Epidicus
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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
461b
461b
PERIPHIANES
461b
Upon my faith, I don’t know whether it’s convenient or not, until perhaps you say what you want.
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A CAPTAIN
202
I want you to transfer her to me, and take the ransom.
463a
463a
PERIPHIANES
463a
You may have her.Part of line 463 in the Latin.
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A CAPTAIN
203
But why should I hesitate to speak out to you? I wish at once to make her my freed-woman, that she may be my mistress That she may be my mistress: The swaggering, careless character of the Captain, is admirably depicted here, as he does not hesitate to tell a perfect stranger, and him an aged man, his intentions, at the possible risk of shocking him..
466b
466b
PERIPHIANES
466b
I’ll make short work with you; she was bought for me for fifty minae of silver; if sixty minae are paid down to me, I’ll let the damsel employ your holidays Employ your holidays: The feriae, or holidays, are mentioned in the Captivi, l. 473. See the Note to the passage.,
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and so assuredly so, that, if you like, you may remove her from this country.
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A CAPTAIN
205
Is she then purchased by me?
471b
471b
PERIPHIANES
471b
On those terms you may have her.
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You have made a good bargain.
472b
Hallo there! bring out of doors the Music-girl you took in. The harp, too, as well, that was thrown in with her, I’ll make you a present of it for nothing.
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PERIPHIANES
207
Come, take her, please.
475b
475b
A CAPTAIN
475b
What madness possesses you? What mystery are you devising for me? Why don’t you order the Music-girl Order the Music-girl: Periphanes has ordered the girl who has just come, and whom he takes to be Acropolistis, to be brought out; whereas the Captain is in love with the first, who is passing for the old gentleman’s daughter and this mistake occasions the dispute to be brought from in-doors?
477b
477b
PERIPHIANES
477b
Why, this is the Music-girl. There’s no other one here.
478b
478b
A CAPTAIN
478b
You can’t impose on me. Why don’t you bring out here the Music-girl Acropolistis?
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PERIPHIANES
208
This, I tell you, is she.
480b
480b
A CAPTAIN
480b
This, I tell you, is not she. Do you suppose that I can’t know my own mistress?
481b
481b
PERIPHIANES
481b
It was this Music-girl, I tell you, for whom my son was dying with love.
482b
482b
A CAPTAIN
482b
This is not she.
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PERIPHIANES
209
How, not she?
483b
483b
A CAPTAIN
483b
It is not.
483c
483c
PERIPHIANES
483c
Where in the world, then, does, she come from? For my part, i’ faith, I certainly paid the money for her.
484b
484b
A CAPTAIN
484b
Foolishly paid, I guess, and a mighty mistake.
485b
485b
PERIPHIANES
485b
Nay, but this is she; for I sent the servant who is in the habit of attending my son; he himself this moment purchased the Music-girl.
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A CAPTAIN
210
Well then, this fellow has cut you up joint by joint, old gentleman, this servant of yours.
489b
489b
PERIPHIANES
489b
How, cut me up?
489c
489c
A CAPTAIN
489c
Such is my suspicion;
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for she has been palmed upon you for that Music-girl. Old gentleman, you’ve been bubbled clearly and cleverly. I shall now go seek her wherever she is.
492b
Warrior, farewell!
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PERIPHIANES
212
Bravo, bravo! Epidicus You’re a clever fellow! You have fought well—you’re a man! you’ve wiped my nose when snivelling, worthless fellow that I am!
213
Did Apaecides purchase you to-day of the procurer? (A pause.) Come now, tell me.
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MUSIC-GIRL
214
I never heard of that person before to-day, nor, indeed, was any one able to purchase me for any money; I’ve been free now for more than five years.
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PERIPHIANES
215
What business have you, then, at my house?
499b
499b
MUSIC-GIRL
499b
You shall hear;
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I came, being hired to perform for an old gentleman while he was sacrificing.
501b
501b
PERIPHIANES
501b
I do confess that I am the most worthless of all men in Athens of Attica. But do you know Acropolistis the Music-girl?
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MUSIC-GIRL
217
As well as my own self.
504b
504b
PERIPHIANES
504b
Where does she live?
504c
504c
MUSIC-GIRL
504c
Since she has been made free,
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I don’t know for certain.
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PERIPHIANES
219
Well now, I should like to know who has made her free, if you know?
507b
507b
MUSIC-GIRL
507b
That which I have heard, you shall hear; I heard that StratippoclesI heard that Stratippocles: She discloses to him what she has heard as the fact, and which is the real state of the case. Although Acropolistis is in his house, in the character of his daughter, he, not knowing who she really is, is alarmed at hearing that his son has procured her liberation, which he has just taken so much pains to prevent., the son of Periphanes, had provided in his absence that she should be made free.
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PERIPHIANES
220
By heavens, I’m undone I’m undone: Having now detected this piece of roguery of which Epidicus has been guilty., most clearly, if these things are true. Epidicus has disembowelled my purse!
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MUSIC-GIRL
221
I’ve heard to that effect. Do you want me for anything else?
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PERIPHIANES
222
Away to perdition in the veriest torments, and off this instant!
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MUSIC-GIRL
223
Won’t you give me back my harp?
514b
514b
PERIPHANES
514b
Neither harp nor pipes.
224
Make haste, then, and escape from here, if the Gods love you!
515b
515b
MUSIC-GIRL
515b
I’ll be off. At a future time, however, you’ll restore it, with the greater disgrace With the greater disgrace: Probably by being sued, and obliged to give it up, whether he will or no. to yourself.
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PERIPHIANES
225
What now? Shall I, who have been placed before so many edicts Before so many edicts: Qui in tantis positus sum sententiis. This passage has been explained various ways; but Madame Dacier seems justified in thinking that Gronovius has found the right meaning, and that the allusion is to the custom of placing the name of the proposer at the head of the ψηφίσματα, or public edicts of the Greeks; this of course implied that the proposer was a man of standing, and of some fair pretensions to a reputation for wisdom., allow him to get with impunity? No; even though as much again should be required to be lost, I’ll lose it rather than
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allow myself to be held in derision with impunity and plundered by them. That I should have been thus cheated openly to my face, and that I should have been set at nought before this Apaecides, who is famed as being the framer and founder of all the laws and ordinances! He too declares that he is a wise man! that the hammer,
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forsooth, should be wiser than the handle Than the handle: He seems to compare Apaecides to the head of the hammer, and himself to the handle, and says that they are equally outwitted. He probably implies thereby that he has been in the habit of giving the impetus to Apaecides in the same way that the handle of the hammer does to the head.!
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PHILIPPA
228
If a mortal being has aught of misery, through which, miserable creature, to be wretched from the heart, that same do I experience, for whom full many a woe unites in the same spot, which, all, at the same instant are beating against my breast. A multitude of troubles keep me in suspense.
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Poverty and misery alarm the thoughts of my heart; nor have I anywhere a spot of safety where to fix my hopes; in such a way has my daughter fallen into the power of the enemy Into the power of the enemy: Though this has happened probably some time since, Philippa has not had an opportunity till now of coming in search of her daughter, by reason of the continuance of war. As soon as peace is made, she repairs to Athens,; nor do I know where she now is.
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PERIPHIANES
230
Who is this woman coming from a distance with a breast filled with alarms, and who thus bewails her lot?
534b
534b
PHILIPPA
534b
It was told me that Periphanes was living in this neighbourhood.
535b
535b
PERIPHIANES
535b
She’s mentioning me; need of hospitality has befallen her, I suppose.
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PHILIPPA
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I would be very willing to give a reward to any one who would point me out that man, or where he dwells.
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PERIPHIANES
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I recognize her; for I think I have seen her before; where, I know not. Is it, or is it not she, whom my mind suspects her to be?
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PHILIPPA
233
Good Gods! I have seen this person before!
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PERIPHIANES
234
It surely is she, a poor woman whom I remember having an intrigue with at Epidaurus.
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PHILIPPA
235
Surely it is he, who at Epidaurus first violated my maiden modesty.
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PERIPHIANES
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She who had the daughter by me whom I’ve now got at home.
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PHILIPPA
237
What if I accost him?
543b
543b
PERIPHIANES
543b
I don’t know whether to make up to her.
543c
If this is she—
543d
543d
PHILIPPA
543d
But if it is the man, as length of years renders me doubtful—
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PERIPHIANES
238
Length of time renders my mind uncertain. But if it is she, whom with some doubt I conjecture it to be, I’ll accost her circumspectly.
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PHILIPPA
239
A woman’s artfulness must be employed by me.
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PERIPHIANES
240
I’ll address her.
547b
547b
PHILIPPA
547b
I’ll bring my powers of conversation to bear against him.
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PERIPHIANES
241
Health to you!
548b
548b
PHILIPPA
548b
That health I accept for me and mine.
548c
548c
PERIPHIANES
548c
What besides?
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PHILIPPA
242
Health to yourself; what you lent me, I return.
549b
549b
PERIPHIANES
549b
I don’t impeach your punctuality.
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Don’t I know you?
550b
550b
PHILIPPA
550b
If I know you, I’ll move your feelings, so that you shall know me.
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PERIPHIANES
244
Where have I been in the habit of seeing you?
551b
551b
PHILIPPA
551b
You are unfairly hard upon me.
551c
551c
PERIPHIANES
551c
Why so?
551d
551d
PHILIPPA
551d
Because you think it right that I should be the prompter of your memory.
552b
552b
PERIPHIANES
552b
You speak to the purpose.
553b
553b
PHILIPPA
553b
You say what’s strange to me, Periphanes.
553d
553d
PERIPHIANES
553d
Ah now! that’s better.
245
Do you remember, Philippa—
554b
554b
PHILIPPA
554b
Yes, I remember that.
554c
554c
PERIPHIANES
554c
At Epidaurus—
554d
554d
PHILIPPA
554d
Ah! you have moistened my burning breast with a little drop of comfort.
555b
555b
PERIPHIANES
555b
How I relieved the poverty of you, a poor young maiden, and your mother?
556b
556b
PHILIPPA
556b
What, are you he who for your own gratification brought heavy troubles upon me?
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PERIPHIANES
246
I am he. Health to you.
558b
558b
PHILIPPA
558b
I am in health, since I see you in health.
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PERIPHIANES
247
Give me your hand.
559b
559b
PHILIPPA
559b
Take it—you hold by the hand a woman distrest and full of woes.
560b
560b
PERIPHIANES
560b
What is it that disturbs your features?
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PHILIPPA
248
The daughter whom I had by you—
561b
561b
PERIPHIANES
561b
What of her?
561c
561c
PHILIPPA
561c
When I had brought her up, I lost her; she fell into the hands of the enemy.
562b
562b
PERIPHIANES
562b
Keep your mind in quiet and at rest. Why look, she’s here at my house safe and sound. For immediately I heard from my servant that she was a captive, instantly I gave the money for her to be purchased;
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he managed this affair as discreetly and frugally as in other matters he is egregiously—dishonest.