Dramatis Personae THE HOUSEHOLD GOD, who speaks the Prologue. EUCLIO, an aged Athenian. MEGADORUS, uncle of Lyconides. LYCONIDES, a young Athenian. STROBILUS, servant of Megadorus and Lyconides PYTHODICUS, servant of Megadorus. ANTHRAX Cooks CONGRIO EUNOMIA, the sister of Megadorus. PHAEDRA, the daughter of Euclio. STAPHYLA, an old woman, servant of Euclio. Scene — Athens, before the houses of EUCLIO and MEGADORUS and the Temple of Truth.) THE SUBJECT EUCLIO, a miserly old Athenian, has a daughter named Phaedra, who has been ravished by a young man named Lyconides, but is ignorant from whom she has received that injury. Lyconides has an uncle named Megadorus, who being ignorant of these circumstances, determines to ask Phaedra of her father, in marriage for himself. Euclio has discovered a pot of gold in his house which he watches with the greatest anxiety. In the meantime, Megadorus asks his daughter in marriage, and his proposal is accepted; and while preparations are making for the nuptials, Euclio conceals his treasure, first in on place and then in another. Strobilus, the servant of Lyconides, watches his movements, and, having discovered it, carries off the treasure. While Euclio is lamenting his loss, Lyconides accosts him, with the view of confessing the outrage he has committed on his daughter, and of announcing to him that his uncle, Megadorus, has cancelled his agreement to marry her, in favour of himself. Euclio at first thinks that he is come to confess the robbery of the treasure. After much parleying, his mistake is rectified, and the matter is explained; on which Lyconides forces Strobilus to confess the theft; and (although the rest of the Play In its original form is lost) we learn from the acrostic Argument that Strobilus gives up the treasure, and Lyconides marries the daughter of Euclio, and receives the gold for a marriage-portion. The Supplement written by Codrus Urcens to supply the place of what is lost has been added. THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT OF PRISCIAN. A POT (Aulam) that he has found full of gold, Euclio watches with the greatest strictness (Vi), being distracted in a dreadful manner. Lyconides (Lyconides) debauches his daughter. Megadorus wishes (Vult) to marry her without a portion, and to do it in a cheerful way (Lubens), he provides cooks with provisions. Euclio is afraid on account of the gold (Auro); he drives them out of the house; and the whole matter (Re) having been seen, the servant of the ravisher steals it (Id). He discloses the matter to Euclio; by (Ab) him he is presented with the gold, a wife, and a son. THE PROLOGUETitle Aulularia : This word is derived from the old Latin word aula, the same with the more recent form olla, signifying a pot, and whose diminutive was aulula, which had the same signification. It will be seen how conspicuous a part the aula performs in the Play. Warner says, in a Note to his Translation, that Molière took a great part of his Comedy, called L’Avare, from this play of Plautus; and that there are two English Comedies on the same plan, one by Shadwell, the other by Fielding, called the Miser. THE HOUSEHOLD GOD Lest any one should wonder who I am, I will tell you in a few words. I am the household God of this family, from whose house you have seen me coming forth. It is now many years that I have been occupying this house, and I inhabited it for the father and the grandfather of this person who now dwells here. But beseeching me, his grandfather entrusted to me a treasure of gold, unknown to all. He deposited it in the midst of the hearthMidst of the hearth: The Lares, or household Gods, were kept in the lararium, which was a recess near the focus, or hearth, and in which prayers were offered up by the Romans on rising in the morning. The hearth of fireplace was in the middle of the house, and was sacred to the Lares, praying me that I would watch it for him. He, when he died, was of such an avaricious disposition, that he would never disclose it to his own son, and preferred rather to leave him in want than to show that treasure to that son. He left him no large quantity of land, on which to live with great laboriousness and in wretchedness. When he died who had entrusted that gold to me, I began to take notice whether his son would any how pay greater honor to me than his father had paid me. But he was in the habit of venerating me still less and less by very much, and gave me a still less share of devotion. So in return was it done by me; and he likewise ended his life. He left this person who now dwells here, his son, of the same disposition as his father and grandfather were. He has an only daughter; she is always every day making offerings to me, either with incense, or wine, or something or other; she presents me, too, with chaplets. Out of regard for her, I have caused this Euclio to find this treasure, in order that he might more readily give her in marriage if he should wish; for a young man of very high rank has ravished her; this young man knows who it is that he has ravished; she knows him not, nor yet does her father know that she has been ravished. This day I shall cause the old gentleman here, our neighbour, to ask her as his wife; that will I do for this reason, that he may the more easily marry her who has ravished her. And this old gentleman who shall ask her as his wife, the same is the uncle of that young man who debauched her in the night time at the festival of CeresFestival of Ceres: He probably alludes to the Thesmophoria, a festival which was celebrated in honor of the Goddess Ceres, and a large portion of the rites whereof were solemnized in the night time. In general it was celebrated only by the married women, though, as we find in the present instance, the maidens took some part in a portion of the ceremonial. It was said to have been celebrated in the night time in commemoration of the search by Ceres, with a torch in her hand, for her daughter Proserpine, when ravished by Pluto. No lights were used on the occasion, which will account, in a great measure, for the mishap of Phaedra in the present instance, without her knowing who was the party that had insulted her. See an able article on the Thesmophoria in Dr Simth’s Dictionary of Antiquities.. But this old fellow is now making an uproar in the house, as usual; he is thrusting the old woman out of doors, that she may not be privy to the secret. I suppose he wants to look at the gold, if it be not stolen. (Enter EUCLIO, driving out STAPHYLA.) EUCLIO Get out, I say, be off, get out; by my troth, you must budge out of this house here, you pryabout woman, with your inquisitive eyes. STAPHYLA Pray why are you beating me, wretched creature that I am? EUCLIO That you may be wretched, and that, curst as you are. you may pass a curst life, well befitting you. STAPHYLA But for what reason have you now pushed me out of the house? EUCLIO Am I to be giving you a reason, you whole harvest of whips Harvest of whips: Stimulorum seges. Literally, you corn-field of whips. He means, that he will make her, body as full of weals from whipping in a corn-field is of ears of corn.. Get away there from the door! There, do look, if you please, how she does creep along. But do you know how matters stand with you? If I just now take a stick or a whip in my hand, I’ll quicken that tortoise pace for you. STAPHYLA O that the Gods would drive me to hang myself, rather indeed than that I should be a slave in your house on these terms! EUCLIO Hark how the hag is grumbling to herself! By my troth, you wretch, I’ll knock out those eyes of yours, that you mayn’t be able to watch me, what business I’m about. Get out (pushes her with his hands)—further yet! still further! further! There now, stand you there! By my faith, if you budge a finger’s breadth, or a nail’s width from that spot, or if you look back until I shall order you, i’ faith, I’ll give you up at once as a trainer for the gibbet. (Aside.) I know for sure that I did never see one more accursed than this hag, and I’m sadly in fear of her, lest she should be cheating me unawares, or be scenting it out where the gold is concealed, a most vile wretch, who has eyes in the back of her head as well. Now I’ll go and see whether the gold is just as I concealed it, that so troubles wretched me in very many ways. (He goes into his house.) STAPHYLA By heavens, I cannot now conceive what misfortune, or what insanity, I am to say has befallen my master; in such a way does he often, ten times in one day, in this fashion push wretched me out of the house. I’ faith, I know not what craziness does possess this man; whole nights is he on the watch; then, too, all the day long does he sit for whole days together at home like a lame cobbler A lame cobbler: Of course, lame people would be the most likely to take to such a sedentary employment as that of a cobbler. Nor can I imagine now by what means to conceal the disgrace of my master’s daughter, whose lying-in approaches near; and there isn’t anything better for me, as I fancy, than to make one long capital letter Long capital letter: She means to say, that she shall be forced to make a letter I of herself, by hanging herself. In so saying, she not only alludes to the straight and perpendicular form of that letter, but to its being especially long in the Roman mode of writing. of myself, when I’ve tied up my neck in a halter. (Enter EUCLIO, from his house.) EUCLIO (to himself.) Now, with my mind at ease, at length I go out of my house, after I’ve seen that everything is safe in-doors. Now do you return at once into the house (to STAPHYLA), and keep watch in-doors. STAPHYLA Keep watch in-doors upon nothing at all, forsooth! or is it, that no one may carry the house away. For here in our house there’s nothing else for thieves to gain, so filled is it with emptiness Filled is it with emptiness: The expression, full of emptiness, is intended as a piece of wit on the part of the old woman. Perhaps Euclio would not have the spiders molested, because they were considered to bring good luck. and cobwebs. EUCLIO ’Tis a wonder that, for your sake, Jupiter doesn’t now make me a King Philip, or a DariusPhilip, or a Darius: The names of Philip, King of Macedon, and Darius, King of Persia, as powerful and wealthy monarchs, would be likely to be well known to the writers of the new Greek Comedy, from whom Plautus borrowed most, if not all, of his plays., you hag of hags. I choose those cobwebs to be watched for me. I am poor, I confess it—I put up with it. What the Gods send, I endure. Go in-doors, shut to the door, I shall be there directly. Take you care not to let any strange person into the house. STAPHYLA What if any person asks for fire? EUCLIO I wish it to be put out,Part of line 91 in the Latin. that there may be no cause for any one asking it of you. But if the fire shall be kept in, you yourself shall be forthwith extinguished. Then do you say that the water has run outHas run out: It is not improbable that allusion is here made to the supply of water by pipes from the aqueducts., if any one asks for it. STAPHYLA The knife, the hatchet, the pestle and mortar, utensils that neighbours are always asking the loan of— EUCLIO Say that thieves have come and carried them off. In fact, in my absence, I wish no one to be admitted into my house; and this, too, do I tell you beforehand, if Good Luck should come, don’t you admit her. STAPHYLA I’ faith, she takes good care, I think, not to be admitted; for though close at handClose at hand: She seems to allude to the fact of the temple of Bona Fortuna, or Good Luck, being in the vicinity of Euclio’s house., she has never come to our house. EUCLIO Hold your tongue, and go in-doors. STAPHYLA I’ll hold my tongue, and be off. EUCLIO Shut the door, please, with both bolts. I shall be there directly. (STAPHYLA goes into the house.) I’m tormented in my mind, because I must go away from my house I’ faith, I go but very unwillingly; but I know full well what I’m about; for the person that is our master of our wardMaster of our ward: The curiae at Rome were sub-divisions of the tribes originally made by Romulus, who divided the Ramnes, Titienses, and Luceres into thirty curiae. Each curia had its place for meeting and worship, which was also called curia; and was presided over by the Curio, who is here called the Magister curiae, or master of the ward. At first the Patricians and Equites had the sole influence in the curiae, and alone electee the Curiones; but after the year A.U.C. 544, the Curio was elected from the Patricians, after which period the political importance of the curiae gradually declined, until they became mere bodies meeting for the performance of religious observances. Plautus probably alludes, in the present instance, to a dole, or distribution of money, made by the Greek Trittuarch among the poorer brethren of his τριττὺ or tribus; as in adapting a Greek play to the taste of a Roman audience, he very often mingles the customs of the one country with those of the other. has given notice that he will distribute a didrachm of silver to each man; if I relinquish that, and don’t ask for it, at once I fancy that all will be suspecting that I’ve got gold at home; for it isn’t very likely that a poor man would despise ever such a trifle, so as not to ask for his piece of money. For as it is, while I am carefully concealing it from all, lest they should know, all seem to know it, and all salute me more civilly than they formerly used to salute me; they come up to me, they stop, they shake hands They shake hands: Copulantur dextras. Literally, they couple right hands.; they ask me how I am, what I’m doing, what business I’m about. Now I’ll go there whither I had set out Whither I had set out: Nunc quo profectus sumito. This is rendered, in Cotter’s Translation, now I will go where I am profited!; afterwards, I’ll betake myself back again home as fast as ever I can. (Enter EUNOMIA and MEGADORUS, from their house.) EUNOMIA I could wish you, brother, to think that I utter these words by reason of my own regard and your welfare, as is befitting your own sister to do. Although I’m not unaware that we women are accounted troublesome; for we are all of us deservedly considered very talkative, and, in fact, they say at the present day that not a single woman has been found dumbHas been found dumb: Not seeing the sarcasm intended against the female sex in this passage, Lambinus seriously takes the trouble to contradict Eunomia; his words are, I myself, who am at present in my fifty-sixth year have seen no less than two dumb women. in any age. Still, brother, do you consider this one circumstance, that I am your nearest relation, and you in like manner are mine. How proper it is that I should counsel and advise you, and you me, as to what we may judge for the interest of each of us; and for it not to be kept concealed or kept silence upon through apprehension, but rather that I should make you my confidant, and you me in like manner. For that reason, now, have I brought you here apart out of doors, that I might here discourse with you upon your private concerns. MEGADORUS Best of women, give me your hand. (Takes her hand.) EUNOMIA (looking about.) Where is she? Who, pray, is this best of women? MEGADORUS Yourself. EUNOMIA Do you say so? MEGADORUS If you say no, I say no. EUNOMIA Indeed, it’s right that the truth should be spoken; for the best of women can nowhere be found; one is only worse than another, brother. MEGADORUS I think the same, and I’m determined never to contradict you on that point, sister. What do you wish? EUNOMIA Give me your attention, I beg of you. MEGADORUS ’Tis at your service; use and command me, please, if you wish for aught. EUNOMIA A thing that I consider very greatly for your advantage I’m come to recommend you. MEGADORUS Sister, you are doing after your usual manner. EUNOMIA I wish it were done. MEGADORUS What is it, sister? EUNOMIA That you may enjoyThat you may enjoy: Quod tibi sempiternum salutare sit. This was a formula frequently introduced in announcing intelligence, or in making a proposition, and was considered to be significant of a good omen. everlasting blessings in being the father of children. MEGADORUS May the Gods so grant it. EUNOMIA I wish you to bring home a wife.Part of line 149 in the Latin. MEGADORUS Ha! I’m undone. EUNOMIA How so? MEGADORUS Because, sister, your words are knocking out the brains of unfortunate me; you are speaking stonesYou are speaking stones: So Shakspeare says, in Hamlet, Act III., sc. 2, I will speak daggers to her, but use none. Aristophanes says, in one of his plays, You have spoken roses to me.. EUNOMIA Well, well, do this that your sister requests you. MEGADORUS If she requests me, I will do it. EUNOMIA ’Tis for your own interest. MEGADORUS Yes, for me to die before I marry. Let her who comes here to-morrow, be carried outBe carried out: Feratur, may be carried out to burial. Fero and effero have that especial signification. The body was carried out to burial on a bier, which resembled a bed or couch. of the house the day after, sister; on that condition, give me her whom you wish to give; get ready the nuptials. EUNOMIA I am able, brother, to provide you with a wife with a very large marriage-portion. But she’s somewhat aged; she’s of the middle-age of woman. If you request me, brother, to ask her for you, I’ll ask her. MEGADORUS Would you like me to ask you a question? EUNOMIA Yes, if you like, ask it. MEGADORUS Suppose any old man, past mid-age, brings home a middle-aged wife, if by chance he should have a child by this old woman, do you doubt at all but that the name of that child is Posthumus Is Posthumus: Children, who were born after their father’s decease were called posthumi, a term which is still retained. By speaking of an old woman, anus, as the mother, he seems also to allude to the chance of the child losing its mother as well, at the moment of its birth, all prepared? Now, sister, I’ll remove and lessen this labour for you. I, by the merits of the Gods and of my forefathers, am rich enough; these high families, haughty prideHaughty pride: He means to say, that these evils are attendant upon marrying a woman with a large dowry., bountiful portions, acclamations, imperiousness, vehicles inlaid with ivory, superb mantles and purple, I can’t abide, things that by their extravagance reduce men to slavery. EUNOMIA Tell me, pray, who is she whom you would like to take for a wife? MEGADORUS I’ll tell you. Do you know that Euclio, the poor old man close by? EUNOMIA I know him; not a bad sort of man, i’ faith. MEGADORUS I’d like his maiden daughter to be promised me in marriage. Don’t make any wordsDon’t make any words: Ben Jonson has imitated this passage in his Silent Woman, Act I., sc. 5: I know what thou wouldst say: She’s poor, and her friends deceased. She has brought a wealthy dowry in her silence. about it, sister; I know what you are going to say; that she’s poor. This poor girl pleases me. EUNOMIA May the Gods prosper it. MEGADORUS I hope the same. EUNOMIA What do you want me now for? Do you wish for anything? MEGADORUS Farewell. EUNOMIA And you the same, brother. (Goes into the house.) MEGADORUS I’ll go meet Euclio, if he’s at home. But, see! the very person is betaking himself home, whence, I know not. (Enter EUCLIO.) EUCLIO (to himself.) My mind had a presentiment that I was going to no purpose when I left my house; and therefore I went unwillingly; for neither did any one of the wardsmen come, nor yet the master of the ward, who ought to have distributed the money. Now I’m making all haste to hasten home; for I myself am here, my mind’s at home. MEGADORUS (accosting him.) May you be well, and ever fortunate, Euclio! EUCLIO May the Gods bless you, Megadorus! MEGADORUS How are you? Are you quite well, and as you wish? EUCLIO (aside.) It isn’t for nothing when a rich man accosts a poor man courteously; now this fellow knows that I’ve got some gold; for that reason he salutes me more courteously. MEGADORUS Do you say that you are well? EUCLIO Troth, I’m not very well in the money line. MEGADORUS I’ faith, if you’ve a contented mind, you have enough to passing a good life with. EUCLIO (aside.) By my faith, the old woman has made a discovery to him about the gold; ’tis clear it’s all out. I’ll cut off her tongue, and tear out her eyes, when I get home. MEGADORUS Why are you talking to yourself? EUCLIO I’m lamenting my poverty; I’ve a grown-up girl without a portion, and one that can’t be disposed of in marriage; nor have I the ability to marry her to anybody. MEGADORUS Hold your peace; be of good courage, Euclio: she shall be given in marriaye; you shall be assisted by myself. Say, if you have need of aught; command me. EUCLIO (aside.) Now is he aiming at my property, while he’s making promises; he’s gaping for my gold, that he may devour it; in the one hand he is carrying a stoneCarrying a stone: To ask for bread, and to receive a stone, was a proverbial expression with the ancients. Erasmus says that it was applied to those who pretended to be friendly to a person, and at the same time were doing him mischief; and that it was borrowed from persons enticing a dog with a piece of bread, and, when it had come sufficiently near, pelting it with a stone. The expression is used in the New Testament. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? St. Luke, c. xi., v. 11. The bread, as we learn from specimens found at Pompeii, was often made into cakes, which somewhat resembled large stones.. while he shows the bread in the other. I trust no person, who, rich himself, is exceedingly courteous to a poor man; when he extends his hand with a kind air, then is he loading you with some damage. I know these polypiThese polypi: Ovid says in his Halieuticon, or Treatise on Fishes: But, on the other hand, the sluggish polypus sticks to the rocks with its body provided with feelers, and by this stratagem it escapes the nets; and, according to the nature of the spot, it assumes and changes its colour, always resembling that place which it has lighted upon; and when it has greedily seized the prey hanging. from the fishing-line, it likewise deceives the angler on his raising the rod, when, on emerging into the air, it loosens its feelers, and spits forth the hook that it has despoiled of the bait., who, when they’ve touched a thing, hold it fast. MEGADORUS Give me your attention, Euclio, for a little time: I wish to address you in a few words, about a common concern of yours and mine. EUCLIO (aside.) Alas! woe is me! my gold has been grabbed from in-doors: now he’s wishing for this thing, I’m sure, to come to a compromise with me; but I’ll go look in my house. (He goes towards his door.) MEGADORUS Where are you going? EUCLIO I’ll return to you directly, for there’s something I must go and see to at home. (He goes into his house.) MEGADORUS By my troth, I do believe that when I make mention of his daughter, for him to promise her to me, he’ll suppose that he’s being laughed at by me; nor is there out of the whole class of paupers one more beggarly than he. (EUCLIO returns from his house.) EUCLIO (aside.) The Gods do favour me; my property’s all safe. If nothing’s lost, it’s safe. I was very dreadfully afraid, before I went in-doors! I was almost dead! (Aloud.) I’m come back to you, Megadorus, if you wish to say anything tome. MEGADORUS I return you thanks; I beg that as to what I shall enquire of you, you’ll not hesitate to speak out boldly. EUCLIO So long, indeed, as you enquire nothing that I mayn’t choose to speak out upon. MEGADORUS Tell me, of what sort of family do you consider me to be sprung? EUCLIO Of a good one. MEGADORUS What think you as to my character? EUCLIO ’Tis a good one. MEGADORUS What of my conduct? EUCLIO Neither bad nor dishonest. MEGADORUS Do you know my years? EUCLIO I know that they are plentiful, just like your money. MEGADORUS I’ faith, for sure I really did always take you to be a citizen without any evil guile, and now I think you so. EUCLIO (aside.) He smells the gold. (Aloud.) What do you want with me now? MEGADORUS Since you know me, and I know you, what sort of person you are—a thing, that may it bring a blessing on myself, and you and your daughter, I ask your daughter as my wife. Promise me that it shall be so. EUCLIO Heyday! Megadorus, you are doing a deed that’s not becoming to your usual actions, in laughing at me, a poor man, and guiltless towards yourself and towards your family. For neither in act, nor in words, have I ever deserved it of you, that you should do what you are now doing. MEGADORUS By my troth, I neither am come to laugh at you, nor am I laughing at you, nor do I think you deserving of it. EUCLIO Why then do you ask for my daughter for your self? MEGADORUS That through me it may be better for you, and through you and yours for me. EUCLIO This suggests itself to my mind, Megadorus, that you are a wealthy man, a man of rank; that I likewise am a person, the poorest of the poor; now, if I should give my daughter in marriage to you, it suggests itself to my mind that you are the ox, and that I am the ass; when I’m yoked to you, and when I’m not able to bear the burden equally with yourself, I, the ass, must lie down in the mire; you, the ox, would regard me no more than if I had never been born; and I should both find you unjust, and my own class would laugh at me; in neither direction should I have a fixed stall, if there should be any separationBe any separation: Si quid divortii fuat. By the use of the word divortium, he means either an estrangement of himself from Megadorus, or a separation or divorce of the latter from his intended wife, which of course would lead to the same consequences. The facilities for divorce among the Romans have been remarked upon in a previous Note.; the asses would tear me with their teeth, the oxen would butt at me with their horns. This is the great hazard, in my passing over from the asses to the oxen. MEGADORUS The nearer you can unite yourself in alliance with the virtuous, so much the better. Do you receive this proposal, listen to me, and promise her to me. EUCLIO But indeed there is no marriage-portion. MEGADORUS You are to give none; so long as she comes with good principles, she is sufficiently portioned. EUCLIO I say so for this reason, that you mayn’t be supposing that I have found any treasures. MEGADORUS I know that; don’t enlarge upon it. Promise her to me. EUCLIO So be it. (Starts and looks about.) But, O Jupiter, am I not utterly undone? MEGADORUS What’s the matter with you? EUCLIO What was it sounded just now as though it were iron? MEGADORUS Here at my place, I ordered them to dig up the garden. (EUCLIO runs off into his house.) But where is this man? He’s off, and he hasn’t fully answered me; he treats me with contempt. Because he sees that I wish for his friendship, he acts after the manner of mankind. For if a wealthy person goes to ask a favour of a poorer one, the poor man is afraid to treat with him; through his apprehension he hurts his own interest. The same person, when this opportunity is lost, too late, then wishes for it. EUCLIO (coming out of the house, addressing STAPHYLA within.) By the powers, if I don’t give you up to have your tongue cut out by the roots, I order and I authorize you to hand me over to any one you please to be incapacitated. MEGADORUS By my troth, Euclio, I perceive that you consider me a fit man for you to make sport of in my old age, for no deserts of my own. EUCLIO I’ faith, Megadorus, I am not doing so, nor, should I desire it, had I the meansHad I the means: Neque, si cupiam, copia est. In saying this, Euclio intends to play upon the words of Megadorus, ludos facias, which may either signify you make sport of me, or you give a public show or spectacle, which the wealthy Patricians of Rome were in the habit of doing. Euclio pretends to take his words in the latter sense, and replies, I couldn’t even if I would, by reason of his poverty, as he pretends. It was usual for the Aediles to provide the spectacles from their private resources, from which circumstance one who lived a life of extravagance was said Aedilitatem petere, to be aspiring to the Aedileship.. MEGADORUS How now? Do you then betroth your daughter to me? EUCLIO On those terms, and with that portion which I mentioned to you. MEGADORUS Do you promise her then? EUCLIO I do promise her. MEGADORUS May the Gods bestow their blessings on it. EUCLIO May the Gods so do. Take you care of this, and remember that we’ve agreed, that my daughter is not to bring you any portion. MEGADORUS I remember it. EUCLIO But I understand in what fashion you, of your class, are wont to equivocate; an agreement is no agreement, no agreement is an agreement, just as it pleases you. MEGADORUS I’ll have no misunderstanding with you. But what reason is there why we shouldn’t have the nuptials this day? EUCLIO Why, by my troth, there is very good reason for them. MEGADORUS I’ll go, then, and prepare matters. Do you want me in any way? EUCLIO That shall be done. Fare you well. MEGADORUS (going to the door of his house and calling out.) Hallo! Strobilus, follow me quickly, in all haste, to the fleshmarket. (Exit MEGADORUS.) EUCLIO He has gone hence. Immortal Gods, I do beseech you! How powerful is gold! I do believe, now, that he has had some intimation that I’ve got a treasure at home; he’s gaping for that; for the sake of that has he persisted in this alliance. (EUCLIO, alone.) EUCLIO (going to the door of his house, he opens it, and calls to STAPHYLA within.) Where are you who have now been blabbing to all my neighbours that I’m going to give a portion to my daughter? Hallo! Staphyla, I’m calling you! Don’t you hear? Make haste in-doors there, and wash the vessels clean. I’ve promised my daughter in marriage; to-day I shall give her to be married to Megadorus here. (from the house.) STAPHYLA (as she enters.) May the Gods bestow their blessings on it! But, i’ faith, it cannot be; ’tis too sudden. EUCLIO Hold your tongue, and be off. Take care that things are ready when I return home from the Forum, and shut the house up. I shall be here directly. (Exit.) STAPHYLA What now am I to do? Now is ruin near at hand for us, both for myself and my master’s daughter; for her disgrace and her delivery are upon the very point of becoming known; that which even until now has been concealed and kept secret, cannot be so now. I’ll go in-doors, that what my master ordered may be done when he comes. But, by my faith, I do fear that I shall have to drink of a mixture of bitterness A mixture of bitterness: Hildyard suggests that Staphyla is fond of a drop, and likes her liquors neat (merum), wherefore it is a double misfortune to her, not only to endure misfortunes, but those of a mixed nature. Mixtum was the term applied to the wine, when mixed with its due proportion of water for drinking.! (Exit.) (Enter STROBIOUS, ANTHRAX, and CONGRIO, with MUSIC GIRLS and PERSONS carrying provisions.) STROBILUS After my master had bought the provisions, and hired the cooks Hired the cooks: Allusion has been made, in the Notes to the Pseudolus, to the custom of hiring cooks in the markets on any special occasion. These were frequently slaves; and in such case, the greater portion of their earnings would go into the pockets of their masters. From the remark made in l. 265, we find that Congrio and Anthrax are slaves. and these music- girls in the market-place, he ordered me to divide these provisions into two parts. LYCONIDES By my troth, but you really shan’t be dividing me You really shan’t be dividing me: He alludes to his own name, Congrio, a conger eel, which was cut up before it was cooked; and he means to say, that spite of his name, he will not stand being divided by Strobilus., I tell you plainly. If you wish me to go anywhere whole, I’ll do my best. ANTHRAX A very pretty and modest fellow, indeedModest fellow, indeed: Anthrax gives a very indelicate turn to the remark of Congrio; and the liberty has been taken of giving a more harmless form to the gross witticism of Anthrax. It may be here remarked, that he takes his name from the Greek word, signifying a coal, a commodity, of course much in request with cooks.. As if, when you are a conger by name, you wouldn’t like to be cut into pieces. LYCONIDES But, Anthrax, I said that in another sense, and not in the one which you are pretending. STROBILUS Now my master’s going to be married to-day.Part of line 288 in the Latin. ANTHRAX Whose daughter is he to marry? STROBILUS The daughter of this Euclio, his near neighbour here. For that reason he has ordered half of these provisions here to be presented to him—one cook, and one music-girl likewise. ANTHRAX That is, you take one half to him, the other half home? STROBILUS ’Tis just as you say. ANTHRAX How’s that? Couldn’t this old fellow provide from his own resources for the wedding of his daughter. STROBILUS Pshaw! ANTHRAX What’s the matter? STROBILUS What’s the matter, do you ask? A pumice stone isn’t so dry as is this old fellow. ANTHRAX Do you really say that it is as you affirm? STROBILUS Do be judge yourself. Why, he’s for ever crying out for aid from Gods and men, that his property has gone, and that he is ruined root and branch, if the smoke by chance escapes out of doors through the rafters of his house. Why, when he goes to sleep, he ties a bagHe ties a bag: He probably intends to hint here that Euclio sleeps with his purse (which consisted of a follis, or leathern bag) tied round his throat, but implies that he not only wishes thereby to save his money, but his breath as well, by having the mouth of the bag so near to his own. Although Thornton thinks that the suggestion of Lambinus that follem obstringit means, he ties up the nozzle of the bellows, is forced and far-fetched, it is far from improbable that that is the meaning of the passage. It may possibly mean that he ties the bellows to his throat. beneath his gullet. ANTHRAX Why so? STROBILUS That when he sleeps, he may lose no breath. ANTHRAX And does he stop up the lower part of his windpipePart of his windpipe: An indelicate remark is here made, which has been obviated in the translation. as well, lest, perchance, he should lose any breath as he sleeps? STROBILUS In that ’tis as fair that you should credit me, as it is for me to credit you. ANTHRAX Why really, I do believe you. STROBILUS But, further, do you know how it is? I’ faith, he grieves to throw away the water when he washes. ANTHRAX Do you think a great talentA great talent: As the ancients weighed silver on paying a talent, the word talentum denoted both a sum of money and a weight. The great talent here mentioned, was the Attic talent of sixty minae, or six thousand drachmae. might be begged of this old fellow for him to give us, through which we might become free? STROBILUS By my troth, if you were to ask it, he would never let you have the loan of hunger. Why, the other day, the barber had cut his nailsHad cut his nails: From this passage we learn that barbers were in the habit of paring the nails of their customers; in the Epistles of Horace, B. 1, Ep. 7, l. 50, we are informed that idlers pared their nails in the shops to Rome.; he collected all the parings, and carried them off. ANTHRAX I’ faith, you do describe a miserably stingy wretch. LYCONIDES But do you think that he does live so very stingily and wretchedly? STROBILUS A kite, the other day, carried off his morsel of food; the fellow went crying to the PraetorTo the Prœtor: The Praetor was a magistrate at Rome, who administered justice, and ranked next to the Consuls. There were eight Praetors in the time of Cicero. Two of them were employed in adjudicating in causis privatis, disputes concerning private property. One of these was called Praetor urbanus, or the city Praetor, who administered justice when the parties were cives, or possessed the rights of Roman citizenship. The other was called Praetor peregrinus, or the foreigners’ Praetor, who administered justice when both the litigating parties, or only one of them, were peregrini, or foreigners, and had not the right of Roman citizenship. The other six Praetors had jurisdiction in criminal cases, such as murder, adultery, and violence. The Praetors committed the examination of causes to subordinate judges, who were called judices selecti, and they published the sentences of the judges so appointed by them. The Praetors wore the toga praetexta, or magisterial robe, sat on the sella curulis, and were preceded by six lictors. Their duties lasted for a year, after which they went as governors to such provinces as had no army, which were assigned to them by lot. There they administered justice in the same way as they had done as Praetors at Rome, and were called by the name of Propraetores; though, as such governors, they were also sometimes called Praetores. The office of Praetor was first instituted at Rome A.U.C. 388, partly because the Consuls, on account of the many wars in which the Romans were engaged, could no longer administer justice; partly that the Patricians might thereby have a compensation for admitting the Plebeians to a share in the Consulate. At first there was only one Praetor; Sylla made their number six; Julius Caesar eight; and Augustus increased them to sixteen. It will not escape observation, that Plautus, as usual, mentions a Roman officer in a Play, the scene of which is supposed to be Athens.; there, weeping and lamenting, he began to request that he might be allowed to compel the kite to give bail. There are innumerable other things that I could mention, if I had the leisure. But which of you two is the sharper? Tell me. LYCONIDES I—as being much the better one. STROBILUS A cook I ask for, not a thief Not a thief: Because celer, sharp or nimble, would especially apply to the requisite qualifications for an expert thief.. LYCONIDES As a cook, I mean. STROBILUS (to ANTHRAX.) What do you say? ANTHRAX I’m just as you see me. LYCONIDES He’s a nine-day cookA nine-day cook: Congrio probably means to say that Anthrax is a cook who only gets employment on the Nundinae, when the influx of country-people into the city called the services of even the worst cooks into requisition, and the eaters were not of the most fastidious description. The Nundinae (so called from nonae, ninth, and dies, day) returned every eighth day, according to our mode of reckoning; but according to the Romans, who, in counting, reckoned both extreme, every ninth day, whence the name. On this day the country-people came into the city to sell their wares, make their purchases, hear the new laws read, and learn the news. By the Hortensian law, the Nundinae, which before were only feriae, or holidays, were made fasti, or court-days, that the country-people then in town might have their lawsuits determined. Lipsius thinks that reference is here made to the feast called novendiale, which was sometimes given to the poorer classes on the ninth day after the funeral of a person of affluence. Probably, the cooking of these banquets was not of the highest order; but the former seems the more probable explanation of the passage.; every ninth day he’s in the habit of going out to cook. ANTHRAX You, you three-lettered fellowThree-lettered fellow: Trium literarum homo; literally, man of three letters—F U R, thief.; do you abuse me, you thief? LYCONIDES To be sure I do, you trebly-distilled thief of thievesThief of thieves: Funtrifurcifer. Strictly speaking, the latter word signifies thief three times over.. STROBILUS Now do you hold your tongue for the present, and, that lamb, whichever is the fatter of the two— LYCONIDES Very wellVery well: Congrio answers licet, by way of assent to Strobilus, thinking that he is asking him to take the fattest lamb, on which Strobilus gives him the leanest one. Hildyard suggests that Congrio fancies that Strobilus is asking which is the fattest cook, and not the fattest lamb, and accordingly says, Very well, thereby admitting that he is the fattest of the two. If there is any such wit intended in the passage, it is very recondite.. STROBILUS Do you, Congrio, take that, and go in-doors there (pointing to EUCLIO’S house ; and (to a MUSIC-GIRL and some of the PEOPLE with provisions) do you follow him; the rest of you this way, to our house. LYCONIDES By my troth, you’ve made an unfair division; they’ve got the fattest lamb. STROBILUS But the fattest music-girl shall be given you then. Do you, therefore, go along with him, Phrygia Phrygia : Phrygia was an appropriate girl for a tibicina, music-girl, or female player on the flute, as that instrument was originally introduced from Phrygia, or Lydia, which adjoined it. Eleusium would probably derive her name from Eleusis in Attica, where the mysteries of Ceres were celebrated. Players on the tibiae were much in request on festive occasions, especially at weddings, as in the present instance. The tibicina were probably hired in the market-place, the same way as the cooks.. And do you, Eleusium, step in-doors here, to our house. LYCONIDES O you crafty Strobilus, have you pushed me off here upon this most miserly old fellow, where if I ask for anything, I may ask even to hoarseness before anything’s found me? STROBILUS ’Tis very foolish, and ’tis thanklessly done, to do a service to you, when what you do goes for nothing. LYCONIDES But how so? STROBILUS Do you ask? In the first place then, there will be no confusion for you there in the house; if you want anything to use, bring it from your own home, don’t lose your trouble in asking for it. But here, at our house, there’s great confusion, and a large establishment— furniture, gold, garments, silver vessels. If anything’s lost here (as I know that you can easilyYou can easily: Facile, easily, seems a preferable reading to facere. If the latter reading is adopted, there are three consecutive verbs in the infinitive mood, which, even in the (occasionally) uncouth language of Plautus, sounds very uneuphoniously, Facere abstinere posse. keep hands off—if nothing’s in your way), they may say, The cooks have stolen it; seize them, bind them, beat them, thrust them in the dungeonIn the dungeon: Puteus here signifies the black hole or dungeon underground (called also ergastulum), where the refractory slaves were put in confinement.. Nothing of that sort will happen to you, inasmuch as there will be nothing for you to steal. Follow me this way. LYCONIDES I follow. STROBILUS (knocking at the door of EUCLIO’S house.) Ho, there Staphyla, come out and open the door. STAPHYLA (from within.) Who calls there? STROBILUS Strobilus. (Enter STAPHYLA.) STAPHYLA What do you want? STROBILUS For you to take in these cooks, and this music-girl, and these provisions for the wedding. Megadorus bade me take these things to Euclio. STAPHYLA Are you about to make this wedding, Strobilus, in honor of CeresIn honor of Ceres: The old woman probably alludes to the Thesmophoria, where abstinence from wine was especially practised, and which were celebrated in a state of fasting and purification. Her question here tends to confirm the suspicion that she was more fond of the merum than the mixtum, reference to which has already been made? STROBILUS Why? STAPHYLA Because I don’t see any wine brought. STROBILUS Why, that will be brought just now, when he himself comes back from the market. STAPHYLA There’s no firewood here in our house. LYCONIDES There are the beams. STAPHYLA I’ faith, there are. LYCONIDES There is wood, then; don’t you be seeking it out of doors. STAPHYLA What, you unpurified fellowYou unpurified fellow: Impurate. You that are unpurified, in spite of your everlastingly stewing over the fire. She alludes, figuratively, to the process of smelting and purifying metals by the action of fire., although your business is with the fire, for the sake of a dinner, or of your own hire, do you request us to set our house on fire? LYCONIDES I don’t ask you. STROBILUS Take them in-doors. STAPHYLA Follow me. (They follow her in-doors, and STROBILUS goes with the others into the house of MEGADORUS.) (Enter PYTHODICUS, from the house of MEGADORUS.) PYTHODICUS Mind you your business; I’ll step in and see what the cooks are doing, to observe whom, i’ faith, to-day it is a most laborious task. Unless I manage this one thing, for them to cook the dinner down in the dungeonIn the dungeon: By the use of the word puteus he may possibly mean the black hole or dungeon alluded to in l. 301, whence there was no means of agress but by being drawn up. He means to say that such a place will be the only one for preventing the cooks from thieving whatever comes in their way. The thievish propensities of the hired cooks are also referred to in the Pseudolus.; thence, when cooked, we might bring it up again in small baskets. But if they should eat belowShould eat below: He reflects that if they are put in the puteus to prevent their thieving, they may possibly revenge themselves by eating up the victuals as fast as they cook it. whatever they should cook, those above would go without their dinner, and those below have dined. But here am I chattering, as though I had no business, when there’s such a pack of thieves in the house. (Goes into the house.) (Enter EUCLIO, with some chaplets of flowers in his hand.) EUCLIO I wished at length to screw up my courage to-day, so as to enjoy myself at the wedding of my daughter. I come to the market, I enquire about fish; they tell me that it is dear, that lamb is dear, beef is dear, veal, large fishLarge fish: Cetus or cete properly signifies fish of the whale or dolphin kind; it perhaps means here simply the larger and coarser fish in use among the Romans, like plaice or codfish with us. He probably would not ask the price of pisciculi, or small fish, as their dearness would terrify him out of his wits., and pork, all of them are dear. And for this reason were they still dearer; I hadn’t the money. I came away thence in a rage, since I had nothing wherewithal to make a purchase; and thus did I baulkDid I baulk: Manum adire probably signified to kiss the hand to a person when expecting something more than that, and thereby to make a fool of him. He asked the prices of all the commodities, and probably chaffered about them, then kissed his hand to the dealers, and left the market without purchasing. Some think it alludes to a feint or baulk made in wrestling. all those rascals. Then I began to think with myself upon the road, If you are guilty of any extravagance on a festive day, you may be wanting on a common day, unless you are saving. After I disclosed this reasoning to my heart and appetite, my mind came over to my opinion, that I ought to give my daughter in marriage at as little expense as possible. Now I’ve bought a bit of frankincense, and these chaplets of flowers; these shall be placed upon the hearth for our household God, that he may grant a propitious marriage to my daughter. But what do I—? Do I behold my house open? There’s a noise, too, within; is it that I’m robbed, wretch that I am? LYCONIDES (speaking within the house.) Seek of the neighbours a bigger potA bigger pot: Congrio is bawling out within doors for a bigger aula, pot or jar, to be brought for his cooking, on which the old hunck thinks that some thieves have discovered his own dear aula. if you can; this one’s too little, it can’t hold it. EUCLIO Woe to me! By my faith, I’m a dead man; the gold’s being carried off—my pot’s being looked for. I am certainly murdered, unless I make haste to run with all haste in-doors here! Apollo, prithee do assist and help me, whom thou hast already, before this, helped in such circumstances. Pierce with thine arrows the plunderers of my treasures. But am I delaying to run, before I perish outright. (He runs into his house.) (Enter ANTHRAX, from the house of MEGADORUS.) ANTHRAX (speaking to some within.) Dromo, do you scale the fish. Do you, Machaerio, have the conger and the lamprey boned. I’m going to ask the loan of a baking-pan of our neighbour Congrio. You, if you are wise, will have that capon more smoothly picked for me than is a plucked play-actorA plucked play-actor: The actors, having to perform the parts of women and beardless youths, were obliged to remove superfluous hair from the face, which was effected vellendo, by plucking it out, whence the term volsus.. But what’s this clamour that’s arising here hard by? By my faith, the cooks, I do believe, are at their usual pranksAt their usual pranks: Faciunt officium suum. Literally are doing their duty. He says this ironically; on hearing the row going on in Euclio’s house, he supposes that the cooks are up to their old tricks of thieving and wrangling.. I’ll run in-doors, lest there may be any disturbance here for me as well. (Retreats into the house of MEGADORUS.) (Enter CONGRIO, in haste, from the house of EUCLIO.) LYCONIDES (roaring out.) Beloved fellow-citizens, fellow-countrymen, inhabitants, neighbours, and all strangers, do make way for me to escape! Make all the streets clear! Never have I at any time, until this day, come to BacchantsTo Bacchants: The Bacchants, or frantic female worshippers of Bacchus, with their rites, have been alluded to in a Note at the commencement of the Bacchides., in a Bacchanalian den, to cook; so sadly have they mauled wretched me and my scullions with their sticks. I’m aching all over, and am utterly done for; that old fellow has so made a bruising schoolA bruising school: Literally, a Gymnasium. The Gymnasium was the place where vigorous exercise was taken; so Congrio means to say that Euclio has been taking exercise in basting his back. of me; and in such a fashion has he turned us all out of the house, myself and them, laden with sticks. Nowhere, in all the world, have I ever seen wood dealt out more plentifully. Alackaday! by my faith, to my misery, I’m done for; the Bacchanalian den is opening, here he comes. He’s following us. I know the thing I’ll do: that the master himselfThe master himself: By magister he probably means Euclio, whom he styles the master of the Gymnasium, whose duty it was to train the pupils in the various exercises. He says that his master has taught him a trick, namely, how to defend himself. which in the next Scene he threatens to do. has taught me. (Enter EUCLIO, from his house, driving the COOKS and the MUSIC GIRL before him.) EUCLIO (calling out, while CONGRIO and the others are running off) Come back! Where are you running to, now? Hold you! LYCONIDES Why are you crying out, you stupid? EUCLIO Because this instant I shall give your name to the Triumvirs To the Triumvirs: Trisviros. Though the scene is in Greece he refers to the Triumviri capitales, who were Roman magistrates. They took cognizance of capital crimes, and they apprehended criminals. In conjunction with the Aediles, they had to preserve the public peace, to prevent unlawful assemblies, and to enforce the payment of fines due to the state. They had also the care of the public prisons, and to them was entrusted the punishment of criminals. They had authority to inflict summary punishment upon the slaves and the lower orders, though, probably, not upon those who enjoyed the rights of Roman citizens.. LYCONIDES Why? EUCLIO Because you’ve got a knife. LYCONIDES ’Tis the proper thing for a cook. EUCLIO Why did you threaten me? LYCONIDES I think that it was badly managed, that I didn’t pierce your side with it. EUCLIO There’s not a person that’s living this day a greater rascal than you, nor one to whom designedly I would with greater pleasure cause a mischief. LYCONIDES I’ faith, thoughI’ faith, though: In Hildyard’s edition this and the next line are given to Euclio; but they seem much more likely to belong to Congrio, as we do not find that any person has beat Euclio with sticks, whereas Congrio has already complained of the rough usage he has experienced. you should hold your noise, really that’s quite clear; the thing itself is its own witness. As it is, I’m made softer by far with your sticks than any ballet-dancer. But what right have you to touch us, you beggarman? What’s the matter? EUCLIO Do you even ask me? Is it that I’ve done less than I ought to have done? Only let me— (Is going to strike him.) LYCONIDES Now, by my faith, at your great peril, if this head should feel it! EUCLIO Troth, I don’t know what may happen What may happen: Euclio is laughing at his ifs, which commence the saving-clause of all cowards. He does not care what Congrio will do but he knows that he has already made his head to feel it. hereafter; your head feels it just now! But what business, pray, had you in my house, in my absence, unless I had ordered you? I want to know that. LYCONIDES Hold your noise, then; because we came to cook for the wedding. EUCLIO Why the plague do you trouble yourself whether I eat meat raw or cooked, unless you are my tutorYou are my tutor: One of the duties of the paedagogus, or tutor of boys, would be to see that they did not eat unwholesome food.. LYCONIDES I want to know if you will allow or not allow us to cook the dinner here? EUCLIO I, too, want to know whether my property will be safe in my house. LYCONIDES I only wish to carry the things away safe that I brought here! I don’t care for yours; should I be coveting your things? EUCLIO I understand; don’t teach me; I know. LYCONIDES What is it, on account of which you now hinder us from cooking the dinner here? What have we done? What have we said to you otherwise than you could wish? EUCLIO Do you even ask me, you rascally fellow? You who’ve been making a thoroughfare of every corner of my house, and the places under lock and key? If you had stopped by the fireside, where it was your business, you wouldn’t have had your head broken. It has been done for you deservedly! Therefore that you may now know my determination; if you come nearer to the door here, unless I order you, I’ll make you to be the most wretched of creatures. Do you now know my determination? (He goes into his house.) LYCONIDES Where are you going? Come you back again! So may LavernaSo may Laverna: Laverna was a Goddess worshipped by the thievish fraternity at Rome, as their tutelar Divinity. Horace makes mention of her in his Epistles, B. 1, Ep. 16. love me well, I’ll expose you at once with loud abuse here before the house, if you don’t order my utensils to be restored to me! What shall I do now? Verily, by my faith, I came here with unlucky auspices; I was hired for a didrachm For a didrachm: Nummo. It has been remarked, in the Notes to the Pseudolus, that a nummus, or didrachm, of nearly twenty-pence of our money, was the wages of a good cook for a day’s employment. See the Pseudolus, ll. 800—810.; I stand in more need now of a surgeon than of wages. (Enter EUCLIO, from his house, with the pot of money under his cloak.) EUCLIO (to himself, as he enters.) This, by my faith, wherever I shall go, really shall be with me, and with myself will I carry it, nor will I ever again entrust it to that place, for it to be in such great peril. (Speaking to CONGRIO and his SCULLIONS.) Now, then, go you all of you in the house, cooks and music-girls; introduce even, if you like, a whole company of hirelings Company of hirelings: Venalium may mean either slaves or hirelings; it does not much signify which, as the cooks, in this instance at least, were both. Having secured his money, Euclio does not care if a whole gang of thieves is admitted into his house, as there is nothing for them to steal.; cook, bustle, and hurry now at once just as much as you please. LYCONIDES O dear, I’m a ruined man. EUCLIO Be off! your labour was hired here, not your talk. LYCONIDES Harkye, old gentleman, for the beating, by my faith, I shall demand of you a recompense. I was hired a while ago to cook, and not to be basted. EUCLIO Proceed against me at law! Don’t be troublesome! Either cook the dinner, or away with you from the house to downright perdition! LYCONIDES Go there yourself then. (CONGRIO and the COOKS and MUSIC-GIRL go back into the house.) (EUCLIO, alone.) EUCLIO He’s gone. Immortal Gods! A poor man, who begins to have dealings or business with an opulent one, commences upon a rash undertaking! Thus, for instance, Megadorus who has pretended that, for the sake of honoring me, he sends these cooks hither, is plaguing unfortunate me in every way; for this reason has he sent them, that they might purloin this (putting his hand on the pot) from unfortunate me. Just as I might expect, even my dunghill-cock in-doors, that was bought with the old woman’s savingsWith the old woman’s savings: Ani peculiaris. Bought out of the peculium, or savings, of the old woman., had well nigh been the ruin of me; where this was buried, he began to scratch there all round about with his claws. What need of more words? So exasperated were my feelings, I took a stick, and knocked off the head of the cock—a thief caught in the act. I’ faith, I do believe that the cooks had promised a reward to the cock, if he should discover it; I took the opportunityTook the opportunity: Eximere ex manu manubrium, literally means, to take the handle out of the hand, and its figurative application is derived from the act of taking a sword out of the hand of a person who is about to use it. out of their hands, however. What need of many words? I had a regular battleA regular battle: Hildyard suggests that, in these words, there is probably a reference to some current saying or proverb. If such is the case, the saying so referred to has not come down to us. with the dunghill- cock. But see, my neighbour Megadorus is coming from the Forum. I can’t, then, venture to pass by him, but I must stop and speak to him. (He retires close to his door.) (Enter MEGADORUS, at a distance.) MEGADORUS (to himself.) I’ve communicated to many friends my design about this proposal; they speak in high terms of the daughter of Euclio. They say that it was discreetly done, and with great prudence. But, in my opinion, indeed, if the other richer men were to do the same, so as to take home as their wives, without dower, the daughters of the poorer persons, both the state would become much more united, and we should meet with less ill feeling than we now meet with; both, they, the wives, would stand in fear of punishment more than they do stand in fear of it, and we husbands should be at less expense than we now are. In the greater part of the people this is a most just way of thinking; in the smaller portion there is an objection among the avaricious, whose avaricious minds and insatiate dispositions there is neither law nor magistrate to be able to put a check upon. But a person may say this; How are these rich women with portions to marry, if this law is laid down for the poor? Let them marry whom they please, so long as the dowry isn’t their companion. If this were so done, the women would acquire for themselves better manners for them to bring, in place of dowry, than they now bring. I’d make mules, which exceed horses in price, to become cheaper than Gallic geldingsThan Gallic geldings: Mules were much coveted by the haughty names of Rome for the purpose of drawing their carriages. He says that if he had his way, such extravagance should not be encouraged, and mules should not be a bit more valuable than humble Gallic geldings.. EUCLIO (aside.) So may the Gods favour me, I listen to him with delight; very shrewdly has he discoursed on the side of economy. MEGADORUS (to himself.) No wife should then be saying: Indeed, I brought you a marriage-portion far greater than was your own wealth; why, it really is fair that purple and gold should be found for me, maid-servants, mules, muleteers, and lacqueysAnd lacqueys: Pedissequos. The pedissequi were a particular class of slaves whose duty it was to follow their master when he went out of doors. They were of the lowest rank in the slave family., pages to carryPages to carry: The salutigeruli pueri were boys whose business it was to run on errands, and carry messages and compliments from one house to another. Hildyard suggests the rather refined translation of boys to carry visiting-cards. compliments, vehicles in which I may be carried. EUCLIO (aside.) How thoroughly he does understand the doings of the wives! I wish he were made Prefect of the manners of the women. MEGADORUS (to himself.) Now, go where you will, you may see more carriagesMore carriages: Plaustra generally mean carts or waggons, and perhaps, from his reference to the country, may have that signification here; though he has just been speaking of the luxury of the ladies, with their vehicla, or carriages. among the houses than in the country when you go to a farm-house. But this is even light, in comparison with when they ask for their allowance; there stands the scourerThe scourer: The fullo was a washer and cleaner of linen and woollen clothing with fuller’s earth. As woollen dresses were chiefly worn by the Romans, they would, by reason of the perspiration produced by so hot a climate, require frequent purification. As the ancients, probably, were not acquainted with the use of ordinary washing soap, various alkalis were used in its place for the purpose of cleansing garments. It is not known whether the fuller’s earth of the Romans resembled that used at the present day., the embroiderer, the goldsmith, the woollen-manufacturer, retail dealers in figured skirtsDealers in figured skirts: Patagiarii. These were persons who sold the patagium, which was a broad band or hem on the tunics of the women, answering to the clavus, or broad stripe, on the clothes of the men. It may possibly have been the same as the instita, or broad flounce, which distinguished the Roman matrons of reputable character., dealers in women’s under-clothingDealers in women’s under-clothing: Indusiarii, makers or sellers of the indusium, which is by some thought to have been the upper tunic worn by the Roman women; while others suppose the under tunic, worn next the skin, to have been so called, from intus, innermost., dyers in flame-colour, dyers in violet, dyers in wax-colourDyers in wax-colour: Carinarii. Ovid, in the Art of Love, B. 3, l. 184, has the line, Sua velleribus nomina cera dedit. The wax has given its own name to the wool. The yellow colour resembling that of wax was much esteemed by the Romans., or else sleeve-makersSleeve-makers: Manulearii, makers of the manulea. This was a long sleeve fitted on to the tunics of the Roman ladies, and was probably made to take on and off, for the purpose of keeping the arms and hands warm., or perfumersPerfumers: Murobrecharii. One reading here is murrobathrarii, persons who give an agreable smell to women’s shoes, by scenting them with myrrh. Murobrecharii, which is adopted above, means perfumers, or persons who scented the clothes, from the Greek μνρὸν, ointment, and βρέχω, to moisten. Myrrh or nard was much used for this purpose. The unguents or ointments used by the ancients were very numerous. Among those used for the skin or the hair were mendesium, megalesium, metoplum, amaracinum, Cyprinum, susinum, nardinum, spicatuin, jasminum, rosaceum, and crocus oil, which last was considered the most costly. Powders were also used as perfumes; they were called diapasmata. The Greeks used expensive perfumes from early times, and both Greeks and Romans were in the habit of carrying them about in small boxes of elegant workmanship. In the luxurious city of Capua, there was one great street, called the Seplasia, which consisted entirely of shops in which ointments and perfumes were sold.; wholesale linendrapers, shoemakers, squatting cobblers, slipper-makers; sandal makers stand there; stainers in mallow colour stand there; hairdressersHairdressers: Ciniflones. The ciniflones were those persons whose duty it was to heat the calamistrum, or curling-iron, in woodashes (cinis), from which they took their name. In the time of Cicero, the youths of Rome generally had their hair curled, whence they were termed calamistrati. make their demands, botchers their demands; boddice-makersBoddice-makers: Strophiarii. These were makers of the band or stomacher which was worn by the women, to correct excessive protuberance of the breast and stomach. stand there; makers of kirtlesMakers of kirtles: Semizonarii. These were makers or sellers of semicinctia, which were little aprons or kirtles extending half way down the body. take their stand. Now you would think them got rid of; these make way, others make their demands; three hundred dunsThree hundred duns: Phylacistae, from the Greek φνλακιστης, a keeper of a prison. He calls duns or importunate creditors by this name, from their keeping as close a watch on the front of a debtor’s house as if they were gaolers. are standing in your hall; weavers, lace-makersLace-makers: Limbuarii. The makers of limbus, lace or fringes for women’s dresses., cabinet-makersCabinet-makers: Arcularil, makers of arcuiae, caskets or cabinets for jewels and nicknacks., are introduced; the money’s paid them. You would think them got rid of by this; when dyers in saffron colours come sneaking along; or else there’s always some horrid plague or other which is demanding something. EUCLIO (aside.) I would accost him, if I didn’t fear that he would cease to descant upon the ways of women; for the present I’ll leave him as he is. MEGADORUS When the money has been paid to all the nicknack mongers, for these saffron-coloured garments and stomachers, your wife’s expenses, then at the last comes the tax-gathererThe tax-gatherer: Miles. Literally, the soldier. This is explained as meaning that the soldier comes to receive the military tribute levied by the Tribunes, which was called aes militare. The word may, however possibly mean simply the officer of the magistrate by whom the tribute was levied, as miles has sometimes, though very rarely, that signification. and asks for money. You go, your account is being made up with your bankerWith your banker: The argentarii acted as bankers of deposit upon whom the depositors drew checks as with us.; the tax-gatherer waits, half-starved, and thinks the money will be paid. When the account has been made up with the banker, even already is the husband himself in debt to the banker, and the hopes of the tax-gatlherer are postponed to another day. These, and many others, are the inconveniences and intolerable expenses of great portions; but she who is without portion is in the power of her husband; the portioned ones overwhelm their husbands with loss and ruin. But see; here’s my connexion by marriage before the house! How do you do, Euclio? EUCLIO With very great pleasure have I listened to your discourse. MEGADORUS Did you hear me? EUCLIO Everything from the very beginning. MEGADORUS (eyeing him from head to foot.) Still, in my way of thinking indeed, you would be acting a little more becomingly if you were more tidy at the wedding of your daughter. EUCLIO Those who have display according to their circumstances and splendour according to their meansAccording to their means: Shakspeare expresses the same idea in Hamlet, Act I, Sc. 3: Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy. , remember themselves, from whence they are sprung; neither by myself, Megadorus, nor by any poor man, are better circumstances enjoyed than appearances warrant. MEGADORUS Surely they are; and may the Gods, I hope, make them so to be, and more and more may they prosper that which you now possess. EUCLIO (aside.) That expression don’t please me, which you now possess. He knows that I’ve got this, as well as I do myself: the old woman has discovered it to him. MEGADORUS Why do you separate yourself thus alone, apart from the Senate Apart from the Senate: As the Senate consults about the common interests, so are they discussing their common sentiments. Megadorus therefore, on hearing him talking to himself, asks him why he is withdrawing himself from the discussions of the Senate.? EUCLIO Troth, I was considering whether I should accuse you deservedly. MEGADORUS What’s the matter? EUCLIO Do you ask me what’s the matter? You who have filled every corner in my house, for wretched me, with thieves? You who have introduced into my dwelling five hundred cooks, with six hands a-piece, of the race of GeryonOf the race of Geryon: Geryon was a King of Spain, slain by Hercures. He was fabled to have had three heads and three bodies, consequently six hands., whom were Argus to watch, who was eyes all over, that Juno once set as a spy upon Jupiter, he never could watch them; a music-girl besides, who could alone drink up for me the Corinthian fountain of PireneFountain of Pirene: Pirene, the daughter of Acheloüs, on Conchreas her son by Neptune being slain by Diana, pined away, and was changed into a fountain, which was in the Arx Corinthiacus, or Citadel of Corinth, and retained her name., if it were flowing with wine? And then as to provisions— MEGADORUS Troth, there’s enough for a procurer For a procurer: Who might be presumed to have a voracious and ungovernable appetite, and probably a large household to satisfy. Some editions however, have legioni, which would almost appear to be a preferable reading almost enough for a whole legion. even. I sent as much as a lamb. EUCLIO Than which lamb, I, indeed, know right well that there is nowhere a more curiousA more curious: Magis curiosam. It is suggested in Schmieder’s Notes to Plautus, that Euclio intends to call the lamb inquisitive or curious, curiosam, because he had found it, when he entered his house to drive out Congrio and his scullions, scraping and smelling about in every direction, as in a strange place it was natural for it to do, but which the old man thought to be done in quest of his treasure. On this, Megadorus, who has not heard, or else has misunderstood, the last syllable for nem, instead of sam, asks him what sort of a lamb a curio (the nominative of curionem) lamb is; on which Euclio catches him up, and says he calls a curio lamb such a one as he has sent him, all skin and bone, and lean with cura, care. Curionem is by many preferred as the reading in the 517th line to curiosam, and perhaps it is the best. Be it as it may, the wit seems far-fetched; and not improbably the word curio may have had some meaning which is now lost, other than its usual signification of the master or head of a curia, or ward. beast existing. MEGADORUS I wish to know of you why is this lamb curious? EUCLIO Because it’s all skin and bone, so lean is it with care; why, even when alive, by the light of the sun you may look at its entrails; it’s just as transparent as a Punic lanternA Punic lantern: The horn exported from Carthage, for the purpose of making lanterns, was more pellucid than any other.. MEGADORUS I bought it to be killed. EUCLIO Then it’s best that you likewise should bargain for Should bargain for: Loces. Should hire the conductores, or libitinarii, who contracted to perform funerals. He seems to hint that the lamb is so meagre that it is not worth eating. If that is not his meaning, the wit intended to be conveyed by the passage is imperceptible. it to be carried out for burial; for I believe it’s dead by this time. MEGADORUS Euclio, I wish this day to have a drinking with you. EUCLIO By my troth, I really must not drink. MEGADORUS But I’ll order one cask of old wine to be brought from my house. EUCLIO I’ faith, I won’t have it; for I’ve determined to drink water. MEGADORUS I’ll have you well drenched this day, if I live, you who have determined to drink water. EUCLIO (aside.) I know what plan he’s upon; he’s aiming at this method, to overcome me with wine, and after that, to change the settlementChange the settlement: Commutet coloniam. Literally may change its colony. of what I possess: I’ll take care of that, for I’ll hide it somewhere out of doors. I’ll make him lose his wine and his trouble together. MEGADORUS Unless you want me for anything, I’m going to bathe, that I may sacrifice. (He goes into his house.) EUCLIO By my faith, you pot (taking it from under his cloak), you surely have many enemies, and that gold as well which is entrusted to you! Now this is the best thing to be done by me, to take you away, my pot, to the Temple of FaithTemple of Faith: Fides, Faith, was a Goddess worshipped by the Romans. Probably, in the present instance, her Temple was represented at one side of the stage, and the door just beyond the side-scene., where I’ll hide you carefully. Faith, thou dost know me, and I thee; please, do have a care not to change thy name against me, if I entrust this to thee. Faith, I’ll come to thee, relying on thy fidelity. (He goes into the Temple of faith.) (Enter STROBILUS Strobilus: It is a curious fact that all of the editions make this to be a different person from the Strobilus, the servant of Megadorus, whom we have already seen hiring Congrio, Anthrax, and the tibicinae. In the dramatis personae they style this one, Strobilus, the servant of Lyconides, and the other Strobilus, in some instances, as the servant of Megadorus, and in others (evidently by mistake) as the servant of Euclio. On examination we shall find there is no ground for this. Eunomia (most probably a widow) is living, together with her son Lyconides, in the house of her brother Megadorus. This is clear from what Lyconides says in l. 684, where, speaking of the house of his uncle, he calls it aedes nostras, our house, which he would not have said had he not been residing there. By the indulgence of his uncle, who has no children, we may presume that Strobilus has been permitted to consider him as his young master. After hiring the cooks, he has communicated the bad news to Lyconides, who tells him to keep a good look-out, and inform him of any chance that may possibly happen for breaking off the marriage..) STROBILUS This is the duty of a good servant, to do what I’m intending, not to consider the commands of his master a bore or trouble to him. For that servant who resolves to serve his master with hearty goodwill, him it behoves to act expeditiously for his master, slowly for himself; but if he sleeps, let him so sleep as to bethink himself that he is a servant. But he who lives in servitude to one in love, as I am serving, if he sees love overcoming his master, this I think to be the duty of the servant; to restrain him for his safety, not to impel him onwards towards his own inclination. Just as a float of bulrushes is placed beneath boys who are learning to swim, by means of which they may labour less, so as to swim more easily and move their hands; in the same way do I consider that it is proper for the servant to be a buoy to his master thus in love, so as to bear him up lest he should go to the bottom; and so should he learn the will of his master, that his eyes should know what his mouth chooses not to speak. What he orders, he should hasten to perform more swiftly than the swift steeds. He who shall have a care for these things, will escape the castigation of the ox’s hide, nor by his own means will he ever bring the fetters to brightness. Now, my master’s in love with the daughter of this poor man, Euclio; word has just now been brought to my master that she is given to Megadorus here: he has sent me here to spy out, that he may be made acquainted with the things that are going on. Now, without any suspicion, I’ll sit here by the sacred altar By the sacred altar: The Athenians often raised altars to Apollo or Bacchus at their doors. The Romans also had altars in their public streets. On the stage of Comedy there was generally an altar erected in honor of Apollo, προστατηριὸς, that presides.. From this spot I shall be able, in this direction and that, to witness what they are about. (He sits by the altar, and on seeing EUCLIO, hides behind it.) (Enter EUCLIO, from the Temple) EUCLIO O Goddess Faith, do thou but take care not to discover to any person that my gold is there. I have no fear that any one will find it, so well is it concealed in its hiding place. By my troth, he will surely have a charming booty there, if any one shall meet with that pot loaded with gold. But I entreat thee, Faith, to hinder that. Now I shall go wash me, that I may perform the sacrifice; so that I may not delay my new connexion by marriage, but that, when he sends to me, he may forthwith take my daughter home. Over and over again now, Goddess Faith, do thou take care that I shall carry away the pot safe from thy Temple. To thy fidelityTo thy fidelity: Tuae fidei. He plays upon the word fides, and flatters himself that his treasure cannot be more secure than when entrusted to the faith of Falt... have I entrusted the gold; in thy grove and Temple is it placed. (Goes into his house.) STROBILUS (coming from behind the altar.) Immortal Gods, what a deed did I hear this person speaking of, how that he had hidden here, in the Temple of Faith, a pot filled with gold; prithee, beware you, how you are more faithful to him than to myself! And he, as I fancy, is the father of her whom my master’s in love with. I’ll go hence into it; I’ll thoroughly ransack the Temple, to see if I can anywhere find the gold, while he’s engaged. But if I do find it, O Goddess Faith, I’ll offer to thee a gallon jug A gallon jug: Congialem. Literally, holding a congius. This contained about nine pints of English measure. By the use of the word fidelia, a jug, he plays on its resemblance to the name of Fides. full of honeyed wine, that I’ll surely offer to thee; but I’ll drink it up myself, when I have offered it. (Retreats behind the altar.) (Enter EUCLIO, from his house.) EUCLIO (to himself.) It wasn’t for nothing that the raven was just now croaking on my left handOn my left hand: We cannot fail to remember here the exactly similar expression of Gay, in the fable of the Farmer’s Wife and the Raven: That raven on yon left-hand oak (Curse on his ill-betiding croak!) Bodes me no good. ; he was both scratching the ground with his feet and croaking with his voice. At once my heart began to jump about Began to jump about: Ars ludicra here means the art of a ’ludius,’ or stage-player, who moves to and fro and gesticulates-hence cor cœpit artem facere ludicram would strictly mean my heart begins to move to and fro like a play-actor., and to leap within my breast. But why do I delay to run? EUCLIO (He discovers STROBILUS, and drags him from behind the altar.) Out, out, you earthwormEarthworm: He thinks, that in the short space of time during which he has been absent in the Temple, he can only have sprung out of the earth, as he had not seen him a few minutes before; and taking him to be a sort of praestigiator, or juggler, he fancies that he has followed him into the Temple, and purloined the treasure., who have this instant crept out of the earth; who just now were nowhere seen, and now that you are seen shall die for it. By my faith, you juggler, I’ll receive you now after a disagreable fashion. (Begins to shake and beat him.) STROBILUS What the curst plague does ail you? What business have you with me, old fellow? Why do you torment me? Why are you dragging me? For what reason are you beating me? EUCLIO You out-and-out whipping-post, do you even ask that, you, not thief, but thrice-dotted thief. STROBILUS What have I stolen from you? EUCLIO Give me that back here, if you please. STROBILUS What do you want me to give you back? EUCLIO Do you ask me that? STROBILUS As for me, I’ve taken nothing away from you. EUCLIO But give up that which you have taken away for yourself. Are you going to do so? STROBILUS Do what? EUCLIO You can’t carry it off. STROBILUS What do you want? EUCLIO Lay it down. STROBILUS Troth, for my part, I think that you are in the habit In the habit: The real meaning of the author in this line is so indelicate, that it requires another turn to be given to the passage. of quizzing, old gentleman. EUCLIO Put that down, please; cease your quibbling; I’m not trifling now. STROBILUS What am I to put down? Why don’t you mention it, whatever it is, by its own name? By my faith, I really have neither taken nor touched anything. EUCLIO Show me your hands, here. STROBILUS Well, I do show them; see, here they are. (Holdinq out his hands.) EUCLIO I see them. Come, show me the thirdShow me the third: This passage has been considered as extravagant; but it really does not appear inconsistent with the ridiculous conduct of the wretched Euclio throughout. Thornton supposes that the following passage in the old play of Albumazar, Act III., Sc. 8 (where Trinculo questions Ronca about the purse, which the latter has stolen from him), is an imitation of this passage: Trin. Show me your hand. Ron. Here ’tis. Trin. But where’s the other? Ron. Why, here. Trin. But I mean, where’s your other hand? Ron. Think you me the giant with an hundred hands? Trin. Give me your right. Ron. My right? Trin. Your left? Ron. My left? Trin. Now both. Ron. There’s both, my dear Antonio, as well. STROBILUS (aside.) Sprites, and frenzy, and madness, possess this old fellow. Are you doing me an injustice, or not? EUCLIO A very great one, I confess, inasmuch as you are not strung up; and that too shall be done this moment, un less you do confess. STROBILUS What am I to confess to you? EUCLIO What it was you took away hence. STROBILUS May the Gods confound me, if I’ve taken away anything of yours, (aside) and if I don’t wish I had taken it away. EUCLIO Come then, shake out your cloak. STROBILUS At your pleasure. (Shakes it.) EUCLIO You haven’t it among your under-clothing? STROBILUS Search where you please. EUCLIO Pshaw! how civilly the rascal speaks, that I mayn’t suppose he has taken it away! I know your tricks. Come, show me here again that right hand. STROBILUS Here it is. (Extending it.) EUCLIO Now show me your left. STROBILUS Well, then, I show you both, in fact. (Extending them.) EUCLIO Now I leave off searching. Give back that here. STROBILUS Give back what? EUCLIO Are you trifling with me? You certainly have got it. STROBILUS I, got it? Got what? EUCLIO I shan’t say; you want to hear. Whatever you have of mine, give it back. STROBILUS You are mad; you’ve searched me all over at your own pleasure, and yet you’ve found nothing of yours in my possession. EUCLIO (starting.) Stop, stop; who was that? Who was the otherWho was the other: This suspicion in Euclio is very natural; and he asks the question very artfully, for the purpose of catching a confession from him by inadvertence. that was within here, together with yourself? Troth, I’m undone; he’s now rummaging about within. If I let this one go, he’ll escape. At last, I’ve now searched this one all over; he has got nothing. Be off where you please; Jupiter and the Gods confound you! STROBILUS He returns his thanks not amissThanks not amiss: He says this sarcastically. If he gets such thanks when he has not stolen the treasure, what would he have got supposing that he had?. EUCLIO I’ll go in here now, and I’ll at once throttle this accomplice of yours. Will you not fly hence from my sight? Will you away from here, or no? STROBILUS I’m off. EUCLIO Take you care, please, how I see you. (He goes into the Temple.) (STROBIOUS, alone.) STROBILUS I would rather that I were dead outright, by a shocking death, than not lay an ambush this day for that old fellow. But he’ll not venture now to hide his gold here; he’ll now be carrying it with him, I guess, and be changing the spot. But hark! there’s a noise at the door. (Looking in the direction of the Temple.) See, the old fellow’s bringing out the gold with him! Meanwhile, I’ll step aside here to the door. (Conceals himself near the door.) (Enter EUCLIO, from the Temple, with the pot of money.) EUCLIO (to himself.) I had thought that there was the very greatest dependence upon Faith; very nearly had she played me a pretty trickPlayed me a pretty trick: Sublevit os. Sublinere os means to paint the face secretly, in allusion to the practical joke of so doing when a person is asleep, and thereby making a fool of him.. If the raven hadn’t come to my assistance, to my sorrow I should have been undone. Troth, I very much wish that raven would come to me which gave me the warning, that I might say something kind to him; for I would as soon giveWould as soon give: That is, not at all. He says thank you to the raven, but he would be as likely to give it a scrap of victuals as to throw it away, which was quite repugnant to his jus et norma vivendi, his mode of life. him something to eat as lose it. Now I’m thinking of a lonely spot where I shall hide this. The grove of Sylvanus, outside of the wall, is unfrequented, and planted with many a willow; there will I choose a spot. I’m determined to trust Sylvanus Sylvanus: Sylvanus was the tutelary Divinity of the woodlands field, and cattle. Pigs were usually offered in sacrifice to him., rather than Faith. (Exit.) STROBILUS (re-appearing from his hiding-place.) Capital! capital! the Gods will me to be safe and preserved! Now will I run before to that place, and climb up into some tree, and thence will I watch where the old fellow hides the gold. Although my master bade me remain here, I’m resolved rather to risk a mishap along with emolument. (Exit.) (Enter LYCONIDES and EUNOMIA, from the house of MEGADORUS.) LYCONIDES I’ve told you all, mother; as well as I do myself, you understand all about the daughter of Euclio. Now, I do entreat you, my mother, make mention of it to my uncle, and I now unask of you, mother, that which before I entreated of you, to conceal this from Megadorus. EUNOMIA You know, yourself, that what you desire to be done, I desire, and I trust that I shall obtain this of my brother; and the reason is good, if ’tis so as you say, that in a drunken fit you debauched this damsel. LYCONIDES Could I, my mother, tell a falsehood in your presence? PHAEDRA (PHAEDRA cries out in labour, in EUCLIO’S house.) I die, my nurse; my pangs are coming on! I entreat thee for thy protection, Juno LucinaJuno Lucina: Juno Lucina was the Goddess who presided over childbirth. Some suppose that the Goddess Diana was called by that name; but (although Diana was also addressed by parturient females) it is more likely that Juno was addressed under the title. A similar circumstance to this takes place in the Andria and the Adelphi of Terence.! LYCONIDES Ah! my mother, I see a more convincing proof for you; she’s crying aloud—she’s in the pangs of labour. EUNOMIA Come in-doors here, with me, my son, to my brother, that I may obtain a grant from him of that which you beg of me. LYCONIDES Go; I’ll follow you this instant, mother. (EUNOMIA goes into the house.) But my servant, Strobilus, I wonder where he is, whom I ordered to wait here for me. Now I reflect with myself, if he’s lending me his assistance, it isn’t fair that I should be angry with him. I’ll go in-doors, where they are sitting in judgmentThey are sitting in judgnment: Ubi de capite meo sunt Comitia. Literally, where, then, are the Comitia about my life. Trials were held before the Comitia centuriata, or assemblies of the people, at Rome, to which reference is here made. He alludes to the discussion between Eunomia and Megadorus, on the marriage of the latter with Phaedra. upon my life. (Goes into the house of MEGADORUS.) (Enter STROBILUS, with the pot of money.) STROBILUS I, by myself, exceed the riches of the GriffinsRiches of the Griffins: Pici. Picis would be a better reading here, and ought to be adopted unless we agree with some of the Commentators, who think that Strobilus begins a sentence, and then, in the exuberance of his joy, breaks out into an expression of a different construction from that originally intended. It may, however, possibly be, as Hildyard suggests, the nominativus pendens, which is not unfrequently used by Plautus. The Pici here alluded to, were Griffins, or fabulous monsters, who were said to watch the treasures of the Arimaspi, a people of the north of Scythia, mentioned by Herodotus, who were said to possess mountains of gold; in which story, no doubt, the Uralian mountians were alluded to., who inhabit the golden mountains, For I’m unwilling to make mention of those other kings, beggarly fellows—I am the king Philip. O charming day! for when I went from here, just now, I arrived there much the first, and, long before, I placed myself in a tree, and thence observed where the old fellow hid the gold. When he departed thence, I let myself down from the tree, and dug up the pot full of gold. Thence, from that spot, I saw the old fellow betaking himself back again; he didn’t see me, for I turned a little on one side, out of the path. Heyday! here he comes himself. I’ll go and hide this away, at home. (Goes into the house of MEGADORUS.) (Enter EUCLIO, tearing his hair and wringing his hands.) EUCLIO I’m ruined! I’m done for! I’m murdered! Whither shall I run? Whither not run? Stop him—stop him. Whom? who? I don’t know. I see nothing! I’m going blindfold; and, in fact, whither I am going, or where I am, or who I am, I can’t in my mind find out for certain. (To the AUDIENCE.) I beseech you, give me your aid (I beg and entreat of you), and point me out the person that has taken it away. What’s the matter? Why do you laugh? I’m acquainted with you all; I know that there are many thieves here, who conceal themselves with white clothes and chalkWhite clothes and chalk: The Romans were much in the habit of having their woollen togae made extremely white by chalk, pipeclay, and the fuller’s art. He alludes to white garments covering bad manners, much as in Scripture whited sepuichres are mentoned as being full of uncleanness., and sit as though they were honest! (To one of the SPECTATORS.) What say you? You I’m resolved to believe; for I perceive, even by your looks, that you are honest. Well then, none of these has got it? You’ve been the death of me! Tell me, then, who has got it? You don’t know? Oh,wretched, wretched me! I’m done for! wofully undone! In most sorry plight I go; so much groaning, and misfortune, and sorrow, has this day brought upon me, hunger and poverty, too. I’m the most utterly ruined of all men upon the earth! For what need of life have I, who have lost so much gold that I so carefully watched? I pinched myself, and my inclinations, and my very heartAnd my very heart: Geniumque meum. Literally, and my Genius, i. e. my social disposition or capacity for enjoyment.! Now others are rejoicing at this, my loss and my misfortune! I cannot endure it. (He runs about, crying and stamping.) LYCONIDES (Enter LYCONIDES, from the house of MEGADORUS.) What person, I wonder, is this before our house lamenting, and that utters complaints with his moaning? Why,surely, this is Euclio, as I imagine. I’m utterly undone! The thing’s all out; he knows now, as I suppose, that his daughter is brought to bed. I’m in a state of uncertainty now what I shall do, whether go or remain, accost him or fly. EUCLIO What person is it that speaks there? LYCONIDES ’Tis I, wretch that I am. EUCLIO Yes, and so am I, and wretchedly ruined, whose lot is misfortune so great and sorrow. LYCONIDES Be of good courage. EUCLIO How, prithee, can I be so? LYCONIDES Because that deed which is afflicting your mind, I did it, and I confess it. EUCLIO What is it I hear from you? LYCONIDES That which is the truth. EUCLIO What evil, young man, have I deserved, by reason of which you should do thus, and go to ruin both me and my children? LYCONIDES A Divinity was my prompter; he prompted me to do itPrompted me to do it: Ad illam illexit. Literally, enticed me to her. The humour of the whole scene turns upon Euclio and Lyconides mistaking the meaning of each other—the former thinking that the latter is speaking about the aula, or pot, while the latter fancies that Euclio is amenting the mishap of his daughter. In the Latin language, the word aula is or the feminine gender, by reason of which the misunderstanding is much more natural than it would be in the English language. In consequence, some little latitude in the translation is absolutely necessary to sustain the equivoque of the original. EUCLIO How? LYCONIDES I confess that I have done wrong, and I know that I deserve censure; for that reason I’m come to beseech you, that, with feelings assuaged, you will pardon me. EUCLIO Why did you dare do so, to touch that which was not your own? LYCONIDES What do you wish to be done? The thing has been done; it can’t be undone. I believe that the Gods willed it, for if they hadn’t willed it, I know it wouldn’t have happened. EUCLIO But I believe that the Gods have willed that I should be the death of you in fetters. LYCONIDES Don’t say that! EUCLIO What business then have you to touch what is my own against my will? LYCONIDES Because I did it under the evil influence of wine and love. EUCLIO Most audacious man, that you should dare to come here to me with that speech, you impudent fellow! For if this is lawful, so that you may be able to excuse it—let us openly, in broad daylight, plunder their golden trinkets from ladies—after that, if we are caught, let us excuse ourselves, that we did it when intoxicated, by reason of being in love. Too cheap are wine and love, if one in liquor and in love is allowed to do with impunity whatever he pleases. LYCONIDES But I come to you of my own accord to supplicate you on account of my folly. EUCLIO Persons don’t please me, who, when they’ve done wrong, excuse themselves. You knew that you had no right there; you oughtn’t to have touchedYou oughtn’t to have touched: Tn illam scibas non tuam esse: non attactam aportuit. This literally, speaking of the pot (aula) as of the feminine gender, would mean you knew that she was not your own; it was not fitting for her to be touched. This of course helps to confirm Lyconides in the impression that Euclio is speaking of his daughter.. LYCONIDES Therefore, inasmuch as I did dare to touch, I make no objection to keep by all means. EUCLIO You, keep what is my own against my will? LYCONIDES Against your will, I do not ask; but I think that that which was yours ought to be mineOught to be mine: Lyconides here alludes to a law which prevailed at Rome, whereby, when a person had seduced a freeborn female, he was obliged either to marry her himself without a portion, or else to give her such a portion as was suitable to her station. Lyconides means to say that he shall exercise the former right.. Moreover, Euclio, you’ll find, I say, that mine it ought to be. EUCLIO Now really, on my word, I’ll drag you to the Praetor and take proceedingsAnd take proceedings: Scribam dicam. Dica was a name derived from the Greek, for an indictment, writ, or process, by which in action was commenced. against you, unless you make restitution. LYCONIDES Make restitution of what to you? EUCLIO What you’ve stolen of mine. LYCONIDES I, stolen of yours? Whence, or what is it? EUCLIO So shall Jupiter love you, how ignorant you are about it! LYCONIDES Unless, indeed, you tell me what you are enquiring for. EUCLIO The pot of gold, I say, I’m asking back of you, which you confessed to me that you had taken away. LYCONIDES By my faith, I’ve neither said so, nor have I done it. EUCLIO Do you deny it? LYCONIDES Yes, I do utterly deny it; for neither the gold nor yet this pot, what it means, do I know or understand. EUCLIO Give me up that pot which you took away from the wood of Sylvanus. Come, give it me back! I would rather give you the one-half of it. Although you are a thief to me, I’ll not be hard upon the thief. Give it me back. LYCONIDES You are not in your senses, to call me a thief; I thought, Euclio, that you had come to the knowledge of another matter; as concerns myself, it is a great matter which I wish to speak with you upon at your leisure, if you are at leisure. EUCLIO Tell me, in good faith, have you not stolen that gold? LYCONIDES In good faith, No. EUCLIO Nor know who has taken it away? LYCONIDES In good faith, No, to that as well. EUCLIO But if you should know who has taken it away, will you discover it to me? LYCONIDES I will do so. EUCLIO Nor accept of a share from him, whoever he is, for yourself, nor harbour the thief? LYCONIDES Even so. EUCLIO What if you deceive me? LYCONIDES Then may great Jupiter do unto me what he pleases. EUCLIO I’m satisfied. Come, then, say what you wish. LYCONIDES If you know me but imperfectly, of what family I’m born: Megadorus here is my uncle; Antimachus was my father; my name is Lyconides; Eunomia is my mother. EUCLIO I know the family; now, what do you want? LYCONIDES I want to know this. You have a daughter of yours? EUCLIO Why, yes, she’s there at home. LYCONIDES You have, I think, recently betrothed her to my uncle? EUCLIO You have the whole matter. LYCONIDES He has now bade me announce to you his refusal of herHis refusal of her: Repudium. The rejection of a person after being betrothed was called repudium; while the putting-away of a marned woman by her husband was called divortium.. EUCLIO A refusal, when the things are got ready, and the wedding’s prepared? May all the immortal Gods and Goddesses confound him, so far as is possible, by reason of whom this day, unhappy wretch that I am, I have lost so much gold! LYCONIDES Be of good heart, and speak in kindly terms; now, a thing—may it turn out well and prosperously to you and your daughter.—May the Gods so grant—say. EUCLIO May the Gods so grant. LYCONIDES And for me, too, may the Gods so grant it. Now, then, do you listen. The man that admits a fault is not so much to be despised, if he feels a sense of shame when he excuses himself. Now, Euclio, I do beseech you, that what unawares I have done wrong towards yourself or your daughter, you will grant me pardon for the same, and give her for a wife to me, as the laws demand. I confess that I did violence to your daughter on the festival of Ceres, by reason of wine and the impulse of youth. EUCLIO Woe is me! What shocking deed do I hear of you? LYCONIDES Why do you exclaim? You whom I’ve made to be a grandfather now at the very wedding of your daughter. For your daughter has just been brought to bed in the ninth month after—calculate the numberCalculate the number: Numeram cape. He probably means by this, calculate the time since the festival of Ceres, when this misfortone happened.; for that reason, in my behalf, has my uncle sent his refusal. Go in-doors; enquire whether it is so or not as I say. EUCLIO I’m undone utterly; so very many misfortunes unite themselves for my undoing. I’ll go in-doors, that I may know what of this is true. (He goes into his house.) LYCONIDES I’ll follow you this instant. This matter seems now to be pretty nearly in the haven of safety. Now, where to say my servant Strobilus is, I don’t know, but yet I’ll wait here still a little while; after that I’ll follow this man indoors; now, in the meantime, I’ll give him leisure to enquire of the nurse about my doings, the attendant of his daughter, whether she knows the truth. (Moves as if going.) (Enter STROBILUS, at a distance.) STROBILUS (to himself.) Immortal Gods, with what and how great delights do you present me! I’ve got a four pound pot filled with gold; who there is richer than I? What man is there greater than I at Athens now; any one, I mean, to whom the Gods are propitious? LYCONIDES (to himself.) Why, surely, I seemed just now to hear the voice of some one speaking here. STROBILUS (to himself.) Ha! do I not see my master? LYCONIDES (to himself.) Do I see Strobilus now, my servant? STROBILUS (to himself.) ’Tis he himself. LYCONIDES (to himself.) ’Tis no other. STROBILUS (to himself.) I’ll accost him. LYCONIDES (to himself.) I’ll step outI’ll step out: It must be supposed that Strobilus is a good way down a street, which emerges on the stage right opposite the Spectators; while Lyconides is in the front of the stage, and consequently beyond the nearer end of the street. towards him. I do think that he has been, as I requested him, to the old woman, the nurse herself of this damsel. STROBILUS (to himself.) Why don’t I tell him that I’ve found this prize, and speak out? For that reason, I’ll beg of him to make me free. I’ll go and speak to him. (Addressing him.) I’ve found— LYCONIDES What have you found? STROBILUS Not that which the boys cry out that they’ve found in the beanFound in the bean: This is explained as meaning a little worm or weevil, which boys used to seek for in beans and other pulse, and which they called Midas. LYCONIDES And are you trifling with me then, as you are in the habit of doing? (He turns as if to go away.) STROBILUS Master, stop; I’ll speak out then; do listen. LYCONIDES Come then, tell me. STROBILUS I’ve found to-day, master very great riches. LYCONIDES Where, pray? STROBILUS A four pound potA four pound pot: Quadrilibris probably alludes to the capacity of the pot, and not its weight. It was probably a jar made to contain four pounds weight of liquid., I say, full of gold! LYCONIDES What crime is this that I hear of from you? STROBILUS I’ve stolen it from this old fellow, Euclio.Part of line 822 in the Latin. LYCONIDES Where is this gold? STROBILUS In my box at home; I now wish to be made free. LYCONIDES I, make you free, you fellow, brimful of wickedness? STROBILUS Out upon you, master, I know what you would be at. Troth, I’ve cleverly tried your inclination; you were just getting ready to take it away from me; what would you do, if I had found it? LYCONIDES You can’t make good your pretences. Come, give up the gold! STROBILUS I, give up the gold? LYCONIDES Give it up, I say, that it may be given back to him. STROBILUS Where am I to get it from? LYCONIDES That which you confessed just now to be in your box. STROBILUS I’ faith, I’m in the habit of talking nonsense; ’twas in that way I was speaking. LYCONIDES (seizing him.) But do you know what?— STROBILUS Even kill me outright, i’ faith, you never shall get it hence of me The rest of this Play is unfortunately lost. From the Acrostic Argument which is prefixed to the Play, we learn that Lyconides obtained the gold, and gave it up to Euclio, who presented it to him as a marriage-portion with his daughter. In some of the Editions there is a Supplement to the last Scene, written in a very meagre style by some unknown author, which is not worth presenting to the reader The Supplementby Antonius Codrus Urceus, a learned scholar and professor at Bologna, is certainly somewhat superior, and, such as it is, a translation of it is here presented to the reader. Its chief fault is, that it indicates a greater change in the nature of the miser than is consistent with probability. Though Plautus doubtless depicted him as giving up the gold to his new son-in-law, it was probably on some other ground than a change of disposition. A SUPPLEMENT TO THE AULULARIA BY CODRUS URCEUS.) STROBILUS — the pot belonging to the old fellow, which I’ve not got. LYCONIDES I will have it, whether you will or no; when I’ve tied you up all fours, and torn asunder your body for you tied up to the beam. But why do I delay to rush upon the jaws of this rascal, and why this instant do I not compel his soul to take its journey before its timeBefore its time: —The expression used here by Urceus is capable of two modes of translation; the most delicate one has been preferred.? Are you going to give it me or not? STROBILUS I will give it you. LYCONIDES I want you to give it me now, and not at a future time. STROBILUS I’ll give it now; but I entreat you to allow me to recover breath. (LYCONIDES lets him go.) Aha! What is it you want me to give you, master? LYCONIDES Don’t you know, you rascal? And do you dare to refuse me the four pound pot full of gold which you just now said you had stolen? (Calling at the door.) Hallo there! Where now are the flogging men? STROBILUS Master, do hear a few words. Lyc. I won’t hear; floggers, hallo there—hallo! (Enter two FLOGGING SLAVES.) SLAVE. What’s the matter? LYCONIDES I want the chains to be got ready. STROBILUS Listen to me, I beg of you; afterwards order them to bind me as much as you please. LYCONIDES I will hear you; but hasten the matter very quickly. STROBILUS If you order me to be tortured to death, see what you obtain; in the first place, you have the death of your slave. Then, what you wish for you cannot get. But if you had only allured me by the reward of dear liberty, you would already have obtained your wish. Nature produces all men free, and by nature all desire freedom. Slavery is worse than every evil, than every calamity; and he whom Jupiter hates, him he first makes a slave. LYCONIDES You speak not unwisely STROBILUS Now then hear the rest. Our age has produced masters too grasping, whom I’m in the habit of calling Harpagos, Harpies, and Tantali, poor amid great wealth, and thirsty in the midst of the waters of Ocean; no riches are enough for them, not those of Midas, not of Crœsus; not all the wealth of the Persians can satisfy their Tartarean maw. Masters use their slaves rigorously, and slaves now obey their masters but tardily; so on neither side is that done which would be fair to be done. Their provisions, kitchens, and store-cellars, avaricious old fellows shut up with a thousand keys. Slaves, thievish, doubledealers, and artful, open for themselves things shut up with a thousand keys, which the owners hardly like to be granted to their lawful children, and stealthily do they carry off, consume, and lick them up—fellows that will never disclose their hundred thefts even at the gibbet; thus in laughter and joking do bad slaves take revenge upon their slavery. So then, I come to the conclusion that liberality renders slaves faithful. LYCONIDES Rightly, indeed, have you spoken, but not in a few words, as you promised me. But if I do make you free, will you give me back what I’m asking for? STROBILUS I will give it back; but I wish for witnesses to be present; you’ll pardon me, master, I trust you but little. LYCONIDES Just as you please; let there be present even a hundred; then I shouldn’t care about it. STROBILUS (going to the door of the house of MEGADORUS.) Megadorus, and you, Eunomia, please come here, I beg of you; the business finished, you shall return directly. (Enter MEGADORUS and EUNOMIA.) MEGADORUS Who’s calling us? Ha! Lyconides! EUNOMIA Ha! Strobilus, what is the matter? Say. LYCONIDES ’Tis a short matter. MEGADORUS What is it? STROBILUS I’m calling you as witnesses. If I bring here a four pound pot full of gold and give it up to Lyconides, Lyconides makes me a free man, and orders me to be my own master. (To LYCONIDES.) Do you not promise me so? LYCONIDES I do promise so. STROBILUS Have you heard now what he has said? MEGADORUS We have heard. STROBILUS Swear, then, by Jupiter. LYCONIDES Alas! to what I am reduced by the misfortunes of others! You are too insulting; still, I’ll do what he bids me. STROBILUS Hark you, our generation hasn’t much confidence in people: the documents are signed; the twelve witnesses are present; the registrar writes down the time and the place; and still, the pleader is found to deny that it has been done. LYE. But release me speedily, please. STROBILUS Here, take this stone. (Giving him a stone.) LYCONIDES If I knowingly deceive you, so may Jupiter reject from me his blessings, the city and citadel safe, as I do this stone. (He throws it.) Have I now satisfied you? STROBILUS I am satisfied; and I’m going to bring the gold. LYCONIDES Go with the speed of Pegasus, and return devouring the road with your rapid steps. (Exit STROBILUS.) Any impertinent slave, that wishes to be more wise than his master, is a nuisance to a decent man. Let this Strobilus be off as a free man to utter perdition, if he only brings me the pot full of pure gold, so that I may restore Euclio, my father-in-law, from his grief to joy, and obtain the favour of his daughter, who is just brought to bed by reason of my debauching her. But see! Strobilus is returning, loaded; as I guess, he’s bringing the pot; and, for sure, it is the pot that he’s carrying. (Enter STROBIOUS, carrying the pot of gold.) STROBILUS Lyconides, I bring you my findings that I promised—the four pound pot of gold; have I been long? LYCONIDES Why, yes. (He takes some of the gold out of the pot.) O immortal Gods, what do I behold? Or what is it I hold? More than six hundred Philippean pieces, three or four times over. But let’s call out Euclio forthwith. LYCONIDES (going to the door of EUCLIO’S house.) Ho, Eucho, Euclio! MEGADORUS Euclio, Euclio! EUCLIO (opening his window.) What’ the matter? LYCONIDES Come down to us, for the Gods will you to be saved; we’ve got the pot. EUCLIO Have you got it, or are you trifling with me? LYCONIDES We’ve got it, I say. Now, if you can, fly down hither. EUCLIO (having come out of the house to them.) O great Jupiter! O household Divinity and Queen Juno! and Alcides, my treasurer! that at length you do show pity upon a wretched old man. (Taking the pot in his arms.) O my pot! O how aged I, your friend, do clasp you with joyful arms, and receive you with kisses; with a thousand embraces even I cannot be satisfied. O my hope! my heart! that dissipates my grief. LYCONIDES (aside, to MEGADORUS.) I always thought that to be in want of gold was the worst thing for both boys and men, and all old people. Indigence compels boys to be guilty of misdeeds, men to thieve, and old men themselves to become beggars. But ’tis much worse, as I now see, to abound in gold beyond what’s necessary for us. Alas! what miseries has Euclio endured on account of the pot, that a little while since was lost by him! EUCLIO To whom shall I give deserved thanks? Whether to the Gods, who show regard for good men, or to my friends, upright men, or to them both? Rather to both, I think; and first to you, Lyconides, the origin and author of so great a good; you do I present with this pot of gold; accept it with pleasure. I wish it to be your own, and my daughter as well, in the presence of Megadorus, and his good sister, Eunomia. LYCONIDES (receiving the pot of gold.) The favour is received, and is returned, in thanks, as you deserve, Eucho, a father-in-law most acceptable to me. EUCLIO I shall think the favour sufficiently returned to me, if you now receive with pleasure my gift, and myself as well for your father-in-law. LYCONIDES I do receive it; and I wish my house to be that of Euclio. STROBILUS What still remains, master,—remember now that I’m to be free. LYCONIDES You’ve well put me in mind. Be you a free man, O Strobilus, for your deserts; and now prepare in-doors the dinner that has been so disturbed. STROBILUS (coming forward.) Spectators, the avaricious Euclio has changed his nature; he has suddenly become liberal; so, too, do you practise liberality; and if the play has pleased you well, loudly clap your hands.
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