Chapter 29

ENTER _Artemona_ AND _Parasite_ FROM HOUSE OF _Demaenetus_.

_Art._

Ain tu meum virum his potare, obsecro, cum filio et ad amicam detulisse argenti viginti minas meoque filio sciente id facere flagitium patrem?

(_tempestuously_) What’s that, for heaven’s sake,--my husband carousing here with his son, and brought eighty pounds to a mistress, and my son conniving at such an outrage on the part of his father, his father?

_Par._

Neque divini neque mi humani posthac quicquam accreduas, Artemona, si huius rei me esse mendacem inveneris.

Never trust me in another thing divine or human, madam, if you find I have misinformed you in this.

_Art._

At scelesta ego praeter alios meum virum[29] frugi rata, siccum, frugi, continentem, amantem uxoris maxume.

But oh dear me! I thought my husband was the very paragon of men, a sober man, a worthy, moral man that loved his wife devotedly.

_Par._

At nunc dehinc scito illum ante omnes minimi mortalem preti, madidum, nihili, incontinentem atque osorem uxoris suae.

But from now on you must realize that he is the very scum of the earth, a toping man, a worthless, immoral man that hates the wife of his bosom.

_Art._

Pol ni istaec vera essent, numquam faceret ea quae nunc facit. 860

Mercy yes! unless all that was true, he would never be acting as he does now.

_Par._

Ego quoque hercle illum antehac hominem semper sum frugi ratus, verum hoc facto sese ostendit, qui quidem cum filio potet una atque una amicam ductet, decrepitus senex.

I always thought he was a worthy man myself before to-day, upon my soul I did: but now he shows himself in his true colours--carousing with his own son and sharing his mistress with him, the old ruin!

_Art._

Hoc ecastor est quod ille it ad cenam cottidie. ait sese ire ad Archidemum, Chaeream, Chaerestratum, Cliniam, Chremem, Cratinum, Diniam, Demosthenem: is apud scortum corruptelae est liberis, lustris studet.

Good gracious! This explains his going out to dinner every day! He with his tales of going to dine with Archidemus, Chaerea, Chaerestratus, Clinia, Chremes, Cratinus, Dinias, Demosthenes--and all the time corrupting his children at a harlot’s, haunting houses of ill fame!

_Par._

Quin tu illum iubes ancillas rapere sublimen domum?

Why not tell your maids to pick him up and take him off home?

_Art._

Tace modo. ne ego illum ecastor miserum habebo.

You just keep still. Oh, but I’ll make life miserable for him, I swear I will!

_Par._

Ego istuc scio, ita fore illi dum quidem cum illo nupta eris.

I have no doubt about that, just as long as he is your husband.

_Art._

Ego censeo. 870 eum[30] etiam hominem in senatu dare operam aut clientibus, ibi labore delassatum noctem totam stertere: ille opere foris faciendo lassus noctu ad me advenit; fundum alienum arat, incultum familiarem deserit. is etiam corruptus porro suom corrumpit filium.

(_too irate to notice unflattering accent_) Yes, indeed! He busy in the Senate or helping his clients! He wearied out by his labours there, there, that he spends the whole night snoring! It is business away from home that makes him turn up at night all weary--the business of ploughing other people’s fields and leaving his own uncultivated. Corrupt himself, he actually goes on and corrupts his own son.

_Par._

Sequere hac me modo, iam faxo ipsum hominem manifesto opprimas.

Just follow me this way: I’ll soon make you drop on our gentleman in the very act.

_Art._

Nihil ecastor est quod facere mavelim.

Ah-h-h! There’s nothing I’d like better!

_Par._

Mane dum.

Hm! wait! (_goes quietly to Cleareta’s door, peeps in and comes back_)

_Art._

Quid est?

What’s the matter?

_Par._

Possis, si forte accubantem tuom virum conspexeris cum corona amplexum amicam, si videas, cognoscere?

If you happened to spy your husband stretched out on a banquet couch with a garland on and a girl in his arms--if you saw him, could you recognize him?

_Art._

Possum ecastor.

Indeed I can!

_Par._

Em tibi hominem.

(_taking her cautiously to the door_) Behold your man!

_Art._

Perii.

(_peeping_) Dreadful, dreadful!

_Par._

Paulisper mane. 880 aucupemus ex insidiis clanculum quam rem gerant.

(_drawing her aside_) Wait a bit! Let’s lie in ambush and spy what’s going on without being seen.

_Argyr._

Quid modi, pater, amplexando facies?

(_resentfully_) Father! When is that hug going to end?

_Dem._

Fateor, gnate mi--

(_somewhat embarrassed_) I admit, my dear boy,--

_Argyr._

Quid fatere?

Admit what?

_Dem._

Me ex amore huius corruptum oppido.

That this lady is altogether too much for my sense of decorum.

_Par._

Audin quid ait?

(_to Artemona_) Do you hear what he says?

_Art._

Audio.

I hear!

_Dem._

Egon ut non domo uxori meae subripiam in deliciis pallam quam habet, atque ad te deferam? non edepol conduci possum vita uxoris annua.

(_to Philaenium_) Not steal my wife’s pet mantle from home and bring it to you? By heaven, I couldn’t be hired not to-- not if she should die within the year.

_Par._

Censen tu illum hodie primum ire adsuetum esse in ganeum?

(_to Artemona_) Do you think to-day is the first time that gentleman has used such resorts?

_Art._

Ille ecastor suppilabat me, quod ancillas meas suspicabar atque insontis miseras cruciabam.

Mercy on us! So he was the thief all those times I suspected my maids, yes, and tortured the poor innocent things.

_Argyr._

Pater, iube dari vinum; iam dudum factum est cum primum bibi. 890

Tell them to set the wine going, father; it seems an age since I had my first drink.

_Dem._

Da, puere, ab summo. age, tu interibi ab infimo da savium.

(_to servant_) Boy, send round the wine from the head of the table. (_to Philaenium_) Come, my dear, meanwhile you send round a naughty, naughty kiss from the foot. (_Philaenium obeys_)

_Art._

Perii misera, ut osculatur carnufex, capuli decus.

Oh-h-h! Good heavens! The way he kisses, the villain, fit only to grace a coffin!

_Dem._

Edepol animam suaviorem aliquanto quam uxoris meae.

My word! Rather sweeter breath than my wife’s!

_Phil._

Dic amabo, an fetet anima uxoris tuae?

Do tell me, there’s a dear--your wife’s breath isn’t bad, is it?

_Dem._

Nauteam bibere malim, si necessum sit, quam illam oscularier.

I’d rather drink bilge water, if it came to that, than kiss her.

_Art._

Ain tandem? edepol ne tu istuc cum malo magno tuo dixisti in me. sine, revenias modo domum, faxo ut scias quid pericli sit dotatae uxori vitium dicere.

(_aside_) So? You would, would you? Good gracious, sir, that fling at me will cost you dear. Very well! just you come back home, sir! I’ll show you the danger of vilifying a wife with money.

_Phil._

Miser ecastor es.

Goodness me, you poor thing!

_Art._

Ecastor dignus est.

(_aside_) Goodness me, he deserves to be!

_Argyr._

Quid ais, pater? ecquid matrem amas?

Look here, father. Do you love my mother?

_Dem._

Egone illam? nunc amo, quia non adest. 900

Love her? I? I love her now for not being near.

_Argyr._

Quid cum adest?

And when she is near?

_Dem._

Periisse cupio.

I yearn for a death in the family.

_Par._

Amat homo hic te, ut praedicat.

(_to Artemona_) This gentleman is fond of you, it seems.

_Art._

Ne illa ecastor faenerato funditat: nam si domum redierit hodie. osculando ego ulciscar potissimum.

(_aside_) Oh-h-h! won’t he pay interest on that flow of words! Just let him come back home to-day, and that will be my favourite method of revenge--kissing him.

_Argyr._

Iace, pater, talos, ut porro nos iaciamus.

(_pushing some dice toward Demaenetus_) Your throw, father: come, so that I can take my turn.

_Dem._

Maxime. te, Philaenium, mihi atque uxoris mortem, hoc Venerium est. pueri, plaudite et mi ob iactum cantharo mulsum date.

By all means. (_as he throws_) Here’s to you for me, Philaenium, and my wife for the tomb! (_looking at throw_) Ha! The Venus![F] (_to servants_) A cheer, lads, and some mead from the tankard for that throw!

[Footnote F: The highest throw.]

_Art._

Non queo durare.

(_aside to Parasite_) This is intolerable!

_Par._

Si non didicisti fulloniam, non mirandum est.[31] in oculos invadi optumum est.

(_aside to Artemona_) No wonder, if you never learned the fuller’s[G] trade. Your best plan is to make a dash for his eyes.

[Footnote G: Fullers being accustomed to unpleasant smells.]

_Art._

Ego pol vivam et tu istaec hodie cum tuo magno malo invocavisti.

(_bursting into house_) My heavens, sir, I will live, and you shall pay dear for that petition of yours just now! (_tableau_)

_Par._

Ecquis currit pollictorem accersere? 910

(_gleefully_) Run, some one, and fetch the undertaker!

_Argyr._

Mater, salve.

(_innocently_) How do you do, mother?

_Art._

Sat salutis.

Enough of your how d’ye do-ing!

_Par._

Mortuost Demaenetus. tempus est subducere hinc me; pulchre hoc gliscit proelium. ibo ad Diabolum, mandata dicam facta ut voluerit, atque interea ut decumbamus suadebo, hi dum litigant.

(_aside_) Demaenetus is dead. Time for me to retire from the scene; the battle waxes finely. I’ll off to Diabolus and tell him his mandates are executed to the letter, yes, and suggest our taking dinner meantime, while they fight it out.

poste demum huc cras adducam ad lenam, ut viginti minas ei det, in partem hac amanti ut liceat ei potirier. Argyrippus exorari spero poterit, ut sinat sese alternas cum illo noctes hac frui. nam ni impetro, regem perdidi: ex amore tantum est homini incendium.

Then to-morrow when it’s over I’ll bring him back to the Madame so that he may give her the eighty pounds and get her permission for his fond self to go shares in the girl here. I do hope Argyrippus can be induced to let him have her half the time. For if I don’t get so much out of him, I have lost a patron--all one blaze of love, as the fellow is. [EXIT _Parasite._

_Art._

Quid tibi hunc receptio ad te est meum virum?

(_to Philaenium_) What do you mean by receiving this man at your house--my husband?

_Phil._

Pol me quidem 920 miseram odio enicavit.

Dear, dear! Why, I’m fairly bored to death by him, for my part.

_Art._

Surge, amator, i domum.

(_standing over Demaenetus_) Get up, my gallant; home with you!

_Dem._

Nullus sum.

(_half aside, afraid to move_) I’m a dead man!

_Art._

Immo es, ne nega, omnium unus pol nequissimus. at etiam cubat cuculus. surge amator, i domum.

Good gracious, no! You’re the vilest man living, and you needn’t deny it. But he’s roosting there still, the cuckoo! Get up, my gallant; home with you!

_Dem._

Vae mihi.

(_half aside_) Oh, I’m in for it!

_Art._

Vera hariolare. surge, amator, i domum.

You are a true prophet. Get up, my gallant; home with you!

_Dem._

Abscede ergo paululum istuc.

Well then, do stand a bit farther off.

_Art._

Surge, amator, i domum.

Get up, my gallant; home with you!

_Dem._

Iam obsecro, uxor.

For heaven’s sake now, my dear!

_Art._

Nunc uxorem me esse meministi tuam? modo, cum dicta in me ingerebas, odium, non uxor eram.

Now you recollect that I am your dear, do you? A moment ago, when you were saying things about me, I was your abomination, not your dear.

_Dem._

Totus perii.

(_half aside_) It’s all up with me, absolutely!

_Art._

Quid tandem? anima fetetne uxoris tuae?

You really meant it, did you? Your dear’s breath smells, does it?

_Dem._

Murram olet.

(_hastily_) Smells of myrrh, myrrh!

_Art._

Iam subrupuisti pallam, quam scorto dares?

(_ironically_) Have you stolen the mantle yet to give this creature?

_Phil._

Ecastor qui subrupturum pallam promisit tibi. 930

He promised he would steal it from you, indeed he did!

_Dem._

Non taces?

(_aside to Philaenium_) Shut up, won’t you?

_Argyr._

Ego dissuadebam, mater.

I tried to dissuade him, mother.

_Art._

Bellum filium. istoscine patrem aequom est mores liberis largirier? nilne te pudet?

A pretty son! (_to Demaenetus_) Is this the way for a father to edify his children? Is there nothing you’re ashamed of? (_helps him off the couch by the ear_)

_Dem._

Pol, si aliud nil sit, tui me, uxor, pudet.

Oh Lord! You make me ashamed, my dear, if nothing else would.

_Art._

Cano capite te cuculum uxor ex lustris rapit.

(_guiding him toward the door_) It’s your dear that is dragging you from this den of vice, your hoary-headed cuckoo!

_Dem._

Non licet manere--cena coquitur--dum cenem modo?

Mayn’t I stay--dinner’s being cooked--just till I’ve dined?

_Art._

Ecastor cenabis hodie, ut dignus es, magnum malum.

Good heavens, sir! You shall dine as you deserve today--on dire distress.

_Dem._

Male cubandum est: iudicatum me uxor abducit domum.

(_aside_) It’s a poorish night I’m in for: here I am sentenced, and my wife leading me off--home. (_Argyrippus and Philaenium follow them to door_)

_Argyr._

Dicebam, pater, tibi, ne matri consuleres male.

I kept telling you, father, not to play any tricks on mother.

_Phil._

De palla memento, amabo.

Remember about the mantle, there’s a dear!

_Dem._

Iuben hanc hinc abscedere?

(_to wife_) Tell her to get out of here, won’t you?

_Art._

I domum.

(_jerking him along_) Home with you!

_Phil._

Da savium etiam prius quam abis.

Do give me another naughty, naughty kiss before we part.

_Dem._

I in crucem. 940

Go to hell!

_Phil._

Immo intro potius. sequere hac me, mi anime.

Oh no, inside, instead, (_to Argyrippus, as she goes back inside_) Come along with me, darling.

_Argyr._

Ego vero sequor.

Indeed I will. [EXEUNT OMNES.

GREX

EPILOGUE

(_Spoken by the Company_)

Hic senex si quid clam uxorem suo animo fecit volup, neque novum neque mirum fecit nec secus quam alii solent; nec quisquam est tam ingenio duro nec tam firmo pectore, quin ubi quicque occasionis sit sibi faciat bene. nunc si voltis deprecari huic seni ne vapulet, remur impetrari posse, plausum si clarum datis.

If this old gentleman has indulged his inclinations a bit without informing his wife, he has done nothing new or strange, or different from what other men ordinarily do. No one has such an iron nature, such an unyielding heart, as not to do himself a good turn whenever he has any chance. So now in case you wish to beg the old fellow off from a beating, we opine that you can succeed, if you--give us some loud applause.

* * * * *

[Footnote 1: Leo brackets following v., 25-26: _ita me obstinate adgressu’s, ut non audeam_ _profecto, percontanti quin promam omnia._]

[Footnote 2: Leo brackets following v., 33: _ubi flent nequam homines, qui polentam pinsitant._]

[Footnote 3: Corrupt (Leo): _obsequellam_ MSS: _obsequellam eam_ Acidalius.]

[Footnote 4: Leo brackets following v., 77: _volo amori obsecutum illius, volo amet me patrem._]

[Footnote 5: Corrupt (Leo): _venari autem rete iaculo_ MSS: _reti, iaculo venari autem_ Vahlen.]

[Footnote 6: Leo notes lacuna here: _atqui ibi_ MSS: _ibo atque ibi_ Camerarius.]

[Footnote 7: Corrupt (Leo): _experiri_ MSS: _experi_ Skutsch.]

[Footnote 8: Leo brackets following v., 252: _igitur inveniundo argento ut fingeres fallaciam._]

[Footnote 9: Leo notes lacuna here: _istuc_ MSS: _istuc, istuc_ Palmer.]

[Footnote 10: Corrupt (Leo): _exasciato_ Acidalius: _exasceatum_ MSS.]

[Footnote 11: Leo notes lacuna here: _da_ MSS: _dare_ Fleckeisen.]

[Footnote 12: Leo brackets following vv., 480-483:

_in ius voco te._ Leon. _Non eo._ Merc. _Non is? memento._ Leon. _Memini._ Merc. _Dabitur pol supplicum mihi de tergo vostro._ Leon. _Vae te_ _tibi quidem supplicum, carnufex de nobis detur?_ Merc. _Atque etiam_ _pro dictis vostris maledicis poenae pendentur mi hodie._]

[Footnote 13: _etiam nunc dico_ MSS: Lindsay excises _nunc dico._]

[Footnote 14: Leo brackets following v., 508:

Cle. _An decorum est adversari meis te praeceptis?_ Phil. _Quid est?_ ]

[Footnote 15: Corrupt (Leo): _nobis_ excised by Bothe.]

[Footnote 16: _quo est_ Leo: not in MSS.]

[Footnote 17: Leo brackets following v., 547: _scapularam confidentia, virtute ulmorum freti._]

[Footnote 18: _advorsum stetimus_ Ussing: _qui advorsum stimulos_ MSS.]

[Footnote 19: _Inductoresque_ Acidalius and others: _indoctoresque_ MSS.]

[Footnote 20: Leo brackets following v., 552-- _qui saepe ante in nostras scapulas cicatrices indiderunt_-- and assumes lacuna following.]

[Footnote 21: Corrupt (Leo): _collegae_ MSS: _collegae mei_ Leo.]

[Footnote 22: Leo brackets following v., 570: _ubi periuraris, ubi sacro manus sis admolitus._]

[Footnote 23: Leo brackets following v., 573: _ubi amicae quam amico tuo fueris magis fidelis._]

[Footnote 24: Corrupt (Leo): _interioris_ MSS: _interior_ Bothe.]

[Footnote 25: Corrupt (Leo): _atque ad me adgredire_ Langen.]

[Footnote 26: Leo notes slight lacuna here: _amicae suae_ Gulielmius.]

[Footnote 27: Leo brackets following v., 828, 829:

Argyr. _Age, decumbamus sis, pater._ Dem. _Ut iusseris,_ _mi gnate, ita fiet._ Argyr. _Pueri, mensam adponite._

_Argyr._ Come father, let’s take our places, please. _Dem._ Just as you say, my dear boy. _Argyr._ (_to slaves_) Bring the table, my lads. ]

[Footnote 28: _et_ Pius: _ut_ MSS.]

[Footnote 29: Corrupt (Leo): _fui_ Pylades: _fueram_ Leo.]

[Footnote 30: Corrupt (Leo). _hominem (aut)_ Camerarius.]

[Footnote 31: _non mirandumst_, (_Artemona._ Art.). _In_ Havet.]

* * * * *

[Transcriber’s Corrections: _Asinaria_ (_The Comedy of Asses_)

Prologue, l. 11 Maccus vortit barbare Maccus translated it spelling of name unchanged

II. 2. not with a chariot and four, white horses punctuation unchanged

II. 3. He’ll be here soon, I fancy. text reads _soon, I, fancy._

II. 4. _Trader_: ... I don’t know, by gad. text reads _know by, gad._ ]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

AULULARIA

THE POT OF GOLD

* * * * *

ARGVMENTVM I

ARGUMENT OF THE PLAY (I)

Senex avarus vix sibi credens Euclio domi suae defossam multis cum opibus aulam invenit, rursumque penitus conditam exanguis amens servat. eius filiam Lyconides vitiarat. interea senex Megadorus a sorore suasus ducere uxorem avari gnatam deposcit sibi.

A miserly old man named Euclio, a man who would hardly trust his very self, on finding a pot full of treasure buried within his house, hides it away again deep in the ground, and, beside himself with terror, keeps watch over it. His daughter had been wronged by Lyconides. Meanwhile an old gentleman, one Megadorus, is persuaded by his sister to marry, and asks the miser for his daughter’s hand.

durus senex vix promittit, atque aulae timens domo sublatam variis abstrudit locis. insidias servos facit huius Lyconidis qui virginem vitiarat; atque ipse obsecrat 10 avonculum Megadorum sibimet cedere uxorem amanti. per dolum mox Euclio cum perdidisset aulam, insperato invenit laetusque natam conlocat Lyconidi.

The dour old fellow at length consents, and, fearing for his pot, takes it from the house and hides it in one place after another. The servant of this Lyconides, the man who had wronged the girl, plots against the miser; and Lyconides himself entreats his uncle, Megadorus, to give up the girl, and let him, the man that loves her, marry her. After a time Euclio, who had been tricked out of his pot, recovers it unexpectedly and joyfully bestows his daughter upon Lyconides.

ARGVMENTVM II

ARGUMENT OF THE PLAY (II)

*A*ulam repertam auri plenam Euclio *V*i summa servat, miseris adfectus modis. *L*yconides istius vitiat filiam. *V*olt hanc Megadorus indotatam ducere, *L*ubensque ut faciat dat coquos cum obsonio. *A*uro formidat Euclio, abstrudit foris. *R*e omni inspecta compressoris servolus *I*d surpit. illic Euclioni rem refert. *A*b eo donatur auro, uxore et filio.

Euclio, on finding a pot full of gold, is dreadfully worried, and watches over it with the greatest vigilance. Lyconides wrongs his daughter. This girl, undowered though she is, Megadorus wishes to marry, and he cheerfully supplies cooks and provisions for the wedding feast. Anxious about his gold, Euclio hides it outside the house. Everything he does having been witnessed, a rascally servant of the girl’s assailant steals it. His master informs Euclio of it, and receives from him gold, wife, and son.

PERSONAE.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

LAR FAMILIARIS PROLOGVS EVCLIO SENEX STAPHYLA ANVS EVNOMIA MATRONA MEGADORVS SENEX PYTHODICVS SERVVS CONGRIO COCVS ANTHRAX COCVS STROBILVS SERVVS LYCONIDES ADVLESCENS PHAEDRIA PVELLA TIBICINAE

THE HOUSEHOLD GOD OF EUCLIO, _the Prologue._ EUCLIO, _an old gentleman of Athens._ STAPHYLA, _his old slave._ EUNOMIA, _a lady of Athens_ MEGADORUS, _an old gentleman of Athens, Eunomia’s brother._ PYTHODICUS, _his slave_ CONGRIO, _cook._ ANTHRAX, _cook._ STROBILUS, _slave of Lyconides._ LYCONIDES, _a young gentleman of Athens, Eunomia’s son._ PHAEDRIA, _Euclio’s daughter._ MUSIC GIRLS.

_Scene:--Athens. A street on which are the houses of Euclio and Megadorus, a narrow lane between them, in front an altar._

PROLOGVS

PROLOGUE

LAR FAMILIARIS

SPOKEN BY EUCLIO’S HOUSEHOLD GOD

Ne quis miretur qui sim, paucis eloquar ego Lar sum familiaris ex hac familia unde exeuntem me aspexistis. hanc domum iam multos annos est cum possideo et colo patri avoque iam huius qui nunc hic habet sed mi avos huius obsecrans concredidit thensaurum auri clam omnis. in medio foco defodit, venerans me ut id servarem sibi.

That no one may wonder who I am, I shall inform you briefly. I am the Household God of that family from whose house you saw me come. For many years now I have possessed this dwelling, and preserved it for the sire and grandsire of its present occupant. Now this man’s grandsire as a suppliant entrusted to me, in utter secrecy, a hoard of gold: he buried it in the centre of the hearth, entreating me to guard it for him.

is quoniam moritur--ita avido ingenio fuit-- numquam indicare id filio voluit suo, 10 inopemque optavit potius eum relinquere, quam eum thensaurum commonstraret filio; agri reliquit ei non magnum modum, quo cum labore magno et misere viveret.

When he died he could not bear--so covetous was he--to reveal its existence to his own son, and he chose to leave him penniless rather than apprise him of this treasure. Some land, a little only, he did leave him, whereon to toil and moil for a miserable livelihood.

Ubi is obiit mortem qui mihi id aurum credidit, coepi observare, ecqui maiorem filus mihi honorem haberet quam eius habuisset pater. atque ille vero minus minusque impendio curare minusque me impertire honoribus. item a me contra factum est, nam item obiit diem. 20 is ex se hunc reliquit qui hic nunc habitat filium pariter moratum ut pater avosque huius fuit.

After the death of him who had committed the gold to my keeping, I began to observe whether the son would hold me in greater honour than his father had. As a matter of fact, his neglect grew and grew apace, and he showed me less honour. I did the same by him: so he also died. He left a son who occupies this house at present, a man of the same mould as his sire and grandsire.

huic filia una est. ea mihi cottidie aut ture aut vino aut aliqui semper supplicat, dat mihi coronas. eius honoris gratia feci, thensaurum ut hic reperiret Euclio, quo illam facilius nuptum, si vellet, daret nam eam compressit de summo adulescens loco. is scit adulescens quae sit quam compresserit, illa illum nescit, neque compressam autem pater. 30

He has one daughter. She prays to me constantly, with daily gifts of incense, or wine, or something; she gives me garlands. Out of regard for her I caused Euclio to discover the treasure here in order that he might the more easily find her a husband, if he wished. For she has been ravished by a young gentleman of very high rank. He knows who it is that he has wronged; who he is she does not know, and as for her father, he is ignorant of the whole affair.

Eam ego hodie faciam ut hic senex de proxumo sibi uxorem poscat. id ea faciam gratia, quo ille eam facilius ducat qui compresserat. et hic qui poscet eam sibi uxorem senex, is adulescentis illius est avonculus, qui illam stupravit noctu, Cereris vigiliis.

I shall make the old gentleman who lives next door here (_pointing_) ask for her hand to-day. My reason for so doing is that the man who wronged her may marry her the more easily. And the old gentleman who is to ask for her hand is the uncle of the young gentleman who violated her by night at the festival of Ceres.

sed hic senex iam clamat intus ut solet. anum foras extrudit, ne sit conscia. credo aurum inspicere volt, ne subreptum siet.

(_an uproar in Euclio’s house_) But there is old Euclio clamouring within as usual, and turning his ancient servant out of doors lest she learn his secret. I suppose he wishes to look at his gold and see that it is not stolen. [EXIT.

ACTVS I