Captivi: The Captives (399-452b)

You are not more anxious to see your son, than he is to see his.

My son is dear to myself, and his own to every man.

Do you wish any other message to be carried to your father?

Say that I am well here; and do you boldly tell him, Tyndarus, that we have been of dispositions for uninterrupted harmony between ourselves, and that you have neither been deserving of censure, nor that I have proved your enemy; and that still, amid miseries so great, you have shown implicit obedience to your master,

and that you have never abandoned me, either in deed or in fidelity, amid my wavering, unprosperous fortunes. When my father shall know this, Tyndarus, how well-disposed you have proved towards his son and himself, he will never be so avaricious but that he’ll give you your liberty for nothing. And by my own endeavours, if I return hence, I’ll make him do so the more readily.

For by your aid and kindness, and good disposition and prudence, you have caused me to be allowed to return to my parents once again, inasmuch as to Hegio you have confessed both my rank and my wealth; by means of which, through your wisdom, you have liberated your master from his chains.

The things which you mention I have done, and I am pleased that you remember this.

Deservedly have they been done for you by me; for now, Philocrates, if I, too, were to mention the things that you have kindly done for me, the night would cut short the day. For, had you been my slave even, no otherwise were you always obliging to me.

Ye Gods, by our trust in you! behold the kindly disposition of these persons! How they draw the very tears from me!

See how cordially they love each other, and with what praises the servant has commended his master.

I’ troth, he hasn’t commended me the one hundredth part of what he himself deserves to be commended in my praises.

Since, then, you have acted most becomingly, now there’s an opportunity to add to your good deeds in managing this matter with fidelity towards him.

I am not able more to wish it done, than by my endeavours to try to bring it about. That you may know this, Hegio, with praises do I call supreme Jove to witness that I will not prove unfaithful to Philocrates[*]—

You are a worthy fellow.

And that I will never in anything act otherwise towards him than towards my own self.

I wish you to put these speeches to the test, both by your deeds and your actions;

and inasmuch as I have said the less about you than I had wished, I wish you the more to give me your attention, and take you care not to be angry with me by reason of these words. But, I beseech you, reflect that you are sent hence home with a price set upon you at my risk, and that my life is here left as a pledge for you. Do not you forget me the very moment that you have left my presence,

since you will have left me here behind a captive in captivity for yourself, and don’t consider yourself as free, and forsake your pledge[*], and not use your endeavours for you to bring his son home again, in return for me. Understand that you are sent hence valued at twenty minae. Take care to prove scrupulously faithful; take care that you show not a wavering fidelity.

For my father, I am sure, will do everything that he ought to do. Preserve me as a constant friend to you, and find out[*] this person so lately discovered. These things, by your right hand, holding you with my own right hand, do I beg of you; do not prove less true to me than I have proved to you. This matter do you attend to; you are now my master, you my patron, you my father;

to you do I commend my hopes and my fortunes.

You have given injunctions enough. Are you satisfied if I bring back accomplished what you have enjoined?

Satisfied.

According to your wishes, and
(to TYNDARUS) according to yours, will I return hither provided. Is there anything else?

For you to return back as soon as ever you can.

The business itself reminds me of that.

Follow me, that I may give you your expenses for the journey at my banker’s;

on the same occasion I’ll get a passport from the Praetor.

What passport[*]?

For him to take with him hence to the army, that he may be allowed to go home from here. (To TYNDARUS.) You go in-doors.

Speed you well.