Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters (340-370)

Aye, and look here, he’ll never keep you waiting even thus much (shows his finger-nail) from receiving it on the very day you arrive there.

I thought that I had escaped a seafaring life, and that, at length, an old man of my years, I shouldn’t be sailing about. But now I find that I’m not allowed to have the choice whether I would or no;

’tis my fine host Archidemides has done me this. Where, then, is my son, Mnesilochus, at present?

He has gone to the market-place to pay his respects to the Deities and his friends.

Then I’ll go hence to meet him as soon as I can.

He’s right well loaded, and carries more than his proper burden.

Not so very badly has this web been commenced by me, that I may find means for the son of my master in his amour. I’ve managed it so, that he may take as much of the gold as he chooses, and give up to his father as much as he may like to give up. The old gentleman will be going hence to Ephesus to fetch his gold;

here our life will be spent in a delicious manner, since the old man will leave me and Mnesilochus here, and not be taking us along with him. O! what a kick-up I shall be making here. But what’s to be done, when the old gentleman shall have discovered this? When he shall have found out that he has made his journey thither to no purpose,

and that we have misspent his gold, what will become of me after that? I’ faith, I think upon his arrival he’ll be changing my name, and at once be making me Crucisalus[*] instead of Chrysalus. Troth, I’ll run away, if there shall be a greater necessity for it. If I’m caught, I’ll plague him for a punishment[*];

if his rods are in the fields, still my back’s at home. Now I’ll be off, and tell my master’s son this contrivance about the gold, and about his mistress Bacchis who has been found.

Open and throw back straightway this gate of hell[*], I do entreat. For, really, I do deem it nothing else; inasmuch as no one comes here

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.