by Plautus
GYMNASIUM
Love is full of treachery.
SILENIUM
He’s taking his spoils of me, then.
GYMNASIUM
Be of good courage, you’ll get the better of this malady.
SILENIUM
I trust it will be so, if the physician comes that can administer the medicine to this malady.
GYMNASIUM
He will come.
SILENIUM
A hard expression is that to one in love, “He will come,” unless he does come. But by my own fault and foolishness, am I, wretched creature, more afflicted, because for him alone have I longed for myself, with whom to pass my life.
A PROCURESS
That is more suitable to a married woman, my dear Silenium, to love but one, and with him to pass her life, to whom she has once been married; but, indeed, a Courtesan is most like a flourishing city; she cannot alone increase her fortunes without a multitude of men.
SILENIUM
I want you to give heed to this matter; the thing on account of which you have been sent for to me, I’ll disclose. Now, my mother, because I don’t wish myself to be called a Courtesan, complied with my desire; in that matter she indulged myself who have been obedient to her; to allow me to live with him alone whom I so ardently loved.
A PROCURESS
I’ faith, she acted foolishly. But look, have you ever kept company with any man?
SILENIUM
With no one, indeed, except Alcesimarchus; nor has any other person whatever committed an infringement on my chastity.
A PROCURESS
Prithee, by what means did this man gain your good graces?
SILENIUM
At the festival of Bacchus my mother took me to see the procession. While I was returning home, from a secret look-out he secretly traced me even to the door; after that, he insinuated himself into the friendship of my mother and myself as well, by endearments, presents, and gifts.
A PROCURESS
I should like a man of that sort to be offered me. How I’d work him.
SILENIUM
What need is there of words? Through intercourse, I on the other hand began to love him, and he myself.
A PROCURESS
O my dear Silenium —— !
SILENIUM
What’s the matter?
A PROCURESS
You ought to pretend to be in love; for if you fall in love at once, you’ll be much better consulting the interests of him whom you love than your own.
SILENIUM
But in solemn form he took an oath before my mother that he would take me as his wife. Now, another woman is about to be taken home by him, a Lemnian lady, his relation, who is living here hard by pointing to DEMIPHO’S house ; for his father has compelled him. Now my mother is enraged with me, because I didn’t return home to her, when I came to know of this matter, that he was about to take another as his wife.
A PROCURESS
Nothing’s unfair in love.
SILENIUM
Now, I entreat you that you’ll let her pointing to GYMNASIUM be here only for the next three days, and keep house for me; for I’ve been sent for to my mother’s house.
A PROCURESS
Although this will be a troublesome three days for me, and you’ll be causing me a loss, I’ll do so.
SIL,
You act kindly and like a friend. But you, my dear Gymnasium, if in my absence Alcesimarchus shall come, don’t you chide him roughly; however he has deserved of myself, still he has my affections; but, prithee, act gently, so that you mayn’t say anything that may cause him pain. Take the keys giving them to her ; if you have need to take out anything for use, take it out. I wish to go ——
GYMNASIUM
weeping . How you have drawn tears from me.
SILENIUM
My dear Gymnasium, kindly, farewell.
GYMNASIUM
Take care of yourself, there’s a dear. Prithee, will you go in this dishabille? Pointing to her dress.
SILENIUM
It’s right that such neglect should attend upon my prospects thus disarranged.
GYMNASIUM
At least do lift up that outer garment.
SILENIUM
Let it be dragged, while I myself am being dragged down.
GYMNASIUM
Since so it pleases you, fare you well and prosper.
SILENIUM
If I could, I would. (Exit.)
GYMNASIUM
Mother, do you wish anything of me, before I go indoors? Upon my faith, to me she does seem to be in love.
A PROCURESS
For this reason, then, it is, that I’m repeatedly dinning it into your ears, not to be in love with any man. Go in-doors.
GYMNASIUM
Do you wish anything of me?
A PROCURESS
That you may fare well.
GYMNASIUM
Fare you well GYMNASIUM goes into the house of SILENTIUM.
The PROCURESS, alone.
A PROCURESS
to the AUDIENCE . It’s the same fault with myself as with a great part of us women who are following this calling; who, as soon as ever we have got our load of food, are forthwith full of talk; more than is enough do.we say. Why, myself now, inasmuch as I’m filled to my heart’s content, and because I’ve charged myself quite full of the choicest of wine, it pleases me to use my tongue more at freedom; to my misfortune I can’t keep silent on that which it were necessary to be silent upon. But once upon a time, that girl, who has gone hence in tears, from a lane I carried off a little child exposed. There is here a certain youth, of the highest rank; his father, of a very high family, is living at Sicyon; he is dying desperately in love for this young woman, who has just. now gone hence in tears; on the other hand, she is smitten with love. I made a present of her to my friend, this Courtesan: who had often made mention of it to me that somewhere I must find for her a boy or a girl, just born, that she herself might pass it off as her own. As soon as ever the opportunity befell me, I immediately granted her request in that which she had asked of me. After she had received this female child from me, at once she was brought to bed of the same female child which she had received from me, without the aid of a midwife and without pain, just as other women bring forth, who seek a trouble to themselves; but she said that her lover was a foreigner, and that by reason of that circumstance she was palming it off. This, we two alone are aware of, I who gave the child to her, and she who received it from me; to the AUDIENCE except yourselves, indeed. Thus was this affair managed; if any occasion should arise, I wish you to remember this circumstance. I’m off home. (Exit.)
Enter the GOD OF HELP, who speaks the PROLOGUE.
THE GOD OF HELP
To the AUDIENCE. This old woman is both a much-talker and a much-tippler. Isn’t it the fact that she has hardly left room to a Divinity for him to speak, so much has she forestalled him in talking about the substitution of this girl? But if she had held her tongue, still I was about to mention it — a God, who could do it better; for my name is Help. Now to the AUDIENCE lend your attention, that I may clearly explain this plot to you. Some time since, at Sicyon,: there was the Festival of Bacchus; a merchant of Lemnos came hither to the games, and he, an ungovernable young man, ravished a maiden in the dark, in the street, at the dead of night. He, as he knew that he was deserving of a heavy punishment, at once found shelter with his heels, and made off for Lemnos, where he then lived. She whom he had ravished, the ninth ensuing month completed, brought forth a daughter here. Since she did not know the person guilty of this deed, who he was, she made the servant of her father partaker of her counsels, and gave to that servant the child to be exposed to death. He exposed it; this woman took up the child; that servant, who had exposed it, secretly took note whither or to what house she carried away the child. As you have heard her own self confess, she gave this child to the Courtesan Melænis; and she brought her up as being her own daughter, honestly and virtuously. But
then, this Lemnian married a neighbour there, his relation, for his wife. She departed this life; there she was compliant to her husband. After he had performed the due obsequies to his wife, at once he removed hither; here he married for his wife that same woman whom formerly,when a maid, he ravished. When he understood that it was she whom he had ravished, she told him that, in consequence of the violation, she had brought forth a daughter, and had at once given her to a servant to be exposed. He forthwith ordered this same servant to make enquiries, if anyhow he could discover who had taken it up. Now to that task is the servant always assiduously devoting his attention, if he can find out that Courtesan, whom formerly, when he himself exposed her, he from his hidingplace had seen take her up. Now, what remains unpaid, I wish to discharge, that my name may be struck out, so that I mayn’t remain a debtor. A young man is here at Sicyon, his father is alive; with affection he distractedly dotes upon this exposed girl, who just now went hence in tears unto her mother; and she loves him in return, which is the most delightful love of all. As human matters go, nothing is granted for everlasting: the father is wishful to give the young man a wife. When the mother came to know of this, she ordered her to be sent for home. Thus have these matters come to pass. Kindly fare you well, and conquer by inborn valour, as you have done before; defend your allies, both ancient ones and new; increase resources by your righteous laws; destroy your foes; laud and laurels gather; that, conquered by you, the Pœni may suffer the penalty. (Exit.)
ACT II.
Enter ALCESIMARCHUS and MELÆNIS.
ALCESIMARCHUS
I do believe that Love was the first to invent torture among mankind. This conjecture do I form from myself at home, not to go seek it out of doors; I, who surpass all men, exceed them in the pangs of my feelings. I’m tossed, tormented, agitated, goaded, whirled on the wheel of love in my misery, I’m deprived of sensation, carried one way, carried another way, I’m torn and rent asunder; such clouded faculties of mind have I, where I am, there I am not; where I am not, there my thoughts are; to such a degree have I now all kinds of feelings in me; what I like, then all at once I like not the same; so much does love trifle with me changing my mind, drive me, pursue, desire, and seize for itself, retain, trepan, and promise; what it gives, it gives not; it deludes me; what this moment it has persuaded me, it now dissuades me from; what it has dissuaded me from, it now points out to me that same. After the manner of the sea is it experienced by me; so much does it distract my enamoured feelings; and only in that, in my misery, I do not sink utterly, is there any evil removed from me thus ruined; in such a way has my father detained me these six days running in the country, at his house there; nor has it been allowed me in the meantime to visit my mistress. Isn’t this dreadful to relate?
MELAENIS
Are you joking for this reason, because you’ve got another wife engaged, a rich lady of Lemnos? Have her then! We are neither of a family so great as you are, nor is our wealth so substantial as yours; but still I have no fears that any one will impeach our oath; you then, if you shall feel any pain, will know for what reason you do feel pain.
ALCESIMARCHUS
May the Gods confound me —
MELAENIS
Whatever you wish for, I desire it may befall you.
ALCESIMARCHUS
If ever I’ll marry that wife which my father has engaged for me.
MELAENIS
And me, if ever I give you my daughter for a wife.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Will you allow me to be forsworn?
MELAENIS
Yes, and a little more easily than myself and my affairs to go to ruin, and my daughter to be trifled with. Begone! go seek where there is confidence enough in your oaths; here now, with us, Alcesimarchus, you’ve renounced your title to our friendship.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Make trial of me but once.
MELAENIS
I have made that trial full oft; which I lament has been so made.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Give her back to me.
MELAENIS
Under new circumstances I’ll use an old proverb: “What I have given, I wish I had not given; what’s left, that I shall not give.”
ALCESIMARCHUS
Won’t you restore her again to me?
MELAENIS
Answer yourself for me.
ALCESIMARCHUS
You won’t restore her then?
MELAENIS
You know the whole of my resolution already.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Is that quite resolved upon by you in your heart?
MELAENIS
Why, in fact, I’m thinking about something else; i’ faith, I don’t at present catch these words of yours with my ears.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Not hear? Why, what are you doing?
MELAENIS
Then do you give heed at once, that you may know what you are doing.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Then, so may the Gods and Goddesses of above and below, and of middle rank, and so may Juno the queen and the daughter of supreme Jove, and so may Saturn his uncle ——
MELAENIS
I’ troth, his father ——
ALCESIMARCHUS
And so may Ops the opulent, his grandam ——
MELAENIS
Indeed, his mother, rather.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Juno his daughter, and Saturn his uncle, supreme Jove — You are maddening me; it’s through you I make these mistakes.
MELAENIS
Go on saying so.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Is it that I’m to know what conclusion you are going to come to?
MELAENIS
Go on talking; I shall not send her back, that’s resolved upon.
ALCESIMARCHUS
Why then, so may Jupiter, and so may Juno and Saturn, to me, so may — I don’t know what to say — Now I know — Yes, madam, listen, that you may know my mind; may all the Deities, great and small, and those honored with the platter * * * cause me not surviving to give a kiss this day to Silenium, if I don’t this very day murder you and your daughter and myself, and after that, with the break of day, if I don’t to-morrow kill you both, and indeed, by all the powers, if at the third onset I don’t demolish you all, if you don’t send her back to me. I’ve said what I intended. Farewell. Goes into his FATHER’S house.
MELAENIS
to herself . He’s gone in-doors in a rage. What shall I do now? If she comes back to him, matters will be just in the same position. When satiety begins to take possession; he’ll be turning her out of doors, when he shall be bringing home this Lemnian wife. But still I’ll go and follow him; there’s necessity for caution, lest he, in love, should be doing some mischief. In fine, since with strict justice a poor person’s not allowed to contend with a rich one, I’ll lose my labour rather than lose my daughter. But who’s this that straight along the street is directing his course this way? Both the other matter do I fear, and this do I dread; so utterly in trepidation am wretched I. She stands aside.
Enter LAMPADISCUS.
LAMPADISCUS
to himself . I’ve followed the old woman with my clamour through the streets; I’ve kept her most dreadfully plagued. In what a multitude of ways has she, this day, kept guard upon herself, and been able to remember nothing. How many alluring things, what advantages I’ve promised her. Blow many inventions I’ve applied to her, how many stratagems in questioning her. With difficulty have I extorted it from her that she should tell me, because I promised to give her a cask of wine.
Enter PHANOSTRATA, from her house.
PHANOSTRATA
to herself . I seemed just now to be hearing the voice of my servant Lampadiscus before the house.
LAMPADISCUS
stepping forward . You are not deaf, mistress, you heard aright.
PHANOSTRATA
What are you doing here?
LAMPADISCUS
A thing for you to rejoice at.
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br /> PHANOSTRATA
What’s that?
LAMPADISCUS
pointing to the house of SILENIUM . A little while ago, I saw a woman coming out of that house there.
PHANOSTRATA
Her that took up my daughter?
LAMPADISCUS
You have the matter rgiht.
PHANOSTRATA
What after that?
LAMPADISCUS
I told her in what way I had seen her take up the daughter of my mistress from the Hippodrome. Then she was in a fright.
MELAENIS
apart . Now my body’s in a shudder, my heart is throbbing; for I recollect that from the Hippodrome the little female infant was brought to me, and that I brought it up as my own.
PHANOSTRATA
Come, prithee, do go on; my soul’s longing to hear how the matter proceeded.
MELAENIS
apart . I only wish you couldn’t hear.
LAMPADISCUS
I proceed * * * saying, “This old woman calls you her daughter wrongfully. * * * * * * * * For this woman here is your foster-mother, so don’t think she is your mother. I’m to take you back and invite you to opulence, where you may be settled in a noble family, where your father may present you with twenty great talents for a portion. For this is not a place where after the Etrurian mode you are disgracefully to earn a dowry for yourself by prostitution of your person.”
PHANOSTRATA
Is she, pray, a Courtesan, who took it up?
LAMPADISCUS
Yes, she was a Courtesan. But how it happened, I’ll tell you about that matter. I was now winning her over to me by my persuasion. The old woman embraced her knees, weeping and entreating that she would not forsake her; saying that she was her own daughter; and she took a solemn oath to me that she herself had borne her. “ Her,” said she, “whom you are in search of, I gave to a friend of mine to bring her up as her own daughter; and she is alive,” said she. “Where is she?” immediately said I.
PHANOSTRATA
Preserve me, ye Gods, I do entreat you.
MELAENIS
apart . But me you are undoing!
PHANOSTRATA
You ought to have enquired to whom she gave it.
LAMPADISCUS
I did enquire, and she said to the Courtesan Melænis.
MELAENIS