Chapter 84

_Hegio_

Quae res bene vortat mihi meoque filio vobisque, volt te novos erus operam dare tuo veteri domino, quod is velit, fideliter. nam ego te aestumatum huic dedi viginti minis, his autem te ait mittere hinc velle ad patrem, meum ut illic redimat filium, mutatio inter me atque illum ut nostris fiat filiis.

(_going to Philocrates_) God bless us all in this, me, and my son, and yourselves! My man, your new master wishes you to do something your old master wishes, and to do it faithfully. The fact is, I have given you over to him, under an eighty pound forfeit, he saying he desires to send you off to his father and let him ransom my son there in Elis, so that he may exchange my boy for his own.

_Philocr._

Utroque vorsum rectumst ingenium meum, ad te atque ad illum; pro rota me uti licet: vel ego huc vel illic vortar, quo imperabitis. 370

I’m quite disposed to do both of you a good turn, sirs, you and him both; you can use me like a wheel, I’ll turn your way or his, either way, wherever you like.

_Hegio_

Tute tibi tuopte ingenio prodes plurumum, cum servitutem ita fers ut ferri decet. sequere. em tibi hominem.

And you are acting very much to your own advantage in being so disposed, and in accepting your slavery as you should. Follow me. (_leading way to Tyndarus_) There’s your man.

_Tynd._

Gratiam habeo tibi, quom copiam istam mi et potestatem facis, ut ego ad parentes hunc remittam nuntium, qui me quid rerum his agitem et quid fieri velim patri meo, ordine omnem rem, illuc perferat.

(_sedately_) I thank you, sir, for affording me this opportunity, of making him my messenger to my parents, so that he may carry to my father a full account of me and my situation here, and what I wish him to see to.

nunc ita convenit inter me atque hunc, Tyndare. ut te aestumatum in Alidem mittam ad patrem, si non rebitas huc, ut viginti minas 380 dem pro te.

(_turning to Philocrates_) Tyndarus, this gentleman and I have just arranged that I send you to Elis to father, under a forfeit: if you fail to return, I am to pay him eighty pounds for you.

_Philocr._

Recte convenisse sentio. nam pater expectat aut me aut aliquem nuntium, qui hinc ad se veniat.

And a good arrangement, too, in my opinion. For the old gentleman’s expecting either me or some messenger to come to him from here.

_Tynd._

Ergo animum advortas volo quae nuntiare hinc te volo in patriam ad patrem.

Well then, I wish you to pay attention to the message I wish you to take home to him.

_Philocr._

Philocrates, ut adhuc locorum feci, faciam sedulo, ut potissimum quod in rem recte conducat tuam, id petam idque persequar corde et animo atque viribus.

I’ll do the best I can for you, sir, just as I always have: anything that makes for your good, sir, I’ll work my hardest for, and follow up with all my heart and soul and strength.

_Tynd._

Facis ita ut te facere oportet. nunc animum advortas volo: omnium primum salutem dicito matri et patri et cognatis et si quem alium benevolentem videris; 390 me hic valere et servitutem servire huic homini optumo, qui me honore honestiorem semper fecit et facit.

The proper spirit. Now I wish you to pay attention. First of all, remember me to my father and mother and my relatives and anyone else you may see who is interested in my welfare; tell them I am in good health here and a slave of this most estimable gentleman who has always accorded me the (_with emphasis_) very extraordinary consideration which I still enjoy.

_Philocr._

Istuc ne praecipias, facile memoria memini tamen.

No instructions needed along that line, sir: I can remember to mind that easily enough, without.

_Tynd._

Nam equidem, nisi quod custodem habeo, liberum me esse arbitror. dicito patri, quo pacto mihi cum hoc convenerit de huius filio.

For really, aside from the fact that I have a guard, I feel that I am a free man. Tell my father what arrangement this gentleman and I have made regarding his son.

_Philocr._

Quae memini, mora mera est monerier.

Mere waste of time, sir, to remind me of what I remember.

_Tynd._

Ut eum redimat et remittat nostrum huc amborum vicem.

That he is to ransom him and send him back here in exchange for us both.

_Philocr._

Meminero.

I’ll remember.

_Hegio_

At quamprimum pote: istuc in rem utriquest maxime.

Yes, but just as quickly as possible: that’s of the highest importance to each of us.

_Philocr._

Non tuom tu magis videre quam ille suom gnatum cupit.

You don’t long to see your son any more than he does his, sir.

_Hegio_

Meus mihi, suos cuique est carus.

My son is dear to me, as his own son is to every father.

_Philocr._

Numquid aliud vis patri 400 nuntiari?

No further message for him, eh?

_Tynd._

Me hic valere et--tute audacter dicito, Tyndare--inter nos fuisse ingenio haud discordabili, neque te commeruisse culpam--neque me adversatum tibi-- beneque ero gessisse morem in tantis aerumnis tamen;

(_somewhat at a loss_) Say I am in good health here, and-- (_earnestly_) Tyndarus, speak up boldly to him, yourself,-- say that we have never been at variance, that I have never had reason to find fault with you (nor you to think me obstinate) and that you have served your master to the full even in such adversity.

neque med umquam deseruisse te neque factis neque fide, rebus in dubiis egenis. haec pater quando sciet, Tyndare, ut fueris animatus erga suom gnatum atque se, numquam erit tam avarus, quin te gratiis emittat manu[12]; et mea opera, si hinc rebito, faciam ut faciat facilius.

Say that a treacherous act, a disloyal thought were things undreamed of even in the dark hours of distress. When my father knows of this, Tyndarus, knows what your spirit toward his son and himself has been, he will never be so niggardly as not to set you free at his own expense; and if I return, I will put forth my own efforts to make him the more ready to do it.

nam tua opera et comitate et virtute et sapientia 410 fecisti ut redire liceat ad parentis denuo, cum apud hunc confessus es et genus et divitias meas: quo pacto emisisti e vinclis tuom erum tua sapientia.

For it is through your efforts and good will and devotion and wisdom that I have a chance to go back to my parents once more, inasmuch as you informed this gentleman of my family and wealth: thanks to your wisdom in doing so, your master’s fetters have been removed.

_Philocr._

Feci ego ista ut commemoras, et te meminisse id gratum est mihi. merito tibi ea venerunt a me; nam nunc, Philocrates, si ego item memorem quae me erga multa fecisti bene, nox diem adimat; nam quasi servos meus esses, nihilo setius tu mihi obsequiosus semper fuisti.

Right you are, sir, so I did, and I’m glad you remember it. You deserve anything I’ve done for you, too; why, sir, if I was to go on like that now and mention how many good turns you’ve done me, it would take all day and more; why, it was just as if you had been my slave, not a bit different, the deferential way you’ve always treated me.

_Hegio_

Di vostram fidem, hominum ingenium liberale. ut lacrumas excutiunt mihi. videas corde amare inter se. quantis lautus laudibus 420 suom erum servos collaudavit.

(_half aside_) Bless my soul, what noble natures! Dear, dear, it brings the tears to my eyes! You can see they are simply devoted to each other. The way that splendid slave praised his own master--a perfect panegyric!

_Tynd._

Pol istic me haud centesimam partem laudat quam ipse meritust ut laudetur laudibus.

Heavens, sir, he doesn’t praise me a hundredth part as much as he deserves to be praised himself.

_Hegio_

Ergo cum optume fecisti, nunc adest occasio bene facta cumulare, ut erga hunc rem geras fideliter.

(_to Philocrates_) Well then, having been such an excellent servant, here is an opportunity to crown your services by carrying through this business for him faithfully.

_Philocr._

Magis non factum possum velle, quam opera experiar persequi; id ut scias, Iovem supremum testem laudo, Hegio. me infidelem non futurum Philocrati.

I’ll be just as keen in actually trying to do it as I can be for wanting it done, sir; and to prove it, sir, I swear by God Almighty that I’ll never be unfaithful to Philocrates--

_Hegio_

Probus es homo.

(_heartily_) Worthy fellow!

_Philocr._

Nec me secus umquam ei facturum quicquam quam memet mihi.

--or ever act any differently by him than I would by my own self.

_Tynd._

Istaec dicta te experiri et operis et factis volo; et, quo minus dixi quam volui de te, animum advortas volo, 430 atque horunc verborum causa caveto mi iratus fuas; sed, te quaeso, cogitato hinc mea fide mitti domum te aestimatum, et meam esse vitam hic pro te positam pignori,

(_with increased earnestness_) It is the actual performance, the deed, I wish to test those words by; and inasmuch as I said less than I wished about your conduct, I wish you to pay particular attention,--yes, and be sure not to take offence at what I say. But I beg you, do bear in mind the fact that you are being sent off home, sent home at my risk and under a forfeit, and that I am staking my life for you here:

ne tu me ignores, quom extemplo meo e conspectu abscesseris, quom me servom in servitute pro ted hic reliqueris, tuque te pro libero esse ducas, pignus deseras neque des operam pro me ut huius reducem facias filium.[13] (437) fac fidelis sis fideli, cave fidem fluxam geras: (439) nam pater, scio, faciet quae illum facere oportet omnia; 440 serva tibi in perpetuom amicum me, atque hunc inventum inveni.

so don’t forget me the moment you are out of sight, when you have left me here in servitude, a slave, in your stead; and don’t consider yourself a free man and let your promise go and fail to save me by bringing back this gentleman’s son. Be faithful, I entreat you, to one who has shown his faith, and don’t falter in that faithfulness. As for my father, I am sure he will do everything he should do. For your part, keep me your friend for ever, and do not lose this friend (_indicating Hegio_) you have found.

haec per dexteram tuam te dextera retinens manu opsecro, infidelior mihi ne fuas quam ego sum tibi. tu hoc age. tu mihi erus nunc es, tu patronus, tu pater, tibi commendo spes opesque meas.

This I beseech you by this hand (_grasping Philocrates’ right hand_), this hand I hold in mine: don’t be less true to me than I am to you. (_after a pause_) Well, to the work! You are my master now, my protector, my father, you and you only: to you I commend my hopes and my welfare.

_Philocr._

Mandavisti satis satin habes, mandata quae sunt facta si refero?

Enough commands, sir. Will you be satisfied, if I turn your commands to accomplished facts?

_Tynd._

Satis.

Yes.

_Philocr._

Et tua et tua huc ornatus reveniam ex sententia. numquid aliud?

I’ll come back here equipped to suit you (_to Hegio_) sir, and you, (_to Tyndarus_) too. Nothing else?

_Tynd._

Ut quam primum possis redeas.

Return as soon as you can.

_Philocr._

Res monet.

Naturally, sir.

_Hegio_

Sequere me, viaticum ut dem a trapezita tibi, eadem opera a praetore sumam syngraphum.

(_to Philocrates_) Follow me. I must go to the banker’s and give you some money for travelling expenses: I’ll get a passport from the praetor at the same time.

_Tynd._

Quem syngraphum? 450

What passport?

_Hegio_

Quem hic ferat secum ad legionem, hinc ire huic ut liceat domum. tu intro abi.

One to take to the army with him so that he’ll he allowed to go off home. As for yourself, you go inside.

_Tynd._

Ben ambulato.

(_to Philocrates_) A good journey to you.

_Philocr._

Bene vale.

Good-bye, sir, good-bye! [EXIT _Tyndarus_ INTO _Hegio’s_ HOUSE.

_Hegio_

Edepol rem meam constabilivi, quom illos emi de praeda a quaestoribus; expedivi ex servitute filium, si dis placet, at etiam dubitavi, hos homines emerem an non emerem, diu.

(_aside, in high spirits_) Well, well, well, it was the making of me when I bought those two from the commissioners! I’ve set my son at Liberty, God willing! And to think I hesitated for a long time whether to buy them or not!

servate istum sultis intus, servi, ne quoquam pedem ecferat sine custodela. iam ego apparebo domi; ad fratrem modo captivos alios inviso meos, eadem percontabor, ecquis hunc adulescentem noverit. sequere tu, te ut amittam; ei rei primum praevorti volo. 460

(_to overseers_) Please keep an eye on that prisoner inside there, my lads, and don’t let him set a foot out here anywhere without a guard. I shall soon be home myself. I’ll just step over to my brother’s for a look at my other captives: at the same time I’ll inquire if any one of them knows this young gentleman. (_to Philocrates_) Come, my man, so that I may send you off; I want to attend to that first. [EXEUNT _Hegio_ AND _Philocrates_.

ACTVS III