Chapter XXIX: Act II

ENTER FROM _Hegio’s_ HOUSE _Overseers_ AND _Slaves_ WITH
_Philocrates_ AND _Tyndarus_ IN FETTERS: THE TWO HAVE
EXCHANGED CLOTHES

_Lor._
_Over._

Si di immortales id voluerunt, vos hanc aerumnam exsequi,
decet id pati animo aequo: si id facietis, levior labos erit.
domi fuistis, credo, liberi:
nunc servitus si evenit, ei vos morigerari mos bonust
et erili imperio eamque ingeniis vostris lenem reddere.
indigna digna habenda sunt, erus quae facit.

(_to captives, patronizingly_) Seeing it’s the will of
Heaven you’re in this box, the thing for you to do is to
take it calmly: do that, and you won’t have such a hard time
of it. At home you were free men, I suppose: since you
happen to be slaves at present, it’s a good idea to accept
the situation and a master’s orders gracefully, and make
things easy to bear by taking ’em the proper way. Anything a
master does is right, no matter how wrong it is.

_Captivi_

Oh oh oh. 200

(_protestingly_) Oh-h-h-h!

_Lor._
_Over._

Eiulatione haud opus est, oculis haud[5] lacrimantibus:
in re mala animo si bono utare, adiuvat.

There’s no need of howling or crying. It helps to take bad
things well.

_Tynd._

At nos pudet, quia cum catenis sumus.

But to be in chains--we feel disgraced!

_Lor._
_Over._

At pigeat postea
nostrum erum, si vos eximat vinculis,
aut solutos sinat, quos argento emerit.

But it’s disgusted our master would feel later on, if he
took the chains off, or let you loose, when he’s paid money
for you.

_Tynd._

Quid a nobis metuit? scimus nos
nostrum officium quod est, si solutos sinat.

What has he to fear from us? We realise what our duty is, if
he should let us loose.

_Lor._
_Over._

At fugam fingitis: sentio quam rem agitis.

Ah yes, you’re planning to run for it! I see what’s afoot.

_Philocr._

Nos fugiamus? quo fugiamus?

Run--we? Where should we run to?

_Lor._
_Over._

In patriam.

Home.

_Philocr._

Apage, haud nos id deceat.
fugitivos imitari.

Get out! The idea of our acting like runaway slaves!

_Lor._
_Over._

Immo edepol, si erit occasio, haud dehortor. 210

Lord! why not? I’m not saying you shouldn’t, if you get the
chance.

_Tynd._

Unum exorare vos sinite nos.

(_with dignity_) Be good enough to grant us one request.

_Lor._
_Over._

Quidnam id est?

Well, what is it?

_Tynd._

Ut sine hisce arbitris
atque vobis nobis detis locum loquendi.

Merely this--give us an opportunity to talk together without
being overheard by these good fellows (_pointing to slaves_)
and yourselves.

_Lor._
_Over._

Fiat. abscedite hinc: nos concedamus huc.
sed brevem orationem incipisse.

All right. (_to slaves_) Away with you! (_to other overseer_)
Let’s drop back here. (_to captives_) Make it short, though.

_Tynd._

Em istuc mihi certum erat. concede huc.

Oh yes, that was my intention. (_to Philocrates, drawing
him farther from slaves_) Come this way.

_Lor._
_Over._

Abite ab istis.

(_to slaves still hanging about_) Get out and leave ’em
alone. (_slaves obey_)

_Tynd._

Obnoxii ambo
vobis sumus propter hanc rem, quom quae volumus nos
copia est; ea[6] facitis nos compotes.

(_to overseers_) We are much obliged to you, both of us, for
the privilege of doing as we wish; we owe it to you.

_Philocr._

Secede huc nunciam, si videtur, procul.
ne arbitri dicta nostra arbitrari queant 220
neu permanet palam haec nostra fallacia.
nam doli non doli sunt, nisi astu colas,
sed malum maxumum, si id palam provenit.

(_to Tyndarus_) Step over here now, if you please, come
over, so that no one may catch what we say and leave us with
a scheme that has leaked out. (_they move still farther from
the overseers_) Shrewd management is what makes a trick a
trick, you know: once it gets out, it becomes an instrument
of torture.

nam si erus mihi es tu atque ego me tuom esse servom assimulo,
tamen viso opust, cauto est opus, ut hoc sobrie sineque arbitris
accurate agatur, docte et diligenter;
tanta incepta res est: haud somniculose hoc
agendum est.

No matter if you are passing as my master and I as your
slave, even so we’ve got to be wary, we’ve got to be
cautious, so that our plan may be worked out in a clear-
headed way, quietly and carefully, with discretion and
diligence. It’s a big job we’ve got in hand: we can’t go
to sleep over it.

_Tynd._

Ero ut me voles esse.

I will be all you wish me to be, sir.

_Philocr._

Spero.

I hope so.

_Tynd._

Nam tu nunc vides pro tuo caro capite
carum offerre me meum caput vilitati. 230

For that matter, sir, you already see that to save a man I
love, I am holding my own life cheap, much as I love it.

_Philocr._

Scio.

I realize it.

_Tynd._

At scire memento, quando id quod voles habebis;
nam fere maxima pars morem hunc homines habent; quod sibi volunt,
dum id impetrant, boni sunt;
sed id ubi iam penes sese habent,
ex bonis pessimi et fraudulentissimi
fiunt: nunc ut mihi te volo esse autumo.[7] (236)

But remember to realize it when you get what you want. For,
generally speaking, men have a habit of being fine fellows
so long as they are seeking some favour; but when they have
obtained it there’s a change, and your fine fellows turn
into villainous cheats of the worst description. In all
this, sir, I’m telling you how I wish you to act toward me.

_Philocr._

Pol ego si te audeam, meum patrem nominem: (238)
nam secundum patrem tu es pater proximus.

By heaven, I might call you my father, if I chose: for next
to my real father you are the best one I have.

_Tynd._

Audio.

I know, I know.

_Philocr._

Et propterea saepius te uti memineris moneo: 240
non ego erus tibi, sed servos sum; nunc obsecro te hoc unum--
quoniam nobis di immortales animum ostenderunt suom,
ut qui erum me tibi fuisse atque esse conservom velint,
quom antehac pro iure imperitabam meo, nunc te oro per precem--

And that’s just why I keep reminding you the oftener to
remember what the situation calls for: I’m not your master,
I’m a slave. Now I beg this one thing of you--since we have
unmistakable proof that it’s Heaven’s will I should
no longer be your master but your fellow slave, I, who used
to have the right to command you, now implore and entreat
you--

per fortunam incertam et per mei te erga bonitatem patris,
perque conservitium commune, quod hostica evenit manu,
ne me secus honore honestes quam quom servibas mihi,
atque ut qui fueris et qui nunc sis meminisse ut memineris.

by the common peril in which we stand and by my father’s
kindness to you and by the captivity which the chances of
war have brought upon us both, don’t feel less respect for
my wishes than you did when you were my slave, and remember,
remember carefully, both who you were and who you are now.

_Tynd._

Scio quidem me te esse nunc et te esse me.

Yes, yes, I know that I am you for the time being and that
you are I.

_Philocr._

Em istuc si potes
memoriter meminisse, inest spes nobis in hac astutia. 250

There! manage to remember to keep that in mind, and this
scheme of ours looks likely.

II. 2.

Scene 2.

ENTER _Hegio_ FROM HOUSE.

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

Captus est?

Captured?

_Hegio_

Ita.

Yes.

_Philocr._

Non igitur nos soli ignavi fuimus.

Then other folks besides us have been cowards.

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio._

Quo de genere natust illic Philocrates?

Who are Philocrates’ people there in Elis?

_Philocr._

Polyplusio:
quod genus illi est unum pollens atque honoratissumum.

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

_Hegio_

Quid ipsus hic? quo honore est illic?

And the young man himself? How does he stand?

_Philocr._

Summo, atque ab summis viris.[9] 279

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

_Hegio_

Quid divitiae, suntne opimae?

How about his property? Pretty fat one, eh?

_Philocr._

Unde excoquat sebum senex. (281)

Fat? Old Goldfields could get dripping out of it.

_Hegio_

Quid pater, vivitne?

What about his father? Is he living?

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

Quid erat ei nomen?

What was his name?

_Philocr._

Thensaurochrysonicochrysides.

Ducatsdoubloonsandpiecesofeightson.

_Hegio_

Videlicet propter divitias inditum id nomen quasi est.

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

_Philocr._

Immo edepol propter avaritiam ipsius atque audaciam.[10]

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

_Hegio_

Quid tu ais? tenaxne pater est eius?

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

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

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

_Hegio_

Loquere audacter.

No, no, speak out.

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

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

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

_Tynd_

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

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

_Hegio_

Privatam medici Menarchi.

To a private person, a doctor named Menarchus.

_Tynd_

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

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

_Hegio_

Fac is homo ut redimatur.

Have him ransomed.

_Tynd_

Faciam. sed te id oro, Hegio--

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

Mittam equidem istunc aestumatum tua fide, si vis.

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

Optuma immo.

Not the slightest--fair as can be.

_Hegio_

Solvite istum nunciam,
atque utrumque.

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

Voca. 360

Do.

II. 3.

Scene 3.

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Philocr._

Istuc ne praecipias, facile memoria memini tamen.

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Philocr._

Quae memini, mora mera est monerier.

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

_Tynd._

Ut eum redimat et remittat nostrum huc amborum vicem.

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

_Philocr._

Meminero.

I’ll remember.

_Hegio_

At quamprimum pote: istuc in rem utriquest maxime.

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

_Philocr._

Non tuom tu magis videre quam ille suom gnatum cupit.

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

_Hegio_

Meus mihi, suos cuique est carus.

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

_Philocr._

Numquid aliud vis patri 400
nuntiari?

No further message for him, eh?

_Tynd._

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

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

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

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

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

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

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

_Hegio_

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Hegio_

Probus es homo.

(_heartily_) Worthy fellow!

_Philocr._

Nec me secus umquam ei facturum quicquam quam memet mihi.

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

_Tynd._

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

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

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

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

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

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

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

Satis.

Yes.

_Philocr._

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

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

_Tynd._

Ut quam primum possis redeas.

Return as soon as you can.

_Philocr._

Res monet.

Naturally, sir.

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

Quem syngraphum? 450

What passport?

_Hegio_

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

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

_Tynd._

Ben ambulato.

(_to Philocrates_) A good journey to you.

_Philocr._

Bene vale.

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

_Hegio_

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

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

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

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

ACTVS III