Amphitryo Asinaria Aulularia Bacchides Captivi Amphitryon The C
Chapter 60
ENTER _Pistoclerus_ FROM HOUSE OF _Bacchis._
_Pistoc._
Mirumst me ut redeam te opere tanto quaesere, qui abire hinc nullo pacto possim, si velim ita me vadatum amore vinctumque adtines. 180
(_to Bacchis within_) It seems curious, your begging me so hard to come back, when I couldn’t possibly leave you if I wanted, when you’ve got me so bound over to you, held fast in the fetters of love.
_Chrys._
Pro di immortales, Pistoclerum conspicor. o Pistoclere, salve.
Ye everlasting gods! It’s Pistoclerus. What ho, sir! How are you?
_Pistoc._
Salve, Chrysale.
And yourself, Chrysalus?
_Chrys._
Compendi verba multa iam faciam tibi venire tu me gaudes: ego credo tibi, hospitium et cenam pollicere, ut convenit peregre advenienti: ego autem venturum adnuc salutem tibi ab sodali solidam nuntio rogabis me ubi sit: vivit.
Here’s for saving you the trouble of a long speech, sir. You’re glad I’ve come: I believe you. You promise to do the honours and dine me, the stranger from afar, and so you should: for my part, I accept. I bring you cordial greetings from your chum. You’ll ask me where he is: alive.
_Pistoc._
Nempe recte valet?
(_eagerly_) And well, well, of course?
_Chrys._
Istuc volebam ego ex te percontarier.
That’s what I wanted to ask you.
_Pistoc._
Qui scire possum?
How can I know?
_Chrys._
Nullus plus.
None better.
_Pistoc._
Quemnam ad modum? 190
Why, how so?
_Chrys._
Quia si illa inventa est, quam ille amat, recte valet, si non inventa est, minus valet moribundusque est animast amica amanti. si abest, nullus est; si adest, res nullast. ipsus est--nequam et miser, sed tu quid factitasti mandatis super?
Because if his ladylove has been discovered, he’s perfectly well: if she’s not discovered, he’s not so well; he’s at death’s door. His love is life to a lover: if she’s away, he’s lost; if she’s there, his cash is lost, he himself being--a poor good-for-nothing fool. But you--what have you been doing about his commission?
_Pistoc._
Egon ut, quod ab illoc attigisset nuntius, non impetratum id advenienti ei redderem? regiones colere mavellem Acherunticas.
I? Am I the man to let him arrive and find the request his messenger mentioned unattended to? I’d sooner pass my days in the lower regions.
_Chrys._
Eho, an invenisti Bacchidem?
Hullo! You haven’t found Bacchis?
_Pistoc._
Samiam quidem. 199,200
Yes, the Samian one.
_Chrys._
Vide quaeso, ne quis tractet illam indiligens; scis tu ut confringi vas cito Samium solet.
(_affecting terror_) Heavens! do see that no one handles that one carelessly; you know that Samian[D] ware, how precious brittle it is.
[Footnote D: A fragile and (_The Captives_ 291) cheap kind of pottery.]
_Pistoc._
Iamne ut soles?
The same old wag, eh?
_Chrys._
Dic ubi ea nunc est, obsecro.
Tell me where she is now, for heaven’s sake.
_Pistoc._
Hic, exeuntem me unde aspexisti modo.
Here in the house you just saw me coming out of.
_Chrys._
Ut istuc est lepidum: proximae viciniae habitat, ecquidnam meminit Mnesilochi?
Here’s a go! Residing in the immediate neighbourhood! Well, well! does she remember Mnesilochus?
_Pistoc._
Rogas? immo unice unum plurimi pendit.
Remember him? More than that, she thinks he’s the one and only man on earth.
_Chrys._
Papae.
Oh pshaw!
_Pistoc._
Immo ut eam credis? misera amans desiderat.
More than that, what do you suppose her feelings are? The poor affectionate thing is dying for him.
_Chrys._
Scitum istuc.
Quite charming!
_Pistoc._
Immo, Chrysale, em, non tantulum umquam intermittit tempus quin eum nominet. 210
More than that, Chrysalus--look!--she doesn’t let even so much (_illustrating_) time pass without mentioning his name.
_Chrys._
Tanto hercle melior.
Humph! So much the better of her.
_Pistoc._
Immo--
More than that--
_Chrys._
Immo hercle abiero potius.
(_bored_) More than that, by gad, I’d rather get out of range!
_Pistoc._
Num invitus rem bene gestam audis eri?
You don’t object to hearing that your master is in a prosperous situation, do you?
_Chrys._
Non res, sed actor mihi cor odio sauciat. etiam Epidicum, quam ego fabulam aeque ac me ipsum amo, nullam aeque invitus specto, si agit Pellio. sed Bacchis etiam fortis tibi visast?
It’s not the situations that make me sick unto death; it’s your confounding acting. Even the _Epidicus_[E]--a comedy I love as well as my own self--well, there’s not a one I so object to seeing, if Pellio’s playing in it. But you really consider Bacchis a fine lively one, do you?
[Footnote E: One of Plautus’s plays.]
_Pistoc._
Rogas? ni nanctus Venerem essem, hanc Iunonem dicerem.
Do you ask me that? If[F] I hadn’t lighted on Venus myself, I’d call her Juno.
[Footnote F: Venus and Juno not being sisters.]
_Chrys._
Edepol, Mnesiloche, ut hanc rem natam intellego, quod ames paratumst: quod des inventost opus. nam istic fortasse auro est opus.
(_half aside_) Well, by gad, Mnesilochus, as far as I can understand the present situation, you’ve got your love: the wherewithal is what you need to find. (_to Pistoclerus_) For I dare say there is need of gold in the affair.
_Pistoc._
Philippeo quidem. 220
Yes, and good coin of the realm.
_Chrys._
Atque eo fortasse iam opust.
And furthermore, I dare say it’s needed soon.
_Pistoc._
Immo etiam prius: nam iam huc adveniet miles.
No, before that, even: for a Captain’s due here soon.
_Chrys._
Et miles quidem?
Indeed? A Captain, too?
_Pistoc._
Qui de amittenda Bacchide aurum hic exiget.
Who’ll be after money for letting Bacchis go.
_Chrys._
Veniat quando volt, atque ita ne mihi sit morae. domist: non metuo nec ego quoiquam supplico, dum quidem hoc valebit pectus perfidia meum. abi intro, ego hic curabo. tu intus dicito Mnesilochum adesse Bacchidi.
(_airily_) Let him come when he wants, yes, and let him take care not to keep me waiting. I’m provided: I fear no man and supplicate no man, not I,--at least as long as this heart of mine can prompt a good stiff lie. Inside with you: (_grandly waving Pistoclerus in_) I’ll take charge here myself. You tell Bacchis in there that she may expect Mnesilochus at once.
_Pistoc._
Faciam ut iubes.
Very well. [EXIT.
_Chrys._
Negotium hoc ad me adtinet aurarium. mille et ducentos Philippum attulimus aureos 230 Epheso, quos hospes debuit nostro seni. inde ego hodie aliquam machinabor machinam, unde aurum efficiam amanti erili filio. sed foris concrepuit nostra: quinam exit foras?
It’s my look out, this business of the exchequer. We’ve brought twelve hundred sovereigns from Ephesus, money a friend there owed our old man. I’ll machinate some machinations to-day for transferring part of said gold to my lovesick young master. (_listening_) But there goes our door! Wonder who’s coming out. (_steps aside_)
II. 3.