Bacchides
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
789b
789b
CHRYSALUS
789b
Take notice of the seal.
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789c
NICOBULUS
789c
I know it. Where is he himself?
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789d
CHRYSALUS
789d
I don’t know.
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I ought to know nothing now; I’ve forgotten everything. I know that I’m a slave; I know not even that which I do know. (Aside.) Now from the springe this thrush is catching at the worm; he’ll be finely noosed this day, so well I’ve set the snare.
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NICOBULUS
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Stay here but a moment; I’ll return to you directly, Chrysalus.
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CHRYSALUS
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How he does dissemble with me; how ignorant I am of the business he’s about. He has gone to fetch slaves from in-doors to bind me. The ship speeds prosperously on; finely, too, is this craft boarding itCraft boarding it: Pulcre haec confertur ratis. This is a figure taken from naval affairs. Ships were said conferri when they closed together on commencing the engagement.. But I’ll hold my tongue, for I hear the door opening.
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NICOBULUS
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Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant.
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CHRYSALUS
374
What have I done?
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NICOBULUS
800b
Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. (To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets.) What does this letter say?
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CHRYSALUS
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Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I’ve brought it sealed to you.
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NICOBULUS
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Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold,
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and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick?
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CHRYSALUS
806b
Have I said so?
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NICOBULUS
806c
You have.
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CHRYSALUS
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What person is there, who says that I’ve said so?
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NICOBULUS
807b
Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, ’tis this that requests you to be chained.
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CHRYSALUS
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Ah! your son has been making a BellerophonA Bellerophon: He alludes to the hero Bellerophon, who, being accused by Sthenoboea of having made an attempt on her chastity, was sent by Proetus, King of Argos, with a letter to Iobates, in which he was desired to put the bearer to death. of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so.
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NICOBULUS
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This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.
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CHRYSALUS
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O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale;
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and that you are standing on the very stoneOn the very stone: He alludes to the stone upon which the praeco, or auctioneer, stood with the slaves, when he sold them by auction. Only the cheapest and the least desirable of them were sold in this way. as the auctioneer puts you up.
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NICOBULUS
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Answer me; who is selling me?
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CHRYSALUS
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He whom the Gods favourWhom the Gods favour: Menander has a sentence to the effect—He whom the Gods love, dies young. Chrysalus tells Nicobulus that he is clearly no favorite of the Gods, or he would have died long since. dies in youth, while he is in his health, has his senses and judgment sound. This person (pointing to NICOBULUS), if any God had favoured him, ought to have been dead more than ten years—aye, more than twenty years ago.
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’Tis for long, he has walked, a nuisance, on the earth; so devoid is he of either judgment or sense. He is of as much value as a rotten mushroom is.
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NICOBULUS
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Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.
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824b
CHRYSALUS
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No, but you’ll soon be giving it me.
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NICOBULUS
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I, give it you?
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CHRYSALUS
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You’ll be entreating me, too, of your own accord to receive it, when you shall come to know this accuser of mine, in how great danger and in what a dreadful situation he is. Then will you be offering his liberty to Chrysalus; but I certainly shan’t accept it.
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829b
NICOBULUS
829b
Tell me, source of mischief,
386
tell me, in what danger is my son Mnesilochus.
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CHRYSALUS
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Follow me this way; I’ll soon let you know.
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NICOBULUS
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Where on earth shall I follow you?
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CHRYSALUS
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Only three steps.
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NICOBULUS
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Aye, ten even.
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CHRYSALUS
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Come, then, Artamo, do you open you this door out a very little way; softly, don’t make it creak. (The door of the house of BACCHIS is opened.) That’s enough. Now, step you hither. (To NICOBULUS, who looks in.) Do you see the entertainment?
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NICOBULUS
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I see Pistoclerus and Bacchis right opposite.
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CHRYSALUS
390
Who are upon that other couch?
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NICOBULUS
836b
Wretch that I am, I’m undone.
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CHRYSALUS
391
Do you recognize that person?
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NICOBULUS
837b
I do recognize him.
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CHRYSALUS
837c
Now tell me, if you please, does that woman seem of handsome appearance?
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NICOBULUS
838b
Very much so.
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CHRYSALUS
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Well, do you take her to be a courtesan?
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839b
NICOBULUS
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Why not?
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CHRYSALUS
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You are mistaken.
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NICOBULUS
840b
Who is she then, prithee?
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CHRYSALUS
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You’ll find out from me. indeed, you’ll get no more information to-day.
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CLEOMACHUS
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Is this Mnesilochus, the son of Nicobulus, by force to detain my own mistress? What proceeding is this?
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NICOBULUS
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Who’s this?
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844b
CHRYSALUS
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This Captain’s opportunely come for me.
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CLEOMACHUS
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He doesn’t consider that I am a soldier, but a woman, who cannot defend myself and mine. But may neither Bellona nor Mars ever put confidence in me, if I don’t put him out of life, if I meet him, or if I don’t make him lose possession of his existence.
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NICOBULUS
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Chrysalus, who’s this that’s threatening my son?
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CHRYSALUS
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This is the husband of that woman with whom he is now reclining.
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NICOBULUS
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What! The husband?
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CHRYSALUS
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The husband, I say.
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NICOBULUS
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Prithee, is she married then?
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CHRYSALUS
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You’ll know before very long.
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NICOBULUS
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Wretch that I am; I’m utterly undone.
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CHRYSALUS
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How now? Does Chrysalus seem such a villain to you?
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Come, chain me nowChain me now: He says this satirically pointing to his fetters, and do listen to your son. Didn’t I tell you that you would discover what sort of person he is?
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NICOBULUS
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What shall I do now?
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CHRYSALUS
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Order me at once to be released, if you please; for, if I’m not released, he’ll just now be overpowering the young man in our presence.
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CLEOMACHUS
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There’s no gain that I should this day take so much delight in making,
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as I should in falling upon him as he reclines with her, so that I might kill them both.
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CHRYSALUS
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Don’t you hear what he says Why don’t you order me to be released?
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NICOBULUS
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Unbind him. I’m ruined; wretch that I am! I’m in a dreadful fright.
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CLEOMACHUS
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Then I’d make her, who publicly puts up her person for sale, not to say that she has got a person for her to laugh at.
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CHRYSALUS
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You may make terms with him for a little money.
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NICOBULUS
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Make terms, then, I beg, for what you like; so that he mayn’t, in our presence, fall upon the young man, or kill him outright.
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CLEOMACHUS
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Unless the two hundred Philippeans are repaid to me at once, I’ll this instant swallow the lives of them both outright.
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NICOBULUS
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Make terms with him, if you can; prithee, do make haste; agree for any sum you like.
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CHRYSALUS
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I’ll go, and do it carefully. (Goes up to CLEOMACHUS.) Why are you exclaiming so?
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CLEOMACHUS
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Where’s your master?
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CHRYSALUS
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Nowhere; I don’t know. Do you wish the two hundred pieces to be promised you at once, so as to make no riot or disturbance here?
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CLEOMACHUS
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There’s nothing that I would desire more.
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CHRYSALUS
875b
And that I may heap many a curse upon you?
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CLEOMACHUS
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Just as you please.
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CHRYSALUS
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How the villain does cringe.
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(To CLEOMACHUS.) This is the father of Mnesilochus: follow me; he shall promise it you. Do you ask for the gold. As to the rest, a word’s enoughA word’s enough: He says this, as he is afraid that if the conversation proceeds to any length, the old man will discover that she is not the Captain’s wife..
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NICOBULUS
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What has been done?
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CHRYSALUS
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I’ve struck the bargain for two hundred Philippeans.
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NICOBULUS
879c
Well done! Goddess SalvationSalvation: It was a proverbial expression with the Romans to day that the Goddess Salus, health, or salvation, had saved, or could not save a person, as the case might be.,
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thou hast saved me. Well, how soon am I to say I’ll pay it?
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CHRYSALUS
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Do you ask it of him; and (to NICOBULUS) do you promise it him.
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NICOBULUS
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I promise it. (To CLEOMACHUS.) Come, ask me.
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CLEOMACHUS
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Will you give me two hundred golden Philippean pieces, lawful money?
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CHRYSALUS
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They shall be given, say: do answer him.
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NICOBULUS
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I’ll give them.
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CHRYSALUS
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Well, now, filthy fellow is there anything owing to you?
420
Why are you plaguing him? Why are you frightening him about death? Both I and he wish you every ill luck. If you have a sword, still we have a spit at home; with which, in fact, if you provoke me,
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I’ll make you more full of holes than a rat’s skinA rat’s skin: Soricina naenia, than a rat’s ditty, literally. This was, no doubt, a proverbial saying, and speaking elliptically, was, perhaps, intended to apply to the squeaking of a rat when his body was pierced with holes while held fast in the trap. There is, however, great obscurity in the passage, and Commentators are very much divided as to its meaning. when caught in a trap. I’ faith, for my part, some time since I found out what suspicion it was that tormented you; namely, that he was with that wife of yours.
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CLEOMACHUS
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Yes; and so he is.
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CHRYSALUS
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So may Jupiter, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Hope, Latona, Ops, Virtue, Venus, Castor, Pollux, Mars, Mercury, Hercules,
423
SummanusSummanus: It is not accurately known who the Deity Summanus was. Ovid, in his Fasti, B. 6, l. 731, speaks in uncertainty of him. He is, however, generally thought to have been the same with Pluto, who was so called as being Summus Manum, the Chief of the Spirits. Varro says that his worship was introduced by Tatius the Sabine, the Sun, Saturn, and all the Deities, prosper me, he neither reclines with her, nor walks, nor kisses, nor does that which is wont to be reported.
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NICOBULUS
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How he does swear! He’s saving me, however, by his perjury.
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CLEOMACHUS
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Where then, at this moment, is Mnesilochus?
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CHRYSALUS
899b
His father has sent him into the country.
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And she has gone hence to the citadel, to see the temple of Minerva. The door’s open now; go in, and see if he’s there.
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CLEOMACHUS
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I’ll be off to the Forum next.
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CHRYSALUS
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Or rather, by my troth, to very perdition.
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CLEOMACHUS
428
Am I to demand this gold to-day?