CHRYSALUS, alone.CHRYSALUS

A tremendously great business am I undertaking, and I have my fears how in this one day I may accomplish it. But now I have occasion for the old blade to be fierce and savage at me. For it suits not this plan of mine that the old fellow should be calm when he has beheld me in his presence. I'll turn him about Turn him about: It is not improbable that this figure is borrowed from frying fish in the kitchen—"When he is done on one side, I'll turn him on the Other." this day, finely, if I live. I'll have him parched as well as ever pea was parched Pea was parched: "Frictum cicer," "parched vetches." Horace mentions these dainties. They were mostly purchased by the lower orders, and by slaves.. I'll walk before the door, that when he comes out, at once as he comes up, I may put the letters Put the letter: His object is to entrap old Nicobulus in such a way that he must of necessity see his son in the company of the damsels, on which he will be inclined the more readily to believe the story that he has formed an intrigue with the wife of the Captain. in his hand. Stands near the door of BACCHIS.

Enter NICOBULUS, at a distance.NICOBULUS

This is a matter of great vexation to me, that Chrysalus has thus escaped me this day.

CHRYSALUS

aside. I'm all right: the old fellow is in a passion. Now's my time for me to accost my man.

NICOBULUS

Who speaks hard by? Looking round. Why surely this is Chrysalus, I think.

CHRYSALUS

aside. I'll accost him. NICO. My honest servant, hail to you. What's doing now? How soon do I set sail for Ephesus, to bring back the gold home from Theotimus? What—silent? I swear by all the Gods, if I didn't love my son so much as to wish everything done for him that he desires that your sides should be wealed now right well with rods, and that in irons at the mill you should be lingering out your life. I've learnt of Mnesilochus all your wicked pranks.

CHRYSALUS

Has he accused me? 'Tis very good; I am a bad one, I am a cursed one—a wicked one. Only reflect upon the matter. I'll utter not one word.

NICOBULUS

What? Hangdog, do you even threaten me Even threaten me: Nicobulus takes it for a threat, when he tells him "specta rem modo" "only reflect upon the matter."?

CHRYSALUS

You'll find out before long what sort of man he is. He ordered me just now to carry this letter to you. He requested that that which is there written may be done.

NICOBULUS

Give it me,

CHRYSALUS

Take notice of the seal Gives him the tablets.

NICOBULUS

I know it. Where is he himself?

CHRYSALUS

I don't know. I ought to know nothing now; I've forgotten everything. I know that I'm a slave; I know not even that which I do know. Aside. Now from the springe this thrush is catching at the worm; he'll be finely noosed this day, so well I've set the snare.

NICOBULUS

Stay here but a moment; I'll return to you directly, Chrysalus. Goes into his house.

CHRYSALUS

How he does dissemble with me; how ignorant I am of the business he's about. He has gone to fetch slaves from in-doors to bind me. The ship speeds prosperously on; finely, too, is this craft boarding it Craft boarding it: "Pulcre haec confertur ratis." This is a figure taken from naval affairs. Ships were said "conferri" when they closed together on commencing the engagement.. But I'll hold my tongue, for I hear the door opening.

Re-enter NICOBULUS, with SLAVES carrying fetters.NICOBULUS

Artamo, do you fasten the hands of that fellow this very instant. The SLAVES bind him.

CHRYSALUS

What have I done?

NICOBULUS

Pitch your fist into him if he mutters a word. To CHRYSALUS, pointing at the tablets. What does this letter say?

CHRYSALUS

Why do you ask me? As I received it from him, so I've brought it sealed to you.

NICOBULUS

Come now, you rascal, have you not shamefully abused my son in your talk, because he gave me up that gold, and said that you would still take that gold away from me by some knavish trick?

CHRYSALUS

Have I said so?

NICOBULUS

You have.

CHRYSALUS

What person is there, who says that I've said so?

NICOBULUS

Hold your tongue. No person says so; this letter which you have brought me accuses you. See, 'tis this that requests you to be chained. Points to the open tablets.

CHRYSALUS

Ah! your son has been making a Bellerophon A Bellerophon: He alludes to the hero Bellerophon, who, being accused by Sthenoboea of having made an attempt on her chastity, was sent by Proetus, King of Argos, with a letter to Iobates, in which he was desired to put the bearer to death. of me; I myself brought this letter, for the purpose that I might be bound. Be it so.

NICOBULUS

This I am doing for this reason, because you persuade my son to live like a Greek with you, you thrice-dotted villain.

CHRYSALUS

aside. O fool, fool, you know not that you are at this moment on sale; and that you are standing on the very stoneOn the very stone: He alludes to the stone upon which the "praeco," or "auctioneer," stood with the slaves, when he sold them by auction. Only the cheapest and the least desirable of them were sold in this way. as the auctioneer puts you up.

NICOBULUS

overhearing him. Answer me; who is selling me?

CHRYSALUS

He whom the Gods favour Whom the Gods favour: Menander has a sentence to the effect—"He whom the Gods love, dies young." Chrysalus tells Nicobulus that he is clearly no favorite of the Gods, or he would have died long since. dies in youth, while he is in his health, has his senses and judgment sound. This person (pointing to NICOBULUS), if any God had favoured him, ought to have been dead more than ten years—aye, more than twenty years ago. 'Tis for long, he has walked, a nuisance, on the earth; so devoid is he of either judgment or sense. He is of as much value as a rotten mushroom is.

NICOBULUS

Do you think that I am a nuisance to the earth? Away with him in-doors, and tie him tightly to the post. You shall never take away any gold from here.

CHRYSALUS

No, but you'll soon be giving it me.

NICOBULUS

I, give it you?

CHRYSALUS

You'll be entreating me, too, of your own accord to receive it, when you shall come to know this accuser of mine, in how great danger and in what a dreadful situation he is. Then will you be offering his liberty to Chrysalus; but I certainly shan't accept it.

NICOBULUS

Tell me, source of mischief, tell me, in what danger is my son Mnesilochus.

CHRYSALUS

Follow me this way; I'll soon let you know.

NICOBULUS

Where on earth shall I follow you?

CHRYSALUS

Only three steps.

NICOBULUS

Aye, ten even.

CHRYSALUS

Come, then, Artamo, do you open you this door out a very little way; softly, don't make it creak. The door of the house of BACCHIS is opened. That's enough. Now, step you hither. To NICOBULUS, who looks in. Do you see the entertainment?

NICOBULUS

still looking in. I see Pistoclerus and Bacchis right opposite.

CHRYSALUS

Who are upon that other couch?

NICOBULUS

looking on the other side. Wretch that I am, I'm undone. CHRYS. Do you recognize that person?

NICOBULUS

I do recognize him.

CHRYSALUS

Now tell me, if you please, does that woman seem of handsome appearance?

NICOBULUS

Very much so.

CHRYSALUS

Well, do you take her to be a courtesan?

NICOBULUS

Why not?

CHRYSALUS

You are mistaken.

NICOBULUS

Who is she then, prithee?

CHRYSALUS

You'll find out from me. indeed, you'll get no more information to-day.

Enter CLEOMACHUS, at a distance.CLEOMACHUS

aloud. Is this Mnesilochus, the son of Nicobulus, by force to detain my own mistress? What proceeding is this?

NICOBULUS

Who's this?

CHRYSALUS

aside. This Captain's opportunely come for me.

CLEOMACHUS

He doesn't consider that I am a soldier, but a woman, who cannot defend myself and mine. But may neither Bellona nor Mars ever put confidence in me, if I don't put him out of life, if I meet him, or if I don't make him lose possession of his existence.

NICOBULUS

Chrysalus, who's this that's threatening my son?

CHRYSALUS

This is the husband of that woman with whom he is now reclining.

NICOBULUS

What! The husband?

CHRYSALUS

The husband, I say.

NICOBULUS

Prithee, is she married then?

CHRYSALUS

You'll know before very long.

NICOBULUS

Wretch that I am; I'm utterly undone.

CHRYSALUS

How now? Does Chrysalus seem such a villain to you? Come, chain me now Chain me now: He says this satirically pointing to his fetters, and do listen to your son. Didn't I tell you that you would discover what sort of person he is?

NICOBULUS

What shall I do now?

CHRYSALUS

Order me at once to be released, if you please; for, if I'm not released, he'll just now be overpowering the young man in our presence.

CLEOMACHUS

There's no gain that I should this day take so much delight in making, as I should in falling upon him as he reclines with her, so that I might kill them both.

CHRYSALUS

to NICOBULUS. Don't you hear what he says Why don't you order me to be released?

NICOBULUS

to the SLAVES. Unbind him. I'm ruined; wretch that I am! I'm in a dreadful fright.

CLEOMACHUS

Then I'd make her, who publicly puts up her person for sale, not to say that she has got a person for her to laugh at.

CHRYSALUS

to NICOBULUS. You may make terms with him for a little money.

NICOBULUS

Make terms, then, I beg, for what you like; so that he mayn't, in our presence, fall upon the young man, or kill him outright.

CLEOMACHUS

Unless the two hundred Philippeans are repaid to me at once, I'll this instant swallow the lives of them both outright.

NICOBULUS

to CHRYSALUS. Make terms with him, if you can; prithee, do make haste; agree for any sum you like.

CHRYSALUS

I'll go, and do it carefully. Goes up to CLEOMACHUS. Why are you exclaiming so?

CLEOMACHUS

Where's your master?

CHRYSALUS

Nowhere; I don't know. Do you wish the two hundred pieces to be promised you at once, so as to make no riot or disturbance here?

CLEOMACHUS

There's nothing that I would desire more.

CHRYSALUS

And that I may heap many a curse upon you?

CLEOMACHUS

Just as you please.

CHRYSALUS

aside. How the villain does cringe. To CLEOMACHUS. This is the father of Mnesilochus: follow rme; he shall promise it you. Do you ask for the gold. As to the rest, a word's enough A word's enough: He says this, as he is afraid that if the conversation proceeds to any length, the old man will discover that she is not the Captain's wife.. They go up to NICOBULUS.

NICOBULUS

What has been done?

CHRYSALUS

I've struck the bargain for two hundred Philippeans.

NICOBULUS

Well done! Goddess Salvation Salvation: It was a proverbial expression with the Romans to day that the Goddess "Salus," "health," or "salvation," "had saved," or "could not save" a person, as the case might be., thou hast saved me. Well, how soon am I to say I'll pay it?

CHRYSALUS

to CLEOMACHUS. Do you ask it of him; and to NICOBULUS do you promise it him.

NICOBULUS

I promise it. To CLEOMACHUS. Come, ask me.

CLEOMACHUS

Will you give me two hundred golden Philippean pieces, lawful money?

CHRYSALUS

"They shall be given," say: do answer him.

NICOBULUS

I'll give them.

CHRYSALUS

Well, now, filthy fellow is there anything owing to you? Why are you plaguing him? Why are you frightening him about death? Both I and he wish you every ill luck. If you have a sword, still we have a spit at home; with which, in fact, if you provoke me, I'll make you more full of holes than a rat's skin A rat's skin: "Soricina naenia," "than a rat's ditty," literally. This was, no doubt, a proverbial saying, and speaking elliptically, was, perhaps, intended to apply to the squeaking of a rat when his body was pierced with holes while held fast in the trap. There is, however, great obscurity in the passage, and Commentators are very much divided as to its meaning. when caught in a trap. I' faith, for my part, some time since I found out what suspicion it was that tormented you; namely, that he was with that wife of yours.

CLEOMACHUS

Yes; and so he is.

CHRYSALUS

So may Jupiter, Juno, Ceres, Minerva, Hope, Latona, Ops, Virtue, Venus, Castor, Pollux, Mars, Mercury, Hercules, Summanus Summanus: It is not accurately known who the Deity Summanus was. Ovid, in his Fasti, B. 6, l. 731, speaks in uncertainty of him. He is, however, generally thought to have been the same with Pluto, who was so called as being "Summus Manum," "the Chief of the Spirits." Varro says that his worship was introduced by Tatius the Sabine, the Sun, Saturn, and all the Deities, prosper me, he neither reclines with her, nor walks, nor kisses, nor does that which is wont to be reported.

NICOBULUS

aside. How he does swear! He's saving me, however, by his perjury.

CLEOMACHUS

Where then, at this moment, is Mnesilochus?

CHRYSALUS

His father has sent him into the country. And she has gone hence to the citadel, to see the temple of Minerva. The door's open now; go in, and see if he's there.

CLEOMACHUS

I'll be off to the Forum next.

CHRYSALUS

Or rather, by my troth, to very perdition.

CLEOMACHUS

Am I to demand this gold to-day?

CHRYSALUS

Demand it, and go hang yourself; don't you suppose, you worthless fellow, that we shall be entreating of you. Exit CLEOMACHUS. He's taken himself off. Permit me, master, I entreat you by the immortal Gods, to go in-doors here to your son. Pointing to the house of BACCHIS.

NICOBULUS

But why go in there?

CHRYSALUS

That with many words I may rebuke him, since after this fashion he has been going on this way.

NICOBULUS

Well, I beg you will do so, Chrysalus; and I entreat you not to spare him in your talking to him.

CHRYSALUS

And do you instruct even myself? Isn't it sufficient, if this day he shall hear from me more harsh things than ever Clinias heard Clinias heard: He is alluding to a scene in some play, then well known, which is now lost. In it, Demetrius was probably severe upon Clinias. The Delphin editor thinks that this must have been a proverb. from Demetrius? Goes into the house of BACCHIS.

NICOBULUS

This servant of mine is very like a running eye; if you have it not, you don't wish for it or desire it; if you have it, you can't keep off from rubbing it. But if he hadn't, by lucky chance, been here to-day, the Captain would have surprised Mnesilochus with his wife, and have killed him as an adulterer detected in the fact. Now, in a manner have I ransomed my son with the two hundred Philippeans which I have promised to give to the Captain; which, however, I shall not rashly pay him down, before I have met with my son. By my troth, I'll never rashly give credence in anything to Chrysalus. But I have a mind even once again to read over this letter; 'tis right that when a letter is sealed we should give credence to it. Goes into his house.