall eat my fists. Sos. (aside). Get out with you, I don't wish to eat at this time of night ; I've lately dined. Therefore do you, if you are wise, bestow your dinner on those who are hungry. MERC. The weight of this fist is no poor one. Sos. (aside). I'm done for; he is poising his fists. MERC. AVhat if I were to touch him, stroking him down 2 , so that he may go to sleep ? Sos. (aside). You would be proving my salvation ; for I've been watching most confoundedly these three nights running 3 . 1 A Quintus} Ver. 305. This is a poor attempt at wit. Mercury tells his fists that they thrashed four men into a lethargy yesterday ; on which Sosia, in his apprehension, says that in that case he shall have to change his own name to "Quintus;" which signified "the fifth," and was also in use as a name among the Romans ; implying thereby that he shall be the fifth to be so mauled. 2 Stroking him down) Ver. 313. He probably alludes to the soporific power of his " caduceus," or " wand." 3 Three nights running*) Ver. 314. He alludes to the length of the night, which was prolonged by Jupiter for the purpose of his intrigue. According to other writers, it was on the occasion when Hercules was begotten, seven months before this ps-iod, that three nights were made into one. Sc. I. OB, JUPITEH IK DISGUISE. 15 MERC. My hand refuses to learn to strike his cheek ; it cannot do a disgraceful action. Hand of mine, of a changed form must he become whom you smite with this fist. Sos. (aside). This fellow will be furbishing me up, and be moulding my face anew. MERC, (to Jiisjisf). The man that you hit full, his face must surely be boned. Sos. (aside). It's a wonder if this fellow isn't thinking of boning me just like a lamprey. Away with a fellow that bones people ! If he sees me, I'm a dead man. MERC. Some fellow is stinking to his destruction. Sos. (aside). "Woe to me ! Is it I that stink ? MERC. And he cannot be very far oft'; but he has been a long way off from here. Sos. (aside). This person's a wizard 1 . MERC. My fists are longing. Sos. (aside). If you are going to exercise them upon me, I beg that you'll first cool them down against the wall. MERC. A voice has come flying to my ears. Sos. (aside). Unlucky fellow, for sure, was I, who didn't clip its wings. I've got a voice with wings, it seems. MERC. This fellow is demanding of me for himself a heavy punishment for his beast's back 2 . Sos. (aside). As for me, I've got no beast's back. MERC. He must be well loaded with my fists. Sos. (aside). I' faith, I'm fatigued, coming from board ship, when I was brought hither ; even now I'm sea-sick. With- out a burden, I can hardly creep along, so don't think that with a load I can go. MERC. Why, surely, somebody 3 is speaking here. Sos. (aside). I'm all right, he doesn't see me ; he thinks it's "Somebody" speaking: Sosia is certainly my name. MERC. But here, from the right-hand side, the voice, as it seems, strikes upon my ear. 1 This person's a wizard) Ver. 323. We must remember that this is spy posed to take place in the dark ; and Sosia says that the man must surely be a wizard to guess that another person Ls so near him, and that he has been abroad till just now. * His beasfs back) Ver. 327. " Jumento suo." Literally, " on his beast of burden." * Somebody} Ver. 331. " Nescio quis." Literally, " I know not who." For the sake of the joke, he pretends to think that this is the name of some one mentioned by Mercury ; and says that as lie is not that person, he u all right. 16 AMPH1TETOK ; Act I. Sos. (aside). I'm afraid that I shall be gettoig a thrashing here this day, in place of my voice, that's striking him. (Moves.) MERC. Here he is he's coming towards me, most oppor- tunely. Sos. (aside). I'm terrified I'm numbed all over. Upon my faith, I don't know where in the world I now am, if any one should ask me ; and to my misfortune, I cannot move myself for fright. It's all up with me ; the orders of his master and Sosia are lost together. But I'm determined boldly to address this fellow to his face, so that I may be able to appear valiant to him ; that he may keep his hands off me (Advances towards the door.) MERC, (accosting him). Where are you going, you that are carrying Vulcan enclosed in your horn 1 ? Sos. Why do you make that enquiry, you who are boning men's heads with your fists ? MERC. Are you slave or free man ? Sos. Just as it suits my inclination. MERC. Do you really say so ? Sos. I really do say so. MERC. Whip-scoundrel 2 ! Sos. Now you are telling a lie. MERC. But I'll soon make you own that I'm telling the truth. Sos. What necessity is there for it ? MERC. Can I know whence you have set out, whose you are, or why you are come ? Sos. (pointing). This way I'm going, and I'm the servant of my master. Are you any the wiser now ? MERC. I'll this day make you be holding that foul tongue of yours. Sos. You can't ; it is kept pure 3 and becomingly. MERC. Do you persist in chattering ? What business now have you at this house ? (Points to the house.) 1 Vulcan enclosed in your horn) Ver. 341 . " Volcanum in cornn." Literally, " Vulcan in your horn ;" alluding to the horn lantern which Sosia is carrying. 2 Whip- scoundrel) Ver. 344. " Verbero." This word, as a substantive, pro- prly menus a bad slave, who had been whipped " a rascal" or " scoundrel." As a verb, it means " I beat." Sosia chooses, for the sake of the quibble, to take it ill the latter sense, and tells Mercury that he lies ; meaning to say that he (Mercury) 8 not beating him (Sosia). 1 It is kept pure) Ver. 348. It is generally supposed that in these words an indelicate allusion is intended ; hut it is not so universally agreed on what its nature is. Sc. I. OB, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 17 Sos. Aye, and what business have you ? MEEC. King Creon always sets a watch every night. Sos. He does right ; because we were abroad, he has been protecting our house. But however, do go in now, and say that some of the family servants have arrived. MERC. How far you are one of the family servants I don't know. But unless you are off from here this instant, family servant as you are, I'll make you to be received in no familiar style. Sos. Here, I say, I live, and of these people I am the servant. MERC. But do you understand how it is ? Unless you are off, I'll make you to be exalted 1 this day. Sos. In what way, pray ? MERC. You shall be carried off, you shan't walk away, if I take up a stick. Sos. But I declare that I am one of the domestics of this family. MERC. Consider, will you, how soon you want a drubbing, unless you are off from here this instant. Sos. Do you want, as I arrive from foreign parts, to drive me from my home ? MERC. Is this your home ? Sos. It is so, I say. MERC. Who is your master, then ? Sos. Amphitryon, who is now the general of the Theban forces, to whom Alcmena is married. MERC. How say you ? What's your name ? Sos. The Thebans call me Sosia, the son of my father Davus. MERC. Assuredly, at your peril have you come here this day, with your trumped-up lies, your patched-up knaveries, you essence of effrontery. Sos. Why no, it's rather with garments patched-up that I'm arrived here, not with knaveries. MERC. Why, you are lying again; you come with your feet, surely, and not with your garments. Sos. Yes, certainly. MERC. Then certainly take that for your lie. {He strikes him.) Sos. By my troth, I certainly don't wish for it of course. MERC. But by my faith, you certainly shall have it of course, 1 To be exalted) Ver. 357. He probably means by this, that he will beat him to such a degree that he will be obliged to be carried off, either dead or unable t move a limb" elevated" on the shoulder* f other men. VOL. II. C 18 AMPHITRYON ; Act I. whether you wish or not : for, in fact, this is certainly my de- termination, and it is not at your own option. (He strikes him.) Sos. Mercy, I entreat of you. MERC. Do you dare to say that you are Sosia, when I my- self am he ? (Strikes him.) Sos. (crying at the top of his voice). I'm being murdered. MERC. Why, you are crying out for a trifle as yet, com- pared with what it will be. Whose are you now ? Sos. Yoiir own ; for with your fists you have laid hands on me 1 . Help, help, citizens of Thebes. (MERCURY strik- ing him.) MERC. What, still bawling, you scoundrel? Speak what have you come for? Sos. For there to be somebody for you to belabour with your fists. MERC. Whose are you ? Sos. Amphitryon's Sosia, I tell you. MERC. For this reason then you shall be beaten the more, because you prate thus idly ; I am Sosia, not you. Sos. (aside). I wish the Gods would have it so, that you were he in preference, and that I were thrashing you. MERC. What, muttering still? (Strikes him). Sos. I'll hold my tongue then. MERC. Who is your master ? Soa. Whoever you like. MERC. How then ? What's your name no\v ? Sos. Nothing but what you shall command. MERC. You said that you were Amphitryon's Sosia. Sos. I made a mistake ; but this J meant to say, that I was Amphitryon's associate 2 . MERC. Why, I was sure that we had no servant called Sosia except myself. Your senses are forsaking you. Sos. I wish that those fists of yours had done so. MERC. I am that Sosia, whom you were just now telling me that you are. Sos. I pray that I may be allowed to discourse with you in quietness, so as not to be beaten. MERC. Well then, let there be a truce for a short time, if you want to say anything. 1 Laid hands on me) Ver. 375. " Usufecisti." " Usufacere" was a term used in law, to signify the taking possession of a thing by the laying of hands thereon. This, Sosia means to say, Mercury has most effectually done. * Associate) Ver. 384. This poor pun is founded on the similarity of sound Mtween Sosia and " socius," a " companion" or " associate." Sc. I. OR, JUPITEE IN DISGUISE. 19 Sos. I'll not speak unless peace is concluded, since you are the stronger with your fists. MERC. If you wish to say anything, speak ; I'll not hurt you. Sos. Am I to trust in your word ? MERC. Yes, in my word. Sos. What, if you deceive me? MERC. Why, then may Mercury be angry with Sosia 1 . Sos. Then give attention : now I'm at liberty to say in free- dom anything I please. I am Sosia, servant of Amphitryon. MERC. What, again? (Offering to strike him.) Sos. I have concluded the peace, ratified the treaty I speak the truth. MEBC. Take that, then. (He strikes him.) Sos. As you please, and what you please, pray do, since you are the stronger with your fists. But whatever you shall do, still, upon my faith, I really shall not be silent about that. MERC. So long as you live, you shall never make me to be any other than Sosia at this moment. Sos. I' faith, you certainly shall never make me to be any other person than my own self ; and besides myself we have no other servant of the name of Sosia myself, who went hence on the expedition together with Amphitryon. MERC. This fellow is not in his senses. Sos. The malady that you impute to me, you have that same yourself. How, the plague, am I not Sosia, the servant of Amphitryon ? Has not our ship, which brought me, arrived here this night from the Persian port 2 ? Has not my master sent me here? Am I not now standing before our house? Have I not a lantern in my hand ? Am I not talking ? Am I not wide awake ? Has not this fellow been thumping me with his fists ? By my troth 3 , he has been doing so ; for even 1 Angry with Sosia) Ver. 392. There is something comical in the absurdity of this oath. Mercury, personating Sosia, says that if he breaks it, the result must be that Mercury (i. e., himself) will be angry with Sosia, the person in who.se favour he is pretending to take the oath. * The Persian port) Ver. 404. Ptautus is here guilty of an anachronism ; fur the " Portus Persicus," which was on the coast of Euboea, was so called from the Persian fleet lying there on the occasion of the expedition to Greece, many ag*- after the time of Amphitryon. By my troth) Ver. 408. " Hercle." Literally, " by Hercules." Hypercri- tical Commentators have observed, that Plautus is guilty in this Play of a gram- matical anachronism, in putting the expletive, " Hercle," in the mouths of per- ons at a time when Hercules is supposed to be yet unborn. They might with c 2 20 AMPHITEYON ; Act I. now, to my pain, my cheeks are tingling. "Why, then, do I hesitate ? Or why don't I go in-doors into our house ? (He makes towards the door.) MEEC. (stepping between). How your house ? Sos. Indeed it really is so. MEEC. Why, all that you have been saying just now, you have trumped up ; I surely am Amphitryon's Sosia. For in the night this ship of ours weighed anchor from the Persian port, and where king Pterelas reigned, the city we took by storm, and the legions of the Teleboans in fighting we took by arms, and Amphitryon himself cut off the head of king Pterelas in battle. Sos. (aside). I do not h-ust my own self, when I hear him affirm these things ; certainly, he really does relate exactly the things that were done there. (Aloud.) But how say you ? What spoil from the Teleboans was made a present to Amphitryon? MEEC. A golden goblet, from which king Pterelas used to drink. Sos. (aside). He has said the truth. Where now is this goblet ? MEEC. "Tis in a casket, sealed with the seal of Amphi- tryon. Sos. Tell me, what is the seal ? MEEC. The Sun rising with his chariot. Why are you on the catch for me, you villain ? Sos. (aside). He has overpowered me with his proofs. I must look out for another name. I don't know from whence he witnessed these things. I'll now entrap him finely ; for what I did alone by myself, and when not another person was pre- sent in the tent, that, he certainly will never be able this day to tell me. (Aloud.) If you are Sosia, when the armies were fighting most vigorously, what were you doing in the tent ? If you tell me that, I'm vanquished. MEEC. There was a cask of wiiie; from it I filled an earthen pot 1 . as much justice accuse him of anachronism in putting the Roman language into the mouths of persons at a time when that language did not as yet exist. He merely professes to embody the sentiments of persons in bygone days in such lan- guage as may render them the most easily intelligible to a Roman audience. 1 An earthen pot) Ver. 429. " Hirneam." " Hirnea" was an earthen vessel for holding wine. It was said to receive its name from the Greek word opvis " bird," because it originally bore the figure of a bird. Sc. I. OB, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 21 Sos. (aside). He has got upon the track. MERC. That I drew full of pure wine, just as it was born from the mother grape. Sos. (aside). It's a wonder if this fellow wasn't lying hid inside of that earthen pot. It is the fact, that there 1 did drink an earthen pot full of wine. MERC. "Well do I now convince you by my proofs that you are not Sosia ? Sos. Do you deny that I am ? MERC. Why should I not deny it, who am he myself? Sos. By Jupiter I swear that I am he, and that I do not say false. MERC. But by Mercury, I swear that Jupiter does not believe you ; for I am sure that he will rather credit me without an oath than you with an oath. Sos. "Who am I, at all events, if I am not Sosia ? I ask you that. MERC. "When I choose not to be Sosia, then do you be Sosia ; now, since I am he, you'll get a thrashing, if you are not off hence, you fellow without a name. Sos. (aside). Upon my faith, for sure, when I examine him and recollect my own figure, just in such manner as I am (I've often looked in a glass 1 ), he is exactly like me. He has the broad-brimmed hat and clothing just the same ; he is as like me as I am myself. His leg, foot, stature, shorn head, eyes, nose, even his lips, cheeks, chin, beard, neck the whole of him. What need is there of words? If his back is marked with scars, than this likeness there is nothing more like. But when I reflect, really, I surely am the same 1 Looked in a glass) Ver. 442. He seems to speak of looking in a mirror as something uncommon for a slave to do. Probably the expense of them did not allow of their being used by slaves. The " specula," or " looking-glasses," of the ancients, were usually made of metal, either a composition of tin and copper or of silver ; but in later times, alloy was mixed with the silver. Pliny mentions th obsidian stone, or, as it is now called, Icelandic agate, as being used for this pur- pose. He also says that mirrors were made in the glass-houses of Sidon, which consisted of glass plates with leaves of metal at the back. These were probably of an inferior character. Those of copper and tin were made chiefly at Brundi- siutn. The white metal formed from this mixture soon becoming dim, a sponge, with powdered pumice-stone, was usually fastened to the mirrors made of that composition. They were generally small, of round or oval shape, and having a handle. The female slaves usually held them while their mistresses were per- forming the duties of the toilet. Sometimes they were fastened to the walls, and they were occasionally of the length of a person's body, like the cheval-glasses at our dfljr 00 AMPHITRYON; Act I. person that I always was. My master I know, I know our house ; 1 am quite 'in my wits and senses. I'm not going to obey this fellow in what he says ; I'll knock at the door. (Goes towards the door) MERC. Whither are you betaking yourself ? Sos. Home. MEBC. If now you were to ascend the chariot of Jove and fly away from here, then you could hardly be able to escape destruction. Sos. Mayn't I be allowed to deliver the message to my mistress that my master ordered me to give ? MERC. If you want to deliver any message to your own mistress ; this mistress of mine I shall not allow you to ap- proach. But if you provoke me, you'll be just now taking nence your loins broken. Sos. In preference, I'll be off. (Aside) Immortal Gods, 1 do beseech your mercy. Where did I lose myself? Where have I been transformed ? Where have I parted with my figure ? Or have I left myself behind there, if perchance I have forgotten it ? For really this person has possession of all my figure, such as it formerly was. While living, that is done for me, which no one will ever do for me when dead 1 . I'll go to the harbour, and I'll tell my master these things as they have happened unless even he as well shall not know me, which may Jupiter grant, so that this day, bald, with shaven crown, I may assume the cap of freedom?. (Exit. SCENE II. MEBCTTRY, alone. MERC. Well and prosperously has this affair gone on for me ; from the door have I removed the greatest obstacle, so that it may be allowed my father to embrace her in security. When now he shall have reached his master, Amphitryon 1 When dead) Ver. 458. It is generally thought that he is punning here upon the word " imago," and alludes to the practice of carrying the " imagines," or " waxen images" of their ancestors, in the funeral processions of the Patricians an honor, he says, that will never befall him when he is dead. Douza, however, thinks that he is playing upon the expression " Indos facere," which has the double meaning of " to impose upon " a person, or " to give a spectacle" of gladi- ators after the death of a person of Patrician rank; and that he means to say that the act " ludos faciendi" is being applied to him (in the first sense) while alive, a thing that (in the second sense) will never befall him when dead. * Cap of freedom) Ver. 462. When a slave was made free, after his manumis- sion his head was shaved, and a cap put upon it in the Temple of Feronia, the Goddess of Freed-men. Sc. II. OB, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 23 there, he will say that the servant Sosia has repulsed himself from the door here ; and then the other will suppose that he is telling him a lie, and will not believe that he has come here as he had ordered him. Both of them and the whole household of Amphitryon I will fill with mistakes and distraction, even until my father shall have had full enjoyment of her whom he loves ; then at last all shall know what has been done. In the end Jupiter shall restore Alcmena to the former affection of her husband. For Amphitryon will just now be beginning a quarrel with his wife, and will be accusing her of in- continence ; then will my father change for her this strife into tranquillity. Now, inasmuch as yet I've said but little about Alcmena, this day will she bring forth two sons, twins ; the one will be born in the tenth month after he was be- gotten, the other in the seventh month 1 ; of these the one is the son of Amphitryon 2 , the other of Jupiter. But of the younger son the father is the superior, of the elder the inferior. {To the AUDIENCE.) Now do you comprehend this how it is ? But for the sake of the honor 3 of this Alcmena, my father will take care that it shall happen at one birth, so that in one tra- vail she may complete her double pangs, and not be laid under suspicion of uncnastity, and that the clandestine connexion may remain concealed. Although, as I have said just now, Amphitryon shall still know all the matter in the end. What then ? No one surely will impute it to Alcmena as a disgrace ; for it does not seem that a God is acting justly to permit his own offences and his own faultiness to fall upon a mortal. I'll cut short my talk : the door makes a noise. See, the counterfeit Amphitryon is coming out of doors, and together with him Alcmena, the wife that he has taken the loan of. 1 In the seventh month) Ver. 482. It is difficult to imagine how a critic can suppose that the duration of this Play is intended to be seven months, merely because, according to the ancient story, Hercules was born seven months after the intercourse of Jupiter with Alcmena. Heinsius and Vossius, however, were of this extraordinary opinion. They probably did not reflect that Plautus, for the sake of finding material for his Play, supposed the same intercourse to have been repeated on the same night on which Hercules was born. * Son of Amphitryon) Ver. 483. Iphiclus was the son of Amphitryon. * Of the honor) Ver. 486. " Honoris." Madame Dacier has observed, that the tenderness of Jupiter extended only to her health, and not to her " reputa- tion," as the word " honoris " would seem to imply. " Honoris gratia " may, however, simply mean " for bar own sake." 24 AMPHITRYON; Act I. SCENE III. Enter JUPITER and ALCMENA, /row the house. JUP. Kindly fare you well, Alcmena ; take care, as you are doing, of bur common interest, and pray be sparing of yourself; you see that now your months are completed. It's necessary 'for me to go away from here ; but the offspring that shall be born do you bring up 1 . ALC. "What business is this, my husband, since you thus suddenly leave your home ? JUP. 'By my troth, 'fis not that I am wearied of you or of my home ; but when the chief commander is not with the army, that is sooner done which ought not to be done than that which needs to be done. MERC, (aside). This is a very clever counterfeit, "who really is my own father. (To tlie AUDIENCE.) Do you observe him, how blandly he smoothes the lady over. ALC. 1' faith, I find by experience how much you value your wife. JUP. If there is no one among women whom I love so much, are you satisfied ? MERC, (aside). Verily, upon my faith, if Juno only knew that you were giving your attention to such matters, I'd war- rant that you'd rather be 2 Amphitryon than Jupiter. ALC. I would rather that I should find it so by experience, than that it should be told me. You leave me before the spot in the bed where you have been lying has "well grown warm. Yesterday, in the middle of the night, you came, and now you are going away. Is this your pleasure ? MERC, (aside). I'll approach, and address her, and play 1 Do you bring up) Ver. 506. " Tollito." It was a custom among the ancients for the new-born child to be laid on tlie ground, upon which it was taken up by the father, or such other person as intended to stand in the place of a parent to t. If it was not taken up, it was disowned, and left to starve. For this reason Jupiter makes this request of Alcmena. 2 You'd rather be) Ver. 510-511. "Edepol nae ilia si i*tis rebus ne sriat operam dare. Ego faxim ted Amphitryonem malis esse quam Jovem." This pas- sage lias been differently rendered by Kichter. He says that " ilia," " she," refers to Alcmena, and not to Juno, as has been generally imagined, and that Mer- cury says these words aside, and, turning to the Audience, remarks, that if he were only to tell Alcmena that Jupiter is not the real Amphitryon, he would wish himself the real one, in preference to being Jupiter, and losing the lady. The translation in the text seems, however, to convey the real meaning of the passage. Probably, when using the word " ilia," as applying to Juno, he slily points upwards to the Leavens. Sc. III. OE, JUPITER US DISGUISE. 25 second fiddle to my father. (lie approaches ALCMENA.) Never, upon my faith, do I believe that any mortal did so distractedly love his wife aa he distractedly dotes upon you. JUP. Scoundrel ! don't I know you of old ? Won't you be off out of my sight ? What business have you in this matter, whip-knave ? or why your muttering ? Whom this very instant, with this walking-stick, I'll (Shakes his stick over his head.) Ai.c. Oh don't. JUP. Only make a whisper. MERC, (aside). My first attempt at playing second fiddle had almost come to an unfortunate conclusion. JUP. But as to what you say, my wife, you ought not to be angry with me. I came away privately from the army : these moments I stole for you, that you the first might know from me the first, how I had managed the common interests. All this have I related to you. If I had not loved you very much, I should not have done so. MERC, (aside). Isn't he doing just as I said? In her alarm, he is smoothing her down. JUP. That the army then mayn't find it out, I must re- turn there privately, lest they should say that I have preferred my wife before the common interests. ALC. By your departure you set your wife in tears. JUP. Be quiet ; don't spoil your eyes : I'll return very shortly. ALC. That "very shortly" is a long time. JUP. I do not with pleasure leave you here, or go away from you. ALC. I am sensible of it ; for, the night that you have come to me, on the same you go away. (She embraces him.) JUP. Why do you hold me ? It is time to go : I wish to depart from the city before it dawns. Now, Alcmena, this goblet which has been given me there on account of my valour, from which king Pterelas used to drink, he whom 1 slew with my own hand, the same I present to you. (Presents to her the goblet.) ALC. (taking the goblet). Tou do as you are wont in other things. By heavens, it is a noble gift ; Like him who gave the gift. MERC. Aye, a noble gift ; just like her to whom it has been given as a gift. JUP. What, still going on ? Can't I, you scoundrel, mako an end of YOU ? 26 AMPHITRYON; Act 11. ALC. Amphitryon, there's a dear, don't be angry 1 with Sosia on my account. JTJP. Just as you wish I'll do. MERC, (aside). From his intriguing, how very savage he does become ! JTJP. Do you wish for anything else ? ALC. That when I am absent you will love me me, who am yours, though absent. MERC. Let's go, Amphitryon ; it's already dawning. JUP. Go you first, Sosia. (Exit MERCURY.) I'll follow this instant. (To ALCMENA.) Is there anything you wish ? ALC. Yes ; that you'll come back speedily. JTJP. I will ; and sooner than you expect will I be here ; therefore be of good heart. (ALCMENA goes into the house.) SCENE IV. JUPITEE, alone. JTJP. Now Night, thou who hast tarried for me, I permit thee to give place to Day, that thou mayst shine upon mortals with a bright and brilliant light. And Night, as much as on this last thou wast too long, so much the shorter will I make the Day to be, that a Day of equal disparity may suc- ceed the Night. I'll go and follow Mercury. (Exit. ACT II. SCENE I. Enter AMPHITRYON and SOSIA, at the end of the stage. AMPH. Come, do you follow^ after me. Sos. I'm following ; I'm following close after you. AMPH. I think that you are the veriest rogue Sos. But for what reason ? AMPH. Because that which neither is, nor ever was, nor will be, you declare to me. Sos. Look at that ; you are now acting according to your usual fashion, to be putting no trust in your servants. AMPH. Why is it so ? For what reason ? Surely now, by the powers, I'll cut out that villanous tongue of yours, you villain. Sos. I am yours ; do each thing just as it is agreable and as it pleases you. Still you never can, by any method, hinder me from saying these tilings just as they took place here. 1 Don't be angry) Ver. 540. It has been justly remarked that the amiable and interesting character of Alcmena is not unlike that of Desdemona, in Shak- speare'g Othello. Sc. I. OE, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 27 AMPH. You consummate villain, do you dare tell me this, that you are now at home, who are here present ? Sos. I speak the truth. AMPH. A mishap shall the Gods send upon you, arid I this day will send it as well, Sos. That's in your power, for I am your property. AMPH. Do you dare, you whip-scoundrel, to play your tricks with me, your master ? Do you dare affirm that which no person ever yet before this has seen, and which cannot pos- sibly happen, for the same man to be in two places together at the same time ? Sos. Undoubtedly, such as I say is the fact. AMPH. May Jupiter confound you ! Sos. What evil, master, have I been deemed deserving of in your service ? AMPH. Do you ask me, you rogue, who are even making sport of me ? Sos. With reason might you curse me, if it had not so happened. But I tell no lie, and I speak as the thing really did happen. AMPH. This fellow's drunk, as I imagine. Sos. What, I ? AMPH. Yes you there. Sos. I wish I were so. AMPH. You are wishing for that which is fact; where have you been drinking ? Sos. Nowhere, indeed. AMPH. What is this, that is the matter with the fellow ? Sos. Eeally I have told you ten times over. I am both at home now, I say (do you mark me ?), and I, Sosia, am with you likewise. Don't 1 appear, master, to have told you quite distinctly, and quite circumstantially, that this is so. AMPH. Avaunt, get away with you from me. Sos. What's the matter ? AMPH. A pestilence possesses you. Sos. But why do you say so to me ? I really am quite well and in perfect health, Amphitryon. AMPH. But I'll make you this very day, just as you have deserved, not to be quite so well, and to be miserable instead of your perfect health, if I return home. Follow me, you who in this fashion are making sport of your master with your crack-brained talk ; you, who, since you have neglected to perform what your master ordered, are now come even of your own accord to laugh at your master. Things which neither can happen, and which no one ever yet heard of in 28 AMPHITRYON ; Act II talk, you are telling of, you villain ; on your back I'll take care and make those lies to tell this very day. Sos. Amphitryon, this is the most wretched of wretched- ness to a good servant, who is telling the truth to his master, if that same truth is overpowered by violence. AMPH. Discuss it with me by proofs. Why, how the plague can such a thing happen, for you now to be both here and at home ? That I want to be told. Sos. I really am both here and there ; this any person has a right to wonder at ; nor, Amphitryon, does this seem more Btrange to you than to myself. AMPH. In what way ? Sos. In no degree, I say, is this more strange to you than to myself ; nor, so may the Deities love me, did I at first credit Sosia me myself, until that Sosia, I myself, made me to believe me myself. In order did he relate every- thing, as each thing came to pass, when we sojourned with the enemy ; and then besides, he has carried off my figure together with my name. Not even is milk more like to milk than is that I myself like to me myself. For when some time since, before daybreak, you sent me from the harbour home before you AMPH. What then ? Sos. I had been standing a long time at the door before I had got there. AMPH. Plague on it, what nonsense ! Are you quite in your senses ? Sos. I'm just as you see me. AMPH. Some mischief, I know not what, has befallen this fellow from an evil hand 1 since he left me. Sos. I confess it ; for 1 have been most shockingly bruised with his fists. AMPH. Who has been beating you ? Sos. I myself, who am now at home, leat me myself. AMPH. Take you care to say nothing but what I shall ask you. Now, do you answer me. First of all, who this Sosia is, of that I want to be informed. Sos. He is your servant. 1 An evil hand)Ver. 605. " Mala manu." In this line these words relate to sorcery or enchantment, probably through spells, in which the hand was employed. Sosia takes the opportunity of punning, by understanding the words in their literal sense. " Evil hand," indeed, he says, " when I have been almost mauled to death with fists." Sc. II. OB, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 29 AMPH. Really I have even more than I desire by your own one self. Never, too, since I was born, had I a servant Sosia besides yourself. Sos. But now, Amphitryon, I say this ; I'll make you, I say, on your arrival, meet with another Sosia at home, a ser- vant of yours, besides myself, a son of Davus, the same father with myself, of figure and age as well just like myself. "What need is there of words ? This Sosia of yours is be- come twofold. AMPH. You talk of tilings extremely wonderful. But did you see my wife ? Sos. Nay, but it was never allowed me to go in-doors into the house. AMPH. Who hindered you ? Sos. This Sosia, whom I was just now telling of, he who thumped me. AMPH. Who is this Sosia ? Sos. Myself, I say ; how often must it be told you ? AMPH. But how say you ? Have you been sleeping the while ? Sos. Not the slightest in the world. AMPH. Then, perhaps, you might perchance have seen some Sosia in your dreams. Sos. I am not in the habit of performing the orders of my master in a sleepy fashion. Awake I saw him, awake I now see you, awake I am talking, awake did he, a little while since, thump me about with his fists. AMPH. What person did so ? Sos. Sosia, that I myself, he, I say. Prithee, don't you understand ? AMPH. How, the plague, can any one possibly under- stand ? You are jabbering such nonsense. Sos. But you'll know him shortly. AMPH. Whom ? Sos. You'll know this servant Sosia. AMPH. Follow me this way, then ; for it is necessary for me first to enquire into this. But take care that all the things that I ordered are now brought from the ship. Sos. I am both mindful and diligent that what you order shall be performed; together with the wine, I have not drunk up your commands. AMPH. May the Gods grant, that, in the event, what you have said may prove untrue. (They stand apart.) SCENE II. Enter ALCMENA, /TW the house, attended by THESSALA. Ai/c. Is not the proportion of pleasures in life and in 30 AMPHITRYON ; Act II. passing our existence short in comparison with what is dis- agreable ? So it is allotted to each man in life ; so has it pleased the Gods that Sorrow should attend on Pleasure as her companion; but if aught of good befalls us, more of trouble and of ill forthwith attends us. For this do I now feel by experience at home and in relation to myself, to whom 'delight has been imparted for a very short time, while I had the opportunity of seeing my husband for but one night ; and now has he suddenly gone away hence from me before the dawn. Deserted do I now seem to myself, be- cause he is absent from here, Tie w r hom before all I love. More of grief have I felt from the departure of my husband, than of pleasure from his arrival. But this, at least, makes me happy, that he has conquered the foe, and has returned home loaded with glory. Let him be absent, if only with fame acquired he betakes himself home. I shall bear and ever endure his absence with mind resolved and steadfast ; if only this reward is granted me, that my husband shall be hailed the conqueror in the warfare, sufficient for myself will I deem it. Valour is the best reward ; valour assuredly surpasses all things : liberty, safety, life, property and parents, country too, and children, by it are defended and preserved. Va- lour comprises everything in itself: all blessings attend him in whose possession is valour. AMPH. (apart). By my troth, I do believe that I shall come much wished for by my wife, who loves me, and whom, in return, I love : especially, our enterprise crowned with suc- cess, the enemy vanquished, whom no one had supposed to be able to be conquered : these, under my conduct and com- mand, at the fir.st meeting, have we vanquished ; but I know for sure that I shall come to her much wished for. Sos. (aside). Well, and don't you think that I shall come much wished for to my mistress ? AMPHITRYON advances, at a distance, with SOSIA. ALC. (to herself). Surely, this is my husband. AMPH. (to SOSIA). Do you follow me this way. ALC. (to herself). But why has he returned, when just now he said that he was in haste ? Is he purposely trying me, and is he desirous to make proof of this, how much I regret his departure ? By my faith, against no inclination of mine has he betaken himself home. ~C. II. OE, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 31 Sos. Amphitryon, it were better for us to return to the ship. AMPH. For what reason ? Sos. Because there's no person at home to give us a breakfast on our arrival. AMPH. How comes that now into your mind ? Sos. Why, because we have come too late. AMPH. How so ? Sos. Because I see Alcmena standing before the house, with her stomach-full 1 already. AMPH. I left her pregnant here when I went away. Sos. Alas, to my sorrow, I'm undone ! AMPH. What's the matter with you ? Sos. I have come home just in good time to fetch the water 2 in the tenth month after that, according as I understand you to compute the reckoning. AMPH. Be of good heart. Sos. Do you know of how good heart I am ? By my troth, do you never after this day entrust to me aught that is sacred, if I don't draw up all the life of that well, if I do but make a beginning. AMPH. Do you only follow me this way. I'll appoint an- other person for that business ; don't you fear. ALC. (advancing). I think that I shall now be doing my duty more, if I go to meet him. (They meet.} AMPH. With joy, Amphitryon greets his longed-for wife her, whom of all women in Thebes her husband deems by far the most excellent, and whom so much the Theban citizens truthfully extol as virtuous. Have you fared well all along ? Do I arrive much wished for by you ? Sos. (aside). I never saw one more so ; for she greets her own husband not a bit more than a dog. AMPH. When I see you pregnant, and so gracefully bur- dened, I am delighted. ALC. Prithee, in the name of all that's good, why, for the sake of mockery, do you thus salute and address me, as though you hadn't lately seen me as though now, for the first time, you were betaking yourself homeward here from the enemy ? For now you are addressing me just as though you were seeing me after a long time. 1 Stomach-full} Ver. 667. He is guilty of a vulgar pun on the word "satu- ram," which may either mean " having a full stomach " or " being pregnant." * To fetch the water) Ver. 669. He alludes to the practice among the ancients of bathing immediately after childbirth, and says that he himself, as the ser- vant, will hare to fetch the buckets of water. 32 AMPHITEYOK J --C II. AMPH. Why, really for my part, I have not seen you at all this day until now. ALC. Why do you deny it? AMPH. Because I have learned to speak the truth. ALC. He does not do right, who unlearns the same that he has learned. Are you making trial what feelings I possess ? But why are you returning hither so soon ? Has an ill omen delayed you, or does the weather keep you back, you who have not gone away to your troops, as you were lately speaking of? AMPH. Lately ? How long since was this " lately ?" ALC. You are trying me ; but very lately, just now. AMPH. Prithee, how can that possibly be as you say ? " but very lately, just now." ALC. Why, what do you imagine ? That I, on the other hand, shall trifle with you who are playing with me, in saying that you are now come for the first time, you who but just now went away from here ? AMPH. Surely she is talking deliriously. Sos. Stop a little while, until she has slept out this one sleep. AMPH. Is she not dreaming with her eyes open ? ALC. Upon my faith, for my part I really am awake, and awake I am relating that which has happened ; for, but lately, before daybreak, I saw both him (pointing at SOSIA) and yourself. AMPH. In what place ? ALC. Here, in the house where you yourself dwell. AMPH. It never was the fact. Sos. Will you not hold your peace ? What if the vessel brought us here from the harbour in our sleep ? AMPH. Are you, too, going to back her as well ? Sos. (aside to AMPHITRYON). What do you wish to be done ? Don't you know, if you wish to oppose a raving Bacchanal, from a mad woman you'll render her more mad she'll strike the oftener 1 ; if you humour her, after one blow you may overcome her ? AMPH. But, by my troth, this thing is resolved upon, somehow to rate her who this day has been unwilling to greet me on my arrival home. 1 Strike the oftener) Ver. 704. This is said in allusion to the blows with th thyrsus, which the frantic female votaries of Bacchus inflicted upon all persons that they met. Sc. II. OR, JUPITEH IN DISGUISE. 33 Sos. You'll only be irritating hornets. AMPH. You hold your tongue. Alcmena, I wish to ask you one thing. ALC. Ask me anything you please. AMPH. Is it frenzy that has come upon you, or does pride overcome you ? ALC. How comes it into your mind, my hushand, to ask me that ? AMPH. Because formerly you used to greet me on my arrival, and to address me in such manner as those women who are virtuous are wont their husbands. On my arrival home I've found that you have got rid of that custom. ALC. By my faith, indeed, I assuredly did both greet you yesterday, upon your arrival, at that very instant, and at the same time I enquired if you had continued in health all along, my husband, and I took your hand and gave you a kiss. Sos. What, did you welcome him yesterday ? ALC. And you too, as well, Sosia. Sos. Amphitryon, I did hope that she was about to bring you forth a son ; but she isn't gone with child. AMPH. What then ? Sos. With madness. ALC. Really I am in my senses, and I pray the Gods that in safety I may bring forth a son ; but (to SOSIA) hap-ill shall you be having, if he does his duty : for those ominous words, omen-maker, you shall catch what befits you. Sos. Why really an apple 1 ought to be given to the lady thus pregnant, that there may be something for her to gnaw if she should begin to faint. AMPH. Did you see me here yesterday ? ALC. I did, I say, if you wish it to be ten times repeated. AMPH. In your sleep, perhaps ? ALC. No 1, awake, saw you awake. AMPH. Woe to me ! Sos. What's the matter with you ? apple) Ver. 723. There is a pun here upon the similarity of the two " malum," " evil," and " malum," an " apple," in which latter sense i Am words Sosia chooses to take the expression of Alcmena. The version of the pun used in the text is borrowed from Thornton's Translation. In a Note, he wonders " why an apple (or any fruit) should be given to a pregnant woman." Sosia seems to explain the reason, in saying that if she feels faint, she will have something to gnaw. It is not improbable that tension of the muscles may in some degree counteract a tendency to faint. This wretched pun is repeated in 1. 1032 VOL. II. D 34 AMPHITRYON ; Act II. AMPH. My wife is mad. Sos. She's attacked with black bile ; nothing so soon turns people mad. AMPH. When, madam, did you first find yourself affected? ALC. "Why really, upon my faith, I'm well, and in my senses. AMPH. Why, then, do you say that you saw me yesterday, whereas we were brought into harbour but last night ? There did I dine, and there did I rest the livelong night on board ship, nor have I set my foot even here into the house, since, with the army, I set out hence against the Teleboan foe, and since we conquered them. ALC. On the contrary, you dined with me, and you slep : with me. AMPH. How so ? ALC. I'm telling the truth. AMPH. On my honor, not in this matter, really ; about other matters I don't know. ALC. At the very break of dawn you went away to your troops. AMPH. By what means could I? Sos. She says right, according as she remembers ; she's telling you her dream. But, madam, after you arose, you ought to have sacrificed to Jove, the disposer of prodigies 1 , either with a salt cake or with frankincense. ALC. A mischief on. your head ! Sos. That's your own business, if you take dn.e care. ALC. Now again this fellow is talking rudely to me, and that without punishment. AMPH. (to SOSIA). You hold your tongue. (To ALC- MENA.) Do you tell me now did I go away hence from you at daybreak? ALC. Who then but your own self recounted to me how the battle went there ? AMPH. And do you know that as well ? ALC. Why, I heard it from your own self, how you had taken a very large city, and how you yourself had slain king Pterelas. AMPH. What, did I tell you this ? ALC. You yourself, this Sosia standing by as well. AMPH. (to SOSIA). Have you heard me telling about thia to-day ? Sos. Where should I have heard you ? ' Disposer of prodigies) Ver. 739. See the MUes Gloriosus. L 394, and the Aote to the passage. Sc. II. OE, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 35 AMPH. Ask her. Sos. In my presence, indeed, it never took place, that I know of. ALC. It would be a wonder 1 if he didn't contradict you. AMPH. Sosia, come here and look at me. Sos. (looks at him). I am looking at you. AMPH. I wish you to tell the truth, and I don't want you to humour me. Have you heard me this day sav to her these things which she affirms ? Sos. Prithee now, by my troth, are you, too, mad as well, when you ask me this, me, who, for my part, my own self now behold her in company with you for the first time ? AMPH. How now, madam ? Do you hear him ? ALC. I do, indeed, and telling an untruth. AMPH. Do you believe neither him nor my own self, your husband ? ALC. No ; for this reason it is, because I most readily be- lieve myself, and I am sure that these things took place just as I relate them. AMPH. Do you say that I came yesterday ? ALC. Do you deny that you went away from here to-day ? AMPH. I really do deny it, and I declare that I have now come home to you for the first time. ALC. Prithee, will you deny this too, that you to-day made me a present of a golden goblet, with which you said that you had been presented ? AMPH. By heavens, I neither gave it nor told you so : but I had so intended, and do so now, to present you with that goblet. But who told you this ? ALC. Why, I heard it from yourself, and I received the goblet from your own hand. {She moves as if going.) AMPH. Stay, stay, I entreat you. Sosia, I marvel much how she knows that I was presented there with this golden goblet, unless you have lately met her and told her all this. Sos. Upon my faith, I have never told her, nor have I ever beheld her except with yourself. AMPH. "What is the matter 2 with this person ? ALC. Should you like the goblet to be produced ? AMPH. I should like it to be produced. 1 ft would be a wonder) Ver. 750. She says this ironically. * What is the matter) Ver. 769. It is disputed among the Commentators to which character these words belong, Amphitryon or Alcmena 36 AMPHITBTON ; Act II. ALC. Be it so. Do you go, Thessala, and bring from in- doors the goblet, with which my husband presented me to- day. (THESSALA goes into the house, and AMPHITEYON ana SOSIA walk on one side) AMPH. Sosia, do you step this way. Really, I do wonder extremely at this beyond the other wondrous matters, if she has got this goblet. Sos. And do you believe it, when it's carried in this casket, sealed with your own seal. (He shows the casket) AMPH. Is the seal whole ? Sos. Examine it. AMPH. (examining it). All right, it's just as I sealed it up. Sos. Prithee, why don't you order her to be purified 1 as a frantic person ? AMPH. By my troth, somehow there's need for it, for, i' faith, she's certainly filled with sprites. THESSALA returns with the gollet, and gives it to ALCMENA. ALC. What need is there of talking? See, here's the goblet ; here it is. AMPH. Give it me. ALC. Come, now then, look here, if you please, you who deny what is fact, and whom I shall now clearly convict in this case. Isn't this the goblet with which you were pre- sented there ? AMPH. Supreme Jupiter ! what do I behold ? Surely this is that goblet. Sosia, I'm utterly confounded. Sos. Upon my faith, either this woman is a most consum- mate juggler, or the goblet must be in here ( pointing to the casket). AMPH. Come, then, open this casket. Sos. Why should I open it ? It is securely sealed. The thing is cleverly contrived ; you have brought forth another Amphitryon, I have brought forth another Sosia; now if the goblet has brought forth a goblet, we have all produced our doubles. AMPH. I'm determined to open and examine it. Sos. Look, please, how the seal is, that you may not hereafter throw the blame on me. AMPH. Now do open it. For she certainly is desirous to drive us mad with her talking. 1 To If. purified) Ver. 776. " Circumferri." Literally, " to be carried round her." Those who were " cerriti," " tormented with the wrath of Ceres," or, in other words, " possessed by evil spiri's," were exorcised by persons walking round them with sulphur and burning torches ; whence the present expression. Sc. II. OB, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 37 ALC. Whence then came this which was made a present to me, but from yourself? AMPH. It's necessary for me to enquire into this. Sos. (opening the casket). Jupiter, O Jupiter! AMPH. What is the matter with you ? Sos. There's no goblet here in the casket. AMPH. What do I hear. Sos. That which is the truth. AMPH. But at your peril now, if it does not make its ap- pearance. ALC. (showing if). Why, it does make its appearance. AMPH. Who then gave it you ? ALC. The person that's asking me the question. Sos. (to AMPHITRYON). You are on the catch for me, in- asmuch as you yourself have secretly run before me hither from the ship by another road, and have taken the goblet away from here and given it to her, and afterwards you have secretly sealed it up again. AMPH. Ah me ! and are you too helping her frenzy as well ? (To ALCMENA.) Do you say that we arrived here yes- terday ? ALC. I do say so, and on your arrival you instantly greeted me, and I you, and I gave you a kiss. Sos. (aside'). That beginning now about the kiss doesn't please me. AMPH. Go on telling it. ALC. Then you bathed. AMPH. What, after I bathed ? ALC. You took your place at table. Sos. Bravo, capital ! Now make further enquiry. AMPH. (to SOSIA). Don't you interrupt. (To ALCMENA). Go on telling me. ALC. The dinner was served ; you dined with me ; I reclined together with you at the repast. AMPH. What, on the same couch ? ALC. On the same. Sos. Oh dear, I don't like this banquet. AMPH. Now do let her give her proofs. (To ALCMENA.) What, after we had dined ? ALC. You said that you were inclined to go to sleep ; the table was removed ; thence we went to bed. AMPH. Where did you lie ? ALC. In the chamber, in the same bed together with your- self. AMPH. You have proved my undoing. Sos. What's the matter with you ? AMPH. This very moment has she sent me to my grave. 38 AMPHITRYON ; Act II. ALC. How so, pray? AM PH. Don't address me. Sos. "What's the matter with you ? AMPH. To my sorrow I'm undone, since, in my absence from here, dishonor has befallen her chastity. ALC. In heaven's name, my lord, why, I beseech you, do I hear this from you ? AMPH. I, your lord ? False one, don't call me by a false name. Sos. (aside). 'Tis an odd matter 1 this, if indeed he has been made into my lady from my lord. ALC. What have I done, by reason of which these ex- pressions are uttered to me ? AMPH. You yourself proclaim your own doings ; do you enquire of me in what you have offended ? ALC In what have I offended you, if I have been with you to whom I am married ? AMPH. You, been with me ? What is there of greater effrontery than this impudent woman? At least, if you were wanting in modesty of your own, you might have bor- rowed it. ALC. That criminality which you lay to my charge befits not my family. If you try to catch me in incontinence, you cannot convict me. AMPH. Immortal Gods ! do you at least know me, Sosia ? Sos. Pretty well. AMPH. Did I not dine yesterday on board ship in the Persian Port ? ALC. I have witnesses as well, who can confirm that which I say. Sos. I don't know what to say to this matter, unless, perchance, there is another Amphitryon, who, perhaps, though you yourself are absent, takes care of your business, and who, in your absence, performs your duties here. For about that counterfeit Sosia it is very surprising. Certainly, about this Amphitryon, now, it is another matter still more surprising. AMPH. Some magician, I know not who, is bewildering this woman. ALC. By the realms of the supreme Sovereign I swear, ^ > 'Tis an odd matter') Ver. 814. Thornton says, on this passage, " The am- biguity of Sosia's pan in this place depends on the double signification of ' vir, which means ' a man ' and ' a husband.' " Poor as it is, it answers very we]l in the English word " lord." Sc. II. OH, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 39 and by Juno, the matron Goddess, whom for me to fear anu venerate it is most especially fitting, that no mortal being 1 except yourself alone has ever touched my person in contact with his so as to render me unchaste. AMPH. I could wish that that was true. ALC. I speak the truth, but in vain, since you will not believe me. AMPH. You are a woman ; you swear at random. ALC. She who has not done wrong, her it befits to be bold and to speak confidently and positively in her own behalf. AMPH. That's very boldly said. ALC. Just as befits a virtuous woman. AMPH. Say you so ? By your own words you prove it. ALC. That which is called a dowry, I do not deem the same my dowry ; but chastity, and modesty, and subdued desires, fear of the Gods, and love of my parents, and con- cord with my kindred ; to be obedient to yourself, and bounteous to the good, ready to aid the upright. Sos. Surely, by my troth, if she tells the truth in this, she's perfect to the very ideal 2 . AMPH. Really I am so bewildered, that I don't know my- self who I am. Sos. Surely you are Amphitryon ; take you care, please, that you don't peradventure lose yourself; people are chang- ing in such a fashion since we came from abroad. AMPH. Madam, I'm resolved not to omit having this matter enquired into. ALC. 1' faith, you'll do so quite to my satisfaction. AMPH. How say you ? Answer me ; what if I bring your own kinsman, Naucrates, hither from the ship, who, together with me, has been brought on board the same ship ; and if he denies that that has happened which you say has happened, what is proper to be done to you ? Do you allege any reason why I should not at your cost dissolve 3 this our marriage ? 1 No mortal being) Ver. 833. Unknowingly, Alcmena has a salvo here for the untruth, which, unconsciously, she would be otherwise telling; Jupiter not being a mortal. z To the very ideal) Vet. 843. " Examussim." Literally, " by the rule ;" a term applied to carpenter's work. * At your cost dissolve) Ver. S52. " Mulctem matrimonio." He alludes to the custom among the Romans of the husband retaining the marriage-portion of the wife, when she was divorced for adultery. If they separated for any other her Portion was returned to her. 40 AMPHITRYON J Act III. ALC. If I have done wrong, there is no reason. AMPII. Agreed. Do you, Sosia, take these 1 people in-doors. I'll bring Naucrates hither with me from the ship. (Exit. Sos. (going close to ALCMENA). Now then, there's no one here except ourselves ; tell me the truth seriously, is there any Sosia in-doors who is like myself? ALC. Won't you hence away from me, fit servant for your master? Sos. If you command me, I'm off" 2 . (Goes into the house.) ALC. (to herself). By heavens, it is a very wondrous pro- ceeding, how it has pleased this husband of mine thus to accuse me falsely of a crime so foul. Whatever it is, I shall now learn it from my kinsman Naucrates. (Goes into the house.) ACT III. SCENE I. Enter JUPITER. JTJP. I am that Amphitryon, whose servant Sosia is the same that becomes Mercury when there is occasion I, who dwell in the highest story 3 , who sometimes, when it pleases me, become Jupiter. But, hither soon as ever I turn my steps, I become Amphitryon that moment, and I change my garb. Now hither am I come for the sake of a compliment to you, that I may not leave this Comedy incomplete. I've come as well to bring assistance to Alcmena, whom, guiltless woman, her husband Amphitryon is accusing of dishonor. For what I myself have brought about, if that undeservedly should fall as an injury upon her in her innocence, it would be my blame. Now, as I have already begun, I'll again pretend that I am Amphitryon, and this day will I introduce extreme confusion into this household. Then afterwards, at last, I'll cause the matter to be disclosed, and to Alcmena timely aid will I bring, and will cause that at one birth she shall bring 1 Take these) Ver. 854. " Hos." It is not known to what this word is in- tended to apply ; but it may possibly refer to some captives which he has brought with him, the fruits of his conquest. * Fm off") Ver. 857. We may suppose him to say so with peculiar alacrity, as " abeo," the word used by Alcmena, was the formal word used on the manu- mission of a slave. 1 The highest story') Ver. 863. " Caenacnlo." " Csenaculum " was a name given to garrets, or upper rooms, which were let out as lodgings to the poorer classes. The word here conveys a double sense, either as signifying the ele- yated habitation of the heavenly Jove, or the humble lodging of the poor actor Sc. II. OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 41 forth, without pangs 1 , both the child with which she is preg- nant by her husband and that with which she is pregnant by myself. I have ordered Mercury forthwith to follow me, if I should wish to give him any commands. Now will I accost her. {He stands apart.) SCENE II. Enter ALCMENA, /row the "house. ALC. I cannot remain in the house. That I should be thus accused by my husband of dishonor, incontinence, and dis- grace ! he cries aloud that things which have been done, have really not been done ; and of things which have not been done, and of which I have not been guilty, he accuses me, and supposes that I shall treat it with indifference. By heavens, I will not do so, nor will I allow myself to be falsely charged with dishonor ; but rather I'll either leave him, or make him give satisfaction and swear as well 2 that he wishes unsaid the things which he has alleged against me in my innocence. JUP. (apart). This must be done by me, which she requires to be done, if I wish for her to receive me into her company as loving her : since that which I have done, that same con- duct has proved to the detriment of Amphitryon, and since my love has already created trouble for him who is really guiltless, why now his wrath and his resentment towards her shall fall on me that am not accused. ALC. And lo ! I see him, who just now was accusing wretched me of incontinence and dishonor. JUP. (advancing). "Wife,' I would discourse with you. (She turns from him.) Why turn yourself away ? ALC. Such is my disposition ; I always hate to look upon my enemies. JUP. Heyday ! enemies indeed 3 ! ALC. It is so, I speak the who is performing the part. Perhaps our cant term, " sky-parlour," which is sometimes applied to a garret, would be the happiest translation here of the word. 1 Without pangs) Ver. 879. " Sine doloribus." Plautus has been censured here for inconsistency, as at the close of the Play he appears to represent Alcmena an enduring the pangs of childbirth ; but it is to be remembered that is only the account given by Bromia, and, according to what was her impression, on hearing Alcmena invoke the Deities. 2 Swear as well) Ver. 889. It was considered a sufficient atonement, if the accuser took an oath that his accusation was wrongful; and his oath was con- sidered to wipe off the injury. * Enemies indeed) Ver. 901. "Inimicos." Gronovius tells us that "rii- micus" watt a term in kw by which the husband was denoted after divorce; 42 AMPHITRYON ; Act III. truth ; unless you are going to allege that this is falsely said as well. JUP. (offering to embrace her). Tou are too angry. ALC. (repulsing him). Can't you keep your hands off? For surely it' you were wise, or quite in your senses, with her, whom you deem and pronounce to be unchaste, you would neither hold discourse, in mirth or in seriousness, unless, indeed, you are more foolish than the most foolish. JUP. If I did say so, not a bit the more are you so, nor do I think you so, and therefore have I returned hither that I might excuse myself to you. For never has anything proved more grievous to my feelings than when I heard that you were angry with me. " Why did you charge me ?" you will say. I'll tell you ; by my troth, not that I deemed you to be unchaste ; but I was trying your feelings, what you would do, and in what manner you would bring yourself to bear it. Really, I said these things to you just now in jest, for the sa.ke of the joke. Do but ask Sosia this. ALC. But why don't you bring here my kinsman, !Xau- crates, whom you said just now that you would bring as a witness that you had not come here ? JUP. If anything was said in joke, it isn't right for you to take it in earnest. ALC. 1 know how much this has pained me at heart. JUP. Prithee, Alcmena (taking her hand), by your right hand I do entreat you, grant me pardon ; forgive me, don't be angry. ALC. By my virtue have I rendered these accusations vain. Since then I eschew conduct that's unchaste, I would wish to avoid imputations of unchastity. Fare you well, keep your own 1 property to yourself, return me mine. Do you order any maids to be my attendants ? JUP. Are you in your senses ? ALC. If you don't order them, let me go alone ; chastity shall 1 take as my attendant. (Going.) JUP. Stay at your desire, I'll give my oath that I believe my wife 2 to be chaste. If in that I deceive you, then, thee, if so, the expression might be supposed to strike with peculiar harshness on a husband's ear. 1 Keep your own) Ver. 928. This was the formula used on separation by mutual consent, when the wife's portion was returned to her, as a matter of course. * Bdieoi my wife^ Ver. 932. Madame Dacier sufltests that Jupiter is here Sc. III. OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 43 supreme Jupiter, do I entreat that tbou wilt ever be angered against 1 Amphitryon. ALC. Oh ! rather may he prove propitious. JUP. I trust that it will be so ; for before you have I taken a truthful oath. Now then, you are not angry ? ALC. I am not. JUP. You act properly. For in the life of mortals many things of this nature come to pass ; and now they take their pleasures, again they meet with hardships. Quarrels intervene, again do they become reconciled. But u perchance any quarrels of this nature happen between them, Vhen again they have become reconciled, two/old more loving are they between themselves than they were before. ALC. At the first you ought to have been careful not to say so ; but if you excuse yourself to me for the same, it must be put up with. JUP. But bid the sacred vessels to be got ready for me, that I may fulfil all those vows which I made when with the army, in case I should return safe home. ALC. I'll take care of that. JUP. (To a SERVANT). Call out Sosia hither. Let him fetch Blepharo, the pilot that was on board my ship, to breakfast with us. (Aside.) He shall be fooled this day 2 so as to go without his breakfast, while I ehall drag Amphitryon hence by the throat. ALC. (aside). It's surprising what he can be arranging alone in secrecy with himself. But the door opens ; Sosia's coming out. SCENE III. Enter SOSIA, from the house. Sos. Amphitryon,- I'm here; if any way you have need of me, command me ; your commands I will obey. JUP. Very opportunely are you come. Sos. Has peace been made then between you two ? But since I see you in good humour, I'm delighted, and it is a equivocating, and that he is covertly resorting to a salvo, by alluding to the chastity of Juno, his heavenly consort. He is so full of quibbles and subterfuges, that it is not unlikely to be intentional, although Dacier has been ridiculed by Gueudeville and Thornton for the notion. 1 Ever be angered against) Ver. 934. This oath is similar in its absurdity to that of Mercury, in 1. 392. Jupiter, personating Amphitryon, says, that if he himself breaks his oath, then may he himself always prove hostile to Amphitryon 2 Befooled thit day) Ver. 952. Jupiter SHVP this for the information of the Audience- arid to raise their expectations ot u*t i :u that is to follow. 44 AMPHITBYON ; Act III. pleasure to myself. And so does it seem becoming for a trusty servant to conduct himself ; just as his superiors are, so should he be likewise ; by their countenances he should fashion his own countenance ; if his superiors are grave, let him be grave ; if they rejoice, let him be merry. But come, answer me ; have you two now come to a reconciliation ? JUP. You are laughing at me, who know full well that these things were just now said by me in joke. Sos. In joke did you say it ? For my part, I supposed that it was said seriously and in truthfulness. JUP. Still, I've made my excuses ; and peace has been made. Sos. 'Tis very good. JTJP. I shall now perform the sacri- fice in-doors, and the vows which I have made. Sos. So I suppose. JTJP. Do you invite hither, in my name, Blepharo, the pilot, from the ship, so that when the sacrifice has been performed, he may breakfast with me. Sos. I shall be here again, while you'll be thinking that I'm there. JTJP. Eeturn here directly. (Exit SOSIA.) ALC. Do you wish for anything else, but that I should go in-doors now, that the things that are requisite may be got ready ? JTJP. Go then, and take care that everything is prepared as soon as possible. ALC. Why, come in-doors whenever you please ; I'll take care that there shall not be any delay. JTJP. Tou say well, and just as befits an attentive wife. (ALCMENA goes into the home.) SCENE IV. JTJPITEE, done. JTTP. Now both of these, both servant and mistress, are, the pair of them, deceived, in taking me to be Amphitryon ; egregiously do they err. Now, you immortal Sosia, take you care and be at hand for me. Tou hear what I say, although you are not present here. Take care that you contrive to drive away Amphitryon, on his arrival just now, by some means or other, from the house. I wish him to be cajoled, while with this borrowed wife I now indulge myself. Please, take care that this is attended to just in such way as you know that I desire, and that you assist me while to myself I am offering sacrifice 1 . (Goes into AMPHITRYON'S house.) 1 1 am offerina sacrifice) Yer 983. There is a cessation of action here, and Act IV. OE, JUPITEB IN DISGUISE. 45 ACT IV. SCENE I. Enter MEECUEY, running, at the end of the staff e. MEEC. Stand by and make room all of you, get you out of the way. And let not any person now be so presumptuous as to stand before me in the road. For surely, why, by my troth, should I, a God, be any less allowed to threaten the public, if it does not get out of my way, than a slave in Comedies 1 ? He is bringing news that the ship is safe, or else the ap- proach of some angry old blade ; whereas I am obeying the bidding of Jove, and by his command do I now hie me. For this reason, it is more fitting to get out of the road and to make room for me. My father calls me, I am following him, to his orders so given am I obedient. As it befits a son to be dutiful to his father, just so am I to my father ; in his amours 1 play second fiddle to him, I encourage him, assist him, advise him, rejoice with him. If anything is pleasing to my father, that pleasure is an extremely great one for myself. Is he amorously disposed ? He is wise ; he does right, inas- much as he follows his inclination ; a thing that all men ought to do, so long as it is done in a proper manner. Now, my father wishes Amphitryon to be cajoled ; I'll take care, Spec- tators, that he shall be rarely cajoled, while you look on. I'll place a chaplet on my head, and pretend that I am drunk. And up there (pointing to the top of the house) will I get ; from that spot, at the top of the house, I'll cleverly drive this person oif when he comes hither : I'll take care that, sober, he shall be drenched. Afterwards, his own servant Sosia will pre- Echard and Thornton rightly make the next Scene commence another Act. The interval is filled up with Amphitryon searching for Naucrates, Sosia for Ble- pharo, and Jupiter and Alcmena performing the sacrifice. 1 Slave in Comedies') Ver. 987. In reference to this passage, Thornton says, " It is remarkable that this circumstance, which appears to be here ridi- culed, is introduced in no less than three of our author's Plays. In the Mer- cator, Acanthio runs to his master Charinus, to tell him that his mistress Pnsicompsa has been seen in the ship by his father Demipho; in the Stichus, Dinacium (Pinacium), a slave, informs his mistress Panegyris (Philumena) that her husband has put into port on his return from Asia ; and in the Mos- tellaria, Tranio brings information of the unexpected coming of Theuropides, an old gentleman. Terence has censured the like practice, in the Prologue to the Self-Torzmtor." 46 AMPHITRYON ; Act IV. sently be suffering tlie punishment for it ; he'll be accusing him of doing, this day, the things which I myself have done what's that to me ? It's proper for me to be obedient to my father ; it's right to be subservient to his pleasure. But see ! here is Amphitryon ; he's coming. Now shall he be rarely fooled, if, indeed,' (to the AUDIENCE) you are willing, by listen- ing, to lend your attention. I'll go in-doors, and assume a garb 1 that more becomes me ; then I!ll go up upon the roof, that I may drive him off from hence. (Goes into the house, and fastens the door.) SCENE II. Enter AMPHITRYON. AMPH. (to himself). Xaucrates, whom I wanted to find, was not on board ship ; neither at home nor in the city do I meet with any one that has seen him ; for through all the streets have I crawled, the wrestling-rings and the perfumers' shops, to the market, too, and in the shambles, the school for exercise, and the Forum, the doctors' shops, the barbers' shops, and among all the sacred buildings. I'm wearied out with seek- ing him, and yet I nowhere meet with Xaucrates. Now I'll go home, and from my wife will I continue to make enquiry into this matter, who the person was, by the side of whom she submitted her body to dishonor. For it were better that I was dead, than that I this day should leave this enquiry in- complete. (Goes up to the door.) But the house is closed. A pretty thing indeed ! This is done just like the other things have been done: I'll knock at the door. (Knocks.) Open this door ; ho there ! is there anybody here ? Is any one going to open this door ? SCENE III. MERCURY appears on the top of the house, with, a chaplet on his head, pretending to be drunk. MERC. "Who's that at the door ? AMPH. Tis I. MERC. Who's " 'tis 1 ?" AMPH. 'Tis 1 that say so. MERC. For sure, Jupiter and all the Deities are angered with you who are banging at the door this way. AMPH. In what manner? MERC. In this manner, that without a doubt you must be spending a wretched life. 1 Assume agarb)Ver. 1007. He perhaps means not only the chaplet worn \>j tiie reveller on his head, but the garb of a slave also. Sc. III. OE, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 47 AMPH. Sosia. MEKC. "Well ; I'm Sosia, unless you think that I've forgotten myself. What do you want now ? AMPH. What, you rascal, and do you even ask me that, what it is I want ? MERC. I do so ask you; you blockhead, you've almost broken the hinges from off the door. Did you fancy that doors were supplied us at the public charge ? Why are you looking up at me, you stupid ? What do you want now for yourself, or what fellow are you ? AMPH. You whip-scoundrel, do you even ask me who I am, you hell of elm-saplings 1 ? I' faith, this day I'll make you burn with smarts of the scourge for these speeches of yours. MEKC. You surely must have formerly been a spendthrift in your young days. AMPH. How so ? MEKC. Because in your old age you come begging a hap-ill 2 of me for yourself. AMPH. Slave ! for your own torture do you give vent to these expressions this day. MEKC. Now I'm performing a sacrifice to you. AMPH. How? MERC. Why, because I devote you to ill-luck 3 with this libation. (Throws water on him.) * * * ******** [AMPH. What, you, devote me 4 , you villain ? If the Gods have not this day taken away my usual form, I'll take care that you shall be laden with bull's hide thongs, you victim of 1 Hell of elm-saplings) Ver. 1029. " Ulmorum Acheruns." According to Taubmann, this means, " whose back devours as many elm-rods as Acheron does souls." * A hap-iU)\^T. 1032. See the Note to 1. 723. 3 Devote you to ill-luck') Ver. 1034. " Macto infortunio." " Macto," which properly signified " to amplify," was especially applied to the act of sacrificing, by way of giving something. Mercury here says in sport, that he makes Am- phitryon an offering of a jug of water, or perhaps a tile, it is not known for certain which ; but it is generally supposed that in some part of this Scene, as originally written, he does throw water at him. 4 You, devote me) Ver. 1035. This line commences the portion that is sup- posed by many of the Commentators not to have been written by Plautus, it not being found in most of the MSS. By those, however, who deny it to have been his composition, it is generally thought to have been composed by an ancient writer, and not to be at all deficient in humour and genuine Comic spirit. Gneude- ville and Echard speak in high terms of it ; and the learned Schmieder ia uuwill- itg to believe that it is not the composition of I'lautus. 48 AMPHITRYON *, Act IV Saturn 1 . So surely will I devote you to the cross and to torture. Come out of doors, you whip-knave. MERC. You shadowy ghost you, frighten me with your threats ? If you don't betake 'yourself off from here this instant, if you knock once more, if the door makes a noise with your little finger even, I'll break your head with this tile, so that with your teeth you may sputter out your tongue. AMPH. "What, rascal, would you be for driving me away from my own house ? What, would you hinder me from knocking at my own door? I'll this instant tear it from off all its hinges. MERC. Do you persist ? AMPH. I do persist. MERC. Take that, then. (Throws a tile at him.) AMPH. Scoundrel ! at your master ? If I lay hands upon you this day, I'll bring you to that pitch of misery, that you shall be miserable for evermore. MERC. Surely, you must have been playing the Bacchanal 2 , old gentleman. AMPH. Why so ? MERC. Inasmuch as you take me to be your slave. AMPH. What ? I take you ? MERC. Plague upon you ! I know no master but Amphitryon. AMPH. (to himself). Have I lost my form ? It's strange that Sosia shouldn't know me. I'll make trial. (Calling out). How now ! Tell me who I appear to be? Am I not reallv Amphitryon ? MERC. Amphitryon? Are you in your senses ? Has it not been told you before, old fellow, that you have been playing the Bacchanal, to be asking another person who you are ? Get away, I recommend you, don't be troublesome while Amphitryon, who has just come back from the enemy, is indulging himself with the company of his wife. AMPH. What wife ? MERC. Alcmena. AMPH. What man ? MERC. How often do you want it told ? Amphitryon, my master ; don't be troublesome. 1 Victim of Saturn) Ver. 1037. Taubmann remarks that there is here an allusion to those slaves which the Carthaginians were in the habit of purchasing in order to sacrifice them, in place of their children, to Saturn a rite borrowed from the same source as the passing of children through fire to Moloch, as prac- tised by the Pho3nicians. 3 Playing the Bacchanal) Ver. 1046. "Bacchanal exercuisse." "To keep the festival of Bacchus," where frantic conduct and acts of outrageous madness were prevalent. See the Notes to the First Act of the Bacchides. Sc. III. OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 49 A'MPH. Who's he sleeping with ? MEKC. Take care that you don't meet with some mishap in trifling with me this way. AMPH. Prithee, do tell me, my dear Sosia. MERC. More civilly said with Alcmena. AMPH. In the same chamber ? MERC. Yes, as I fancy, he is sleeping with her side by side. AMPH. Alas ! wretch that I am ! MERC, (to the AUDIENCE) . It really is a gain which he ima- gines to be a misfortune. For to lend one's wife to another is just as though you were to let out barren land to be ploughed. AMPH. Sosia ! MERC. What, the plague, about Sosia ? AMPH. Don't you know me, you whip-scoundrel ? MERC. I know that you are a troublesome fellow, who have no need to go buy 1 a lawsuit. AMPH. Still once more am I not your master Amphitryon ? MERC. You are Bacchus himself^ 1 , and not Amphitryon. How often do you want to be told ? Any times more ? My master Amphitryon, in the same chamber, is holding Alcmena in his embraces. If you persist, I'll produce him here, and not without your great discomfiture. AMPH. I wish him to be fetched. (Aside.") I pray that this day, in return for my services, I may not lose house, wife, and household, together with my figure. MERC. Well, I'll fetch him ; but, in the meantime, do you mind about the door, please. (Aside.) I suppose that by this he has brought the sacrifice that he was intending, as far as the banquet 3 . (Aloud.) If you are troublesome, you shan't escape without my making a sacrifice of you. (He re- tires into the house.) AMPH. Ye G-ods, by my trust in you, what madness is distracting my household ? What wondrous things have I seen since I arrived from abroad ! Why, it's true, surely, what was once heard tell of, how that men of Attica 1 No need to go buy) Ver. 1063. He seems to mean that a ll litigium," or " lawsuit," is already prepared for him, in daring to personate Amphitryon. 2 Bacchus himself) Ver. 1064. He means that, from his frantic conduct he must surely be, not a Bacchanalian, bnt Bacchus himself. * As the banquet) Ver. 1071. It is supposed that he here has a double mean- ing, and implies that he supposes that by this time Jupiter has satisfied his vehement desire. It has been previously remarked, that after sacrifices a feast was made of the portions that were left. VOL. II. E 50 AMPHITRYON ; Act IV were transformed in Arcadia 1 , and remained as savage wild beasts, and were not ever afterwards known unto their parents. SCENE IV. Enter BLEPHAEO and SOSIA, at a distance. BLEPH. "What's this, Sosia ? Great marvels are these that you are telling of. Do you say that you found another Sosia at home exactly like yourself? Sos. I do say so but, hark you, since I have produced a Sosia, Amphitryon an Amphitryon, how do you know whether you, perchance, may not be producing another Blepharo ? O that the Gods would grant that you as well, belaboured with fists, and with your teeth knocked out, going without your breakfast, might credit this. For I, that other Sosia, that is to say, who am yonder, has mauled me in a dreadful manner. BLEPH. Eeally, it is wonderful ; but it's as well to mend our pace ; for, as I perceive, Amphitryon is waiting for us, and my empty stomach is grumbling. AMPH. (apart). And why do I mention foreign legends ? More wondrous things they relate to have happened among our Theban race 2 in former days ; that mighty searcher for Eu- ropa, attacking the monster sprung from Mars, suddenly produced his enemies from the serpent-seed ; and in that battle fought, brother pressed on brother with lance and helm ; the Epirote land, too, beheld the author of our race, together with the daughter of Venus 3 , gliding as serpents. From on high supreme Jove thus willed it ; thus destiny directs. All the noblest of our country, in return for their bright achievements, are pursued with direful woes. This fatality is pressing hard on me still I could endure disasters so great, and submit to woes hardly to be endured Sos. Blepharo. BLEPH. What's the matter ? Sos. I don't know ; I suspect something wrong. 1 In Arcadia) Ver. 1075. He alludes to a story among the ancients, that certain people of Arcadia were transformed for a certain time into wolves : they were called " Lycanthropi," or " Wolf-men." Pliny the Elder mentions them in his Eighth Book. - Our Theban race) Ver. 1085. He alludes to the story of Cadmus being sent by Agenor in search of Europa, and sowing the Dragon's teeth, from which arose a crop of armed men. See the Metamorphoses of Ovid, B. 3, 1. 32. J With the daughter of Venus) Ver. 1089. He alludes to the tradition which stated that Cadmus and his wife Hermione retired to Illyria, and were there changed into serpents. See the Metamorphoses, B 4. J 74 Sc. IY. OB, JTJPITEB IN DISGUISE. 51 BLEPH. Why ? Sos. Look, please, our master, like an humble courtier 1 , is walking before the door bolted fast. BLEPH. It's nothing ; walking to and fro, he's looking for an appetite 2 . Sos. After a singular fashion, indeed ; for he has shut the door, that it mayn't escape out of the house. BLEPH. You do go yelping on. Sos. I go neither yelping on nor barking on ; if you listen to me, observe him. I don't know why he's by himself alone ; he's making some calcula- tion, I suppose. I can hear from this spot what he says don't be in a hurry. AMPH. (apart). How much I fear lest the Gods should blot out the glory I have acquired in the conquest of the foe. In wondrous manner do I see the whole of my household in com- motion. And then my wife, so full of viciousness, inconti- nence, and dishonor, kills me outright. But about the goblet, it is a singular thing ; yet the seal was properly affixed. And what besides ? She recounted to me the battles I had fought ; Pterelas, too, besieged and bravely slain by my own hand. Aye, aye now I know the trick ; this was done by Sosia's contrivance, who as well has disgracefully presumed to-day to get before me on my arrival. Sos. (to BLEPHABO). He's talking about me, and in terms that I had rather not. Prithee, don't let's accost this man until he has disclosed his wrath. BLEPH. Just as you please. AMPH. (apart). If it is granted me this day to lay hold of that whip-scoundrel, I'll show him what it is to deceive his master, and to assail me with threats and tricks. Sos. Do you hear him ? BLEPH. I hear him. Sos. That implement {pointing to AMPUITBYON'S walking- stick) is a burden for my shoulder-blades. Let's accost the 1 An humble courtier) Ver. 1094. " Salutator." The " salutatores " were a class of men who in the later times of the Roman Republic obtained a living by visiting the houses of the wealthy in the morning, and hanging about the door to pay their respects, and to accompany the master when he went abroad. Many persons thus supported themselves, and thereby enacted a part not much unlike the Parasites amoi'g the Greeks. * Looking for an appetite) Ver. 1095. Cicero relates that Socrates used to walk yery briskly in the evening, and when asked why he did so, replied that he was going to market for an appetite, 12 52 AMPHiTBYOJr ; Act IV. man, if you please. Do you know what is in the habit of being commonly said ? BLEPH. What you are going to say, I don't know ; what you'll have to endure I pretty well guess. Sos. It's an old adage " Hunger and delay summon anger to the nostrils 1 ." BLEPH. Aye, and well suited to the occasion. Let's ad- dress him directly Amphitryon ! AMPH. (looking round). Is it Blepharo I hear ? It's strange why he's come to me. Still, he presents himself opportunely, for me to prove the guilty conduct of my wife. "Why have you come here to me, Blepharo ? BLEPH. Have you so soon forgotten how early in the morning you sent Sosia to the ship, that I might take a re- past with you to-day ? AMPH. Never iu this world was it done. But where is that scoundrel ? BELPH. "Who ? AMPH. Sosia. BLEPH. See, there he is. (Points at Mm) AMPH. (looking about). "Where ? BLEPH. Before your eyes ; don't you see him ? AMPH. I can hardly see for anger, so distracted has that fellow made me this day. You shall never escape my making a sacrifice of you. (Offers to strike SOSIA, on which BLE- PHABO prevents him.) Do let me, Blepharo. BLEPH. Listen, I pray. AMPH. Say on, I'm listening (gives a blow to SOSIA) you take that. Sos. For what reason ? Am I not in good time ? I couldn't have gone quicker, if I had betaken myself on the oar- like wings 2 of Daedalus. (AMPHITRYON tries to strike him again.) BLEPH. Prithee, do leave him alone ; we couldn't quicken our pace any further. AMPH. "Whether it was the pace of a man on stilts or that 1 To the nostrils") Ver. 1113. From their expanding when a person is enraged, the nostrils were said to be peculiarly the seat of anger. 2 Oar-like wings) Ver. 1123. " Remigiis." Virgil, and Ovid also, with con- siderable propriety, call the wings of Daedalus " remigia," " tiers of oars," from the resemblance which the main feathers of the wing bear to a row of oars. Th story of Daedalus and learns is beautifully told by Ovid, in the Art of Love Bock 2, and in the Metamorphoses, Book 8. Sc. IV. OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 53 of the tortoise, I'm determined to be the death of this villain. (Striking him at each sentence.) Take that for the roof; that for the tiles ; that for closing the door ; that for making fun of your master ; that for your abusive language. BLEPH. What injury has he been doing to you ? AMPH. Do you ask ? Shut out of doors, from that house- top (pointing to it) he has driven me away from my house. Sos. "What, I ? AMPH. What did you threaten that you would do if I knocked at that door ? Do you deny it, you scoundrel ? Sos. Why shouldn't I deny it ? See, he's sufficiently a wit- ness with whom I have just now come ; I was sent on purpose that by your invitation I might bring him to your house. AMPH. Who sent you, villain? Sos. He who asks me the question. AMPH. When, of all things ? Sos. Some little time since not long since just now. When you were reconciled at home to your wife. AMPH. Bacchus must have demented you. Sos. May I not be paying my respects to Bacchus this day, nor yet to Ceres 1 . You ordered the vessels to be made clean, that you might perform a sacrifice, and you sent me to fetch him (pointing to BLEPHARO), that he might break- fast with you. AMPH. Blepharo, may I perish outright if I have either been in the house, or if I have sent him. (To SOSIA.) Tell me where did you leave me ? Sos. At home, with your wife Alcmena. Leaving you, I flew towards the harbour, and invited him in your name. We are come, and I've not seen you since till now. AMPH. Villanous fellow ! With my wife, say you ? You shall never go away without getting a beating. (Gives him a blow.) Sos. (crying out). Blepharo ! BLEPH. Amphitryon, do let him alone, for my sake, and listen to me. AMPH. Well then, I'll let him alone. What do you want ? Say on. BLEPH. He has just now been telling me most extraordi nary marvels. A juggler, or a sorcerer, perhaps, has en- 1 Nor yet to Ceres) Ver. 1134. He wishes to see neither of these Deities, if being a common notion that those to whom they appeared became mad. 54 AMPHITRYON; Act IV chanted all this household of yours. Do enquire in other quarters, and examine how it is. And don't cause this poor fellow to be tortured, before you understand the matter. AMPH. You give good advice; let's go in, I want you also to be my advocate against my wife. (Knocks at the door.) SCEIO; V 1 . Enter JTTPITEB^/TWW the house. JTJP. Who with such weighty blows has been shaking this door on all the hinges ? Who has been making such a great disturbance for this long while before the house ? If I find him out, I'll sacrifice him to the shades of the Teleboans. There's nothing, as the common saying is, that goes on well with me to-day. I left Blepharo and Sosia that I might find my kinsman Naucrates ; him I have not found, and them I have lost. But I espy them ; I'll go meet them, to enquire if they have any news. Sos. Blepharo, that's our master that's coming out of the house ; but this man's the sorcerer. BLEPH. Jupiter ! What do I behold ? This is not, but that is, Amphitryon ; if this is, why really that cannot be he, unless, indeed, he is double. JUP. See now, here's Sosia with Blepharo ; I'll accost them the first. Well, Sosia, come to us at last P I'm quite hungry. Sos. Didn't I tell you, Blepharo, that this one was the sorcerer ? AMPH. Nay, Theban citizens, I say that this is he (point- ing to JUPITEE) who in my house has made my wife guilty of incontinence, through whom I find a store of unchastity laid up for me. Sos. (to JUPITEE). Master, if now you are hungry, crammed full of fisticuffs, I betake me to you. AMPH. Do you persist, whip-scoundrel ? Sos. Hie thee to Acheron, sorcerer. AMPH. What, I a sorcerer ? (Strikes Mm.) Take that. JTJP. What madness possesses you, stranger, for you to be beating my servant ? AMPH. Tour servant ? JUP. Mine. 1 Scene F.) Many of those Commentators who have doubted the genuineness of the last Scene, and of the previous one from the fourteenth line, have been ready to admit that this Scene is the composition of Plautus ; indeed, it bears very strong internal marks of having been composed by him. Sc. VI. OH, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 55 AMPII. You lie. JUP. Sosia, go in-doors, and take care the breakfast is got ready while I'm sacrificing this fellow. Sos. I'll go. (Aside.) Amphitryon, I suppose, will receive the other Amphitryon as courteously as I, that other Sosia, did me, Sosia, a while ago. Meantime, while they are con- tending, I'll turn aside into the victualling department 1 : I'll clean out all the dishes, and all the vessels I'll drain. (Goes into the house.) SCENE VI. JUPITER, AMPHITRYON, and BLEPHARO. JUP. Do you say that I lie ? AMPH. You lie, I say, you corrupter of my family. JUP. For that disgraceful speech, I'll drag you along here, seizing you by the throat. (Seizes him by the throat.) AMPH. Ah wretched me ! JUP. But you should have had a care of this beforehand. AMPH. Blepharo, aid me ! BLEPH. (aside). The two are so exactly alike that I don't know which to side with. Still, so far as possible, I'll put an end to their contention. (Aloiid.) Amphitryon, don't slay Amphitryon in fight ; let go his throat, I pray. JUP. Are you calling this fellow Amphitryon ? BLEPH. Why not ? Formerly he was but one, but now he has become double. While you are wanting to be he, the other, too, doesn't cease to be of his form. Meanwhile, prithee, do leave go of his neck. JUP. I will leave go. (Lets go of AMPHITRYON.) But tell me, does that fellow appear to you to be Amphitryon ? BLEPH. Really, both of you do. AMPH. O supreme Jupiter ! when this day didst thou take from me my form ? I'll proceed to make enquiry of him ; are you Amphitryon ? JUP. Do you deny it ? AMPH. Downright do I deny it, inasmuch as in Thebes there is no other Amphitryon besides myself. JUP. On the contrary, no other besides myself; and, in fact, do you, Blepharo, be the judge. BLEPH. I'll make this matter clear by proofs, if I can. (To AMPHITRYON.) Do you answer first. > Victualling department} Ver. 1165. " Popina" usually signifies a "cook's shop;" but here it evidently alludes to the larder or kitchen in Amphitryon'! house, which Sosia now enters, and we see no more of him. 56 AMPHITRYON ; Act IV. AMPH. "With pleasure. BLEPH. Before the battle -with tlie Taphians was begun by you, what orders did you give me ? AMPH. The ship being in readiness, for you carefully to keep close to the rudder. JUP. That if our people should take to flight, I might betake myself in safety thither. BLEPH. Anything else as well? AMPH. That the bag loaded with treasure should be carefully guarded. JUP. Because the money 'BLEPH. Hold your tongue, you, if you please; it's my place to ask. Did you know the amount ? JUP. Fifty Attic talents. BLEPH. He tells the truth to a nicety. And you (to AM- PHITRYON), ho\v many Philippeans ? AMPH. Two thousand. JUP. And obols 1 twice as many. BLEPH. Each of you states the matter correctly. Inside the bag one of you must have been shut up. JUP. Attend, please. With this right hand, as you know, 1 slew king Pterelas ; his spoils I seized, and the goblet from which he had been used to drink I brought away in a casket ; I made a present of it to my wife, with whom this day at home I bathed, I sacrificed, and slept. AMPH. Ah me ! what do I hear? I scarcely am myself. For, awake, I am asleep ; awake, I am in a dream ; alive and well, I come to destruction. I am that same Amphitryon, the descendant of 2 Grorgophone, the general of the Thebans, and the sole combatant for Creon against the Teleboans ; /, who have subdued by my might the Acarnanians and the Taphians, and, by my consummate warlike prowess, their king. Over these have I appointed Cephalus, the son of the great Deioneus. JUP. I am he who \)y warfare and my valour crushed the hostile ravagers. They had destroyed Electryon and the brothers of my wife. Wandering through the Ionian, the 1 And obols) Ver. 1187. The " obolus" was the smallest of the Greek coins. It was of silver, and was worth in value rather more than three-halfpence of our money; six of them made a drachma. Plautus has not escaped censure for his anachronism, in talking here of the coins of Philip, King of Macedon. 2 Descendant of) Ver. 1194. " Nepos" cannot here mean "grandson," as Gorgophone was not a lineal ancestor of Amphitryon, being the sister of his fathel Alcseus. Se. A I. OR, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 57 JEgean, and the Cretan seas, with piratical violence they laid waste Achaia, ^Etolia, and Phocis. AMPH. Immortal Gods ! I cannot trust my own self, so exactly does he relate all the things that happened there. Consider, Blepharo. BLEPH. One thing only remains ; if so it is, do you be Am- phitryons both of you. JUP. I knew what you would say. The scar that I have on the muscle of my right arm, from the wound which Pte- relas gave me BLEPH. "Well, that. AMPH. Quite to the purpose. JUP. See you! look, behold! BLEPH. Uncover, and I'll look. JUP. We have uncovered. Look ! (They show their naked arms.) BLEPH. (looking at the right arm of each). Supreme Jupi- ter, what do I behold ? On the right-arm muscle of each, in the same spot, the scar clearly appears with the same mark, reddish and somewhat livid, just as it has first commenced to close. Reasoning is at a standstill, all judgment is struck dumb ; I don't know what to do 1 .] ******** BLEPH. Do you settle these matters between yourselves ; I'm off, for I have business ; and I do not think that I have ever anywhere beheld such extraordinary wonders. AMPH. Blepharo, I pray that you'll stay as my advocate, and not go away. BLEPH. Farewell. What need is there of me for an advo- cate, who don't know which of the two to side with ? JUP. I'm going hence in-doors : Alcmena is in labour. (Exit BLEPHARO, and JUPITER goes into AMPHITRYON'S house.} AMPH. (aloud to himself). I'm undone, wretch that I am ; for what am I to do, when my advocates and friends are now forsaking me ? Never, by heavens, shall he deride me unre- venged, whoever he is. Now will I betake myself straight to the king, and tell him of the matter as it has happened. By 1 What to do) Ver. 1209. With this line terminates what is generally called tie supposititious part of this Play. 68 AMPHTTBYON J Act V my faith, I will this day take vengeance on this Thessalian sorcerer, who has wrongfully distracted the minds of my household. But where is he ? {Looking around.) By my troth, he's off into the house, to my wile, I suppose. What other person lives in Thebes more wretched than myself ? "What now shall I do ? J, whom all men deny and deride just as they please. I am resolved ; I'll burst into the house ; there, whatever person I perceive, whether maid-servant or man-servant, whether wife or whether paramour, whether father or whether grandfather, I'll behead that person in the house ; neither Jupiter nor all the Deities shall hinder me from this, even if they would, but that I'll do just as I have resolved. {As Tie advances to the door, it thunders, and he falls in a swoon upon the ground.) ACT V. SCEITE I. Enter BEOMiA,/ro?w the house, AMPHITBYON lying on the ground. BBOM. (to herself). The hopes and resources of my life lie buried in my breast, nor is there any boldness in my heart, but what I have lost it. So much to me do all things seem, the sea, the earth, the heavens, to be conspiring, that now I may be crushed, that I may be destroyed. Ah, wretched me ! I know not what to do. Prodigies so great have come to pass within the house. Ah ! woe is me ! I'm sick at heart, some water I could wish ! I'm overpowered and I'm utterly undone. My head is aching, and I cannot hear, nor do I see well with my eyes. Ko woman is there more wretched than myself, nor can one seem to be more so. Thus has it this day befallen my mistress ; for when she invoked for herself the Deities of travail, what rumblings and grumblings 1 , crashes and flashes ; suddenly, how instantaneously did it thunder, and how woundy loud. On the spot where each one stood, at the peal he fell ; then some one, I know not who, exclaimed in a mighty voice, " Alcmena, succour is at hand, fear not: propitious both to thee and thine, the Euler of the Heavens comes. Arise," it said, "ye who have fallen down in your terror through dread of me." As I lay, I arose ; I fancied that the house was in flames. Then Alcmena called me ; and then did that circumstance strike 1 Rumblings and grumblings) Ver. 1238. " Strepitus, crepitus, sonitus, toni- trus." A jingle is evidently intended here. Sc. I. OE, JTTP1TEB IN DISGUISE. 59 me with horror. Fears for my mistress took possession of me ; I ran to her to enquire what she wanted ; and then I beheld that she had given birth to two male children ; nor yet did any one of us perceive when she was delivered, or indeed expect it. (Sees AMPHITEYON.) But what's this? Who's this old man that's lying thus before our house ? Has Jupiter then smitten him with Ms thunders ? By my troth, I think so ; for, oh Jupiter ! he is in a lethargy just like one dead. I'll approach, that I may learn who it is. (She ad- vances.) Surely, this is my master Amphitryon. (Calls aloud.) Ho ! Amphitryon ! AMPH. I'm dead. BBOM. Arise. AMPH. I'm slain outright. BEOM. Give me your hand. ( Takes his hand.) AMPH. (recovering). Who is it that has hold of me ? BEOM. Bromia, your maid-servant. AMPH. (rising). I tremble all over, to such a degree has Jove pealed against me. And no otherwise is it than if I had come hither from Acheron. But why have you come out of the house ? BEOM. The same alarm has scared ourselves, affrighted with horror ; in the house where you yourself dwell, have I seen astounding prodigies. Woe to me, Amphitryon ; even now do my senses fail me to such a degree. AMPH. Come now, tell me ; do you know me to be your master Amphitryon ? BEOM. I do know it. AMPH. Look even once again. BEOM. I do know it. AMPH. She alone of all my household has a sane mind. BEOM. Nay but, really, they are all of them sane. AMPH. But my wife causes me to be insane by her own shameful practices. BEOM. But I'll make you, Amphitryon, to be holding other language ; that you may understand that your wife is dutiful and chaste, upon that subject I will in a few words discover some tokens and some proofs. In the first place of all, Alc- mena has given birth to two sons. AMPH. Two, say you ? BEOM. Two. AMPH. The Gods preserve me ! BEOM. Allow me to speak, that you may know that all the Deities are propitious to yourself and to your wife. AMPH. Say on. BEOM. After that, this day, your wife began to be in labour, when the pangs of childbirth came on, 60 AMPHITRYON ; Act V. as is the custom with women in travail, she invoked the im- mortal Gods to give her aid, with washed hands 1 and with covered head. Then forthwith it thundered with most tre- mendous crash. At first we thought that your house was falling ; all your house shone bright, as though it had been made of gold. AMPH. Prithee, relieve me quickly from this, since you have kept me long enough in suspense. What happened then ? BROM. While these things were passing, meanwhile, not one of us heard your wife groaning or complaining ; and thus, in fact, without pain was she delivered. AMPH. Then do I rejoice at this, whatever she has merited at my hands. BROM. Leave that alone, and hear these things which I shall tell you. After she was delivered, she bade us wash the babes ; we commenced to do so. But that child which I washed, how stout, how very powerful he is ; and not a person was there, able to wrap him in the swaddling-clothes. AMPH. Most wondrous things you tell of. If these things are true, I do not apprehend but that succour haa been brought to my wife from heaven. BROM. Now shall I make you own to things more won- drous still. After he was laid in the cradle, two immense crested serpents glided down through the skylight ; instantly they both reared their heads. AMPH. Ah me ! BROM. Be not dismayed but the ser- pents began to gaze upon all around. After they beheld the children, quickly they made towards the cradle ; I, fearing for the children, alarmed for myself, going backwards, legan to draw and pull the cradle to and fro, and so much the more fiercely did the serpents pursue. After that one of the children caught sight of the serpents, he quickly leapt from the cradle, straightway he made an attack upon them, and suddenly he grasped them, one in each hand. AMPH. You tell of wondrous things ; a very fearful exploit do you relate ; for at your words horror steals upon the limbs of wretched me. What happened then ? Say on. BROM. The child slew both the serpents. While these things are passing, in a loud voice there calls upon your wife 1 With washed hands') Ver. 1270. The head was covered, and the hands made pure by washing, before sacrifice to th? Gods. Sc. II. OH, JUPITER IN DISGUISE. 61 AMPH. What person ? BROM. Jupiter, the supreme Ruler of Gods and men. He said that he had secretly enjoyed Alcmena in his embraces, and that he was his own son who had overcome those serpents; the other, he said, was your child. AMPH. By my troth, I am not sorry if I am allowed to take my half of a blessing in partnership with Jupiter. Go home, and bid the sacred vessels to be at once prepared for me, that with many victims I may seek my peace with supreme Jove. I will apply to Tiresias 1 the soothsayer, and consult him what he considers ought to be done ; at the same time I'll relate to him this matter just as it has happened. (It thunders.) But what means this ? How dreadfully it thunders ! Ye Gods, your mercy, I do entreat. SCEXE II. JUPITER appears, in Ms own character, above. JUP. Be of good cheer, Amphitryon ; I am come to thy aid : thou hast nothing to fear ; all diviners and soothsayers let alone. What is to be, and what has past, I will tell thee ; and so much better than they can, inasmuch as I am Jupiter. First of all, I have made loan of the person of Alc- mena, and have caused her to be pregnant with a son. Thou, too, didst cause her to be pregnant, when thou didst set out upon the expedition ; at one birth has she brought forth the two together. One of these, the one that is sprung from my parentage, shall bless thee 2 with deathless glory by his deeds. Do thou return with Alcmena to your former affection ; she merits not that thou shouldst impute it to her as her blame ; by my power has she been compelled thus to act. I now return to the heavens. (He ascends.) 1 Tiresias) Ver. 1304. Some Commentators think that under the name Tire- sias any soothsayer is here meant, and that this was before the time of Tiresias. So involved is the heathen Mythology, that it would be hard to say who existed first, Tiresias or Amphitryon, so that if Plautns is guilty of an anachronism, it b one of his most excusable ones. Juno was said to have struck Tiresias with blindness ; on which Jupiter, as a recompense, bestowed on him the gift of prophecy. See the Metamorphoses of Ovid, B. 3, 1. 323. 2 Shall bless thee) Ver. 1316. " Te adficiet." " Se," "himself," is thought by some to be the correct reading here, as it has been remarked, how could the exploits of Hercules redound to the glory of Amphitryon ? Still, as his adoptive father, it was not unlikely that he would take a peculiar interest in the achieve- ments of Hercules. 62 AMPHITRYON. Act V. AMPH. I'll do as thou dost command me ; and I entreat thee to keep thy promises. I'll go in-doors to my wife. I dismiss the aged Tiresias/nm my thoughts. An ACTOB. Spectators, now, for the sake of supreme Jove 1 , give loud applause. 1 Sake of supreme Jove} Ver. 1322. According to some Commentators, the Romans believed that this Play greKly redounded to the honor of Jupiter ; and it was, consequently, often acted in times of public trouble and calamity, with the view of appeasing his anger. They must have had singular notions of honor, as his Godship figures here in the combined characters of an insolent impostor and an unprincipled debauchee. RUDENS ; THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. Sramatts ^Persona?. ARCTCRUS, who speaks the Prologue. D.EMONES, an aged Athenian, now living at Cyrene. PLESIDIPPUS, a young Athenian, in love with Palaestra. SCEPARNIO, 'j GRIPUS, _ > Servants of Daemones. TURBALIO, I SPARAX, J TRACHALIO, the servant of Plesidippus. LABRAX, a Procurer. CHARMIDES, a Sicilian, his guest. FISHERMEN of Cyrene. PTOLEMOCRATTA, Priestess of Venus. PAU.ESTRA, ) , r . > Young women in the possession of Labrax. AMPKLISCA) J Scene. Near Cyrene, in Africa; not far from the sea-shore, and before the cottage of DAEMONES and the Temple of Venus, which has, probably, a small court oefore it, surrounded with a low walL THE SUBJECT. D.SMONES, an aged Athenian, having lost his property, goes to live in retirement near the sea-shore of Cyrene, in the vicinity of the Temple of Venus. It so happens that Labrax, a Procurer, makes purchase of two damsels, Palaestra and Ampelisca, and comes to reside at Cyrene. Plesidippus, a young Athenian, sees Palaestra there, and falls in love with her ; and making an arrangement with the Pricurer, gives him a sum in part payment for her, on which occa- sion, Labrax invites him to a sacrifice in tlie Temple of Venus. A Sicilian guest of his, however, named Charmides, persuades him to carry the young women over to Sicily, where he is sure to make a greater profit by them. On this, the Procurer, accompanied by his guest, sets sail with them. A tem- pest arises, and they are shipwrecked. The young women escape in a boat, and arriving ashore, are hospitably received by the Priestess of Vjnus. Labrax and Charmides also escape, and on discovering where the women are, the former attempts to drag them by force from the Temple. On this they are protected by Daemones and Plesidippus, who, through Trachalio, finds out where they are. In the wreck a wallet has been lost, which belongs to Labrax, and in which is a casket enclosing some trinkets belonging to Palaestra. Gripus, a servant of Daemones, draws this up with the rope attached to his net ; and by means of these trinkets it is discovered that Palaestra is the daughter of Daemones, whom he had lost in her infancy ; on which she is given in marriage to Plesidippus by her father, who becomes reconciled to Labrax. RUDENS; THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. [Supposed to have been written by Priscian the Grammarian.] A FISHERMAN draws a wallet out of the sea in his net (/fctf), in which (Uli) are the trinkets of his master's daughter, who, having been stolen, had come into the possession of a Procurer as her owner (Dominum). She (a), having suffered shipwreck (Navfragio), without knowing it comes under the protec- tion of her own father ; she is recognized, and is married to her (Suo) lover Plesidippus. THE PEOLOGtIE. Spoken by the God AitCTUBUS 1 . WITH him who sways all nations, seas, and lands, I am a fellow-citizen in the realms of the Gods. I am, as you see 2 , a bright and shining star, a Constellation that ever in its season rises here on earth and in the heavens. Arcturus is my name. By night, I am glittering in the heavens and amid the Gods, passing among mortals in the day. Other Constellations, too, descend from the heavens upon the earth ; Jove, who is the ruler of Gods and men he disperses us here in various directions among the nations, to observe the actions, manners, piety, and faith of men, just as the means of each avail him. Those who commence villanous suits at law upon false testimony, and those who, in court, upon false oath deny a debt, their names written down, do we return to Jove. Each day does he learn who here is calling for vengeance. Whatever wicked men seek here to gain their cause through 1 Arcturus) This is a star near the tail of the Great Bear, whose rising and setting was supposed to be productive of great tempests. The name is derived from its situation, from the Greek words apicras and ovpa, " the Bear's tail." It rises in the beginning of October. Pliny mentions it as rising on the 12th, and Columella on the 5th of that month, 2 At you see) Vcr. 3. The actor is supposed here to point to f star placed on his forehead, or on the head-dress which he wears. VOL. II. F 66 KUDEXS ; perjury, who succeed before the judge in their unjust de- mands, the same case adjudged does he judge over again, and he fines them in a penalty much greater than the results of the judgment they have gained. The good men written down on other tablets 1 does he keep. And still these wicked persons entertain a notion of theirs, that they are able to appease Jupiter with gifts, with sacrifice ; both their labour and their cost they lose. This, for this reason, is so, because no petition of the perjured is acceptable to Him. If any person that is supplicating the Deities is pious, he will more easily procure pardon for himself than he that is wicked. Therefore I do advise you this, you who are good and who pass your lives in piety and in virtue still persevere, that one day you may rejoice that so you did. Now, the reason for which I've come hither, I will disclose to you. First, then, Diphilus 2 has willed the name of this city to be Gyrene 3 . There (pointing to the cottage) dwells Dsemones, in the country and in a cottage very close adjoiningto the sea, an old gentleman who has come hither in exile from Athens, no unworthy man. And still, not for his bad deserts has he left his country, but while he was aiding others, meanwhile himself he embarrassed : a property honorably acquired he lost by his kindly ways. Long since, his daughter, then a little child, was lost ; a most villanous fellow bought her of the thief, and this Procurer 4 brought the maiden hither to Cyreue. A certain Athenian youth, a citizen of this city, beheld her as she was going home from the music-school. He begins to love her ; to the Procurer he comes ; he purchases the damsel for himself at the price of thirty minae, and gives him earnest, and binds 1 Written doicn on other tablets) Ver. 21. This is not unlike the words of the Psalmist, Psalm Ivi., 8 : " Thou tellest my wanderings ; put thou my tears into thy bottle. Are they not in thy book ?" 2 Diphilus) Ver. 32. He was a Greek Comic Poet, from whom Plautus is sup- posed to have borrowed the plot of several of his Plays. * Cyrene) Ver. 33. This was a famous city of Libya, said to have been founded by Aristaeus, the son of the Nymph Cyrene. It was situate in a fertile plain, about eleven miles from the Mediterranean, and was the capital of a district called " Pentapolis," from the five cities which it contained. 4 This Procurer} Ver. 41. " Leno." The calling of the " lenones" was to traffic in young female slaves, to whom they gave an accomplished education, and then sold them or let them out for the purposes of prostitution. The " lenones" were deservedly reckoned infamous. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 67 the Procurer with an oath. This Procurer, just as befitted him, did not value at one straw his word, or what, on oath, he had said to the young man. He had a guest, a fit match for himself, an old man of Sicily, a rascal from Agrigenturn 1 , a traitor to his native city ; this fellow began to extol the beauty of that maiden, and of the other damsels, too, that were be- longing to him. On this he began to persuade the Procurer to go together with himself to Sicily ; he said that there the men were given to pleasure ; that there he might be enabled to become a wealthy man ; that there was the greatest profit from courtesans. He prevails. A ship is hired by stealth. "Whatever he has, by night the Procurer carries it on board ship from his house ; the young man who purchased the dam- sel of him he has told that he is desirous of performing a vow to Venus. This is the Temple of Venus, here (pointing at it), and here, for that reason, has he invited the youth hither to a breakfast 2 . From there at once did he embark on board ship, and he carried off the courtesans. Some other persons informed the young man what things were going on, how that the Procurer had departed. When the young man came to the harbour, their ship had got a great way out to sea. When I beheld how that the maiden was being carried off, I brought at the same instant both relief to her and destruction to the Procurer ; the storm I rebuked, and the waves of the sea I aroused. For the most violent Constellation of them all am I, Arcturus ; turbulent I am when rising, when I set, more tur- bulent still. Now, cast ashore there, both the Procurer and his guest are sitting upon a rock ; their ship is dashed to pieces. But this maiden, and another as well, her attendant, affrighted, have leaped from the ship into a boat. At this moment the waves are bringing them from the rocks to land, to the cot- tage of this old man, who is living here in exile, whose roof and tiles the storm has stript off. And this is his servant who is coming out of doors. The youth will be here just 1 Agrigentwn) Vcr. 50. This was a town of Sicily, on Mount Acragas, about two miles from the sea. Its inhabitants were famed for their luxurious mode of living. 2 To a breakfast) Ver. 61. This probably refers to the meal which took place after the sacrifice, for which certain portions of the victim, particularly tha entrails, were reserved. See the Miles Gloriosus, 1. 712. r2 68 BUDENS ; Act I. now, and you shall see him, who purchased the maiden of the Procurer. Now, fare ye well, and may your foes 1 dis- trust themselves. {Exit. ACT I 2 . SCENE I. Enter SCEPARNIO, with a spade on his shoulder. SCEP. (to himself). ye immortal Gods, what a dreadful tempest has Neptune sent us this last night ! The storm has unroofed the cottage. What need of words is there r 1 It was no storm, but what Alcmena met with in Euripides 3 ; it has so knocked all the tiles from off the roof ; more light has it given us, and has added to our windows. SCENE II. Enter PLESIDIPPUS, at a distance, talking with three CITIZENS. PLES. I have both withdrawn you from your avocations, and that has not succeeded on account of which I've brought you ; I could not catch the Procurer down at the harbour. But I have been unwilling to abandon all hope by reason of my remissness ; on that account, my friends, have I the longer detained you. Now hither to the Temple of Venus 1 May your foes) Ver. 82. The Carthaginians are alluded to; this Play having been written during the second Punic war. * Act 7.) We may here remark, that the Play is called " the Fisherman's Rope " in consequence of the important part which, towards the close, the rope acts in bringing the wallet to shore in the net. The scenery of this Play must have been much more picturesque than that of those of Plautus in general. At the end of the stage is a prospect of the sea, interspersed with rocks in the distance, while others project upon the front of the stage. The City of Gyrene is also seen in the distance ; while nearer to the Audience is the Temple of Venus, with an altar in front of it ; and adjoining the Temple is the cottage of Dasmones. Some other cottages are also seen at a distance. If the comparison may be made, it bears some slight resemblance to the Tempest of Shakspeare. 3 In Euripides) Ver. 86. He alludes to a Tragedy of Euripides so named, where a dreadful storm was so accurately represented that at length the Play uecame a proverbial expression for tempestuous weather. Madame Dacier ob- serves, that it was not strange for Scepamio to mention this, as he might often have seen it represented at Athens upon the stage. This notion is somewhat far-fetched, as it is not likely that Plautus troubled himself about such a fine point, or that the Audience was gifted with any such nicety of perception as to note his accuracy, even if he had. It has been suggested, and not at all impro- bably, that Plautus borrowed the Scene of the thunder and lightning in his Am- phitryon from this Play of Euripides. Sc. III. THE FISHEBMAN'S ROPE. 69 am I come to see, where he was saying that he was about to perform a sacrifice. SCEP. (aloud to himself, at a distance). If I am wise, I shall be getting ready this clay that is awaiting me. (Falls to work digging.) PLES. (looking round). Some one, I know not who, is speaking near to me. SCENE III. Enter D.EMONES, from his house. D^IM. Hallo ! Sceparnio ! SCEP. Who's calling me by name P D.EM. He who paid his money for you. SCEP. (turning round). As though you would say, Dse- mones, that I am your slave. D.EM. There's occasion for plenty of clay 1 , therefore dig up plenty of earth. I find that the whole of my cottage must be covered ; for now it's shining through it, more full of holes than a sieve. PLES. (advancing). Health to you, good father, and to both of you, indeed. D^EM. Health to you. SCEP. (to PLESIDIPPUS, who is muffled up in a coat). But whether are you male or female, who are calling him father ? PLES. Why really, I'm a man. D.EM. Then, man, go seek a father elsewhere. I once had an only daughter, that only one I lost. Of the male sex I never had a child. PLES. But the Gods will give SCEP. {going on digging). A heavy mischance to you indeed, i' faith, whoever you are, who are occupying us, already occu- pied, with your prating. PLES. {pointing to the cottage). Pray are you dwelling there ? SCEP. Why do you ask that ? Are you reconnoitring the place for you to come and rob there ? PLES. It befits a slave to be right rich in his savings, whom, in the presence of his master, the conversation cannot escape, or who is to speak rudely to a free man. SCEP. And it befits a man to be shameless and impu- dent, for him to whom there's nothing owing, of his own 1 Plenty of clay) Ver. 100. He probably means clay for the purpose of drying t&d making '.iles with it. 70 BTTDENS ; Act I. accord to come to the house of another person annoying people. I) JEM. Sceparnio, hold your tongue. (To PLESIDIPPUS.) What do you want, young man ? PLES. A mishap to that fellow, who is in a hurry to be the first to speak when his master's present. But, unless it's troublesome, I wish to make enquiry of you in a few words. D-SM. My attention shall be given you, even though in the midst of business. SCEP. (to PLESIDIPPTTS). Eather, be off with you to the marsh, and cut down some reeds 1 , with which we may cover the cottage, while it is fine weather. D^BM. Hold your tongue. Do you tell me (to PLESIDIPPUS) if you have need of anything. PLES. Inform me on what I ask you; whether you have seen here any frizzle-headed fellow, with grey hair, a worth- less, perjured, fawning knave. Djm. Full many a one ; for by reason of fellows of that stamp am I living in misery. PLES. Him, I mean, who brought with him to the Temple of Venus here two young women, and who was to make pre- parations for himself to perform a sacrifice either to-day or yesterday. D.EM. By my faith, young man, for these very many days past I haven't seen any one sacrificing there ; and yet it can't be unknown to me if any one does sacrifice there. They are always asking here for water, or for fire, or for vessels, or for a knife, or for a spit, or for a pot for cooking 2 , or something or other. What need is there of words ? I procured my vessels and my well, for the use of Yenus, and not my own. There has now been a cessation of it for these many days past. PLES. According to the words you utter, you tell me I'm undone. D^:M. Really, so far as I'm concerned, i' faith, you may be safe and sound. SCEP. (stopping in his digging). Hark you, you that are roaming about Temples for the sake of your stomach, 'twere 1 Some reeds) Ver. 122. From this we learn that the cottage of Dsemones was covered with a kind of thatch. This and 1. 18 of the Miles Gloriosus are pro- bably the earliest instances in which thatched roofs are mentioned. * A pot for cooking) Ver. 135. " Aula extaris." Literally, " a pot for hold- ing the entrails" of the animals sacrificed. Sc. III. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 71 better for you to order a breakfast to be got ready at home. Perhaps you've been iuvited here 1 to breakfast. He that invited you, hasn't he come at all ? PLES. 'Tis the fact. SCEP. There's no risk then in your betaking yourself hence home without your breakfast. It's better for you to be a waiter upon Ceres than upon Venus ; the latter attends to love, Ceres attends to wheat. PLES. (to DJEMONES). This fellow has been making sport of me in a digraceful manner. D^M. (looking out at the side). ye immortal Gods, Sce- parnio, what means those people near the sea-shore ? SCEP. According to my notion, they've been invited to a parting breakfast 2 . D^;M. How so ? SCEP. Why, because, after dinner, I fancy, they yesterday washed themselves clean; their ship has gone to pieces out at sea. DJEM. (looking steadfastly). Such is the fact. SCEP. But, i' faith, on dry land our cottage and tiles have done the same. D^;M. Oh dear ! what unfortunate creatures you are ; (tc SCEPAENIO) how the shipwrecked people are swimming. PLES. Prithee, where are these people ? D JEM. (pointing to the distance) . This way, to the right ; don't you see them near the shore ? PLES. (looking the same way). I see them ; (to his FRIENDS) follow me. I only wish it may be he that I'm seeking, that most accursed fellow. (To D^MONES and SCEPAENIO.) Tare you well. SCEP. If you hadn't put us in mind, we should have thought of that ourselves. (Exeunt PLESIDIPPTJS and FKIENDS. 1 Been invited here) Ver. 142. It was the custom of Parasites to prowl about the Temples, for the purpose of joining in the feasts which sometimes took place at the conclusion of the sacrifice. 2 To a parting breakfast} Ver. 150. " Prandium propter viam." Thornton has the following Note here : " This is a sorry joke, even for Sceparnio, on so se- rious and melancholy an occasion, and cannot be well expressed in our tougne. When the ancients were about to undertake any voyage, they used to make a sa- crifice to Hercules before they set off, which was for that reason called ' propter viam ;' and the custom was to burn all they didn't eat. Wherefore Sceparnic says ' laverunt,' which signifies ' they have consumed their all' as well as ' thej have bathed,' alluding to the ship being lost." 72 BTTDENS ; Act I. SCENE IV. SCEPABNIO SCEP. (looking out towards the sea). But, Palaemon 1 , hallowed associate of Neptune, who art said to be the partner of Hercules, what shocking thing do I see ? D-SM. What do you see ? SCEP. I see two young women sitting in a boat alone. How the poor things are being tossed about ! That's good, that's good, well done. The surge is driving the boat away from the rock towards the shore. Not a pilot could have ever done it better. I don't think that I ever saw billows more huge. They are saved, if they can escape those waves. Now, now's the danger ; it has sent one overboard ! See you that one whom the waves have thrown out of the boat ? Still, she's in a shallow place ; she'll easily wade through it now. capital ! now she's safe ; she has escaped from the water; she's now on shore. But that other one has now sprung towards the land from the boat from her alarm she has fallen into the waves upon her knees. She has got up again; if she takes this direction, the matter's safe; (a pause) but she has taken to the right, to utter destruction. Ah, she will be wandering all the day - What signifies that to you ? SCEP. If she should fall down from that rock towards which she is wending her way, she'll be putting a period to her wandering. D^M. If you are about to dine this evening at their ex- pense, I think you may then be concerned for them, Sceparnio ; if you are going to eat at my house, I wish your services to be devoted to myself. SCEP. You ask what's good and proper. DJEM. Then follow me this way. SCEP. I follow 2 . (Exeunt. SCENE V. Enter PALESTRA, at a distance, with her clothes torn and drenched. PAL. (to herself}. By heavens, the mishaps of mortals are spoken of as much less bitter than * * * * 1 Palmnori) Ver. 160. This was one of the names of Melicerta, or Portunus, the son of Athamas and Inc. Athamas being about to slay him and Ino, they leaped into the sea, where they became sea Divinities. 2 I follow) Ver. 184. The Scene of the wreck, previously described by Sce- parnio, was probably not visible to the Audience, but was depicted by him while directing his view towards the side of the stage. Sc. V. THE FISHEBMAN'S KOPE. 73 * * * the sharp pangs that are inflicted in the experience of them * * * * Has this then pleased the Deity, that I, clad in this guise, should, in my terror, be cast upon a spot unknown ? Shall I then declare that I have been born to this wretched lot ? Do I receive this meed in return for my exemplary piety ? For to me it would not prove a hardship to endure this laborious lot, if I had conducted myself undutifully towards my parents or the Gods ; but if studiously I have exerted myself to beware of that, then, unduly and unjustly, Deities, you send upon me this. For what henceforth shall the glaringly impious receive, if after this fashion you pay honor to the guiltless ? But if I knew that I or my parents had done anything wicked, now should I have grieved the less. But the wickedness of this master of mine is pressing hard upon me, his impiety is causing my woes ; everything has he lost in the sea ; these are the remains (looking at her dress) of his property. Even she, who was carried together with me in the boat, was washed out by the violence of the waves ; I am now alone. If she at least 1 had been saved for me, through her aid my affliction here would have been lighter to me. Now, what hope or aid or what counsel shall I receive, a spot so lonesome here have I lighted upon alone ? Here are the rocks, here roars the sea, and not one individual comes across my path. This dress that I am clothed in forms all my riches quite entirely ; nor know I with what food or roof I am to be provided. What hope have I through which to desire to live ? Neither am I acquainted with the place, nor was I ever here before. At least I could have wished for some one who would point out to me either a road or a path from these spots ; so much am I now at a loss for ad- vice whether to go this way or that ; neither, indeed, do I see 2 anywhere near here a cultivated spot. Cold, distraction, and 1 If she at least) Ver. 202. Exactly the same sentiment occurs to Defoe's hero, Robinson Crusoe, when he visits the Spanish ship wrecked off his island: " I cannot explain by any possible energy of words what a strange longing or hankering of desires I felt in my soul upon this sight, breaking out some- times thus, ' that there had been but one or two, nay, or but one soul saved out of this ship, to have escaped to me, that I might have had one companion, one fellow-creature to have spoken to me and to have conversed with !' " 2 Neither, indeed, do I see) Ver. 214. She is unable to see the Temple of Venus and the house of Djemones, by reason of the high crags among which she is wandering, some of which are represented in the front of the stage. 74 ETJDENS ; Act I. alarm, have taken possession of all my limbs. My parents, you know not of this, that I am now thus wretched ; I that was born a woman entirely free, was so to no purpose. Am I at all the less in servitude now, than if I had been born a slave ? And never in any way has it been a profit to those who for their own sakes reared me up. (She advances for- tvard, and rests on one side against the cliff.) SCENE VI. Enter AMPELTSCA, at a distance, on the other side of the stage, in a similar condition. AMP. (to herself). What is there better for me, what more to my advantage, than to shut out life from my body ? So wretched am I in my existence, and so many deadening cares are there in my breast ; so despicable is my lot ; I care not for my life ; I have lost the hope with which I used to comfort myself. All places have I now rambled about, and through each covert spot have I crawled along, to seek my fellow-slave with voice, eyes, ears, that I might trace her out. And still I find her nowhere, nor have I yet determined whither to go, nor where to seek her, nor, in the meantime, do I find any person here to give me an answer, of whom I might make enquiry. No place, too, is there on earth more solitary than are these spots and this locality. And yet, if she lives, never while I exist will I cease before I discover her alive. PAL. (aloud}. "Whose voice is it that sounds close by me here ? AMP. (starting). I am alarmed. "Who's speaking near me ? PAL. Prithee, kind Hope, do come to my aid. AMP. It's a woman : a woman's voice reaches my ears. "Will you not rescue wretched me from this alarm ? PAL. Surely a woman's voice reached my ears. Prithee, is it Ampelisca ? AMP. Is it you, Palestra, that I hear ? PAL. But why don't I call her by her own name, that she may hear me ? ( With a loud voice.) Ampelisca ! AMP. Ha! who's that ? PAL. 'Tis I. AMP. Is it Palaestra ? PAL. It is. AMP. Tell me where 1 you are. PAL. Troth, I'm now in the midst of a multitude of woes. 1 Tell me where) Ver. 238. It must be remembered that they are still separated by the crags upon the stage, though they are both visible to the Audience. Sc. VII. THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. 75 AMP. I am your partner ; and no less is my own stare than yours. But I long to see you.* PAL. In that ivish you are my rival. AMP. Let's follow our voices witli our steps ; where are you ? PAL. See, here am I. Step onward towards me, and come straight on to meet me. AMP. I'm doing so with care. (They meet in front of the stage.) PAL. Give me your hand. AMP. Take it. PAL. Are you still alive ? Prithee, tell me. AMP. You, indeed, make me now wish to live, since I'm empowered to touch you. How hardly can I persuade myself of this, that I am holding you. Prithee, do embrace me (they embrace), my only hope; how you are now easing me of all my woes. PAL. You are beforehand with me in using -expressions which belong to me. Now it befits us to be going hence. AMP. Prithee, whither shall we go ? PAL. Let's keep along this sea-shore. (Pointing to the shore.) AMP. Wherever you please, I'll follow. PAL. Shall we go along thus with our wet clothing ? AMP. That which exists, the same must of necessity be borne. (Looking up at the Temple.) But, pray, what's this ? PAL. What is it? AMP. Prithee, don't you see this Temple ? (Pointing towards it.) PAL. Where is it ? AMP. On the right hand. PAL. I seem to be looking at a place becoming the Divini-" ties. AMP. There must be people not far hence ; it is so de- lightful a spot. Whoever the (rod is, I pray him to relieve us from these troubles, and to snccour us females, wretched, help- less, and in distress. (They advance towards the Temple, and kneel down before it.) SCENE VII. Enter PTOLEMOCRATIA, the Priestess, from the Temple of Venus. PTOL. Who are these, that in their prayers are soliciting aid from my Patroness ? For the voice of suppliants has brought me hither out of doors. They pay suit to a kind and compliant Goddess and a Patroness that makes no difficulties, and one who is very benevolent. 76 BUDENS ; Act II. PAL. Mother, we bid you hail. PTOL. Maidens, hail to you. But, prithee, whence am I to say that you are hither come with your wet garments, thus wofully arrayed ? PAL. Just now, we came from a place there (pointing towards the shore), not a great way from this spot ; but it is a great way off from here, whence we have been brought hither. PTOL. Have you been borne, do you mean, by a ship, the wooden steed 1 , over the azure paths ? PAL. Even so. PTOL. Then it were more fitting that you should have come arrayed in white and provided with vic- tims ; it isn't the practice for people to come to this Temple in that fashion. (Pointing at their dresses.) PAL. Prithee, whence would you have us, who have been both cast away at sea, to be bringing victims hither ? Now, in want of assistance, do we embrace your knees, we who are of hopes undefined in places unknown, that you may receive us under your roof and shelter us, and that you will pity the miseries of us both, who have neither any place of refuge nor hope at hand, nor have anything whatever of our own beyond that which you see, PTOL. Give me your hands, arise, both of you, from oft your . knees ; no one among women is more compassionate than I. (They arise from the ground.) But, maidens, my circumstances are poor and limited ; with difficulty I support my own exist- ence ; Venus I serve for my maintenance. AMP. Prithee, is this a Temple of Venus ? PTOL. I will admit it ; I am styled the Priestess of this Temple. But whatever it is, it shall be done by me with a hearty welcome, so far as my means shall suffice. Come with me this way. PAL. Kindly and attentively, mother, do you show your attentions to us. PTOL. So I ought to do. (They go into the Temple.) ACT II. SCENE I. Enter some FISHEBMEN, with lines and nets. A FISHERMAN. Persons who are poor live wretchedly in eveiy way, especially those who have no calling and have learned no art. Of necessity must that be deemed enough, whatever they have at home. From our garb, then, you pretty The wooden steed) Yer. 2G8. Homer calls sliijw " Wses of the sea." Sc. II. TUB FISHEEMAX'S BOPE. 77 well understand how wealthy we are. These hooks and these rods here are as good to us as a calling and as our clothing. Each day from the city do we come out hither to the sea to seek for forage. Instead of exertion in the wrestling-school and the place for exercise, we have this : sea-urchins, rock- mussels, oysters, limpets 1 , cockles, sea-nettles, sea-mussels, and spotted crabs 2 , we catch. After that, we commence our fishing Avith the hook and among the rocks, and thus we take our food from out of the sea. If success does not befall us, and not any fish is taken, soaked in salt water 3 and thoroughly drenched, we quietly betake ourselves home, and without dinner go to sleep. And since the sea is now in waves so boisterous, no hopes have we ; unless we take some cockles, without a doubt we've had our dinners. Now let's adore good Venus here, that she may kindly befriend us to-day. (They advance towards the door of the Temple.) SCENE II. Enter TEACH ALIO, at a distance, in haste. TEACH, (to himself). I've carefully given all attention that I mightn't pass my master anywhere ; for when some time since he went out of the house, he said that he was going to the harbour, and he ordered me to come here to meet him at the Temple of Venus. But see, opportunely do I espy some people standing here of whom I may enquire ; I'll accost them. (Goes up to the FISHERMEN.) Save you, thieves of the sea, shellfish-gatherers and hook-fishers 4 , hun- gry race of men, how fare ye ? How perish apace 5 ? 1 Limpets) Ver. 297. " Balanos." It is not known what shellfish the " ba- lani" really were. * Spotted crabs) Ver. 298. It is not known what kind of fish the " plagusia" was. 3 Soaked in salt water) Ver. 301. "Salsi lautique pure." Thornton says, " Madame Dacier supposes that a joke is intended here, from the equivocal meaning of the words, which might mean that they had been entertained with high-seasoned cates, or that they had been washed and cleansed with salt water. 'alsi,' says she, because sea- water is salt; 'pure,' because sea- water washes away all impurities." 4 Shellfish-gatherers and hook-Jishers) Ver. 310. " Conchitae hamistse." These words are supposed to have been coined by Plautus for the occasion. 6 How perish apace) Ver. 311. Thornton has this Note here: " There is an humour in the original which could not be preserved in our language. Instead of asking the fishermen ' Ut valetis?' which was the common phrase of salutation, Trachalio addresses them in the opposite term, ' Ut peritis ?' probably in allu- sion to their perilous calling." 78 BTJDENS ; Act II. FISHES. Just as befits a fisherman with hunger, thirst, and expectation. TEACH. Have you seen to-day, while you've been standing here, any young man, of courageous aspect, ruddy, stout, of genteel appearance, come by this way, who was taking with him three men in scarfs, with swords ? FISHER. We know of no one coming this way of that ap- pearance which you mention. TKACH. Have you seen any old fellow, bald on the forehead and snub-nosed, of big stature, pot-bellied, with eyebrows awry, a narrow forehead, a knave, the scorn of Gods and men, a scoundrel, one full of vile dishonesty and of iniquity, who had along with him two very pretty -looking young women ? FISHEE. One who has been born with qualities and endow- ments of that sort, 'twere really fitter for him to resort to the executioner than to the Temple of Venus. TEACH. But tell me if you have seen him. FISHEE. Really, no one has passed this way. Fare you well. TEACH. Fare ye well. (Exeunt FISHERMEN. SCENE III. TEACHALIO, alone. TEACH, (to himself). I thought so ; it has come to pass as I suspected ; my master has been deceived ; the cursed Pro- curer has taken himself off to distant lands. He has em- barked on board ship, and carried the women away ; I'm a wizard. He invited my master here to breakfast, as well, this very spawn of wickedness. Now what is better for me than to wait here in this spot until my master comes ? At the same time, if this Priestess of Venus knows anything more, if I see her, I'll make enquiries ; she'll give me the in- formation. SCENE IV. Enter AMPELISCAJ/TOOT the Temple. AMP. (to the PRIESTESS, ivithiii). I understand ; here at this cottage {pointing to it), which ia close by the Temple of Venus, you've requested me to knock and ask for water. TEACH. "Whose voice is it that has flown to my ears ? AMP. Prithee, who's speaking here ? Who is it that I see ? TEACH. Isn't this Ampelisca that's coming out from the Temple ? Sc. IV. IHE FISHERMAN'S EOPE. 79 AMP. Isn't this Trachalio that I see, the servant of Pie- sidippus ? TEACH. It is she. AMP. It is he ; Trachalio, health to you. TEACH. Health, Ampelisca, to you; how fare you? AMP. In misery I pass a life not far advanced*. TEACH. Do give some better omen. AMP. Still it behoves all prudent persons to confer and talk together. But, prithee, where's your master, Plesidippus ? TEACH. Marry, well said, indeed ; as if he wasn't within there. (Pointing to the Temple.) AMP. By my troth, he isn't, nor, in fact, has he come here at all. TEACH. He hasn't come ? AMP. You say the truth. TEACH. That's not my way, Ampelisca. But how nearly is the breakfast got ready ? AMP. What breakfast, I beg of you ? TRACH. The sacrifice, I mean, that you are performing here. AMP. Prithee, what is it you are dreaming about? TEACH. For certain, Labrax invited Plesidippus hither to a breakfast, your master, my master. AMP. By my troth, you're telling of no wondrous facts : if he has deceived Grods and men, he has only acted ai'ter the fashion of Procurers. TEACH. Then neither yourselves nor my master are here performing a sacrifice. AMP. You are a wizard. TEACH. What are you doing then ? AMP. The Priestess of Venus has received here into her abode both myself and Palaestra, after many mishaps and dreadful alarm, and from being in danger of our lives, desti- tute of aid and of resources. TEACH. Prithee, is Palaestra here, the beloved of my master ? AMP. Assuredly. TEACH. Great joyousness is there in your news, my dear Ampelisca. But I greatly long to know what was this danger of yours. AMP. Last night our ship was wrecked, my dear Trachalio. TEACH. How, ship ? AVTiat story's this ? AMP. Pritheo, have you not heard in what way the Pro- curer intended secretly to carry us away hence to Sicily, 1 Not far advanced) Ver. 337. She seems to mean that, in the prime of lifa her misfortunes are greater than might have been anticipated by one so young 80 KUDEKS ; Act II. and how, whatever there was at home, he placed on board ship ? That has all gone to the bottom now. TEACH. O clever Neptune, hail to thee ! Surely, no dicer is more skilful than thyself. Decidedly a right pleasant throw 1 hast thou made ; thou didst break a villain. But where now is the Procurer Labrax ? AMP. Perished through drinking, I suppose; Neptune last night invited him to deep potations. TEACH. By my troth, I fancy it was given him to drink by way of cup of necessity 2 . How much I do love you, my dear Ampelisca ; how pleasing you are ; what honied words you do utter. But you and Palaestra, in what way were you saved ? AMP. I'll let you know. Both in affright, we leapt from the ship into a boat, because we saw that the ship was being borne upon a rock ; in haste, I unloosed the rope, while they were in dismay. The storm separated us from them with the boat in a direction to the right. And so, tossed about by winds and waves, in a multitude of ways, we, wretched crea- tures, during the livelong night * * * * * * half dead, the wind this day has scarce borne us to the shore. TEACH. I understand ; thus is Neptune wont to do ; he is a very dainty ^iEdile 3 ; if any wares are bad, over he throws them all. AMP. Woe to your head and life ! TEACH. To your own, my dear Ampelisca. I was sure that the Procurer would do that which h'e has done ; I often said go. It were better I should let my hair grow 4 , and set up for a soothsayer. 1 Right pleasant throw) Ver. 360. There is a joke here, which depends on the double meaning of "jacere bolum" and " perdere." The former signifies, "to cast a net" and " to cast a throw of dice." " Perdere" signifies, " to cause to perish," and " to break" or " ruin," in the gamester's sense. 2 Cup of necessity) Ver. 365. " Anancaeum," " the cup of necessity," which derived its name from the Greek word avayicrj, " necessity," was so called from the custom, in feasts, of handing round a large goblet, which all were obliged to empty, without losing a drop. Trachalio alludes to the large draught of salt water which he supposes Labrax has had to swallow at the bidding of Neptune. 3 Very dainty jEdile) Ver. 373-4. It was the duty of the ^Ediles at Rome to visit the markets and inspect the wares, like the Agoranomus, or " market- officer," of the Greeks. See the Miles Gloriosus, 1. 727, and the Note. * Let my hair grow) Ver. 377. It is supposed to have been the custom ol loothsayers and diviners to let their hair grow *o a greater length than usual Sc. IV. THE FISHEEMAN'S ROPE. 81 AMP. Did you not take care then, you and your master, that he shouldn't go away, when you knew this? TEACH. What could he do ? AMP. If he was in love, do you ask what he could do ? Both night and day he should have kept watch ; he should have been always on his guard. But, by my troth, he has done like many others ; thus finely has Plesidippus taken care of her. TEACH. For what reason do you say that ? AMP. The thing is evident. TRACII. Don't you know this ? Even he who goes to the bath to bathe, while there he carefully keeps an eye upon his garments, still they are stolen ; inasmuch as some one of those that he is watching is a rogue ; the thief easily marks him for whom he's upon the watch ; the keeper knows not which one is the thief. But bring me to her ; where is she ? AMP. Well then, go here into the Temple of Venus ; you'll find her sitting there, and in tears. TRACII. How disagreable is that to me already. But why is she weeping ? AMP. I'll tell you; she's afflicting herself in mind for this ; because the Procurer took away a casket from her which she had, and in which she kept that by which she might be enabled to recognize her parents ; she fears that this has been lost. TEACH. AVhere was that little casket, pray ? AMP. There, on board the ship ; he himself locked it up in his wallet, that there mightn't be the means by which she might recognize her parents. TEACH. O scandalous deed! to require her to be a slave, who ought to be a free woman. AMP. Therefore she now laments that it has gone to the bottom along with the ship. There, too, was all the gold and silver of the Procurer. TEACH. Some one, I trust, has dived and brought it up. AMP. For this reason is she sad and disconsolate, that she has met with the loss of them. TEACH. Then have I the greater occasion to do this, to go in and console her, that she mayn't thus distress herself in mind. For I know that many a lucky thing has happened to many a one beyond their hopes. AMP. But I know too that hope has deceived many who have hoped. TEACH. Therefore a patient mind is the best remedy for TOL. II. O 82 RUBENS ; Act II. affliction. I'll go in, unless you wish for anything. {Goes into the Templet) AMP. Go. (To herself.) I'll do that which the Priestess requested me, and I'll ask for some water here at the neigh- bour's ; for she said that if I asked for it in her name, they would give it directly. And I do think that I never saw a more worthy old lady, one to whom I should think that it is more befitting for Gods and men to 'show kindness. How courteously, how heartily, how kindly, how, without the least difficulty, she received us into her home, trembling, in want, drenched, shipwrecked, half dead ; not otherwise, in fact, than if we had been her own offspring. How kindly did she herself, just now, tucking up her garments, make the water warm for us to bathe. Now, that I mayn't keep her waiting, I'll fetch some water from the place where she re- quested me. (Knocking at the door of D^MONES.) Hallo, there, is there any one in the cottage ? Is any one going to open this door ? AVill any one come out ? SCENE V. Enter ScEPARNio,/r0z the cottage o SCEP. "Who is it so furiously making an attack upon our door? AMP. It's I. SCEP. Well now, what good news is there ? (Aside.) Dear me, a lass of comely appearance, i' troth. AMP. Greeting to you, young man. SCEP. And many greetings to you, young woman. AMP. I'm come to you -- SCEP. I'll receive you with a welcome, if you come in the evening, by-and-by, just such as I could like ; for just now I've no means 1 to 'receive you, a Harnsel, thus early in the morning * * * But what have you to say, my smiling, pretty one. (Chucks her under the chin.) AMP. Oh, you're handling me too familiarly. (Moves away.) SCEP. ye immortal Gods! she's the very image of 1 For just now Pve no means") Ver. 418. This line has greatly puzzled the Commentators. Sceparnio, however, seems to mean that at present he is busy, and cannot attend to her, but that in the evening he will be at her service. It has been suggested that a double entendre is meant ; and such may possiblv be the case, though the pungency of the passage is lost by reason of the hiatus in the next line. The meaning may, however, be harmless, and he may intend to say that at present he is busy thatching the house, but that at nightfall Le will nave finished, when she may count upon being hospitably entertained. Sc, V. THE FISKERMAN'S ROPE. 83 Venus. What joyousness there is in her eyes, and, only do see, what a skin ; 'tis of the vulture's tint 1 , rather, the eagle's, indeed, I meant to say. Her breasts, too, how beautiful ; and then what expression on her lips ! (Takes hold of her.) AMP. (struggling). I'm no common commodity for the whole township 2 ; can't you keep your hands off me ? SCEP. (patting her). Won't you let me touch you, gentle one, in this manner, gently and lovingly ? * * * * * * * * AMP. When I have leisure, then I'll be giving my atten- tion to toying and dalliance to please you ; for the present, prithee, do either say me " Yes" or " No" to the matter for which I was sent hither. 4 SCEP. What now is it that you wish ? AMP. (pointing to her pitcher). To a shrewd person, my equipment would give indications of what it is I want. SCEP. To a shrewd woman, this equipment, too, of mine, would give indication of what it is I want. AMP. (pointing to the Temple). The Priestess there of Ve- nus, requested me to fetch some water from your house here. ****** SCEP. But I'm a lordly sort of person ; unless you entreat me, you shan't have a drop. We dug this well with danger to ourselves, and with tools of iron. Not a drop can be got out of me except by means of plenty of blandishments. AMP. Prithee, why do you make so much fuss about the water a thing that even enemy affords to enemy ? SCEP. Why do you make so much fuss about granting a favour to me, that citizen grants to citizen ? AMP. On the contrary, my sweet one, I'll even do every- thing for you that you wish. SCEP. O charming ! I am favoured ; she's now calling me 1 Of the vulture's tint) Ver. 423. There is a poor joke here upon the words " subaqnilnm" and " subvulturium." Sceparnio means to describe the com- plexion of Ampelisca as somewhat resembling the colour of an eagle. By mistake, he happens to mention "a vulture," and immediately corrects himself, as, from its sordid habits, he may be deemed to be paying her an ill compliment. 2 No common commodity for the whole township) Ver. 425. " Pollucta page." The portion of the sacrifice to Hercules which was given to the common people was said to be " pollucta," whence the present adaptation of the epithet. Echard ceems to have contemplated translating this, " I'm no pie for every one's catting up!" o2 84 EUDENS ; Act II. her sweet one. The water shall be given you, so that you mayn't be coaxing me in vain. Give me the pitcher. AMP. Take it (gives it to him} : make haste and bring it out, there's a dear. SCEP. Stay a moment ; I'll be here this instant, my sweet one. (Goes into the cottage.) * * ******* SCENE VI. AMPELISCA, alone. AMP. What shall I say to the Priestess for having delayed here so long a time ? * * * * How, even still, in my wretchedness do i tremble, when with my eyes I look upon the sea. (She looks towards the shore.) But what, to my sorrow, do I see afar upon the shore ? My master, the Procurer, and his Sicilian guest, both of w r hom wretched I supposed to have perished in the deep. Still does thus much more of evil survive for us than Ave had imagined. But why do I delay to run off into the Temple, and to tell Palaestra this, that we may take refuge at the altar before this scoundrel of a Procurer can come hither and seize us here ? I'll betake myself away from this spot ; for the necessity suddenly arises for me to do so. (Suns into the Temple.) SCENE VII. Enter SCEPAENIO, from the cottage. SCEP. (to himself). O ye immortal Gods, I never did ima- gine that there was so great delight in water ; how heartily I did draw this. The well seemed much less deep than formerly. How entirely without exertion did I draw this up. With all deference 1 to myself, am I not a very silly fellow, in having only to-day made a commencement of being in love 2 ? (Turning slowly round, he holds out the pitcher.) Here's the water for you, my pretty one ; here now, I would have you carry it with as much pleasure as I carry it, that you may piease me. (Stares around him.) But where are you, my tit-bit ? Do take this water, please ; where are you ? (Again looks about.) I' troth, she's in 1 With all deference) Ver. 461. " Praefiscine." This word was generally used as being supposed to avert the evil eye, when persons spake in high terms of themselves. There is some drollery in Sceparnio using it, when speaking in disparagement of himself. 2 Of being in fore) Ver. 462. Not for the pleasure of loving, but for the com- parative ease of drawing the water, which was probably c:e of his employments. So. VIII. THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. 85 love with me, as I fancy ; the roguish one's playing bo-peep 1 . Where are you ? Are you going now to take this pitcher ? "Where are you, I say ? You've carried the joke far enough. Eeally, do be serious at last. Once more, are you going to take this pitcher ? Where in the world are you ? (Looks about) I' troth, I don't see her anywhere, for my part ; she's making fun of me. I' faith, I shall now set down this pitcher in the middle of the road. But yet, suppose any per- son should carry away from here this sacred pitcher of Venus, he would be causing me some trouble. I' faith, I'm afraid that this woman's laying a trap for me, that I may be caught with the sacred pitcher of Venus. In such case, with very good reason, the magistrate will be letting me die in prison, if any one shall see me holding this. For it's marked with the name ; itself tells its own tale, whose property it is. Troth now, I'll call that Priestess here out of doors, that she may take this pitcher. I'll go there to the door. (He knocks.) Hallo there ! Ptolemocratia. (Calling aloud.) Take this pitcher of yours, please ; some young woman, I don't know who, brought it here to me. (A pause.) It must then be carried in-cloors by me. I've found myself a job, if, in fact, of my own accord, water is to be carried by me for these people as well. (Goes into the Temple with the pitcher.) SCENE VIII. Enter LABRAX, dripping wet, followed by CHARMIDES, at a distance, in the same plight. LAB. (grumbling to himself). The person that chooses him- self to be wretched and a beggar, let him trust himself and his life to Neptune. For if any one has any dealings at all with him, he sends him back home equipped in this guise. ( Surveying himself.) By my troth, Liberty, you were a clever one, who were never willing 2 to put even a foot, i' faith, on board ship with me. But (looking round) where's this guest of mine that has proved my ruin ? Oh, see, here he comes. CHARM. Where the plague are you hurrying to, Labrax ? For really I cannot follow you so fast. 1 Playing bo-peep) V>r. 4C6. Both Horace and Virgil mention the game of biding, or "bo-peep," as a favorite one with the girls of their day. 2 \Vlin were nerer willing') Ver. 489. He probably alludes to some current proverb of the day, which may, with considerable truth, have said that liberty forsakes a man when he goes on board ship. 86 BUDEyg ; Act II. LAB. I only wish that you had perished by direful torments in Sicily before I had looked updn you with my eyes, you on whose account this misfortune has befallen me. CHAEM. I only wish that on the day on which you admitted me into your house, I had laid me down in a prison sooner. I pray the immortal Gods, that so long as you live, you may have all your guests just like your own self. LAB. In your person I admitted misfortune into my house. What business had I to listen to a rogue like you, or what to depart hence ? Or why to go on board ship, where I have lost even more wealth 1 than I was possessor of? CHARM:. Troth, I'm far from being surprised if your ship has been wrecked, which was carrying yourself, a villain, and your property villanously acquired. LAB. You've utterly ruined me with your wheedling speeches. CHAHM. A more accursed dinner of yours have I been dining upon than the ones that were set before Thyestes and Tereus 2 . LAB. I'm dying ; I'm sick at heart. Prithee, do hold up my head. CHAEM. By my troth, I could very much wish that you would vomit up your lungs. LAB. Alas ! Palaestra and Ampelisca, where are you now? CHAEM. Supplying food for the fishes at the bottom, I suppose. LAB. You have brought beggary upon me by your means, while I was listening to your bragging lies. CHAEM. You have reason deservedly to give me many hearty thanks, who from an insipid morsel by my agency have made you salt 3 . LAB. IS"ay, but do you get out from me to extreme and utter perdition. 1 Even more wealth) Ver. 504. He means that he has not only lost his exist- .ng property by the shipwreck, but his hopes of profit as well on his arrival at Sicily, by means of liis traffic with Palaestra and Ampelisca. - fhyestes and Tereus) Ver 509. Atreus killed the children of his brother Thyestes, and served them up to their father. Progne slew her son Itys, and set him before his father Tereus, who had ravished ar.'d mutilated her bister Phi- lomela. * Have made you salt') Ver. 517. " Ex insulso salsum." The humour in this passage depends on the double meaning of the word " salsus," which signifiei " salted," and, figuratively, " sharp," " clever." " witty." Sc. VIII. THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. 87 CHARM. You be off; I was just going to do that very thing. LAB. Alas ! what mortal being is there living more wretched than I ? CHARM. I am by very far much more wretched, Labrax, than yourself. LAB. How so ? CHARM. Because I am not deserving of it, whereas you are deserving. LAB. O bulrush, bulrush, I do praise your lot, who always maintain your credit for dryness. CHARM, (his teeth chattering). For my part, I'm exercising myself for a skirmishing fight 1 , for, from my shivering, I utter all my words in piecemeal flashes. LAB. By my troth, Neptune, you are a purveyor of chilly baths ; since I got away from you with my clothes, I've been freezing. No hot liquor-shop 2 at all for sure does he provide ; so salt and cold the potions that he prepares. CHARM. How lucky are the blacksmiths, who are always sitting among hot coals ; they are always warm. LAB. I only wish that I were now enjoying the lot of the duck, so as, although I had just come from out of the water, still to be dry. CHARM. What if I some way or other let myself out at the games for a hobgoblin 3 ? LAB. For what reason ? CHARM. Because, i' faith, I'm chattering aloud with my teeth. But I'm of opinion that, with very good reason, I've had this ducking. LAB. How so ? CHARM. "Why, haven't I ventured to go on board ship with yourself, who have been stirring up the ocean for me from the very bottom ? 1 For a skirmishing fight) Ver. 525. Thornton has this Note on this passage : " ' Velitatio' signifies a skirmish,' which was usually made hy the ' velites,' that is, ' the light-harnessed soldiers;' and these men always made use of darts, .vhose points would glitter at a distance, sometimes one way, and sometimes another. Now Charmides, trembling with cold, compares himself to these 'velites,' or 'skirmishers,' who never keep their places; and his words, which came out broken and by piecemeal, to the unequal glimmerings or flashes of their darts." 1 Hot-liquor shop") Ver. 529. See the Trinummus, 1. 1013, and the Note. 1 For a hobgoblin) Ver. 535. " Manducus" was a huge figure exhibited on the stage and at public shows, with huge teeth craunching, and a wide mouth probably not unlike some of the idols of the South Sea Islanders. 88 ntTDEKS ; Act II. LAB. I listened to you when advising me ; you assured me that there in Sicily was very great profit from courtesans ; there, you used to say, I should be able to amass wealth. CHARM. Did you expect, then, you unclean beast, that you were going to gobble up the whole island of Sicily ? LAB. What whale, I wonder, has gobbled up my wallet, where all my gold and silver was packed up ? CHARM. That same one, I suppose, that has swallowed my purse, which was full of silver in my travelling-bag. LAB. Alas! I'm reduced even to this one poor tunic (stretching it out) and to this poor shabby cloak ; I'm done for to all intents. CHARM. Then you may even go into partnership with me ; we have got equal shares. LAB. If at least my damsels had been saved, there would have been some hope. Now, if the young man Plesidippus should be seeing me, from whom I received the earnest for Palaestra, he'll then be causing me some trouble in conse- quence. (He begins to cry.) CHARM. "Why cry, you fool ? Really, by my troth, so long as your tongue shall exist, you have abundance with which to make payment to everybody 1 . SCENE IX. Enter ScEPARNio,/rom the Temple. SCEP. (to himself, aloud). What to-do is this, I'd like to know, that two young women here in the Temple, in tears, are holding in their embrace the statue of Yenus, dread- ing I know not what in their wretchedness ? But they say that this last night they have been tossed about, and to-day cast on shore from the waves. LAB. (overhearing). Troth now, young man, prithee, where are these young women that you are talking of? SCEP. Here (pointing) in the Temple of Venus. LAB. How many are there ? SCEP. Just as many as you and I make. LAB. Surely, they are mine. SCEP. Sorely, I know nothing about that. LAB. Of what appearance are they ? 1 Payment to everybody) Ver. 558. He means, that his readiness to commit perjury will save him the trouble of finding money to pay with, as he can always swear that he has paid already. Sc. X. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 80 SCEP. Good-looking; I could even fall in love with either of them, if I were wtO liquored. LAB. Surely, they are the damsels. SCEP. Surely, you are a nuisance ; be off, go in and see, if you like. LAB. These must be my "wenches in here, my clear Char- mides. CHARM. Jupiter confound you, both if they are and still if they are not. LAB. I'll straightway burst into this Temple of Venus here. CHARM. Into the bottomless pit, I would rather. (LABRAX rushes into the Temple, and shuts the door.) SCENE X. CHARMIDES and SCEPARNIO. CHARM. Prithee, stranger, show me some spot where I may go to sleep. SCEP. Go to sleep there, wherever you please ( points to the ground) ; no one hinders, it's free to the public. CHARM, (pointing to his clothes). But do you see me, in what wet clothes I'm dressed ? Do take me under shelter ; lend me some dry clothes, while my own are drying; on some occasion I'll return you the favour. SCEP. See, here's my outer coat, which alone is dry ; that, if you like, I'll lend you. (Takes it off and holds it out to him.) In that same I'm wont to be clothed, by that same protected, when it rains. Do you give me those clothes of yours ; I'll soon have them dried. CHARM. How now, are you afraid that, as I've been washed bare 1 last night at sea, I mayn't be made bare again here upon shore ? SCEP. Wash you bare, or anoint you well, I don't care one fig 2 . I shall never entrust anything to you unless upon a pledge being taken. Do you either sweat away or perish with cold, be you either sick or well. I'll put up with no stranger-guest in my house ; I've had disagreements enough. (Puts on his coat again, and goes into the house of DJEMONES.) 1 Washed bare) Ver. 579. The poor joke here turns on the double meaning of the word "eluo," which, in the passive, means "to be shipwrecked," and in the active, either " to bathe" or " to be rained in one's fortunes." It is not very dissimilar to an expression common with us, and might be rendered, " I wasn't cleaned out enough at sea last night, but you want to clean me out still more." Sceparnio takes the word in the sense of " to bathe," and says, " Bathe or anoint vonrself ; I don't care a fig." Anointing followed immediately after bathing. * Ontfirf) Ver. 580. " Ciccum." " Ciccum" was the thin skin in the pome- granate that divided the kcrntls. 90 BITDENS ; Act III. SCENE XI. CHAEMIDES, alone. CHARM. What, are you off? (A pause.) He's a traf- ficker in slaves for money 1 ; whoever he is, lie has no bowels 2 of compassion. But why in my wretchedness am I standing here, soaking ? Why don't I rather go away from here into the Temple of Venus," that I may sleep off this debauch which I got with drinking last night against the bent of my inclina- tion ? Neptune has been drenching us with salt water as though we were Greek wines 3 , and so he hoped that our stomachs might be vomited up with his salt draughts. What need of words ? If he had persisted in inviting us a little longer, we should have gone fast asleep there ; as it is, hardly alive has he sent us off home. Now I'll go see the Pro- curer, my boon companion, what he's doing within. (Goes into the Temple.) ACT III. SCENE I. house. DJEM. (to himself). In wondrous ways 4 do the Gods make sport of men, in wondrous fashions do they send dreams in sleep. Not the sleeping, even, do they allow to rest. As, for example, I, this last night which has gone by, dreamed a won- derful and a curious dream. A she-ape seemed to be endea- vouring to climb up to a swallow's nest ; and she was not able thence to take them out. After that, the ape seemed to come to me to beg me to lend a ladder to her. I in these terms gave answer to the ape, that swallows are the descendants of Philomela 5 and of Progne. I expostulated with her, that she 1 For money) Ver. 584. His meaning is, " he is so inhuman, that surely he is a slave-dealer, and nothing less." 2 lias no bowels') Ver. 585. " Non est misericors." Literally, 1 " he is not merciful." 3 Were Greek wines') Ver. 588. He uses this comparison because it was tht custom of the ancients to mix sea-water with all the Greek wines, except the Chian, which Horace styles " maris expers," " unmixed with the sea." * In wondrous ways) Ver. 593. It is somewhat singular that the same three lines as this and the two following occur in the Mercator, at the beginning of Act II. 5 Of Philomela') Ver. 604. The Poets generally represent Progne as changed into a swallow, and Phibmela into a nightingale. Ovid, however, on one occa- sion, mentions Philomela as being changed into a swallow. They were the daughters of Pandion, king of Athens, the native place of Dsemones. Sc. II. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 91 might not hurt those of my country. But then she began to be much more violent, and seemed gratuitously to be threatening me with vengeance. She summoned me to a court of justice. Then, in my anger, I seemed to seize hold of the ape by the middle, in what fashion I know not ; and I fastened up with chains this most worthless beast. Now to what purpose I shall say that this dream tends, never have I this day been able to come to any conclusion. (A loud noise is heard in the Temple.} But what's this noise that arises in this Temple of Venus, my neighbour ? My mind's in wonder about it. SCENE II. Enter TEACHALIO, in haste, from, the Temple. TEACH, (aloud). citizens of Cyrene, I implore your aid, countrymen, you who are near neighbours to these spots, bring aid to helplessness, and utterly crush a most vile at- tempt. Inflict vengeance, that the power of the wicked, who wish themselves to be distinguished by crimes, may not be stronger than of the guiltless. Make an example for the shameless man, give its reward to modest virtue ; cause that one may be allowed to live here rather under the control of the laws than of brute force. Hasten hither into the Temple of Venus ; again do I implore your aid, you who are here at hand and who hear my cries. Bring assistance to those who, after the recognized usage, have entrusted their lives to Venus and to the Priestess of Venus, under their protection. Wring ye the neck of iniquity before it reaches yourselves. DJ;M. What's all this to-do ? TKACH. (embracing his knees). By these knees of yours, I do entreat you, old gen- tleman, whoever you are D^:M. Nay, but do you let go my knees, then, and tell me why it is that you are making a noise ? TEACH. I do beg and entreat you, that if you hope this year that you will have abundance of laserwort and silphium 1 , and that that export will arrive at Capua 2 safe and sound, and that you may ever enjoy freedom from diseased eyes 1 Laserwort and silphium) Ver. 630. "Sirpe" and " laserpitium " seem to be different names for the same plant, "laserwort," from which assafcetida is dis- tilled. It grew abundantly in Cyrene, which region Catullus calls " Lascrpiti- ferse Cyrenae." The juice of this plant seems to have been used in making certain perfumes, for which reason it was exported to Capua. 2 At Capua) Ver. 631. Capua was the chief city of Campania, in Italy, tnd 92 EUDENS ; Act III. Are you in your senses ? TRACK. -- Or whether you trust that you will have plenty of juice of silphium 1 , that you will not hesitate to give me the aid which I shall entreat of you, aged sir. D^;M. And I, by your legs, and ancles, and back, do entreat you that, if you hope that you will have a crop of elm-twigs, and that a fruitful harvest of beatings will this year be your lot, you will tell me what's the matter here, by reason of which you are making this uproar. TRACK. Why do you choose to speak me ill 'i For my part, I wished you everything that's good. DJEM. And for my part, I'm speaking you well, in praying that things which you deserve may befall you. TRACH. Prithee, do prevent this. D-SM. "What's the matter, then ? TRACH. (pointing to the Temple). Two innocent women are inside here, in need- of your aid, on whom, against law and justice, an injury has been, is being, glaringly committed here in the Temple of Venus. Besides, the Priestess of Venus is being disgracefully insulted. D^:M. What person is there of effrontery so great as to dare to injure the Priestess ? But these women, who are they ? Or what injury is being done to them ? TRACH. If you give me your attention, I'll tell you. They have clung to the statue of Venus ; a most audacious fellow is now trying to tear them away. They ought, ~by rights, both of them to be free. D^M. What fellow is it that so lightly holds the Gods ? In a few words tell me. TRACH. One most full of fraud, villany, parricide, and perjury ; a lawbreaker, an immodest, unclean, most shameless fellow ; to sum up all in one word, he is a Procurer ; why need I say more about him ? T)JEM. Troth now, you tell of a man that ought to be handed over to retribution. TRACH. A villain, to seize the Priestess by the throat. was famed for its luxury. It was celebrated for its choice perfumes; and in it there was one great street called " Seplasia," which consisted entirely of shops, in which unguents and perfumes were sold. 1 Juice of silphium) Ver. 633. " Magudaris" is the root or juice of the plant called " laserpicium." Sc. III. THE FISHEEMAH'S EOPE. 03 D.SM. By my troth, but he has done it at his own great peril. (Calls aloud at his door.) Come you out of doors here, Turbalio and Sparax ; where are you ? TEACH. Prithee, do go in, and hasten to their rescue. . (impatiently). And am I to call for them once more ? Enter TURBALIO and SPAKAX, from the cottage. . Follow me this way. TEACH. Come on now this instant, bid them tear his eyes out, just in the way that cooks do cuttle-fish 1 . D.&M. Drag the fellow out here by his legs, just like a slaughtered pig. (DJEMONES and his SEEVANTS go into the Temple.) TEACH, (listening at the door). I hear a scuffling ; the Pro- curer, I guess, is being belaboured with their fists ; I'd very much like them to knock the teeth out of the jaws of the most villanous fellow. But see, here are the women them- selves coming out of the Temple in consternation. SCENE III. Enter PALJSSTRA and AMPELISCA, in haste, from the Temple, with dishevelled locks. PAL. Now is that time arrived when destitution of all re- sources and aid, succour and defence, overtakes us. Neither hope nor means is there to bring us aid, nor know we in what direction we should commence to proceed. In exceeding terror now are we both, in this our wretchedness. Such cruelty and such outrage have been committed towards us just now in-doors here by our master, who, in his villany, pushed down the old lady, the Priestess, headlong, and struck her in a very disgraceful manner, and with his violence tore us away from the inner side 2 of the statue. But as our lot and fortunes are now showing themselves, 'twere best to die, nor in our miseries is there anything better than death. TEACH, (behind). What's this? Whose words are those ? Wliy do I delay to console them ? (Aloud.) Harkye, Pa^ laestra, Ampelisca, harkye ! PAL. Prithee, who is it that calls us ? 1 Cooks do cuttle-faK) Ver. 659. This, probably, was a practice of ancient cookery, which, happily, has not come down to our times. 2 The inner side) Ver. 673. " Signo intumo" may either mean the statue in the most distant and sacred recess, or the inner side of the statue, to which spot they had retired for safety. 94 RTTDENS ; Act III. AMP. "Who is it that calls me by name ? TEACH. If you turn round and look, you'll know. PAL. (turning round). O hope of my safety! TEACH. Be silent and of good courage ; trust me 1 . PAL. If only it can be so, let not violence overwhelm us. TEACH. AVhat violence ? PAL. That same which is driving me to commit violence on myself. TEACH. Oh, do leave off ; you are very silly. PAL. Then do you leave off at once your consoling me in my misery with words. AMP. Unless you afford us protection in reality 2 , Trachalio, it's all over with us. PAL. I'm resolved to die sooner than suffer this Procurer to get me in his power. But still I am of woman's heart ; when, in my misery, death comes into my mind, fear takes possession of my limbs. TEACH. By my troth, although this is a bitter affliction, do have a good heart. PAL. Why where, pray, is a good heart to be found for me ? TEACH. Don't you fear, I tell you ; sit you down here by the altar. (Points to it.) AMP. What can this altar possibly avail us more than the statue here within the Temple of Venus, from which just now, embracing it, in our wretchedness, we were torn by force ? TEACH. Only you be seated here ; then I'll protect you in this spot. This altar you possess as though your bul- warks 3 ; these your fortifications ; from this spot will I defend you. With the aid of Venus, I'll march against the wicked- ness of the Procurer. PAL. We follow your instructions (they advance to the altar and kneeT) ; and genial Venus, we both of us, in tears, implore thee, embracing this thy altar, bending upon our knees, that thou wilt receive us into thy guardianship, 1 Trust me) Ver. C80. At the same time he is afraid to go in. Palaestra sees this, and taunts him with being brave in words only. 2 In reality) Ver. 683. "Re," " in reality," in contradistinction to words. 3 Your bidicarks) Ver. 692. " Mrenia." Madame Dacier supposes that these words refer to the walls of a court in front of the Temple, represented on the stage with an altar in the middle, the walls being breast high, which Trachalio compares to entrenchments. Sc. IV. THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. 95 and be our protector ; that them wilt punish those wretches who have set at nought thy Temple, and that thou wilt suffer us to occupy this thy altar with thy permission, we who last night were by the might of Neptune cast away ; hold us not in scorn, and do not for that reason impute it to us as a fault, if there is anything that thou shouldst think is not so well attended to 1 by us as it ought to have been. TRACK. I think they ask what's just ; it ought, Venus, by thee to be granted. Thou oughtst to pardon them ; 'tis terror forces them to do this. They say that thou wast born from a shell 2 ; take thou care that thou dost not despise the shells of these. But see, most opportunely the old gentleman is coming out, both my protector and your own. (He goes to the altar.) SCENE IV. Enter D^MONES, from the Temple, with his two SERVANTS dragging out LABRAX. DJEM. Come out of the Temple, you most sacrilegious of men, as many as hav.e ever been born. Do you go (calling to the AVOMEN) and sit by the altar. (Not seeing them near the door.) But where are they ? TRACH. Look round here. DJSM. (looking round). Very good; T wanted that 3 . Now bid him come this way. (To LABRAX.) Are you attempting here among us to commit a violation of the laws against the Deities ? (To the SERVANTS, icho obey with alacrity.) Puncli his face with your fists. LAB. I'm suffering these indignities at your own cost. 1 Not so well attended to) Ver 701. "Bene lautum." There is a joke in- tended in the use of these words, which may signify either " quite tidy " or " pro- perly arranged;" or, on the other hand, "well washed," neglect of which cer- tainly could not be imputed to them, by reason of their recent shipwreck. 2 Born from a shell) Ver. 703. He alludes to the birth of Venus, who was aid to have sprung from the sea in a shell. He also seems to joke upon the destitute state of the young women, and to call them mere shells. An indelicate construction has been, by some, put upon the use of the word " conchas," while others think it refers to the use made by women of shells, for holding their paints, perfumes, and cosmetics, and that he means thervby to reproach Venus tor having allowed them to lose all their property. This, however, seems to be a rather far-fetched notion. 3 / wanted tftat) Ver. 708. He means that the women have done as he wished tneir. to do, in flying to the altar for refuge. 96 EUDENS ; Act III. DJEM. "Why, the insolent fellow's threatening even. LAB. I've been robbed of my rights ; you are robbing me of my female slaves against my will. TEACH. Do you then find some wealthy man of the Senate of Gyrene as judge, whether these women ought to be yours, or whether they oughtn't to be free, or whether it isn't right that you should be clapped into prison, and there spend your life, until you have worn the whole gaol out with your feet. LAB. I wasn't prepared to prophesy for this day that I should be talking with a hang-gallows 1 like yourself. (Turn' ing to D^MONES.) You do I summon to judgment. D^IM. (pointing to TEACHALIO). In the first place, try it with him who knows you. LAB. (to D.&MONES). My suit is with yourself. TRACK. But it must be with myself. (Pointing to the WOMEN.) Are these your female slaves ? LAB. They are. TEACH. Just come then, touch either of them with your little finger only. LAB. "What if I do touch them ? TEACH. That very instant, upon my faith, I'll make a hand- ball 2 of you, and while you're in the air I'll belabour you with my fists, you most perjured villain. LAB. Am I not to be allowed to take away my female slaves from the altar of Venus ? D.EM. You may not ; such is the law with us. LAB. I've no concern with your laws ; for my part, I shall at once carry them both away from here 3 . If you are in love with them, old gentleman (holding out his hand), you must down here with the ready cash. D.EM. But these women have proved pleasing to Venus. LAB. She may have them, if she pays the money. . A Goddess, pay you money ? Now then, that you 1 A hang-gallotos~) Ver. 717. " Furcifero." He sneeringly alludes to Tracha- lio's position as a slave, and his liability to have the punishment of the " furca " inflicted oil him 2 A hand-batt) Ver. 721-2. These lines are thus rendered in one version: " Instantly I will make you a prize-fighting pair of bellows, and while you are drawing breath, will belabour you with my fiats." '1 he allusion, however, is clearly to a ball blown up like our footballs, and struck with the clenched fist, the merit of the game being not to let it come to the ground. 3 Away jrom here) Ver. 725. "Foras." Pr.bably in allusion to the court before the Temple. Sc. IV. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 97 may understand my determination, only do you commence in mere joke to offer them the very slightest violence ; I'll send you away from here with such a dressing, that you won't know your own self. You, therefore (turning to his SER- VANTS), when I give you the signal, if you don't beat his eyes out of his head, I'll trim you round ahout with rods just like beds of myrtle 1 with bulrushes. LAB. You are treating me with violence. TRACH. What, do you even upbraid us with violence, you flagrant specimen of flagitiousness ? LAB. You, you thrice- dotted villain 2 , do you dare to speak abusively to me ? TRACH. I am a thrice-dotted villain ; I confess it ; you are a strictly honorable man ; ought these women a bit the less to be free ? LAB. "What free? TRACK. Aye, and your mistresses, too, i' faith, and from genuine Greece 3 ; for one of them was born at Athens of free-born parents. D-EM. What is it I hear from you ? TRACH. That she {pointing to PALAESTRA) was born at Athens, a free-born woman. DJEM. (to TRACHALIO). Prithee, is she a countrywoman of mine ? TRACH. Are you not a Cyrenian? D.SM. No; born at Athens in Attica, bred and educated there. TRACH. Prithee, aged sir, do protect your countrywomen. D^ii. (aside), O daughter, when I look on her, separated from me you remind me of my miseries : (aloud) she who was lost by me when three years old ; now, it' she is living, she's iust about as tall, I'm sure, as she, ( Pointing to PALESTRA.) LAB. I paid the money down for these two, to their owners, of whatever country they were. What matters it to me whether they were born at Athens or at Thebes, so long as they are rightfully in servitude as my slaves ? TRACH. Is it so, you impudent fellow ? What, are you, a cat prowling after maidens, to be keeping children here 1 Beds of myrtle) Ver. 732. "Myrteta." This may allude to bundles of myrtle (which was sacred to Venus), bound with rushes and hung about the Temple, or else to beds of myrtle in front of the Temple, with small fences round them, made of rushes. 2 Thrice-dotted villain) Ver. 734. " Trifurcifer." Literally, " one punished with the 'furca' three times," meaning a "thief," or "villain three times over.*' Seethe Aulularia, 1. 281, and the Note (where read "punished with the 'furca'"). * Genuine Greece) Ver. 737. Perhaps in contradistinction to Sicily, which was only colonized by Greeks. VOL. II. il 93 BUDESS ; Act III. kidnapped from their parents and destroying them in your disgraceful calling ? But as for this other one, I really don't know what her country is ; I only know that she's more de- serving than yourself, you most abominable rascal. LAB. Are these women your property ? TKACH. Come to the trial, then, which of the two according to his back is the more truthful ; if you don't bear more com- pliments 1 upon your back than any ship of war 2 has nails, then I'm the greatest of liars. Afterwards, do you examine mine, when I've examined yours ; if it shall not prove to be so untouched, that any leather flask maker 3 will say that it is a hide most capital and most sound for the purposes of his business, what reason is there why 1 shouldn't mangle you with stripes, even till you have your belly full ? Why do you stare at them ? If you touch them I'll tear your eyes out. LAB. Tet notwithstanding, although you forbid me to do so, I'll at once carry them off both together with me. D^IM. What will you do ? LAB. I'll bring Vulcan ; he is an enemy to Venus 4 . (Goes towards DJMOUES' cottage.) TEACH. Whither is he going ? LAB. (calling at the door). Hallo ! Is there anybody here ? Hallo ! / say. D-iM. If you touch the door, that very instant, upon my faith, you shall get a harvest upon your face with fists for your pitchforks 5 . SEEV. We keep no fire, we live upon dried figs. 1 Compliments) Ver. 753. " Offernmenta," according to Festus, signified an offering to the Gods; and as these were fixed to the walls of the Temples, Tra- clialio calls the lashes of the scourge or rod, when applied to the back of the delinquent slave, by the same term. 2 Ship of war) Ver. 754. " Longa navis." Literally, " a long ship." Ships of war were thus called by the Greeks. 3 Leather fask maker) Ver. 756. '" AmpuHarius." " A maker of ampulla?," or leather bottles. They were of a big-bellied form, with a narrow neck. * An enemy to Venus') Ver. 761. In so saying, he alludes to the intrigue of Venus with Mars, which was discovered by the device of Vulcan, her injured husband. For the story, see the Metamorphoses of Ovid, B. 4, 1. 73, and the Art of Love, B. 2, L 562. 5 Fists fur your pitchforks') Ver. 763. " Mergis pugneis." Echard, in his translation, explains this: "As they lift up their pitchforks to heap corn, so will I lift up my fists, and heap a whole harvest of cufii on your face." " Merga" means " a pitchfork ;" and, according to Festus, it was so called from its re- semblance when dipped into the hay to the action of the " mergus." or " didapper when dipping into the sea. Sc. V. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 99 DJEM. I'll find the fire, if only I have the opportunity of kindling it upon your head. LAB. Faith, I'll go somewhere to look for some fire. DJEM. AVhat, when you've found it ? LAB. I'll be making a great fire here. D J:M. What, to be burning 1 a mortuary sacrifice for your- self? LAB. No, but I'll burn both of these alive here upon the altar. D^:M. I'd like that. For, by my troth, I'll forthwith seize you by the head and throw you into the fire, and, half-roasted, I'll throw you out as food for the great birds. (Aside.) When I come to a consideration of it with myself, this is that ape, that wanted to take away those swallows from the nest against my will, as I Avas dreaming in my sleep. TEACH. Aged sir, do you know what I. request of you ? That you will protect these females and e^fend them from violence, until I fetch my master. DJEM. Go look for your master, and fetch him here. TRACH. But don't let him D^EM. At his own ex- treme peril, if he touches them, or if lie attempts to do so. TRACH. Take care. DJEM. Due care is taken ; do you be off. TRACH. And watch him too, that he doesn't go away any- where. For we have promised either to give the executioner a great talent, or else to produce this fellow this very day. D.EM. Do you only be off. I'll not let him get away, while you are absent. TRACH. I'll be back here soon. (Exit TRACHALIO. SCENE V. D^MONES, LABRAX, PALESTRA, AMPELISCA, and SERVANTS. D^:M. (to LABRAX, who is struggling with the SERVANTS). Which, you Procurer, had you rather do, be quiet with a thrashing, or e'en as it is, without the thrashing, if you had the choice ? LAB. Old fellow, I don't care a straw for what you say. My own women, in fact, I shall drag away this instant from the altar by the hair, in spite of yourself, and Venus, and supreme Jove. 1 To be lurniny) Ver. 7C7. Festus tells us that " humanum" was a "mor- Inary sacrifice," or " offering to the dead." In his question, therefore, Dsemones mplies a wish to know whether Labrax is about to put an end to himself. It as allowable to drive away those who fled to the altar by the agency of tire. II 2 100 BUDEN S ; Act III. Just touch them. LAB. (going towards them). T troth, I surely will touch them. D J:M. Just come then ; only approach this way. LAB. Only bid both those fellows, then, to move away from there. D^M. On the contrary, they shall move towards you. LAB. I' faith, for my own part. I don't think so. D.SM:. If they do move nearer to you, what will you do ? LAB. I'll retire. But, old fellow, if ever I catch you in the city, never again, upon my faith, shall any one call me a Procurer, if I don't give you some most disagreable sport. D.EM. Do what you threaten. But now, in the mean- time, if you do touch them, a heavy punishment shall be inflicted on you. LAB. How heavy, in fact ? DJEM. Just as much as is suffi- cient for a Procurer. LAB. These threats of yours I don't value one straw ; I certainly shall seize them both this instant without your leave. D.EM. Just touch them. LAB. By my troth, I surely will touch them. DJEM:. You will touch them, but do you know with what result ? G-O then, Turbalio, with all haste, and bring hither from out of the house two cudgels. LAB. Cudgels ? D^EM. Aye, good ones ; make haste speedily. (TFBBALIO goes in.) I'll let you have a reception this day in proper style, as you are deserving of. LAB. (aside). Alas! cursedly unfortunate. I lost my head- piece in the ship ; it would now have been handy for me, if it had been saved. (To D^JIONES.) May I at least address these women ? D^M. You may not * * * * * (TTJRBALIO enters, bringing two cudgels.) "Well now, by my faith, look, the cudgel-man is coming very opportunely here. LAB. (aside). By my troth, this surely is a tingling for my ears. D J:M. Come, Sparax, do you take this other cudgel. ( Giving him one.) Come, take your stand, one on one side, the other on the other. Take your stations both of you. (They stand with lifted cudgels on each side of the altar.) Just so. Now then attend to me: if, i' faith, that fellow there should this day touch these women with his finger against their inclination, if you So. VI. THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. 101 don't give him a reception 1 with these cudgels even to that degree that he shan't know which way he is to get home, you are undone, both of you. If he shall call for any one, do you make answer to this fellow in their stead. But i^ he himself shall attempt to get away from here, that instant, as hard as you can, lay on to his legs with your sticks. LAB. Are they not even to allow me to go away from here ? DJEM. I've said sufficient. And when that servant comes here with his master, he that has gone to fetch his master, do you at once go home. Attend to this with great dili- gence, will you. (DJEMONES goes into his house.) SCENE VI. PALESTRA, AMPELISCA, LABRAX, and the SERVANTS. LAB. rare, by my troth, the Temple here is surely changed all of a sudden ; this is now the Temple of Her- cules 2 which was that of Venus before ; in such fashion has the old fellow planted two statues here with clubs. I' faith, I don't know now whither in the world I shall fly from here ; so greatly are they both raging now against me, both land and sea. Palaestra! SERV. What do you want ? LAB. Away with you, there is a misunderstanding between us ; that, indeed, is not my Palaestra 3 that answers. Harkye, Ampelisca. SERV. Beware of a mishap, will you. LAB. (aside). So far as they can, the worthless fellows advise me rightly enough. {Aloud.) But, harkye, I ask you, whether it is any harm to you for me to come nearer to these women ? 1 Their inclination a reception) Ver. 811. "Invitos invitassitis." He here plays upon the resemblance of the words " invites," signifying " against their will," and " invito," being a verb signifying " to invite," and admitting of much the same equivocal use as our expression, " to give a warm reception to." 2 Temple of Hercules') Ver. 822. Seeing the servants with their cudgels, he is reminded of Hercules, who was thus depicted, and was called by the Poets " Claviger." * Not my Palaestra) Ver. 827. Echard, borrowing the notion from Madame -Dacier, has the following Note on this passage : " This ' Palaestra ' was a place of public exercise, over the gate of which was a statue of Hercules, with an inscrip- tion ' Palajstra;' now Labrax, finding this stout fellow with his club, whom before he had compared to Hercules, answering instead of Palaestra, he wittily alludes to that statue, and says that that Palaestra was none of his." Thornton appears to be right in considering this a far-fetched conceit on the part of the fair Com- nentatress. 102 EUDE^S ; Act III. SEEY. Why none at all to ourselves. LAB. Will'there be any harm to myself? SEEV. Xone at all, if you only take care. LAB. What is it that I'm to take care against ? SEEY. Why, look you, against a heavy mishap. LAB. Troth now, prithee, do let me approach them. SEEY. Approach them, if you like. LAB. I' faith, obligingly done ; I return you thanks, I'll go nearer to them. (Approaches them.) SERY. Do you stand there on the spot, where you are. (Drags him to his place, with the cudgel over his head.) LAB. (aside). By my faith, I've come scurvily off in many ways. Still, I'm resolved to get the better of them this day by constantly besieging them. SCEKE VII. Enter PiESiDiPprs and TBACHALIO, at a distance, on the other side of the stage. PLES. And did the Procurer attempt by force and violence to drag my mistress away from the altar of Venus ? TRACH." Even so. PLES. Why didn't you kill him 011 the instant ? TEACH. I hadn't a sword. PLES. Tou should have taken either a stick or a stone. TEACH. What ! ought I to have pelted this most villanous fellow with stones like a dog ? * * * * * * * * LAB. (aside, on seeing them). By my troth, but I'm un- done now ; see, here's Plesidippus ; he'll be sweeping me away altogether this moment with the dust. PLES. Were the damsels sitting on the altar even then when you set out to come to me ? TEACH. Yes, and now they are sitting in the same place. PLES. Who is now protecting them there ? TEACH. Some old gentleman, I don't know who, a neigh- bour of the Temple of Venus he gave very kind assistance ; he is now protecting them with his servants I committed them to his charge. PLES. Lead me straight to the Procurer. Where is this fellow ? (They go towards LAEEAX.) LAB. Health to you. PLES. I want none of your healths. Make your choice quickly, whether you had rather be seized Sc. IX. THE riSHEBHAN's BOIE. 103 by your throat wrenched 1 , or be dragged along ; choose which- ever you please, while you may. LAB. I wish for neither. PLES. Be off then,Trachalio, with all speed to the sea-shore ; bid those persons that I brought with me to hand over this rascal to the executioner, to come from the harbour to the city to meet me ; afterwards return hither and keep guard here. I'll now drag this scoundrelly outcast to justice. (Exit TEACHALIO. SCENE VIII. PLESIDIPPUS, LABBAX, PAL.SSTBA, and SEBVANTS. PLES. (to LABEAX). Come, proceed to a court of justice. LAB. In w r hat have I offended ? PLES. Do you ask ? Didn't you receive an earnest of me for this woman (pointing to PALJESTEA), and carry her off from here ? LAB. I didn't carry her off. PLES. Why do you deny it ? LAB. Troth now, because I put her on board ship ; carry her off 2 , unfortunately, I couldn't. For my part, I told you that this day I would make my appearance at the Temple of Venus ; have I swerved at sail from that ? Am I not there ? PLES. Plead your cause in the court of justice ; here a word is enough. Follow me. (They lay hold of him.) ' LAB. (calling aloud). I entreat you, my dear Charmides, do come to my rescue ; I am being seized with my throat wrenched. SCENE IX. Enter CHAEMiDE8,y/*om the Temple. CHAEM. (looking about). Who calls my name ? LAB. Do you see me how I'm being seized ? CHAEM. I see, and view it with pleasure. LAB. Don't you venture to assist me ? CHAEM. What person is seizing you ? LAB. Young Plesidippus. CHAEM. What you've got, put up with ; 'twere better for you, with a cheerful spirit, to slink to gaol ; that has be- fallen you which many greatly wish for for themselves. 1 Seiz&l by your throat vyrenched) Ver. 853. " Rapin te obtorto collo." Echard has the following Note: " When any person was brought before the Praetor, they always threw his gown or cloak about his neck, and led him that way ; and this was called ' rapi obtorto collo.' " 2 Carry her off) Ver. 863. There is a play or cuibble here upon the words " avehere " and " provehere," " to carry away," and " to put on board ship," for tb* purpose of being carried away. 104 EITDEKS; Act III, LAB. What's that ? CHARM. To find for themselves that which they are seeking. LAB. I entreat you, do follow me. CHARM. You try to persuade me, just like what you are : you are being taken ofi to gaol, for that reason is it you entreat me to follow you ? PLES. (to LABRAX). Do you still resist ? LAB. I'm undone. PLES. I trust that may prove the truth. You, my dear Palaestra and Ampelisca, do you re- main here in the meanwhile, until I return hither. SERT. I would advise them rather to go to our house, until you return. PLES. I'm quite agreable ; you act obligingly. (The SERVANTS open the door of the cottage, and PALJESTRA and AMPELISCA go in.) LAB. You are thieves to me. SERV. How, thieves ? PLES. Lead him along. (The SERVANTS seize him.) LAB. (calling out). I pray and entreat you, Palaestra. PLES. Follow, you hang-dog. LAB. Guest, Charmides ! CHARM. I am no guest of yours ; I repudiate your hospi- tality. LAB. What, do you slight me in this fashion ? CHARM. I do so ; I've been drinking with you once already 1 . LAB. May the Deities confound you. CHARM. To that person of yours, say that. (PLESIDIPPUS leads LABRAX off", followed by the SERVANTS.) SCENE X. CHARMIDES, alone. CHARM. I do believe that men are transformed, each into a different beast. That Procurer, I guess, is transformed into a stock-dove 2 ; for, before long, his neck will be in the stocks. He'll to-day be building his nest in the gaol. Still, however, I'll go, that I may be his advocate, if by my aid he may possibly be sentenced any the sooner. 1 Once already) Ver. 884. He alludes to the drenching he has had in the sea, by reason of his acquaintance with Labrax, and means to say that one such reception is quite sufficient for his life. 2 A stock-dove) Ver. 887. He puns upon the resemblance between the word " columbar," " a collar," into which the head was inserted by way of punishment, and " columbus," a " pigeon." The notion of preserving the pun, by using the word " stock-dove," is Echard's. The plural of the word " columbar " wa also used to signify a dove-cot. Act IV. THE FISHERMAN'S ROPE. 105 ACT IV 1 . SCENE I. Enter D^MONESj/hwn his cottage. D-EM. (to himself.) 'Twas rightly done, and it is a pleasure this day for me to have given aid to these young women; I have now found some dependants, and both of them of comely looks and youthful age. But my plaguy wife is watching me in all ways, lest I should be giving any hint to the young women. But I wonder what in the world my servant Gripus is about, who went last night to the sea to fish. Troth, he had done wiser if he had slept at home ; for now he throws away both his pains and his nets, seeing what a storm there now is and was last night. I'll thoroughly cook upon my fingers what he has caught to-day ; so violently do 1 see the ocean heaving. (A bell rings.) But my wife's calling me to breakfast ; I'll return home. She'll now be filling my ears with her silly prating. (Goes into the cottage.) SCENE II. Enter GRIPUS, dragging a net enclosing a wallet, by a rope. GRIP, (to himself). These thanks do I return to Neptune, my patron, who dwells in the salt retreats, the abode of fishes, inasmuch as he has despatched me finely laden on my return from his retreats, and from his Temples, laden with most abundant booty, with safety to my boat, which in the stormy sea made me master of a singular and rich haul. In a won- drous and incredible manner has this haul turned out prosper- ously for me, nor yet have I this day taken a single ounce weight of fish, but only that which I am here bringing with me in my net. For when I arose in the middle of the night, and without sloth, I preferred profit to sleep and rest ; in the raging tempest, I determined to try how I might lighten the poverty of my master and my own servitude, not sparing of my own exertions. Most worthless is the man that is sloth- ful, and most detestably do I hate that kind of men. It be- hoves him to be vigilant who wishes to do his duty in good time ; for it befits him not to be waiting until his master arouses him to his duties. For those who sleep on for the 1 Act 7T.) Echard remarks that the interval between the lost Act and this is filled up with Plesidippus carrying Labrax before the 1'rsetor, and his trial, and likewise with wha* passes in Daemones' house. 100 BrDEJfs ; Act I\ love of it, rest without profit to themselves and to their own cost. But now I, who have not been slothful, have found that for myself through which to be slothful if I should choose. (Points to the wallet.) This have I found in the' sea to-day ; whatever' s in it, it's something heavy that's in it ; I think it's gold that's in it. And not a single person is there my confidant in the matter. Now, Gripus, this opportunity has befallen you, that the Praetor 1 might make you a free man from among the multitude. Now, thus shall 1 do, this is my determination ; I'll come to my master cleverly and cunningly, little by little I'll promise money for my freedom, that I may be free. Now, when I shall be free, then, in fine, I'll provide me land and houses 2 and slaves : I'll carry on merchandize with large ships : among the grandees I shall be considered a grandee. Afterwards, for the sake of pleasing myself, I'll build me a ship and I'll imitate Stratonicus 3 , and I'll be carried about from town to town. AVhen my greatness is far-spread, I shall fortify some great city : to that city I shall give the name of " Gripus," a memorial of my fame and ex- ploits, and there I'll establish a mighty kingdom. I am re- solving here in my mind to prepare for mighty matters. At present I'll hide this booty. But this grandee (pointing to himself) is about to breakfast upon vinegar* and salt, with- out any good substantial meat. (Gathers up the net, and drays it after him.) SCEXE III. Enter TEACHALIO, in haste. TEACH. Hallo there ! stop. GRIP. "Why should I stop ? TEACH. While I coil up this rope 5 for you that you are dragging. GEIP. Now let it alone. 1 The Prcetor) Ver. 927. The slave about to be manumitted, or to receive his freedom, was taken before the Praetor, whose lictor laid the " vindicta " or " festuca," " the rod of liberty," on the head of the slave, on which he received his freedom. 2 Land and houses) Ver. 930. Is not this wonderfully like Alnaschar's reverie in the Arabian Nights, so aptly quoted in the Spectator ? * Stratonicus) Ver. 932. He was the treasurer of Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great, and was famed for his wealth among the Greeks, as Crassns was among the Romans. 4 Upon vinegar) Ver. 937. He alludes to the " posca," or vinegar and water, which formed the beverage of the slaves, and which is mentioned by Palaestrio in the Miles Gloriosus, 1. 836. s This rope) Ver. 938. This is the first mention of the "rudens," or "net- rope," from which the Play derives its name. Sc. 111. THE FISHEEMAX'S EOPE. 107 TEACH. Troth, but I'll assist you. What's kindly done to worthy men, isn't thrown away. GBIP. ***** There was a boisterous tempest yesterday ; no fish have I, young man ; don't you be supposing I have. Don't you see that I'm carrying my dripping net without the scaly race ? TEACH. I' faith, I'm not wishing for fish so much as I am in need of your conversation. GEIP. Then, whoever you are, you are worrying me to death with your annoyance. TEACH, (takes hold of him). I'll not allow you to go away from here ; stop. GEIP. Take you care of a mishap, if you please; but why the plague are you dragging me back ? TEACH. Listen. GEIP. 1 won't listen. TEACH. But, upon my faith, you shall listen. GEIP. IS"ay but, another time, tell me what you want. TEACH. Come now, it's worth your while at once to hear what I want to tell you. GEIP. Say on, whatever it is. TEACH. See whether any person is following near us. (Looks back.) GEIP. Why, what reason is there that it should matter to me ? TEACH. So it is ; but can you give me some good advice ? GEIP. What's the business ? Only tell me. TEACH. I'll tell you ; keep silence ; if only you'll give me your word that you won't prove treacherous to me. GEIP. I do give you my word ; I'll be true to you. whoever you are. TEACH. Listen. I saw a person commit a theft ; I knew the owner to whom that same property belonged. Afterwards I came myself to the thief, and I made him a proposal in these terms : " I know the person on whom that theft was com- mitted ; now if you are ready to give me half, I'll not make a discovery to the owner." He didn't even give me an answer. What is it fair should be given me out of it ? Half, I trust you will say. GEIP. Aye, even more ; but unless he gives it you, I think it ought to be told to the owner. TEACH. I'll act on your advice. Now give me your atten- tion ; for it is to yourself all this relates. GEIP. What has been done by me ? 108 RUDEXS ; Act IV. TEACH, (pointing at the wallet). I've known the person for a long time to whom that wallet belongs. GRIP. AVhat do you mean ? TEACH. And in what manner it was lost. GEIP. But I know in what manner it was found ; and I know the person who found it, and who is now the owner. That, i' faith, is not a bit the more your matter than it is my own. I know the person to whom it now belongs ; you, the person to whom it formerly belonged. This shall no indivi- dual get away from me ; don't you be expecting to get it in a hurry. TEACH. If the owner comes, shan't he get it away ? GRIP. That you mayn't be mistaken, no born person is there that's owner of this but my own self who took this in my own fishing. TRACH. "Was it really so ? GRIP. "Which fish in the sea will you say " is my own ?" "When I catch them, if indeed I do catch them, they are my own; as my own I keep them. They are not claimed as having a right to freedom 1 , nor does any person demand a share in them. In the market I sell them all openly as my own wares. Indeed, the sea is, surely, common to all persons. TEACH. I agree to that ; prithee, then, why any the less is it proper that this wallet should be common to me ? It was found in the sea. GRIP. Assuredly you are an outrageously impudent fellow ; for if this is justice which you are saying, then fishermen would be ruined. Inasmuch as, the moment that the fish were exposed upon the stalls, no one would buy them ; every person would be demanding his own share of the fish for him- self; he would be saying that they were caught in the sea that was common to all. TRACH. What do you say, you impudent fellow ? Do you dare to compare a wallet with fish ? Pray, does it appear to be the same thing ? GRIP. The matter doesn't lie in my power ; when I've 1 Claimed as having a right to freedom) Ver. 973. <; Manu asserere " was " to assert " or " claim the liberty of a slave by action at law." Gripus applies the term to the fish of the sea, and means to say that when he catches them, he sells them as his own " venales," or " slaves." Sc. III. THE FISHERMAN'S HOPE. 109 cast my hook and net into the sea, whatever has adhered I draw out. "Whatever my net and hooks have got, that in especial is my own. TEACH. Nay but, i' faith, it is not ; if, indeed, you've fished up any article that's made 1 . GRIP. Philosopher, you. TRACK. But look now, you conjurer, did you ever see a fisherman who caught a wallet-fish, or exposed one for sale in the market ? But, indeed, you shan't here be taking possession of all the profits that you choose ; you expect, you dirty fellow, to be both a maker of wallets 2 and a fisherman. Either you must show me a fish that is a wallet, or else you shall carry nothing off that wasn't produced in the sea and has no scales. GRIP. What, did you never hear before to-day that a wallet was a fish ? TRACH. Villain, there is no suclifisli. GRIP. Tes, there certainly is ; I, who am a fisherman, know it. But it is seldom caught ; no fish more rarely comes near the land. TRACH. It's to no purpose ; you hope that you can be cheating me, you rogue. Of what colour is it ? GRIP, (looking at the wallet). Of this colour very few are caught : some are of a purple skin, there are great and black ones also. TRACH. I understand; by my troth, you'll be turning into a wallet-fish I fancy, if you don't take care ; your skin will be purple, and then afterwards black. GRIP, (aside). What a villain this that I have met with to-day ! TRACH. We are wasting words; the day wears apace. Consider, please, by whose arbitration do you wish us to proceed ? GRIP. By the arbitration of the wallet. TRACH. Really so, indeed ? You are a fool. GRIP. My respects to you, Mister Thales 8 . (Going.) 1 A rtick thaCs made) Ver. 986. " Vas." An utensil or article that is manu- factured. 2 Maker ofwattets) Ver. 990. " VUor," or " victor," was a maker of " vidnli," or " wallets," which were made of osier, and then covered with leather of various colours. * Ttudes) Ver. 1003. Thales of Miletus was one of the seven wise men ol Greece. Gripus ironically calls Trachalio by this name, in reply to the