Epidicus
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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250
PHILIPPA
250
Let me see her, whether it is she or no.
567b
567b
PERIPHIANES
567b
Hallo there! you—Canthara, this instant bid my daughter Bid my daughter: Acropolistidem is here inserted in the editions evidently by mistake, and is purposely omitted in this Translation. It was probably inserted by some careless or injudicious transcriber in the middle ages, in the place of Telestidem, as Periphanes knows the girl in his house as Telestis, and fancies that she is his daughter. At the same time he knows that Acropolistis is the name of his son’s mistress, whom he has so recently tried unsuccessfully (as he supposes) to get into his power. come out before the house, that she may see her mother.
569b
569b
PHILIPPA
569b
My spirits now at last return to me.
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ACROPOLISTIS
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Why is it, father, that you have called me out before the house?
570b
570b
PERIPHIANES
570b
That you may see and accost your mother, and wish her health on her arrival, and give her kisses.
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ACROPOLISTIS
252
What mother of mine?
572b
572b
PERIPHIANES
572b
She who, half dead, is following your gaze.
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PHILIPPA
253
Who is this that you are requesting to kiss me?
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573b
PERIPHIANES
573b
Your own daughter.
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PHILIPPA
254
What, she?
574b
574b
PERIPHIANES
574b
She.
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PHILIPPA
574c
What—am I to kiss her?
574d
574d
PERIPHIANES
574d
Why not, her who was born of you?
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PHILIPPA
255
Man, you are mad.
575b
575b
PERIPHIANES
575b
What, I?
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PHILIPPA
575c
Yes, you.
575d
575d
PERIPHANES
575d
Why?
575e
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PHILIPPA
575e
Because this woman—I neither know nor understand who she is, nor have I beheld her with my eyes before this day.
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PERIPHIANES
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I know why you are mistaken; because this woman has her dress and ornaments changed.
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PHILIPPA
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Puppies have one smell Have one smell: She means that all animals have an instinct by which they recognize their own young., pigs quite another;
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I say that I do not know her, who she is.
580b
580b
PERIPHIANES
580b
Oh! by our trust in Gods and men, what is this? Am I following the calling of a Procurer, to be keeping strange women in my house, and to be emptying my house of my money? (To ACROPOLISTIS.) What are you to be calling me your father and kissing me? Why stand you stupidly there? Why do you keep silent?
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ACROPOLISTIS
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What do you want me to say?
584b
584b
PERIPHIANES
584b
She denies that she is your mother.
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584c
ACROPOLISTIS
584c
Don’t let her be so,
260
if she don’t choose. For my own part, whether she likes it or not, I shall be my mother’s daughter still. It isn’t right for me to compel this woman to be my mother if she doesn’t like.
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PERIPHIANES
261
Why then did you call me father?
587b
587b
ACROPOLISTIS
587b
That is your own fault, not mine; ought I not to call you father when you call me daughter? Her too, as well (pointing to PHILIPPA) if she were to call me daughter, I should call mother.
262
She declares that I am not her daughter; then she is not my mother. In fine, this is no fault of mine; what I’ve been taught, I’ve told you all of it. Epidicus was my instructor.
592b
592b
PERIPHIANES
592b
I’m undone! I’ve upset my waggon I’ve upset my waggon: Evidently a proverbial expression borrowed from rustic life. To upset a man’s apple-cart, is used in cant phrase-ology in our day, as meaning to do a person a disservice.!
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ACROPOLISTIS
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Have I done anything amiss towards that?
593b
593b
PERIPHIANES
593b
Upon my faith, if I ever hear you call me father, I’ll put an end to your life, you jade!
594b
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ACROPOLISTIS
594b
I shan’t call you so.
264
When you want to be my father, then be so; when you don’t want, don’t be my father.
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PHILIPPA
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What? Did you purchase her for that reason, because you supposed her to be your daughter? By what signs did you recognize her?
597b
597b
PERIPHIANES
597b
By none.
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597c
PHILIPPA
597c
Why did you suppose her to be our daughter?
598b
598b
PERIPHIANES
598b
My servant Epidicus told me so.
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PHILIPPA
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What if it had seemed to your servant otherwise? Prithee, could you not have known?
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PERIPHIANES
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How should I, who had never seen her after having once beheld her.
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PHILIPPA
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Wretched creature, I’m quite undone!
601b
601b
PERIPHIANES
601b
Don’t weep, madam; go in-doors; be of good courage; I’ll find her out.
602b
602b
PHILIPPA
602b
An Attic citizen from Athens here purchased her Indeed, they said it was a young man who had bought her.
603b
603b
PERIPHIANES
603b
I will find her; hold your peace. Only do go in-doors, and keep an eye upon this Circe Upon this Circe: He calls her a Circe, because she has laid a spell upon him, as it were by enchantments, for which Circe was famous. Perhaps, too, he calls her a daughter of the Sun, from his not knowing who her father really is, when he has so recently supposed himself to be so., this daughter of the Sun.
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All business laid aside, I’ll give my attention to seeking for Epidicus. If I find him, I’ll make this day become the final one for him.
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STRATIPPOCLES
270
The Banker The Banker: Danista. This was from a Greek word, signifying a banker, or usurer. With an extraordinary degree of carelessness, Cotter takes it to be the proper name of a man, and calls him Danista. is inattentive to me, not to seek the money of me, or bring this woman who has been purchased out of the spoil. But see—here comes Epidicus How’s this, that in gloominess his brow is wrinkled?
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EPIDICUS
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If Jupiter unto himself were to take the eleven Gods The eleven Gods: He alludes to the eleven who, with Jupiter, made the Dii majores. They are thus enumerated in two rugged lines of Ennius: Juno, Vesta, Ceres, Diana, Minerva, Venus, Mars, Mercurius Jovi, Neptunus, Vulcanus, Apollo . beside himself, even then, all of them would not be able to rescue Epidicus from torture. I’ve seen Periphanes buying the thongs; Apaecides was together with him; now, I do believe that these persons are in search of me. They have found it out; they know that they’ve been imposed upon.
614b
614b
STRATIPPOCLES
614b
What are you about, my ready occasion?
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614c
EPIDICUS
614c
That which a wretched fellow is about.
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STRATIPPOCLES
272
What’s the matter with you?
615b
615b
EPIDICUS
615b
Why don’t you prepare for me the necessaries for flight before I’m quite undone? For the two fleeced old gentlemen are hunting for me through the city; they are carrying in their hands handcuffs an inch and a half thick.
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STRATIPPOCLES
273
Be of good heart—
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618b
EPIDICUS
618b
Of course I will, whose freedom is so close at hand Is so close at hand: Quoi libertas in mundo sita est. This expression, no doubt, is intended to be used ironically by Epidicus..
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STRATIPPOCLES
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I will preserve you.
619b
619b
EPIDICUS
619b
I’ faith, they’ll do it better for me, if they catch me.
275
But who’s this young woman, this greyish old fellow, too, that’s coming along?
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STRATIPPOCLES
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This is the Banker, and this is the woman whom I purchased out of the spoil.
621b
621b
EPIDICUS
621b
What, is this she?
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STRATIPPOCLES
277
It is she. Isn’t she just like what I told you? Look at her.
622a
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EPIDICUS
622a
Is it she?
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Survey her, Epidicus.Part of line 622 in the Latin. Even from her nail to the top of her hair she is most lovely! Is she not? Do look at her! Observe her! You’ll be looking at a picture beautifully painted.
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EPIDICUS
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Judging from your words you are foretelling that my hide will be beautifully painted; me, whom Apelles and Zeuxis Apelles and Zeuxis: See the Notes to the Pœnulus, l. 1289. He alludes to Periphanes and Apaecides, who will cause his back to be marked with elm-twigs., the pair of them, will be painting with elm-tree pigments.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Immortal Gods! I’m surprised at your slowness. The man that’s spoken of in the proverb with swollen feet, would have got here sooner than you have arrived for me.
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A BANKER.
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I’ faith, ’twas she delayed me.
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629b
STRATIPPOCLES
629b
If indeed you delayed for her sake,
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because she wished it, you have come too quickly.
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A BANKER
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Well, well, dispatch with me and count out the money, that I mayn’t be detaining my friends.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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It has been counted out.
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632b
A BANKER.
632b
Take this bag; put it into it.
632c
632c
STRATIPPOCLES
632c
You come discreetly provided! Wait till I bring out the money to you.
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633b
A BANKER
633b
Make haste.
633c
633c
STRATIPPOCLES
633c
It’s at home.
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EPIDICUS
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Have I the use of my eyes quite unimpaired, or is it otherwise?
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Do I not behold in you, Telestis, the daughter of Periphanes, born at Thebes of your mother Philippa, and conceived at Epidaurus?
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TELESTIS
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What person are you who are making mention of the name of my parents and my own?
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EPIDICUS
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Don’t you know me?
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TELESTIS
638b
Not, indeed, so far as recurs to my mind just now.
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EPIDICUS
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Don’t you remember my bringing you a crescent upon your birthday, and a little gold ring for your finger?
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TELESTIS
640b
I remember it. What, are you that person?
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EPIDICUS
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I am, and (pointing to STRATIPPOCLES, at a distance) he there is your brother by another mother and the same father.
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TELESTIS
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What of my father? Is he alive?
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643b
EPIDICUS
643b
Be of calm and composed feelings; hold your peace.
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TELESTIS
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The Gods will that from being lost I should be saved, if you speak the truth.
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EPIDICUS
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I have no occasion to be telling untruths to you.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Take this money, Banker; here are forty minae. If any piece shall be doubtful I’ll change it.
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A BANKER
647b
You do well. Kindly farewell.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Now then you are my own—
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648b
TELESTIS
648b
Why yes—sister, i’ faith, that you may know it as well. Greetings to you, brother.
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STRATIPPOCLES
649b
Is this woman in her senses?
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EPIDICUS
649c
In her senses, if she calls you her brother.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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How’s this? Have I just now become her brother while going in-doors and coming out?
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EPIDICUS
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What good fortune there is, do you in silence keep your peace thereon and rejoice.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Sister, you have both lost and found me!
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652b
EPIDICUS
652b
Simpleton, hold your tongue! Through my endeavours, there’s ready for you at home, in fact, a Music-girl for you to make love to; I too, through my endeavours, have restored your sister to liberty.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Epidicus, I confess—
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EPIDICUS
655b
Be off into the house, and order the water to be made warm The water to be made warm: A bath was usually taken by the middle and upper classes immediately on arriving from a journey. for her. The rest I’ll let you know afterwards, when there’s leisure.
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STRATIPPOCLES
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Follow me this way, sister.
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657b
EPIDICUS
657b
I’ll bid Thesprio I’ll bid Thesprio: Thesprio only appears once, and that at the beginning of the Play. This is certainly a prevalent fault with Plautus, who does not make the most of his characters. Artotrogus, the Parasite, in the Miles Gloriosus, is lost to us after the First Scene. Sceparnio only appears in the First and Second Acts of the Rudens, and the honest Grumio is lost sight of after the First Act of the Mostellaria. It is not a sufficient excuse to plead that Artotrogus and Thesprio are what were called personae protaticae, characters whose business it is to introduce the plot, and do no more; even though this example is followed by Terence, who similarly introduces Sosia in the Andria, Davus in the Phormio, and Philotis in the Hecyra. come across to you. But remember, if the old gentlemen are at all savage, you, with your sister, to run and help me.
659b
659b
STRATIPPOCLES
659b
That will be easy.
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EPIDICUS
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Thesprio, come this way through the garden. Come to my rescue at home! The matter’s of importance! (To himself.) I care much less for the old fellows than I did just now. I’ll return in-doors, that the strangers may be attended to on their arrival. I’ll tell these same things that I know, in-doors to Stratippocles. I shall not take to flight; I’m determined to be there at home, and he shan’t throw it in my teeth