Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters (535c-568b)

I’ll go to meet him, and I’ll mend my pace. (Aloud.) Health to you, Mnesilochus!

Hail!

As you are arrived safe from abroad, a dinner must be given.

A dinner pleases me not, which excites my choler.

Has any vexation befallen you on your arrival?

Aye, and a very grievous one.

From what quarter?

From a person whom heretofore I had supposed to be my friend.

Many live after that manner and method, who, when you think them to be friends, are found false with their deceitfulness, strong in their talking, slothful in their doing, of faith infirm. Not one is there whom they don’t envy on their enjoying prosperity; through their own indolence do they themselves take right good care that no envy is directed against them.

By my troth, you surely understand their ways most thoroughly. But still this one misfortune do they find from their bad disposition; they are the friends of no one, while they themselves are all at enmity against themselves; and these, while they are deceiving themselves, in their foolishness imagine that others are deceived. Just so is he whom I supposed to be as much a friend to me as I am to my own self.

He, so far as in him lay, has taken all care to do whatever injury he could towards me, to turn all my own resources against me.

This same must me a bad man.

I judge that so he is.

Troth now, prithee, do tell me who it is.

He lives on good terms with yourself. But were he not; so, I would entreat you to do him whatever harm you could do.

Only tell me the person, who he is; if I don’t do him an injury, some way or other, do you say that I’m the greatest of cowards.

The person’s a bad one, but he’s your friend, i’ faith.

So much the rather, then, tell me who he is. In good sooth, I set no value on the esteem of a worthless person.

I appear, then, not to be able to avoid disclosing to you his name.

Pistoclerus, you have utterly undone me, your friend.

How’s that?

How’s that? Did I not send you a letter from Ephesus about my mistress, that you should find her out for me?

I own you did; and I have discovered her.

How now? Was there not a choice for you of other Courtesans in Athens, for you to form engagements with, instead of with her whom I had recommended to your care?

Could you yourself begin to love, and to contrive an injury against myself?

Are you in your senses?

I have found out the whole affair from your tutor; don’t deny it. You’ve ruined me.

What, still upbraiding me without reason with these rebukes of yours?

Why? You’re in love with Bacchis.

But look you, two persons of the name of Bacchis are living here in this house.