Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters (150-190c)

Already have I lived far longer than I could have wished.

’Twere much better now to have once existed than to be living still.

That any pupil should thus threaten his tutor!

My years are now advanced beyond your tutorship.

I want no pupils for me with heated blood[*].

An up-grown one may harass me thus devoid of strength.

As I guess, I shall become a Hercules, and you a Linus[*].

I’ faith, I fear more that through your goings-on I shall become a Phœnix[*], and have to tell the news to your father that you are dead.

Enough of these stories.

This youth is lost to shame[*];

the man’s ruined. And does it then recur to you that you have a father?

Am I your servant, or you mine?

By my troth, you made an exchange not desirable for that age of yours,

when you gained these impudent ways.

Some bad master has been teaching you all this, not I. You are a scholar far more apt at these pursuits

than at those lessons which I taught you when I was losing my labour. Troth, ’twas a bad piece of deceit you were guilty of at your age, when you concealed these vicious tendencies from myself and from your father.

Lydus, you have thus far had liberty of speech; that is enough. So now do you follow this way, and hold your tongue[*].

All hail, land of my master! which I joyfully behold after the two years that I have been absent hence at Ephesus. I salute thee, neighbour Apollo[*], who dost have thy shrine close by our house, and to thee do I make my prayer, that thou wilt not let me meet our old gentleman, Nicobulus, before I have seen

Pistoclerus, the friend of Mnesilochus, him to whom Mnesilochus has sent the letter about his mistress, Bacchis.

’Tis strange that you are so earnestly begging me to return, who am able by no possible means to depart hence, if I were willing,

so bound down[*], and so enchained with love do you hold me.

O, ye immortal Gods, I espy Pistoclerus! O, Pistoclerus, hail!

Hail, Chrysalus, to you!

I will at present compress many speeches for you in a small space. You are glad that I am come; I give you credit for it.

You promise me lodging and an entertainment coming from my journey, as it is befitting, and I agree to come. I bring you the sincere greetings of your friend. Would you ask me where he is? He’s come.

Is he alive and well?

That I was wishful to enquire of yourself.

How can I know?

No one better.

Why, in what way?