Bacchides, or The Twin Sisters (995b-1036)

When you choose, read on; I devote to you the attention of my ears.

Bless me! the letters are small.

To one, indeed, who cannot see well with his eyes but they are quite large enough for one who can see well.

Give your attention then.

(He reads.)Father, I beseech you, do give two hundred Philippeans to Chrysalus, if you wish me to be safe or alive for you—

By my troth, really a very great mistake,

I tell you.

What’s the matter?

He hasn’t first written the salutation to you.

I don’t see it anywhere.

Even from its very commencement the letter is an impertinent one.

If you are wise, you’ll not give it; but at the best, if you give it him, why, let him find out some other porter for himself, if he is wise; for I won’t carry it if you order me ever so much. I’ve been quite enough suspected as it is, when I was guiltless of a fault.

Listen on now, while I read through what’s written.

(Reading.)I am ashamed, father, to appear before you in your presence; such disgraceful conduct of mine have I heard that you are aware of, that I have formed an intercourse with the wife of a strange Captain.

By my troth, you are not joking there; for I have saved your life from the consequences of this foul deed with two hundred golden Philippeans.

There’s not a particle of these things but what I’ve told him.

I confess that I have acted foolishly. But I beseech you, father, do not forsake me, if, in my folly, I have transgressed.

Of fierce desires, and eyes uncontrolled, have I been; I have been urged on to do a deed of which I am now ashamed. It were proper, then, that you should have taken heed before you were ashamed.

All these very same words did I say to him only just now.

I beseech you, father, to consider that it is enough that Chrysalus

has reproached me with many cutting words, and by his advice has made me a better man, so that ’tis right that you should return him sincere thanks.

Is that written there?

Look and see, then you’ll know.

He that has so offended, how humble to all he is, and of his own accord.

Now, father, if even yet I may be allowed to ask anything of you, do give me two hundred Philippean pieces, I do entreat you.

By my troth, now, not one even, if you are wise.

Let me read on. (Reading.) In set form[*] I have taken an oath that I would give this to the woman this day before nightfall,

ere she leaves me. Now, father, have a care that I be not forsworn, and take me hence away from her as soon as you can, on whose account I have incurred so much loss and guilt. Take care and let not the two hundred pieces be a cause of annoyance to you; I will repay you innumerable times as much, if I live.

Farewell, and do attend to these matters. Now, Chrysalus, what do you think?

I won’t give you one bit of advice this day, and I won’t run the risk, that if any mistake is made, you should say that you had done it by my counsel. But, as I conceive, if I were in your place,