Dramatis Personae SILENUS, the Divinity, who speaks the Prologue. NICOBULUS, an aged citizen of . MNESILOCHUS, his son. PHILOXENUS, another aged citizen of . PISTOCLERUS, his son. LYDUS, servant of Philoxenus, and tutor of Pistoclerus. CHRYSALUS, servant of Nicobulus. CLEOMACHUS, a Captain of . A PARASITE of Cleomachus. BOY, servant of Cleomachus. SERVANT of Pistoclerus (in the introductory fragment). ARTAMO, servant of Nicobulus. FIRST BACCHIS Twin-sisters, Courtesans. SECOND BACCHIS Scene— Athens : before the houses of the FIRST BACCHIS and of PHILOXENUS which are in the same street.) THE SUBJECT.
 MNESILOCHUS, when absent at Ephesus , writes and requests his friend, Pistoclerus, to search for his mistress, Bacchis, who has left Athens with a military Captain. Having discovered her on her return to Athens , Pistoclerus falls in love with her twin-sister, whose name is also Bacchis, and is severely reproved by his tutor, Lydus, for so doing. Mnesilochus returns to Athens , and discovers from Lydus that his friend Pistoclerus is in love with a female of the name of Bacchis. He thereupon imagines that he has supplanted him with his own mistress, and in his anger resolves to restore to his father some money of his which he had gone to Ephesus to recover, and a part of which he had contrived, through a scheme of the servant Chrysalus, to retain, in order that he might redeem his mistress from the Captain. Having afterwards discovered the truth, he greatly repents that he has done so, as the officer threatens to carry Bacchis off instantly, if the money is not paid. On this, Chrysalus contrives another stratagem against Nicobulus, his aged master, and makes him, through fear of the Captain’s threats, pay the required sum. Having gained not only this but a still further sum of money, the young men regale themselves at the house of Bacchis. Nicobulus afterwards discovers from the Captain the trick that has been played upon him, and he and Mnesilochus repair to the house of Bacchis to demand their sons. The damsels, hereupon, apply themselves to coaxing the old men, who are at last persuaded to forgive their sons and Chrysalus and to go into the house and join the entertainment. THE ACROSTIC ARGUMENT. [Supposed to have been written by Priscian the Grammarian.] MNESILOCHUS is inflamed with love for Bacchis ( Bacchidis ). But, first of all, he goes to Ephesus , to bring back some gold ( Aurum ). Bacchis sails for Crete ( Cretam ), and meets with ( Convenit ) the other Bacchis; thence she returns to Athens ; upon this ( Hinc ), Mnesilochus sends a letter to Pistoclerus, that he may seek for her ( Illam ). He returns; he makes a quarrel while ( Dum ) he supposes that his own mistress is beloved by Pistoclerus; when they have discovered the mistake as to the twin-sisters, Mnesilochus pays the gold to that ( Ei ) Captain; equally are the two in love. The old men ( Senes ), while they are looking after their sons, join the women, and carouse. THE PROLOGUE Prologue : There is little doubt that this Prologue is spurious, but as it is prefixed to many of the editions, and to Thornton’s and the French translations, it is here inserted. Lascaris, the Greek grammarian, says, in a letter to Bembo, that it was discovered by him in Sicily . Some writers have supposed it to have been written by the Poet Petrarch. . SILENUS (mounted on his Ass.) ’Tis a wonder if the spectators on the benches this day don’t hiss, and cough, and make a snorting noise at this ridiculous sight, furrow their brows, and, with cries with one consent With cries with one consent : Concrepario is a barbarous word, formed from crepo , to make a noise. , shout all aloud, and mutter imprecations. Hardly in their youth can beardless actors, or mimics with their beards plucked out, find room upon the stage. Why comes forth this aged and lethargic go-between, who is borne upon the ass’s back? Listen, I pray, and give me your attention, while I tell you the name of this quiet Comedy Quiet Comedy : Statariae . There were two kinds of Comedy represented on the ancient stage, one of which was called stataria , while the other was motoria . In the first, the actors stood still, or moved about quietly, and with little gesture; while in the other, dancing, gesture, and grimace were extensively employed. . ’Tis proper for you to make silence for a Divinity. It befits not those to use the resources of the voice, who come here not to exclaim, but to be spectators. Give me attentive ears; but not into my hands I mean; I wish my voice I wish my voice : There is a poor attempt at alliteration here, in the words volo volans vox vacuas . , as it flies, to strike these vacant ears. What do you fear? Are those blows more hurtful which open what is shut What is shut : This passage is obscure, but the meaning seems to be, Is it anything more disagreable to open your ears and listen, than to keep them shut and be stunned by my noise? for talk I will. , or which close what is open? You’re very kind; the inhabitants of heaven do love you deservedly. There is profound silence—even the children are still— and now, attend to a new-come messenger, on a new errand. Who I am—why I am come to you—I’ll tell you in a few words; at the same time, I’ll disclose to you the name of this Comedy. Now, behold, I shall tell you what you wish to know; do you then give me your attention. I am a God of Nature A God of Nature : The ancients considered Pan, Silenus, Sylvanus, the Fauns, the Dryades, the Hyades, and the Oreades, as Gods of Nature, presiding over it in its various aspects. , the foster-father of most mighty Bromius Bromius : Bromius was one of the names of Bacchus, probably derived from Βρέμω, to make a noise. the Bacchanalian orgies being attended with riot and drunkenness. , him who, with a female army With a female army : He alludes to the Indian expedition of Bacchus, who was fabled to have marched thither at the head of an arny of Bacchantes or Bacchae , females who were his votaries. , gained a kingdom. Whatever about him renowned nations relate, some part, at least, has been accomplished by my advice. That which pleases me is never displeasing to him. ’Tis right if one father If one father : The ancients gave the Gods the title of pater , father, by way of honorable distinction. Bacchus would especially be so honored, as wine was looked upon as one of the chief supports of life. another father does obey. Ass-borne do the Ionian multitudes Ionian multitudes : The Lydians were adjacent to the people of lonia. Etruria, which supplied the earliest actors to Rome , was supposed to have been colonised by the Lydians. style me, because I am borne on an ass Borne on an ass : Asibidam . This is a spurious word, probably invented by the author. for my conveyance. Who I am, you understand: if you understand, allow me now to tell the name of this quiet play; at the same time, you may learn why I have come to you. Philemon Philemon : Philemon was a Greek Comic poet, of considerable merit, though inferior to Menander, of whom he was a contemporary. This play is more generally supposed to have been borrowed from a Comedy of Menander, which was called Δὶς Ἐξαπατῶν, the Twice Deceived. formerly produced a play in Greek; this, those who speak the Greek language call Evantides Evantides : Evantides corresponds with the Latin word Bacchantes, followers, or namesakes of Bacchus , as Evan was one of the names by which that God was addressed during the celebration of the orgies. . Plautus, who speaks the Latin, calls it Bacchides. ’Tis not to be wondered, then, if hither I have come. Bacchus sends to you the Bacchides—the Bacchanalian Bacchanals. I am bringing them unto you. What! Have I told a lie? It don’t become a God to tell a lie; but the truth I tell—I bring not them; but the salacious ass, wearied with its journey, is bringing to you three, if I remember right. One you behold; see now, what on my lips I bring—to wit, two Samian sisters Samian sisters : Samos was an island off the coast of lonia, neat Ephesus . It was the birthplace of the philosopher Pythagoras. , Bacchanalians, merry Courtesans, born of the same parents, at one time, at a twin-birth; not less alike than milk to milk, if you compare it, or water to water; were you to see them you would think them halved Think them halved : Dimidiatas — one split into two. ; so much would you confuse your sight, that you would not be able to distinguish which was which. What remains you long to hear. Now give attention: the story of this Play I will disclose. What country Samos is, is known to all; for seas, lands, mountains, and islands, have your legions Have your legions : He is supposed to be flattering the Romans in their love for foreign conquest. made easy of access. There, Sostrata bore to her husband, Pyrgoteles Pyrocles Pyrgoteles Pyrocles : It was quite unusual for the Greeks to have two names. They have here been introduced either for the sake of the metre, or, as the Delphin editor suggests, as meaning her husband Pyrocles, who was a regular Pyrgoteles, that is, a most skilful engraver; a celebrated artist of that name having flourished in the time of Alexander the Great. , twin daughters at one birth; and it pleased them, being initiated at the triennial festival Triennial festival : Among the festivals of Bacchus , there was one which occurred every three years, and was called the Trieterica . On that occasion the Bacchantes carried the figure of the God on a chariot, drawn by two tigers or panthers, and crowned with vine leaves; holding thyrsi in their hands, they ran in a frantic manner around the chariot, filling the air with the sound of tambourines and brazen instruments, shouting Evoë Bacche , and calling the God by his several names of Bromius, Lyaeus, Evan, Lenaeus, and Sabazius. To this ceremonial, which was derived from the Egyptians, the Greeks added other rites, replete with licentiousness and repulsive to decency. The author says that the parents of the Bacchides were initiated at this festival, and that in compliment to the God they named each of the newly-born twins Bacchis. of Bacchus, to call after his name the damsels of which they were the parents. The parents, as often happens, gave a turn to Gave a turn to : Fata occupant . Consider the fact of their being born at that period as ominous of their future destiny, and devote them to the service of the Deity. their future fortunes. A Captain carried one of them with him to Crete . The other of the twins sailed for Athens Sailed for Athens : Literally, Cecropia. Cecrops was the founder of Athens . . As soon as Mnesilochus, the son of Nicobulus, beheld her, he began to love her, and frequently paid her visits. Meantime, his father sent the youth to Ephesus , to bring back thence some gold, which he himself, some time before, had deposited with Archidemides, an ancient friend of his, an aged Phœnician. When, for two years he had stayed at Ephesus , he received the sad news that Bacchis was gone from Athens , for some sailors of his acquaintance sent him word that she had set sail. On this, he writes a letter to Pistoclerus, his only friend, the son of Philoxenus, entreating him to seek the fugitive with care and earnestness. While Pistoclerus is devoting his services to his friend, the twin-sisters, who have just returned to Athens , arouse a passion in the seeker. The one wins Pistoclerus for herself; the other longs for the coming of Mnesilochus. What wonder if two bewitching, merry, pretty Bacchantes, should attract to themselves two unfledged Bacchanalians, and if they should ensnare their decrepit, most aged fathers, fit subjects for the undertaker Subjects for the undertaker : Libitinarios . This word properly corresponds to our word undertakers. They were so called because their biers and other requisites were kept in the temple of the Goddess Libitina. The word here has the forced meaning of persons with one not in the grave. , bowed down by the weight of their years? But, see, here’s Pistoclerus, who is returning to the Bacchides so lately found, and in his simplicity In his simplicity : Insolens . Mnesilochus is already in love with the Second Bacchis before the play commences; but Pistoclerus is entrapped during the First Act. is blowing in himself the sparks of passion so lately kindled. Now I’m off—do you attend. (Exit.) (Enter PISTOCLERUS. The portion from the commencement of this scene down to the beginning of the thirty-fifth line, is translated from the fragments of the beginning of the play which have been lately discovered by the research of Ritschel. It was generally supposed by Commentators that the beginning of the play had been lost, and that the author of the Prologue, or some other writer, had supplied the hiatus by adding a first scene of his own composition; in which he represents, somewhat inconsistently, Pistoclerus as having been in love with the First Bacchis before the play began, whereas it is obviously the intention of Plautus to represent him as drawn into the amour by her allurements during the First Act. It is worthy of remark, that the learned and ingenious Rost was of opinion that the beginning of this play had not been lost, and that it properly commenced at line 35, Quod si hoc potis est . This opinion, however, is thoroughly controverted by the result of the researches of Ritschel. Although, for the sake of brevity, these fragments are here grouped into one Scene, to supply the place of the spurious Scene which formerly occupied their place, it is clear that they are really the remnants of several Scenes, introductory to the attempt of the First Bacchis to entrap Pistoclerus. The fragments are ordered differently by different editors. PISTOCLERUS those who are Those who are : It is not unlikely that this and the next three lines are fragments of a Prologue, spoken by Pistoclerus, in which he is complimenting the ingenuity shown by the slave Chrysalus throughout the piece as he is making reference to the punishment of slaves when speaking of chains, rods, and the mill. to which latter place refractory slaves were sent for hard labour. of a thrifty turn of mind, modest, and without servility. Chains, rods, and mills; their shocking brutality becomes worse. She who keeps my friend and me engaged. (Exit.) (Enter FIRST BACCHIS.) 1st BACCHIS I have heard I have heard : This is probably the commencement of a Scene. The First Bacchis is revolving her plans against Pistoclerus, who is wandering through the city in search of the mistress of his friend Mnesilochus. that Ulysses underwent toils innumerable, who, in wanderings, was twenty years away from his native land. But this young man by far outdoes Ulysses; who here in this spot is wandering within the walls of the city. 1st BACCHIS She was of the same name with myself. 1st BACCHIS Sweep out the house Sweep out the house : She is evidently ordering the servants to put the house in readiness against the arrival of her sister from abroad. with brooms, work briskly. Will some one call that most dirty fellow with the water-pail The water-pail : Nassiterna was a pail, or water-pot, having three spouts or mouths. and the water.