by Plautus
DÆM.
looking out at the side . O ye immortal Gods, Sceparnio, what means those people near the sea-shore?
SCEPARNIO
According to my notion, they’ve been invited to a parting breakfast.
DÆM.
How so?
SCEPARNIO
Why, because, after dinner, I fancy, they yesterday washed themselves clean; their ship has gone to pieces out at sea.
DÆM.
looking steadfastly . Such is the fact.
SCEPARNIO
But, i’ faith, on dry land our cottage and tiles have done the same.
DÆM.
Oh dear! what unfortunate creatures you are; to SCEPARNIO how the shipwrecked people are swimming.
PLESIDIPPUS
Prithee, where are these people?
DÆM.
pointing to the distance . This way, to the right; don’t you see them near the shore?
PLESIDIPPUS
looking the same way . I see them; to his FRIENDS follow me. I only wish it may be he that I’m seeking, that most accursed fellow. To DÆMONES and SCEPARNIO. Fare you well.
SCEPARNIO
If you hadn’t put us in mind, we should have thought of that ourselves. (Exeunt PLESIDIPPUS and FRIENDS. SCEPARNIO looks out towards the sea.) . But, O Palæmon, hallowed associate of Neptune, who art said to be the partner of Hercules, what shocking thing do I see?
DÆM.
What do you see?
SCEPARNIO
I see two young women sitting in a boat alone. How the poor things are being tossed about That’s good, that’s good, well done. The surge is driving the boat away from the rock towards the shore. Not a pilot could have ever done it better. I don’t think that I ever saw billows more huge. They are saved, if they can escape those waves. Now, now’s the danger; it has sent one overboard! See you that one whom the waves have thrown out of the boat? Still, she’s in a shallow place; she’ll easily wade through it now. O capital! now she’s safe; she has escaped from the water; she’s now on shore. But that other one has now sprung towards the land from the boat — from her alarm she has fallen into the waves upon her knees. She has got up again; if she takes this direction, the matter’s safe; a pause but she has taken to the right, to utter destruction. Ah, she will be wandering all the day ——
DÆM.
What signifies that to you?
SCEPARNIO
If she should fall down from that rock towards which she is wending her way, she’ll be putting a period to her wandering.
DÆM.
If you are about to dine this evening at their expense, I think you may then be concerned for them, Sceparnio; if you are going to eat at my house, I wish your services to be devoted to myself.
SCEPARNIO
You ask what’s good and proper.
DÆM.
Then follow me this way.
SCEPARNIO
I follow. (Exeunt.)
Enter PALÆSTRA, at a distance, with her clothes torn and drenched.
PALAESTRA
to herself . By heavens, the mishaps of mortals are spoken of as much less bitter than * * * * * * * the sharp pangs that are inflicted in the experience of them * * * * Has this then pleased the Deity, that I, clad in this guise, should, in my terror, be cast upon a spot unknown? Shall I then declare that I have been born to this wretched lot? Do I receive this meed in return for my exemplary piety? For to me it would not prove a hardship to endure this laborious lot, if I had conducted myself undutifully towards my parents or the Gods; but if studiously I have exerted myself to beware of that, then, unduly and unjustly, Deities, you send upon me this. For what henceforth shall the glaringly impious receive, if after this fashion you pay honor to the guiltless? But if I knew that I or my parents had done anything wicked, now should I have grieved the less. But the wickedness of this master of mine is pressing hard upon me, his impiety is causing my woes; everything has he lost in the sea; these are the remains looking at her dress of his property. Even she, who was carried together with me in the boat, was washed out by the violence of the waves; I am now alone. If she at least had been saved for me, through her aid my affliction here would have been lighter to me. Now, what hope or aid or what counsel shall I receive, a spot so lonesome here have I lighted upon alone? Here are the rocks, here roars the sea, and not one individual comes across my path. This dress that I am clothed in forms all my riches quite entirely; nor know I with what food or roof I am to be provided. What hope have I through which to desire to live? Neither am I acquainted with the place, nor was I ever here before. At least I could have wished for some one who would point out to me either a road or a path from these spots; so much am I now at a loss for advice whether to go this way or that; neither, indeed, do I see anywhere near here a cultivated spot. Cold, distraction, and alarm, have taken possession of all my limbs. My parents, you know not of this, that I am now thus wretched; I that was born a woman entirely free, was so to no purpose. Am I at all the less in servitude now, than if I had been born a slave? And never in any way has it been a profit to those who for their own sakes reared me up. She advances forward, and rests on one side against the cliff.
Enter AMPELISCA, at a distance, on the other side of the stage, in a similar condition.
AMPELISCA
to herself . What is there better for me, what more to my advantage, than to shut out life from my body? So wretched am I in my existence, and so many deadening cares are there in my breast; so despicable is my lot; I care not for my life; I have lost the hope with which I used to comfort myself. All places have I now rambled about, and through each covert spot have I crawled along, to seek my fellow-slave with voice, eyes, ears, that I might trace her out. And still I find her nowhere, nor have I yet determined whither to go, nor where to seek her, nor, in the meantime, do I find any person here to give me an answer, of whom I might make enquiry. No place, too, is there on earth more solitary than are these spots and this locality. And yet, if she lives, never while I exist will I cease before I discover her alive.
PALAESTRA
aloud . Whose voice is it that sounds close by me here?
AMPELISCA
starting . I am alarmed. Who’s speaking near me?
PALAESTRA
Prithee, kind Hope, do come to my aid.
AMPELISCA
It’s a woman: a woman’s voice reaches my ears. Will you not rescue wretched me from this alarm?
PALAESTRA
Surely a woman’s voice reached my ears. Prithee is it Ampelisca?
AMPELISCA
Is it you, Palæstra, that I hear?
PALAESTRA
But why don’t I call her by her own name, that she may hear me? With a loud voice. Ampelisca!
AMPELISCA
Ha! who’s that?
PALAESTRA
’Tis I.
AMPELISCA
Is it Palæstra?
PALAESTRA
It is.
AMPELISCA
Tell me where you are.
PALAESTRA
Troth, I’m now in the midst of a multitude of woes.
AMPELISCA
I am your partner; and no less is my own share than yours. But I long to see you.
PALAESTRA
In that wish you are my rival.
AMPELISCA
Let’s follow our voices with our steps; where are you?
PALAESTRA
See, here am I. Step onward towards me, and come straight on to meet me.
AMPELISCA
I’m doing so with care. They meet in front of the stage.
PALAESTRA
Give me your hand.
AMPELISCA
Take it.
PALAESTRA
Are you still alive Prithee, tell me.
AMPELISCA
You, indeed, make me now wish to live, since I’m empowered to touch you. How hardly can I persuade myself of this, that I am holding you. Prithee, do embrace me they embrace , my only hop
e; how you are now easing me of all my woes.
PAL. You are beforehand with me in using expressions which belong to me. Now it befits us to be going hence.
AMPELISCA
Prithee, whither shall we go?
PALAESTRA
Let’s keep along this sea-shore. Pointing to the shore. AMP. Wherever you please, I’ll follow.
PALAESTRA
Shall we go along thus with our wet clothing?
AMPELISCA
That which exists, the same must of necessity be borne. Looking up at the Temple. But, pray, what’s this?
PALAESTRA
What is it?
AMPELISCA
Prithee, don’t you see this Temple? Pointing towards it.
PALAESTRA
Where is it?
AMPELISCA
On the right hand.
PALAESTRA
I seem to be looking at a place becoming the Divinities.
AMPELISCA
There must be people not far hence; it is so delightful a spot. Whoever the God is, I pray him to relieve us from these troubles, and to succour us females, wretched, helpless, and in distress. They advance towards the Temple, and kneel down before it.
Enter PTOLEMOCRATIA, the Priestess, from the Temple of Venus.
PTOLEMOCRATIA
Who are these, that in their prayers are soliciting aid from my Patroness? For the voice of suppliants has brought me hither out of doors. They pay suit to a kind and compliant Goddess and a Patroness that makes no difficulties, and one who is very benevolent.
PALAESTRA
Mother, we bid you hail.
PTOLEMOCRATIA
Maidens, hail to you. But, prithee, whence am I to say that you are hither come with your wet garments, thus wofully arrayed?
PALAESTRA
Just now, we came from a place there pointing towards the shore , not a great way from this spot; but it is a great way off from here, whence we have been brought hither.
PTOLEMOCRATIA
Have you been borne, do you mean, by a ship, the wooden steed, over the azure paths?
PALAESTRA
Even so.
PTOLEMOCRATIA
Then it were more fitting that you should have come arrayed in white and provided with victims; it isn’t the practice for people to come to this Temple in that fashion. Pointing at their dresses.
PALAESTRA
Prithee, whence would you have us, who have been both cast away at sea, to be bringing victims hither? Now, in want of assistance, do we embrace your knees, we who are of hopes undefined in places unknown, that you may receive us under your roof and shelter us, and that you will pity the miseries of us both, who have neither any place of refuge nor hope at hand, nor have anything whatever of our own beyond that which you see.
PTOLEMOCRATIA
Give me your hands, arise, both of you, from off your knees; no one among women is more compassionate than I. They arise from the ground. But, maidens, my circumstances are poor and limited; with difficulty I support my own existence; Venus I serve for my maintenance.
AMPELISCA
Prithee, is this a Temple of Venus?
PTOLEMOCRATIA
I will admit it; I am styled the Priestess of this Temple. But whatever it is, it shall be done by me with a hearty welcome, so far as my means shall suffice. Come with me this way.
PALAESTRA
Kindly and attentively, mother, do you show your attentions to us.
PTOLEMOCRATIA
So I ought to do. They go into the Temple.
ACT II.
Enter some FISHERMEN, with lines and nets.
A FISHERMAN.
Persons who are poor live wretchedly in every way, especially those who have no calling and have learned no art. Of necessity must that be deemed enough, whatever they have at home. From our garb, then, you pretty well understand how wealthy we are. These hooks and these rods here are as good to us as a calling and as our clothing. Each day from the city do we come out hither to the sea to seek for forage. Instead of exertion in the wrestling-school and the place for exercise, we have this: sea-urchins, rock-mussels, oysters, limpets, cockles, sea-nettles, sea-mussels and spotted crabs, we catch. After that, we commence our fishing with the hook and among the rocks, and thus we take our food from out of the sea. If success does not befall us, and not any fish is taken, soaked in salt water and thoroughly drenched, we quietly betake ourselves home, and without dinner go to sleep. And since the sea is now in waves so boisterous, no hopes have we; unless we take some cockles, without a doubt we’ve had our dinners. Now let’s adore good Venus here, that she may kindly befriend us to-day. They advance towards the door of the Temple.
Enter TRACHALIO, at a distance, in haste.
TRACHALIO
to himself . I’ve carefully given all attention that I mightn’t pass my master anywhere; for when some time since he went out of the house, he said that he was going to the harbour, and he ordered me to come here to meet him at the Temple of Venus. But see, opportunely do I espy some people standing here of whom I may enquire; I’ll accost them. Goes up to the FISHERMEN. Save you, thieves of the sea, shellfish-gatherers and hook-fishers, hungry race of men, how fare ye? How perish apace?
FISHERMEN of Cyrene.
Just as befits a fisherman with hunger, thirst, and expectation.
TRACHALIO
Have you seen to-day, while you’ve been standing here, any young man, of courageous aspect, ruddy, stout, of genteel appearance, come by this way, who was taking with him three men in scarfs, with swords?
FISHERMEN of Cyrene.
We know of no one coming this way of that appearance which you mention.
TRACHALIO
Have you seen any old fellow, bald on the forehead and snub-nosed, of big stature, pot-bellied, with eyebrows awry, a narrow forehead, a knave, the scorn of Gods and men, a scoundrel, one full of vile dishonesty and of iniquity, who had along with him two very pretty-looking young women?
FISHERMEN of Cyrene.
One who has been born with qualities and endowments of that sort, ‘twere really fitter for him to resort to the executioner than to the Temple of Venus.
TRACHALIO
But tell me if you have seen him.
FISHERMEN of Cyrene.
Really, no one has passed this way. Fare you well.
TRACHALIO
Fare ye well. (Exeunt FISHERMEN.)
TRACHALIO
to himself . I thought so; it has come to pass as I suspected; my master has been deceived; the cursed Procurer has taken himself off to distant lands. He has embarked on board ship, and carried the women away; I’m a wizard. He invited my master here to breakfast, as well, this very spawn of wickedness. Now what is better for me than to wait here in this spot until my master comes? At the same time, if this Priestess of Venus knows anything more, if I see her, I’ll make enquiries; she’ll give me the information.
Enter AMPELISCA, from the Temple.
AMPELISCA
to the PRIESTESS, within . I understand; here at this cottage pointing to it , which is close by the Temple of Venus, you’ve requested me to knock and ask for water.
TRACHALIO
Whose voice is it that has flown to my ears?
AMPELISCA
Prithee, who’s speaking here? Who is it that I see?
TRACHALIO
Isn’t this Ampelisca that’s coming out from the Temple?
AMPELISCA
Isn’t this Trachalio that I see, the servant of Plesidippus?
TRACHALIO
It is she.
AMPELISCA
It is he; Trachalio, health to you.
TRACHALIO
Health, Ampelisca, to you; how fare you?
AMPELISCA
In misery I pass a life not far advanced.
TRACHALIO
Do give some better omen.
AMPELISCA
Still it behoves all prudent persons to confer and talk together. But, prithee, where�
��s your master, Plesidippus?
TRACHALIO
Marry, well said, indeed; as if he wasn’t within there. Pointing to the Temple.
AMPELISCA
By my troth, he isn’t, nor, in fact, has he come here at all.
TRACHALIO
He hasn’t come?
AMPELISCA
You say the truth.
TRACHALIO
That’s not my way, Ampelisca. But how nearly is the breakfast got ready?
AMPELISCA
What breakfast, I beg of you?
TRACHALIO
The sacrifice, I mean, that you are performing here.
AMPELISCA
Prithee, what is it you are dreaming about?
TRACHALIO
For certain, Labrax invited Plesidippus hither to a breakfast, your master, my master.
AMPELISCA
By my troth, you’re telling of no wondrous facts: if he has deceived Gods and men, he has only acted after the fashion of Procurers.
TRACHALIO
Then neither yourselves nor my master are here performing a sacrifice.
AMPELISCA
You are a wizard.
TRACHALIO
What are you doing then?
AMPELISCA
The Priestess of Venus has received here into her abode both myself and Palæstra, after many mishaps and dreadful alarm, and from being in danger of our lives, destitute of aid and of resources.
TEACH.
Prithee, is Palæstra here, the beloved of my master?
AMPELISCA
Assuredly.
TRACHALIO
Great joyousness is there in your news, my dear Ampelisca. But I greatly long to know what was this danger of yours.
AMPELISCA
Last night our ship was wrecked, my dear Trachalio.
TRACHALIO
How, ship? What story’s this?
AMPELISCA
Prithee, have you not heard in what way the Procurer intended secretly to carry us away hence to Sicily, and how, whatever there was at home, he placed on board ship? That has all gone to the bottom now.
TRACHALIO
O clever Neptune, hail to thee! Surely, no dicer is more skilful than thyself. Decidedly a right pleasant throw hast thou made; thou didst break a-villain. But where now is the Procurer Labrax?
AMPELISCA
Perished through drinking, I suppose; Neptune last night invited him to deep potations.
TRACHALIO
By my troth, I fancy it was given him to drink by way of cup of necessity. How much I do love you, my dear Ampelisca; how pleasing you are; what honied words you do utter. But you and Palæstra, in what way were you saved?