Aulularia
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Troth, I very much wish that raven would come to me which gave me the warning, that I might say something kind to him; for I would as soon giveWould as soon give: That is, not at all. He says thank you to the raven, but he would be as likely to give it a scrap of victuals as to throw it away, which was quite repugnant to his jus et norma vivendi, his mode of life. him something to eat as lose it. Now I’m thinking of a lonely spot where I shall hide this. The grove of Sylvanus, outside of the wall, is unfrequented,
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and planted with many a willow; there will I choose a spot. I’m determined to trust Sylvanus Sylvanus: Sylvanus was the tutelary Divinity of the woodlands field, and cattle. Pigs were usually offered in sacrifice to him., rather than Faith.
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STROBILUS
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Capital! capital! the Gods will me to be safe and preserved! Now will I run before to that place, and climb up into some tree, and thence will I watch where the old fellow hides the gold.
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Although my master bade me remain here, I’m resolved rather to risk a mishap along with emolument.
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LYCONIDES
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I’ve told you all, mother; as well as I do myself, you understand all about the daughter of Euclio. Now, I do entreat you, my mother, make mention of it to my uncle, and I now unask of you, mother, that which before I entreated of you, to conceal this from Megadorus.
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EUNOMIA
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You know, yourself, that what you desire to be done, I desire, and I trust that I shall obtain this of my brother; and the reason is good, if ’tis so as you say, that in a drunken fit you debauched this damsel.
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LYCONIDES
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Could I, my mother, tell a falsehood in your presence?
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PHAEDRA
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I die, my nurse; my pangs are coming on! I entreat thee for thy protection, Juno LucinaJuno Lucina: Juno Lucina was the Goddess who presided over childbirth. Some suppose that the Goddess Diana was called by that name; but (although Diana was also addressed by parturient females) it is more likely that Juno was addressed under the title. A similar circumstance to this takes place in the Andria and the Adelphi of Terence.!
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LYCONIDES
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Ah! my mother, I see a more convincing proof for you; she’s crying aloud—she’s in the pangs of labour.
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EUNOMIA
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Come in-doors here, with me, my son, to my brother,
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that I may obtain a grant from him of that which you beg of me.
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LYCONIDES
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Go; I’ll follow you this instant, mother. (EUNOMIA goes into the house.) But my servant, Strobilus, I wonder where he is, whom I ordered to wait here for me. Now I reflect with myself, if he’s lending me his assistance, it isn’t fair that I should be angry with him.
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I’ll go in-doors, where they are sitting in judgmentThey are sitting in judgnment: Ubi de capite meo sunt Comitia. Literally, where, then, are the Comitia about my life. Trials were held before the Comitia centuriata, or assemblies of the people, at Rome, to which reference is here made. He alludes to the discussion between Eunomia and Megadorus, on the marriage of the latter with Phaedra. upon my life.
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STROBILUS
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I, by myself, exceed the riches of the GriffinsRiches of the Griffins: Pici. Picis would be a better reading here, and ought to be adopted unless we agree with some of the Commentators, who think that Strobilus begins a sentence, and then, in the exuberance of his joy, breaks out into an expression of a different construction from that originally intended. It may, however, possibly be, as Hildyard suggests, the nominativus pendens, which is not unfrequently used by Plautus. The Pici here alluded to, were Griffins, or fabulous monsters, who were said to watch the treasures of the Arimaspi, a people of the north of Scythia, mentioned by Herodotus, who were said to possess mountains of gold; in which story, no doubt, the Uralian mountians were alluded to., who inhabit the golden mountains, For I’m unwilling to make mention of those other kings, beggarly fellows—I am the king Philip. O charming day!
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for when I went from here, just now, I arrived there much the first, and, long before, I placed myself in a tree, and thence observed where the old fellow hid the gold. When he departed thence, I let myself down from the tree, and dug up the pot full of gold. Thence, from that spot,
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I saw the old fellow betaking himself back again; he didn’t see me, for I turned a little on one side, out of the path. Heyday! here he comes himself. I’ll go and hide this away, at home.
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EUCLIO
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I’m ruined! I’m done for! I’m murdered! Whither shall I run? Whither not run? Stop him—stop him. Whom? who? I don’t know. I see nothing! I’m going blindfold; and, in fact, whither I am going, or where I am, or who I am,
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I can’t in my mind find out for certain. (To the AUDIENCE.) I beseech you, give me your aid (I beg and entreat of you), and point me out the person that has taken it away. What’s the matter? Why do you laugh? I’m acquainted with you all; I know that there are many thieves here, who conceal themselves with white clothes and chalkWhite clothes and chalk: The Romans were much in the habit of having their woollen togae made extremely white by chalk, pipeclay, and the fuller’s art. He alludes to white garments covering bad manners, much as in Scripture whited sepuichres are mentoned as being full of uncleanness., and sit as though they were honest! (To one of the SPECTATORS.) What say you? You I’m resolved to believe; for I perceive, even by your looks, that you are honest.
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Well then, none of these has got it? You’ve been the death of me! Tell me, then, who has got it? You don’t know? Oh,wretched, wretched me! I’m done for! wofully undone! In most sorry plight I go; so much groaning, and misfortune, and sorrow, has this day brought upon me, hunger and poverty, too. I’m the most utterly ruined of all men upon the earth! For what need of life have I, who have
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lost so much gold that I so carefully watched? I pinched myself, and my inclinations, and my very heartAnd my very heart: Geniumque meum. Literally, and my Genius, i. e. my social disposition or capacity for enjoyment.! Now others are rejoicing at this, my loss and my misfortune! I cannot endure it.
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LYCONIDES
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What person, I wonder, is this before our house lamenting, and that utters complaints with his moaning? Why,surely, this is Euclio, as I imagine. I’m utterly undone! The thing’s all out; he knows now, as I suppose, that his daughter is brought to bed. I’m in a state of uncertainty now
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what I shall do, whether go or remain, accost him or fly.
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EUCLIO
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What person is it that speaks there?
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LYCONIDES
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’Tis I, wretch that I am.
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EUCLIO
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Yes, and so am I, and wretchedly ruined, whose lot is misfortune so great and sorrow.
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LYCONIDES
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Be of good courage.
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EUCLIO
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How, prithee, can I be so?
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LYCONIDES
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Because that deed which is afflicting your mind, I did it, and I confess it.
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EUCLIO
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What is it I hear from you?
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LYCONIDES
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That which is the truth.
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EUCLIO
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What evil, young man, have I deserved, by reason of which you should do thus, and go to ruin both me and my children?
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LYCONIDES
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A Divinity was my prompter; he prompted me to do itPrompted me to do it: Ad illam illexit. Literally, enticed me to her. The humour of the whole scene turns upon Euclio and Lyconides mistaking the meaning of each other—the former thinking that the latter is speaking about the aula, or pot, while the latter fancies that Euclio is amenting the mishap of his daughter. In the Latin language, the word aula is or the feminine gender, by reason of which the misunderstanding is much more natural than it would be in the English language. In consequence, some little latitude in the translation is absolutely necessary to sustain the equivoque of the original.
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EUCLIO
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How?
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LYCONIDES
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I confess that I have done wrong, and I know that I deserve censure; for that reason I’m come to beseech you, that, with feelings assuaged, you will pardon me.
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EUCLIO
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Why did you dare do so, to touch that which was not your own?
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LYCONIDES
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What do you wish to be done? The thing has been done; it can’t be undone. I believe that the Gods willed it, for if they hadn’t willed it, I know it wouldn’t have happened.
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EUCLIO
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But I believe that the Gods have willed that I should be the death of you in fetters.
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LYCONIDES
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Don’t say that!
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EUCLIO
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What business then have you to touch what is my own against my will?
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LYCONIDES
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Because I did it under the evil influence of wine and love.
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EUCLIO
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Most audacious man, that you should dare to come here to me with that speech, you impudent fellow! For if this is lawful, so that you may be able to excuse it—let us openly, in broad daylight, plunder their golden trinkets from ladies—after that, if we are caught, let us excuse ourselves, that we did it when intoxicated,
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by reason of being in love. Too cheap are wine and love, if one in liquor and in love is allowed to do with impunity whatever he pleases.
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LYCONIDES
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But I come to you of my own accord to supplicate you on account of my folly.
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EUCLIO
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Persons don’t please me, who, when they’ve done wrong, excuse themselves. You knew that you had no right there; you oughtn’t to have touchedYou oughtn’t to have touched: Tn illam scibas non tuam esse: non attactam aportuit. This literally, speaking of the pot (aula) as of the feminine gender, would mean you knew that she was not your own; it was not fitting for her to be touched. This of course helps to confirm Lyconides in the impression that Euclio is speaking of his daughter..
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LYCONIDES
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Therefore, inasmuch as I did dare to touch, I make no objection to keep by all means.
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EUCLIO
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You, keep what is my own against my will?
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LYCONIDES
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Against your will, I do not ask; but I think that that which was yours ought to be mineOught to be mine: Lyconides here alludes to a law which prevailed at Rome, whereby, when a person had seduced a freeborn female, he was obliged either to marry her himself without a portion, or else to give her such a portion as was suitable to her station. Lyconides means to say that he shall exercise the former right.. Moreover, Euclio, you’ll find, I say, that mine it ought to be.
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EUCLIO
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Now really, on my word, I’ll drag you to the Praetor and take proceedingsAnd take proceedings: Scribam dicam. Dica was a name derived from the Greek, for an indictment, writ, or process, by which in action was commenced. against you,
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unless you make restitution.
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LYCONIDES
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Make restitution of what to you?
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EUCLIO
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What you’ve stolen of mine.
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LYCONIDES
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I, stolen of yours? Whence, or what is it?
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EUCLIO
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So shall Jupiter love you, how ignorant you are about it!
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LYCONIDES
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Unless, indeed, you tell me what you are enquiring for.
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EUCLIO
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The pot of gold, I say, I’m asking back of you, which you confessed to me that you had taken away.
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LYCONIDES
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By my faith, I’ve neither said so, nor have I done it.
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EUCLIO
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Do you deny it?
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LYCONIDES
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Yes, I do utterly deny it; for neither the gold nor yet this pot, what it means, do I know or understand.
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EUCLIO
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Give me up that pot which you took away from the wood of Sylvanus. Come, give it me back! I would rather give you the one-half of it. Although you are a thief to me, I’ll not be hard upon the thief. Give it me back.
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LYCONIDES
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You are not in your senses, to call me a thief; I thought, Euclio, that you
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had come to the knowledge of another matter; as concerns myself, it is a great matter which I wish to speak with you upon at your leisure, if you are at leisure.
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EUCLIO
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Tell me, in good faith, have you not stolen that gold?
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LYCONIDES
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In good faith, No.
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EUCLIO
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Nor know who has taken it away?
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LYCONIDES
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In good faith, No, to that as well.
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EUCLIO
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But if you should know who has taken it away, will you discover it to me?
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LYCONIDES
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I will do so.
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EUCLIO
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Nor accept of a share from him,
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whoever he is, for yourself, nor harbour the thief?
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LYCONIDES
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Even so.
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EUCLIO
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What if you deceive me?
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LYCONIDES
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Then may great Jupiter do unto me what he pleases.
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EUCLIO
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I’m satisfied. Come, then, say what you wish.
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LYCONIDES
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If you know me but imperfectly, of what family I’m born: Megadorus here is my uncle; Antimachus was my father; my name is Lyconides;
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Eunomia is my mother.
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EUCLIO
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I know the family; now, what do you want?
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LYCONIDES
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I want to know this. You have a daughter of yours?
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EUCLIO
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Why, yes, she’s there at home.
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LYCONIDES
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You have, I think, recently betrothed her to my uncle?
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EUCLIO
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You have the whole matter.
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LYCONIDES
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He has now bade me announce to you his refusal of herHis refusal of her: Repudium. The rejection of a person after being betrothed was called repudium; while the putting-away of a marned woman by her husband was called divortium..
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EUCLIO
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A refusal, when the things are got ready, and the wedding’s prepared?
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May all the immortal Gods and Goddesses confound him, so far as is possible, by reason of whom this day, unhappy wretch that I am, I have lost so much gold!
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LYCONIDES
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Be of good heart, and speak in kindly terms; now, a thing—may it turn out well and prosperously to you and your daughter.—May the Gods so grant—say.
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EUCLIO
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May the Gods so grant.
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LYCONIDES
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And for me, too, may the Gods so grant it. Now, then, do you listen.
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The man that admits a fault is not so much to be despised, if he feels a sense of shame when he excuses himself. Now, Euclio, I do beseech you, that what unawares I have done wrong towards yourself or your daughter, you will grant me pardon for the same, and give her for a wife to me, as the laws demand. I confess that I did violence to your daughter
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on the festival of Ceres, by reason of wine and the impulse of youth.
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EUCLIO
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Woe is me! What shocking deed do I hear of you?
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LYCONIDES
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Why do you exclaim? You whom I’ve made to be a grandfather now at the very wedding of your daughter. For your daughter has just been brought to bed in the ninth month after—calculate the numberCalculate the number: Numeram cape. He probably means by this, calculate the time since the festival of Ceres, when this misfortone happened.; for that reason, in my behalf, has my uncle sent his refusal.
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Go in-doors; enquire whether it is so or not as I say.
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EUCLIO
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I’m undone utterly; so very many misfortunes unite themselves for my undoing. I’ll go in-doors, that I may know what of this is true.
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LYCONIDES
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I’ll follow you this instant. This matter seems now to be pretty nearly in the haven of safety. Now, where to say my servant Strobilus is, I don’t know,
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but yet I’ll wait here still a little while; after that I’ll follow this man indoors; now, in the meantime, I’ll give him leisure to enquire of the nurse about my doings, the attendant of his daughter, whether she knows the truth.
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STROBILUS
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Immortal Gods, with what and how great delights do you present me! I’ve got a four pound pot filled with gold; who there is richer than I?
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What man is there greater than I at Athens now; any one, I mean, to whom the Gods are propitious?
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LYCONIDES
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Why, surely, I seemed just now to hear the voice of some one speaking here.
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STROBILUS
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Ha! do I not see my master?
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LYCONIDES
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Do I see Strobilus now, my servant?
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STROBILUS
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’Tis he himself.