Chapter 83

ENTER _Hegio_ FROM HOUSE.

_Hegio_

Iam ego revertar intro, si ex his quae volo exquisivero. ubi sunt isti quos ante aedis iussi huc produci foras?

(_to those within_) I shall be back directly, if I find out what I want to know from these fellows. (_to overseers_) Where are those prisoners I had brought out in front of the house here?

_Philocr._

Edepol tibi ne in quaestione essemus cautum intellego, ita vinclis custodiisque circum moeniti sumus.

(_advancing, pertly_) Gad! You guarded against having to look for us far, I perceive,--see how we’re barricaded with chains and watchmen.

_Hegio_

Qui cavet ne decipiatur, vix cavet, cum etiam cavet; etiam cum cavisse ratus est, saepe is cautor captus est. an vero non iusta causa est, ut vos servem sedulo, quos tam grandi sim mercatus praesenti pecunia?

The man on his guard against being deceived is hardly on his guard even when he is on his guard, even when he supposed he was on his guard, your guarder has often enough been gulled. Really though, haven’t I good reason to take pains to keep you, when I paid so high for you, cash down?

_Philocr._

Neque pol tibi nos, quia nos servas, aequomst vitio vortere, neque te nobis, si abeamus hinc, si fuat occasio. 260

Bless your heart, sir, we haven’t any right to find fault with you for trying to keep us, or you with us, if we clear out--if we get a chance.

_Hegio_

Ut vos hic, itidem illic apud vos meus servatur filius.

My son is kept prisoner there in your country just as you are here.

_Philocr._

Captus est?

Captured?

_Hegio_

Ita.

Yes.

_Philocr._

Non igitur nos soli ignavi fuimus.

Then other folks besides us have been cowards.

_Hegio_

Secede huc. nam sunt quae ex te solo scitari volo. quarum rerum te falsilocum mi esse nolo.

(_leading him farther from Tyndarus_) Step over here. There are some matters I wish to ask you about in private. No lying about them, mind.

_Philocr._

Non ero quod sciam. si quid nescibo, id nescium tradam tibi.

Not I, sir, not if I know. If I don’t know about a thing, I’ll (_innocently_) tell you what I don’t know.

_Tynd._

Nunc senex est in tostrina, nunc iam cultros attinet. ne id quidem, involucrum inicere, voluit, vestem ut ne inquinet. sed utrum strictimne adtonsurum dicam esse an per pectinem, nescio; verum, si frugist, usque admutilabit probe.

(_aside, cheerfully_) Now the old fellow is in the barber’s chair, yes, now we have the clippers on him. And master not even willing to throw a towel over him to keep his clothes clean! Is it going to be a close crop, I wonder, or just a trim?--that’s the question. If he knows his business, though, he’ll dock him handsomely.

_Hegio_

Quid tu? servosne esse an liber mavelis, memora mihi. 270

See here, would you prefer to be a slave or a free man, tell me that?

_Philocr._

Proxumum quod sit bono quodque a malo longissume, id volo; quamquam non multum fuit molesta servitus, nec mihi secus erat quam si essem familiaris filius.

The maximum of pleasure and the minimum of pain, that’s my preference, sir; but being a slave hasn’t bothered me much, though: I wasn’t treated any differently than if I’d been a son of the house.

_Tynd._

Eugepae, Thalem talento non emam Milesium, nam ad sapientiam huius[8] nimius nugator fuit. ut facete orationem ad servitutem contulit.

(_aside_) Well done my boy! I wouldn’t buy Milesian Thales at a thousand thalers: why, he was nothing but the veriest amateur of a wise man compared with master here. How cleverly he’s dropped into the servant jargon!

_Hegio._

Quo de genere natust illic Philocrates?

Who are Philocrates’ people there in Elis?

_Philocr._

Polyplusio: quod genus illi est unum pollens atque honoratissumum.

The Goldfields, sir,--the most influential and respected family in those parts easily.

_Hegio_

Quid ipsus hic? quo honore est illic?

And the young man himself? How does he stand?

_Philocr._

Summo, atque ab summis viris.[9] 279

Very high indeed, sir,--belongs to the highest circles.

_Hegio_

Quid divitiae, suntne opimae?

How about his property? Pretty fat one, eh?

_Philocr._

Unde excoquat sebum senex. (281)

Fat? Old Goldfields could get dripping out of it.

_Hegio_

Quid pater, vivitne?

What about his father? Is he living?

_Philocr._

Vivom, cum inde abimus, liquimus; nunc vivatne necne, id Orcum scire oportet scilicet.

He was when we left home, whether he’s alive now or not, of course you had better inquire below as to that, sir.

_Tynd._

Salva res est, philosophatur quoque iam, non mendax modo est.

(_aside_) The situation is saved! Now he not only lies but moralizes.

_Hegio_

Quid erat ei nomen?

What was his name?

_Philocr._

Thensaurochrysonicochrysides.

Ducatsdoubloonsandpiecesofeightson.

_Hegio_

Videlicet propter divitias inditum id nomen quasi est.

A sort of name applied to him on account of his money, I take it.

_Philocr._

Immo edepol propter avaritiam ipsius atque audaciam.[10]

(_apparently struck by a new idea_) Lord, no! on account of his being so greedy and grasping, sir.

_Hegio_

Quid tu ais? tenaxne pater est eius?

What’s that? His father’s rather close, is he?

_Philocr._

Immo edepol pertinax; quin etiam ut magis noscas: Genio suo ubi quando sacruficat, 290 ad rem divinam quibus est opus, Samiis vasis utitur, ne ipse Genius surripiat: proinde aliis ut credat vide.

Close? My word, sir! he’s adhesive! Why, really,--just so as to give you a better notion of him--whenever he sacrifices to his own Guardian Spirit he won’t use any dishes needed in the service except ones made of Samian earthenware, for fear his very Guardian Spirit may steal ’em. You can see from this what a confiding character he is in general.

_Hegio_

Sequere hac me igitur. eadem ego ex hoc quae volo exquaesivero. Philocrates, hic fecit, hominem frugi ut facere oportuit. nam ego ex hoc quo genere gnatus sis scio, hic fassust mihi; haec tu eadem si confiteri vis, tua ex re feceris: quae tamen scio scire me ex hoc.

Well, well, come this way with me. (_aside, as they join Tyndarus_) I’ll soon get the information I want out of the master here at the same time. (_to Tyndarus_) Philocrates, your servant has acted as a worthy fellow ought to act. Yes, I know from him about your family: he has admitted everything. If you choose to be equally open with me, it will be to your advantage: however, I have been completely informed already by him.

_Tynd._

Fecit officium hic suom, cum tibi est confessus verum, quamquam volui sedulo meam nobilitatem occultare et genus et divitias meas, Hegio; nunc quando patriam et libertatem perdidi, 300 non ego istunc me potius quam te metuere aequom censeo. vis hostilis cum istoc fecit meas opes aequabiles; memini, cum dicto haud audebat: facto nunc laedat licet.

(_with dignified melancholy_) He has done his duty in admitting the truth to you, much as I did wish to keep you in the dark, Hegio, about my rank and birth and wealth; now that I am a man without a country, a prisoner, I suppose it is not to be expected that he should stand more in awe of me than of you. The chances of war have put master and man on an equal footing. I remember the time when he did not venture to offend me by a word: now he is at liberty to do me an actual injury.

sed viden? fortuna humana fingit artatque ut lubet: me, qui liber fueram servom fecit, e summo infimum; qui imperare insueram, nunc alterius imperio obsequor. et quidem si, proinde ut ipse fui imperator familiae, habeam dominum, non verear ne iniuste aut graviter mi imperet. Hegio, hoc te monitum, nisi forte ipse non vis, voluerim.

But you see! fortune moulds us, pinches us, to suit her whims: here am I, the one-time free man, a slave--tossed from the heights to the depths. Accustomed to command, I am now at another’s beck and call. And indeed, if I might have such a master as I myself was when I was the head of a household, I should have no fear of being treated unjustly or harshly. There is one thing I should like to impress upon you, Hegio,--unless you object, maybe.

_Hegio_

Loquere audacter.

No, no, speak out.

_Tynd._

Tam ego fui ante liber quam gnatus tuos, 310 tam mihi quam illi libertatem hostilis eripuit manus. tam ille apud nos servit, quam ego nunc his apud te servio. est profecto deus, qui quae nos gerimus auditque et videt: is, uti tu me his habueris, proinde illum illic curaverit; bene merenti bene profuerit, male merenti par erit. quam tu filium tuom, tam pater me meus desiderat.

Once I was free as your son; an enemy’s success deprived me of my liberty as he was deprived of his; he is a slave in my country as I am here with you. There surely is a God who hears and sees what we do: and according to your treatment of me here, so will he look after your son there. He will reward the deserving and requite the undeserving. Just as you long for your son, so does my father long for me.

_Hegio_

Memini ego istuc. sed faterin eadem quae hic fassust mihi?

I know all that--but do you admit the truth of what this fellow has told me?

_Tynd._

Ego patri meo esse fateor summas divitias domi meque summo genere gnatum. sed te optestor, Hegio, ne tuom animum avariorem faxint divitiae meae: 320 ne patri, tam etsi sum unicus, decere videatur magis, me saturum servire apud te sumptu et vestitu tuo potius quam illi, ubi minime honestumst, mendicantem vivere.[11] (323)

I do admit that my father is a very wealthy man at home and that I do come of very good family. But, Hegio, I beseech you, don’t let my wealth make your demands too exorbitant: for my father, even though I am his only son, might feel that it was better for me to remain your slave, well fed and clothed at your expense, than to come to beggary there at home where it would disgrace us most.

_Hegio_

Non ego omnino lucrum omne esse utile homini existimo (325) scio ego, multos iam lucrum lutulentos homines reddidit, est etiam ubi profecto damnum praestet facere quam lucrum. odi ego aurum: multa multis saepe suasit perperam.

I am not a man who regards each and every acquisition of money as a blessing: plenty of people have been tainted before now by this money getting, I know that. There are even times when it certainly is more profitable to lose money than to make it. Gold! I despise it: it has led many a man into many a wrong course.

nunc hoc animum advorte, ut ea quae sentio pariter scias. filius meus illic apud vos servit captus Alide: 330 eum si reddis mihi, praeterea unum nummum ne duis; et te et hunc amittam hinc. alio pacto abire non potes.

Now give me your attention. I want you to understand thoroughly what I have in mind. (_slowly and emphatically_) My son is a prisoner in Elis, a slave there among your countrymen: get him back to me, and without your giving me a single penny in addition, I will let you go home, and your servant, too. On no other terms can you get off.

_Tynd_

Optumum atque aequissumum oras optumusque hominum es homo. sed is privatam servitutem servit illi an publicam?

A very fair and reasonable proposition, sir, and you are the very fairest of men. Does he belong to some private person, though, or to the state?

_Hegio_

Privatam medici Menarchi.

To a private person, a doctor named Menarchus.

_Tynd_

Pol is quidem huius est cliens. tam hoc quidem tibi in proclivi quam amber est quando pluit.

(_aside_) Jove! why, he’s a client of master’s! (_aloud_) Why, this will be just as easy for you as rain when it pours.

_Hegio_

Fac is homo ut redimatur.

Have him ransomed.

_Tynd_

Faciam. sed te id oro, Hegio--

I will. But thus much I beg of you Hegio,--

_Hegio_

Quid vis, dum ab re ne quid ores, faciam.

(_eagerly_) Anything you please, provided my interests don’t suffer by it.

_Tynd._

Ausculta, tum scies. ego me amitti, donicum ille huc redierit, non postulo verum quaeso ut aestumatum bunc mihi des, quem mittam ad patrem 340 ut is homo redimatur illi.

Listen, and you can see if they will. I don’t ask to be released myself until my servant gets back. But I do urge you to let me have him under a forfeit, to send to father so that your son there can be ransomed.

_Hegio_

Immo alium potius misero hunc, ubi erant indutiae, illuc, tuom qui conveniat patrem, qui tua quae tu iusseris mandata ita ut velis perferat.

Oh no, I’ll send some one else instead when we have an armistice; that will be preferable: he shall confer with your father and carry out your orders to your satisfaction.

_Tynd._

At nihil est ignotum ad illum mittere: operam luseris. hunc mitte, hic transactum reddet omne, si illuc venerit. nec quemquam fideliorem neque cui plus credat potes mittere ad eum nec qui magis sit servos ex sententia, neque adeo cui suom concredat filium hodie audacius. ne vereare, meo periclo huius ego experiar fidem, fretus ingenio eius, quod me esse scit erga se benevolum. 350

But it’s no good sending a stranger to him: you’ll have frittered away your time. Send him: (_pointing to Philocrates_) he will transact the whole affair, once he gets there. You can’t send him a more reliable man, one he would trust more, a servant that’s more to his mind; I may go so far as to say there is no one he would be readier to entrust his own son to. Never fear: I will be responsible for his fidelity. I can depend on his goodness of heart; he appreciates my kindness to him.

_Hegio_

Mittam equidem istunc aestumatum tua fide, si vis.

Very well, I’ll send him under a forfeit, on your guarantee, if you wish.

_Tynd._

Volo; quam citissime potest, tam hoc cedere ad factum volo.

I do wish it. And I wish to have all this an accomplished fact just as quickly as possible.

_Hegio_

Num quae causa est quin, si ille huc non redeat, viginti minas mihi des pro illo?

Have you any objection to paying me eighty pounds for him in case he doesn’t return?

_Tynd._

Optuma immo.

Not the slightest--fair as can be.

_Hegio_

Solvite istum nunciam, atque utrumque.

(_to overseers_) Take the chains off that fellow at once, off both of them, in fact.

_Tynd._

Di tibi omnis omnia optata offerant, cum me tanto honore honestas cumque ex vinclis eximis. hoc quidem haud molestumst, iam quod collus collari caret.

(_as slaves obey_) God grant your every wish, sir, for your highly considerate conduct toward me and for releasing me. (_aside, stretching himself_) I tell you what, it’s no unpleasant sensation, having that necklet off one’s neck.

_Hegio_

Quod bonis bene fit beneficium, gratia ea gravida est bonis. nunc tu illum si illo es missurus, dice monstra praecipe quae ad patrem vis nuntiari. vin vocem huc ad te?

“A good deed done a good man yields a large return of good.” Now if you intend to send that fellow home, inform him, instruct him, give him full particulars as to the message he’s to carry your father. Shall I call him over here to you?

_Tynd._

Voca. 360

Do.

II. 3.