Complete Works of Plautus

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Complete Works of Plautus Page 80

by Plautus


  SYNCERASTUS

  You mention everything that can render it the more easy; let him assert their freedom, his own countrywomen, in an action on their freedom.

  MILPHIO

  Only do keep silence and hold your tongue.

  SYNCERASTUS

  He certainly will bring the Procurer to a backgammon, if he gets them away.

  MILPHIO

  Nay but, I’ll cause him to be ruined before he moves one foot; ’tis so contrived already.

  SYNCERASTUS

  May the Gods grant it so, that I don’t continue the slave of this Procurer.

  MILPHIO

  On the contrary, upon my faith, I’ll cause you to be a free man with myself, if the Gods are willing.

  SYNCERASTUS

  May the Gods grant it so! Do you detain me for anything else, Milphio?

  MILPHIO

  Fare you well, and may happiness attend you.

  SYNCERASTUS

  I’ faith, that lies in the power of yourself and your master. Farewell, and mind that these things have been told in secrecy.

  MILPHIO

  This has not been mentioned even. Farewell.

  SYNCERASTUS

  But really it’s of no use, unless this is done while it is warm.

  MILPHIO

  You are right in your advice, and so it shall be done.

  SYNCERASTUS

  There’s excellent material, if you provide an excellent workman.

  MILPHIO

  Can’t you hold your tongue?

  SYNCERASTUS

  I’ll hold my tongue and be off.

  MILPHIO

  A grand opportunity you’ve made for me. SYNCERASTUS goes into the house of LYCUS. He’s gone from here. The immortal Gods do will my master to be preserved, and this Procurer utterly ruined; a mischief so great is impending upon him. Is it not the fact, before one weapon has been launched, then another presses upon him? I’ll go in-doors, that I may recount these matters to my master. For if I were to call him out hither before the house, and, what you’ve to the AUDIENCE just heard, if I were now here to repeat the same, it would be folly. I’d rather in-doors be an annoyance to my master singly, than be so here to all of you. Immortal Gods, what misfortunes, what great calamities do this day await this Procurer. But now there’s no reason why I should delay. This business is resolved upon; no pausing is allowed; for both this must be cleverly managed, which has just now been entrusted to me, and that plan as well which was formed at home must be attended to. If there’s any delay, he who sends me a heavy mischance will be acting rightly. Now I’ll off in-doors; until my master comes from the Forum, I’ll wait at home. Goes into the house of AGORASTOCLES.

  ACT V.

  Enter HANNO, followed at a distance by his SERVANTS.

  HANNO

  to himself . Hyth alonim vualonuth sicorathi si ma com sith, Chi mach chumyth mumys tyal mictibariim ischi, Lipho canet luth bynuthi ad ædin bynuthii. Birnarob syllo homalonin uby misyrthoho Bythym mothym noctothii velech Antidasmachon. Yssidele berim thyfel yth chylys chon, tern, lyphul Uth bynim ysdibut thinno cuth ru Agorastocles Ythe manet ihy * * chyrsæ lycoch sith naso Byuni id chil luhili gerbylim lasibit thym Bodyalyth herayn nyn nuys lym moncoth lusim. [Exalonim volanus succuratim mistim Atticum esse Concubitum a bello cutim beant lalacant chona Enus es huiec silec panesse Athidamascon Alem * * induberte felono * * buthume Celtum comucro lueni, at enim avoso uber Bent hyach Aristoclem et se te aneche nasoctelia Elicos alemus [in] duberter mi comps vespiti Aodeanee lictor bodes jussum limnicolus.]

  Enter AGORASTOCLES, from his house, followed by MILPHIO.

  AGORASTOCLES

  in a loud voice . Do you say, Milphio, that Syncerastus told you that both of these women were freeborn, and stolen away from Carthage?

  MILPHIO

  I do say so; and if you were willing to act wisely, you’d at once assert their liberty by an action on their freedom. For it’s a disgrace to you for you to allow your own country-people to be slaves before your eyes, who were free women at home.

  HANNO

  overhearing, apart . O ye immortal Gods, I do entreat your aid! What speech is this that my ears devour! Surely the words of these persons are made of chalk; how have they cleansed away all the dark spots of woe from me!

  AGORASTOCLES

  If you’ve got witnesses of this matter, I’ll do as you bid me.

  MILPHIO

  Why speak you to me about witnesses? Why don’t you stoutly insist upon it? Some way or other, Fortune will be your assistant.

  AGORASTOCLES

  It’s much more easy to begin a thing than to bring it about.

  MILPHIO

  catching sight of HANNO, attended by his SERVANTS . But what bird is this, pray, that’s coming hither with the tunic on? Is he from the baths, I wonder, enveloped in his cloak? I’ faith, the countenance is surely Carthaginian. The man’s a Gugga. I’ faith, he certainly has got some ancient and antiquated servants.

  AGORASTOCLES

  How do you know?

  MILPHIO

  Don’t you see the fellows following, loaded with luggage? And, as I fancy, they’ve got no fingers on their hands.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Why so?

  MILPHIO

  Why, because they go with their rings in their ears. I’ll approach them, and address them in the Punic language: if they answer, I’ll continue to speak in the Punic tongue if not, then I’ll adapt my language to their usage. How say you, do you still remember anything of the Punic language?

  AGORASTOCLES

  Nothing at all, i’ faith; for tell me, how could I know, who was but six years old when I was stolen away from Carthage?

  HANNO

  apart . O ye immortal Gods! very many freeborn children have been lost from Carthage after this manner.

  MILPHIO

  How say you?

  AGORASTOCLES

  What do you want?

  MILPHIO

  Should you like me to address this person in the Punic tongue?

  AGORASTOCLES

  Do you understand it?

  MILPHIO

  No Punic man this day is a better Punic than I.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Go and address him, as to what he wants, why he’s come, who he is, of what country, and whence he comes. Don’t be sparing of your questions.

  MILPHIO

  addressing HANNO and his SERVANTS. Avo! Of what country are you, or from what city?

  HANNO

  Hanno Muthumballe bachaëdreanech.

  AGORASTOCLES

  What does he say?

  MILPHIO

  He says that he is Hanno from Carthage, a Carthaginian, son of Muthumbal.

  HAN. Avo! MIL.

  He salutes us.

  HANNO

  Donni.

  MILPHIO

  He intends to present you with some “ donation” out of this; what, I don’t know. Don’t you hear him promise?

  AGORASTOCLES

  Salute him again in Punic, in my name.

  MILPHIO

  to HANNO . “Avo donni” he tells me to say to you in his name. Pointing to AGORASTOCLES.

  HANNO

  Mehar bocca!

  MILPHIO

  Be that for yourself rather than me!

  AGORASTOCLES

  What does he say?

  MILPHIO

  He declares that his “box” for his teeth is painful. Perhaps he takes us to be doctors.

  AGORASTOCLES

  If it is so, tell him that we are not; I don’t wish a stranger to be mistaken.

  MILPHIO

  to HANNO . Hear you. Rufen nuco istam.

  AGORASTOCLES

  This is my wish, that in fact everything should be explained to him just as it is. Ask him whether he has need of anything.

  MILPHIO

  to HANNO . You who have got no girdle, why have you come to this city, or what is it you seek?

  HANNO

  Muphursa.


  AGORASTOCLES

  What is it he says?

  HANNO

  Moin lechianna.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Why has he come?

  MILPHIO

  Don’t you hear? He declares that he is wishful to give African mice to the Ædiles as a show at the games.

  HANNO

  Lalech lachananim liminichot.

  AGORASTOCLES

  What does he say now?

  MILPHIO

  He says he has brought latchets, water- channels, and nuts; he’s now begging that you’ll lend him your assistance in having them sold.

  AGORASTOCLES

  He is a merchant, I suppose?

  HANNO

  Is amar binam.

  AGORASTOCLES

  What is it he says?

  HANNO

  Palum erga dectha.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Milphio, what is he saying now?

  MILPHIO

  He says that he has got spades and forks given him for sale, for digging the garden and reaping the corn.

  AGORASTOCLES

  What is that to me?

  MILPHIO

  He wishes you to be informed of it, so that you mayn’t suppose that he has taken anything secretly and by stealth. He has really, I do believe, been sent here to your harvesting.

  HANNO

  Muphonium sucoraim.

  MILPHIO

  So there! do take care, please, how you do what he’s begging of you.

  AGORASTOCLES

  What is he saying, or what is he begging? Explain it.

  MILPHIO

  For you to order him to be placed beneath a hurdle, and for many stones to be heaped upon it, so as to put him to death.

  HANNO

  Gunebel balsamen ierasan!

  AGORASTOCLES

  Tell me what it is that he’s saying.

  MILPHIO

  I’ faith, now I really don’t at all know.

  HANNO

  speaking in their own language . But that you may know, now from this moment henceforth will I speak Latin. To MILPHIO. Upon my faith, you must be a worthless and bad servant, to be laughing at a person, a foreigner and a stranger.

  MILPHIO

  But, i’ faith, at yourself a person that’s both a swindler and a cheat, who have come here to take us in, you half-and-half Lybian, you double-tongue, just like a crawling reptile.

  AGORASTOCLES

  to MILPHIO . Away hence with your abusiveness! do restrain your tongue. You’ll keep it from uttering abuse, if you are prudent; I don’t want you to be speaking harshly to my kinsmen. I was born at Carthage; do you remember that.

  HANNO

  O my fellow-countryman, greetings to you!

  AGORASTOCLES

  And you, troth, whoever you are; and if you have need of anything, pray mention it, and command me for the sake of our common country.

  HANNO

  I return you thanks; but I’ve got a place of entertainment here; I’m in search of the son of Antidamas; do point me out Agorastocles, if you know him. Do you know any young man here named Agorastocles?

  AGORASTOCLES

  If, indeed, you are in search of the adopted son of Antidamas, I am the very person whom you are in search of.

  HANNO

  starting . Hah! what’s that I hear?

  AGORASTOCLES

  That I am the son of Antidamas.

  HANNO

  If so it is, if you would like to compare the token of hospitality, see here, I’ve brought it. Shows him the ticket.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Come then, show it here. He takes it in his hand, and looks at it. It is exactly true; for I’ve got the counterpart at home.

  HANNO

  O my host, hail to you right earnestly; for it was your father, then, Antidamas, that was my own and my father’s guest; this was my token of hospitality with him.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Then here at my house shall hospitality be shown you; for I don’t reject either Hospitality or Carthage, from which I sprang.

  HANNO

  May the Gods grant you all you may desire. How say you? How could it happen that you were born at Carthage, but had a father of Ætolia here?

  AGORASTOCLES

  I was stolen away from there; this Antidamas, your guest, bought me, and adopted me as his son.

  HANNO

  He himself, likewise, was adopted by Demarchus, But about him I say no more, and return to you. Tell me, de you at all remember the names of your parents?

  AGORASTOCLES

  I remember my father and my mother’s name.

  HANNO

  Repeat them, then, to me, to see if I know them, perchance, or if they are relatives of mine.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Ampsigura was my mother, and Iachon my father.

  HANNO

  I could wish that your father and mother were alive.

  AGORASTOCLES

  Are they dead?

  HANNO

  So it is, a thing which I bore with much grief; for your mother Ampsigura was my cousin-german; your father — he was my uncle’s son, and when he died he made me his heir; of whom being deprived by death, I am greatly affected. But if it is the fact that you really are the son of Sachon, there ought to be a mark upon your left hand, a bite which an ape gave you when a child, playing with it. Show it, that I may look at it; open your hand.

  AGORASTOCLES

  opening his hand. Look, if you like; see, there it is. My kinsman, welcome to you!

  HANNO

  And welcome to you, Agorastocles! I seem to myself to be born again, in having found you.

  MILPHIO

  By my troth, I’m delighted that this matter has fallen out so happily foryou. To HANNO. And would you decline to take advice?

  HANNO

  Really, I should wish to be advised.

  MILPHIO

  His father’s property ought to be restored to the son; it’s fair that he should have the property which his father possessed.

  HANNO

  I wish no otherwise; everything shall be restored. I’ll give his own property to him all safe, when he comes there.

  MILPHIO

  Take care and restore it, will you, even though he should live here still.

  HANNO

  Nay but, he shall have my own as well, if anything should happen to me.

  MILPHIO

  A pleasant project has just now come into my mind,

  HANNO

  What’s that?

  MILPHIO

  There’s need of your assistance.

  HANNO

  Tell me what you wish. Really, you shall have my services just as you please. What is the business?

  MILPHIO

  Can you act the cheat?

  HANNO

  Towards an enemy, I can; to a friend, it would be mere folly.

  MILPHIO

  I’ faith, it is an enemy of his. Pointing at AGORASTOCLES.

  HANNO

  I could do him a mischief with pleasure.

  MILPHIO

  He’s in love with a person who belongs to a Procurer.

  HANNO

  I deem that he acts discreetly.

  MILPHIO

  This Procurer lives close at hand.

  HANNO

  I could do him a mischief with pleasure.

  MILPHIO

  He has two slave girls, courtesans, sisters; one of these he is desperately in love with, nor has he ever taker any liberties with her.

  HANNO

  It’s an unhappy kind of passion.

  MILPHIO

  The Procurer plays upon him.

  HANNO

  He’s enhancing his own profits thereby.

  MILPHIO

  He wishes to do him an evil turn.

  HANNO

  He’s right, if he does do it.

  MILPHIO

  Now I adopt this plan, and prepare this contrivance, that we should. cite you; you are to affirm that they are your
daughters, and that they were stolen when little from Carthage, and to maintain the cause of both in an action on their freedom, as though they were both your own daughters. Do you understand?

  HANNO

  On my faith, I do understand; for I likewise did have two daughters who were stolen away when little children, together with their nurse.

  MILPHIO

  Upon my word, you do feign it cleverly. At the very commencement this amuses me.

  HANNO

  aside, weeping . Much more, i’ troth, than I could wish.

  MILPHIO

  aside to AGORASTOCLES . Dear me! a subtle person, upon my word, artful and knowing, both tricky and crafty! How he does whimper, in order that with his gestures he may effect this all the more easily. Even myself, now, the master-workman, does he excel in skill.

  HANNO

  But their nurse, of what appearance was she? Tell me.

  MILPHIO

  Of stature not tall, of a dusky complexion.

  HANNO

  ’Tis the very person.

  MILPHIO

  Of agreable form, with a small mouth, and very dark eyes.

  HANNO

  I’ faith, you really have depicted her form exactly in your words.

  MILPHIO

  Should you like to see her?

  HANNO

  I’d rather see my daughters. Still, go and call her out of doors. If they are my daughters, if she is their nurse, she’ll recognize me at once.

  MILPHIO

  knocking at the door of the PROCURER’S house . Hallo there! is there any one here? Tell Giddeneme to come out of doors; there’s a person wants to see her.

  Enter GIDDENEME and a BOY, from the house.

  GIDDENEME

  Who is it that knocks?

  MILPHIO

  One that’s a near acquaintance of yours.

  GIDDENEME

  What do you want?

  MILPHIO

  Come now pointing to HANNO , do you know that person in the tunic, who it is?

  GIDDENEME

  Why, whom do I behold? O supreme Jupiter! this sure is my master, the father of my foster-children, Hanno, the Carthaginian!

  MILPHIO

  Now, do see the cunning hussey this Carthaginian is really a clever juggler; he has brought all over to his own opinion.

  GIDDENEME

  running up to HANNO . O my master! welcome to you, Hanno! most unhoped for by myself and your daughters, welcome to you! But look you, don’t be wondering, or gazing so intently upon me. Don’t you know Giddeneme, your female slave?

  HANNO

 

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