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Original / primary: Perseus Eng2
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HEGIO
339
You seem to me to be hungry.
866b
866b
ERGASILUS
866b
For myself am I hungry, and not for you.
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HEGIO
340
I readily allow of it at your own good will.
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867b
ERGASILUS
867b
I believe you; from a boyFrom a boy: An indelicate allusion is covertly intended in this line. you were in the habit—
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HEGIO
341
May Jupiter and the Gods confound you.
868b
868b
ERGASILUS
868b
I’ troth, ‘tis fair that for my news you should return me thanks; such great happiness do I now bring you from the harbour.
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HEGIO
342
Now you are flattering me.
870b
Begone, you simpleton; you have arrived behind time, too late.
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ERGASILUS
343
If I had come sooner, then for that reason you might rather have said that. Now, receive this joyous news of me which I bring you; for at the harbour I just now saw your son Philopolemus in the common fly-boat, alive, safe and sound, and likewise there that other young man together with him,
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and Stalagmus your slave, who fled from your house, who stole from you your little son, the child of four years old.
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HEGIO
345
Away with you to utter perdition! You are trifling with me.
877b
877b
ERGASILUS
877b
So may holy GluttonySo may holy Gluttony: The Parasite very appropriately deifies Gluttony: as the Goddess of Bellyful would, of course, merit his constant worship. love me, Hegio, and so may she ever dignify me with her name, I did see—
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HEGIO
879b
My son?
879c
879c
ERGASILUS
879c
Your son, and my good Genius.
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HEGIO
346
That Elean captive, too?
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ERGASILUS
880b
Yes, by ApolloYes, by Apollo: In the exuberance of his joy at his prospects of good eating, the Parasite gives this, and his next five replies, in the Greek language; just as the diner-out, and the man of bon-mots and repartee, might in our day couch his replies in French, with the shrug of the shoulder and the becoming grimace. He first swears by Apollo, and then by Cora, which may mean either a city of Campania so called, or the Goddess Proserpine, who was called by the Greeks, Κορὴ, the maiden. He then swears by four places in Campania—Praeneste, Signia, Phrysinone, and Alatrium. As the scene is in Greece, Hegio asks him why he swears by these foreign places; to which he gives answer merely because they are as disagreable as the unsavoury dinner of vegetables which he had some time since promised him. This is, probably, merely an excuse for obtruding a slighting remark upon these places, which would meet with a ready response from a Roman audience, as the Campanians had sided with Hannibal against Rome in the second Punic war. They were probably miserable places besides, on which the more refined Romans looked with supreme contempt.
880c
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HEGIO
880c
The slave, too? My slave Stalagmus, he that stole my son—?
881b
881b
ERGASILUS
881b
Yes, by Cora.
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HEGIO
347
So long a time ago?
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ERGASILUS
882b
Yes, by Praeneste!
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HEGIO
882c
Is he arrived?
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ERGASILUS
882d
Yes, by Signia!
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HEGIO
348
For sure?
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883b
ERGASILUS
883b
Yes, by Phrysinone!
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883c
HEGIO
883c
Have a care, if you please.
883d
883d
ERGASILUS
883d
Yes, by Alatrium!
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HEGIO
349
Why are you swearing by foreign cities?
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ERGASILUS
884b
Why, because they are just as disagreable as you were declaring your fare to be.
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HEGIO
885b
Woe be to you!
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ERGASILUS
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Because that you don’t believe me at all in what I say in sober earnestness. But of what country was Stalagmus, at the time when ne departed hence?
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HEGIO
351
A Sicilian.
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ERGASILUS
888b
But now he is not a Sicilian—he is a Boian; he has got a Boian woman.Got a Boian woman: There is an indelicate meaning in the expression Boiam terere. The whole line is intended as a play upon words. Boia means either a collar, which was placed round a prisoner’s neck, or a female of the nation of the Boii in Gaul. Boiam terere may mean either to have the prisoner’s collar on, or, paraphrastically, to be coupled with a Boian woman. Ergasilus having seen Stalagmus in the packet-boat with this collar on, declares that Stalagmus is a Sicilian no longer, for he has turned Boian having a Boian helpmate. A wife, I suppose, has been given to him for the sake of obtaining children.
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HEGIO
352
Tell me, have you said these words to me in good earnest?
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ERGASILUS
890b
In good earnest.
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HEGIO
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Immortal Gods, I seem to be born again, if you are telling the truth.
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ERGASILUS
354
Do you say so? Will you still entertain doubts, when I have solemnly sworn to you? In fine, Hegio, if you have little confidence in my oath, go yourself to the harbour and see.
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HEGIO
894b
I’m determined to do so. Do you arrange in-doors what’s requisite. Use, ask for, take from my larder what you like; I appoint you cellarman.
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ERGASILUS
355
Now, by my troth, if I have not prophesied truly to you, do you comb me out with a cudgel.
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HEGIO
356
I’ll find you in victuals to the end, if you are telling me the truth.
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ERGASILUS
357
Whence shall it be?
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HEGIO
898b
From myself and from my son.
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ERGASILUS
898c
Do you promise that?
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HEGIO
898d
I do promise it.
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ERGASILUS
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But I, in return, promiseI, in return, promise: Ergasilus says, Do you really promise me this fine entertainment? To which, Hegio answers, Spondeo, I do promise. On this, Ergasilus replies, that your son really has returned, I answer you, respondeo, or, as he intends it to be meant, I promise you once again, or in return for your promise. you that your son has arrived.
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HEGIO
359
Manage as well as ever you can.
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ERGASILUS
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A happy walk there to you, and a happy walk back.
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ERGASILUS
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He has gone away from here, and has entrusted to me the most important concern of catering. Immortal Gods how I shall now be slicing necks off of sides; how vast a downfall will befall the gammonBefall the gammon: An alliteration is employed in these two lines, which cannot be well kept up in a literal translation. As, however, in the translation an attempt is made to give the spirit of the passage, the literal meaning may be here stated. Pernis pestis, a plague to the gammons; labes larido, a fail for the bacon; sumini absumedo, a consumption of udder; callo calamitas, destruction to the brawn; and laniis lassitudo, weariness to the butchers. Sows’ udder, with the milk in it, first dried, and then cooked in some peculiar manner, was considered a great delicacy by the Roman epicures.; how vast a belabouring the bacon! How great a using-up of udders, how vast a bewailing for the brawn!
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How great a bestirring for the butchers, how great a preparation for the porksellers! But if I were to enumerate the rest of the things which minister to the supply of the stomach, ‘twould be sheer delay. Now will I go off to my government, to give laws to the bacon, and, those gammons that are hanging uncondemned,Hanging uncondemned: He’ll commute the punishment of the gammons and hams, for they shall hang no longer. to give aid to them.
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A LAD
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May Jupiter and the Deities confound you, Ergasilus, and your stomach,
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and all Parasites, and every one who henceforth shall give a dinner to Parasites. Destruction and devastation and ruin have just now entered our house. I was afraid that he would be making an attack on me, as though he had been an hungry wolf. And very dreadfully, upon my faith, was I frightened at him; he made such a gnashing with his teeth. On his arrival, the whole larder, with the meat, he turned upside down.
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He seized a knife, and first cut off the kernels of the neckThe kernels of the neck: The glandia were the kernels or tonsils of the throat, situate just below the root of the tongue. These portions of the dead pig seem to have been much prized as delicate eating. Judging from the present passage, the whole side of the pig, including the half-head, was salted and dried in one piece. The first thing that the Parasite does, is to cut the kernels from off of three sides, which he has relieved from the punishment of hanging. from three sides. All the pots and cups he broke, except those that held a couple of gallonsA couple of gallons: Modiales. Literally, containing a modius, which contained sixteen sextarii, something more than a peck of drymeasure English.; of the cook he made enquiry whether the salting pans could be set on the fire to be made hot. All the cellars in the house he has broken into, and has laid the store-closetThe store-closet: Armarium was so called because it was originally a place for keeping arms. It afterwards came to signify a cupboard in a wall, in which clothes, books, money, and other articles of value, were placed. It was generally in the atrium, or principal room of the house. In this instance it evidently means the store-closet, distinguished from the arder and the cellars. open. (At the door.) Watch him, servants, if you please; I’ll go to meet the old gentleman.
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I’ll tell him to get ready some provisions for his own self, if, indeed, he wishes himself to make use of any. For in this place, as this man, indeed, is managing, either there’s nothing already, or very soon there will be nothing.
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HEGIO
366
To Jove and to the Deities I return with reason hearty thanks, inasmuch as they have restored you to your father, and inasmuch as they have delivered me from very many afflictions,
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which, while I was obliged to be here without you, I was enduring, and inasmuch as I see that that fellow (pointing to STALAGMUS) is in my power, and inasmuch as his word (pointing to PHILOCIATES) has been found true to me.
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PHILOPOLEMUS
368
Enough now have I grieved from my very soul, and enough with care and tears have I disquieted myself. Enough now have I heard of your woes, which at the harbour you told me of.
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Let us now to this business.
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930b
PHILOCRATES
930b
What now, since I’ve kept my word with you, and have caused him to be restored back again to freedom?
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931b
HEGIO
931b
Philocrates, you have acted so that I can never return you thanks enough, in the degree that you merit from myself and my son.
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933b
PHILOPOLEMUS
933b
Nay, but you can, father, and you will be able, and I shall be able; and the Divinities will give the means for you
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to return the kindness he merits to one who deserves so highly of us; as, my father, you are able to do to this person who so especially deserves it.
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HEGIO
371
What need is there of words? I have no tongue with which to deny whatever you may ask of me.
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PHILOCRATES
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I ask of you to restore to me that servant whom I left here as a surety for myself; who has always proved more faithful to me than to himself;
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in order that for his services I may be enabled to give him a reward.
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HEGIO
374
Because you have acted thus kindly, the favour shall be returned, the thing that you ask; both that and anything else that you shall ask of me, you shall obtain. And I would not have you blame me, because in my anger I have treated him harshly.
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PHILOCRATES
375
What have you done?
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HEGIO
944b
I confined him in fetters at the stone-quarries,
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when I found out that I had been imposed upon.
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945b
PHILOCRATES
945b
Ah wretched me! That for my safety misfortunes should have happened to that best of men.
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HEGIO
377
Now, on this account, you need not give me even one groat of silverOne groat of silver: Libella was the name of the smallest silver coin with the Romans, being the tenth part of a denarius. Hegio seems to make something of a favour of this, and to give his liberty to Tyndarus in consideration of his punishment; whereas he had originally agreed with Philocrates that, if Philopolemus was liberated, both he and Tyndarus should be set at liberty. for him. Receive him of me without cost that he may be free.
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PHILOCRATES
948b
On my word, Hegio, you act with kindness; but I entreat that you will order this man to be sent for.
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949b
HEGIO
949b
Certainly.
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(To the attendants, who immediately obey.) Where are you? Go this instant, and bring Tyndarus here. (To PHILOPOLEMUS and PHILOCRATES.) Do you go in-doors; in the meantime, I wish to enquire of this statue for whippingThis statue for whipping: The same expression occurs in the Pseudolus, l. 911., what was done with my younger son. Do you go bathe in the meantime.
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953b
PHILOPOLEMUS
953b
Philocrates, follow me this way in-doors.
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953c
PHILOCRATES
953c
I follow you. (They go into the house.)
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HEGIO
379
Come you, step this way, you worthy fellow, my fine slave.
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STALAGMUS
380
What is fitting for me to do, when you, such a man as you are, are speaking false? I was never a handsome, or a fine, or a good person, or an honest one, nor shall I ever be; assuredly, don’t you be forming any hopes that I shall be honest.
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HEGIO
381
You easily understand pretty well in what situation your fortunes are. If you shall prove truth-telling, you’ll make your lot from bad somewhat better.
382
Speak out, then, correctly and truthfully; but never yet truthfully or correctly have you acted.
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961b
STALAGMUS
961b
Do you think that I’m ashamed to own it, when you affirm it?
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HEGIO
383
But I’ll make you to be ashamed; for I’ll cause you to be blushes all overBe blushes all over: He means that he will have him flogged until he is red all over..
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STALAGMUS
384
Heyday—you’re threatening stripes, I suppose, to me, quite unaccustomed to them! Away with them, I beg. Tell me what you bring, that you may carry off hence what you are in want of.
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HEGIO
385
Very fluent indeed. But now I wish this prating to be cut short.
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HEGIO
386
As you desire, so be it done.
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HEGIO
966b
As a boy he was very obedientWas very obedient: An Indelicate remark is covertly intended in this passage.; now that suits him not. Let’s to this business; now give your attention, and inform me upon what I ask. If you tell the truth, you’ll make your fortunes somewhat better.
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STALAGMUS
387
That’s mere trifling. Don’t you think that I know what I’m deserving of?
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HEGIO
388
Still, it is in your power to escape a small portion of it, if not the whole.
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STALAGMUS
389
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.
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HEGIO
390
To what person?
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973b
STALAGMUS
973b
To Theodoromedes the Polyplusian, in Elis, for six minae.
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974b
HEGIO
974b
O ye immortal Gods! He surely is the father of this person, Philocrates.
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975b
STALAGMUS
975b
Why, I know him better than yourself, and have seen him more times.
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HEGIO
391
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.
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PHILOCRATES
392
Hegio, here am I; if you want anything of me, command me.
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HEGIO
978b
He (pointing to STALAGMUS) declares that he sold my son to your father, in Elis, for six minae.
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PHILOCRATES
393
How long since did that happen?
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980b
STALAGMUS
980b
This is the twentieth year, commencing from it.
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PHILOCRATES
394
He is speaking falsely.
981b
981b
STALAGMUS
981b
Either I or you do. Why, your father gave you the little child, of four years old, to be your own slave.
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PHILOCRATES
395
What was his name? If you are speaking the truth, tell me that, then.
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STALAGMUS
396
Paegnium, he used to be called; afterwards, you gave him the name of Tyndarus.