Curculio
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
522b
522b
CURCULIO
522b
Fare you well, and health attend you. (Aside.) For you’ve kindly given me your services and your money.
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LYCO
231
Give abundant greetings to my patron.
524b
524b
CURCULIO
524b
I’ll give them.
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LYCO
232
Procurer, do you wish for anything?
525b
525b
CAPPADOX
525b
Give me those ten minae for me to manage for myself with, until things are better with me.
526b
526b
LYCO
526b
They shall be paid; order them to be fetched to-morrow.
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CAPPADOX
233
Since I’ve successfully finished the matter, I wish to return thanks here in the Temple. For long since, when a little girl, I bought her for ten minae; but him who sold her to me, never since then have I set eyes upon.
234
I think he’s dead. What matters that to me? I’ve got the money. The man to whom the Gods are propitious, for him, no doubt, they throw gain in his way. Now will I give my attention to my devotions; it’s clear that he has a kind regard for me.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
235
I’m come now, inflamed with wrath in no moderate degree, but with that same with which I’ve learned to deal destruction upon cities.
236
At once now, unless this moment you make haste instantly to pay me the thirty minae which I left with you, make haste to lay down your life.
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LYCO
237
By my troth, to no little mischief do I now devote you, but to that same to which I am wont to devote that man to whom I owe nothing at all.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
238
Don’t you be making yourself bold with me, or suppose that I shall be entreating you.
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LYCO
239
And you, indeed, shall never force me to pay you what has been paid, nor shall I give it you.
541b
541b
THERAPONTIGONUS
541b
I thought this, when I entrusted you with it, that you would repay nothing at all.
542b
542b
LYCO
542b
Why then are you now asking it back of me?
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THERAPONTIGONUS
240
I wish to know to whom you have paid it.
543b
543b
LYCO
543b
To your one-eyed freed-man; he said that he was called Summanus; I paid it to him, who brought me this sealed letter.
545b
545b
THERAPONTIGONUS
545b
What letter of mine, what one-eyed freed-man, what people called Summanus are you dreaming about? I really have no freed-man at all.
547b
547b
LYCO
547b
You act more wisely than a portion of the military men who have freed-men, and then forsake them.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
241
What have you done?
549b
549b
LYCO
549b
What you requested me, I’ve done for your sake,
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that I mightn’t slight the messenger who had brought your seal’s impression.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
243
More fool than fool were you to give credit to this letter.
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LYCO
244
To that by which matters both public and private are carried on ought I not to have given credit? I’ll be off; the money has been properly paid you. Warrior, farewell.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
245
How—farewell?
554b
554b
LYCO
554b
Fare you ill then, if you choose,—aye, all your life, so far as I’m concerned. (Exit.)
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THERAPONTIGONUS
246
What shall I do now? Of what use is it that I have caused kings to obey me, if this obscure fellow Obscure fellow: Umbraticus, a low fellow, a haunter of obscure places. is this day to laugh at me?
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CAPPADOX
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The man to whom the Gods are propitious, they cannot, I think, be angered with him. After I ad finished my devotions, it then came into my mind, lest the banker should abscond, to go fetch the money,
248
that I may make good cheer rather than he.
560b
560b
THERAPONTIGONUS
560b
I had left my compliments for you at your house.
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CAPPADOX
249
Therapontigonus Platagidorus, save you; since you are come safe to Epidaurus this day, at my house—you won’t lick up one grain of salt Lick up one grain of salt: He pretends that he is going to invite him; but, stopping short, ends by saying that he shall not even taste salt with him. ἄλαλεχε to lick salt, Erasmus, in his Adagia, tells os was a proverbial expression, denoting to live sparingly..
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THERAPONTIGONUS
250
You give me a kind invitation; things, however, are in a train for it to go badly with yourself. But how fares my purchase at your house?
564b
564b
CAPPADOX
564b
Why, not at my house at all.
251
Don’t be bringing your witnesses—assuredly, I don’t owe you anything.
565b
565b
THERAPONTIGONUS
565b
How’s that?
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CAPPADOX
252
What I was bound on oath to do, I’ve done.
566b
566b
THERAPONTIGONUS
566b
Will you give me up the girl or not, before I spit you with this sabre of mine, you whip-scoundrel?
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CAPPADOX
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I bid you go to perdition with all my heart; don’t you be terrifying me.
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She has been carried off; you shall be carried off hence away from me, beyond a doubt, if you persist in abusing me, to whom I owe nothing but a punishing.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
255
What, threaten me with a punishing?
571b
571b
CAPPADOX
571b
Aye, and by my troth, I’ll not be threatening, but I’ll give it, if you persist in being impertinent to me.
572b
572b
THERAPONTIGONUS
572b
A Procurer, forsooth, threatening me; and are my combats in battle, so many in number, lying trodden under foot? But so may my sabre and my shield
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trustily aid me when fighting in the field; unless the girl is restored to me, I’ll at once cause the ants to carry you away piecemeal from this spot.
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CAPPADOX
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And so may my tweezers So may my tweezers: We might almost fancy that it was a barber speaking, from this mention of the implements of his trade. Probably Cappadox employed these articles himself, in putting the best appearance upon his commodities, that they might the more readily attract the public., my comb, my looking-glass, my crisping-iron, and my hair-scissors and scrubbing-towel love me well,
258
I don’t value your high-sounding words, nor these big threats of yours, a bit the more than my servant-girl that washes out my sink. I’ve given her up to him who brought the money from you.
581b
581b
THERAPONTIGONUS
581b
What person was that?
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CAPPADOX
259
He said that he was Summanus, your freed-man.
582b
582b
THERAPONTIGONUS
582b
Mine? You don’t say so; i’ faith, it’s that Curculio that has put a trick upon me, when I think upon it; he stole my ring from me.
584b
584b
CAPPADOX
584b
The Captain has been finely appointed to a cashiered company Appointed to a cashiered company: He remarks that the Captain has been made a fool of, just in the same way as if he had received a commission in a disbanded maniple, or company..
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THERAPONTIGONUS
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Where now shall I find Curculio Find Curculio: He asks where he can find Curculio. That word signifying not only the Parasite’s name, but a weevil as well, Cappadox tells him that he may find hundreds of them in wheat.?
586b
586b
CAPPADOX
586b
In some wheat with the greatest ease I’ll make you find even five hundred Curculios instead of one. Therefore I’m off; fare you well, and my service to you.
588b
588b
THERAPONTIGONUS
588b
Fare you ill, a plague attend you. What shall I do? Shall I stop or go away? That I should have been imposed upon in this way!
261
I’d like to give a reward to him who would point out that fellow to me.
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CURCULIO
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I’ve heard that an ancient Poet An ancient Poet: Who this ancient Poet was, is not known. wrote in a Tragedy, that two women are worse than one; such is the fact. But a more crafty woman than is this mistress of Phaedromus, I never saw or heard of, nor, i’ faith, can one be spoken of or imagined;
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she, as soon as ever she saw that I had got this ring, asked me whence I got it. Why do you ask that? said I. Because I’ve need to know, said she. I said I wouldn’t tell her. To get it away, she seized hold of my hand with her teeth. With much ado I betook me out of doors, and made my escape. Away with this slut This slut: Caniculam. Little bitch..
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PLANESIUM
264
My Phaedromus, make haste.
599b
599b
PHAEDROMUS
599b
Make haste for what?
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599c
PLANESIUM
599c
That you mayn’t let the Parasite escape;
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the affair’s of consequence.
600b
600b
PHAEDROMUS
600b
Nothing have I Nothing have I: Planesium says, res, the affair, is urgent. Phaedromus, understanding the word as meaning property, says, I’ve got none; what I had, I soon squandered. of consequence; for what I did have I quickly made away with?
266
I’ve got him;
601b
what’s the matter?
601c
601c
PLANESIUM
601c
Ask him whence he got that ring: my father used to wear it.
602b
602b
CURCULIO
602b
Why, troth, and so did my aunt.
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PLANESIUM
267
My mother gave it him to wear.
603b
603b
CURCULIO
603b
And your father, in his turn, to me.
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PLANESIUM
268
You are talking nonsense.
604b
604b
CURCULIO
604b
I’m in the habit; for by reason of it I make a livelihood the more easily. What is the matter now?
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PLANESIUM
269
I entreat you, don’t be keeping me from finding my parents.
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CURCULIO
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How can I? Have I got your father and mother hidden beneath the stone? (Holding up the ring.)
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PLANESIUM
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I was born a free woman.
607b
607b
CURCULIO
607b
And so were many others, who are now in servitude.
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PLANESIUM
272
Really now, I’m vexed.
608b
608b
CURCULIO
608b
For my part, I’ve told you how this came into my possession. How often must you be told? I cheated the Captain at dice, I tell you.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
273
I’m all right; see, here he is whom I was looking for. How do you do, good sir?
610b
610b
CURCULIO
610b
I hear you; three casts of the dice, if you like, even for that scarf of yours.
611b
611b
THERAPONTIGONUS
611b
Why don’t you go to very perdition, with your casts and catch-pennies Casts and catch-pennies: Cum bolis, cum bulbis. Literally with your casts of dice and your onions. He probably uses the word bulbis solely for its similarity to bolis, by way of alliteration. A little variation is made in the translation, to keep the spirit of the passage, which it is impossible to do by adhering to the letter.? Either give me back the money or the young woman?
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CURCULIO
274
What money? what rubbish are you talking about to me? What young woman are you demanding back of me?
614b
614b
THERAPONTIGONUS
614b
The one that you took away this day from the Procurer, you scoundrelly fellow.
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CURCULIO
275
I took none away.
615b
615b
THERAPONTIGONUS
615b
Why, surely, I see her. There she is. (Pointing to PLANESIUM.)
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615c
PHAEDROMUS
615c
This young woman is free.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
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What, my female slave free, to whom I have never given her liberty?
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PHAEDROMUS
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Who gave you possession of her, or of whom did you buy her? Let me know that?
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THERAPONTIGONUS
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Why, I paid the money for her through my banker—a sum which I’ll have refunded to me fourfold by you and the Procurer.
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PHAEDROMUS
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You, who understand how to traffic in young women, kidnapped and of free birth, come you before the judge.
621b
621b
THERAPONTIGONUS
621b
I shan’t come.
621c
621c
PHAEDROMUS
621c
I may call my witness Call my witness: It was a custom with the Romans, when a man was summoned by another to go with him at once before the Praetor, for the plaintiff, if the defendant would not go quietly, to call any bystander to be witness (antestari) that he had been duly summnened; and, having touched the ear of the witness, the latter was bound to aid in dragging the defendant to court. Only free persons could be witnesses. For this reason the Captain tells Phaedromus that he cannot summon a witness on this occasion, as he knows that Planesium is not free, and supposes that Curculio is also a slave. to the summons.
621d
621d
THERAPONTIGONUS
621d
No, you mayn’t.
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PHAEDROMUS
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May Jupiter then utterly confound you: live without witnesses Without witnesses: Intestatus. An indelicate allusion tended in this line. then.
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CURCULIO
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But I’m a person that he may summon.
623a
623a
PHAEDROMUS
623a
Do you step this way.Part of the first part of line 623 in the Latin.
623b
623b
THERAPONTIGONUS
623b
What? A slave summoned as a witness?
623c
Take you care.
624.625
624.625
CURCULIO
624.625
Well, that you may know it, I’m free.
624.625a
624.625a
THERAPONTIGONUS
624.625a
Then come before the judge.Part of the firt part of line 624_625 in the Latin.
624.625b
There’s for you: take that.
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CURCULIO
282
O townsmen, townsmen, help.
626b
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THERAPONTIGONUS
626b
Why do you bawl so?
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PHAEDROMUS
626c
What right have you to strike him?