by Plautus
apart . He has mentioned my name? I’m utterly undone!
LAMPADISCUS
When she mentioned her, I straightway asked, “Where does she live?” said I; “take and show me.” “She has been carried off hence,” says she, “to live abroad.”
MELAENIS
He’s sprinkling a little cold water now.
LAMPADISCUS
“Wherever she has been carried off, thither we will follow. Do you trifle in this fashion? You are undone, if, i’ faith, you don’t disclose this.”I insisted to such a degree, that the old woman swore that she would soon inform me.
PHANOSTRATA
But you oughtn’t to have let her go.
LAMPADISCUS
She’s all safe; but she said that she wished first to meet a certain woman, a friend of hers, with whom this was a matter of interest in common, and I’m sure she’ll come.
MELAENIS
apart . She’ll be discovering me, and adding her own distress to mine.
PHANOSTRATA
Make me acquainted what you now wish me to do.
LAMPADISCUS
Go in-doors, and be of good heart. If your husband shall come, bid him wait at home, lest he should be required by me, if I want him for anything. I’m going to run back to the old woman.
PHANOSTRATA
Lampadio, prithee, do take care.
LAMPADISCUS
I’ll have this matter well managed.
PHANOSTRATA
I trust in the Gods and in yourself.
LAMPADISCUS
And I in the same. — that you’ll now go home. PHANOSTRATA goes into her house.
MELAENIS
coming forward . Young man, stay and listen.
LAMPADISCUS
What, are you calling to me, woman?
MELAENIS
To you.
LAMPADISCUS
What’s the matter? For I’m fully engaged.
MELAENIS
Pointing to the house of DEMIPHO . Who lives there?
LAMPADISCUS
Demipho, my master.
MELAENIS
It is he, I suppose, that has betrothed his daughter with such great wealth to Alcesimarchus?
LAMPADISCUS
It is he himself.
MELAENIS
How now, you? What other daughter, then, are you people now in search of?
LAMPADISCUS
I’ll tell you; not his daughter by his wife, but his wife’s daughter.
MELAENIS
What’s the meaning of that speech?
LAMPADISCUS
By a former woman, I say, my master had a daughter born.
MELAENIS
Surely, just now you said you were in search of the daughter of her who has been talking here.
LAMPADISCUS
Her daughter I am in search of.
MELAENIS
In what way then, pray, is she a “former woman,” who is now his wife?
LAMPADISCUS
Woman, whoever you are, you weary me with your prating. The middle woman whom he had for a wife, of her this maiden was born that’s being given to Alcesimarchus. That wife is dead. Do you understand now?
MELAENIS
I understand that quite well; but it’s this knotty point I’m enquiring about, how the first can be the last, the last be the first.
LAMPADISCUS
The fact is this; this woman he ravished before he took her home as his wife; before that she was pregnant, and before that she gave birth to a daughter: after she gave birth to her, she ordered the infant to be exposed; I myself exposed her; another woman took her away; I was on the look-out; after that, my master married her. That girl, her daughter, we are now in search of. MELÆNIS turns aside her head. Why now, with face upturned, are you looking up towards the heavens?
MELAENIS
Now, then, be off at once whither you were hastening; I won’t detain you; I understand it now.
LAMPADISCUS
I’ troth, to the Deities I do give thanks; for if you hadn’t understood me, I do think you would never have let me go. (Exit.)
MELAENIS
to herself . Now it’s necessary for me to be honest, whether I will or no, although I had rather not; I find the thing is discovered. Now will I myself lay them under an obligation to me, rather than she shall peach upon me. I’ll go home, and I’ll bring Silenium to her parents. (Exit.)
ACT III.
Enter MELÆnis, SILENIUM, and HALISCA.
MELAENIS
I’ve disclosed the whole matter to you; follow, my Silenium, that you may rather belong to those to whom you ought to belong, than be mine. Although against my will I shall part with you, still I’ll reconcile my mind to consult that which in especial conduces to your benefit. Giving her a casket. For here in this are the trinkets, together with which she who gave you to me formerly brought you to me; that your parents may recognize you the more easily. Take this casket, Halisca, and then go and knock at that door pointing to the house of DEMIPHO : say that I request that some one will come from within. Make haste, quickly. Enter ALCESIMARCHUS, from his FATHER’S house, with his sword drawn.
ALCESIMARCHUS
calling aloud . Death, receive me unto thyself, a friend and well-wisher to me!
SILENIUM
My mother, to our sorrow, we are undone!
ALCESIMARCHUS
aloud, to himself . Whether shall I pierce my side here striking his right side or on the left.
MELAENIS
to SILENIUM . What’s the matter with you?
SILENIUM
pointing . Don’t you see Alcesimarchus? He’s grasping a sword. ALC. aloud, in a frantic manner . What art about? Thou art delaying. Quit the light of day.
SILENIUM
Do run and aid him, pray, that he mayn’t kill himself. They run to assist him, on which HALISCA drops the casket.
ALCESIMARCHUS
O Safety more healthful than my own safety, you now, whether I wish or don’t wish, alone do cause me to live.
MELAENIS
Fie on it! Were you ready to commit such violence?
ALCESIMARCHUS
I’ve nought to do with you — to you I’m dead. Clasping SILENIUM in his arms. Her, as I hold her, I’m determined not to lose. For, by heaven, I am resolved henceforth to have her entirely rivetted fast unto me. Goes to the door of the house, and calls. Where are you, servants? Shut the door with bolts, with bars, when I shall have carried her within the threshold! He carries SILENIUM into the house, followed by HALISCA.
MELAENIS
exclaiming, while wringing her hands . He’s gone off: he has carried the damsel away. I’ll go — I’ll at once follow him in-doors, that he may know of me these same things, if from being angered with me I can render him pleased. Goes into the house.
ACT IV.
Enter LAMPADISCUS.
LAMPADISCUS
I do believe I never saw a more tormenting old nag than this is. What she just now confessed to me, is she to be denying it? But look, I see my mistress. Why seeing the casket on the ground , how’s this, that this casket is lying here with these trinkets, and that I see no other person in the street? I must act the child’s part; I’ll stoop to pick up the casket. Picks it up. from her house.
PHANOSTRATA
What are you about, Lampadio?
LAMPADISCUS
giving the casket to PHANOSTRATA . Is this casket from out of our house here, I wonder. For I picked it up, lying here near the door.
PHANOSTRATA
What news do you bring about the old woman?
LAMPADISCUS
That there’s not one other on earth more wicked. She denies all those things which she just now confessed to me. But, i’ faith, for me to allow that old jade to be laughing at me, it’s preferable for me to die by any kind of death.
PHANOSTRATA
Ye Gods, I do adjure you by our trust in you! Opening the casket.
LAMPADISCUS
&
nbsp; Why do you call upon the Gods?
PHANOSTRATA
Save us!
LAMPADISCUS
What’s the matter?
PHANOSTRATA
These are the trinkets with which you exposed my little daughter to death.
LAMPADISCUS
Are you in your senses?
PHANOSTRATA
These certainly are.
LAMPADISCUS
Do you persist?
PHANOSTRATA
These are they.
LAMPADISCUS
If any other woman were to speak to me after that fashion, I should say she was drunk.
PHANOSTRATA
By heaven! I’m talking no nonsense. But prithee, whence in the world did these come, or what Deity placed this before our door? As though for a given purpose, at the very instant sacred Hope comes to my aid?
Enter HALISCA, at a distance, from the house of the FATHER of ALCESIMARCHUS.
HAL.
to herself . Unless the Gods give me some aid, I’m utterly undone; nor do I know whence I am to seek for aid. To such a degree does carelessness possess wretched me in mind, which I sadly fear may be lighting upon my own back, if my mistress knows that I’m so negligent as I really am. The casket which I took and held in my hands here before the door, where it is I know not; except, as I fancy, it was dropt by me about this spot. Looks about on the ground. My good sirs to the AUDIENCE , my kind Spectators, do give me information if any one has seen it, if any one has taken it away, or any one picked it up; and whether in this direction or that he has taken his departure? She pauses for a reply. I’m none the wiser for asking these persons, or for worrying them, who are always delighted at a woman’s mishaps. Now I’ll mark if there are any footsteps here; for if no one had passed this way since I went in-doors, the casket would be lying here. Why say “here?” It’s lost, I guess; it’s done for. It’s all over with unhappy and unlucky me! It’s nowhere, and nowhere am I. This, by its loss, has proved my loss. But still, as I’ve begun, I’ll e’en go on; I’ll make search; for both within do I fear, and without I am afraid; so much, on either side, does fear agitate me now. In this are mortals intensely wretched. He is now joyous, whoever he is, that has found it, which is of no use at all to any person else; to myself it may be. But I cause delay to myself, while I’m doing this with remissness. Halisca, attend to what you are about: look down upon the ground, and look round about; search with your eyes; guess with shrewdness.
LAMPADISCUS
apart, at a distance . Mistress!
PHANOSTRATA
apart . Well, what’s the matter?
LAMPADISCUS
apart . That’s she. Pointing at HALISCA.
PHANOSTRATA
apart . Who?
LAMPADISCUS
apart. She who let fall the casket. Why surely she’s tracing out that spot where it fell.
PHANOSTRATA
apart. It seems so.
HAL.
to herself, looking on the ground . But that person has gone this way; this way I perceive the imprint of his shoe; this way I’ll follow him. She moves along, still looking on the ground. In this spot now has he stopped, along with another person. Here now a circle presents itself to my sight, nor did he go straight forward this way; here he came to a pause. This way did he come out of that circle. Here was a conference with some one. It points to two persons now. Who are these? Heyday I see the footsteps of only one. But he has gone this way. I’ll consider it: hither he went from thence; from hence he has never gone. I’m troubling myself to no purpose. What’s lost is lost; my hide along with the casket. I’ll go in-doors again. Going towards the house of the FATHER of ALCESIMARCHUS.
PHANOSTRATA
calling out . Hallo, woman-stop; there are some persons who wish to meet with you.
HAL.
Who’s calling me back?
LAMPADISCUS
A good female and a bad male want you.
HAL.
Away with you, bad male; I want a good one. To herself. After all, he who calls knows better what he wants than I who am called; I’ll return. Aloud. Prithee, have you seen any person hereabouts pick up a casket with some trinkets, which I, to my misfortune, have lost here? For when, just now, we were running into the house of Alcesimarchus, that he mightn’t put an end to his life, at that moment I think that, through terror, the casket fell down from me here.
LAMPADISCUS
aside to PHANOSTRATA . This woman’s to our purpose; let’s then give heed to her a little, mistress.
HAL.
To my sorrow, I’m utterly undone. What shall I say to my mistress, who bade me with such earnestness take care of it, through which Silenium might the more readily recognize her parents — who, when little, was adopted by my mistress as her own, and whom a certain Courtesan gave to her?
LAMPADISCUS
aside . She’s talking about this matter of ours. According as she gives these indications by her talk, she must surely know where your daughter is.
HAL.
Now is she desirous of her own accord to restore her to her father and mother, whose daughter she is; prithee, my good sir, you are attending to something else; I commend my matter to you.
LAMPADISCUS
I’m giving my attention to this, and this is as good as food to me, that you are talking of; but amid my attending to this matter, I was answering this mistress of mine what she was enquiring; now I return to you. If you have need of anything, say you, and give your orders. What were you looking, for?
HAL.
My good sir and my good madam, I greet you.
PHANOSTRATA
And we you. But what are you looking for?
HAL.
I’m tracing footsteps here, the way that something has escaped me here, I don’t know how.
PHANOSTRATA
What is it?
LAMPADISCUS
What is it, pray?
HAL.
Something to bring a loss to another, and a calamity on our family.
LAMPADISCUS
aside to PHANOSTRATA . A worthless baggage is this, mistress, and a crafty one.
PHANOSTRATA
aside . I’ faith, and so she seems.
LAMPADISCUS
aside . She imitates a worthless animal and a mischievous.
PHANOSTRATA
aside . Which one, prithee? LAM. aside . A caterpillar, which twisting about winds itself in the leaf of the vine; just in the same way does she begin a story that twists about. To HALISCA. What are you looking for?
HAL.
A casket, my good young man, has flown away from me here.
LAMPADISCUS
You ought to have put it in a cage.
HAL.
I’ faith, the booty was no great one.
LAMPADISCUS
It’s a wonder, if a whole troop of slaves isn’t there in the casket.
PHANOSTRATA
Do let her speak.
LAMPADISCUS
If indeed she would speak.
PHANOSTRATA
to HALISCA . Come say you, what was in it?
HAL.
Trinkets only.
LAMPADISCUS
There’s a certain man, who declares that he knows where it is.
HAL.
But, by my faith, he’ll confer an obligation on a certain woman if he’ll discover it.
LAMPADISCUS
But this certain man wishes a reward to be given to him.
HAL.
But, by my faith, this certain woman, that has lost this casket, declares that she has nothing to give to this certain man.
LAMPADISCUS
But still this certain man looks for some money.
HAL.
But still he looks for it in vain.
LAMPADISCUS
But, by my faith, good woman, in no matter does this certain man give his pains for nothing.
PHANOSTRATA
Lend me your conversation: it w
ill now be for your own advantage. We confess that we have got the casket.
HAL.
Then may Salvation preserve you; where is it now?
PHANOSTRATA
producing the casket . See, here it is, safe. But I wish to discourse with you upon a matter of importance to myself; I take you as a sharer with me in my own preservation.
HAL.
What matter is this, or who are you?
PHANOSTRATA
I am the mother of her who had these things with her, when exposed.
HAL.
Do you live here then? Pointing to the house.
PHANOSTRATA
You are a diviner. But, prithee, good woman, do lay aside all mystification, and to the point; tell me at once, whence did you get these trinkets?
HAL.
This daughter of my mistress had them.
LAMPADISCUS
You tell a falsehood; for my own mistress’s daughter had them, not yours.
PHANOSTRATA
Don’t interrupt.
LAMPADISCUS
I’ll be mum.
PHANOSTRATA
Good woman, go on speaking. Where is she who had them?
HAL.
pointing to the house of ALCESIMARCHUS . Here, next door.
PHANOSTRATA
By the powers, surely the son-in-law of my husband is living there.
LAMPADISCUS
Surely ——
PHANOSTRATA
to LAMPADISCUS . Interrupting again? To HALISCA. Go on relating it. How many years old is she said to be?
HAL.
Seventeen.
PHANOSTRATA
She is my own daughter then!
LAMPADISCUS
’Tis she, as the number of her years has proved.
HAL.
What you are seeking, you have found; I now seek what’s mine.
LAMPADISCUS
Why, faith, they’ve found what’s their own, I’ll seek for number three.
PHANOSTRATA
My daughter, the object which I was seeking, I have discovered.
HAL.
It’s proper to keep in safety what has been entrusted in confidence, lest a kindness should turn out a detriment to the well-deserving. This fosterling of ours is assuredly your daughter, and my mistress is about to restore you your own, and for that purpose has she come from her house. But, prithee, enquire of her own self; I am but a servant.
PHANOSTRATA
You ask what’s just.
HAL.
To her rather do I choose this obligation to belong. But I beg that you’ll restore me that casket.