Scene 3.
ENTER _Philocrates_.
_Philocr_
Hegio, assum. si quid me vis, impera.
Here I am, Hegio. If I can be of any service, command me.
_Hegio_
Hic gnatum meum tuo patri ait se vendidisse sex minis in Alide.
(_beside himself_) This fellow says my son--he sold him to your father--for twenty-four pounds--in Elis!
_Philocr._
Quam diu id factum est?
How long ago was this?
_Stal._
His annus incipit vicensimus. 980
Going on for twenty years.
_Philocr._
Falsa memorat.
He’s lying.
_Stal._
Aut ego aut tu. nam tibi quadrimulum tuos pater peculiarem parvolo puero dedit.
(_indifferent_) One of us is. As a matter of fact, your father gave you a little four year old boy for your own, when you were nothing but a youngster yourself.
_Philocr._
Quid erat ei nomen? si vera dicis, memoradum mihi.
(interested) What was his name? If your story is true, come, tell me that.
_Stal._
Paegnium vocitatust, post vos indidistis Tyndaro.
Styled Pettie, he was: later on you folks called him Tyndarus.
_Philocr._
Cur ego te non novi?
How is it I don’t know you?
_Stal._
Quia mos est oblivisci hominibus neque novisse cuius nihili sit faciunda gratia.
Because it’s the regular thing to forget a fellow and cut him, in case his good will can’t help you at all.
_Philocr._
Dic mihi, isne istic fuit, quem vendidisti meo patri, qui mihi peculiaris datus est?
Tell me, was that boy you sold my father the same one that was given me for my own?
_Stal._
Huius filius.
(_with a nod in Hegio’s direction_) His son.
_Hegio_
Vivitne is homo?
(_eagerly_) Is he alive, this--man?
_Stal._
Argentum accepi, nil curavi ceterum.
I got the money: that’s all I bothered about.
_Hegio_
Quid tu ais?
(_to Philocrates_) What do you say?
_Philocr._
Quin istic ipsust Tyndarus tuos filius, 990 ut quidem hic argumenta loquitur. nam is mecum a puero puer bene pudiceque educatust usque ad adulescentiam.
Why, it’s Tyndarus himself that is your son, at least according to this fellow’s evidence. For Tyndarus has been brought up with me from the time we were boys, and brought up in good honest fashion.
_Hegio_
Et miser sum et fortunatus, si vos vera dicitis; eo miser sum quia male illi feci, si gnatust meus. eheu, quom ego plus minusve feci quam me aequom fuit. quod male feci crucior; modo si infectum fieri possiet. sed eccum incedit huc ornatus haud ex suis virtutibus.
I feel miserable and happy both, if what you two say is true! Miserable at having been so hard on him, if he is my own boy! Dear, dear! how much more I’ve done than I ought, or how much less! It’s torment, to think of the horrible thing I’ve done--oh, if it could only be undone! (_looking down street_) Look, though,--there he comes! To be decked out like that, the noble fellow!
V. 4.