Perde 3
[Textpart 1]
Open and throw back straightway this gate of hellThis gate of hell: The words of Lydus strongly resemble those of Solomon, in the Eighth Chapter of Proverbs, verse 27: Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death., I do entreat. For, really, I do deem it nothing else; inasmuch as no one comes here
LYDUS
but he whon all hopes have deserted, that he may yet be a decent person. Bacchis—no, not Bacchis is their name, but they are most determined Bacchanals. Avaunt from me, you sisters, who suck the blood of men. Richly and elegantly furnished is this house—for destruction. Soon as I beheld all this, at once I straight-way way betook myself to my heels.
370
And ought I to carry these things concealed in secrecy? Ought I, Pistoclerus, to conceal from your father your excesses, or your misdeeds, or your places of resort? by which you are aiming to drive your father and myself, and your own self and all your friends, to disgrace, and shame, and ruin altogether, and to destroy us all. Within yourself you entertain no awe of either me or your own self on account of the deeds which you are doing
375
by which you have made your own father and myself as well, your friends and your connexions, to be abettorsTo be abettors: Gerulifigulos — literally, carrier. or hawkers about of pottery. He probably alludes to the low esteem in which these higglers were held; and it is not impossible, that by his reference to the earthen-ware, he alludes to the frail companions of Pistoclerus (whom he has just found to have come from Samos, where earthenware was made), in carrying out whose schemes the young man was, in a degree, making both Lydus himself, and his father, Philoxenus, his abettors. in the disgrace of your excesses. Now, before you add this mischief to the rest, I am resolved at once to tell your parent. This instant from myself will I remove this blame, and shall disclose the matter to the old gentleman, that he may forthwith draw forth his son out from this loathsome pollution.
380
[Textpart 2]
In many ways have I thought it over with myself, and thus I think it is; a man your friend, who is a friend such as the name imports—except the Gods—nothing does excel him. By fact have I experienced it so to be. For when I departed hence to Ephesus (’tis now almost two years ago it happened), from Ephesus I sent letters hither to my friend Pistoclerus,
385
MNESILOCHUS
requesting that he would find out my mistress Bacchis for me. I hear that he has found her, as my servant Chrysalus has brought me word. How aptly, too, has he framed a device against my father about the gold, that I may have abundance in my amour. I see ’tis rightI see ’tis right: The whole of the passage, from the word aequom, in this line, to celabis, in 1. 403, is supposed by Ritschel not to have been the composition of Plautus, but of some other ancient poet. The passage is in a most confused state, and the reading suggested by Rost has been here adopted, the lines being read in the following order: 393, 396, 394, 397, 395, 398. that I should make a due return. ’Tis better for you to be styled extravagant than ungrateful;
390
but, i’ faith, in my way of thinking at least, there’s nothing more extravagant than the ungrateful man. The former the good will praise, the latter even the bad will censure. ’Twere better for an ill-doer to escape than for a benefactor to be deserted. For this reason, then, it behoves me to take the greater care; I needs must be on the watch. Now, Mnesilochus, the sample is on view, now the contest is being decided,
395
whether you are or are not such as you ought to be; good or bad, of whichever kind; just or unjust, penurious or liberal, fretful or complying. Take you care, if you please, lest you let your servant exce. you in doing well. Whatever you shall prove, I warn you, you shall not be concealed. But see, I perceive my friend’s father and his tutor coming this way. I’ll listen what matter ’tis they are upon.
400
[Textpart 3]
I’ll now make trial, whether your heart is sharpened by wisdom in your breast. Follow me.
405
PHILOXENUS
Whither shall I follow? Whither are you now leading me?
LYDUS
To her who has undone, utterly destroyed your single, only son.
PHILOXENUS
How now, Lydus; those are the wiser who moderate their passion. ’Tis less to be’Tis less to be: After reading this, we shall be the less surprised at the conduct of Philoxenus in the last Scene. wondered at if this age does some of these things
than if it does not do so; I, as well, did the same in my youth.
410
LYDUS
Ah me! ah me! this over-indulgence has proved his ruin. For had he been without you, I should have had him trained up to moral rectitude; now, by reason of you and your trusting disposition, Pistoclerus has become abandoned.
MNESILOCHUS
Immortal Gods! he names my friend.
What means this, that Lydus is thus exciting his master, Pistoclerus?
415
PHILOXENUS
’Tis but a little time, Lydus, that a man has a desire to indulge his inclinations; the time will soon come, when he will hate himself even. Humour him; so that care is taken that he offends not beyond the line of honor, e’en suffer him.
LYDUS
I’ll suffer him not, nor, for my part, while I’m alive, will I allow him to be corrupted.
But you, who are pleading his cause for a son so profligate, was this same your own training, when you were a young man? I declare that for your first twenty years you had not even this much liberty, to move your foot out of the house even a finger’s length away from your tutor.
420
When it did happen so, this evil, too, was added to the evil; both pupil and preceptor were esteemed disgraced.
