Complete Works of Plautus
Page 23
PHILOXENUS
I don’t object.
NICOBULUS
knocks at the door of the house of BACCHIS . Hallo there! Bacchis! Bid the door to be opened this instant, if you please, unless you had rather the door and the posts be knocked to bits with hatchets.
Enter FIRST BACCHIS and SECOND BACCHIS from the house.
1st BACCHIS
Who is it that calls out my name with such a noise and tumult, and is knocking so hard at the door?
NICOBULUS
I and this person here. Pointing to PHILOXENUS.
1st BACCHIS
Pray, what’s the matter now? Who has been driving these sheep to us?
NICOBULUS
These most shocking hussies call us sheep.
2nd BACCHIS
Their shepherd’s asleep, as they come straying thus from the flock.
1st BACCHIS
But, i’ faith, they are not white; they both look dirty.
2nd BACCHIS
Because they have both been shorn just now.
PHILOXENUS
How they seem to be laughing at us.
NICOBULUS
Let them, just as long as they please.
1st BACCHIS
Don’t you think that these sheep are shorn three times a year?
2nd BACCHIS
I’ faith, to-day one of them has been already shorn twice, that’s sure.
1st BACCHIS
They are old and fleeceless, both of them.
2nd BACCHIS
But I think they have been in good plight once.
1st BACCHIS
Prithee, do you see how they are looking with a sheep’s eye at us?
2nd BACCHIS
By my troth, I really do believe they are without any ill design.
PHILOXENUS
This happens to us deservedly, for having come here.
1st BACCHIS
Well, let them be driven in-doors to fold.
2nd BACCHIS
I don’t know what occasion there is for that, as they have neither milk nor wool. Let them stand as they are. Of whatever value they have been, they are now out of date; all their fruit has fallen off them by this. Don’t you see, how, straying unattended, they are ranging about at liberty? Why, I fancy that they must be dumb with age; they don’t bleat even, though they are absent from the rest of the flock. They seem both silly and worthless.
1st BACCHIS
Let’s return in-doors, sister.
NICOBULUS
Stay where you are, both of you; these sheep want you.
2nd BACCHIS
Why, surely this is a prodigy; sheep are addressing us with a human voice.
PHILOXENUS
These sheep will return you the heavy and great injury which they owe to you.
1st BACCHIS
If you owe me aught, I forgive it you; keep it to yourself; I’ll never demand it of you. But what is the reason that you are threatening mischief to us?
PHILOXENUS
Because they say that our two lambs are shut up here. Pointing to the house.
NICOBULUS
And besides those lambs, my dog is there concealed that bites. If they are not now produced to us and sent out of the house, we shall be furious rams; we shall attack you forthwith.
1st BACCHIS
Sister, I have something to say to you in private.
2nd BACCHIS
How now, prithee? They go apart.
NICOBULUS
Whither are they going?
FIRST BACCHIS
Sister, I give to you that old fellow that’s farthest off, that you may have him cleverly smoothed down; I’ll now attack this other one that’s angry; if we can only entice them here indoors.
2nd BACCHIS
I’ll manage my task with cleverness, although ’tis to caress an old skeleton.
1st BACCHIS
Take care and do your best.
2nd BACCHIS
Be quiet; do you do yours; I’ll manage what I have said.
NICOBULUS
Why are these two women holding a council here in private?
PHILOXENUS
What say you, my good fellow —— ?
NICOBULUS
What would you with me?
PHILOXENUS
I really am ashamed to tell you a certain thing.
NICOBULUS
What is it that you’re ashamed about?
PHILOXENUS
Still, as you are a person, a friend of mine, I’m determined to entrust you with what I could wish. Whispers. I’m good for nought.
NICOBULUS
I’ve known that this long time; but tell me why you’re good for nought?
PHILOXENUS
I’ve been terribly touched with birdlime: troth, my heart is pierced by the goad.
NICOBULUS
I’ faith, ‘twere much better if your flanks were goaded, you worthless fellow. But what is it? Although I suspect that I myself pretty well know already what it is; still, I should even like to hear it from yourself.
PHILOXENUS
Do you see that woman? Pointing to the SECOND BACCHIS.
NICOBULUS
I see her.
PHILOXENUS
She’s not an uncomely person.
NICOBULUS
Troth, but she is decidedly uncomely; and you are a good-for-nothing fellow.
PHILOXENUS
Why more? I’m in love.
NICOBULUS
You, in love?
PHILOXENUS
‘Pon honor.
NICOBULUS
And do you, you rotten creature, presume to become a lover at your time of life?
PHILOXENUS
Why not?
NICOBULUS
Because it’s a disgrace.
PHILOXENUS
What need of words? I am not vexed with my son, nor yet is it right you should be vexed with yours: if they are in love, they do wisely.
1st BACCHIS
... Follow me this way. They approach the old men.
NICOBULUS
See, they are moving at last, these allurers and enticers to disgrace. To the women. How now? Do you this instant restore us our sons and my servant, or am I to try rougher means with you?
PHILOXENUS
Won’t you away with you? You surely are not a man, to address a pretty woman so rudely in that fashion.
1st BACCHIS
Most worthy old gentleman, by whatsoever is upon the earth, let me entreat this of you, that you will cease to attack this error with such great vehemence.
NICOBULUS
If you don’t away with you, although you are so handsome, I’ll be doing you some great mischief just now.
1st BACCHIS
I shall endure it; I don’t apprehend that any blow that you can give, will cause me any pain.
NICOBULUS
How smooth of speech she is. O me! I am in alarm.
1st BACCHIS
aside . He’s more calm already. Aloud. Step this way with me in-doors; and there, if you choose, correct your son. Takes his arm.
NICOBULUS
Avaunt from me, abomination! Shakes her off.
1st BACCHIS
Do, my love, let me prevail upon you.
NICOBULUS
You, prevail upon me? 2nd
FIRST BACCHIS
For sure, I shall prevail, at all events, upon this gentleman. Pointing PHILOXENUS.
PHILOXENUS
Yes, I beg of you to show me in-doors.
2nd BACCHIS
What a dear man you are.
PHILOXENUS
But do you know on what condition you are to show me in-doors?
2nd BACCHIS
That you are to be with me.
PHILOXENUS
You mention all that I desire.
2nd BACCHIS
...
NICOBULUS
I have seen wicked men; but not one worse than yourself.
PHILO
XENUS
I am as I am.
1st BACCHIS
to NICOBULUS . Step this way in-doors with me, where you may be elegantly received with viands, wine, and unguents.
NICOBULUS
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.
1st BACCHIS
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?
PHILOXENUS
He’ll do it. Takes his arm.
NICOBULUS
Certainly not — I won’t — I don’t care — let me alone, now. Shakes him off. I had rather punish them both.
PHILOXENUS
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.
NICOBULUS
What, am I to carouse in that very place where my son is being corrupted?
PHILOXENUS
You must carouse there.
NICOBULUS
Am I to be the witness of it when she is reclining with him at table?
1st BACCHIS
Nay, so far as I’m concerned, i’ faith, I’ll recline at table with your own self.
NICOBULUS
My head does itch so. Aside. I’m a ruined man — I can scarce deny her.
PHILOXENUS
And has it not before this come into your mind, that if, while you live, you enjoy yourself, 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?
NICOBULUS
What am I to do?
PHILOXENUS
What are you to do? Do you even ask it?
NICOBULUS
I should like, and yet I’m afraid.
1st BACCHIS
What are you afraid of?
NICOBULUS
Lest I should be exposed before my son and my servant.
1st BACCHIS
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.
NICOBULUS
aside . How she does work her way. She’s now prevailing on me against that which I was quite resolved upon.
1st BACCHIS
I will love you, and embrace you.
NICOBULUS
Through your doing, and for your sake am I corrupted.
1st BACCHIS
I certainly had rather ‘twere for your own than for mine.
NICOBULUS
Come then, however that may be, although it is to my disgrace, I’ll submit; I’ll induce my feelings to do so.
1st BACCHIS
Have I that solemnly promised? ...
NICOBULUS
What I have once said, I will not alter.
1st BACCHIS
The day wears apace. Come into the house, to take your places at table: your sons are expecting within ——
NICOBULUS
How soon, in fact, we may be dead, d’ye mean?
1st BACCHIS
’Tis evening, already; come, follow us.
PHILOXENUS
Lead us in like bondsmen. They go into the house.
1st BACCHIS
to the SPECTATORS . Right cleverly are these persons entrapped themselves, who for their sons had laid a snare. Goes in.
The COMPANY The 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
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 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.
CAPTIVI
Translated by Henry Thomas Riley
Captivi (The Captives) concerns the theme of slavery and prisoners of war, a relatively serious treatment of significant themes compared to most of Plautus’ other comedies. Plautus himself points out this difference in tone in the prologue. The plot involves Philocrates and his slave Tyndarus, of the Greek district of Elis, who have been captured in war against another Greek region, Aetolia. They are now prisoners and slaves bought by Hegio, a well-to-do resident of Aetolia, who is planning to trade them for his son, Philipolemus, who has been captured in Elis. Pretending to be each other, the supposed slave Philocrates is sent to make the trade, while Tyndarus risks his life by remaining.
Unlike most of Plautus’ comedies, this play offers little in the way of sexual references and instead concentrates on serious subjects, including personal freedom, slavery and war. Although the mistaken identity elements of the plot are sometimes played for laughs and the sponger Ergasilus adds simple humour, there are also serious speeches about the fate of slaves and the realities of war. The German poet and philosopher Gotthold Ephraim Lessing famously pronounced Captivi to be the finest play ever staged. This praise has been deprecated by later critics, but the play has still earned plaudits for dealing with important ethical issues. Ben Jonson indirectly paid tribute to the play by adapting the plot of Captivi for his early comedy The Case is Altered.
Ancient ruins at Aetolia — the setting of the play
CONTENTS
THE SUBJECT.
THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT.
THE PROLOGUE.
ACT I.
ACT II.
ACT III.
ACT IV.
ACT V.
THE SUBJECT.
HEGIO, a wealthy native of Ætolia, had two sons, one of which was stolen by a slave when four years old, and being carried away to Elis, was sold there; the father being unable for many years to learn what has become of him. A war having commenced between the Eleans and the Ætolians, Phiiopolemus, the other son of Hegio, is taken prisoner by the Eleans. The Ætolians having taken many Elean prisoners, Hegio commences to traffic in captives, with the view of thereby redeeming his son from the Eleans, in exchange for some prisoner of rank. A this conjuncture the Play commences. Among the captives whom Hegio has purchased, Philocrates is one, having been taken prisoner, together with his servant, Tyndarus. With the object of deceiving Hegio, Philocrates and Tyndarus change their clothes, and having exchanged names as well, Philocrates pretends to be the servant of Tyndarus. Hegio being desirous to procure the exchange of his son, Philocrates (in the character of the servant of his fellowcaptive) is sent to Elis for that purpose. After his departure, Aristophontes, another captive, accidentally puts Hegio in the way of discovering the manner in which he has been deceived. On this, the old man, losing all hope of obtaining the liberation of his son, sends Tyndarus in chains to the stone-quarries. Shortly after, Philocrates returns, and brings with him Philopolemus, the son of Hegio, and Stalagmus, the runaway slave, that had stolen his other son. It is then discovered that Stalagmus had sold the child to the father of Philocrates, and that he is no other than Tyndarus, the slave; on which, Tyndarus is sent for, and is informed that he is the lost son of Hegio. Stalagmus is then condemned to the chains from which Tyndarus is liberated.
THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT.
[Supposed to have been written by Priscian the Grammarian]
One son of Hegio has been made prisoner (Captus) in battle. A runaway slave has sold the other (Alium) when four years old. The father (Pater) traffics in Elean captives, only (Tantum) desirous that he may recover his son, and (Et) among these he buys his son that was formerly lost. He (Is), his clothes and his name changed with his master, causes that (Ut) he is lost to Hegio; and he himself is puni
shed. And (Et) he brings back the captive and the runaway together, through whose information (Indicio) he discovers his other son.
THE PROLOGUE.
PROLOGUS
THESE two captives pointing to PHILOCRATES and TYNDARUS , whom you see standing here, are standing here because —— they are both standing, and are not sitting. That I am saying this truly, you are my witnesses. The old man, who lives here pointing to HEGIO’S house , is Hegio — his father pointing to TYNDARUS . But under what circumstances he is the slave of his own father, that I will here explain to you, if you give attention. This old man had two sons; a slave stole one child when four years old, and flying hence, he sold him in Elis, to the father of this captive pointing to PHIILOCRATES . Now, do you understand this? Very good. I’ faith, that man at a distance there pointing says, no. Come nearer then. If there isn’t room for you to sit down, there is for you to walk; since you’d be compelling an actor to bawl like a beggar. I’m not going to burst myself for your sake, so don’t you be mistaken. You who are enabled by your means to pay your taxes, listen to the rest; I care not to be in debt to another. This runaway slave, as I said before, sold his young master, whom, whom he fled, he had carried off, to this one’s father. He, after he bought him, gave him as his own private slave to his son of his, because they were of about the same age. He is now the slave at home of his own father, nor does his father know it. Verily, the Gods do treat us men just like footballs. You hear the manner now how he lost one son. Afterwards, the Ætolians are waging war with the people of Elis, and, as happens in warfare, the other son is taken prisoner. The physician Menarchus buys him there in Elis. On this, this Hegio begins to traffic in Elean captives, if, perchance, he may be able to find one to change for that captive son of his. He knows not that this one who is in his house is his own son. And as he heard yesterday that an Elean knight of very high rank and very high family was taken prisoner, he has spared no expense to rescue his son. In order that he may more easily bring him back home, he buys both of these of the Quæstors out of the spoil.
Now they, between themselves, have contrived this plan, that, by means of it, the servant may send away hence his master home. And therefore among themselves they change their garments and their names. He, there pointing , is called Philocrates; this one pointing , Tyndarus; he this day assumes the character of this one, this one of him. And this one to-day will cleverly carry out this plot, and cause his master to gain his liberty; and by the same means he will save his own brother, and without knowing it, will cause him to return back a free man to his own country to his father. just as often now, on many occasions, a person has done more good unknowingly than knowingly. But unconsciously, by their devices, they have so planned and devised their plot, and have so contrived it by their design, that this one is living in servitude with his own father. And thus now, in ignorance, he is the slave of his own father. What poor creatures are men, when I reflect upon it! This plot will be performed by us — a play for your entertainment. But there is, besides, a thing which, in a few words, I would wish to inform you of. Really, it will be worth your while to give your attention to this play. ’Tis not composed in the hackneyed style, nor yet like other plays, nor are there in it any ribald lines unfit for utterance: here is neither the perjured procurer, nor the artful courtesan, nor yet the braggart captain. Don’t you be afraid because I’ve said that there’s war between the Ætolians and the Eleans. There pointing , at a distance, beyond the scenes, the battles will be fought. For this were almost impossible for a Comic establishment, that we should at a moment attempt to be acting Tragedy. If, therefore, any one is looking for a battle, let him commence the quarrel; if he shall find an adversary more powerful, I’ll cause him to be the spectator of a battle that isn’t pleasant to him, so that hereafter he shall hate to be a spectator them all. I now retire. Fare ye well, at home, most upright judges, and in warfare most valiant combatants.