Bacchides
Choose a text
id="mobileReaderAuthor" class="mobile-reader-author" href="/authors/plautus-titus-maccius" aria-label="More works by Plautus, Titus Maccius">
—
⋯
Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
1178c
1178c
2nd BACCHIS
1178c
That you are to be with me.
551
551
PHILOXENUS
551
You mention all that I desire.
1179a
1179a
NICOBULUS
1179a
I have seen wicked men; but not one worse than yourself.
1180b
1180b
PHILOXENUS
1180b
I am as I am.
552
552
1st BACCHIS
552
Step this way in-doors with me, where you may be elegantly received with viands, wine, and unguents.
553
553
NICOBULUS
553
Enough, enough now of your banquets; it matters not to me how I’m received. My son and Chrysalus have choused me out of four hundred Philippeans. If I don’t surely this day put him to the torture, may I never receive as large a sum again.
554
554
1st BACCHIS
554
What, pray, if half the gold is paid you back? Will you go in-doors here with me, and so control your feelings as to forgive them their faults?
1186b
1186b
PHILOXENUS
1186b
He’ll do it.
1186a
1186a
NICOBULUS
1186a
Certainly not—I won’t—I don’t care—let me alone, now. (Shakes him off.) I had rather punish them both.
555
555
PHILOXENUS
555
Take you care, you good-for-nothing man, that through your own fault you don’t lose even that which the favouring Gods offer you. One half of the gold is offered; take it, and carouse, and enjoy yourself with your partner.
556
556
NICOBULUS
556
What, am I to carouse in that very place where my son is being corrupted?
1190b
1190b
PHILOXENUS
1190b
You must carouse there.
557
557
NICOBULUS
557
Am I to be the witness of it when she is reclining with him at table?
1192b
1192b
1st BACCHIS
1192b
Nay, so far as I’m concerned, i’ faith, I’ll recline at table with your own self.
558
558
NICOBULUS
558
My head does itch soDoes itch so: Being in doubt what to do, he scratches his head, and then tries to turn it off by saying, Bless me, how my head does itch.. (Aside.) I’m a ruined man—I can scarce deny her.
559
559
PHILOXENUS
559
And has it not before this come into your mind, that if, while you live, you enjoy yourself,
560
that, i’ faith, is for no very long time; and that, if you lose the present day, it can never return to you after you are dead?
561
561
NICOBULUS
561
What am I to do?
1196b
1196b
PHILOXENUS
1196b
What are you to do? Do you even ask it?
1196c
1196c
NICOBULUS
1196c
I should like, and yet I’m afraid.
1196d
1196d
1st BACCHIS
1196d
What are you afraid of?
562
562
NICOBULUS
562
Lest I should be exposed before my son and my servant.
1197b
1197b
1st BACCHIS
1197b
Pray now, my honey; such things do happen. He’s your own son; whence do you suppose that he is to have money, except that only which you give him yourself? Let me obtain pardon of you for them both.
1199b
1199b
NICOBULUS
1199b
How she does work her way.
563
She’s now prevailing on me against that which I was quite resolved upon.
1200a
1200a
1st BACCHIS
1200a
I will love you, and embrace you.
564
564
NICOBULUS
564
Through your doing, and for your sake am I corrupted.
1201b
1201b
1st BACCHIS
1201b
I certainly had rather ’twere for your own than for mine.
565
565
NICOBULUS
565
Come then, however that may be, although it is to my disgrace, I’ll submit; I’ll induce my feelings to do so.
566
566
1st BACCHIS
566
Have I that solemnly promised?
1202b
1202b
NICOBULUS
1202b
What I have once said, I will not alter.
567
567
1st BACCHIS
567
The day wears apace. Come into the house, to take your places at table: your sons are expecting within—
1204b
1204b
NICOBULUS
1204b
How soon, in fact, we may be dead, d’ye mean?
568
568
1st BACCHIS
568
’Tis evening, already; come, follow us.
1205b
1205b
PHILOXENUS
1205b
Lead us in like bondsmenLike bondsmen: Addicti were those who were made the slaves of their creditors; being thus by law deprived of their liberty until they had paid their debts..
569
569
1st BACCHIS
569
Right cleverly are these persons entrappedThese persons entrapped: The two old men, at this moment, would form a good companion picture to the Elders, who solicited the chastity of Susanna. themselves, who for their sons had laid a snare.
570
570
The COMPANYThe company: The whole company of actors (Caterva) now comes forward, and chant or repeat the moral of the Play which has just been acted. of COMEDIANS
570
Had not these old men been worthless from their youth upwards, they would not, with their hoary heads, have this day done an action so disgraceful; nor, indeed, should we have represented this, if we had not, before this, seen it happen
571
that fathers became the rivals of their sons in the houses of procurers. Spectators, we wish you Farewell! and that you will grant us loud applause.