The Captivi and the MostellariaPlautus, Titus Maccius
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The Captivi and the Mostellaria
Plautus, Titus Maccius
Latin drama (Comedy); Plautus, Titus Maccius -- Translations into English
STAL. A small portion I shall escape, I know; but much will befall me,
and with my deserving it, because I both ran away, and stole your son
and sold him.
HEG. To what person? STAL. To Theodoromedes the Polyplusian, in Elis,
for six minae.
HEG. O ye immortal Gods! He surely is the father of this person,
Philocrates.
STAL. Why, I know him better than yourself, and have seen him more
times.
HEG. Supreme Jove, preserve both myself and my son for me. (_He goes to
the door, and calls aloud._) Philocrates, by your _good_ Genius, I do
entreat you, come out, I want you.
[Footnote 1: _Be blushes all over_)--Ver. 967. He means that he will
have him flogged until he is red all over.]
[Footnote 2: _Was very obedient_)--Ver. 971. An indelicate remark is
covertly intended in this passage.]
SCENE IV.--_Enter_ PHILOCRATES, _from the house._
PHIL. Hegio, here am I; if you want anything of me, command me.
HEG. He (_pointing to_ STALAGMUS) declares that he sold my son to your
father, in Elis, for six minae.
PHIL. (to STALAGMUS). How long since did that happen?
STAL. This is the twentieth year, commencing _from it_.
PHIL. He is speaking falsely. STAL. Either I or you _do_. Why, your
father gave you the little child, of four years old, to be your own
slave.
PHIL. What was his name? If you are speaking the truth, tell me that,
then.
STAL. Paegnium, he used to be called; afterwards, you gave him the name
of Tyndarus.
PHIL. Why don't I recollect you? STAL. Because it's the fashion for
persons to forget, and not to know him whose favour is esteemed as worth
nothing.
PHIL. Tell me, was he the person whom you sold to my father, who was
given me for my private service?
STAL. _It was_ his son (_pointing to_ HEGIO).
HEG. Is this person now living? STAL. I received the money. I cared
nothing about the rest.
HEG. (_to_ PHILOCRATES). What do you say?
PHIL. Why, this very Tyndarus is your son, according, indeed, to the
proofs that he mentions. For, a boy _himself_ together with me from
boyhood was he brought up, virtuously and modestly, even to manhood.
HEG. I am both unhappy and happy, if you are telling the truth. Unhappy
for this reason, because, if he is my son, I have badly treated him.
Alas! why have I done both more and less than was his due. That I have
ill treated him I am grieved; would that it only could be undone. But
see, he's coming here, in a guise not according to his deserts.
SCENE V.--_Enter_ TYNDARUS, _in chains, led in by the_ SERVANTS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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