Curculio
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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283
THERAPONTIGONUS
283
Because I choose.
627b
627b
PHAEDROMUS
627b
Step this way you (pushes him towards the CAPTAIN); there, I’ll give him up to you. Hold your noise.
284
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CURCULIO
284
Phaedromus, prithee do save me.
628b
628b
PHAEDROMUS
628b
As I would myself and my own good Genius. Captain, prithee, do tell me whence you got that ring,
285
which this Parasite purloined from you.
630b
630b
PLANESIUM
630b
By your knees, I do entreat you to give us that information.
631b
631b
THERAPONTIGONUS
631b
What matters that to you? You might as well ask after this sabre and this scarf, how each came into my possession.
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CURCULIO
286
What airs the swaggerer does give himself!
633b
633b
THERAPONTIGONUS
633b
Send that fellow away (pointing to CURCULIO); then I’ll tell you all.
287
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CURCULIO
287
It’s nonsense what he says.
634b
634b
PHAEDROMUS
634b
Prithee, do let me know.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
288
I’ll tell you: (to PLANESIUM) get up. Listen to this matter, and give attention. My father Periphanes used to wear it.
636a
636a
PLANESIUM
636a
Ha! Periphanes?
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THERAPONTIGONUS
289
He, before he died, gave it to me as being his son, as it was right he should.
638b
638b
PLANESIUM
638b
O Jupiter!
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THERAPONTIGONUS
290
And on that occasion he made me his heir.
639b
639b
PLANESIUM
639b
O filial affection, do thou preserve me, since I have carefully preserved thee. Welcome, my brother.
641b
641b
THERAPONTIGONUS
641b
How am I to believe that? Tell me, if you are speaking the truth, who was your mother?
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PLANESIUM
291
Cleobula.
643b
643b
THERAPONTIGONUS
643b
Who was your nurse?
643c
643c
PLANESIUM
643c
Archestrata.
644.645
Amid the sacred rites of Bacchus she had carried me to see the sights after we had come thither, when now she had found me a place, a whirlwind arose A whirlwind arose: Many mishaps appear to have happened to families through the lawlessness and violence of which the Festivals of the Divinities were the occasion.; the scaffolding The scaffolding: Suetonius tells us that the reign of Tiberius was rendered memorable by the fall of the scaffolding in the theatre of Fidenae. of the stage there tumbled down; I was greatly alarmed, and then some one, I know not who, seized hold of me trembling and frightened, neither alive nor dead;
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and in what manner he carried me off I cannot say.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
293
I recollect that disturbance happening; but, do you tell me, where is this person, who carried you away?
652b
652b
PLANESIUM
652b
I know not; but (showing a ring) this ring I have all along preserved by me, with it long since was I lost.
654b
654b
THERAPONTIGONUS
654b
Give it me to look at.
654c
654c
CURCULIO
654c
Are you in your senses to be trusting it to that fellow?
655b
655b
PLANESIUM
655b
Do you only leave me alone.
655c
655c
THERAPONTIGONUS
655c
O Jupiter! This is the same that I presented you upon your birthday; I recognize it as easily as my own self. Welcome to you, my sister.
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294
PLANESIUM
294
My brother, welcome to you.
658b
658b
PHAEDROMUS
658b
I trust the Gods will prosper this matter for you.
659b
659b
CURCULIO
659b
And I, for all of us.
295
Do you, as having this day arrived, give a dinner in honor of your sister he (pointing to PHAEDROMUS), to-morrow, will give one in honor of his marriage; we promise that.
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PHAEDROMUS
296
Do you hold your tongue.
662b
662b
CURCULIO
662b
I shan’t hold my tongue, as things are turning out so well. Captain, do you promise her to him; I’ll give the marriage-portion.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
297
What is the marriage-portion?
664b
664b
CURCULIO
664b
What, that I give? Why, that always as long as he lives he’s to feed me.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
298
I’ troth, he says what’s fair;
665b
with my consent you shall do so.
299
But this Procurer owes me the thirty minae.
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PHAEDROMUS
300
For what reason so?
667b
667b
THERAPONTIGONUS
667b
Because he agreed with me on these terms to give it back: that if any one should assert her to be free born in due course of law, he would, without dispute, pay back all the money.
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301
CURCULIO
301
Then let’s go to the Procurer.
670b
670b
THERAPONTIGONUS
670b
I agree.
670c
670c
PHAEDROMUS
670c
This first I wish; to despatch my matter.
671b
671b
THERAPONTIGONUS
671b
What’s that?
671c
671c
PHAEDROMUS
671c
That you will betroth her to me.
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CURCULIO
302
Why do you hesitate, Captain, to give her as a wife to him?
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THERAPONTIGONUS
303
If she is agreable.
673b
673b
PLANESIUM
673b
My brother, it is my wish.
673c
673c
THERAPONTIGONUS
673c
So be it then.
673d
673d
CURCULIO
673d
You do rightly.
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PHAEDROMUS
304
Captain, do you betroth me to her for my wife?
674b
674b
THERAPONTIGONUS
674b
I do betroth her.
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PHAEDROMUS
305
And to him do I promise support at my expense.
675b
675b
CURCULIO
675b
You do kindly. But
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THER,
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But see, here’s the Procurer coming; my treasurer My treasurer: In allusion to the money which he intends to have back from the Procurer. Thesaurum seems here to have the signification of treasurer or treasury., I mean.
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CAPPADOX
307
Those who say Those who say: This and the following line are clearly in a very corrupt state. Indeed, it is hard to gather any sense whatever from them. it’s bad for bankers to be trusted, utter nonsense;
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I say it’s neither good nor bad for them to be trusted, and that, I’ve fully experienced this day. They are not They are not: He seems to mean, that, where there is no possibility of the debtor paying back the money, the case is more fortunate than where you are tormented by hopes of getting it back, which, however, are doomed to disappointment. badly trusted, who never repay, but with whom it is lost outright. As for example, before this Lyco paid me the ten minae, he had to go to every banker’s counter. After there were no proceeds, I summoned the fellow with much noise; he appealed against me to the court. I was most confoundedly afraid that this day he’d be settling accounts with me before the Praetor Before the Praetor: He was afraid that Lyco would cheat him, by filing his schedule, or taking the benefit, in the Roman style. See the Note to l. 373 (Act III., Sc. 1).;
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but my friends forced him, so he paid the money at home. Now I’m resolved to make haste to my house.
686b
686b
THERAPONTIGONUS
686b
Hallo! you Procurer; I want you.
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PHAEDROMUS
310
And I want you.
687b
687b
CAPPADOX
687b
But I don’t want either of you.
687c
687c
THERAPONTIGONUS
687c
Stay this instant, will you.
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PHAEDROMUS
311
And make you haste to disgorge the money with all despatch.
688b
688b
CAPPADOX
688b
What have you to do with me? (To the CAPTAIN.) Or what have you?
689b
689b
THERAPONTIGONUS
689b
Because this day I shall be making a javelin of you, discharged from a catapulta,
312
and twist you with the string With the string: Nervus, a cord, was also the name of the iron chain fastened round the neck and legs of the prisoner. If the debtor did not pay within thirty days after judgment, lie was liable to be thrown into prison by the creditor., just as the catapultas are in the habit of doing.
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PHAEDROMUS
313
I’ll this day make a coxcomb of you, to be sleeping with a puppy With a puppy: He jokes on the double meaning of the word catellus, which signified an iron chain, and also a little dog. in your bed—an iron one, I mean.
692b
692b
CAPPADOX
692b
But I’ll make you both to be rotting in a strong-barred prison.
693b
693b
THERAPONTIGONUS
693b
Seize him by the throat, and away with him to extreme torture.
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PHAEDROMUS
314
However that is, he’ll be going there of his own accord.
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694b
CAPPADOX
694b
O Gods and men, your aid!
315
that I, uncondemned, and without evidence against me, should thus be dragged along! Prithee, Planesium, and you, Phaedromus, do give me assistance.
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PLANESIUM
316
Brother, I do beseech you, don’t ruin him uncondemned; he treated me kindly and modestly at his house.
698b
698b
THERAPONTIGONUS
698b
That was through no inclination of his own; give you thanks to this Aesculapius To this Aesculapius: Who had not granted him convalescence so soon as he desired. (pointing to the Temple) that you’ve preserved your chastity;
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for if he had been well, he’d long ago have packed you off wherever he could.
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PHAEDROMUS
318
Now attend to me, both of you, if I can arrange between you. (To the CAPTAIN.) You let him go. Procurer, come you this way. I’ll pronounce my opinion, if indeed you are ready to abide by what I shall decide you should do.
703b
703b
THERAPONTIGONUS
703b
We leave it to you.
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CAPPADOX
319
So long, i’ faith, as you give a decision to the effect that no one is to take the money away from me.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
320
What, not that which you promised?
705b
705b
CAPPADOX
705b
I, promised? How?
705c
705c
THERAPONTIGONUS
705c
With your tongue.
705d
705d
CAPPADOX
705d
With that same tongue I now gainsay it; that was given me by Nature for the purpose of speaking, not of losing my property.
321
321
THERAPONTIGONUS
321
He’s trifling; seize the fellow by the throat.
707b
707b
CAPPADOX
707b
I’ll at once then do as you bid me.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
322
Since you are an honest man, answer me this that I ask you.
708b
708b
CAPPADOX
708b
Ask me what you please.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
323
Did you not promise, that if any one should show that she (pointing to PLANESIUM) was freeborn,
324
you would pay back all the money?
710b
710b
CAPPADOX
710b
I don’t remember saying so.
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THERAPONTIGONUS
325
What, do you deny it?
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711b
CAPPADOX
711b
I’ faith, I really do deny it. In whose presence? In what place was it?
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THERAPONTIGONUS
326
In my own presence, and that of Lyco the banker.
712b
712b
CAPPADOX
712b
Why don’t you hold your tongue?
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THERAPONTIGONUS
327
I shan’t hold my tongue.
713b
713b
CAPPADOX
713b
I don’t care a rush for you; don’t be bullying me.
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328
THERAPONTIGONUS
328
In my own presence and that of Lyco it took place.
714b
714b
PHAEDROMUS
714b
I quite believe you.
329
Now, therefore, Procurer, that you may know my judgment, (pointing to PLANESIUM) she is a free woman; he (pointing to the CAPTAIN) is her brother, and she is his sister; she is engaged to me; do you restore him the money; that’s my decision.