Complete Works of Plautus
Page 63
PALAESTRIO
In the Gods and yourself I’ll place my trust. Yet, at the last, although it is bitter to me that I must be deprived of an excellent master, yourself, at least it is a pleasure to me that, through my means, by reason of the excellence of your beauty, this has happened to you with regard to this lady neighbour, whom I am now introducing to you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What need of words? I’ll give you liberty and wealth if you obtain her for me.
PALAESTRIO
I’ll win her.
PYRGOPOLINICES
But I’m impatient.
PALAESTRIO
But moderation is requisite; curb your desires; don’t be over anxious. But see, here she is herself; she is coming out of doors.
Enter ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA from the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
MILPHIDIPPA
in a low voice . Mistress, see! the Captain’s near.
ACROTELEUTIUM
in a low voice . Where is he?
MILPHIDIPPA
Only look to the left. Eye him askance, that he mayn’t perceive that we are looking at him.
ACROTELEUTIUM
I see him. Troth, now’s the time, in our mischief, for us to become supremely mischievous.
MILPHIDIPPA
’Tis for you to begin.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Prithee, did you see him yourself? Aside. Don’t spare your voice, so that he may hear.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . By my troth, I talked with his own self, at my ease, as long as I pleased, at my leisure, at my own discretion, just as I wished.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . Do you hear what she says?
PALAESTRIO
to PYRGOPOLINICES . I hear. How delighted she is because she had access to you.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . O happy woman that you are!
PYRGOPOLINICES
How I do seem to be loved!
PALAESTRIO
You are deserving of it.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . By my troth, ’tis passing strange what you say, that you had access to him and prevailed. They say that he is usually addressed, like a king, through letters or messengers.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . But, i’ faith, ’twas with difficulty I had an opportunity of approaching and beseeching him.
PALAESTRIO
to PYRGOPOLINICES . How renowned you are among the fair
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . I shall submit, since Venus wills it so.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . By heavens! I return to Venus grateful thanks, and her I do beseech and entreat, that I may win him whom I love and whom I seek to win, and that to me he may prove gentle, and not make a difficulty about what I desire.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . I hope it may be so; although many ladies are seeking to win him for themselves, he disdains them and estranges himself from all but you alone.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Therefore this fear torments me, since he is so disdainful, lest his eyes, when he beholds me, should change his sentiments, and his own gracefulness should at once disdain my form.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . He will not do so; be of good heart.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . How she does slight herself!
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . I fear lest your account may have surpassed my looks.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud. I’ve taken care of this, that you shall be fairer than his expectations.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Troth, if he shall refuse to take me as his wife, by heavens I’ll embrace his knees and entreat him! If I shall be unable to prevail on him, in some way or other, I’ll put myself to death. I’m quite sure that without him I cannot live.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . I see that I must prevent this woman’s death. Shall I accost her?
PALAESTRIO
By no means; for you will be making yourself cheap if you lavish yourself away of your own accord. Let her come spontaneously, seek you, court you, strive to win you. Unless you wish to lose that glory which you have, please have a care what you do. For I know that this was never the lot of any mortal, except two persons, yourself and Phaon of Lesbos, to be loved so desperately.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . I’ll go in-doors — or, my dear Milphidippa, do you call him out of doors.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . Aye; let’s wait until some one comes out.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . I can’t restrain myself from going il to him.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . The door’s fastened. ACROT. aloud . I’ll break it in then.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . You are not in your senses.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . If he has ever loved, or if he has wisdom equal to his beauty, whatever I may do through love, he will pardon me by reason of his compassionate feelings.
PALAESTRIO
to PYRGOPOLINICES . Prithee, do see, how distracted the poor thing is with love.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . ’Tis mutual in us.
PALAESTRIO
Hush! Don’t you let her hear.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . Why do you stand stupefied? Why don’t you knock?
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Because he is not within whom I want.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . How do you know?
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . By my troth, I do know it easily; for my nose would scent him if he were within.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . She is a diviner. Because she is in love with me, Venus has made her prophesy.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . He is somewhere or other close at hand whom I do so long to behold. I’m sure I smell him.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . Troth, now, she really sees better with her nose than with her eyes.
PALAESTRIO
to PYRGOPOLINICES . She is blind from love.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Prithee, do support me.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . Why?
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Lest I should fall.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . Why?
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Because I cannot stand; my senses — my senses are sinking so by reason of my eyes.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . Heavens! you’ve seen the Captain.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . I have.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . I don’t see him. Where is he?
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . Troth, you would see him if you were in tove.
MILPHIDIPPA
aloud . I’ faith, you don’t love him more than I do myself, with your good leave.
PALAESTRIO
to PYRGOPOLINICES . No doubt all of the women, as soon as each has seen you, are in love with you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . I don’t know whether you have heard it from me or not; I’m the grandson of Venus.
ACROTELEUTIUM
aloud . My dear Milphidippa, prithee do approach and accost him.
PYRGOPOLINICES
to PALAESTRIO . How she does stand in awe of me!
PALAESTRIO
to PYRGOPOLINICES . She is coming towards us.
MILPHIDIPPA
advancing . I wish to speak with you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
And we with you.
MILPHIDIPPA
I have brought my mistress out of the house, as you requested me.
PYRGOPOLINICES
So I see.
MILPHIDIPPA
Request her, then, to approach.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Since you have entreated it, I
have prevailed upon my mind not to detest her just like other women.
MILPHIDIPPA
I’ faith she wouldn’t be able to utter a word if she were to come near you; while she was looking at you, her eyes have in the meantime tied her tongue.
PYRGOPOLINICES
I see that this woman’s disorder must be cured.
MILPHIDIPPA
See how terrified she is since she beheld you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Even armed men are the same; don’t wonder at a woman being so. But what does she wish me to do?
MILPHIDIPPA
You to come to her house; she wishes to live and to pass her life with you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What! — I come home to her, when she is a married woman? Her husband is to be stood in fear of.
MILPHIDIPPA
Why, — for your sake, she has turned her husband out of her house.
PYRGOPOLINICES
How? How could she do so?
MILPHIDIPPA
The house was her marriage-portion.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Was it so?
MILPHIDIPPA
It was so, on my word.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Bid her go home; I’ll be there just now.
MILPHIDIPPA
Take care, and don’t keep her in expectation; don’t torment her feelings.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Not I, indeed. Do you go then.
MILPHIDIPPA
We are going. ACROTELEUTIUM and MILPHIDIPPA go into the house of PERIPLECOMENUS.
PYRGOPOLINICES
But what do I see?
PALAESTRIO
What do you see?
PYRGOPOLINICES
See there, some one is coming, I know not who, but in a sailor’s dress.
PALAESTRIO
He is surely wanting us, now; really, it is the shipmaster.
PYRGOPOLINICES
He’s come, I suppose, to fetch her.
PALAESTRIO
I fancy so.
Enter PLEUSICLES, at a distance, in a Sailor’s dress.
PLEUSICLES
to himself . Did I not know that another man in other ways has done many a thing unbecomingly on account of love, I should be more ashamed by reason of love for me to be going in this garb. But since I have learned that many persons by reason of love have committed many actions, disgraceful and estranged from what is good, * * * * * for I pass by how Achilles suffered his comrades to be slain —— But there’s Palaestrio, he’s standing with the Captain. My talk must now be changed for another kind. Woman is surely born of tardiness itself. For every other delay, which is a delay just as much, seems a less delay than that which is on account of a woman. I really think that this is done merely from habit. But I shall call for this Philocomasium. I’ll knock at the door then. Hallo! is there any one here? Knocks at the CAPTAIN’S door.
PALAESTRIO
Young man — what is it? What do you want? Why are you knocking?
PLEUSICLES
I’m come to inquire for Philocomasium; I’m come from her mother. If she’s for going, let her set off. She is delaying us all; we wish to weigh anchor.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Her things have been some time in readiness. Hearkye, Palaestrio, take some assistants with you to carry to the ship her golden trinkets, her furniture, apparel, all her precious things. All the articles are already packed up which I gave her.
PALAESTRIO
I’ll go. Goes into the house.
PLEUSICLES
Troth now, prithee, do make haste.
PYRGOPOLINICES
There shall be no delay. Pray, what is it that has been done with your eye?
PLEUSICLES
Troth, hut I have my eye. Points to the right one.
PYRGOPOLINICES
But the left one I mean.
PLEUSICLES
I’ll tell you. On account of the sea, I use this eye less; but if I kept away from the sea, I should use the one like the other. But they are detaining me too long.
PYRGOPOLINICES
See, here they are coming out.
Enter PALAESTRIO and PHILOCOMASIUM from the CAPTAIN’S house.
PALAESTRIO
to PHILOCOMASIUM . Prithee, when will you this day make an end of your weeping?
PHILOCOMASIUM
What can I do but weep? I am going away hence where I have spent my days most happily.
PALAESTRIO
See, there’s the man that has come from your mother and sister pointing to PLEUSICLES .
PHILOCOMASIUM
I see him.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Palaestrio, do you hear?
PALAESTRIO
What is your pleasure?
PYRGOPOLINICES
Aren’t you ordering those presents to be brought out which I gave her?
PLEUSICLES
Health to you, Philocomasium.
PHILOCOMASIUM
And health to you.
PLEUSICLES
Your mother and sister bade me give their love to you.
PHILOCOMASIUM
Heaven prosper them.
PLEUSICLES
They beg you to set out, so that, while the wind is fair, they may set sail. But if your mother’s eyes had been well, she would have come together with me.
PHILOCOMASIUM
I’ll go; although I do it with regret-duty compels me.
PLEUSICLES
You act wisely.
PYRGOPOLINICES
If she had not been passing her life with myself, this day she would have been a blockhead.
PHILOCOMASIUM
I am distracted at this, that I am estranged from such a man. For you are able to make any woman what-ever abound in wit; and because I was living with you, for that reason I was of a very lofty spirit. I see that I must lose that loftiness of mind. Pretends to cry.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Don’t weep.
PHILOCOMASIUM
I can’t help it when I look upon you.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Be of good courage.
PHILOCOMASIUM
I know what pain it is to me.
PALAESTRIO
I really don’t wonder now, Philocomasium, if you were here with happiness to yourself, when I, a servant — as I look at him, weep because we are parting pretends to cry , so much have his beauty, his manners, his valour, captivated your feelings.
PHILOCOMASIUM
Prithee, do let me embrace you before I depart?
PYRGOPOLINICES
By all means
PHILOCOMASIUM
embracing him . O my eyes! O my life!
PALAESTRIO
Do hold up the woman, I entreat you, lest she should fall. He takes hold of her, and she pretends to faint.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What means this?
PALAESTRIO
Because, after she had quitted you, she suddenly became faint, poor thing.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Run in and fetch some water.
PALAESTRIO
I want no water; but I had rather you would keep at a distance. Prithee, don’t you interfere till she comes to.
PYRGOPOLINICES
observing PLEUSICLES, who is holding PHILOCOMASIUM in his arm. They have their heads too closely in contact between them; I don’t like it; he is soldering his lips to hers. What the plague are you about?
PLEUSICLES
I was trying whether she was breathing or not.
PYRGOPOLINICES
You ought to have applied your ear then.
PLEUSICLES
If you had rather, I’ll let her go.
PYRGOPOLINICES
No, I don’t care; do you support her.
PALAESTRIO
To my misery, I’m quite distracted.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Go and bring here from in-doors all the things that I have given her.
PALAESTRIO
PYRGOPOLINICES
Come, Palaestrio, be of good courage.
PALAESTRIO
Alas! alas! I cannot but weep since from you I must depart.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Bear it with patience.
PHILOCOMASIUM
feigning to recover . Ha! how’s this? What means it? Hail, O light!
PLEUSICLES
Are you recovered now?
PHILOCOMASIUM
Prithee, what person am I embracing? I’m undone. Am I myself?
PLEUSICLES
in a low voice . Fear not, my delight.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What means all this?
PALAESTRIO
Just now she swooned away here. * * * * * * I fear and dread that this at last may take place too openly.
PYRGOPOLINICES
What is that you say?
PALAESTRIO
I fear that some one may turn it to your discredit, while all these things are being carried after us through the city.
PYRGOPOLINICES
I have given away my own property, and not theirs. I care but little for other people. Be off then, go with the blessing of the Gods.
PALAESTRIO
’Tis for your sake I say it.
PYRGOPOLINICES
I believe you.
PALAESTRIO
And now farewell!
PYRGOPOLINICES
And heartily farewell to you!
PALAESTRIO
to PLEUSICLES and PHILOCOMASIUM as they leave. Go you quickly on; I’ll overtake you directly; I wish to speak a few words with my master. To PYRGOPOLINICES. Although you have ever deemed others more faithful to yourself than me, still do I owe you many thanks for all things; and if such were your feelings, I would rather be a slave to you by far than be the freedman of another.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Be of good courage.
PALAESTRIO
Ah me! When it comes in my mind, how my manners must be changed, how womanish manners must be learnt, and the military ones forgotten!
PYRGOPOLINICES
Take care and be honest.
PALAESTRIO
I can be so no longer; I have lost all inclination.
PYRGOPOLINICES
Go, follow them; don’t linger.
PALAESTRIO
Fare you right well.
PYRGOPOLINICES
And heartily fare you well.
PALAESTRIO
Prithee, do remember me; if perchance I should happen to be made free, I’ll send the news to you; don’t you forsake me.
PYRGOPOLINICES
That is not my habit.
PALAESTRIO